The 2012 NBA Draft will unfold on Thursday night, at there is no doubt that Damian Lillard has done everything in his power to make sure scouts and general managers know him well. After an impressive showing at the NBA Draft Combine and some great individual workouts for teams, the Weber State point guard is now expected to be picked somewhere in the top-10.
Mike Prada of SB Nation has taken a closer look at Lillard's rise -- everything from his Oakland roots to his "License to Lillard, Episode 1," a web video series designed to take people inside Lillard's preparation for the 2012 NBA Draft -- and there is plenty to like about the young scorer:
A look at the tape shows Lillard's potential in pick-and-roll situations. He's so strong shooting off the dribble that teams can't duck under the screen. If they try to go over or hedge screens hard, he's quick enough to turn the corner or split the trap. His floater is already very advanced for his age and, while he could still improve his ability to finish around the rim, he barrels into contact and gets to the free throw line often. He also gets really low to the ground when he dribbles, preventing teams from hacking away and forcing turnovers.
There aren't a ton of assists in there, to be fair, but there are a lot of smart passes...
The NBA Draft takes place on Thursday, June 28 starting at 5:00 p.m. MT on ESPN.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more comprehensive draft coverage, head over to SB Nation's NBA news hub.
