1) Deandre Ayton – Arizona
Age: 19.91
Position: C
Height: 7’1”
Weight: 250
Wingspan: 7’5″
Dominating physical presence. Ayton is more physically developed than several players in the NBA at 19 years old. Has already developed a semblance of a mid-range shot which he can hit fairly consistently. Three-point range is suspect, seems a bit out of his range right now. Post-game and general basketball fundamentals are in the development stage. Shows great quickness in the post and even off the bounce after shot fakes. Will need to fine tune the little things on offense to unlock 20+ PPG potential which should be well within reach. Near guarantee as a 20/10 guy making him the safest pick in the draft. Will need to improve substantially on the defensive end, where he was subpar. Has the quickness, strength and length to dominate on this end but where was the production? Is it a matter of effort or basketball IQ? Does he have the heart to be a dominant all-around player for years to come or will he continue to ride off his talent? Similar to Joel Embiid on the offensive end but far from his level on the defensive end. Too elite of an athlete to pass up. Especially with his already consistent mid-range jump shot and . The team that drafts him will have to hope they can motivate him to play defense. If they do, they’ll have an All-NBA caliber player on their hands.
2) Marvin Bagley III – Duke
Age: 19.27
Position: F/C
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 220
Wingspan: 7’0.5”
One of the quickest twitch athletes in this year’s draft. Uses his quick bounce off the floor and size to sky for rebounds. One of the more tenacious and athletic rebounders in the class, though could learn to box out more often. This same athleticism makes him a terror in transition and around the glass. Was somewhat limited to these two areas during his lone season at Duke. Think there is more upside here. Showed semblance of a handle, think he has the coordination to develop it as time goes on. Reminds me a bit of Chris Bosh coming out of Georgia Tech. Solid post moves and touch with his left hand, right hand is non-existent. Will need to add that to his repertoire if he wants to be able to score consistently in the NBA. Shooting form looks solid, brings the ball back a little too much but the motion is fluid and balanced. Will need to clean up his mechanics a bit to be a consistent shooter but hit 39.7% of his 1.8 3PA per game at Duke. Biggest struggle right now is defense. Not a rim protector. Some analysts think he’s a 5 with no defense, but I think he can survive at the 4 with his athleticism. Even at that position he’ll need to learn the game from that end even more.
3) Luka Doncic – Real Madrid
Age: 19.31
Position: G/F
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 218
Wingspan: N/A
The purest basketball player in this draft. Not your typical top-3 pick in terms of athletic ability, average to above-average. High floor, ceiling is a question. Can play with any group of players. At a young age he has already mastered many nuances of the game. People will call him a small forward who can pass, but he’s really a 6’7″ point guard. Still capable of playing multiple positions if needed. Great playmaker with the vision to wait an extra 0.5-1 second for a passing lane to open up and make a great pass instead of a good one. What really impressed me was his ability to make reads on players outside of the pick-and-roll action he was so frequently involved in. Good, but not great, shooter. Has developed a very solid step-back jumper, which he’ll need with his lack of athleticism. Total gamer. Was Real Madrid’s go to guy in the clutch. Does not always need to take the last shot himself, but you’re confident he’ll make the right play. Does all the little things to help your team win. Unprecedented track record for a player this young from Europe. Won EuroBasket and EuroLeague and named the Euro League MVP. To put this in perspective the second youngest player to win Euro League MVP was 23-year old Milos Teodosic, Luka Doncic was 19 years old. Capped it off with a Spanish league championship two days before the draft. The most accomplished international prospect to come into the NBA. Is he transcendent in terms of his natural feel for the game (a la Larry Bird) or just a very polished European (Ricky Rubio with a jump shot)?
4) Mohamed Bamba – Texas
Age: 20.11
Position: C
Height: 7’0.75”
Weight: 225
Wingspan: 7’10”
Let’s just get it out of the way now, his length is elite. Recorded an all-time NBA combine record with a 7’10” wingspan. To put that in perspective, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, measured in at 7’9”. For his exaggerated size, Bamba maintains good mobility. Flashed the ability to hit the three in college, but needs to fine tune his mechanics. Currently he has sort of a slingshot release as the ball comes off even from his head. He has already begun working on his mechanics since the college season ended. Unavoidable to think of Rudy Gobert who can hit open threes. Very good in interviews with teams so far. Excitement is founded, but still had a ways to go before reaching his peak. Doesn’t always put in constant effort throughout the game. Still needs to develop his shot and some post moves. High upside with a floor of a rim protector. Not sure he has the potential to be he best player in the draft, but certainly top-3.
5) Jaren Jackson Jr – Michigan State
Age: 18.76
Position: F/C
Height: 6’11.25″
Weight: 236
Wingspan: 7’5.25″
Let me start off by saying I love Jackson’s game, but believe he’s getting just a bit too much hype. Not quite a franchise altering prospect, but certainly a foundation piece on a championship contender. The most versatile defender in this draft. Can legitimately switch 1-5 right now, not just potentially as talked about with other big man prospects. Also an instinctual shot blocker that is good at being patient and using his length – at times. Had major problems in college fouling players early and often, one of the reasons he played just 21.8 minutes per game. On the offensive side, Jackson does not yet offer too much in the post. Not overly explosive, needs to rely on length and gather time to finish above opponents in the paint. The true reason he’s getting so much hype is due to his shooting ability. Shot 39.6% on 2.7 3PA a game, great numbers for a freshman big. Nearly all of these were spot-ups, don’t expect him to hit shots off ball screens anytime soon. Not sure I entirely trust his mechanics, despite the numbers. Has a push shot. Release is relatively quick but not sure he’ll be able to consistently hit these at the NBA level. This will pretty much determine his overall value as I expect his defense to translate.
6) Michael Porter Jr – Missouri
Age: 19.98
Position: F
Height: 6’10.75″
Weight: 215
Wingspan: 7’0.25″
The most upside of anyone in this draft. It’s a shame that his back injury deprived us of the opportunity to see his game this year, while also leaving uncertainty going forward. Without being a doctor and seeing medical records, makes it too risky to tag him as the top player in the draft though his talent justifies it. With limited tape, you can see the potential. Extremely large size for the position. Not quite a Durant in terms of athleticism for size, probably the a few tiers below that, and one above Brandon Ingram. In today’s game, can see him get away with playing a lot of 4. Can legitimately shoot it, not a project in this category. Impressive handle and mobility for his size. Some concern about his ability to consistently blow by defenders. If he does spend most of his time at the 4, there are questions about his ability to defend and rebound there. If there are zero concerns about his back going forward, he has the potential to be the best player in this draft. If healthy he will prove this, but we’ve seen injuries ruin players’ careers before and back injuries are risky long-term.
7) Zhaire Smith – Texas Tech
Age: 19.05
Position: G/F
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 198
Wingspan: 6′ 9.75”
Freak athlete, likely the steal of this draft wherever he goes (8 or lower). Not only athletic but a high motor. Two things you cannot teach. Showed flashes of being able to score off the dribble, though was not at all his role in college, played more in the post at Texas Tech. With a couple years of development and proper coaching he will start to develop as a defensive force and formidable offensively. Jumper is slow releasing but generally solid form and gather, good mechanics. Needs to learn to speed it up and gain consistency. Seems to know what he’s doing on the defensive end in terms of rotation. Can tell in his game he is competitive, wants to win. Master of put backs dunks. Literally put together a highlight reel of them in just one season at Texas Tech. Can he develop offensively to be a reliable option? That will really determine how big of a steal he is. Even just being a 3-and-D type player will make him good value in his projected range though (8-18). Well worth the gamble on his ceiling once you’re outside the top 7 or 8.
8) Trae Young – Oklahoma
Age: 19.75
Position: PG
Height: 6’1.75”
Weight: 177
Wingspan: 6’3″
The most polarizing prospect in the draft. Is he Stephen Curry or Jimmer Fredette? Somewhat in the middle. Will not bust out of the league but wouldn’t be shocked to see him resigned to a backup/6th man role. Due to his shooting mechanics, has unlimited range but releases the shot a little too low for my liking. Shot not as natural, more mechanical than Curry. When he hits lapses in shooting performance, will he have the confidence to bounce back? Curry became great because he was a complete natural who put in the work. Was also an unselfish player. Young seems to be too much for his own glory at this stage in the game, proving he can hit deep shots rather than being in his range/good shots. Led him to take deep threes last year in key stretches. Because of Curry establishing this player type, Young got more hype than Curry ever got in college. Definitely backed these expectations up on the stat sheet. However, they felt more artificial than when watching Curry at Davidson. Seemed to be more the Trae Young show than getting points naturally as part of the offense. Teammates were often left in the dark. That won’t happen in the NBA. One of the keys to Curry’s success is his humility and ability to play off other players, and within the system when needed. Did not see that from Young last year. Besides shooting, Young has a good handle and solid quickness to get by defenders. This separation allows him to get buckets at the rim as defenders always have to respect his pull-up jumper. Solid vision, made really good passes at times. Assists numbers were high, but not necessarily indicative of his command of the offense. Committed 5.2 TOV per game to go with his gaudy numbers. Not there yet, will have to get better at involving teammates and understanding flow of the game. Can’t have the ball in his hands all the time like at Oklahoma, therefore won’t put up the same numbers. Doesn’t mean he won’t be effective, but has to adjust his game a bit. Projects as a huge liability on defense. Diminutive stature, in today’s switching NBA he’ll be targeted early and often. Lack of size is one thing, also showed limited interest/effort in defending which compiles his lack of physique. His offense is not a sure translation to the next level and his defense is a huge liability. If he puts it all together has a high ceiling, but will take a mentality change.
9) Lonnie Walker – Miami
Age: 19.52
Position: G
Height: 6’4.5″
Weight: 196
Wingspan: 6′ 10.25”
Started off the year recovering from an Achilles injury. Put him at somewhat of a disadvantage as a freshman. Nonetheless, Walker ended up being one of Miami’s go-to scorers. Fearless, but inefficient (41.5% FG) scorer in his freshman year. Reminds me a bit of JR Smith, in terms of being a fearless athlete who has issues with shot selection. If he grows out of this, could be a very potent scorer at the next level. Explosive athlete who can blow by defenders. Showed the ability to hit pull-up jumpers with relative consistency. Handle is above average, but could stand to improve if he wants to create as often as he tried to at Miami. Comfortable hitting tough shots on the move. Has good defensive upside due to athleticism and length. Showed flashes of this at Miami but also mental lapses both on and off the ball. Will need to prove he can improve his handle and shot selection before he can be considered anything more than a 6th man.
10) Jerome Robinson – Boston College
Age: 21.33
Position: G
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 188
Wingspan: 6’7.25”
Definitely an intriguing mid-first round talent. His game, strictly from a scoring perspective, reminds me a bit of CJ McCollum. Robinson is a versatile scorer. Adept at using the rim to shield him away from defenders as he finishes in the lane. Capable of pulling up from anywhere, and knocking down shots. Has one of the best looking shots in the draft, and good job of maintaining form/balance while shooting on the run. Likes stopping midway through a drive for a pull-up in the paint. Can hit it off the pass or off the dribble. Has some playmaking ability, can handle running some offense as a secondary option. Not the best defender, but has the tools to be average at least. Will be a scorer at the next level, how much he’s willing to commit to defense will determine if he can be a full-time starter or a spark plug off the bench. Just looks like an NBA level scorer, like his upside despite being a Junior.
11) Wendell Carter Jr – Duke
Age: 19.18
Position: F/C
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 257
Wingspan: 7’4.5″
Good size and frame. A decade ago Carter Jr. would have been a perfect pick in the lottery. Jack of all trades, good at many things but not great at anything. Good rebounder, defender. Smart player. Not overly athletic, may get killed on pick-and-rolls defensively. Will have to play the 5 in the NBA to have success. Shot mechanics look good (41% on 1.2 3PA) likely the best of all the bigs in this draft, but would’ve liked a bigger sample size. All the intangibles you’d want on your team…team defending, passing, etc. Comparisons to Al Horford are not unjustified, but Carter is a notch or two below that. Not sure you’re ever going to be able to give him the ball and as him to go get a bucket. In today’s NBA think you’d want a more athletic 5 like a Clint Capela than a traditional one like Carter. One of the exciting parts of his game is his ability to hit shots on the move. Gets good elevation and balance while doing this but still very much in the development phase. Carter will be a solid NBA center, but has limited upside.
12) Kevin Knox – Kentucky
Age: 18.86
Position: F
Height: 6’9″
Weight: 235
Wingspan: 6’11.75”
Has all the size you’d want in a combo forward in today’s NBA. Doesn’t quite have the athleticism to match – more of a concern on defense than offense. For his size, Knox is very good at shooting off the dribble. Form is a bit suspect and mechanical. Would rather him shooting off the bounce than a spot-up. Doesn’t utilize his size in the post nearly as much as he should. Maybe the best floater in the entire draft. Still would like to see him develop some post-ups and be more aggressive attacking the glass. One of the youngest players in the draft, time to improve. Defense was concerning at Kentucky. Really lackadaisical at times on both ends of the court. What does he offer a team besides scoring? Doesn’t have a great feel for the game in terms of getting teammates involved, not the best defender or rebounder. You’re betting on his scoring and belief you can coach him in the other areas. Certainly has the size and tools to learn. Reminds me of a Rudy Gay type of player, but not every player is the same.
13) Collin Sexton – Alabama
Age: 19.46
Position: G
Height: 6’1.5″
Weight: 183
Wingspan: 6’7.25”
Measured shorter than he was listed in college. Was listed as 6’3” in college but measured at 6’1.5” in shoes at the combine. Has a relatively large wingspan of 6’7.25”. Bull dog of a player. Constantly giving effort on both ends of the floor. Relentlessly attacks the rim on offense. Aggressive and strong, but sometimes lack of height and touch was evident. Tenacious defender when he’s locked in, though only averaged 0.8 steals per game. Can lose focus on defense off the ball. Shot decently from beyond the arc (33.6%), but shot and mechanics are a bit awkward at this stage. Needs to learn to slow it down and get a better handle on the game overall. Too many times recklessly attacked the rim when he could have changed speeds or hesitated to get better looks for himself or teammates. Has the speed, strength, wingspan and mentality to make up for his lack of height. If he can’t learn to shoot consistently, may be consigned to a low-end starter or bench energy player which is not the worst thing. Has a place in the league.
14) Miles Bridges – Michigan State
Age: 20.25
Position: F
Height: 6’6.75”
Weight: 220
Wingspan: 6’9.5”
Very good, but not great athlete. Has the height and wingspan of an ideal 2 but the weight and explosiveness of a 3. What helps his value is potential as a stretch 4. Think of the role Tobias Harris has filled next to Andre Drummond. But that also means he’ll be a liability against bigger 4s. Hard worker. Despite putting up nearly identical numbers his sophomore year at Michigan State, was forced to play a much different game. Freshman year he was at the 4, this year he was at the 3. Gives him a year of experience at each position which should help him play both at the next level. Good, compact shooting mechanics. Has a quick release that should help against the bigger defenders he’ll likely face. Willing defender who can move laterally to stay in front of his man, but due to lack of length not the most effective contests. The key to everything is his handle and ability to create off the dribble. If he can figure this out he has all-star potential, otherwise he’s a role player.
15) Mikal Bridges – Villanova
Age: 21.81
Position: F
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 210
Wingspan: 7’1″
Really solid shooter, used his length and elevation to get above defenders’ reach in college and confidently knock down shots. That skill will certainly translate to the NBA. The question is how often he’ll get to unleash it. Will never put the ball in his hands to get a bucket. Was able to do this a few times in college, but his lack of ball handling and athleticism will make this a less than ideal scenario in the NBA. Don’t think he’ll be in that Klay Thompson/Kyle Korver stratosphere in terms of shooting ability, likely a step below. Solid off the ball movement but not as gifted as those two in terms of getting free. Development of off-ball movement will be key in offensive success. A solid defender, but his value here is being overstated a bit. Think he will be a great team defender but would not expect him to come in and shut down NBA small forwards. Simply does not have the lateral quickness for this. Will be a very solid role player who will likely get overdrafted.
16) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Kentucky
Age: 19.94
Position: G
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 180
Wingspan: 6’11.5”
The biggest point guard in the draft. Gilgeous-Alexander is a smooth, rather than explosive, athlete. Unexpectedly became Kentucky’s best player last year despite a relative lack of hype. Not the best athlete, but is very crafty finishing around the rim. Uses a repertoire of off-foot finishes as well as floaters. Good at getting his teammates involved, lots of upside as the primary ball-handler. Shooting is a bit suspect. Shot 40.4% on 1.5 3PA per game (less attempts than the big men at the top of the class). Shot off the move is pretty ugly due to bad footwork. A slight 180 pounds for his 6’6″ frame coming in at 3% body fat. Will need to bulk up to play major minutes in the NBA. Really good defensive upside. One of the rare players who wants to defend, and has elite size for his position to do it. Does get blown by a bit too often by smaller, quicker guards. Gilgeous-Alexander will have to develop a shot have a chance at being a very good all-around player in the NBA. His size and feel for the game are his best attributes.
17) Donte DiVincenzo – Villanova
Age: 21.39
Position: G
Height: 6’4.5″
Weight: 200
Wingspan: 6’6”
Average size for a guard, but pretty good athlete. Had a 42″ vertical leap at the combine. One of the best shooting forms in this class – quick, compact. Didn’t get to show everything as he has due to Brunson and Bridges being the stars at Villanova. Think there is untapped potential here as a playmaker. Very good bench player in the making at the next level, with upside to start later in his career.
