Preseason Top-50 Big Board for 2019 Draft (50–25)
Our Top-50 is finally here — Congrats to us
After the Great Big Man Draft of 2018 and the arrival of Luka Doncic after years of internet hype, the intrigue and preseason hype for the upcoming 2019 draft seems to be relatively weak in comparison to the last few seasons. As the season starts, it does look to be a front loaded race for #1(Little/Barrett/Reddish) but I am actually looking forward to the 2019 class as there a lot of watchable players who are fun to root for, which in the grand scheme of things is the most important thing unless you get paid to write about the draft. This class features a laundry list of interesting incoming freshman prospects, one or two unique international talents and a strange group of returning prospects that are incredibly difficult to rank. Those returning guys are the guys we want to focus on.
Similar to last year, we only look to rank returning players on our 2019 draft big board and not any incoming freshman or international prospects. There is just not enough time in a year to scour the interwebs for U-18 French games or EYBL games with crazy parents yelling in the background.
As of now, it looks like this group of returning prospects will be closer to high-end role players rather than number #1 options on a playoff contender, you know the guys who Make Winning Plays, but Not the Winning Shot. Seriously though, there are a lot of strange prospects in this returning class. When you look at this class it can be a slippery slope, there are a lot of guys returning that can cause you to Malik Poperize* them.
To Malik Poperize a prospect is often dangerous, but it is the act of overhyping a returning prospect that flashed some high upside to the point of no return. This act has been around for awhile, but Malik Pope is the best example of what can happen if the hype starts far too early and far too much.
So yea … here is 50–25 in reverse order due to Google Docs and our laziness
25. Jarrey Foster, SMU,
Archetype: 3&D Wing …. Mostly D
Pro Comparison: Tony Allen
Hot Take City: The first thing that stands out when watching Foster play is that he is a grown ass man doing grown ass man things on the court. He is the epitome of a power wing who gets by on bullying opponents and does in a very destructive way. Like many before, Foster is a definite enrollee of the Marcus Smart School of Chaos, in fact, he might even be the President of the 2019 class. Foster shares a similar archetype as Smart without the initiator upside. At 6’6 with a 7’0 wingspan and weighing in at 220, Foster has the perfect frame and measurables to be a very great on-ball defender in the NBA with the upside of being a multi-positional defender as I can see him playing some small-ball 4. As Foster should make his NBA living on the defensive side of the ball, for him to be more than a one sided juggernaut, he needs to display a more well-rounded shooting game in year 4 as he isn’t the best shooter based on stats but his jumper is fluid and pretty compact. The idea is obviously that he turns into a high-end 3&D wing, which is pretty likely due to his defensive intensity and raw athleticism, but as a career 59% FT shooter, he needs to showcase more shooting prowess.
26. Oshae Brissett, Syracuse
Archetype: Early 2000s Combo Wing
Pro Comparison: Antawn Jamison
Hot Take City: Brissett is an interesting prospect, and one that I don’t really know how to value in today’s modern NBA. On the surface, Brissett looks more to be a small-ball 4 rather than a wing, and I don’t know if i can refer to him yet as a stretch big as he isn’t a marksmen but he does a lot of “nice” things on the court that make me believe he can find success in the NBA. The first thing that stands out when watching Brisset isn’t anything he does on the court but instead it is his frame, which is similar to 2018 first rounder Troy Brown Jr. Outside of their frames, the comparisons really stop as Brisset doesn’t have the upside as a playmaker while Brown Jr. isn’t nearly the athlete that Brissett is. With an impressive frame, his length is just as good as he is armed with a reported 6’11 wingspan. The length and frame gives Brissett more than enough weapons to do battle in the mud while having the athleticism to potentially guard wings on the perimeter at a decent clip. It is always tough to gauge the talent of ‘Cuse players on defense, due to Ye Olde Man Boeheim sticking to what he knows best, but the high energy and effort is always on display with Brissett. The guy is always running around. To go along with his high motor, Brisset is also a really good rebounder for his position. It wouldn’t surprise me if he averaged 10+ boards this season. On offense, Brisset played like your typical talented college freshman, which isn’t a bad thing at all but there are holes in his game that he definitely needs to improve on. He is very much a tunnel driver, in that when he takes his man off the dribble, he is either going to get to the rim or lose the ball. I am not asking him to turn into a point forward, I just would like to see more assists than TOs next season. Outside of his tunnel vision, Brissett is very much an athlete getting by on being an athlete at this point in time. I will say that he has shown glimpses of being an crafty ball-handler, and his jumper isn’t really broken but it just doesn’t really go in that much but that should change this year. As a 78% FT shooter on 6 attempts per game, Brissett has a good foundation of a shooter, he just needs to iron out his timing and become a more consistent shooter. If he can become a shooter from range, his value as a 3&D combo wing is dangerous.
