Sorry but I like Suggs. Reminds me of Rose and Wade with his ability to manipulate his body in mid air.
Nothing to be sorry about. He is a good player who is quite mature. He is number 4 on my list right now, after Cade, Green and Mobley. Kuminga has dropped from 4 to 5 for me.
He's going to get manhandled. His frame doesnt appear to be able to hold much more weight and he wont be the "big guy" in the NBA. I like his skill set as a big, but he may be relegated to spot 3 point shooting if he cant bang inside and take the abuse. I'll be eagerly waiting for his year at Gonzaga to see if that is exposed even before reaching the NBA. Im way more hot on Emoni Bates as a prospect even.
Yeah I can see that. I thought he filled out more this season. The Porzingis comps are apt imo. And he’s always hurt so.... The talent and skillset is otherworldly but won’t matter if he doesn’t fill out.
Agreed on Banchero vs Holmgren. This is why I think that the Rockets can turn things around sooner rather than later. It all starts with Cade or Mobley though. If they get one of those guys and then next year they are still a lottery team they will have a chance to get someone like Banchero or Patrick Baldwin (a guy similar to MPJ) or Jaden Hardy or Adrian Griffin or Holmgren or someone else who comes out of nowhere. If ever there was a time to bottom out it is now. There ***appears to be*** much more talent than normal in the next few drafts. If the Rockets can score 2 franchise altering talents in b2b drafts to add to Wood and co. then they have a chance to be really good pretty quick.
Emoni Bates is thin in a very Durant/Ingram kind of way, if that makes sense. He is explosive, fast twitch, has the ability to decelerate, very strong core and moves low to the ground. That's not to say he won't put on weight, but it is a different kind of thin.
Holmgren isn’t? He’s a great athlete in his own right. Quick, fluid. He performed really well against Bates head to head. I get going against grown men, has to get a little more sand in his pants. But that can be said about Bates as well.
If we don’t get a top 4 pick this year, or even if we do, we should still be in contention for a top 3 pick next year.
All good man. I think there are questions about Holmgren and Bates when it comes to strength. But both are elite prospects.
https://www.si.com/nba/2021/04/28/2021-nba-draft-big-board-top-80-rankings 1. Cade Cunningham, G/F, Oklahoma State | Freshman Height: 6' 7" | Weight: 220 | Age: 19 | Previous rank: 1 Whether or not Cunningham lived up to the hype this season depends on your vantage point, but his body of work was substantial: he led Oklahoma State to a favorable tournament seed, engineered an impressive win over national champion Baylor, and lifted a relatively average supporting cast farther than anyone expected. Consider the bevy of blue-chip college stars that preceded him and didn’t get the job done, and Cunningham’s season speaks for itself—his individual numbers aren’t as flashy as expected, but opponents geared up to stop him every single game. Cunningham’s size, playmaking acumen and remarkable feel for decision-making at a young age are all strong selling points, and he’s turned himself from an average shooter into a legitimately good one. He’s not an elite NBA athlete and still struggles to finish more than you’d like, but a steady diet of spread pick and roll might maximize his gifts and minimize his weaknesses in the long run. Cunningham’s competitive makeup and leadership is the icing on the cake here, and he’s consistently shown a willingness to make plays and close out games. As a malleable, versatile guard without a truly glaring weakness and several special qualities, Cunningham has held the No. 1 spot on this board all season. There may be some debate, but there shouldn’t be much doubt, and it ultimately would be tough to be the team that passes on him. 2. Evan Mobley, F/C, USC | Freshman Height: 7' 0" | Weight: 215 | Age: 19 | Previous rank: 2 There’s a real argument that Mobley is the most intriguing true big to enter the draft since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2015, or if you’re feeling bold, Joel Embiid in 2014, and he’s built a sneaky, if not popular, case as an alternative option at No. 1. Mobley looks like the type of mobile shot-blocker and space-eraser you can build a defense around, with overwhelming length and exceptional instincts, rarely fouling and playing a mature, composed game most nights. The big variable here lies on offense, where Mobley has always been an excellent ball-handler and passer for his size, but falls something short of being a No. 1 option. Mobley can be too deferential sometimes, and while there’s much more substance to his game than volume offense—he’s blossomed as a playmaker and projects to shoot the three effectively—he’ll be more comfortable playing next to ball-dominant teammates than shouldering the load, at least in the early part of his career. His long reach makes it difficult to alter his shot in the paint, and he’s a steady finisher, but quality touches often have to be manufactured for him. But even if Mobley levels out as a second or third offensive option, noting his probable defensive impact, you’ve got a special prospect. 3. Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga | Freshman Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 205 | Age: 19 | Previous rank: 4 Gonzaga’s disappointing end to the season doesn’t diminish the ways in which Suggs set himself apart this season, and his level of composure, focus and consistency throughout the tournament was impressive. And for the most part, NBA teams have become extremely comfortable with everything he brings to the table: Suggs is a fantastic athlete, will play either guard spot, competes at a high level all the time, and has a range of ways to positively impact games as a defender, playmaker, and scorer. As he continues to polish his skills, there’s far more upside than was readily evident coming into this season, and it’s hard to see a scenario where he’s not a viable long-term starter at worst. Gonzaga’s team context covered for his limitations as a halfcourt creator, but the NBA’s trend toward multiple-playmaker lineups helps mitigate those concerns, and he’s a blur in the open floor. With his quickness, strength and instincts, Suggs could end up as one of the better on-ball defenders in the league if he wants to be. While he may still be more hyper-athletic utility guard than high-usage playmaker in the long run, that version of Suggs could still be a star. 4. Jalen Green, SG, G League Ignite Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 180 | Age: 19 | Previous rank: 5 By the end of the G League’s season, Green was Ignite’s best player, and already one of the better individual scorers in the competition, bolstering his candidacy as a top five pick and showcasing how far he’d come over the course of the past year. He’s a terrific athlete and has begun to translate his remarkable high school flashes into consistent production, showing off some latent playmaking ability when he’s willing to share the ball. The knock is that Green remains a bit one-dimensional, often struggling to impact the game without the ball in his hands and still playing conceptual catch-up on the defensive end. He needs to shore up his handle in order to maximize his physical gifts, and it’s worth noting he may be a bit smaller than his listed height. Green can be streaky shooting from distance, due in part to his proclivity for tough attempts, and will have to become a more efficient scorer to maximize his ability. But Green has shown the ability to pick things up quickly, and his trajectory at the moment is encouraging. 5. Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 210 | Age: 18 | Previous rank: 3 While Kuminga certainly helped himself with G League Ignite, his play tailed off a bit toward the end of the shortened season, and the window for him to play himself to the top of draft boards wound up being rather brief. He remains one of the draft’s most physically gifted prospects, and will be ready to play with NBA athletes immediately. Kuminga tends to play a bit harder on offense than defense, but has the ability to be a high-impact player on both ends, and has the tools to check big wings and switch screens. There’s a lot of room for improvement as a scorer, as well: Kuminga can get into the paint with ease and make plays for teammates, but has to get his three-point shooting to a passable level, improve his handle, and learn to do damage away from the ball. Kuminga’s potential is obvious, and he rounds out the top five comfortably. 6. Keon Johnson, SG, Tennessee | Freshman 7. James Bouknight, SG, UConn | Sophomore 8. Jalen Johnson, F, Duke | Freshman 9. Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State | Freshman 10. Kai Jones, F/C, Texas | Sophomore 11. Joshua Giddey, G/F, Adelaide 36ers (Australia) Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 205 | Age: 18 | Previous rank: 39 Giddey has done wonders for his stock over the past couple months, to the point where his productivity in the NBL is impossible to ignore. He’s arguably the best passer in the draft, has great size, thinks the game to an advanced degree, and doesn’t turn 19 until October. Giddey is an average athlete and is still developing a reliable jumper (though he’s made definite strides in that area). Best-case scenario, you’d want him to play on the ball to maximize his passing skills, but he’ll need to get stronger and work on creating his own shot in order to get there. His shot is a bit mechanical and will likely take some time to develop. Defensively he has some basic feel for where to be, but needs to work on his technique and footwork to have a chance at containing the perimeter. Still, he’s tough, mature, and has held his own against much older competition this season, and that success is a strong indicator he’ll find a way to adjust in the NBA. There’s a lot of room for optimism here, and his innate versatility and feel are great selling points. 12. Corey Kispert, SF, Gonzaga | Senior Height: 6' 7" | Weight: 220 | Age: 22 | Previous rank: 9 As by far the most proven shooter in the draft, Kispert has left few questions surrounding his professional fit. He scored with otherworldly efficiency all season, particularly for a jump shooter, and projects neatly into a similar role in the NBA as a ball-moving, floor-spacing forward who can contribute immediately. Kispert primarily defended fours all season and has proven strong and tough enough to do that situationally, which adds some nice versatility to his profile as a role player. With the premium on high-level shooting, he’s a viable option in the late lottery in spite of his age. A team might be paying full price for a player who’s somewhat close to his ceiling, but Kispert is pretty hard to nitpick. Simply becoming a better version of what he already is shouldn’t be much to ask, and will be enough to carve out a long career. 13. Franz Wagner, F, Michigan | Sophomore 14. Moses Moody, SG, Arkansas | Freshman Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 205 | Age: 18 | Previous rank: 12 The NCAA tournament wasn’t overly kind to Moody, but his flashes over the course of the season and projectable shooting stroke profile nicely into an NBA wing role. The hope is that he’ll develop into a reliable, low-maintenance 3-and-D type piece, with upside if he can make strides with his ball skills and playmaking. Moody isn’t particularly explosive and struggles to convert around the rim in traffic, but he found ways to be effective this season by drawing fouls. He may never put much pressure on the basket, but if he can learn to attack closeouts and make plays in those situations, it’ll be a big help. His long frame profiles well defensively away from the ball. Moody isn’t an overly flashy player, but he has an easy pathway to value, and nice upside if he can fashion himself into a more dynamic player working off the catch. 15. Usman Garuba, F/C, Real Madrid (Spain) 16. Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor | Junior 17. Alperen Sengun, F/C, Besiktas (Turkey) 18. Jared Butler, PG, Baylor | Junior 19. Tre Mann, PG, Florida | Sophomore 20. Joel Ayayi, SG, Gonzaga | Junior
21. Chris Duarte, SG, Oregon | Senior Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 190 | Age: 23 | Previous rank: 38 All Duarte conversations come with the caveat that he’ll turn 24 before he makes his NBA debut. But he was exceptionally good this season and plays with a maturity befitting his age, and it’s easy to see him succeeding as a plug-and-play pick in the late first round. He may be good enough to walk into bench minutes immediately, as a reliable catch-and-shoot player and smart defender who should fit neatly into a supporting role. Duarte was superbly efficient for Oregon, and his strengths are translatable, making this a fairly uncomplicated eval. Noting his age, Duarte will be more appealing to playoff teams looking for immediate help, but landing a reliable shooter on a bargain contract is a pretty good deal no matter what. 22. Ziaire Williams, SF, Stanford | Freshman 23. Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee | Freshman 24. Day’Ron Sharpe, C, North Carolina | Freshman 25. Roko Prkacin, F, Cibona (Croatia) 26. Isaiah Jackson, F/C, Kentucky | Freshman 27. Cameron Thomas, SG, LSU | Freshman 28. Greg Brown III, F, Texas | Freshman Height: 6' 9" | Weight: 205 | Age: 19 | Previous rank: 16 Brown’s ridiculous athletic tools make him worth a shot in the late first round, but a disappointing year at Texas laid bare the fact that his feel is lagging behind many of his peers. He may be the best athlete in the draft, and the success of players in his mold like Jerami Grant and Derrick Jones—both of whom were late bloomers—leaves room for optimism. Brown plays hard, has shown the capacity to make outside shots, and was not helped whatsoever by the role he played at Texas, which often left him stranded in uncomfortable spots on the perimeter. But the hope that he might transition into a wing looks like a long shot. Teaming with better playmakers in the NBA should help unlock Brown as a lob threat and cutter, and if he shoots, there’s a chance he’ll eventually help a team. But at this rate, it may not be until his second contract, and whoever drafts him will need to be extremely patient. 