Top 15 NBA Draft Players

Looking at all the possible players in this year's draft and giving quick rankings.

The NBA Draft is upon us. But first comes the NBA Draft Lottery. With the Pelicans most likely holding the Lakers pick since it is currently projected as pick No. 8, there are quite a few players in this draft that would be immense boosters to this already young yet talent core. So far, I have a top fifteen list of players in the draft and should have a more set group once more of these players are dead set on going through the draft process. There are a few players that will go through a scrimmage to go to the combine then interviews and such, and I am not too familiar when players can call it and just go back to the college level. Anyhow, here is a ranking and quick breakdown of each of the prospects.

1. Chet Holmgren - Gonzaga - F/C - Freshman - 7’0”, 197lbs, 7’6” Wingspan:

A lot of people do not like Holmgren because of his very slender frame, and I understand the concerns… if you list him as a center. And even so, you dismiss the great things he can do. Holmgren has great feel as a rim protector averaging 3.7 blocks per game and uses that length to his benefit. He does well guarding positions 1-4 and can be really good at the defensive level. Offensively, he is a bucket getter. Converts 80% of his shots at the bucket on non-post moves and has some great touch. He also did well expanding his range to hit mid-range and three pointers, and still has room to grow. A lot of people want him as a five, and he will have to serious bulk up for that to happen. Adding muscle is a need. As a four though, he’d be perfect. Great example would be how the Cavaliers used Evan Mobley, pairing him up with Jarrett Allen so he can take on the Embiids and Bams in the league while he handles the fours, allowing him to be highly effective on the defensive front. Holmgren should be used like that while he bulks up.

2. Jabari Smith - Auburn - F/Wing - Freshman - 6’10”, 220lbs, 7’1” Wingspan:

You won’t find a better knockdown shooter than Jabari. He hit 42% of his threes at 5.5 attempts. He has great mechanics and is incredibly consistent, which should allow him to almost immediately carve out a role as a triple threat. Effective as a catch and shoot option and will make teams pay if you leave him open, hitting 65% on 23 uncontested catch and shoot shots. His mid-range game is also stout if you chase him off the spot, still keeps incredible form and is once again a knockdown. And do not get me started on his tough shot making. In three years, he could be one of the NBA’s top clutch shot makers. Guaranteed. Defensively, he does incredibly well on the perimeter. Makes it difficult for teams to shoot on him and does well deflecting the ball, shown he can guard 1-4. Biggest concern will have to be his ability to finish at the rim, only converting 52.3 of his shots, which is pretty low for players at his position. Jabari lacks that first step to get away from his matchup when attacking the rim. Jabari isn’t also a rim protector as he lacks the feel and instincts to be anything more than a 4/3 player. Otherwise, he should get immediate looks as a high level scorer, being able to hit threes as well as being a go to shot maker when contested.

3. Paolo Banchero - Duke - Forward - Freshman - 6’10”, 250lbs, 7’1” Wingspan:

Paolo honestly can be the Number One overall pick and I wouldn’t be mad. Banchero has some great athleticism, very explosive in space. Paolo does also possess a good handle for his size, shown he can create his own shot as well as being a solid play maker. Wouldn’t say he is something like Ben Simmons, but he can be a nice facilitator for a good play finisher, watch his chemistry with center Mark Williams. Though is just not be understated how good and tight his handle is, especially at his size. He also does have some room to expand his range (with a little tweaking in his shot), hit 33.8% of his threes on 3.3 attempts per game. His biggest knock would have to be his defensive ability. A lot of it is just consistency, had times where he’s fall asleep and ball watch. Doesn’t also possess much feel as a rim protector for those wanting to use him closer to how the Nuggets use MVP Nikola Jokic. There are moments but isn’t nearly as consistent as you want him to be. Especially in PNR situations. It’s definitely effort, not tools. I do like Banchero and there will be teams willing to try him as a five at least in small ball situations, but he has to show better defensive consistency.

