Tyler Honeycutt

Tyler Honeycutt - After a couple of years of moving around and getting little in the way of regular playing time, Honeycutt settled down to a regular gig last year, and it worked out for him. Playing a full campaign with Israeli team Ironi Nes-Ziona, Honeycutt averaged 15.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. The rebounds were second in the nation - this from a wing player - while the steals ranked third, the points eighth, the blocks seventh, and the assists only just outside of the top 10. Honeycutt was Kyle Anderson before Kyle Anderson, and while it's not a perfect comparison - he isn't the playmaking option every time down that Anderson is - Honeycutt is more athletic than his currently touted compadre. Honeycutt has NBA talent, and always has done, getting stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time in his NBA opportunity to date. If he sticks around in the D-League and stays healthy, he'll make it back.

Tyler Honeycutt

The Rockets waived Honeycutt soon after acquiring him from Sacramento in the Thomas Robinson deal, yet seemingly this didn't mean they were entirely done with him. Honeycutt's pro career thus far has seen very little go right - his best run of play was a short 15 game stint with the Reno Bighorns of the D-League, in which he averaged 10.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in only 24 minutes per game, on percentages of 48%, 40% and 83%. Perhaps this is an indication that he is starting to put together his wide range of skills. What is certainly true is that he has some of the best potential of any currently unsigned free agent.

Picks 34 and 35: Washington make a good value pick when they choose Shelvin Mack from Butler at #34. Sacramento immediately follows this up with Tyler Honeycutt at #35, both of which are the correct pick. Versatile, talented, decently sized, two way, probably-should-have-been-first-rounder types who could make the very end of an active list right away.

Tyler is in the building, but he's a long way up in the stands. With only two minutes to hug the world and shake Sexy Silver's hand, Tyler shows hustle and a quick first step in breaking through the mob and getting to Silver, whom he hugs. If anything, Silver initiated the hug. I really like Adam Silver and I want one for Christmas.

While there's absolutely no minutes for him in Sacramento, Honeycutt is a good pick, a sophomore with some innate skills and the combination of age and athleticism that makes you want to work with him. Meanwhile, Mack may get minutes straight off the bat - in the midst of all their recent roster turnover, which at one point saw a ridiculous guard excess, Washington doesn't actually have a backup point guard at the moment, aside from the unsuitable Jordan Crawford. They could and should still acquire a veteran option, but there's a contributing role for Mack in there somewhere.

Tyler Honeycutt - Honeycutt's declaration as a sophmore may be more to do with the weak draft than anything, yet he demonstrates sufficient potential on both ends of the court to be selected.

A big wing player, Honeycutt has a very unique station - 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.0 blocks, 0.9 steals and 2.1 blocks, being one of the nation's best defensive players while also never fouling (only 1.6 per game). The high turnover numbers and the 40.6% shooting probably don't suggest it, but Honeycutt is a capable offensive player, too, a good (and overly deferential) passer with some shooting touch, particularly on the rather unfavourable long two's. He has added some range and has a pretty smooth handle to boot, although his slender stature can be a problem at the rim, and the turnovers rather alarming. But if he makes mistakes and is inconsistent, that's fine. He's a sophomore.

People who know better about such matters suggest that UCLA's system is unfavourable to the offensive statistics of wing players, and have used the argument to make a similar defense for Malcolm Lee, previously covered here. If true, there's even more to like.

UCLA's best talent and best future pro is Tyler Honeycutt, an extraordinarily talented player who has had a great season, but who still needs a breakout season to maximize his talents. Honeycutt has a great frame and good athleticism, and is an elite defender at the forward position already, recording 2.8 stocks per game. He rebounds, can handle the ball on the perimeter, gets out and runs, is more than willing to share the ball, and has great passing vision. Indeed, those latter categories are kind of the problem; Honeycutt is too passive, overpasses when he should shoot, turns down easy ones, and commits turnovers when trying to make the hero pass that just isn't there. It's doubly a shame considering that Honeycutt is actually a pretty good scorer; not a good enough ball handler to slash to the basket with any regularity, and not much of a finisher around the basket, but armed with a decent jumpshot, from both the mid-range and three point areas. He should use it more.