17) Troy Brown Jr – Oregon
Age: 19.94
Position: F
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 180
Wingspan: 6’11.5”
Might be the most versatile player in the draft. Can do a bit of everything. Projects as a good defender at the next level, can defend 2-4 due to his size/length. Can shoot when he’s open as well as push the ball in transition. Capable of being a reliable playmaker at times. Grew up playing point guard before he hit a growth spurt. Has a Draymond Green feel to him, but not as good defensively. Maybe a smaller, slightly more athletic Kyle Anderson. Teams will take a risk on his versatility in the mid-to-late first round.
18) De’Anthony Melton – USC
Age: 19.94
Position: G
Height: 6’3.25″
Weight: 193
Wingspan: 6’8.5”
Unfortunate to be named in the FBI investigation, costing him his sophomore year in college. That extra draft profiling could have landed him in the mid-first round to lottery. His calling card at the next level is as a defender, has potential to be elite. Should be able to effectively guard 1-3, has a 6’8” wingspan and is active defensively. Averaged 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game his freshman year in 27 minutes per game. Scoring, and more specifically shooting, is the big question mark here. Only shot 28.4% from three his freshman year. Could he have improved that this past year? Will be a big question mark for teams. Showed playmaking ability with 3.5 assists per game and helps out with rebounding with 4.7 rebounds. Offense will push him down draft boards, but it shouldn’t. Potentially a Marcus Smart type.
19) Tony Carr – Penn State
Age: 20.69
Position: G
Height: 6’4.5″
Weight: 198
Wingspan: 6’8.25”
Probably should have stayed one more year in college. Wasn’t the most efficient player at Penn State, but was overly relied on, their primary source of offense. Athletic, but not particularly explosive. Relies on his strength, footwork and handle to get into the paint and score. Strong post player for a guard, found himself there often in college and has a good foundation. Can both drive and hit shots off post moves. Shot mechanics are not the best, a bit mechanical. A good distributor, creative and methodical when making decisions. Won’t blow by his defender and make passes with consistency. Should spend some time in the D-League to develop his shooting, but not an indictment of his talent. Like his upside more than most. Believe he can be a very versatile player at the next level.
20) Robert Williams – Texas A&M
Age: 20.68
Position: C
Height: 6’9″
Weight: 235
Wingspan: 7’4”
Elite length for his size. Will be a center in the NBA, doesn’t have much offensive upside outside of being a lob/putback threat. When he was locked in, Williams was a very good rim protector in college. Solid rebounder. Williams has the potential to be that lob/rim protector big we see in the NBA but really needs to put in more consistent effort and focus. At this spot, talent and risk match.
21) Kevin Huerter – Maryland
Age: 19.82
Position: F
Height: 6’7.25″
Weight: 194
Wingspan: 6’7.5”
Not quite sure what his role is at the next level, likely a versatile bench player. Really one of the more versatile offensive players in the class. Shot well in college from three. Can hit shots off the dribble and in spot up situations. Doesn’t need much time to get looks. Can stand to clean up his feet on jumpers. Not just a shooter. Has the ability drive, usually setup from a shot fake or bad closeout. Not a straight line driver, has multiple speeds and moves from his footwork that allow him to get off shots. Also has some playmaking ability. Showed the ability to be a secondary ball-handler for Maryland last year. Questions will be if he’s great enough at anything to be a consistent starter. Either way like his upside.
22) Elie Okobo – Élan Béarnais
Age: 20.66
Position: G
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 194
Wingspan: 6’8”
Quick, crafty guard coming out of France. Able to hit pull-up jumpers over screens and has the ability to blow by defenders at times. Mainly operated out of the PnR and was good at it. Looked comfortable as the primary playmaker. Not too much is known definitively about Okobo, but he possesses the athleticism, shot making ability and playmaking ability out of the pick-and-roll you would want in the NBA.
23) Keita Bates-Diop – Ohio State
Age: 22.41
Position: F
Height: 6’8.5″
Weight: 223
Wingspan: 7’3.25”
Bates-Diop has tremendous wingspan for his size/position. Should primarily a 4 in the NBA. Could always rebound/defend in college, but became Ohio State’s primary offensive option his senior year. Has some ability to score off the dribble. Improved his jump shot but not sure how trustworthy it really is. Worth a late round flier as a stretch(ish) 4.
24) Melvin Frazier – Tulane
Age: 21.81
Position: G/F
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 198
Wingspan: 7’1.75”
Similar to Diop, great size/length for his position. Frazier has even more defensive upside on the perimeter (averaged 2.2 steals per game). Showed an improvement in his shooting his Junior year. If he can more consistently hit that jump shot could be a solid 3-and-D player in the NBA. Does have some handle, but not enough to consistently handle the ball. May just end up as a defensive specialist.