NBA Mock Draft: 5 surprise prospects who could crash the lottery

4. Dereck Lively II, C, Duke

Before the season, the idea of Dereck Lively getting picked in the lottery was commonplace. He’s a five-star recruit who went to Duke; he’s also a true 7-footer who can explode around the rim and alter shots with his 7-foot-7 wingspan.

Then came the season, and for a while Lively just looked lost. His youth shined through on the defensive end and he was far too limited offensively to make up that ground. Just a few months ago, there were real questions about whether or not Lively would crack the first round. Some thought he might even be a candidate to return to Duke for a second season.

All that came to an end in tournament play, however. Very few college players showed more in-season improvement than Lively. His awareness increased tenfold on the defensive end. He started to look like the monster defensive ace we were all advertised before the season, moving his feet in space and erasing advantages around the rim with his length.

Lively still has his fair share of limitations, especially on the offensive end. He doesn’t have a deep bag of tricks in the post; he’s mostly a lob threat right now. He also didn’t always rebound at the rate one would expect for such a massive human. Even so, he has ample room for growth and a proven track record of getting better. Plus, the draft is frightfully short on true centers. Any team looking for a 7-footer who doesn’t get Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick could be inclined to look Lively’s way.