RADIO
Position: PF/C
Team: Portland Blazers
Draft Spot: 1.26
Analysis: Swanigan is a player that was dominant in the NCAA, but did not project well in the NBA. That caused him to slide on draft day, but he was still selected in the late first round. It seems as if those skills have translated to the NBA, though, as Damian Lillard has stated multiple times that he believes Swanigan will win Rookie of the Year.
Swanigan enjoyed a great freshman campaign before breaking out as a sophomore. In 35 starts during his sophomore campaign, Swanigan averaged 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 32.5 minutes per game. He was also an efficient scorer, shooting 54.8% from two-point range, 44.7% from three-point range, and 78.1% from the free throw line. It is a wonder after this season how he fell so far in the draft.
Swanigan was drafted into an interesting situation, as the Blazers could opt to start him at power forward to begin the season. He showcased his skills once against in the Summer League, averaging 16.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals in 30.8 minutes per game. Regardless of if he starts or not, he is expected to have a sizable role after the Blazers have hinted that they believe he is a Rookie of the Year candidate.
Bottom Line: Swanigan will produce points and rebounds at a high level. He can also produce assists and steals. Furthermore, he is a fairly efficient player, but his averages could drop as he adjusts to the speed of the NBA.
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