The Step Back 2020 NBA Draft Big Board: Summer Update
With an official timetable for the 2020 NBA Draft proposed, Trevor Magnotti and Jackson Frank have updated their big board after three months of being quarantined and watching film.
This was supposed to be our final big board for the 2020 NBA draft. Three months ago, we were just entering conference tournament season, and it looked like we were on pace for an incredibly wild draft that no one could predict. Instead, the draft is now in October, we don’t have an NCAA Tournament or NBA Draft Combine data set, and we have a scenario where eight teams are done for the year for certain, lottery hopes high, only to be potentially usurped by one of the fringe playoff teams that’s been invited to Orlando. We’re starting to get some clarity on how the season will end, but some areas of the draft process are as in flux as ever.
That said, the layoff has actually provided some clarity on the 2020 NBA Draft class as a whole. Scouts and NBA front offices have had little to do besides grind film on these prospects, with no new data points available, and that means we finally have a good grip on how to rank many of these uniquely confounding players in the class. A top tier that was once as big as 8-9 players has been whittled to four names that constitute the top four of most boards — LaMelo Ball, Onyeka Okongwu, Anthony Edwards, and Killian Hayes. None are your typical top overall prospect, but all four seem to either have a shot to be a star or a high likelihood of being an elite role player.
As we go through the next four months, more should continue to crystallize, especially if we get live workouts again prior to the draft. But the period right prior to when the draft was supposed to be seems like a good time for a significant update. Jackson Frank and I have been sifting through as much film as we can to try to have a good understanding of each player on our boards, and for the most part, we have good continuity in terms of general rankings. Below, you’ll find our updated combined top 60 rankings, sorted into six tiers.
Tier 1
1
LaMelo Ball SG
Ball is far and away the best facilitator in this class, inventing passes nobody else can imagine and doing so with either hand. At 6-foot-7 with impressive body flexibility/contortion, he creatively gets to spots on the court where he can leverage his playmaking talent to prop up offenses. The jumper remains a work in progress but he’s a willing shooter — which should stress defenses alone — and has made notable strides over the past few years and further strength gains will help improve his balance, a key trait for him. His defense, particularly on the ball, is worrisome, but the off-ball instincts he’s shown are encouraging and physical development should help as well. Simply put, there’s nobody else in the class who matches or approaches his blend of size, intelligence and playmaking, which gives him the nod at first overall.
2
Killian Hayes SG
Hayes probably has the most avenues towards becoming a high-level rotation player in the class. He is not a perfect prospect by any means, but his base package — length plus passing creativity plus touch plus defensive awareness — is a combination that suggests a high probability of growth in some of his weaker areas. He has a good foundation as a shooter, and his touch should allow him to become a useful off-ball shooter eventually. His playmaking awareness and technique — the best in the class — will open up driving lanes for him despite minimal burst. And he should be a defensive plus off-ball eventually once his technique is ironed out. While he’s probably the least likely All-Star-level scorer in the top tier, he’s probably the most likely elite role player, and that confidence means a lot in this class.
3
Onyeka Okongwu C
There were few players as dominant as Okongwu this year. His quick leaping and length make him a forceful rim-protector while his lower-body strength and coordination are important traits as a roll man. His ambidextrous finishing touch allows him to be a go-to interior scorer as well. He’ll have to continue improving his tunnel vision, just as he did throughout the season, and upper body strength, but Okongwu was nothing short of stellar this year and is a very good prospect. If the outside shooting comes along, you’re looking at a versatile and valuable big man who can be molded to shore up weaknesses on both ends.
4
Anthony Edwards SG
Edwards struggled with efficiency as a college scorer. He had his moments of outright brilliance as a shot-maker, finishing at a healthy 19.1 points per game for the season. But he never put things together as a creator, and his defensive effort was never consistent. There’s still plenty of reason to be optimistic about Edwards’ translation to the NBA, as he’s the only player in the class who seems to project comfortably as a high-level NBA scorer. But like R.J. Barrett, the question of whether he’s the right type of scorer that you can build a good team around, or if he’s more of a Zach LaVine type, creates a question of how valuable his talent actually will be for a team picking number one.
