NBA Mock Draft: Timberwolves at No. 1 bring order to chaos

Cole Anthony’s draft stock took a huge hit this year as UNC struggled through one of their worst seasons in school history. Anthony struggled with efficiency and just didn’t look like a player who could control a game the way he did at the prep level. However, it’s worth noting that his teammates combined to shoot under 30 percent on 3-pointers and that he underwent knee surgery in the middle of the season. A healthy Anthony with actual shooters to help open driving lanes might be a completely different player.

Anthony’s appeal is primarily about his strength as a driver and finisher and the hope that his pull-up shooting can make him a viable three-level scorer. Evaluations of his upside right now might be less than other guards like Tyrese Maxey or Kira Lewis but he has clear strengths and should look much better in an NBA environment. Setting him up in Detroit, where he can play off Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose and not begin his career needing to carry an entire offense could be an ideal set up.

Learn more about Cole Anthony with our full scouting report.