Pepperdine wing Maxwell Lewis was taken with the 40th selection by the Denver Nuggets and reportedly dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers.
At first glance, Lewis passes the eye test about as well as nearly any wing prospect in this year's field. He's long and athletic with a smooth, silky jump shot and a propensity for eye-popping highlights. His raw numbers back it up - he was one of only 19 players in college last season to average 17 points and five rebounds while shooting at least 34% from deep.
However, he does have flaws once you dive deeper. His shooting was very up and down all year, he often struggled defensively, and his wavering effort was visible on a very poor Pepperdine squad. Perhaps that was a product of his environment, but Lewis needs to iron out the edges of his game in order to reach his lofty potential.
Bio
Position: Guard
School: Pepperdine
College Experience: Sophomore
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 207 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot
Max Vertical: 36.5 inches
2022-23 stats with Pepperdine
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 46.8 | 34.8 | 78.7 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 17.1 |
Strengths
- Ideal size, length, and athleticism for a modern NBA wing prospect.
- A talented shooter with great mechanics and proven production.
- Owns the tools to be a plus defender; had nine games with at least three combined steals and blocks.
- Still lots of potential for growth despite being a slightly older prospect.
Weaknesses
- Frequently lacked effort defensively and off the ball on offense.
- Lots of offensive inconsistency - he shot over 58% on 12-plus shots seven times and below 36% on 12-plus shots six times.
- Struggled to lead his team to victories as its best player, going 2-14 in a mid-major conference.
- Could stand to add some weight to his lengthy frame.
NBA comparable: Cam Reddish. It was hard to look at Reddish coming out of college and not be enthralled by his tantalizing combination of size, shooting, and athleticism at the wing spot. However, an inconsistent motor and up-and-down shooting have prevented him from flourishing in the NBA. Landing in the right spot could allow Lewis to fulfill much of the potential that people saw in Reddish.