4. Jaden Ivey - Purdue - Guard - Sophomore - 6’4”, 200lbs, 6’10” Wingspan:

You will not find a more explosive person than Ivey in this draft. Ivey has the best speed and explosiveness in this class. He has almost no trouble attacking the rim, and with his length, he does well finishing. His speed is so damn good, that he can just run around his guys, and his hesi is something to marvel. Staying at Purdue really helped Ivey as he improved his three-point shooting by 10%. Going from 25 to 35% from 21 to 22. Ivey also improved his pull up three-point shooting, helping create some diversity into his scoring. Ivey does have some ways to go, one of which is defensive consistency. He at times appears to be disengaged and it is noticeable. Ivey also has a problem getting chaotic and out of control. Plays faster than he is and leads to sloppy turnovers and boneheaded decision-making. Playing with tempo will be the biggest deciding factor. Though Ivey is a walking highlight reel, his emphatic dunks and drives to the rim should get people into seats to watch this man play. He might be more of a two guard than a point, but should he continue to improve his shooting, and play with better pace, then he will be a top 5 guard in the NBA in three years.

5. AJ Griffin - Duke - Wing - Freshman - 6’6”, 222lbs, 7’0” Wingspan:

Within that Duke team that went to the final four, AJ Griffin should not be overlooked. Griffin is a knockdown three-point shooter with some fluid mechanics, even if with the wide base. He knocked down almost 45% of his threes on just shy of 5 attempts. He does well drifting and getting into the handler’s range to hit some good threes. Always looked like it was going to go in. Griffin also has some self-shot creation upside. Has good handle, and in games where he was asked to be the primary scorer, he did fairly well. Has some good touch at the rim as well, converted 64.2% of his shot/mid-range jumpers. The thing he has to work the most on is his defense. Griffin was still recovering from a knee injury and didn’t look as athletic as he appeared to be when looking at high school tape. Definitely shown in one on one situations where he didn’t have the lateral quickness and was often beaten to the rim by guards. He also had a bad knack of getting beaten on backdoor situations. A lot of it could stem from the explosiveness he lacked from the injury, but he could regain it since he turns 19 in August. I do like Griffin being a nice player, probably a No. 2 or at worst a No. 3 on a playoff team with his scoring potential. He just needs to regain that explosiveness.

6. Jalen Duren - Memphis - Center - Freshman - 6’11”, 250lbs, 7’6” Wingspan:

There is probably no more of a physical monster as Jalen Duren from Memphis. Off the bat, the dude is freakishly athletic. Has the length and the explosiveness that would make him a mainstay center on many teams. A lot like Orlando Magic era Dwight Howard. He is imposing as a rim protector, has the feel and absolutely the length to make scoring at the basket a living nightmare. Duren’s defense is something else as well. Able to not only impose on many other big men, but also does well handling guards and other ball handlers on switches. Great lateral mobility and shown to do well in recovery. Duren also does well cleaning up the glass, uses his athleticism and size to high point missed shots and snags them out of the air, especially on the offensive glass. Averaged 3.0 OREB per game, while converting 2.5 PPG in second chance shots. Duren though has to develop offensively. In the post, it is more strength and almost no skill. Just tried to bully players to get the shots he wants, and it almost always backfires, just like he did against Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren. He has some capability to expand his range, but needs work, especially on the move. Though on the floor, Duren is an impact defensive imposing center that can clean up the glass, and should work well on a team that needs someone to impose on the glass like that.

7. Dyson Daniels - G-League Ignite - Guard - 6’6”, 190lbs, 6’7” Wingspan:

The Ignite has given us some good players with guys like Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, and now likely has given us another one in Dyson Daniels. Daniels is a highly impactful defensive monster. His rim protection skills are great for a guard, with good chase down blocks. Does a great job keeping himself squared, shutting down driving lanes, and is just a menace overall. Can be an all-NBA defense for a guard, able to lockdown positions 1-3. Pretty good passer, does his best in transition. Shown to hit some good passes, pretty reliable facilitator. Does well in attacking the rim, good control and poise. Nice varity of moves to get and finish at the rim. But he does need to unlock the rest of his offensive game, converted only 30.8% of his catch and shoot shots. Lacks fluidity as a shooter, shows more in his pull-up shooting game. Very stiff and rigid, will have to work on it to being a better starter at the pro level. Daniels on the surface though is an impact defensive player, should do well against many guards and guard/wings in the league. His ability to find other ways of scoring outside of the rim will have to be a must. Getting a good shooting coach will help him in the long run.