27. Josh Reaves,
Archetype: 3 & A Lot of D
Pro Comparison: Avery Bradley
Hot Take City: 2018–2019 is a big year for Josh Reaves, and the Nittany Lions in general with the departure of Tony Carr and Shep Garner but it will be a great opportunity for Reaves to showcase his overall impact for NBA teams. His calling card will always be his Marcus Smart-like approach to the game, as he has crazy instincts and plays his heart out on each possession but heart will only get you so far. His jump shot needs to stay on the same path as it did this year, if not then his value drops significantly. If he cannot shoot then his overall offensive game is almost non-existent as he has below-average handles and isn’t the best at attacking the rim. Carr might not have been the most efficient player or even the most athletic but his ability to put pressure on defenses allowed Reaves more space to operate. With no Carr and only Lamar Stevens back, Reaves better be ready to handle the ball a little more.
28. John Petty, Roll Tide
Archetype: Secondary Initiator
Pro Comparison: Francisco Garcia
Hot Take City: Last season was a decent coming out party for John Petty, but due to the ball dominance of Collin Sexton, it was one that didn’t allow him to show the true versatility of his offensive skill-set. The playbook on John Petty last season was pretty simple; let him catch the ball and shoot it from range. That was the extent to his offense pretty much, which is a bummer since he has more to offer then just shooting. Yes, his bread and butter will be his shooting but Petty showcased a decent enough handle in year one which leads me to believe that he can turn into a dangerous scorer off the bounce while also having some upside as a secondary ball-handler. His playmaking wasn’t something that came around very often and the numbers will attest to that, but when given the opportunity, he showed similar vision and instincts to Sexton when given the role of playmaker. He is probably better as a playmaker in the grab n’go scenario in transition over the half-court as he doesn’t have the best burst or strength to get around more athletic wings. When looking for weaknesses in Petty’s game, one would think that his defense would need work but Petty is a surprisingly decent on-ball defender but like most second year players, he needs to make changes to his frame. Weighing only 180 pounds and playing on the wing is not a good recipe for success. Adding muscle to his frame is key for his growth, as he isn’t the most explosive athlete either. Seeing what John P3tty can do in year 2, will be a very enjoyable storyline to keep tabs on this season.
29. Kris Wilkes, UCLA
Archetype: Modern Day Combo Wing
Pro Comparison: Harrison Barnes
Hot Take City: If we are going off of facial hair alone, then Wilkes would be the top returning prospect due to his wonderfully crafted 70s pornstar mustache but having great facial hair can only get you so far. When talking about the overall game of Wilkes, like Jaylen Hands, is going to have to make huge strides next season on both sides of the ball if he wants to improve his draft stock but also bring UCLA back to the NCAA tourney. As of right now, Wilkes is a capable scorer at the college level but he needs to show that he is a game-changer on offensive to really make that push for the first round. His lack of elite athleticism and ball skills will make him more of an off-ball shooting sidekick than a primary option but he at least needs to dominate in college to show he can help in the NBA. As an off-ball shooter, Wilkes is a good prospect to track and one that could blossom into a Khris Middleton like player. At 6’8 with a 6’10ish wingspan, Wilkes has everything you would want in a modern day wing from a measurement standpoint but unless he packs on the pounds, his frame won’t be able to withstand the barrage from NBA wings. Adding additional muscle is essential for the long term value of Wilkes, more so than anything else to his game. If Wilkes can become a larger man, then with his 6’10 wingspan, he will be allowed to defend some bigs as a small-ball 4. Due to his lack of elite or even above average quickness, Wilkes won’t be tasked in defending many guards as he will be just a turnstile when left on an island possession after possession.
