NBA Draft: Michael Frazier II Should be a First-Round Pick

With Lebron James seemingly on his last legs of dragging the Cleveland Cavaliers through the NBA Finals and Steph Curry’s Warriors dropping 3s like no one’s business, it’s safe to say the Finals could very well end on Tuesday.

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That means basketball fans can now turn their attention toward the NBA Draft. Many are debating and wondering just who will be selected first by the Minnesota Timberwolves; Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor?

Florida Gator fans, however, should have their attention on something much different during the NBA’s draft night.

Michael Frazier II is the only player off of the Gators 2014-2015 squad who is eligible and likely to be drafted by an NBA team.

At the moment, NBA Draft Express has Frazier ranked as the 32nd best prospect. But as of June 12, NBAdraftnet.com doesn’t even project Frazier being drafted by anyone.

Why the wide range of opinion on Frazier?

Some of the encouraging aspects about Frazier are that his game is perfectly suited for how the NBA game is playing right now.

Frazier can knock down three-pointers with deadly accuracy at times. He made 44.7 percent of his 3s in 2013-2014, an eye-popping number that screams first-round talent.

Mar 12, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Florida Gators guard Michael Frazier II (20) has the ball knocked away by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Retin Obasohan (32) during the first half of the second round in the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

While Frazier may not be as big as you’d like for a shooting guard (6’5), he does play very strong on defense and uses his 6’9 wingspan to stay close and challenge his opposition’s shots.

Frazier led the Gators in free-throw percentage as well in 2014, shooting 87.1 percent, a number that Dwight Howard wishes he could shoot at least half of consistently.

Finally, Frazier is a good athlete, which he demonstrated at the NBA Combine where he recorded an impressive 35-inch vertical.

All of this points to Frazier being a no doubt first-round pick, right?

Unfortunately, Frazier’s game took a down-slide in 2014-2015 where his three-point percentage fell drastically to 38

Feb 7, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators guard Michael Frazier II (20) shoots against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half at Stephen C. O

percent.

Frazier also struggled staying healthy at the end of his junior season, missing the last seven games with an ankle sprain which contributed mightily to the Gators missing postseason play for the first time in 17 years.

Finally, Frazier needs to improve his ball-handling and dribbling skills he if he wants to have more of an impact on an NBA offense besides just jacking up the occasional shot from beyond the arc.

At times, Frazier has looked like a poor man’s aforementioned Curry, setting the school record for the most made 3s in a season during his sophomore year.

On the other hand, Frazier’s career has been hampered with injuries and inconsistent play, hence the low fanfare since his declaration for the Draft.

I firmly believe that the shooting skills that Frazier possesses will make him a commodity among NBA teams.

Don’t be surprised if Frazier sneaks into the late first round and starts a career that should be very interesting to watch.

What do think Fansiders? Does Frazier II deserve to be selected in the first round? Let us know!

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