1. Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State
(Getty Images)
Strengths:
Great shooter, .846 FT%, .400 3P%, and great form show shooting should translate to NBA; can catch-and-shoot and shoot off the dribble, can post up smaller guards, soft touch around the rim, good floater
Great rebounder at the point guard position, 6.3 REB/36, uses size to box out
Good passer although he only averaged 3.5 AST/36 and 4.1 TO/36, has the size (6-7) to see over defenders and pass out of double teams, can pass on the move, pushes the ball ahead in transition
Very good ball-handler, not that explosive with the ball but uses crossovers, between the legs, and step backs to create space
Closes out well on the perimeter, in good position off-ball defensively, good help defender, can guard multiple positions due to size
Weaknesses
Not that quick or athletic, doesn’t blow past defenders off the dribble
Gets beat off the dribble often, OSU played a lot zone so it was hard to tell how good of an on-ball defender he is, defended bigger wings most of the time
Summary:
Cade Cunningham has been on the NBA radar as a top draft pick for a few years and for good reason. He's a 6-7 point guard, although his role will be more of a primary scorer than a facilitator. However, he's a good passer who can create shots for his teammates as well. A great shooter and ball handler, he can get to his spots, rise above the defense, and hit shots at an incredibly high rate. Cunningham is a pretty safe bet to contribute and has All-NBA upside.
2. Evan Mobley, C, USC
(Associated Press)
Strengths:
Talented scorer, has a very soft touch which allows him to finish finger rolls, baby hooks, and floaters, can back down and face up defenders, has good form on his jumper, should be able to develop a decent NBA three-point shot
Long, athletic big, can finish above the rim easily, lob threat in half court and transition
Great rim protector, averaged 3.1 BLK/36, great verticality to contest shots without fouling, only 1.8 fouls per game, can alter shots without jumping because he is so long, great help defender, can switch onto smaller players, moves his feet very well for someone his size, does a great job getting out to shooters
Can take defenders off the dribble, very patient when he gets the ball, doesn’t force drives when there isn’t a lane, has the length to finish over defenders
Very good passer for his size, averaged 2.5 AST/36, showed the ability to make accurate passes on the move and has really good vision for a big
Weaknesses:
Only 215 lbs, sometimes has trouble finishing through contact, can be pushed off his spot by some bigs, results in some fadeaways and tough shots, could be stronger with the ball, can get backed down defensively by bigs
Summary:
Evan Mobley is the perfect center in today's NBA. He's extremely skilled, which is why, along with his ability to guard on the perimeter, some people think he can play the four. He can protect the rim and switch onto guards, making him a great defender in the pick-and-roll. He handles the ball extremely well for a big and has a multitude of moves. Mobley has great touch around the rim and could potentially develop a three-point shot. He may have the highest upside in the draft and could easily be the best player in the draft.
3. Jalen Green, G, G League
(Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
Strengths:
Gifted scorer, fantastic finisher with soft touch around the rim, can finish through contact, it’s almost shocking when he misses at the rim
Good shooter, .365 3P% and .829 FT% suggests it should translate well to NBA, smooth (although slightly low) release, can shoot off the dribble or off the catch including coming off screens
Great athlete, fast with the ball allowing him to blow past defenders, hard to contain while dribbling, great ball-handler who uses various dribble moves to get open shots, can finish above the rim in transition and in the half-court
Pretty good passer, averaged 3.2 AST/36 in G League, makes some good reads in the pick-and-roll, throws ball ahead to teammates in transition
Weaknesses:
Took some difficult shots, especially long contested two’s, low release can make it easier to contest his jumper
Inconsistent defender, gets beat off the dribble too often, gambles for steals leaving him out of position, only 178 lbs so he struggles against bigger wings
Summary:
Green is a fantastic scorer from all three levels. He's a very good three-point shooter and can shoot on the catch and off the dribble. Green is a great athlete and finisher who has a quick first step. I have no doubt that he'll be able to score in the NBA, but the question is what else will he bring to the table? People compare him to Zach LaVine, and LaVine has turned into one of the most efficient scorers in the league, but has also been a good facilitator and has really improved defensively. I think Green has the potential to be an efficient scorer and good facilitator like LaVine, giving him All-Star potential.
4. Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga
(Darron Cummings, Associated Press)
Strengths:
Very aggressive driving to the rim, can go right and left and finish with both hands in a multitude of ways, strong finisher who doesn’t shy away from contact, can beat defenders off the dribble, great at cutting and finding gaps in the defense off the ball
Very good defender, moves his feet well on the perimeter, makes a ton of plays on defense, jumps into passing lanes to get steals, averaged 2.4 STL/36 and 0.4 BLK/36, good help defender who rotated well to contest shots at the rim, has the strength (205 lbs) to guard bigger players
Good passer, makes some good reads out of the pick-and-roll, can pass on the move with either hand, averaged 5.6 AST/36, throws the ball forward in transition
Can shoot the ball pretty well especially off the dribble (most of his 3pt attempts), only .337 3PT% in college but a .754 FT% and good shooting motion are encouraging, very good finisher, aggressive driving to the basket and doesn’t shy away from contact
Great rebounder for at the guard position, averaged 6.6 REB/36
Weaknesses:
Could be a little loose with the ball and out of control resulting in turnovers, averaged 3.6 TO/36
Summary:
Jalen Suggs was great at Gonzaga and will fit well on any team because of his great all-around game. He can score from all three levels, was a great facilitator in college, and was an extremely tough defender. I think he is better on the ball, and may need to improve shooting off the catch, but I think he will become a good enough shooter to play off-ball as well. He has the size to guard both guard positions and the potential to impact the game in many different ways.
5. Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Strengths:
Tremendous guard skills at 6-8 227 lbs, very good ball-handler and phenomenal passer for his size with great vision, acted as FSU’s point guard and lead ball-handler, averaged 5.9 AST/36, makes very accurate passes on the move, makes good reads in the pick-and-roll, throws the ball forward in transition
Very good at attacking the rim, uses strength to create space and is hard to push off his drive, has good touch around the rim, athletic finisher who uses length (7-2.75 wingspan) to finish above defenders
Uses length and quickness to cover a lot of ground defensively, does a good job getting out to shooters and contesting jump shots, does a good job of getting vertical to contest shots without fouling, can contest shots without jumping, rotates well
Has the size, strength, and quickness to defend 1-5, great lateral quickness for someone who is 6-8 227, long arms to poke the ball free, averaged 2.1 STL/36
Weaknesses:
Could have been more aggressive attacking the rim, settled for tough floaters and jump hooks when he could use his size and strength to get all of the way to the basket, often spun to his right instead of attacking to his left
Jump shot is very much a work in progress, .275 3PT% and .621 FT%, shoots a little bit of a set shot
Summary:
Scottie Barnes is this year's version of Patrick Williams: a freshman from Florida State who came off the bench and jumped up boards leading up to the draft. Barnes is a 6-8 point guard who can defend 1-5. Although his jumper needs a lot of work, his passing ability is extraordinary for someone his size. This, and his defense, gives him a good baseline in case his jumper doesn't develop, but it also gives him incredible upside.
6. Franz Wagner, F, Michigan
(Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)
Strengths:
One of the best defenders in the draft both on-ball and off-ball, has great lateral quickness and can stay in front of guards, has the size (6-9, 220 lbs) and length to defend bigger wings, he’s a playmaker on defense who deflects passes, gets steals (1.4 STL/36), and blocks shots (1.2 BLK/36), always in the right position
Has great guard skills for his size, good ball-handler and passer, averaged 3.4 AST/36, can act as the ball-handler in the pick-and-roll and makes good reads, only averaged 1.5 TO/36 so he has great ball security and makes good decisions
Shot .343 from three and .835 from the line, percentages and smooth release indicate he should be a good 3pt shooter in the NBA, able to beat defenders off straight-line drives and finish with either hand at the rim, very difficult to defend his finger roll going to the right because of his soft touch and length
Very good rebounder, averaged 7.4 REB/36, ability to grab-and-go in transition
Weaknesses:
Was a very streaky shooter in college, was not a very aggressive scorer, could be because of his role at Michigan or his limited scoring ability (or both), this limits his upside compared to other prospects
Could improve his left hand, tends to spin back to his right or shoot with his right when driving left, had some good finishes with his left but made some shots more difficult by shooting with his right
Summary:
Franz Wagner is one of the best defenders in the draft. He's got the size to defend bigs and the quickness to stay in front of quick guards. He shut Scottie Barnes down in the tournament as well. He is also very skilled offensively, handling the ball for Michigan in the pick-and-roll, and was a good, although streaky, shooter. He's also younger than some freshmen, such as Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, and Scottie Barnes, so he may have more upside than people think. Wagner may not have the upside as a shot creator like Jonathan Kuminga, James Bouknight, or Scottie Barnes, but he has an extremely high floor. He's more than just a 3-and-D player though. Every team could use a 6-9 wing who can shoot, pass, and defend multiple positions, but Wagner will get moved down some boards because of a perceived lack of upside compared to players like Barnes and Kuminga. However, his jumper is far more advanced and he is an easier prospect to project.
7. Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League
(Getty Images)
Strengths:
Great size and length for an NBA wing at 6-8, 210 lbs with a 7-foot wingspan, good rebounder, averaged 7.9 REB/36 in G League
Has very good guard skills for his size, good passer with great vision, averaged 3.0 AST/36 in G League, can make passes with either hand and in tight windows, can pass on the move and in transition, very good ball-handler, uses a wide variety of dribble moves to get open shots
Great, versatile defender, has the size and strength to defend bigs, has the quickness to defend smaller guards, recovers very well to contest the shots when beat off the dribble, very good help defender, contests and blocks shots without fouling
Although his jumper needs a lot of improvement he has shown the ability to shoot off the dribble, has pretty good form on his jumper, looks like it should go in more often than it does, ability to shoot consistently is a determinant of his upside
Weaknesses:
Needs to improve his outside shot, .246 3P% and .625 FT% in G League is cause for concern, slightly slow release
Took some difficult shots in G League such as long contested two’s and out of control lay-ups
Effort on defense could be more consistent, gets stuck on screens and loses shooters too often
Summary:
One of the most polarizing prospects in the draft, Kuminga really struggled in the G League. He has great size and athleticism and has a ton of upside as a shot creator (for himself and for his teammates) and a good defender, but only showed it in flashes in the G League. He has a high ceiling and a low floor, and his skillset combined with his size and athleticism make him very intriguing. I believe he will be closer to his ceiling than his floor, and it is hard to pass up a player with his size, athleticism, and skill level. I was very impressed with his passing and don't think he necessarily has to be the shot creator people think he can be in order to return value as a top-7 pick.
8. James Bouknight, G, UConn
(Getty Images)
Strengths:
Talented scorer and shot creator from all 3 levels, only had a .293 3PT% but great mechanics on the catch and off the dribble and a .778 FT% suggests he should be able to shoot in the NBA, plays off his jumper well by using shot fakes and in-and-out dribbles to fool defenders
Very athletic, uses quickness and a good handle to get past defenders, great finisher at the rim who uses athleticism to complete difficult shots at the rim, lob threat in the half court and in transition, good touch around the rim including floaters, very good cutter
Good rebounder at the guard position, averaged 6.4 REB/36, aggressive on the defensive boards and can grab and go
Weaknesses:
Not a great on-ball defender, too easy to beat off the dribble, not that quick laterally, wasn’t very aggressive contesting shots (this could be due to his importance to UConn offensively, making it essential that he didn’t pick up too many fouls)
Gets lost too often defending off the ball, pinches in too deep and leaves shooters open, doesn’t consistently close out well and gets beat with bad footwork or jumps on shot fakes putting him out of position, loses opponents on back cuts
Only averaged 2.0 AST/36 which is very low for a player with such high usage, drove into a congested lane instead of kicking it out leading to some turnovers or difficult shot attempts
Summary:
Bouknight is a three-level scorer with a smooth stroke. He didn't shoot very well at UConn, but his free throw percentage suggest he should be fine in the NBA. His defense is a work in progress, but he will get drafted high because he can create shots in a way that not many other prospects can. His ability to play on the ball and off, which is aided by his ability to move without the ball, allows him to fit into many different situations. He also had some very impressive finishes at the rim. His smooth offensive game is why Bouknight's stock has skyrocketed in recent weeks.
9. Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor
(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Strengths:
Shot the lights out of the ball last season, .447 3P% and .613 EFG%, shot great off the catch and off the dribble, very quick with the ball, can beat defenders off of the dribble and is a very good finisher around the rim with both hands
Elite on ball defender, great lateral quickness to stay in front of ball-handlers, drew a lot of offensive fouls by sliding his feet, averaged 2.1 STL/36,
Very good passer, averaged 6.0 AST/36, can pass on the move and with one hand, good ball-handler in the pick-and-roll, good lob passer
Extremely high effort player, works hard on both ends of the court, only 6-1 but plays taller, guarded bigger players like Cade Cunningham, improved tremendously in his time at Baylor
Weaknesses:
Career .657 FT% on 175 attempts and .312 3PT% on 157 attempts in first two college seasons, was last year an outlier or did he find his jumper?
Turns 23 in September, history isn’t kind to older lottery picks
Only 6-1, could limit versatility defensively in the NBA but he is so good on the perimeter that it shouldn’t matter too much, will be harder to see over defenders and could lead to more turnovers
Summary:
History tells us not to draft older players in the lottery, but it is hard to not to love Davion Mitchell. His defense is what stands out, but I was very impressed with his passing. These two skills should allow him to play in the league for a while at least as a backup point guard. His shooting is what will determine his ceiling in the NBA. He was fantastic shooting last year, but the same cannot be said for his previous two season. He was also a poor free throw shooter, which is discouraging. Mitchell also made a ton of tough shots at the rim, showing he can finish even though he is small in stature. History is also not kind to smaller guards like Mitchell, but his toughness, defense, and passing should make him an exception to the rule.
10. Jared Butler, G, Baylor
(Getty Images)
Strengths:
Can score from anywhere on the court, averaged 19.9 PTS/36, career .384 3PT% on 558 attempts, .782 FT% and very smooth stroke suggest his shooting should translate to the NBA, can shoot off the dribble from three and mid-range, can shoot off the catch and on the move (coming off screens)
Has a very quick crossover that helps him get to the rim, good finisher at the rim with either hand, very good touch around the rim and on his floater, .524 2PT%
Very good passer; averaged 5.7 AST/36; made great reads in the pick-and-roll, found the roll man when he was open (made good lob passes to roll man) and had the vision to see open shooters in the corner, good passer on the move
Good on ball defender, moves his feet well on the perimeter to stay in front of players, can defend either the 1 or 2
Weaknesses:
Shies away from contact, has a good floater and is a good finisher so it isn’t that big of an issue but makes some finishes and passes more difficult by adjusting mid-air, only attempted 3.0 free throws per game
Can float off the ball on defensive, could be a result of the matchup zone that Baylor played, some shooters got open by moving to the side when Butler had his back to them
Had a medical scare recently, was medically cleared by the league’s fitness-to-play panel but I don’t know anything about it (if it could affect him later on)
Summary:
One of the most underrated prospects in the draft, Jared Butler was arguably the best player on the national champion Baylor team. His offensive game is more polished than his teammate Davion Mitchell's game, but his defense isn't quite as good. Butler is a great shooter, especially off the dribble, and has a very good in between game, giving him the potential to be a go-to scorer like CJ McCollum. He is also a good passer who was very good in the pick-and-roll, so he will be able to play either on or off the ball. Butler is turning 21 in August, so he is young for a junior and has more upside than people think. If his health is not a concern, he should easily be a lottery pick.
11. Alperen Şengün, C, Beşiktaş (Turkey)
(Mehmet Eser/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Strengths:
Highly skilled 6-10 center, can score backing down or facing up, methodical post moves and spins, good touch around the rim making him a good finisher in the paint, only went 7/35 from three last season but has good mechanics and had a .794 FT% on 243 attempts, gets to the line a lot, shows he could develop a good 3pt jumper in the NBA
Uses his body very well on offense, very good at sealing his defender and getting good low post position, sets good screens which give his teammate space, good roll man in the pick and roll
Good passer for his size, made some nice passes in transition and in the half-court on the move, has the size to pass over the defense, throws the ball forward in transition
Weaknesses:
Not a great defender, flat-footed making him slow to react, gets beat off the dribble often, sometimes is slow to contest shooters if he even attempts to close out, jumps on a lot of pump fakes leading to fouls
Could improve finishing with his left, took shots that were more difficult than necessary because he tried to finish with his right when he should have used his left
Summary:
At first, Şengün looks like an old-school, back to the basket big, and although he is very good posting up, I was very intrigued with his potential as a floor spacer and facilitator. He isn't a great shooter yet, but he shot .794 from the free throw line and had very good touch. Combine that with his deliberate post moves and he is a high skilled offensive big. I don't think he would be a lottery pick with the way the game is played today if his value offensively was exclusively with his back to the basket, which is why his passing and shooting are important. His defense is the only concern, and it is a pretty big concern. I am worried he will get played off the court in the playoffs, but his offensive skillset is hard to pass up. He could be very valuable on a team with a good defensive four.
12. Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Strengths:
Best athlete in the draft class, broke the combine record with a 48” max vertical jump, tied for third fastest three quarter sprint, menace in transition
Has potential to be an elite perimeter defender, has the quickness to stay in front of even the fastest guards, has the athleticism to block/contest shots even after getting beat off the dribble, works extremely hard on this side of the court
Pretty good passer, averaged 3.5 AST/36, can pass well on the move, makes him impossible to stop in the open floor, good vision, throws the ball ahead in transition, makes the extra pass to open shooters
Showed some scoring potential, uses athleticism to get to the rim, showed flashes of an in between game with a good pull-up midrange jumper and post-up game
Weaknesses:
Jump shot still needs work, .271 3PT% on only 1.8 attempts per game and .703 FT%, jumper doesn’t look that bad but his percentages are concerning, limits his upside
Can be a little loose and careless with the ball, averaged 3.7 TO/36, had the ball stripped from him too often, could improve his footwork
Defense could use refining, gets lost off the ball a little too often, bites on fakes, sometimes a little too aggressive
Summary:
Keon Johnson is one of the most raw, yet intriguing prospects in the draft. An incredible athlete, Johnson has immense upside on both sides of the ball. His shot is a work in progress, but it actually looks pretty good, especially in the midrange. He has a very high motor, and it shows on the defensive side of the ball. His passing ability also elevates his upside. Johnson is definitely a work in progress, but the finished product could be well worth the pick.
13. Moses Moody, G/F, Arkansas
(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Strengths:
Talented scorer, averaged 17.9 PTS/36, .358 3PT% on 5.1 attempts per game and .812 FT% on 5.8 attempts per game suggest his shot should translate to NBA, good mechanics both on the catch and off the dribble, good from three and mid range
Good rebounder, especially offensively, averaged 6.1 RPG and 2.0 ORPG, uses length (7-0.75 wingspan) to grab boards
Gets to the line at a high rate, averaged 6.2 FTA/36 and shot a high percentage from the line (.812 FT%)
Showed flashes defensively, length allows him to contest and block shots, averaged 0.7 blocks/36 which is very good for a wing, cuts off driving lanes very well, doesn't allow players to go through him to get to the rim
Weaknesses:
Not as good of a finisher as you would like for a scorer, sometimes tries to shoot at the rim around multiple defenders and takes some difficult shots in close, only .486 2PT% (not sure what he shot specifically at the rim),
Can't really beat defenders off the dribble, showed the ability to shoot off the dribble but he doesn't have a lot of wiggle to get open shots, his mechanics are also a little slow so it is easy to contest his shot (although his length helps shoot over defenders)
Could be more consistent defensively, got beat off the dribble and sometimes lost defenders on the perimeter, rotations could be slow but was very good as a help defender when he rotated quickly
Summary:
Moody is one of the best shooters in the draft because of his ability to shoot off the catch, on the move, and off the dribble. He has the potential to be a good multi positional defender, he has a large wingspan, and showed flashes defensively. I thought he got beat off the dribble a little too much and lost some shooters on the perimeter, but his length and instincts helped him recover. He may be quicker defensively when his role offensively is smaller. He is not a great athlete and has trouble beating his defender off the dribble. Moody projects as a safer 3-and-D wing.
14. Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Strengths:
Fantastic shooter, .440 3PT% on 6.5 3PA/game and .878 FT% suggest his shooting should translate to the NBA, great off ball movement, can shoot well off of screens and on the move
Great touch around the rim, .628 2PT%, great finisher around the rim even though he is not a great athlete, good on straight line drives and attacking closeouts, great cutter and moves very well without the ball
Good team defender, is normally in the right position off the ball, good help defender and rotates well
Smart with the ball and makes good decisions; averaged only 1.5 TO/36, has the ability to find open teammates and pass on the move
Weaknesses:
Offensive upside is limited, already 22 years old, not a shot creator, relies on others (and off-ball movement) to create shots for him, not much of a facilitator, great finisher but not very aggressive around the rim so he doesn’t get to the line much
Not a great on ball defender, defended up a position and guarded fours mostly at Gonzaga but is only 6-7 with a 6-7 wingspan so he’ll probably guard more perimeter players in the NBA
Summary:
Corey Kispert is a three-point specialist. He is a great shooter off the catch and can shoot very well on the move. He is going to play in the NBA for a long time because of his shooting, but he is also a pretty good finisher. He is not going to blow by defenders, but he is good moving off the ball and has great touch around the rim. He is also a good team defender who is normally in the right position and works hard on that end of the court. His upside is limited but he is a pretty safe bet.
15. Jalen Johnson, F, Duke
(Reagan Lunn/Duke Athletics)
Strengths:
Big, versatile wing at 6-9 210lbs, good on straight line drives and finish at the rim with going in either direction, athletic finisher in traffic
Very good passer for his size, averaged 3.8 AST/36, has great vision and the size to see over the defense allowing him to pass out of the post, good passer on the move and in transition
Showed flashes of being a great defender especially as a rim protector, averaged 2.1 BLK/36 and 1.9 STL/36, has the size to defend some bigs, made several great help side blocks
Very good rebounder, averaged 10.2 REB/36 last season including games of 19 and 16 rebounds
Weaknesses:
Although he shot well from three, it was on only 1.4 attempts per game; shot only .632 from the line which is not promising for translating shooting to the NBA, jumper also isn’t very fluid, almost shoots on the way down
Effort on defense could be more consistent especially off the ball, was late to close out and contest shots on the perimeter and lost some shooters, lets some opponents go by him instead of helping
Didn’t always use his size to his advantage, got pushed off his drive too easily forcing tough shots around the rim, settled for mid-range jumpers instead of attacking, didn’t always put a body on his man on rebounds even though he averaged a lot of rebounds
Summary:
A difficult prospect to project because he left Duke during the season, Jalen Johnson has a ton of upside. He is a highly skilled, 6-9 forward who can beat his defender off the dribble and finish inside. He also has great vision and is a very good passer for his size, which is what is driving his stock up. His shooting is a concern though as he had poor mechanics and free throw percentage even though shot well at Duke (in limited attempts). Johnson has potential defensively, he made a ton of great plays on this end, but his effort wasn't always there. I'm not sure what to make of him leaving Duke, I'm not going to penalize him for it since I don't know him personally. I am more concerned about his effort and the fact that he didn't take advantage of his size and athleticism enough at Duke.
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