It is yet to be determined if Jase Richardson will be as good as his father Jason was in the NBA, but he could be a perfect fit for what the league wants from modern guards. His jumper and his defense look NBA-ready, making him a potential 3&D guard the NBA has loved keeping for decades.
There’s also the possibility he could be better than that. There’s not a clear picture of where Richardson will land in the draft. However, he may best fit on a team that’s vying back for the playoffs or are already there.
5 Teams That Could Draft Jase Richardson
Richardson isn’t as tantalizing as a higher draft pick, but his scoring abilities and potential as a two-way player could help strengthen a team’s playoff chances.
Orlando Magic
Since the start of their new era, the Magic’s Achilles’ heel has been their shooting. Their defense has been exceptional at full strength, but their lack of floor spacing has repeatedly been costly.
Richardson doesn’t solve that problem alone, but he’s a start, especially if his shot-creating translate into the NBA. Because of his adequate defense, he would fit into what already works well for Orlando. However, having another floor spacer that can score could take the Magic one step further.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have built a solid foundation of defense around Trae Young with Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, and Onyeka Okonqwu. Richardson gives them another solid defender to go with floor-spacing for sure, but his potential as a shot-creator could make the Hawks better.
Young is a heliocentric player, so having little pressure on Richardson to score could make him thrive. It’s hard to figure out where the Hawks are going from here, but Richardson is a scorer that could prove to be the vital piece they are looking for.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are down some shot creation after trading some unknown Slovenian at the trade deadline. Because the Mavericks have gone through the season from hell, they might be in a position to get Richardson, who could replace some for the scoring prowess they lost.
Dallas didn’t have this in mind after making a surprise run to the NBA Finals in 2024. However, Richardson’s shot-creating ability could make them a little more dynamic when they get back to full strength with Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Max Christie next season.
Oklahoma City Thunder
In a classic scenario of “the rich get richer,” the Thunder could get a complementary shot creator to pair next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. The Thunder’s defense is already impenetrable as the roster is currently constructed. Richardson’s scoring makes them tougher to beat.
Having someone with Richardson’s skillset on one of the NBA’s best teams only makes Oklahoma City more unfair for the rest of the league. If the Thunder don’t win the title in 2025, Richardson could be the last piece of the puzzle.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have been one of the NBA’s most impressive teams. Their youth movement has taken a big step forward and are in line to acquire a superstar if they want this summer. Richardson gives them some more shot creation to help take pressure off Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, and Amen Thompson.
Richardson could thrive on a team that could win now but also a team that would give them an adequate chance to prove himself as a scorer. With their excellent defense, Richardson’s potential on that end could be reached.
Richardson isn’t the same player achetype as his dad, but he won’t have to be. What he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in finesse. The team that drafts him will do so believing his scoring abilties will translate on an NBA level.