30. Matisse Thybulle, University of Washington
Archetype: 3&D
Pro Comparison: Danny Greenish
Hot Take City: This is a no-brainer, Thybulle will 100% be the internet’s “favorite son” next year, as he checks off all the boxes that draft crazed people like myself drool over. The allure around Thybulle as a prospect starts with his defensive acumen and ends with his potential upside as a shooter. As the reigning Pac-12 DPOY, Thybulle does not overwhelm players with his frame or supreme athleticism but instead relies on his length, and IQ to outwork and outsmart his opponent. Like most great defenders, Thybulle generates a lot of steals due to his great instincts and his ability as an off-ball defender to play the passing lanes. His on-ball work is equally as impressive, and really shows you the level of defender he could potentially turn into. He is very active defender with hands that never stop moving and is always on the hip of his man, which creates a lot of opportunities for blocks that he doesn’t pass up. His offensive potential might be at its peak, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but I just don’t see him turning the corner as a 21 year-old senior. He has a nice form on his jumper and has enough ball-skills that he won’t create issues for his teammates at the next level.
31. Charles Matthew, University of Michigan
Archetype: 3 & D
Pro Comparison: Wesley Matthews
Hot Take City: Going into his second year at Ann Arbor, the former highly touted Kentucky player has a great opportunity to rise up draft boards as the leader for the Wolverines this upcoming season. Even though the draft hype for the Wolverines will be built around Jordan Poole and Ignas Brazdeikis, Matthews has a very strong chance of jumping into the late first if he can develop into a more dominant scorer while expanding his playmaking role just a little more. Unlike Jordan Poole, who has sneaky underrated handles and vision, Matthews is better suited as a secondary initiator but there is something to say about his vision and ability to never get stuck with the ball in his hands. When looking at his potential, the upside is there and I am not saying he is, but in my opinion, if there is one guy along with Jarrey Foster who has the path to a Jimmy Butler like peak outcome, it would be Matthews. They have similar builds, albeit Jimmy was a little bigger when he came out, but both are versatile wings who can lock down both 2s/3s on defense and have the strength to play a little bully ball when getting to the rim on offense. Like Jimmy, Matthews is very much a grinder who won’t win very many style points during the course of a game but he is a very cerebral and intelligent player who is team results over personal results. To go along with his impressive frame, Matthews also possesses a 6’9 wingspan and is underrated jumper, which makes him into one of the better rebounding guards next season. The only issue with Matthews, and a big issue in fact, is that his shooting is pretty below-average even though his jumper looks relatively smooth. Without improving on his shooting numbers across the board, Matthews’ value goes way down.
32. Dedric Lawson, Kansas University
Archetype: Stretch Big
Pro Comparison: Technical Keita-Bates Diop
Hot Take City: Dedric Lawson is pretty much the exact same player as Keita-Bates Diop but with added technical skills and more pop. If KBD was thought to be a first-round guy in a deep ass draft last year, then a more skilled and athletic version of him will definitely be one in what seems to be a relatively weak one next summer. When it came to KBD, I was hesitant on his impact overall in the NBA due to his lack of burst off the dribble, defensive value and his inability to create easy shots for himself in college but with Dedric, his extra gear should allow him to negate all those issues. Along with additional pop, Dedric has underrated vision and is a very good playmaker with the ball in his hands. He isn’t some sort of playmaking savant, but he makes great reads with the ball in his hands and routinely makes the right pass in the flow of the offense for the easy bucket. Another advantage that Dedric has over KBD is his defensive versatility and offensive uniqueness, as I think he has the length and shot-making ability to play some small-ball 5 for limited minutes in the NBA. This is a big year for Dedric as he has a lot of question marks on his maturity level, but those off-court issues I chalk up to being young and not enjoying the situation at Memphis. If he can put the negative talk out of his head, and play like we saw two years ago then I think we are looking at the BIG12 POY and another conference title for the Jayhawks.
