Delon Wright's NBA Draft prospects

The do it all guard for Utah the past two seasons is gearing up for the NBA draft on June 25th. This year's draft class is again stocked with a bevy of underclassmen talent, pushing Wright's projected draft slot to the late first round. With the draft fast approaching, let's take a closer look at Delon's prospects.

Wright shared the backcourt with Brandon Taylor during his collegiate career, taking turns handling the ball and running the offense. Once Wright arrives in the NBA, there will be no sharing the ball handling duties, as Wright is projected to play the point guard position. Standing 6-5, he has the size that NBA scouts covet at the position. At Delon's height, he is able to see over the opposing defense, seeing where all ten players on the court are at all times. With his vision and quickness, Wright is able change speeds in an instant, making plays both scoring and distributing the ball. Wright's feel for the game cannot be understated. His ability to split defenders and find his teammates with sometimes acrobatic, no look passes, is a skill not every point guard in the draft has. What Wright may lack in explosive athleticism in comparison to some of the younger guards, he makes up for with experience and general awareness.

Defensively Wright is one of the best guards in the draft. His long arms, height and quickness make him a nightmare for opposing players. Wright is able to get steals and block shots, not to mention his rebounding ability for a point guard is above average. While some question his ability to score at the next level, his defense makes him an attractive selection on its own merit.

With everything Wright brings to the table at the point guard position, why is he not projected to be drafted until the late first round? The main reason is his shooting. Outside and mid range pull up jumpers are areas where Wright struggles. Anyone who watched Utah basketball knows Wright does most of his damage close to the basket. His outside shot has improved during the past two seasons, which is encouraging for NBA teams looking to draft him, but it will probably never be a big part of his game.

Another reason is the number of younger, more explosive point guards in the draft with the similar size. Guys like Deangelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay and Jerian Grant are all 6-5 and are regarded as better scorers than Wright. Even smaller guards like Tyus Jones and Terry Rozier are considered to have more upside than Wright with their blazing speed and finishing ability.

Most mock drafts have Wright coming off the board anywhere from the 21st pick to the 30th pick. Hoops Hype has him going as early as 21st to the Dallas Mavericks where he would presumably take over for Rajon Rondo. Draft Express has him going later, at 30th to the Warriors to team up with former Utah great Andrew Bogut and the splash brothers. The CBS writers place him anywhere between 24th the Cavaliers to 27th to the Los Angeles Lakers. One place that could make sense is the San Antoinio Spurs with the 26th pick. Tony Parker is 33 years old and coming off one of his worst statistical seasons. The Spurs like guys with strong fundamental skills and a point guard that can be a creator for others on the floor. If the Spurs are looking for a point guard of the future, Wright would likely be there for the taking. The Wizards also have brought in Wright for a pre-draft workout, where he could be an intriguing compliment to John Wall in the backcourt.

While Wright may not be flashiest guard in the draft, he does just about everything well. He has the size, length and foot speed to keep up with just about any NBA guard defensively, and is creative enough to find ways to score even with an inconsistent outside shot. Wright could prove to be a steal in the 2015 NBA draft, as his natural feel for the game and the ability to be a floor general will be valued attributes to whichever team picks him up.