Tier 2
5
Cole Anthony PG
Anthony’s high school and AAU shooting indicators suggest he has the potential to be an elite pull-up shooter and he finished in the 72nd percentile off the dribble this year, regularly displaying tough shot-making ability. While he struggled with decision-making and efficiency at North Carolina — the former of which improved as the year progressed — he still flashed an array of live dribble shooting, with step-backs and pull-ups. He’ll need to better blend his passing and scoring decision-making genes, as well as his burst as a driver, but Anthony’s shooting and interior team defense popped enough to keep him inside our top 10.
6
Devin Vassell SF
Vassell is an elite team defender who debuted some off-the-dribble shot-making this year and is one of the better movement shooters in the class. He lacks the handle and strength to be much of an NBA on-ball creator but absolutely deserves consideration this high because of how complete his defensive profile is.
7
Kira Lewis PG
Only turning 19 in early April, and boasting an intriguing collection of skills and athletic tools, Lewis is a lottery talent. He’s blazing quick with live dribble passing and pull-up shooting capabilities, but his 165-pound frame and poor vertical pop hinder his finishing. Defensively, he displays impressive point-of-attack defense and has the quickness to frequent passing lanes off the ball as well. Lewis is still maturing as a lead ball-handler and decision-maker, you saw this during his sophomore year at Alabama. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to be encouraged about from this mid-lottery prospect.
8
Deni Avdija SF
Avdija is one of the smarter decision-makers in the class, showing the ability to make good reads with the ball and cut off drives with excellent timing. He’s also displayed a very strong scoring package in Israeli League play and youth international competitions, indicating a potential for growth based on his handle and finishing package. Avdija may never hit a Luka Doncic-type ceiling, but he looks like a good bet to be a useful role player on a good team.
9
Tyrese Maxey PG
Maxey is another heralded freshman guard whose shooting numbers underwhelmed this year. However, the on-ball defense, standstill quickness and strength continue to be clear pluses. Maxey’s history of shooting is far too good for him to struggle long-term beyond the arc, though the issue seems to stem from inconsistent arc and lower-body involvement, often leaving his attempts short. There’s enough self-creation and shooting upside to remain intrigued but the ball-handling — he has a high and somewhat loose handle — poor passing vision and lack of defensive playmaking are somewhat troublesome.
10
Isaac Okoro PF
Okoro doesn’t have much offensive upside outside of his handle, which is atypical of a player that you’d normally put in a top tier. If you’re drafting at the top of the NBA Draft, there is an inherent expectation that you want offensive talent first, and players who project as defense-first or defense-only usually come later on. But this draft class is low on sure offensive value, and Okoro isn’t your typical defense-only prospect. Perhaps the smartest perimeter defender in the draft class, with incredible 1-through-5 versatility thanks to upper-tier strength and agility, Okoro looks like a near sure bet to raise the floor of a team’s defense, and his finishing ability and decision-making may allow him to assume a Draymond Green-style role on a good team on offense. Okoro may not ever become a viable offensive player, but he is the best defensive prospect in the class outside of Okongwu and Vassell, and that value, even on a rebuilding team, is good enough to not drop him beyond here.
Tier 3
11
Tyrese Haliburton PG
Scouting Report
Haliburton was among the nation’s top players this year before his season was cut short due to a wrist injury. He’s one of the best passers in this class, capable of making passes from a variety of angles, maintaining high-level scoring efficiency in a new on-ball role and he is a great defensive playmaker with incredible IQ. The issue is much of his offensive upside is shakily translatable to the NBA. Haliburton lacks explosiveness and strength as a driver and his awkward shooting mechanics leave me doubtful he’s much of a pull-up shooter at the next level — not to mention that his wrist fracture will likely preclude any shooting in workouts. But despite these issues, he’s a darn good basketball player who should provide value as a spot-up shooter, off-ball defender and secondary playmaker.
12
Patrick Williams PF
Williams is an upside play thanks to defense that looks ready to contribute at an NBA level and offensive upside as a shooter. Williams didn’t play starter minutes for Florida State, but he makes the most of his time, running the floor well and showing very solid rim protection ability. He also has shown flashes of ball-handling and shooting potential, hitting 83.8 percent from the free-throw line and taking some transition opportunities to go coast to coast. He has to show that he can continue to do these things more consistently, but right now he looks like a great long-term project for a team to bet on.
