[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

1.) Markelle Fultz – IMO he’s the clear cut top prospect and is on a tier of his own. He’s a Karl-Anthony Towns type of prospect, meaning he don’t have any obvious weaknesses and that he’s a plus in almost everything he does no the court. His comparisons vary from C.J McCullom to Dwyane Wade to James Harden. 

2.) Josh Jackson – He’s my second best prospect in this draft and can become Kawhi Leonard in the future, if he develops. One aspect that he’s getting overlooked for is that he’s an outstanding passer. He can play a lot on the ball in bringing the ball up the court and starting the outside. He does have weaknesses and question marks about his frame and his jumper, but he can always improve his jumper.

3.) Lonzo Ball – If I am the Lakers I would pick Lonzo Ball at 2 because it makes total sense in terms of marketing and fit with the current core of players (D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram). I think the gap between Lonzo and De’Aaron Fox is minimal and that you could argue that De’Aaron is the better pick for the Lakers. Lonzo have major weaknesses that he needs to clean up like his mid-range shooting, PnR play, pull-up game, handling ball pressure, and creativity with his handle.

4.) Jonathan Isaac – This might suprise some, but I believe he can be a top 3 player in this draft class. He have all the tools and the only thing that’s holding him back is his ability to take over. He’s a very versitile defender, can stretch the floor, and the handle to take power fowards off the dribble. 

5.) De’Aaron Fox – I have a struggle with De’Aaron Fox, even though he’s one of my favorite players. His weakness and physical profile scare me a little. He’s only 170 pounds and have a very small frame. I find it hard to say he will be a plus finisher at the rim in the league. I do not believe he’s a liability at the three point line, like people claim that is. He was a pretty decent shooter throughout high school, have a pretty nice shooting form, and he improved over the course of the year. Also, he seems to show up when it matters to most and his dominance against Lonzo Ball matters in terms of the type of player he is.

6.) Jayson Tatum – I believe he’s the second best scorer in this draft, behind Markelle Fultz. He growned on me over the past couple of months. I believe he best served as a stretch power forward, like Carmelo Anthony. He’s probably the co-favorite to win rookie of the year (Ben Simmons) due to Fultz going to a ready made team that doesn’t need him to score.

7.) Dennis Smith – I believe he is very overlooked as a prospect a and probably the most overlooked player in this draft. He had an impressive freshmen season in the most difficult conference. He was dominant most of the way and shot better than most expect. He also displayed the same type of athleticism that made him an household name in high school. In 

8.) Malik Monk – Arguably the best difficult shot maker in this draft class and a top 5 shooter in this class. He will always have a spot in this league with his ability to get buckets in an hurry. He can be a super 6th man or if a team handle him right I believe he can actually be a point guard, been saying this since he was in high school. I would at least try him there at first to see if he can handle it. I believe he is comparable to Zack LaVine.

9.) Lauri Markkanen – The best shooter in this draft class and he can also attack players off close outs. 

10.) Zach Collins – He’s the perfect role playing center in today’s NBA. He is very comparable to a player like Cody Zeller, he can run the floor, be acting on the boards, and be a plus defenders. He will always have a role in the league.

11.) Donovan Mitchell – He’s Marcus Smart who takes smarter shots, have a better understanding of the game, and that shoots the ball better. I believe he can play the point guard position next to a playmaking shooting guard (Jimmy Butler). He’s the best defender prospect in this draft. He have the stength to guard small fowards and the quickness and toughness to guard point guard and shooting guards in PnR and penetration. I don’t really care if he won’t be a star, but at this point of the draft you have to go with who can be a great role player, he can be an elite role player. 

12.) Frank Ntilikina – I don’t believe he’s a point guard, I believe he’s more of a play making shooting guard. He can really shooter and he can really slash to the paint and make plays above the rim. I believe he fits very well in the triangle and a guard like Kemba Walker. 

13.) O.G Anuboby – I know he had an knee injury, but his value is too much to pass on. He have the ability to guard 1-4, can shoot the three ball, run in transition, and is super athletic. 

14.) Jarrett Allen – He’s very similar to Zach Collins. He’s a starting center in this league that can wreck havok rim running, protecting the paint, and being acting on the boards. He have tons of potential to do more though, he shown at Texas that he can even stretch the defense to the three point line. 

15.) Justin Patton

16.) Justin Jackson

17.) Harry Giles 

18.) Ike Anigbogu 

19.) Luke Kennard 

20.) John Collins 

21.) T.J Leaf

22.) Bam Adebayo

23.) D.J Wilson

24.) Tony Bradley 

25.) Semi Ojeleye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FuqdatassParticipant]

 Bam played more and he is more skilled than Ike. Check out Bam’s DraftExpress workout video, his ball-handling and shooting skills are underrated.

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 Terrance Ferguson. He is in my top 15, let alone my top 25. 

I do agree that people are sleeping on Jackson or Fox slipping into the number 2 pick. I think it is unlikely that happens, but I think 5 years from now these two can easily be better than Ball.

I think Fox can finish at the rim. If Tony Parker can do it, Fox can. He is quick enough to get into the lane like Parker did so well. All it takes is time in the gym working on that floater.

 

 

[JV’s_pump_fakeParticipant]

I think someone in the lottery will fall in love with his shooting and athleticism.
Someone with multiple picks will take the plunge and draft on potential.

[Andrew1984Participant]

 I am amazed at how little attention Dennis Smith Jr. is getting. I think the idea of him not being a top-five pick is insane. I would take him over D’Aaron Fox any day of the week. His explosiveness is just as off-the-charts as Fox’s, but his skills as a passer and shooter are far more refined. I still expect him to pick up steam via workouts. If Philly wasn’t planning on playing Simmons at point, I’d have Smith at No. 3 for sure.

[SubZeroParticipant]

Good list, although I might have TJ Leaf a little higher

Does anyone else see Avery Bradley in Donovan Mitchell or is that just me?

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 I like that top 10.  I would probably have a couple of those guys higher and a couple lower, but that looks good.

From 11 on down to the mid-2nd round, I think teams should consider going after NEED and/or TRADING DOWN.

I think your Tier 1 guys will be off the board by the 10th pick.  Maybe even your Tier 2 guys OR if you have a bigger Tier 2 then that is the BIGGEST part of the draft, possibly all the way into the 2nd round.  

I would have a stricter tier system: Tier 1 is Fultz, most likely Ball, more than likely Josh Jackson, more than likely Fox, and I am gonna go with Isaac and possibly Dennis Smith, Jr.

2nd tier: the rest of your top 10 all the way to Monk, Markannen, and Zach Collins.  Not sure if Tatum is a Tier 1 guy or a Tier 2 guy.

Mid-first round: either borderline Tier 2 guys, or Tier 3 guys.

Your 4th tier guys are in the back half of the second round.  So, you can either go with a 4th wing, or a 3rd center, or a 3rd string point guard, OR you can go with your International Euro Stash "UPSIDE" guy…

Maybe you roll the dice instead of getting a 10th guy AT BEST.  Probably starting in that 45-50 range.

If Giles FREE FALLS to 45 then you take him because he is an UPSIDE guy with the rest of your options being guys who peaked in the first semester of their senior year in college… 

If Johnathan Jeanne is there at 45-50 then you take HIM because at best he is an UPSIDE guy, AT WORST he is a 3rd string center/emergency shot blocker.

Other than that, would you rather have Donovan Mitchell at 15, OR trade into the second round for TWO established guards: Frank Mason, III and Josh Hart.  Or, Nigel Williams-Goss as your fourth guard of the future…

To me, this is basically 3 separate drafts: 

1) TOP TEN

2) 10-40/45

3) 45-60

In the top 10 go with BPA first, then fit a close second, you also want to go with a guy who WANTS to be there.  FIT/TRADE DOWN after the 10th pick or so… From around 45 on down you go with a EURO/G LEAGUE STASH guy.  If your "backup center" types like Jeanne and even Motley are gone, and if your "backup backup point guard types like Mason, III, and Nigel Williams-Goss" are gone, then you go with UPSIDE MYSTERY guy… 

Besides, if you are ARE NOT the Golden State Warriors then the next 3 or 4 years are a great IRS write off anyway, so you might as well BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.

Undrafted rookies: find an undrafted rookie who can fill a need, preferably a 3 or 4 year college guy, and make him your 14th man.  Do the same, probably, for your 13th man.  Basically, don’t pay an NBA veteran to take up valuable/costly real estate on the bench.

Your 12th man should probably be a 3 point shooting specialist or a shot blocking specialist, either as an undrafted rookie or a 2nd round pick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

1 basketball writer that often talk to gms said at least 3 gms told him,that ferguson isnt worth a 1st round pick….

i agree with you on fox..and disagree with you on leaf..dude is a top 10 pick….

some team will grab jordan bell in the late teens or 20s…..

 

 

 

 

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

5.) De’Aaron Fox – I have a struggle with De’Aaron Fox, even though he’s one of my favorite players. His weakness and physical profile scare me a little. He’s only 170 pounds and have a very small frame. I find it hard to say he will be a plus finisher at the rim in the league. I do not believe he’s a liability at the three point line, like people claim that is. He was a pretty decent shooter throughout high school, have a pretty nice shooting form, and he improved over the course of the year. Also, he seems to show up when it matters to most and his dominance against Lonzo Ball matters in terms of the type of player he is.

With Fox weighing in at 170 lbs. I don’t believe it will be much of a problem to show any production early on. You have to remember that Brandon Jennings dominated his rookie year weighing 169 lbs.

 

 

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