Julian Strawther talks to the media after his workout with the Indiana Pacers.
The NBA Draft is very important for the Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball program. Fans don’t like seeing their favorites leave, but they can celebrate those players moving on to the highest levels of professional basketball.
Putting players in the National Basketball Association is some of the best advertising Zags Head Coach Mark Few can get when recruiting prospects to the program. Every aspiring player visiting The Kennel dreams of playing in the NBA. Showing them a path to their dream brings those young men to Spokane.
Last year the Gonzaga Bulldogs had another player taken in the lottery. Oklahoma City selected center Chet Holmgren second overall. The year before, GU had two lottery picks, Jalen Suggs (Orlando, 5th overall) and Corey Kispert (Washington, 11th).
This time around, Julian Strawther and Drew Timme are the Zags prospects to watch.
The sources we use for the mock drafts may vary from edition to edition, but they are credible. This time we included ESPN, USA Today, CBS Sports, The Ringer, Sports Illustrated, NBC, Fox Sports, The Athletic, and more.
Height: 6-7
Weight: 210 pounds
Wingspan: 6-9.5
Strawther didn’t participate in 5-on-5 scrimmages at the combine. It’s a big tipoff that a team has guaranteed they will take him (likely in the second round). He did not need to risk an injury when a job was waiting.
In our final run through the mock drafts, Strawther gained momentum. Another mock placed him in the first round bringing his total to three, while several others have the 6-7 wing going early in the second. As a matter of fact, 6 mock drafts had Strawther going to the Clippers at 30 or Detroit at 31.
Highest Draft Spot – Round 1, Sacramento Kings, 24th overall.
Lowest Draft Spot – Round 2, Washington Wizards, 57th overall.
Most Common Draft Spot – (Tie) Round 2, Detroit Pistons, 31st overall, and Round 2, Atlanta Hawks, 46th overall
An outstanding athlete, Julian Strawther has developed during his two seasons with the Gonzaga Bulldogs. His length makes him a matchup problem on the wing for opposing defenders. He can knock down jump shots from the outside or take his man to the rack.
To get playing time in the NBA, Strawther has to improve his defense. He isn’t a liability, but tight defense is not one of his strength’s either. One last thing about Strawther, he doesn’t wilt at crunch time.
Julian Strawther has earned some first-round grades for his spot-up and movement shooting, though the ability to put the ball down and weaponize his floater/runner has turned him into a more multidimensional off-ball scorer.
– Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report
Of the 65 mock drafts we audited, 26 covered both rounds, and the former Gonzaga Bulldogs star was on all of them. Strawther looks to be an early second round pick but could sneak into the first. Over three-quarters of all mocks he appears on have him gone by pick 46.
Height: 6-10
Weight: 230 pounds
Wingspan: 7-1.5
Timme played in two scrimmages at the combine. Game 1 wasn’t his best, with 6 points and 3 rebounds. He picked it up significantly in the second scrimmage, scoring an impressive 17 points with 7 boards.
Highest Draft Spot – Round 2, Washington Wizards, 52nd overall.
Lowest Draft Spot – Round 2, Milwaukee Bucks, 58th overall.
Most Common Draft Spot – (Tie) Round 2, Indiana Pacers, 55th overall and Round 2, Milwaukee Bucks, 58th overall.
Timme was a staple of college basketball over the past two years. Anyone that’s watched the game saw how effective the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ all-time leading scorer was with the ball in his hands.
He’s undoubtedly one of the most skilled big men in recent memory. Drew Timme is a monster to defend near the basket and runs the pick-and-roll effectively. His footwork is impeccable, and Timme is an outstanding passer for any position, let alone a post player.
“Offensively, Timme is a traditional big with a deep post-up arsenal that starts with a soft right-hand jump hook and continues with every counter in the book. His touch and smooth footwork help him gain an advantage over bigger centers. He’s also effective in the pick-and-roll, capable of making a couple of dribbles and/or dishing to teammates. Timme’s rebounding is also up to par, always looking for a man to box out. Defensively, the center usually tries to beat the driver to the spot rather than challenge at the rim, and he’s best staying in the paint.”
– NBA.com
While Strawther is trending up, Timme is headed in the opposite direction. Concerns about his athleticism and defense at the next level make prospective teams leery of him.
Offensively, Timme is the whole package, but his strengths don’t fit with modern NBA offenses. These are the big reasons why he was only selected on 5 of 26 mocks.
I feel a little different. What Timme lacks in athleticism defensively, he makes up for with a high basketball IQ. He knows where he needs to be. It’s a matter of getting there in time. While defending the Gonzaga Bulldogs rim, he was rarely beaten by his man.
Without rehashing his offensive prowess, Timme is a high-percentage shooter inside with a wide variety of moves that he can score with or at least draw fouls.
To top it off, if the defense double-teams him, Timme has a sixth sense for finding the open man. Get him the ball in the paint, and his team will put up points.
At this point, it’s looking more like Timme will sign a two-way contract with an invite to a team’s summer camp. He may have to earn his NBA shot via the G-League.
Where do you think Gonzaga Bulldogs stars Julian Strawther and Drew Timme will be drafted?