https://www.nbascoutinglive.com/rankings/ This is the best resource of NBA draft prospects that I found and like to share. They show top 100 with pros and cons and summery for each player which seem accurate to me. They even tell you which player has solid motor and gifted athlete. Scottie Lewis for example, is the only player with both of these qualities.
If the Rockets lose out on a top 4 pick I would look to get either Jaden Springer or Keon Johnson at #18.
I have completely changed my tune on Davion Mitchell. Initially I was very hesitant to rank him high due to his age, as well as having only 1 great year. I have watched some breakdown prospects tapes and I am just extremely fascinated by him as a prospect. Notes: - Top defensive player in the nation. Skills will transfer and he can be elite at guarding 1/2s in the NBA - Elite change of direction and stop/go ability; elite foot work on hops; similar to Donovan Mitchell - Projected above average/average shooter at minimum; he improved every year in college and may become even better - No official wingspan (some sites list 6-5). Mitchell's is 6-10 and Smart is 6-9. If his wingspan is only 6'5, he can only guard 1/2s and will have difficulty guarding long wings - I think his floor is Marcus Smart with better offense, which is worth a top 5-10 pick. Ceiling is a Donovan Mitchell with lesser offense and better defense. - I guess he will be picked 6-10, but I would take him at 6.
Keon Johnson would be a steal at 18. Springer is a good player, but he really needs to improve his jumper.
Switch defense is not only the Rockets most effective defense but it's the best defense in postseason. And "best defender" is subjective. Davion Mitchell or Duece McBride may be the best 1v1 guard defenders, Barnes can defend 1-5 best, Bassey, Queta and Enu have the most blocks while Isaiah Jackson has such a ridiculously good block % its cartoonish. http://www.tankathon.com/players/co...--isaiah-jackson--evan-mobley--day-ron-sharpe That said, I like and have touted Garuba even mocking him to Rockets multiple times. But there is a reason that Mobley is unanimous top 3 pick and Garuba isn't. Mobley is not just 7'0 (vs. Garuba's 6'8) with 7'5 wingspan but he can smother his man anywhere on the court AND rotate back to the ball with quickness and length to disrupt play WITHOUT fouling. Finally, you said it yourself there is no comparison at all on who is best overall player.
I LOVE Scottie Lewis! But he is not only example of solid motor AND gifted athlete, these kids also qualify: 6'9 Greg Brown 6'11 Kai Jones 6'10 Isaiah Jackson 6'7 Herb Jones Lu is subjective and vague, what is difference between "great athlete" and "gifted athlete"? Lu describes Kai and Jackson as "very good athlete" instead of "gifted" athlete but I disagree. Kai Jones could very well be the most gifted athlete in draft. And IJ is a ridiculous athlete in his own right. Herb Jones is also listed as "gifted athlete" but he is also described by Lu as "very good motor" which sounds better than "solid motor". And while Garuba may not be the pogo stick athlete that the guys above are, his motor could be the best or 1 of best at least.
Interesting/ weird 2021 NBA Draft Big Board 4.0: Top 100 prospects pre-combine and lottery https://www.google.com/amp/s/ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-mock-draft-sleepers-early-entry-list-combine-lottery-cade-cunningham-jalen-suggs/
Gives me Ariza vibes, from his long but skinny athletic frame (6'10 with 7'2 wingspan) to his streaky 3P shooting. But already a lockdown 1-5 defender.
Drats, I wanted this guy at 23 or 24, but I'm afraid he's going to trend up like in this Top 100. He would be perfect Modern PF for us, who is smart and has a solid all around game at 19...
i'm very much out on davion mitchell anywhere in the top 10. there are so much better high upside plays. would die to draft jt thor or roko prkacin anywhere outside the lottery.
LOVE Springer as a compliment for KPJ. Springer can eventually be the bulldog defender/spot up shooter in the backcourt with KPJ. In a perfect world he is selected at 23/24 along with Garuba/Jones/Jackson after Cade was taken at 1.
I prefer bigs that are switchable but Sengun could be elite in drop or zone. And his offensive skills are crazy.
Khyri Thomas is a career .316 3P shooter. His best "season" (he played 57 minutes across 8 games in 2019/2020) he shot .357. In his 5 games as a Rocket, the first time that he saw consistent action as a pro, he shot .333. Thomas has potential but he isnt even a 40% shooter (2s and 3s).
Recency bias and skewed usage, just based on 3 limited NBA seasons. Especially in DET where he could barely get mins (averaged under 8 mins a game season prior and only played 8 games) and was nicked up. Khyri also only played 5 games for Rockets last season. Throughout both college and more recently his G-League career he was consistently 40% from 3. https://www.basketball-reference.com/gleague/players/t/thomakh01d.html
