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NBA Draft 2022: 5 potential sleepers to watch

By Rucker Haringey

Mar 9, 2022; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward Jake LaRavia (0) drives to the basket against Boston College Eagles guard Brevin Galloway (51) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2022; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward Jake LaRavia (0) drives to the basket against Boston College Eagles guard Brevin Galloway (51) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Draft sleeper, John Butler
Mar 2, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward John Butler (22) moves the ball past Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Dane Goodwin (23) during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports /

2. John Butler

Butler absolutely should have stayed at Florida State for at least one more season. For some reason, he’s determined to take his talents to the NBA when he clearly isn’t ready. That doesn’t mean spending a second-round pick on his services couldn’t turn out to be a great decision for the right NBA team.

The former Seminole is a legitimate 7-foot-1 center but to say he’s still painfully thin would be a massive understatement. Butler only weighed in at 174.4 pounds at the NBA Combine. He’s nowhere near ready to battle against professional centers.

Gambling on a player who might need to add 50 pounds is never a sure thing. The fact that Butler already has elite shot-blocking chops and the ability to shoot the ball from 3 makes him worth the gamble. Teams all want to find a stretch center and Butler has the potential to grow into one of the best if he can handle the added weight.

Butler isn’t going to be ready for NBA action for at least one full season. It might even take him two or three years to develop enough physicality to be a real contributor. Any team that takes him in Round 2 will need to exercise extreme patience with him. He still has the potential to become a high-level starter which makes him one of this year’s biggest sleepers.

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