Wizards select Shelvin Mack with 34th pick in the NBA Draft

The Washington Wizards selected 22-year-old combo guard Shelvin Mack with their second round pick, the 34th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Mack was a star scorer and ball-handler at Butler in college and was the single-biggest reason for that team's success in the NCAA Tourney last year. He's been a key part of a fine Butler team that did almost nothing but win games the last two years before falling twice in the NCAA Championship game.

Mack does one thing the Wizards badly need: shoot well. He's got almost unlimited range and when he gets hot he can knock 'em down anywhere and anytime. He's strong and works hard so he won't be pushed around in the NBA. However, he's not a proven point guard at the NBA level and his short statue makes him a problem at the shooting guard position. Nevertheless, there could easily be a spot for him in the team's backcourt rotation, particularly if the Wizards don't keep Nick Young.

Chad Ford [ESPN]: I like Mack. He's tough, he can shoot a bit, and he can play the 1 and the 2. Nice player coming off the bench.

ESPN: He is what he is: an undersized shooting guard with a good NBA body... The Good: Mack is a big-time shooter with deep range on his jump shot. He's tough, physical and built like a tank. Despite his size, he's deceptively quick and a good floor leader.

The Bad: He's struggled a bit with his jump shot this season. Scouts see him as a tweener. Does he have the requisite vision to be a point guard in the pros? If not, he's undersized.

ESPN:

Positives	Shooter with deep range NBA body Deceptive quickness Strong leadership qualities Solid ball handler and passer Strong guard
Negatives	Is he a point guard or a two guard? Lacks elite level explosiveness Inconsistent jump shot

Draft Express: Shelvin Mack is a 6'3” guard with an NBA caliber frame. He's a strong combo guard, with solid, but not spectacular quickness and average explosiveness. Mack would have good size and strength for the point guard position, but would be undersized if asked to spend substantial minutes at the shooting guard spot—a position he's often played at Butler...

Mack shows a good feel for the pick and roll game, showing an ability to drive to his right off the pick and roll, as well as good patience in waiting for the big to recover to get an open look from deep. Mack has NBA three point range with an ability to hit long distance shots off the dribble.

NBA Draft.net: Strengths: Instant offense type of shooter/scorer at the lead guard position …Very composed. Always on balance, never seems to rush things. Good pace to his game. Plays smart, values the basketball … Aggressive scorer with a crafty offensive game. Really knows how to create shots and has a strong one on one game. Good shot selection … Can knock opponents off balance and uses hesitation moves extremely well to create shots with opponents falling off balance and out of his way … Strong jump shooter and mid-range game with a strong ability to create shots for himself off the dribble … Beautiful shooting motion with excellent lift, a smooth, quick release and excellent overall form … Has the physique of an NBA linebacker with huge shoulders and a barrel chest and uses his excellent body strength to his advantage … Great strength allows him to absorb contact and finish around the rim … Strength also gives him deep range and the ability to shoot with the same accuracy late in games … Equally adept at spotting up or pulling up for shots off the dribble ... Huge wingspan allows him to finish at the rim and play bigger than 6’2 … Handles the ball extremely well. A strong defender that anticipates well and uses his strength to wear down and frustrate smaller guards … Strong on the break ... Has good speed when he gets a head of steam. Solid decision maker in transition …

Weaknesses: Solid athlete though nothing extraordinary. Lacks tremendous leaping ability … Lacks great blow by speed off the dribble … More of a scorer than a true point guard. Was not responsible for being the team’s primary point guard (Ronald Nored) … Vision and passing ability are below average for a point guard … Showing that he can be more of a full time lead guard and is capable of running the show would increase his value … Should look to increase his a/to ratio (1.46)… Playing at a mid-major, it’s tougher to prove his talent on a consistent basis … A year old for his class as he will turn 22 before the 2011 draft ... Could be on a long learning curve at the next level due to his inexperience playing the PG position, which could result in being traded a few times before finding his game (ala Chauncey Billups)

THE WIZARDS ALSO SELECTED JAN VESELY AND CHRIS SINGLETON IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2011 NBA DRAFT. CLICK ON THEIR NAMES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM.