First round Big Board (with comments on the first four guys)

 Projecting big men is a moving target in today’s league.

I project Bamba as the best big — essentially based on his shot blocking and rebounding.  Seems like a smart kid, too.

The rest look more like 2nd or 3rd options — Ayton included.  I think with Ayton you can get 20-10 a night but you might be a 45 win team.  Closer to a Joe Barry Carroll or a Robert Parrish with flashes of Ewing and Darryl Dawkins rather than Kareem or Hakeem.  I don’t think he’s Shaq.

Mitchell Robinson looks freakish.  Comparing him to other bigs, Crazy Mitch’s highlights looked great.  Probably looks better than James Wiseman too (a blue chip HS senior).  Robinson’s Lakers workouts looked pretty good.  

Donte: best scoring guard in the draft.  Maybe the best scoring wing.  With questions about Porter’s back and character, Donte looks like the best wing on the board.  ALTHOUGH you can make a case for Sexton being the top GUARD prospect.

Kostas Freak: long, versatile, good athlete.  Looks like a really solid glue guy who can get you dunks and defensive stats — similar to AK-47…. also worked out for the Lakers and he looked pretty good.  Even got going with the 3 ball after a slow start.  More of an "upside guy" to me, but right away he could be a useful athletic, defensively-versatile forward off the bench.

Not as big on Trae Young.  A poor man’s Steph who was super streaky in conference play.  

I might actually move Bagley over Ayton soon (if I didn’t already).  JJJ/Carter are a toss-up.  JJJ and Carter look more like solid secondary bigs than primary All Star big men.

Huerter looks like a shooter with more Birdtential but Doncic has the better overall game.  Looks like a toss-up between those two.

Rob Gray: my favorite binge scorer in the draft.

Kevin Knox doesn’t do that much for me.  Although I didn’t watch Kentucky a ton.  

I like Jalen Brunson but his draft stock will depend on who needs  a point guard.

I don’t see much separation between the end of the first round and the bulk of the second round.

I wonder where the Euro imports will land…

I think we will know more after a few more workout results come in (especially Porter’s).  

I will do another big board next week and probably one right before the draft (may even go all 2 rounds).

 yeah, I think i might have Donte too low.

i can see a universe where Air Donte aka The Artist Formerly Known as Donte Inferno ends up as the best guy out of this class.

I think he is one of the top 5 or 6.  Then there is a such a premium on perimeter scoring — this dude’s a killer.

 A 20/10 guy gets you stuck in the middle.  That version of Ayton clogs the floor, too.

With Kostas Freak I think you get a great complement to Dennis Smith, Jr.  Although this is a BIG BOARD I like Kostas in a Mavs youth movement.  

You can also pair Kostas with the Last Days of Dirk.  

The Mavs hit big on Dirk years ago so they are not afraid to swing for the fences.