Baylor guard Davion Mitchell scouting report: Could the Raptors be a fit?

As the Toronto Raptors continue to trudge through a disappointing season, they can take solace in knowing that this summer’s NBA Draft is deep with talent that can make an impact on their roster, regardless of position. One name to keep an eye on should the Raptors find themselves outside of the top five is Baylor guard Davion Mitchell.

Playing in a backcourt alongside projected first-round pick Jared Butler, Mitchell played an instrumental role in Baylor’s March Madness run that ultimately saw them fend off a high-octane Gonzaga Bulldogs offense to win the National Championship.

In his second season at Baylor, Mitchell averaged 14.1 points per game with impressive efficiency, shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 44.7 percent from three.

As well, Mitchell’s defensive play helped him beat out the likes of Evan Mobley to win the Men’s Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. His draft stock has been rising of late due to his value as a two-way stud.

Prior to this season, Mitchell was nowhere near projected to be a first-round pick, with Bleacher Report touting him as a second-round pick, and ESPN not having him picked at all.

Thanks to his play throughout the season and March Madness, ESPN’s latest mock draft has Mitchell at No. 7 going to the Washington Wizards. In the event the Raptors find themselves outside of the top five in the lottery, does Mitchell’s late breakout and ascendance on draft boards make him a viable pick?

Davion Mitchell Scouting Report: Strengths

Lockdown Defense

Firstly, Mitchell’s on-ball defense has become something to marvel at, to the point where it’s earned him the nickname of “Off Night” because whoever is matched up against him will have an “off night”.

A pesty perimeter defender with a work-hard attitude, Mitchell’s lateral quickness gives him the ability to stay glued onto players in man-to-man situations, placing them in uncomfortable situations. In addition to this, Mitchell’s active hands are able to force steals and turnovers. This season, he is averaging 1.9 steals and forcing 2.4 turnovers per game.

Furthermore, Mitchell’s strength gives him the added benefit of being extremely difficult to drive past. While he may be undersized at 6-2, his combination of speed and strength allows him to pressurize opposing players and force them into taking uncomfortable midrange shots.

Driving to the basket

Mitchell’s strong burst of energy gives him the added ability on offense of driving effectively to the basket. He can catch players out with his first step or a slight hesitation dribble before blowing past them and finishing at the basket.

Mitchell consistently drives to the basket on the left-side in isolation against much bigger and stronger opposing players. Again, the combination of his speed and strength comes into play as it gives him the ability to power his way through heavy contact and finish neatly at the basket or draw defenders in and pick out an open teammate.

Shooting efficiency

Lastly, Mitchell has been shooting the lights out this season. In addition to shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 44.7 percent from three, he has an effective field goal percentage of 61.3 percent and a true shooting percentage of 62 percent.

His movement allows him to find pockets of open space along the perimeter or in the corner. From there, he is able to shoot extremely well from three in the corner or in catch-and-shoot scenarios. Additionally, this movement can also afford him the ability to drive at the basket in open space.

Davion Mitchell Scouting Report: Weaknesses

Lack of sustained production

Somehow, one of Mitchell’s strengths from the past season could also turn into a reason that may lead to teams not drafting him at a higher spot.

While Mitchell was an excellent shooter from beyond the arc this season, the looming question surrounding him is whether he will be able to carry these numbers in the NBA.

In comparing Mitchell’s shooting numbers from this season to last season, an argument can be made that they’re statistical outliers and that these numbers shouldn’t carry over into the NBA. All three percentages recorded over a 10 percent increase this season.

As well, throughout his career, Mitchell’s free-throw shooting has been poor for a guard, only shooting about 65 percent from the line last season.

While this can improve, one could make an argument that Mitchell was exceptionally hot this season and that his shooting numbers are going to fall once he enters the league.

Pick and Roll

Another concern going forward is whether Mitchell can improve his playmaking abilities, particularly as a ball-handler on the pick and roll. His decision-making in PNR situations has led to questions about whether he can operate as an effective point guard in the NBA, in addition to regularly playing as a two.

Due to the speed at which he normally plays at, Mitchell can botch pick-and-roll opportunities. This is largely through poor reads of various situations that result in either inaccurate lob passes or misplaced passes off the screen that result in turnovers. This season, Mitchell averaged 2.4 turnovers per game.

If given primary playmaking duties for a team, Mitchell has to improve this aspect of his game going forward.

How will Mitchell’s game translate to the NBA?

Mitchell has a relatively safe floor thanks to his defensive prowess, which should turn him into a serviceable NBA player that is able to have a considerable impact off any bench at the very minimum.

However, the extent of Mitchell’s ceiling will likely rest on his offense and whether he can prove that his shooting numbers from this season were not a fluke. Should Mitchell continue to bring this level of efficiency into the NBA, we could be looking at another special player in this year’s draft class.

It is easy to see why Mitchell has been compared to Smart. Both are extremely talented two-way guards that can bring a high level of intensity on defense, attack the basket well, and are pests to play against along the perimeter. However, Smart has Mitchell beat, as he has the size that can help him guard much larger bigs.

On the offensive front though, Mitchell has a much higher upside than Smart, bringing a more explosive first step, better jumper, scoring, and handles. While Mitchell’s offensive abilities can still be considered as a “work in progress”, his overall game is NBA-ready and he should be able to contribute to any team almost immediately.

Should the Toronto Raptors draft Davion Mitchell?

The Toronto Raptors are likely going to appreciate a player of Mitchell’s profile, particularly his defense and potential to shoot the lights out. However, the question of draft strategy arises for a team like Toronto.

Do the Raptors draft the best player available if they find themselves outside of the Top 5? Or should they go down the route of positional need instead?

Mitchell’s size is likely to be a sticking point for the Raptors, as they already have two undersized guards in Fred VanVleet and Malachi Flynn. Furthermore, the Raptors have missed the presence of a solid center in their frontcourt that can rebound, provide spacing, rim protection, etc.

Mitchell is likely going to be a mainstay for any team that drafts him going forward. However, it may be wise for a team like the Raptors to address their frontcourt issues through the draft.

Conversely, if the Raptors feel that they can address their frontcourt through means other than the draft, then Mitchell’s style of play is going to be very appealing for the Raptors’ front-office and coaching staff.