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Predictions for Mitchell's Progress for Next Season

I see him doing something like 26/6/6 in his 2nd season. I'm that confident in his abilities that he will. Also, I also think he will be at the SL. But not to play, but as support and to motivate Jazz players there.
 
I think he will make good progress on offense, and up his percentages and stats a couple points across the board.

However, I think his most explosive growth is going to come on defense, and I think this is what will kinda shock people. He hasn't really looked like a rookie offensively since the start of the year, but I think he's had some more of that on the defensive end. I also think he knows it, and I think it will be a major point of emphasis for him when he's rewatching games over the summer, etc.

My prediction is that Donovan comes back and stuns people as an all-nba defensive lockdown player (in addition to progressing on offense).
 
A lot of macro predictions, I'll go micro where I can spot room for improvement which ultimately could affect his output.

1) Finishing with the left hand
He basically didn't have a left hand in college and he's improved a lot in that area. He can make basic plays at the rim using his left hand when he creates an easy opportunity. His crafty and creative finishes are still almost exclusively right handed. If he can get a better feel for his waitress technique with the left hand, he'll be less predictable at the basket.

2) Advanced left handed dribbling moves
Somewhat related to the first point. Right now he can explode dribbling left, in college his left handed dribbles were more escape oriented combined with body fakes. That's good improvement, but right now when he's forced left his first choice is crossing over to the right hand side of the paint or finishing with his inside hand (his right hand) on the left hand side of the court. If teams video teams stumble upon patterns how to take away those finishes going left, he'll need to spring out something fresh in order to unlock those traits again next season. Some inside out dribble, left handed eurostep or just a hesitation lock out move to draw fouls when he turns the corner and getts in front of the defense.

3) Shooting accuracy
If I look at NBA.com's shooting stats, I see Donovan just takes 2.2 3 pointers that are labeled catch and shoot, and he only makes them at a 38% clip, which doesn't reflect the quality of his shooting fundamentals. He needs to become better at making those shots and the team needs to add playmaking so he can take them in the first place. 2.2 3P FGs per game C&S? So there's 5 threes a game that are qualified as pull ups and he's only converting them at a 30% clip. If he wants to take that many of those, he needs to make more. That's more of an shooting opportunity analysis, where the staff needs to figure out how to increase shot quality or try to show better reads in situations where he's hero balling too much and could find other guys on the floor instead of letting it fly with a defender in his grill.
 
I’m interested in everyone’s opinion on Donovan’s personality. How different will he be? How much do you think he’ll change? After listening to Lockes podcast he had some very good points and there are far too many examples of guys changing. This is obviously the most important part of his career here moving forward, is if Donovan can stay Donovan. Just ask Deron Williams what a change in attitude can do to a career. A year ago none of us would have invisioned Rodney Hood refusing to check in for a game and play. He isn’t the same guy as a year ago.

Locke mentioned that in speaking to Brent Barry you just have to avoid the poison out there and there’s a lot of it. It got to Hood. It got to Deron. It even got to Hayward to an extent, even though I don’t think we ever really knew who he really was. Does the same poison get to Donovan? Or does he have what it takes to block it out and stay true to who he is?
 
I would like to see him continue to progress from the role he was put in after Ricky went down. I would like it if he was the primary backup at the 1 and took this offseason working on his vision and passing. Kid's scoring prowess isn't going anywhere, but if he can turn a lot of the attention he gets into assists or trips to the line, this team is significantly better off of those two things alone.
 
Did anyone catch Mitchell say that he wanted to 'pick any NBA greats' mind' he can this offseason? Might I suggest the most beloved player in franchise history*?
 
NUMBERICA said:
Did anyone catch Mitchell say that he wanted to 'pick any NBA greats' mind' he can this offseason? Might I suggest the most beloved player in franchise history*?
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Blue Edwards?
 
If anything burns Mitchell out it will probably be when he realizes how hard it is to recruit another top player to come to Utah.
 
Re-watched game 2 and game 6 of the OKC series. Mitchell is just sensational. What an incredible player. What a lucky pick for the Jazz.
 
candrew said:
Do you think he'll play in the Summer League?

Knowing him he probably will - but I'd wonder if they should put him out there against inferior competition.

He'll have a bulls eye on his back for sure - everyone will be looking to make a name off him.
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I say no chance he plays in SL
 
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