Thread by @RedTeamScouting

Today's Twitter thread: VT's Nickeil Alexander-Walker. NAW played a bit of both guard spots for the Hokies. Does that utility translate to the bigger stage?

Offense-

Alexander-Walker started the season off the ball, then he was on the ball, then back to playing off the ball. This yo-yo effect would have some player's heads spinning, but the sophomore handled the situation with the coolness of a much older player.

The injury to point guard Justin Robinson gave Alexander-Walker the opportunity he needed to boost his draft stock.

Initially viewed as a spot-up shooter, he got the opportunity to show some skills which scouts hadn't seen before such as crisp passing and good decision making, and the results have buoyed his draft stock.

While he will predominantly be deployed as a spot-up shooter, his off-ball utility gives him many avenues for positive contribution.

He has excellent vision coming off ball screens and can pass teammates open. While he showed a great grasp of PNR concepts, he hardly ever deferred the screen, likely a result of his inability to create much separation on his own.

He is a great passer on the move, whipping the ball around the court with both hands and even showing a mastery of pick-and-roll lobs and entry passes. He is also a very capable passer from triple threat, both from the top of the key and from the mid-post.

Having this sort of utility in a two guard has become increasingly important in an era of multiple creators.

While he won't be tasked with primary initiation duties (though some intrepid team might give him some burn as the ball handler in a second unit), having that skill as a part of his repertoire means Alexander-Walker can fill multiple roles for whichever team chooses him

Defense-
Alexander-Walker brings some good point-of-attack defense to the table, but his best skill is as a switchable defender who can guard 1-3. Teams who value switchability will have an eye on him early as he can reliably contribute as both a primary and secondary defender

He also can be a “zone up the backside” defender, a style which has become increasingly prevalent in the NBA. Thybulle is the most high-profile zone defender in this draft, but Alexander-Walker also succeeded in a more trap-heavy version of the system.

He was an engaged defender, capable of jumping passing lanes and doubling down at the right time to force turnovers. When defending away from the ball he puts himself in a good position to challenge shooters in slash-and-kick situations.

He will need to put on strength to fully capitalize on his ability to guard forwards, not a foregone conclusion with his skinny frame, but should be able to contain all but the most explosive guards.

He can be disruptive away from the ball and turn errant passes into fast break opportunities because of his ball handling and passing skills.

Getting Minutes-
He is a jack-of-all trades who will give teams a lot of lineup flexibility. Teams with primary initiators who are dangerous off the ball (guys like K. Irving and D. Booker) could slot him into the two as a secondary creator and allow him to initiate.

He will also be dangerous on ball reversals, attacking the defense while it is warped. His ability to serve in multiple capacities on offense will be a great selling point, but teams will look to draft Alexander-Walker because of his defensive capabilities.

He is a tenacious and high-IQ defender who can switch multiple positions. If he put his skills into practice, he will be able to find his way onto the court quickly and stay in the rotation.

Riding the Pine-
While he has a multifaceted skill set, no single skill jumps out for NAW. If he has trouble adjusting to the speed of the game, or his defense doesn't translate well because of his mediocre athleticism, he may find it difficult to stick in the rotation.

He has good lateral quickness but his first-step explosiveness is lacking, which may cause him to fall behind when closing out or trying to stay in front of quicker guards.

Offensively he will struggle if he fails to translate his jumper to the NBA three-point line. So much of what he does is predicated on a threatening jump shot, and if he can't knock down shots around the league average (about 36 percent), other avenues of success may close.

Good Fits-

A few weeks ago we discussed the importance of “tweener” big men, but the NBA Finals which has feature rotations pairing Kyle Lowry and FVV as well as Curry and Cook have thrust the idea of a tweener guard into prominence.

Having a player who can alternate between an on-ball creator and a spot up shooter seems to be en vogue for third guards. Alexander-Walker can fill this role nicely for several teams in his range.

He seems to have fallen into the late lottery or mid-first on the most recent mock drafts, though he could be on the rise in a relatively weak guard class.

An early team in that range who may need to address a hole is Charlotte (#12). If the Hornets get the feeling that Kemba Walker is on his way out, they may be in search of a ball handler to fill in. if Garland and White are gone, NAW may be their man.

Orlando (#16) could also use his multifaceted skill set and bolster their guard rotation around (a hopefully healthy and playable) Markelle Fultz and Evan Fournier.