29. Marcus Bagley, F, Arizona State | Freshman 30. Sharife Cooper, PG, Auburn | Freshman 31. Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois | Junior Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 200 | Age: 21 | Previous rank: 40 As far as the NBA is concerned, Dosunmu is being judged on his body of work, not just Illinois’ unceremonious NCAA tournament exit. And he’s done enough that it’s likely he hears his name called in the first round, with his range likely beginning in the 20s and ending in the 30s. While Dosunmu is still somewhat stuck between guard spots—he’s probably not creative enough to play point guard in the NBA, and his jumper isn’t so dangerous that he’ll be a huge threat on the wing—his consistent effort and notable work ethic should help him inch toward reliability in spite of the things he doesn’t do as well. Physically, he fits the bill, and he’s become a strong finisher and much more consistent performer. Dosunmu lacks an elite skill and will have to keep improving his skill level to find a niche in the NBA long-term, but teams view him as someone who can give them minutes in the short-term, and as a good bet to keep improving. 32. Terrence Shannon Jr., G/F, Texas Tech | Sophomore Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 210 | Age: 20 | Previous rank: 27 An athletic, slashing wing who plays hard on both ends and is unafraid to do the dirty work, Shannon profiles as the type of glue guy with upside a team should be eager to take a chance on. On the offensive end, Shannon hasn’t been quite as consistent as you’d hope, but he’s shown flashes of improved shooting and has consistently been good from the free throw line. He’s an admirably tough defender who’s willing to sacrifice his body, an underrated passer, and does a lot of things well that don’t manifest in the box score. Wings with Shannon’s type of physical profile tend to be appealing projects, and he brings a lot to the table in terms of intangibles. If he becomes a consistent shooter, there’s added upside here. 33. Brandon Boston Jr., SG, Kentucky | Freshman 34. Daishen Nix, PG, G League Ignite 35. Miles McBride, PG, West Virginia | Sophomore 36. David Johnson, G, Louisville | Sophomore 37. Justin Champagnie, F, Pittsburgh | Sophomore 38. Isaiah Todd, F, G League Ignite Height: 6' 10" | Weight: 210 | Age: 19 | Previous Rank: NR Todd joined G League Ignite with minimal expectations and put together a successful season as a legitimate contributor with the capacity to space the floor. Right now there’s not a whole lot else to his game, but Todd has size, he’s a solid jump shooter, and had some impressive moments. He’s always fancied himself as more of a perimeter player, which tends to come at the expense of extra rebounds. He still has a long way to go before helping an NBA team, and his limitations as a passer and ballhandler likely limit him to catch-and-shoot duty without a major step forward. But Todd does deserve some credit for making an impact with Ignite, and his tools and skill set give him a chance to fit in the NBA long-term. 39. Josh Christopher, SG, Arizona State | Freshman 40. Jose Alvarado, PG, Georgia Tech | Senior 41. Ariel Hukporti, C, Nevezis (Germany) 42. Aaron Henry, G/F, Michigan State | Junior 43. Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky | Junior Height: 6' 10" | Weight: 235 | Age: 20 | Previous rank: 44 Bassey made an impressive return from a serious knee injury this season and put himself squarely back on the draft map, but remains a bit polarizing depending on what you value in a center. Bassey’s huge frame, rebounding and shot-blocking skills figure to earn him a shot at a bench role, and while not exceptionally skilled, he’s good around the rim and has some shooting ability. For the most part, he dominated lesser competition in Conference USA, but has shown a strong motor and a clear level of competitive engagement. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Bassey emerge as as viable backup big, but he may not be special enough to justify a first-round investment, considering the replaceability of rim-running centers. If he can become a consistent floor spacer, which isn’t out of the question, it greatly helps his chances. 