2022 NBA Draft Profile: Tari Eason
Seattle's own Tari Eason brings chaos & energy. Would he fit alongside John Collins? Or is he a potential replacement?
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: Tari Eason of LSU.
Measurements
Height: 6-8
Weight: 217 lbs
Wingspan: 7-2
Draft Age: 21.1 y/o
Statistical Profile
The Basics: 24.4 minutes, 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Efficiency: 56.4% on twos, 35.9% on threes, 80.3% on free throws
Advanced: 30.8% usage, 10.1% assist rate, 4.5% steal rate, 6.2% block rate
Misc: 47 dunks, 13.5 box plus-minus, 33.3% on non-paint twos
The Intrigue
An explosive athlete that thrives in the open court; utilizes his length, anticipation, and movement skills to turn defense into offense.
In the half-court, he can generate self-created rim attempts; this paired with his size can help collapse the defender & open up kick-out shooters or weakside cutters.
Can be used as a roll threat out of ball screens; his explosiveness and motor can make him a mismatch nightmare inside (hence his impressive free-throw rate).
Another aspect of his defense is the ability to make rotations on the perimeter and be a defensive communicator.
Solid touch; his free throw shooting and improved efficiency on 3-point jumpers give a promise of aptness to draw closeouts.
Areas of Improvement
Eason will do anything in his power to get to his strong hand; whether he’s attacking from the perimeter or finishing at the rim, his game is heavily right-hand dominant.
Even though there’s promise in his outside shooting, it’s not a sure thing; the release is very uptight, sways right to left, and isn’t the quickest.
Team Fit
Should the Hawks draft him at 16? It very much depends
The Hawks could benefit from adding a defender like Eason, though his offensive game doesn’t complement what the team currently has. His frame is better suited for defending fours, so there’s a bit of an overlap with John Collins, who the Hawks signed to a contract extension through the 2025-26 season. If the team decides to move Collins, Eason would be the perfect supplementary option to pair with DeAndre Hunter and Okongwu for the defense of the future.