8. Keegan Murray - Iowa - F/Wing - Sophomore - 6’8”, 225lbs, 6’11” Wingspan:

After Luka Garza left for the NBA Draft last season, Keegan Murphy really shined as a feature player for Iowa, being a top scorer, and shown why he is a top lottery player. His best attribute is definitely in transition where he converted 73.1% of his shots. Whether it be directly off the glass or off a defensive play, he was a problem for his opponents. Did well taking it coast-to-coast. Was first in D-1 play with over 60 possessions. Keegan has a great motor and fights for the boards as well. Should do well as a four in the pros and gave even Memphis Center Jalen Duren fits. Did well attacking and finishing at the rim, shown to be mostly a lefty dominant player but is capable of finishing with either. Converted 100/165 non-post shots at the half court (better than Jabari and Paolo). Defensively, he has great ability. Will likely handle many wings and other forwards and does it well with great fluidity and positioning. He does need to work on creating offense at the half court. Doesn’t do much for himself and lacks an in-between game. Having it though would elevate his game. He’s also not a natural playmaker, take care of the ball, but won’t be making a lot of key passes. Overall though, Murray is a versatile wing that should be impactful for many teams. He improved his shooting and has good versatility to be a top 5 potentially. Don’t let him being 23 in August scare you off.

9. Johnny Davis - Wisconsin - Guard - Sophomore - 6’5”, 194lbs - 6’7” Wingspan:

When looking at former high school prospects that people somewhat overlooked, there is no better than Johnny Davis. Davis’s best attribute would have to be is one-on-one scoring. He excels well enough in iso situations and converts well enough. Incredibly patient and allow the play to develop and sees what he has breaking down in front of him, converts well in pull-up situations, especially at the elbow. The shot creation is pretty sweet. There is also some good upside to being an off-ball shooter. On defense, he is pretty solid. Shown to recover well when initially beaten on angles and uses his frame to absorb contact and get his opponents off spot. His biggest two weaknesses though are his lack of quickness and ball movement. Davis isn’t an elite athlete and faster opponents can beat him to the rim going straight lined as well as cut him off quicker when he wants to attack the rim. A lot of what he does is very physical based. Another would be getting to be a better ball mover. Davis craves and, in most cases, thrives in iso situations, but he gets tunnel vision as a result and misses wide open players. He won’t be a playmaker, but you can feel the lack of ball movement when he is on the court. And he does need to work a bit on his consistency, no bad looks just bad slump. Shot 20% off his threes in his last 15. Davis might be similar to a prime James Harden in terms of one-on-one situations and scoring potential. He is better defensively while Harden is better at ball movement. But he should be a nice scoring guard for many teams.

10. Benedict Mathurin - Arizona - G/Wing - Sophomore - 6’6”, 210lbs, 6’9” Wingspan:

Sophomores are getting good love and Ben Mathurin should definitely get some. Mathurin is already one of the better off-ball scorers in the draft. He does a well enough job flowing and getting into the right positions and converting some good three pointers. Shown well as a C&S player and off screens. Converted near 40%. But with on ball, he has shown improvement. There is a good argument he can score on all three levels and has improved his handle well. His athleticism is pretty good, and if given the role, he could a top 3 scorer for his team. His defensive ability is also very noteworthy. He has all the tools needed and does well getting steals. Should be a solid defender guarding 1-3. He is rather serviceable as a playmaker, though can be really inaccurate, and his shot selection is questionable. He’s a nice prospect that should serve well as a nice rotational wing/guard for any team that needs great off ball scoring, should do well with a facilitator and a player that excels in the post.