13
Desmond Bane SG
Scouting Report
Long thought of as a competent collegiate defender, Bane has really put on the jets as an offensive playmaker this year, creating the idea that he has enough facilitating juice to settle in as a 3-and-D wing with shooting versatility (off-screens, spot-ups, pull-ups). He’s a Malcolm Brogdon type, capable of playing multiple positions and roles on both ends of the floor, even if he’s probably at a lower skill level. That’s a valuable player even if he’s on the older end of the spectrum and lacks length/burst.
14
James Wiseman C
The top-ranked recruit of 2019, Wiseman has great size (7-foot-1) and length (7-foot-6 wingspan), which makes him a valuable roll threat in ball-screen actions. Defensively, those same tools help him as a rim-protector but poor discipline and a slow load-up time leave us skeptical of his upside on that end. Pair that with poor touch, passing feel and decision-making, and you’re left with a big man whose best attributes are physical rather than skill-based. While that likely means that he’s going to stick around, it’s hard to project more than a Bismack Biyombo-type spot role with confidence.
15
Obi Toppin PF
Scouting Report
Toppin plays like a stronger Kyle Kuzma, and that is probably his NBA role, as well. A similarly crafty finisher with shooting mechanics that hint at being more than his college percentages suggest, Toppin was tailor-made to be a college scorer. He also probably has an NBA role as a guy who just consistently finds himself open and can prop up bench units and defensive-oriented units with his scoring in the right spot. The problem is that those opportunities do not always come along. For every Kyle Kuzma who has an impact in that type of role, there’s a Jarell Martin or Jarnell Stokes that can’t crack consistent rotations despite the ability to put up good scoring numbers. The question is whether Toppin can land in a spot that will allow him to make optimal use of his scoring talents by covering for the defensive deficiencies that he takes off the table. So while he has more talent than a few guys ahead of him, his role has to be much more tailored to him to work.
16
R.J. Hampton SG
Hampton has arguably the quickest first step in this class — rivaled only by Grant Riller — and eats up space with elongated strides as a slasher. He also refined his decision-making during NBL play, exhibiting improved passing vision and discernment. His shooting development remains key to monitor and is necessary for him moving forward, as it will augment his driving prowess and help make him a highly enticing scorer. Defensively, Hampton’s weak frame, poor off-ball positioning and inefficient screen navigation are significant issues, rendering him a top-20 guy, as opposed to in the lottery, despite his offensive allure and athletic package.
17
Grant Riller PG
Scouting Report
Riller has skyrocketed up boards during COVID, ours included. More time to watch his film has allowed us to fully appreciate the scoring diversity he brings to the table, and he has enough counters in his bag as a ball-handler and passer to offset subpar athleticism. He should have a case as a starter-level player eventually, and a team is likely to be able to get him cheaply late in the first round or early in the second.
18
Josh Green SG
Scouting Report
Green has impressed with his strong frame, quick hips, instincts and lateral mobility defensively, coalescing as a formidable on-ball stopper. He struggles to score in the halfcourt but has hinted at some on-the-move passing when attacking from the wing. Pair that with his display of the requisite touch on floaters and from the line to inspire hope as a shooter, and you’re left with a 3-and-D forward whose shooting ceiling is vital to his offense being serviceable.
19
Aleksej Pokusevski PF
Scouting Report
Pokushevski has asserted himself as a high-riser on the international scene this season, averaging 18.7 points per 40 minutes as a four in the HEBA 2 league with Olympiacos’s junior team. The 7-foot big man has good rim-protection instincts and is an impressive vertical athlete, and his jumper off the catch looks pretty promising. He doesn’t look like a functional athlete, so it remains to be seen how well his skills would translate, but his fluid movement and diverse skill set should allow him to grow if given the chance.
20
Tyrell Terry PG
A freshman guard who burst onto the draft radar after an impressive year at Stanford, Terry is a versatile shooter — pull-ups, off-movement and spot-ups — with secondary playmaking chops and some team defense flashes, despite inconsistencies there. However, he lacks noteworthy burst, a dynamic handle and stands at 6-foot-2, 160 pounds. Because he doesn’t project to be a lead guard, he’ll slot in off the ball and that requires a wing initiator in tow, making his NBA fit a bit more precarious. A team in the late teens or early 20s confident in its strength and development should target him because the skill is there. He just needs the proper ecosystem to thrive and could emerge as a complementary secondary or tertiary handler down the line.
