A continuously improving guard that adjusts to each level of competition in Europe, Matteo Spagnolo had a strong first draft eligible season. On the year in Italy, Spagnolo averaged 12.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, and 2.6 TOPG on shooting splits of 44/44/86. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Matteo Spagnolo
Height/Weight: 6’5 ½/196
Wingspan/ standing reach: 6’8/8’6
Hand size: 10
Position: Guard
Pre-Draft team: Cremona
Tools: Upside as a combo guard with 3 level scoring
Pros:
- High shooting upside
- Good playmaking upside, especially out of the P&R
- Good lob thrower; would work well with athletic big men
- Tight handle with creativity in traffic
- Strong shooting touch
- Projectable floater
- Comfortable with both hands
- Can play the passing lanes well and is the first to loose balls
- Good frame with large hands
Cons:
- Must reduce turnovers
- Plans passes at times and doesn’t adapt to play in front of him
- Needs to speed up his jumper release ever so slightly
- Can play out of control at times
- Needs to get stronger
- Needs to get better at hitting contested spot-up 3x
- Base needs to be more stabilized, especially on moving jumpers
- Not much of a vertical athlete- limited to a below the rim finisher
- Must get better at finishing at the rim
Summary:
Matteo Spagnolo has high upside as a combo guard playmaker and shooter/scorer.
In regards to playmaking, Spagnolo needs to find big men in other ways than just alley-oops. He can wait a bit too long to pass to his man below the rim the ball, which can be a recipe for turnovers. Luckily, Spagnolo has the vision and passing ability to overcome this obstacle, but it could be a growing pain as he matures. Spagnolo has shooting potential with good numbers, but will need to speed up his jump shot release in order to replicate those percentages in the NBA. Spagnolo has a good handle and can get to the basket well with either hand, but can only finish with layups; he will have to master his touch at the rim in order to thrive in the NBA as a 3 level scorer.
Defensively, Spagnolo brings very little to the table, with minimal defensive stat production, including just one block on the season. His best case is playing the passing lanes as an interceptor to survive defensively.
Spagnolo is a pure upside play as a combo guard with potential to be a strong P&R playmaker with 3 level scoring. He still needs to mature his game, but being just 19 years old can give teams hope that his upside is attainable and not far away.
Similar to: Luke Kennard, Austin Rivers
Projected draft range: 25-45
Expected role: Combo guard that can score on all 3 levels in a multi-guard lineup.
Unplayable if: Jump shot speed makes his shot translating to the NBA difficult, and bad tendencies as a passer never get overcome.
Exceeds expectations if: P&R prowess continues to evolve, and scoring translates at a high level.
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