11. Shaedon Sharpe - Kentucky - Guard - Freshman - 6’6”, 200lbs - 6’8” Wingspan:

Rather controversial candidate, Sharpe is very much a boom-or-bust prospect. Sharpe does have the athleticism to be a dominant guard. Good speed and length to really punish his man. He does well in transition and cutting. Does well athletically to get to the rim and punishes those that get in his way. He does have some good potential as a shot creator, untapped but the upside is there. Though the large elephant in the room is him not playing at all in his now lone college season at Kentucky. Most of what teams will be able to see are high school tape and college practice tape. I didn’t see an injury reason as to why he didn’t play, but future character concerns? Sharpe will have to start off in the G-League for whoever takes him and I would not be surprised to see him fall if teams get a bad vibe from him or if missing that season made him look rusty.

12. Ousmane Dieng - NZ Breakers (Australian League) - Wing - 6’10”, 205lbs - 7’1” Wingspan:

The Aussie Basketball League gave the Draft and the Thunder Josh Giddey and it will be interesting to see their latest prospect, Ousmane Dieng. Dieng already has some unreal length and fluidity. A very long player that smothered over wings. Dieng also shown great improvement from his first 11 games to his last 11 where all of his stats got a major boost. He felt more confident and shown fantastic growth mid-season. He did well on closeouts and used his length well, even for a teenager playing in a grown man league. Dieng does have some great playmaking potential, though raw and needs to get stronger, he shown to have some nice moments that will garner him a role as a secondary playmaker for teams. His obvious weaknesses would be improving his shooting and bulking up. He is a teenager still and going to the G-League will help him immensely. He’ll do nicely in three years time.

13. Mark Williams - Duke - Center - Sophomore - 7’0”, 242lbs - 7’7” Wingspan:

Duke probably had its most talented team Coach K had in a while didn’t it? With Banchero and Griffin, you now have the man in the paint, Mark Williams. Williams has insane reach and shown it off well in protecting the rim. The timing and feel his has as a blocker is something. Especially on the weakside. He does have the tools to be versatile defensively, great athleticism and lateral quickness. Offensively, shown himself to be an emphatic dunker and does well finishing at the rim, though mostly at the dunker spot. His biggest two weaknesses though would be his foul trouble and perimeter play. Mark does get fooled a bit and can get over aggressive, needs to play smarter. And his offensive play away from the basket leaves a lot to be desired. Didn’t take really any jumpers and it really limited what he can do. Would benefit to working on his jumper to be more versatile on the offensive side of the ball. Mark isn’t like Duren much, but is a nice center nonetheless. His length and athleticism alone should be worth late lottery.

14. Malaki Branham - Ohio St. - G/Wing - Freshman - 6’5”, 180lbs, 6’10” Wingspan:

Pretty much buried in the freshman standouts is this shooting guard from Ohio State, Malaki Branham. Off the bat, the dude is a mid-range sniper. Converted 46% of his mid-range shots and shown to be highly effective. Does very well into getting in his spots and pulls up well on both his left and right. He rises very high and shown to get over many defenders. His catch-and-shoot upside is also noteworthy, was able to git near 43% of his opportunties. He’s also an underrated 3pt shooter, hit over 40%. Very much a well-rounded scorer. Though can still work on his range a bit. Can be inconsistent. Though his biggest hurdle is defensive intensity. He has the tools, though lacks quickness, he needs to play more physical. Questions if the Ohio St. scheme hid his athletic weaknesses. Malaki is a dangerous scorer. He should score roughly 16-18 PPG should he be a starter or even an over-qualified sixth man. Love the scoring potential.

15. Tari Eason - LSU - F/Wing - Sophomore - 6’8”, 216lbs - 7’1” Wingspan:

Rounding out to the fifteenth best, the LSU man Tari Eason is an enticing prospect. Eason’s athleticism is something coaches marvel at. Long strides, explosive, and thrives in transition. Defensively, he is nightmare. Shown to guard multiple positions purely from an athletic standpoint with great frame and length. Does well moving and should function well as a small-ball five. Eason does have some good upside scoring. He is pretty great as a driver and finisher, able to go coast to coast. Pretty shifty and has improved as a catch-and-shoot player. He does need to improve consistency in his shooting, some mechanics need a slight tweak. As well as finishing with his left hand. But he is a fun prospect with some great upside to him. He could be G-League relegated but he can seriously dominate as a role player early on.