21
Saddiq Bey SF
Scouting Report
Bey is one of the more atypical skill sets in the class, and that should help him find a way to translate to the next level. A moderate-volume 3-point shooter at 45.1 percent on 5.6 attempts per game, Bey also doubles as a bruising post mismatch for guards, able to post even college wings reliably and steamroll his way to the rim. Defensively he’s a useful stonewall in the post up to the 4, and has his flashes of decent perimeter defense. There’s nothing he does at a truly elite level, but he’s 6-foot-8 and a good inside/out mismatch, and that can earn you a spot in today’s NBA easily.
22
Xavier Tillman C
Scouting Report
One of the best players in the country the past two seasons, Tillman is a brilliantly intelligent big man. He’s a quick, anticipatory short-roll passer, standout post defender/rim protector and the best screen-setter in the class. The outside shot is his swing skill and he’ll need some mechanical tweaks (less pronounced wrist flexion) to be a viable threat from deep. But even with that flaw, as well as poor vertical explosion, Tillman’s passing, defense and IQ should make him a quality role player of years to come.
23
Killian Tillie PF
Scouting Report
A string of injuries have mellowed Tillie’s NBA allure but he remains a great playmaking big man who’s a career 44 percent 3-point shooter with a feathery touch. Tillie moves well on the perimeter for his size and can function as a pick-and-pop or off-movement shooter. Underwhelming strength and length, along with the injuries, are all reasons for pause but he’s a very good player and worth the gamble at this stage if his medical record checks out.
24
Isaiah Joe SG
Scouting Report
Among our favorite developmental prospects, Joe is a tremendous shooter (37.8 percent from deep on 548 collegiate attempts, 76.3 3-point rate). He has a quick trigger/deep range, shows pull-up shooting/space creation talent and is comfortable shooting off-movement. He also hints at on-ball equity as a pick-and-roll passer and is a heady team defender. But at just 6-foot-5, 180 pounds, he needs to bulk up and add functional strength to unlock his intriguing blend of versatile shooting, secondary playmaking and off-ball defensive instincts. Even so, he’s a top-30 prospect on our board.
Tier 4
25
Aaron Nesmith SF
Scouting Report
Nesmith brings one skill to the table — off-movement shooting — but he’s very good at it, and has a nice frame to unleash that skillset from. He’s probably a one-dimensional shooter, but he’s the best shooter in the class, so he’s worth a first-round value, especially if you buy his defensive potential.
26
Nico Mannion PG
After a red-hot start to the season, Mannion cooled off and struggled to regain steam for any long stretch. Nonetheless, he projects as a complementary shooter/handler, and his passing repertoire and creativity are among the best in this class. Mannion’s lack of burst is an issue for his viability as a lead guard and it also hurts his on-ball defense. Yet he’s displayed high-level off-ball awareness defensively and regularly cuts off drives with his anticipatory skills. There’s a clear avenue to Mannion being a very good NBA player as an off-ball guard — thanks to his smarts and prompt decision-making — even if his athletic profile is concerning, though I’d like to see him display more confidence in the pull-up shooting against length or in traffic.
27
Devon Dotson PG
Dotson’s quickness and decision-making defensively are good skills, but at 6-2, it’s somewhat challenging to see him finding a role in the NBA while not being a good shooter. At just 30.9 percent from 3 this year, Dotson has shown more comfort taking those outside shots, but they aren’t falling. And that’s a big limiting factor for a guy his size, no matter how much utility he has as a passer and defender at the point of attack.
28
Malachi Flynn PG
Scouting Report
Flynn helped guide San Diego State back to national prominence this season as a devastating pick-and-roll maestro with distributing, deceptive handles and deep pull-up shooting range. He’s a smart and strong guard defender off the ball, even if undersized at 6-foot-1, and has *just* enough burst to provide some creation value. Flynn is worth the plunge late in the first round and should enjoy a fortuitous NBA career as a rotational guard who can direct an offense in a pinch.