33. Eric Paschall, Villanova
Archetype: 3 & D Big Man
Pro Comparison: Rodney Rogers
Hot Take City: Wide framed and burly bigs who can shoot 3s is an archetype that the internet loves, for good reason, and Eric Paschall might be the next darling of that group. Standing at a modest 6’6ish, he isn’t the biggest of bigs but he does have a good wingspan at 6’10ish, tips the scale at what seems to be a pretty lean 255 and has some underrated footwork that allows you to draw some wild parallels to Draymond. Is he Draymond? No, not at all but in terms of body likeness, he is very much Draymond. Outside of his impressive frame which he loves to throw around and wingspan, Paschall is very much the modern day role player as he doesn’t need many dribbles on offensive to make an impact while being able to switch on defense. His main attribute and probably why he is so highly regarded as an NBA prospect is his upside when it comes to stretching the floor similar to fellow Nova big Omari Spellman. He isn’t the shooter as Spellman, but he does move a little better off-ball and in my opinion is a more explosive athlete. With Brunson, the Big Ragu, Spellman and Mikal gone, it will be interesting to see how big the leash is for Paschall when it comes to scoring. As a freshman he averaged 15 ppg for Fordham before transferring to Nova and without a known go-to scorer next season, he will have plenty of opportunities to flash more than just his pick n pop game.
34. Justin Simon, St. Johns
Archetype: Playmaking Wing
Pro Comparison: Theo Pinson
Hot Take City: First off, I really wanted to compare Justin Simon to the current iteration of Andre Iguodala with younger knees but I just couldn’t do it. With that being said, Justin Simon is really really good, like really good and next season should be his national coming out party. For the 6’5 Do-It-All wing to make the jump into the first round, Simon really needs to showcase a much improved shot. With most wings that are a shot away from being a first rounder, there is some value in projecting them due to their FT% being pretty good but Simon is a career 62% shooter from the line which gives me only a sliver of hope that he turns into a decent shooter. Simon should get plenty of opportunities next season with the level of space that teammate Shamorie Ponds will create. If you remove the whole shooting concept from basketball, then you get a really talented wing who excels in transition, enjoys the mud and probably one of the better non-lead guards at creating scoring opportunities for others. I don’t think there is a chance in hell that Simon can develop into an NBA caliber lead guard, but his ability to create in transition and find the open man in the half-court is pretty impressive. If the shot comes around then watch out, but if it doesn’t then he falls into the bag of players that need to be A++ wing defenders who can switch around the clock.
35. Admiral Schofield, Univeristy of Tennessee
Archetype: Modern Combo Wing
Pro Comparison: PJ Tucker
Hot Take City: Along with having arguably the greatest sports name ever, Admiral Schofield also has one of the most impressive physiques in recent memory. He is up there with Semi Ojeleye and Sagaba Konate for just being a dude who is intimidating to look at even if you are 200 yards away from him. Standing 6’5 and tipping the scales at 240ish, Schofield has everything you want in a modern day combo wing. He has the stretchability to help space the floor, the frame to withstand battles in the mud and decent enough athleticism to switch onto wings or guards without being a complete disaster. For all the positives about Schofield, he does have limited upside as he hasn’t truly shown much in terms of playmaking and ball-handling. He isn’t overly awful with the ball in his hands, but he lacks the advanced handless necessary to create separation in the NBA which would allow him to be more than just a high-end role player. Along with his impressive physique and upside as a defender, Schofield also exudes tons of confidence and competitiveness. I am no sports physcologist, and hate using the word “Gamer” but if I was a GM, Schofield is the type of guy I want on my team.
36. Sagaba Konate, West Virginia, Mountain Mama
Archetype: Rim Protecting Big
Pro Comparison: Etan Thomas
Hot Take City: I will not reference Ben Wallace, the original World Eater at all during my rant about Sagaba Konate. At 6’7, Konate is an undersized center who looks like the alpha version of Thanos with shoulders as wide as the United States, and muscles that make Semi Ojeleye look like Steph Curry. He looks to be someone that should be a bodyguard in the WWE rather than a basketball player. Okay, enough about his impressive physique, we need to talk about his on-court attributes. If you are looking for finesse, it is fairly obvious you should look elsewhere. First thing first, Konate is a wildly dangerous shotblocker and even though he is undersized, he is an explosive leaper with great timing. It doesn’t matter if it is in transition or in the half-court, Konate has a knack for getting the timing just right. With the length and explosive leaping ability, the true elegance in Konate and what makes him such a great shot blocker is his fearlessness. A lot of young big men are scared of being RT’d 4000 times after being dunked on, but not Konate. Instead, he jumps straight up with his hands up as if he is blocking a shot in volleyball. For as good as he is as a rim protector, Konate does leave a little to be desired when it comes to being a rebounder. With most of his highlights being massive blocks, Konate has a pretty decent offensive game. He isn’t a refined post player, but if he can carve out space on the low block and if he doesn’t need to use many dribbles then he is pretty efficient with a hook shot off the glass. Outside of a basic post game, Konate has a pretty decent looking jumper that could progress into a reliable weapon in the NBA and this isn’t speculative at all as he shot 79% from the line last year. That is wildly impressive. I just want to congratulate myself in not comparing him to Ben Wallace …..
