The all-time Big East NBA mock draft

No. 9 overall pick in 1984

1983-84 Providence stats (Senior): 17.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks per game (missed NCAA Tournament)

Thorpe forged a 17-year NBA career on the back of his finishing and rebounding abilities, and his skill set likely would lend to having a good shot to translate to today’s game. As mentioned before, we’re assuming a modern strength and conditioning bump for him — but Kings-era Thorpe was a bouncy, fluid athlete that made him play bigger than his frame anyway. Thorpe had great footwork under the basket, relying on that to pad his excellent rebound numbers, and he was always a fantastic cutter and transition finisher at Providence. Those things would translate well today, and his motor and basketball IQ ensure that his defensive abilities likely translate to the modern defensive constructs in some capacity.

Thorpe’s lack of an outside shot might cap his effectiveness, as it means he’d strictly be a full-time four , with no ability to play the five based on size. But as an energy big? You could do a lot worse. Thorpe at the very least is a garbageman off the bench, and if his post tendencies could be redirected as more of a pick-and-roll finisher, there’s upside here.