Lyles' understanding of the game grew this year

By: LARRY VAUGHT

NBA draft analyst Ed Isaacson understands why so many teams like 6-10 Trey Lyles of Kentucky.

“Trey Lyles has a nice looking shot and it is a matter of being able to say there is a lot to work with here and it will just take a little bit of time,” said Isaacson, who operates www.nbadraftblog.com.

Isaacson admits he probably criticized Lyles at times during UK’s season because he played out of position at small forward rather than his likely NBA position of power forward.

“But in some ways it really did help him, especially with his ability to put the ball on the floor,” the NBA analyst said. “You are looking at a guy 6-10 with tremendous skills.

“He may not be the greatest athlete, but you could see his understanding of the game grow from the start of the year to the Final Four. And what he can bring to a team is incredible. Once a coach gets his hands on him ... he may not be a guy who contributes much right away but long term I would not be surprised if he has the best NBA career of any Kentucky player (in this year’s draft) by the time his career is done.”

Isaacson knows Karl-Anthony Towns should be the No. 1 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in Thursday’s draft and also likes what he sees from Willie Cauley-Stein, who is projected as a top 10 pick.

“People talk about his offense, but when he did shoot from the perimeter he was not bad,” Isaacson said. “Put him in the open floor and he does amazing things. He will find his niche on a team that lets him get out the floor and run. That way you can hide things on the offensive end.

“But the reason teams really like him is that he is a defensive wizard. He played out of position on the perimeter a lot, but he still does things a 7-footer should not be able to do.”

Isaacson said because a player does not do something in college doesn’t mean he cannot do it at the next level. He says that is what teams must project.

“He’s not a bad offensive player. He just gets points in different ways than most 7-footers,” Isaacson said. “Watching him go to the basket off of guard penetration and get a lob for a big dunk was one of college basketball’s great joys over the past few years. I also have never seen a problem with his love for the game because every time I watched him he was always giving his all.”