37. Quentin Rose, Temple
Archetype: Secondary Initiator
Pro Comparison: Evan Fournier
Hot Take City: The story of Temple’s skilled 6’7 wing is a good one, he went from being ranked in the 300s as a HS senior and now three years later, he is a potential AAC Player of the Year Candidate and Top-40 draft pick. Rose is a skilled wing with an offensive package that is a consistent 3 point shot away from turning him into a very dangerous collegiate scorer. His skinny frame might hold him back from being a go-to scorer in the NBA, and by just looking at him, it looks like ability to add muscle/weight will be a difficult journey. If an NBA strength and conditioning team can figure out a way to get Rose to pack on the pounds then it is a totally different story. When it comes to offense, Rose needs to improve on his catch-and-shoot ability from 3 and become a much better FT shooter. A career 65% just isn’t going to cut it. Rose can play off-ball to certain degree, but he is far more comfortable initiating his own offense. If Nate Pierre-Louis or Shizz Alston can make the sophomore leap and become dangerous scorers then it should create more space for Rose to showcase his overall shooting ability. When he does have the ball in his hands, Rose is a silky smooth scorer with very clean handles for someone his size. He can create enough space to get to the hoop and has enough coordination to pull a step-back jumper in traffic. The shot is a little funky and it does seem smoother when he is taking it off of the bounce rather than a set shot, which is weird but the world is a strange place.
38. Herb Jones, Roll Tide
Archetype: Playmaking & D (stole this but love it)
Pro Comparison: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Hot Take City: It might be egregious to rank a guy who barley scored 11 points per 100 possessions this high on the Big Board, but with the departure of Collin Sexton, it will give Herb the perfect opportunity to break out and show his full skill-set. Coming in behind Sexton and Petty as a recruit, the mysterious Jones was able to show off some high-level upside thanks to his great length, underrated athleticism, defensive versatility, ability to play in transition and most importantly, his potential as an initiator. Again, there is a lot to like with Jones on paper, but there is also a lot of unanswered questions surrounding his game that were actually on display last year while on the court. He isn’t a very good shooter from anywhere away from the rim, is relatively skinny and I don’t know if he is a wing or big. Regardless of frame, Jones looks to be a switchblade on defense that can potentially guard up to four positions if his body matures. With what he showed last year on defense, the needle on Jones will move only if he can display any semblance of an offensive package next season. His midrange game might be his best attribute outside of his ability to attack, but showing a more consistent FT/3pt game is going to be key.
39. Kerwin Roach, University of Texas
Archetype: Secondary Initiator & D
Pro Comparison: Marcus Smart
Hot Take City: Okay, this might upset some folks but I think I would rather have Roach then Jevon Carter. Even though the Longhorns have under performed during his tenure, the talent of Roach should not be denied. His most appealing trait is his athleticism and how he uses it on both ends of the floor, especially on defense. With just an average wingspan, Roach relies on his athleticism and speed to pester opposing guards. He is really great at cutting players off before they get too far into the lane, but if he does get beat, his run/jump skills allow him to recover more often than not. On offense Roach is a little suspect but he has made strides each year with his shooting, but he still needs to improve if he wants to be considered a first rounder next season. Along with his shooting, as of now I don’t think Roach can be a primary initiator at the next level and will need to be slotted next to another initiator who can help take the pressure of running a team off him. If he can shoot above 70% from the line and close to 40% from 3, along with cutting down on the turnovers then we could see Roach as a late first/early second type guy come next June. Even though he will be a front-runner for BIG12 DPOY, his age and suspect shot will prevent him from jumping any higher than that.
