Could the Hawks take the dynamic guard?
Jase Richardson had the blessing to be taught by his father who was a NBA player, but funny enough, the two don’t possess the same kind of skillsets. His father could jump out the gym and had some height on him, but that doesn’t mean that Richardson doesn’t have the skills to make it in the league. In fact, the Michigan State freshman has a mature feel to his game, and you’d think he’d been in the NBA for some time.
At 6’1, many people would instantly talk about how Richardson’s height could be his weakness, and that could be true. But he plays bigger than he looks, and when it comes to creating contact and finishing at the rim, Richardson knows how to get the job done. His footwork allows him to manipulate the defense, and it’s hard to know what he’ll do once he gets in the paint.
Another strong point for Richardson is his shooting, whether that’s from the three-point line or in the midrange. He was solid catch-and-shoot player, but he also knew how to get open in the pick-and-roll. Richardson shot 41% from the 3-point line, and that’s a good percentage that should definitely translate to the league. Once he steps in the perimeter, he’s either going to get to his midrange, or find a floater or hook shot to go to.
Richardson can play on and off the ball, which makes easy to put on the court in situations where the teams needs to get a bucket, because he’s either going to do it himself or make the play for somebody else. His playmaking is a plus, and at his size, he’s shown that he can fit the ball into tight spaces, or even make a jump pass if he needs to. One of the best things about Richardson is that he knows when to make the right play, and his 0.8 turnovers per game during the season shows that.
For his size, his defense isn’t bad, and he shows effort to try to stay in front of his man. Off the ball, Richardson does his best to be a disruptor off the ball, working in the passing lanes and trying to close out on jump shooters. Some things just won’t change, and he’ll most likely be the main target on defense when he’s in the paint and the opposing team has an advantage.
The Hawks could use a player like Richardson who could come off the bench and be the backup guard behind Trae Young. That’s been one of the things that the team has needed for some time, and drafting someone with his skillset could work out. Though he can play on and off the ball, it’s hard to see the Hawks putting both he and Young on the floor at the same time because of how small the backcourt would be. Nonetheless, if the Hawks don’t look to sign a guard in free agency, drafting one may be in the cards.