29
Tre Jones PG
Scouting Report
A legitimately pestering point-of-attack defender with quick hands, ability to wiggle over screens and make punctual rotations. Some of his defensive value is mitigated entering a league where offensive initiators continue to be bigger guards or wings. Jones also has questions about his jumper and if he’s not much of a scorer, his passing acumen is muted as well. Still, though, Jones is the best game manager of the point guard crop, and those intangibles will be a draw even if his skills aren’t ideal.
30
Theo Maledon PG
Scouting Report
A good shooter and passer, Maledon’s fallen down our board because of highly concerning defense, particularly off the ball, and slow decision-making as a lead guard. He’s a bit too conservative as a shooter and creator, and in conjunction with the problematic defense, you’re looking at someone who just lacks the high-end outcome of some other guards in this class. But his shooting, complementary playmaking and herky-jerky driving approach are skills worth buying into at this stage, even if the ceiling is lower than we previously envisioned.
31
Jalen Smith C
Scouting Report
Bigs who can shoot and protect the rim are always intriguing, and Sticks has proven that he can do both at the college level. He doesn’t have ideal strength for the NBA level, and he’s always been an underwhelming finisher in the pick-and-roll despite displaying pretty good touch elsewhere. That is the big limiting factor for a player who otherwise looks like a perfectly capable plug-and-play bench big. How well he’s able to continue adding strength to his NBA frame will determine whether that shooting and rim protection can really matter.
32
Tyler Bey PF
Scouting Report
Bey is a bouncy, lively weak-side rim protector and impressive interior finisher. He didn’t take many 3s at Colorado but has projectible mechanics and flashed off-movement looks on occasion this past season. Concerns stem from his lack of strength for a big – he’s pushed around inside far too much — and poor feel as a passer, often forcing shots inside instead of simple kick-outs. If he surfaces as a credible deep threat, Bey should have value as a 4-man or small-ball center who can score inside or pop out for 3s while helping anchor the backline defensively.
33
Leandro Bolmaro PF
Scouting Report
A quality shooting prospect who has also shown craft off the dribble, Bolmaro looks like a nice long-term play as an offense-focused combo forward. The Argentinian has shown consistency as a scorer in the LEB Gold for Barcelona’s junior team and has started to earn ACB minutes as the season has gone on. He needs to add strength to truly have an NBA future, but he’s a pretty good draft and stash option in the second round.
34
Zeke Nnaji C
Scouting Report
Nnaji looks the part of a switch-able big who’s one of the better floor-spacing centers around the league. He didn’t take many 3s at Arizona but shot 76 percent at the line and 45.4 percent on 108 long 2s (per Barttorvik). He has questionable awareness as a defender and passer, and is sometimes pushed around on the interior. But he’s relentless on the glass, should be able to switch a decent amount and stretch the floor offensively. That’s worthy of a gamble at this juncture, given his bankable and valuable skills.
Tier 5
35
Robert Woodard SF
Scouting Report
Woodard’s size and agility makes him an intriguing option at the 3 off the bench. He’s willing to do the dirty work, attacking the offensive glass with good technique and showing good rotation ability on defense, and his shooting is a probable plus at the next level. That he’s an effective rim protector is one of the more interesting swing skills in this tier.
36
Paul Reed PF
An energetic defensive playmaker, Reed posted 4.5 combined steals and blocks per game this past season, but underwhelming discipline and awareness mean those plays overstate his holistic impact. Reed is a good cutter and finisher but lacks the strength to be a full-time center and a hitch in his jumper makes for a murky shooting projection. There is certainly an interesting baseline of skills and if the jumper/functional strength both take a leap, he’s a pretty valuable role player. It’s just tough to believe both will reach the necessary levels for Reed to deliver more than second-round value.
37
Jaden McDaniels SF
McDaniels has the length and pull-up shooting to lull one into thinking he’s a future star. But in terms of functionality, it’s very questionable whether he’s a good enough shooter from outside, or more importantly a strong enough finisher, to have that pull-up shooting be viable. Instead, he’s probably more of a role player type who can whip out the off-dribble game in advantage situations like transition or against bench units. Where he’s drafted is incredibly important, similar to Kevin Porter Jr. last season.
