Donatas Motiejunas NBA Draft Profile and Scouting Report

Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania -- 2010 NBA Draft Profile
Position: Power Forward / Center | Height: 7-0 | Weight: 224
Class: N/A | Age: 19 | Hometown: Kaunas, Lithuania

2009 Stats (Euroleague): 7.5 points | 3.3 rebounds | 52.6 field goal percentage | Game Log
NBA Mock Draft Ranking: 13

Donatas Motiejunas Video Highlights: YouTube

Donatas Motiejunas Scouting Report

Strengths: A silky smooth shooting lefty at 7-0, Motiejunas is an uncommon blend of talent. His colossal box of tools make him a fascinating option towards the tail-end of the lottery where the quality level in this draft starts to drop off. At 7-0, Motiejunas is arguably the best passing big men available. His size allows him to see over the top of defenses, while his high understanding and functionality make him a threat to pass from anywhere on the floor. Mechanically, his jumper is aesthetically pleasing, although he doesn't display the same consistency from three as Andrea Bargnani, another European transplant that has a similar type of game. Motiejunas is however, just as good if not better from mid-range, where he faces up from the elbow and shoots with ease over smaller defenders. Like many other young players in the draft, he needs to add bulk -- as in a lot of bulk -- so he can battle inside and be more than just a skilled big. This will especially help him offensively, as he already possesses a soft touch and the ability to score with either hand underneath. He just needs to establish the position.



Share Weaknesses: Just that, his weakness. Motiejunas is the epitome of "rail thin," barely hovering over 200 pounds. Like many Europeans, the Lithuanian is pretty soft for his size, often opting to hang on the perimeter instead of bang down low (think Danilo Gallinari or Toni Kukoc), and he becomes a bit of a drifter (hello Bargnani), which is something his coaching staff will dread. Defensively, with his length and innate feel for the game, he does some things well, but his strength deficiencies will become even more of a problem in the NBA game.

Much like Hassan Whiteside, Motiejunas gets backed into the post very easily, offering little to no resistance and thus giving up easy opportunities at the basket. Defending the pick-and-roll is another huge concern, as Motiejunas lacks lateral foot speed and has no concept of a defensive stance. He struggles hedging ball screens and often gets lost, either caught trying to switch or in no-man's land. As a result, his NBA readiness is in doubt, so for the teams that require immediate frontcourt help, Motiejunas may not be worth the flyer. Because he's not really a tenacious, go-and-get-it type of rebounder, his only real value right now is at the offensive end, and even there, he has struggled with consistency from three.

Forecast: With Rudy Gay likely gone to free agency and Zach Randolph potentially gone after next season, a scoring need is prevalent in Memphis, and the 19-year-old Motiejunas would be a nice fit. If the Griz do pass on him, he won't last past the Bulls at No.17. Looking ahead, while Motiejunas doesn't ever need to be a bruiser, his unaggressive play on defense and on the glass is a legitimate concern. If he could just become more assertive on the interior, Motiejunas has the skills to be a plus starter in the league. That's a big "if," though. I do like that he's shown a general willingness to put the ball on the floor and post up from 15 feet instead of just bombing from the perimeter. His talent level is one of the highest in this draft, but so is his risk factor. Five years down the road, whomever takes him will either look like a total genius or an utter fool.

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