2022 NBA Draft Profile: MarJon Beauchamp
MarJon Beauchamp could clear up some of the Hawks' issues on defense, but how does he complement the core on offense?
Welcome to The Hawks Collective newsletter! Atlanta had a disappointing yet promising season led by the continued stardom of Trae Young, Onyeka Okongwu’s development as the center of the future, and plenty more. The NBA draft takes place on June 23, so we’ll be profiling several players who the Hawks may consider selecting with its No. 16 and No. 44 picks. Today’s subject: MarJon Beauchamp of the G-League.
Measurements
Height: 6-7
Weight: 197 lbs
Wingspan: 7-1
Draft Age: 21.6 y/o
Statistical Profile
The Basics: 36.6 minutes, 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Efficiency: 57.0% on twos, 24.2% on threes, 65.0% on free throws
Advanced: 16.4% usage, 10.5% assist rate, 2.0% steal rate, 1.6% block rate
Misc: Averages of 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists on 40% shooting from three at the JUCO level a year ago.
The Intrigue
Attacking the rim: He loves to play above the rim and get to the tin. 50-percent of his shot attempts came at the rim where he finished on 77-percent of those.
Athleticism: One of the largest wingspan differentials in the class at 7’5” more than his height; Beauchamp has a freakish build with great bounce & arguably the most underrated athlete in the class.
Transition: Loves to push the pace in the open court; uses his high work rate & motor to get down the floor on both ends.
Cutting: Has a quick first step and finds paint gaps intelligently; 75-percent of his points from within 10 feet were assisted. Will play an off-ball role next to crafty passing guards very well, as he did alongside Dyson Daniels for Ignite.
The Dirty Work: Rebounding, defending, hustle plays, Beauchamp does all of it; combine that with his high rebound rate and steal rate for wing & he’s the perfect plug-in-play option.
Defending: His combination of physical tools, speed, and high motor allow him to have the upside to defend 1-4 in the NBA. Very active hands defending at the point of attack; he does a good job at creating turnovers here, then leading it to transition offense.
Areas of Improvement
Jump & Outside Shooting: He shot 24-percent from three & 37-percent on overall jump shots on the season; he plays with confidence, but the willingness to consistently shoot is still not there. Though Beauchamp did shoot 56-percent on pull-up twos, so there’s some promise.
Turnovers: Had an even assist to turnover ratio, which isn’t ideal for a low usage off-ball player. He will need to tighten up decision-making (which often plays out of control) and improve the handle to be an above-average option on the court.
Ball Handling & Shot Creation: It’s not his game & it won’t be expected of him much but is a clear limitation. 67-percent of his points for Ignite were assisted, including just two self-created step-back jumpers (both misses); unless it’s a rim attempt, Beauchamp struggles to be an advantage creator in the half-court.
Team Fit
Should the Hawks draft him at 16? Not my first choice, but not last either.
The Hawks’ wing room is filled with shooters right now. Adding Beauchamp would bring a diverse athleticism & slashing style to add to Huerter, Bogi, and Hunter. He would be an excellent complimentary piece playing off of Young, one of the best and craftiest passers in the entire NBA. You can never have enough long athleticism versatile wing defenders, especially for a team who ranked in the bottom five in defensive rating last season. In terms of draft position, there will be other players available at No. 16 that add more upside & impact but it’s easy to understand why Beauchamp could be the pick here. Even then, there are also other wing prospects that will likely go after Beauchamp that could be just as good of a fit if not a better fit in Atlanta (a la Dalen Terry).