44. Filip Petrusev, C, Mega Bemax (Serbia) 45. RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State | Junior 46. Johnny Juzang, SG, UCLA | Sophomore Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 200 | Age: 20 | Previous rank: NR Juzang shot the lights out in the NCAA tournament and helped lift UCLA to a stunning Final Four run, nearly taking down Gonzaga in the process. It was enough to get him firmly on the NBA radar, but he has more work to do to solidify himself as a Top 40 selection. Juzang has obvious ability as a scorer, capable of hitting tough shots and comfortable scoring in the midrange or launching threes. If that develops into an elite skill, he could have a long-term NBA future, but he’s a bit of a one-note player right now: he doesn’t put pressure on the rim consistently, isn’t a great defender or playmaker, and profiles strictly as a specialist for the time being. Juzang is an intriguing second-round bet with upside, but will need strong workouts to rise from here. 47. Jaime Jaquez, G/F, UCLA | Sophomore 48. Max Abmas, G, Oral Roberts | Sophomore 49. Ochai Agbaji, SG, Kansas | Junior 50. Joshua Primo, G, Alabama | Freshman
51. Juhann Begarin, SG, Paris Basket (France) 52. Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine | Junior 53. E. J. Liddell, F, Ohio State | Sophomore 54. Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan | Senior 55. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F/C, Villanova | Sophomore 56. Luka Garza, C, Iowa | Senior Height: 6' 11" | Weight: 265 | Age: 22 | Previous rank: 46 Garza was the most dominant offensive player in college basketball the past two seasons, but his limited mobility and athleticism will make his pathway to the pros a narrow, tricky one. He’s certainly worth a draft pick as a potential backup big, given how effectively he scores in the paint, rebounds and knocks down threes. But Garza is heavy-footed and likely to struggle defending in space. Whether he succeeds in the NBA hinges strongly on team fit, but he should be an attractive pick for teams who value skilled bigs and can cover for him schematically. There’s a chance Garza turns himself into an effective specialist. He’ll be a sought-after player in Europe if it doesn’t work out. 57. Herbert Jones, F, Alabama | Senior 58. Sandro Mamukelashvili, F/C, Seton Hall | Senior Height: 6'11" | Weight | 240 | Age: 21 | Previous rank: 58 An unusual but effective college player, Mamulekashvili brings a degree of versatility as a big who can pass, handle and shoot threes, and has built an interesting, if not wholly convincing case in the second round. He’s not a great athlete, but combines enough physicality and skill to have an outside shot at an NBA bench spot. He’ll be better suited for the four than the five due to his defensive shortcomings, and is skilled enough to float to the perimeter and add some value. Mamulekashvili should warrant a hard look from teams as an extra bench big. 59. Austin Reaves, G, Oklahoma | Senior 60. Matthew Mayer, F, Baylor | Junior 61. Joe Wieskamp, SG, Iowa | Junior 62. Mojave King, G/F, Cairns Taipans (Australia) 63. Neemias Queta, C, Utah State | Junior 64. Nah’shon Hyland, SG, VCU | Sophomore 65. Jason Preston, PG, Ohio | Junior 66. D.J. Steward, G, Duke | Freshman 67. David Duke Jr., G, Providence | Junior 68. Ron Harper Jr., F, Rutgers | Junior 69. Oscar da Silva, F, Stanford | Senior 70. Trey Murphy, F, Virginia | Junior 71. Rokas Jokubaitis, PG, Zalgiris (Lithuania) 72. Darius Days, F, LSU | Junior 73. Quentin Grimes, SG, Houston | Junior Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 210 | Age: 20 | Previous rank: NR Grimes successfully reinvented himself at Houston the past two seasons after a disappointing year at Kansas, and looks primed for an opportunity on a two-way deal. While he doesn’t jump off the page athletically, Grimes has a strong frame, has proven he can knock down shots, and puts in solid effort defensively. He struggles to attack the paint and put pressure on the rim, and isn’t likely to be much of a creator off the dribble, profiling as more of a 3-and-D bench player in the long run, but he was immensely valuable this season and brings strong intangibles to the table, as well. He’ll have a chance to keep proving himself, and should work his way onto a roster next season one way or another. 74. Julian Champagnie, F, St. John’s | Sophomore 75. Santiago Aldama, F, Loyola (MD) | Sophomore 76. J.T. Thor, F, Auburn | Freshman 77. Yves Pons, F, Tennessee | Senior 78. Kofi Cockburn, C, Illinois | Sophomore 79. MaCio Teague, SG, Baylor | Senior 80. Carlik Jones, G, Louisville | Senior