38
Ty-Shon Alexander SG
Scouting Report
One of the better perimeter defenders in this class, Alexander quickly covers space laterally and glides over screens quite effectively. He’s a heady cutter and good shooter (37.2 percent from deep in three seasons) with some passing flashes, too. But Alexander allows dribble penetration more than you’d expect given his lateral quickness and technique and has limited positional versatility at 6-foot-4. He’s a 3-and-D guard with limited offensive impact who would greatly benefit from being a few inches taller.
39
Joel Ayayi SG
Scouting Report
Ayayi’s ball-handling and pull-up shooting are interesting, and he’s a good passer out of the pick and roll. But the question is whether he can be good enough to demand significant touches, as he figures to struggle with more complex off-ball responsibilities in the NBA.
40
Mason Jones PG
Scouting Report
Jones boasts, arguably, the best shot-making repertoire in this class. As Arkansas’ primary initiator last season, he hit an array of step-back jumpers and deep pull-up 3s, created space with spin moves and had some of the best finishing craft in the country. The issue, however, is he has almost zero burst or vertical explosion. He is quite strong for a guard, but not to an outlier degree, and these troublesome athletic traits likely prohibit him from a significant on-ball role in the NBA. Against bench units, though, Jones should have some creation equity because of his shooting, passing and driving craft. He’s also a prompt decision-maker off the catch at 6-foot-5 and can function in a complementary role. But he’s a fairly middling defender, though he plays the passing lanes well, and an off-ball guard who’s not a crazy shooter just doesn’t have huge value.
41
Skylar Mays PG
Scouting Report
Mays is one of the best players in the class at leveraging a good handle into creating shots for himself, and he had a very efficient season as a scorer. But he’s struggled to create for others consistently and doesn’t fit the true point guard mold, which may cause him to struggle to find a fit in the NBA.
42
Jared Butler PG
Scouting Report
Butler is a shifty off-the-dribble shooter with great footwork off screens and some of the best handles in the class. He’s a capable passer and defender (mostly on the ball with the latter), likely making him a viable rotation guard in the league for years to come if he’s not hindered by a 6-foot-3 frame and poor off-ball defense.
43
Cassius Winston PG
Scouting Report
An elite catch-and-shoot prospect, Winston is atypical as a tiny off-guard who masqueraded as a lead guard in college. That size may mean he’s not truly an NBA-level player, but he’s one of the few second-round prospects this year with a certain NBA-level skill.
44
Nate Hinton SG
Scouting Report
Another guard cut from the 3-and-D cloth like Alexander, Hinton is a hyper-energetic team defender who projects to knock down spot-up 3s at a viable clip. He’s a tenacious rebounder, regularly tracking the flight path off the rim and flying in to track down boards. Outside of catch-and-shoot jumpers, though, he doesn’t own much translatable off-ball utility. The team defense and 3s make it easy to slot him in to a background role on most rosters. But a lack of creation equity and a 6-foot-4 stature — limiting his on-ball defensive versatility — cap his ceiling as an NBA player.
45
Jahmi'us Ramsey SG
Scouting Report
Ramsey is a bouncy athlete who is shooting 42.6 percent beyond the arc. He displays instinctual off-ball relocation tricks and is improving as a playmaker throughout the season. However, he lacks a downhill burst, is a complete project as a defender, and his shot selection is problematic. He has NBA talent but may not have an NBA mindset.
46
Myles Powell PG
Scouting Report
Powell is a dynamite pull-up shooter who can hit off-movement jumpers and has great balance and deceleration skills. His passing is inconsistent, though he took steps forward this past season, while the defense can often be brutal at times. Still, he has the potential to be a legitimate off-ball dynamo and works well to create looks for himself as a secondary cog.
47
Precious Achiuwa C
Scouting Report
Achiuwa’s offensive impact is minimal, but he could legitimately play the 5 at a small forward size, giving him intriguing versatility. He’s best as a play finisher in transition on offense, and whatever upside he has on offense is going to largely depend on how well his handle improves in his first few years in the league. Defensively, however, he could provide some interesting versatility as a very strong rebounder who cuts off drives and contains well on the perimeter. Discipline is his main concern on both ends, but there’s a path to him as a high-end role player if he can play more under control.
Tier 6
48
Aaron Henry SF
Henry is a 3-and-D forward with some facilitating chops and needs the outside shot to truly deliver value in the NBA, which is a mildly tenuous projection at this point. He’s light on his feet, stymying drives and slithering over screens, and can finish inside with either hand (usually, his right, though, to a fault). I’d like to see him improve as a decision-maker, too, as his passing talents are curbed by inconsistent reads.
