Scouting Report: Isaiah Cousins

Isaiah Cousins (Credit: USA Today)

With most of the attention on draft night being paid to the Kings’ three first-round picks, their final pick has mostly flown under the radar. But even though Isaiah Cousins was the second-to-last selection of the draft, he addresses a need for Sacramento and looks to lock up a roster spot heading into the 2016-2017 NBA season.

Playing alongside All-American teammate (and eventual 6th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft) Buddy Hield may have cast a shadow over Cousins somewhat. But his growth as an offensive player over the course of his four-year college career speaks volumes. Cousins posted averages of 12.6 points, 4.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game during his final year at Oklahoma. As a freshman, Cousins was essentially a non-threat from distance, shooting only 25% from long range in 2012-2013. From his sophomore year onward, Cousins improved his shot dramatically and finished his career as a 41% three-point shooter. He even led the Big 12 conference in three-point field goal percentage during his junior year when he shot a blistering 45% from beyond the arc in 2014-2015. Cousins was also asked to move from shooting guard to the lead guard position prior to last season and adjusted well, doubling his assist numbers and proving he could facilitate an offense that averaged nearly 80 points per game. Cousins’ size has also been a point of intrigue for NBA teams. At roughly 6’4”, he is an ideal candidate to find minutes at either guard spot and brings versatility to a Kings team that is currently in desperate need of backcourt help.

Beyond his vitals and improvement as a shooter, Cousins has been lauded for his toughness on both ends of the court. He isn’t lightning quick, but he is able to put his head down and occasionally finish through contact when he puts the ball on the floor as well as change speeds in order to get by defenders. Defensively, Cousins’ lateral movement is good enough to keep most players in front of him and his size could allow him to guard some of the taller, more physical point guards who we have grown accustomed to in today’s NBA. His tenacity also makes him an above average rebounder for his position which is always a luxury when it comes to a guard.

With everything positive about his game having been noted to this point, Cousins certainly has his fair share of flaws. As previously mentioned, he is relatively new to playing the point guard position and it occasionally shows when he over dribbles and stagnates the offense's ball movement. He is also prone to taking erratic shots from the midrange area and can be reckless when attacking the basket which can lead to turnovers. Most of Cousins' three-point looks came off the dribble in college which is a nice skill to have as a guard at any level. But Cousins must prove that he can spot up and shoot off the catch if he wants to find the court consistently in the NBA. Lastly, Cousins has been criticized for his occasional loss of focus on the defensive end which left his teammates having to pick up his slack from time to time. If Cousins can keep himself engaged at all times defensively, he could make a living as a lockdown defender in the league.

Isaiah Cousins immediately brings one discernible skill to the Kings: shooting. As we here in Sacramento know, outside shooting has come at a premium in recent years and you certainly can never have too much of it. As a four-year player in college, Cousins most likely has reached his ceiling or is close to it. Stars are very rarely drafted in the late second round of the NBA Draft, but the Kings aren't asking Cousins to be one. Just like every other second round draft pick without a guaranteed contract, he'll have to work his tail off during the Las Vegas Summer League and training camp to earn a roster spot. But if things work out for him and he continues to develop, the Kings may have found a gem that could one day become an exceptional three-and-D role player down the road.

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