2016 NBA Mock Draft: Who will teams be tanking for next year?
22. Troy Williams – Indiana – SF
Troy Williams might be the rawest prospect on this list, but the potential for him is clear. He has solid size at 6’6” on the wing to go with a well-built frame that doesn’t allow him to get outmuscled. His athleticism is his greatest asset, which he used to his advantage at times on defense and often in transition.
Williams’ biggest issues are his lack of jump shot and his poor defensive awareness. The forward shied away from taking jumpers last season and didn’t hit many when he did put them up. He also got lost on defense occasionally, largely due to a lack of awareness or poor fundamentals defensively.
Though his jump shot is a concern, his potential as an athlete and defender are enticing attributes at the NBA. His stock will depend on how much he matures this season in terms of his game, but his physical tools are enough to push him into the first round.
23. Antonio Blakeney – LSU – SG
Antonio Blakeney is an interesting prospect for the next level for a number of reasons. First and foremost is his complete game in terms of scoring the basketball. He can penetrate and get to the rim, where he’s also able to finish through contact with good size for a guard. However, he can also step out on the perimeter and knock down shots when he has looks to do so.
What’s interesting, though, is that his biggest areas of improvement are his engagement defensively and his facilitating. He’s capable defensively, but has to remain locked in on that end of the floor. In terms of facilitating, though, how he performs in that regard will be seen immediately as he plays alongside Ben Simmons at LSU. If he can effectively set up Simmons in the offense, it will do a great deal to help Blakeyney’s already relatively high draft stock.
24. Daniel Hamilton – UConn – SG
Daniel Hamilton has all of the tools to be a lottery pick. He has tremendous size for a shooting guard at 6’7”, though his frame does still need to fill out. Moreover, he can score in a variety of ways and has physical tools that help him on the offensive end and make you wonder about his defensive potential.
Despite all of the things that Hamilton can do, it’s what he doesn’t do that stands out. He hasn’t proven to be an exceptionally willing passer or a player even remotely interested in defending. If he can maintain his offense while making strides in terms of his defensive effort, though, Hamilton has the potential to go way higher than late in the first round.
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