40. Tyus Battle, Syracuse,
Archetype: 3&D Guard
Pro Comparison: Brandon Rush
Hot Take City: The fall from grace for Tyus Battle for us started with his conference tourney game against UNC, where his negatives were on display to the fullest and it will be tough for him to climb out of the hole unless he became a more explosive athlete, a better playmaker or a knockdown outside shooter since we last saw him play. Battle is a very good college player, with All-Americanesque potential due to his mid-range shooting and just overall knack for scoring but the issues I laid out above will keep him from becoming a viable NBA player. If he has to work extra hard to score against guys like Theo Pinson, who is a borderline NBA level athlete, then going up against the top guys will be almost impossible unless he expands his range or becomes a playmaker. I do think Battle has better vision than his numbers or people give him credit for, but actually showing it game by game is a must. His defensive game is always tough to gauge as he plays Ye Olde Man Boeheim zone, but he has decent length and plays the passing lanes pretty well. Don’t know if I would call him 3-&-D, but I would definitely say he has some 3s in him and some defense in him. He has enough athleticism and length to turn into a menace on defense if he wants to go down that path, while the jumper is better than people will say.
41. Cody Martin, Nevada,
Archetype: Playmaking Wing
Pro Comparison: Lonzo Ball/Denzel Valentine
Hot Take City: Like the Porter brothers and even the Lopez twins, when you have two siblings that play together consistently then one has to be the gritty glue guy and for the Martin’s that would be Cody. Unlike his brother who is a scorer, Cody is a well-rounded wing that does all the little things to win games. Due to his age and skill-set, it is probably safe to say that this time next year, Martin will be a member of the Chicago Bulls. It is 100% a match made in NBA heaven, He checks off all the boxes that the Bulls Front Office love but unlike Denzel or even Dougie McBuckets, Martin has some underrated run/jump athleticism that gives me hope for him turning into a reliable contributor in the NBA. Now the athleticism isn’t anything to write home about, as he still struggles to create space in college but as a point of reference, he is more athletic than Valentine and McDermott. His prime attributes is his combination of height/length and basketball IQ, which allows him to pick apart opposing defenses as a 6’7 wing who can initiate the offense. To really enjoy Cody’s game, instead of watching his highlights, I would watch Caleb’s and just watch what Cody does to set his brother up. When it comes to scoring, he is more of a bully ball wing and not a natural scorer. His jumper looks really nice coming off of screens and in spot-up situations, it just sucks that it never goes in. If he wants to be a contributor in the NBA, his playmaking skills are not enough to carry him. He needs to shoot it to have a chance. Even with the lack of elite foot speed, giant wingspan or thick frame, Cody is an intelligent defender who is the defensive anchor for the Wolfpack and his IQ should translate to the NBA on that side of the ball as well.
42. Oscar Da Silva, Stanford University
Archetype: Stretch Big
Pro Comparison: Juancho Hernangomez
Hot Take City: Like a lot of these young guns, their preseason hype is built on my expectations for next year and by the start of 2019, they might be completely off my radar as draft prospects but Da Silva is one guy I think will actually jump up boards due to his high-level of BBIQ on both ends and his potential as a stretchable big with great vision for someone his age and size. The 3% from last season is extremely sexy as he hit 55% from range on 52 attempts, which isn’t a lock it in number of shots to give me full faith in it but it is enough to showcase that he can turn into a stretch big. His upside on offense is probably the main reason he is this low, as he isn’t the most adept ball-handler and has no real inbetween game but along with his shooting from range, he is a great roll-man whose BBIQ provides him with a different level of value over someone who is a lob man. It isn’t to say he isn’t an athlete or that he can’t go up to finish alley-oops, but he is more of a playmaker then highlight level dunk type guy. His bread and butter will always be his playmaking, but if his shot is for real with increased usage then I can see him rising up draft boards very quickly. On defense, he reminds me a lot of Killian Tillie since they both have similar frames, but also due to the type of defender he is. Much like his offensive attributes, Da Silva isn’t in your face type of defender with blocks that go 45 feet into the stands. Instead he is a sound positional defender that uses leverage and good footwork to stay with his man. Like Tillie, improving his frame and getting stronger will be important. If Da Silva can shoot around 40%, play his normal sound defense while playing efficient ball with an increased usage then this kid is going to be a very sought after player.
