Strawther Could Have Playoff Impact in Year One

July 25, 2023

Athlete Studio


In most cases, the top picks in the NBA Draft belong to the league’s worst teams. That’s just how the lottery system goes. Due to this fact, usually the most acclaimed rookies do not get the opportunity to make a playoff impact in year one.

In some cases, due to trades, injury-riddled seasons or leaps in roster talent, high picks like Jayson Tatum, Jonathan Kuminga and Keegan Murray do get the chance to show off their rookie skillsets in the postseason. However, most often, later picks like Christian Braun and Herb Jones are most featured during playoff runs.

This year, some of the title favorites could have a spot for a rookie to make an impact in their playoff rotation. Here are two names to keep an eye out for come April, May, and June:

Julian Strawther, Pick No. 29

Selected at the end of the first round to the defending champion Denver Nuggets, Strawther already knows a thing or two about winning. While he never quite captured the elusive National Championship, the 6-foot-6 wing won quite a few games while at Gonzaga.

Known for his sharpshooting, Strawther converted over 40% of his 5.3 attempts from beyond the arc last season. The Bulldogs junior was also efficient from 2-point range, cashing in on 52.6% of such looks.

As a prolific shooter with some ball skills, Strawther should be able to find success in the Nuggets’ motion offense, revolving around reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic. It’s easy to envision him darting around screens to hoist 3-point attempts off of passes from Jokic. With Denver striving to defend their title, it’s very possible that we’ll see Strawther making an impact in the season’s closing weeks.

Jordan Walsh, Pick No. 38

The Celtics once again fell just short of the promise land this season. Their fairy tale comeback from down three games to zero was fouled by a game seven blowout at the hands of Caleb Martin and the Miami Heat. However, still young, Boston will run it back next year with a revamped roster, hoping to finally break all the way though. The addition of Kristaps Porzingis initially filled the headlines, but after Walsh’s summer league mastery, he has quickly become a primary discussion point of Celtics faithfuls this off-season.

For a team that’s led by two star wings in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they have a surprising lack of depth at the position. Often it’s forgotten due to the Jays’ brilliance, but with the departure of Grant Williams to Boston, they now have zero playoff-tested wings after their two all-NBA players. This is where Walsh comes into the equation.

The 6-foot-6 wing is a budding defensive stalwart, who can terrorize ball handlers at the first line of defense with his length, work rate, and quick reactions. His offense is still a work in progress, but his solid shooting performance and added comfort off-the-dribble in Summer League is quite encouraging.

Come playoff time, Walsh has the opportunity to soak up some bench minutes for Boston and attempt to make a positive imprint on the franchise’s quest for Banner 18.


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