Medical Flags Take Center Stage In 2016 NBA Draft

Caris Levert

Michigan’s star guard Caris LeVert is one more back court prospect with nagging list of injuries. The senior prospect has dealt with a nagging foot injury over the previous two seasons that required two surgeries and cut his 2014-15 campaign short.  Eventually, the senior guard would have a season ending injury on December 30, 2015, but the decision to shut him down was not made until March 1st, 2016.

"“After some prayer and talking it over with my family, coach [John] Beilein and the medical staff, we all feel it is best for me to concentrate on getting fully healthy,” LeVert said in announcing the decision. “There is still some discomfort that does not allow me to help this team the way I want.”"

Levert is an explosive scorer who also contributes rebounds as shooting guard.  He is also proficient at distributing the basketball and  is a  strong on-ball defender.   That performance led him to be projected initially as a mid first round prospect.

But the late season injury was just one more in a string of injuries,  and the difficulty of getting Levert back onto the court has raised flags in the NBA circles.

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His stock has dropped , and may fall out of the first round.  Due to his offense and defense proficiency at the two, he would be another intriguing prospect to consider lat in round one.

In the end, some medical, interview, or work ethic flags may surprise on draft night by dropping a highly regarded prospect to fall to the Philadelphia 76ers late in round one.  If that prospect has the critical skill-sets sought by the Sixers, we can hope that the decision will be made in that instance to seize the opportunity.

But the Sixers have seized the opportunity of a draft prospect who fell due to health concerns and they are structured to be able to do so this year.  Once more, this will be determined by the randomness of an NBA draft.  But the team should be prepared if that happens.