Michigan basketball: Danny Wolf, Vladislav Goldin selected in pre-NCAA Tournament mock draft
The Michigan Wolverines‘ big man duo Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin are on display this week at the NCAA Tournament as potential NBA Draft prospects. Each has the potential to be a force for U-M in its run through the tournament, which could put them on pro radars.
Both Michigan stars are draft picks in a mock draft released by The Athletic ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Wolf headlines the pair as the No. 30 overall pick of the Phoenix Suns by way of a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Why not close it out with another tremendously polarizing player in Wolf?” Sam Vecenie writes for the outlet. “There is no more capable big with the ball in his hands than Wolf, a ridiculously gifted playmaker at 7 feet who runs actions as a pick-and-roll ballhandler for Michigan. He’s averaging 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, and I think the four assists undersell his passing ability. He throws some incredibly creative looks. The scouts who love bigs who handle the ball are all over Wolf as an intriguing upside swing. And yet, it’s far from unanimous because the flaws are significant.
“Wolf’s jumper is a serious work in progress right now despite the fact that he hit 34 percent from 3 on four attempts per game. The mechanics are messy and could be more problematic as he moves farther back beyond the NBA 3-point line. His turnover issue is serious, as he’s averaging 3.3 per game. But most importantly, scouts are completely unclear on whom Wolf guards. He’s not a particularly explosive leaper despite having real athleticism and coordination, so he’s unlikely to be a high-level rim protector. However, he also doesn’t really move well enough to guard on the perimeter. Answering those questions will be critical to his NBA future. Anywhere from No. 20 to all the way down to No. 40 feels right at this point.”
Goldin was a late-second-round pick in Vecenie’s mock, coming off the board at No. 57 overall, again to the Suns. A writeup was not included, but Max Rosenberg of Babcock Hoops profiled Goldin’s game over the weekend.
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“Vladislav Goldin is a highly efficient interior scorer with a strong face-up game and improving touch from mid-range,” Rosenberg said. “At 7’1” and 250 lbs, he has the physical presence to bully smaller defenders in the post and is particularly effective in big-to-big pick-and-roll situations, where he uses his strength and positioning to finish at a high percentage. His shot-blocking ability and high motor make him a reliable defensive anchor, as he consistently contests shots and deters opponents in the paint.
“While Goldin has shown flashes of three-point shooting ability, his offensive game can be predictable and methodical in the paint. He needs to add more variety to his post moves and improve his playmaking ability when facing double teams. Defensively, his foot speed in switches is a concern, as he may struggle against quicker, more athletic forwards and wings at the next level.”
Michigan’s NCAA Tournament run kicks off at 10 p.m. Thursday in Denver against the No. 12-seeded UC San Diego Tritons.