49
Mamadi Diakite C
Scouting Report
Another player who can potentially provide some value as a bench scorer as a big man. Diakite has a very well established face-up game, and his handle is one of the best among the big men in the class. He doesn’t get to show the full extent of his skills regularly for Virginia, but there’s some potential that he can become a useful post scorer at the next level. However, he’s not really a good enough defender or passer to really ever have that large of a role.
50
Kaleb Wesson C
Scouting Report
A valuable post passer, pick-and-pop shooter and low-post defender, Wesson could carve out a role as a big man off the bench who helps space the floor. A lack of vertical pop and mobility, despite the latter’s improvement in recent years, limit his interior defense and post scoring, though, so you have someone whose main intrigue is the shooting. Regardless, plus shooting and passing big men have a spot in the NBA and Wesson fits the billing if he meets the athletic threshold.
51
John Petty PF
Scouting Report
An excellent shooting prospect at the 4, Petty plays a little too out of control on defense to be a real viable prospect. But if he can add strength and learn to settle with the ball in his hands, he can be something.
52
Vernon Carey Jr. C
Scouting Report
The Duke big man is a traditional low-post center with interior scoring skills, some face-up ability and deft touch but is tough to believe in as anything more than a bench spark because of questionable passing feel and shooting potential. Defensively, his slow load-up time as a leaper concerns me with regards to his rim-protecting upside, while his reaction time and ball-screen coverage are also underwhelming.
53
Isaiah Livers SF
Scouting Report
A big wing who can shoot, Livers also uses his frame well to create looks coming around curls and has improved to some degree as an on-ball creator this season. He is not a flashy pick but the shooting and size are a valuable combo at this stage of the draft.
54
Reggie Perry PF
Scouting Report
Perry is a talented face-up big man with passing skills who should develop a credible outside jumper early into his NBA tenure. But he’s a very poor defender, constantly missing rotations and failing to protect the rim, and has stiff hips, which hinders his perimeter mobility. Combine those issues with his poor offensive decision-making and Perry is more flair than translatable ability at this point. But if he reins in the decision-making and improves his defensive awareness, he’s a rotation big with the talent for more.
55
Cassius Stanley SG
Scouting Report
Stanley is a pogo-stick leaper and slasher whose athletic gifts make him devastating while attacking off the catch and a potentially hounding on-ball defender at times. His shooting indicators suggest he’ll be a credible threat from deep but a lack of on-ball equity and playmaking cap the upside here.
56
Saben Lee SG
Scouting Report
One of the most electric second-round players from this class to watch, Lee has an explosive first step and eats up space as a driver. Nearly half of his shots in the half-court came at the rim this season, where he finished in the 69th percentile. He’s an inconsistent decision-maker but exhibits passing aptitude, and a slight hitch in his jumper mechanics makes the outside shot a questionable projection. At 6-foot-2, he’s more of a bench spark plug than legit starter, but his speed, slashing craft and finishing skill are impressive and useful.
57
Jordan Nwora SF
Scouting Report
Nwora figures to have some shooting upside, but he’s one of the most limited decision-makers in the class, and that probably makes him too one-dimensional to stick for long.
58
Immanuel Quickley SG
Scouting Report
Quickley is a dead-eye shooter who converted 42.3 percent of his long balls this past year (145 attempts) and hit 92.3 percent of his free throws. The 6-foot-2 guard is experienced working off screens and on spot-ups, but lacks ancillary skills on both ends, limiting his offensive ceiling.
59
Trevelin Queen PG
A tall point guard with some impressive shot-making ability, Queen needs a lot of development as an off-ball shooter and playmaker. But he’s one of the better bets for late-blooming due to his frame.
60
Darius Days SF
Scouting Report
Days’ main allure is as a pick-and-pop big man. He’s comfortable spraying above-the-break triples and is a springy finisher at the rim. But at 6-foot-6, he’s an undersized big man and while he flashes some perimeter mobility, it seems unlikely he can serve primarily as a power forward. At this juncture, banking on the shooting and finishing being threats at the next level is a fine bet, though.