2011 NBA Draft News: Iman Shumpert, Potentially A Lottery Pick?

Iman Shumpert's stock appears to be on the rise in the days leading up to the 2011 NBA Draft. Most experts agree that this draft is one of the weakest in some time and that helps explain the wide ranging possibilities of where players like Shumpert might be picked. 

According to Chad Ford, Shumpert is now getting looks as high as No. 13 to the Phoenix Suns. That is quite a big jump for a player that initially was projected to go in the second round or perhaps even undrafted. The question is whether or not Shumpert is worthy of that type of consideration. 

While he worked out as a point guard at the Draft Combine, he is probably more of a combo guard. While at Georgia Tech, he was not considered the greatest floor general although he did improve somewhat during his junior season. During his sophomore season he did not do the greatest job of getting the ball in the hands of Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal. 

As a scorer, Shumpert is a little hit or miss with his jumpshot. His shot selection in college left something to be desired but his athleticism was off the charts at the combine. His greatest value probably lies in his defensive capabilities as a wing defender in the NBA. He won't kill you as a ball handler but it remains to be seen whether he can adequately run a team in the NBA. 

To Shumpert's credit, he has acknowledged many of his weaknesses during the draft process. He clearly has worked hard and had some quality workouts for clubs thus the reason his stock is on the rise. He is a solid second round pick that could potentially sneak into the late first round. At this point it looks like drafting Iman Shumpert in the lottery would be considered quite the reach even for a draft that is regarded as weak.