43. Anfernee Mclemore, Auburn University
Archetype: Chaos in a Bottle Big
Pro Comparison: Jordan Bell
Hot Take City: McLemore is on this list, like Wooten, Roby and even Hunter to a certain degree, due to his defensive acumen especially his shot blocking and not his offensive skill-set. At 6’7, McLemore is clearly undersized and at 220, he also isn’t the thickest big around but his leaping ability and instincts are some of the best natural skills in the draft. Before going down to a gruesome ankle injury last year, McLemore might have been the most dangerous rim protector in the country, as he blocked close to 8 shots per 100 possessions. Unlike a Konate, who is strictly a “5” in the NBA due to limited foot speed to track players on the wing or Roby who will have a tough time guarding larger bigs due to a skinny frame, McLemore can do a little of both and should continue to do so in the NBA. Even though he is only 220, and will have trouble guarding top bigs like Al Horford or even Big Daddy Valanciunas, he will be able to hold his own against a good amount of bigs and also keep up with wings in the NBA. He also is a pretty good FT shooter, which is always nice to see out of a freak rim protector. He also would be higher if he wasn’t rehabbing a gruesome ankle injury. If he can showcase that he didn’t lose any explosiveness and isn’t hesitant jumping in traffic then Mclemore will jump up boards.
44. Jericho Sims, Texas
Archetype: Rim Runner
Pro Comparison: Amir Johnson
Hot Take City: The best way to describe the 6’9 sophomore is bouncy as all hell and filled with some really sneaky upside. He might have more real estate on Clint Capela Island then anyone in the draft, including Daniel Gafford but due to his lack of production last year, it is tough to rank him any higher. Like Herb Jones or Daejon Davis, this is clearly a sign of Malik Poperizing him into something he might never become. So, how does Jericho Sims go from a guy who had 18 total blocks all last year to me calling him a potential defensive megastar with high-end lobability? Just getting minutes and more possessions, which should happen especially with more of Matt Coleman running point in year 2. His per 40 stats of 10/8/1 isn’t anything to write home about but it does show that he can be productive with limited touches. He does need to tighten up his handles but he has shown flashes of being able to take his man off the dribble for the flush, just ask Konate. I don’t think stretchability will be something to watch for with Sims, instead I will focus more on his progress with the little things like how he sets screens, is he an improved lob artist and does he have reliable hands. For a guy like Sims, his athleticism and motor will be what he builds the foundation of his basketball career on and anything else is just a big positive.
45. Fletcher McGee, Wofford
Archetype: Shooter
Pro Comparison: JJ Reddick
Hot Take City: Shooting is clearly a premium in today’s NBA, and Fletcher McGee is probably one of the best shooters of the last few years. He can really light it up, and has an array of moves to get himself open. Now he isn’t an athlete in the normal sense, but if you are worried that he is Jimmer Fredette, then kindly move to another room because McGee possess some wild footwork, he never stops running off-ball and his ability to maintain his balance is just as absurd. His jumper with fours guys draped on him while running off a screen looks better than mine when I am alone on a court and shoot my best shot ever. It really is unfair. Due to his height, limited ball-skills and issues with defending on an island, I feel like McGee is best suited as a shooter off the bench in spurts. He is excellent when navigating screens, and is lethal when coming off them. Even with his limited athleticism, his IQ and speed will allow him to get free more often than not. This guy is going to run some defenders in the ground with his constant movement off-ball. He is Rip Hamilton with how much he enjoys running around the court.
46. Jalen Hudson, Florida
Archetype: Mostly 3s and Hopefully Some D
Pro Comparison: Wayne Ellington
Hot Take City: Jalen Hudson, like Fletcher McGee, is rated on this board for his shooting along with his upside as a potential perimeter defender but as of now, he is mostly a shooter and a very good one at that. Unlike McGee who is a wizard off-ball and coming off screens, Hudson is more of a catch-and-shoot type but his added ball-handling is a definite plus. Not saying he is some craft guy with amazing handles, but he has shown the ability to put the ball on the floor. He might be more than a shooter in college, but due to his lack of playmaking upside and elite pop, his upside in the NBA on offense is that of a shooting specialist. Again, those guys are a premium nowadays, and if you can grab a guy like Hudson in the mid to early second then you are golden especially if he can become an adequate defender.
