#2 Moses Moody – Guard – Arkansas
Moses Moody out of Arkansas is arguably one of the best shooters in this year’s draft class and while he is not receiving the praise other top prospects are, he is a guy that can contribute immediately for whatever team drafts him in the lottery.
The 6’6” guard helped lead Arkansas to the Elite-8 for the first time since 1995 and he was among the nation’s best shooters all season long in college. For the Razorbacks, Moody averaged 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and shot 35.8% from three-point range, which does not seem high, but he took over 5 three-point attempts per game.
Not only does he have the size to be a perfect match for the “modern day” shooting guard in the NBA, but Moses Moody uses his size and strength to score over smaller defenders either from the perimeter or on the drive. At the next level, Moody will definitely need to get strong in order to get the shots that he wants, especially on the drive, but this can be said about many prospects coming out of college and is not a major concern.
He is an elite level perimeter player and his game will easily translate to the next level as a result. Overall, Moses Moody is the ideal “catch-and-shoot” shooting guard in today’s NBA and whether it is running to a spot in transition or stepping out on the perimeter in a half-court set, the young guard always seems to find an open spot on the court and his high release makes it hard for opponents to contest his shot.
Golden State needs guys who can score and provide a sense of comfort around their superstar talents, which is why Moses Moody is definitely in play for them with this 7th pick. He’s a reliable shooter from the corner and given his athleticism, Moody could absolutely grow into a valuable three-level scorer on offense.
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With Damion Lee and Jordan Poole also being shooting guard/wing type of players, it may not appear that the Golden State Warriors need a player like Moses Moody, but he would absolutely be an asset for them to utilize immediately. Having young, “change of pace” type of players is extremely important for championship contending teams, which is why drafting Moody would arguably be the best move for the Warriors.
As a catch-and-shoot threat on the perimeter, Moses Moody could really thrive in San Francisco, especially since all the attention will be on guys like Steph and Klay. Teams will collapse on them when they attack, leaving a guy like Moody wide-open in the corner or out on the wing for an open three-point attempt.
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It should not be surprising at all to see the Warriors take Moody 7th overall in this year’s draft and if they do, they will be setting themselves up nicely with a guy who can not only contribute now, but for many years down the line.