47. Kamar Baldwin, Butler, Guard
Archetype: Lead Guard (Bench Style)
Pro Comparison: Rodrigue Beaubois
Hot Take City: This is a big year for Kamar Baldwin, not just in terms of his production for Butler but also for his NBA outlook. With Kelan Martin graduated and Jordan Tucker not yet a known producer, Baldwin needs to settle into his new role as the go-to guy on the team while becoming a more well-rounded and efficient scorer. Going into his Junior year, the jury is still out of he can be a true playmaker which is the key to his success because at 6’1 and being a career 33% shooter from range, gives him limited value off-ball. The 6’6 wingspan, jacked frame and herky-jerky athleticism gives him a decent foundation as a prospect, but that will only get you so far in the NBA, if at all. When watching the current iteration of Baldwin play, you can see the upside as a lethal bench mob scorer with his ability to get to the rim, while creating decent separation with his above-average handles, and step-back. Even though he is a skilled driver, Baldwin doesn’t get to the rim as much as I would like to see and for someone who has yet to prove he can shoot from range, getting to the line more would make him much sexier in the eyes of NBA front offices.
48. Caleb Martin, Nevada
Archetype: Shooter
Pro Comparison: Kevin Martin
Hot Take City: With Cody out of the way, Caleb’s game is is pretty cut and dry. As the pure bucket-getter in the family, Caleb is a three-level scorer in college but due to his awkward jumper and lack of elite athleticism, I just don’t see him turning into anything other than a Marco Bellini type player off the bench. When you watch him shoot, yes the ball goes in at a very high rate but his legs are all over the place and it looks like a really slow build for him to get it off. Since he cannot create THAT much space in college, I worry that teams will be able to swarm him in the NBA. As a spot-up shooting specialist, he is very dangerous but I just can’t see him being much more than that.
49. Cameron Lard, Iowa State
Archetype: Old-School Big
Pro Comparison: Thomas Robinson
Hot Take City: There is a lot to like about Cameron Lard, as he is a 6’9 big man with what looks to be decent length, loves to clean the glass, can protect the rim at a high rate and is a good roll-man with reliable hands but like Bruno, he is a jump shot away from being more than just an energy big off the bench. I mean he needs to at least try to shoot from distance, as he didn’t shoot one shot from 3 last season. His numbers from midrange are nice**, but again, the sample size is far to small to give him any credit on it. If Lard continues down the same path then he is a similar player to Jarred Vanderbilt without the playmaking upside and extra pop. It is mostly due to their frame, current scoring ability and rebounding upside, but Lard is a much better post defender and rim protector at this stage of their career. For Lard to really take his game to the next level, all he needs to do is showcase a more consistent approach to scoring away from the basket and continue to protect the rim.
50. Yoeli Childs, BYU
Archetype: Stretch Big
Pro Comparison: Jared Sullinger w/ Actual Bounce
Hot Take City: On the surface, Childs looks to be a guy who you wouldn’t want to draft as he is an undersized thick big with what one would assume to be non-existent athleticism but that couldn’t be more false. Yes, he is probably only 6’8 on a good day but he is armed with a reported 7’2 wingspan and has very underrated run/jump athleticism. The deck is stacked against Childs, due his limited height, but he has the weapons an undersized guy in today’s NBA landscape needs to succeed. On the athleticism scale, Childs is very nimble and quick for his size, similar to Glen Davis but is far more explosive than Big Baby ever was. If you tie his wingspan, quick feet and underrated jumping together then you get a 6’7 thick monster who can cover a lot of ground quickly which tends to lead to a lot of blocked shots for him. A lot of people will toss out that he looks chubby due to his lack of height, but Childs played close to 35 MPG last season and is in much better shape then people will give him credit for. When it comes to on the court ability, Childs is a very talented scorer in college but if he wants to become a valuable NBA player then he needs to become a floor spacer. When you take a look at Sullinger, he only started to shoot 3s when he got into the NBA but if he started earlier then he might still be in the league. Childs needs to start that now, but he has only shown limited flashes of being able to shoot from distance, even though he has a nice shot. The FT numbers are just blah, but his midrange game is decent enough to make me a believer that with an increase of shots from distance that he could be a reliable marksmen.
