Most NBA GM’s watch tens of hours of game tape on each player and make rather subjective judgements on their quality. The flaw in this is that collegiate and European prospects play against inferior competition. The flaw in this is that the college game is nothing like the NBA game. In reality, watching HS basketball is a better tool to evaluate NBA prospects than watching an NCAA season.
Criteria is what we are talking about. NBA execs watch Michigan vs. Ohio State. I do too. But my main criteria is to judge a prospect’s NBA ready qualities through hi-lights, measurements, and advanced statistics.
Few college stats translate to the NBA. Watching a prospect put up 30 against Arizona State means very little if the player didn’t get those 30 breaking opponents off the dribble or creating his own shot. These are the things I look for. I like guards who use quickness to break down opponents off the dribble. I like wings with a good enough handle to create their own shot. I like tall athletic centers with the height and length to be affective in the NBA.
Overall, I think this draft has more talent than most NBA GM’s are giving it credit for. There are a lot of quality European big men. I like 4 European F/C prospects more than I liked Greg Monroe in 2010. I think the top tier is 3 deep with Williams, Irving, and Biyambo. Montiejunas and Vesely are typical high risk high reward draft choices. Both show enough potential to end up being good NBA starters.
Without further delay, lets’ get to the big board. This is not another mock NBA draft. This is an NBA draft big board, meaning, this is the order I would take players if I were taking BPA with every pick.
| 1. Derrick Williams, F
19 years old, 6’8” Arizona |
What I like: Williams can get his own shot off the dribble. He’s fast enough to take other forwards to the rack. He can finish around the basket. He shot 50% plus from the 3pt line last year, a 25% improvement from his freshman year. His eFG is 65%. He is very good defensively and very athletic.
What I don’t like: Williams has the measurements to play PF, but is still a bit of a tweener. He does not rebound well enough to play PF. He turns the ball over and is not great at getting his teammate’s shots. NBA comparison: Michael Beasley |
| 2. Kyrie Irving, PG
18 years old, 6’2” Duke |
What I like: Can flat out shoot and score. Great court vision. Exceptional handle. Can get his own shot and create opportunities for others.
What I don’t like: Does not have the quickness of most elite PG’s in the NBA. Is not very flashy. NBA comparison: Deron Williams |
| 3. Jonas Valanciunas, C
19 years old, 6’11” Lietuvos Rytas |
What I like: At 7′ he can get his shot off at any time. He scores on a variety of post moves and put backs. He is a true back to the basket player.
What I don’t like: Still very raw. Needs to work on his interior defense. Has a developing jump shot. NBA comparison: Rasho Nesterovich |
| 4. Alec Burks, G
19 years old, 6’6” Colorado |
What I like: Can get to the rim at will. Finishes with both hands. Good athleticism. Exceptional handle. Can take opponent off the dribble. Projects well, defensively.
What I don’t like: Poor shooting range from outside. Does not have elite quickness. NBA comparison: Paul George |
| 5. Enes Kanter, F/C
18 years old, 6’10” |
What I like: Good height, strenght, and a very developed offensive game. Built very well for an 18 year old. Will not be pushed around in the block. Excellent shot from 18 feet out. He may be a good P-N-R player in the NBA.
What I don’t like: Does not seem to possess much jumping ability. Looks like more of a PF than a C in the NBA. Vertical seems potentially limited by a past injury. Has not played basketball for over a year. NBA comparison: Al Horford |
| 6. Donatas Montiejunas C
20 years old, 7’0” Benetton Treviso |
What I like: True NBA center height. Mobile for a 7 footer. Can handle the ball and create his own shot in the post. Good range on his jump shot. Runs the floor well and is reasonably athletic.
What I don’t like: Not an inside defensive presence. Below average rebounder for his height. NBA comparison: Pau Gasol |
| 7. Jan Vesely, F
21 years old, 6’11” Partizan Belgrade |
What I like: Aggressive hi-light real dunks. Runs the floor really well for a 6’11” player. One of the more athletic players in the draft. Gets to the line. Efficient scorer.
What I don’t like: Lack of lateral quickness will be a challenge in the NBA. Range is getting better, but still does not shoot well from beyond the arc. Can not take an opponent off the dribble. Should be drafted by a running team. NBA comparison: Andre Kirilenko |
| 8. Bismack Biyombo, F/C
18 years old, 6’9” Baloncesto Fuenlabrada |
What I like: Has the length and athleticism to be a dominant defensive center in the NBA. Wingspan unbelievable. Best shot blocker I have seen since Kevin Garnett.
What I don’t like: Virtually no offensive game. He does hit free throws and scores on put backs, so the potential to blossom into a scorer is there. NBA comparison: Kevin Garnett |
| 9. Marshon Brooks, SG
22 years old, 6’5” Providence |
What I like: Knows how to score. Great handle. Can create his own shot. NBA length. 7’1” wingspan. Improved every year in college. Learned how to get to the line his senior year. Great stats. Great athleticism.
What I don’t like: Slow release. Despite elite speed, does not display quickness with the ball in his hands. NBA comparison: Jordan Crawford/Kobe Bryant |
| 10. Kenneth Faried, PF
21 years old, 6’8” Moorehead State |
What I like: 14 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 62% shooting. Rebounding will translate to the NBA.
What I don’t like: A bit undersized for a PF. Is entering the draft pretty old, so probably will not improve much in the NBA. No outside shot. NBA comparison: Josh Smith |
| 11. Kemba Walker, PG
21 years old, 6’0” Connecticut |
What I like: Increadible NBA ready quickness. Very flashy. Can get his own shot off whenever he wants. Great handle and can get to the line. Very aggresive with the ball.
What I don’t like: Not a good jump shooter. Size is a concern. Low assist rate. NBA comparison: Rodrigue Beaubois/Jonny Flynn |
| 12. Klay Thompson, SG
21 years old, 6’7” Washington State |
What I like: Aggressive with the ball in his hands. Attacks the rim. Shoots well. Good height for the 2 position.
What I don’t like: Not very athletic. 31” vertical. Average speed. NBA comparison: Tayshaun Prince |
| 13. Brandon Knight, G
18 years old, 6’4” Kentucky |
What I like: Excellent HS player who leveled off in college. Great shot from distance. Good rebounder for his position.
What I don’t like: Does not seem very quick. He gets to the line, but I can’t see him taking opponents off the dribble in the NBA. Does not facilitate that well. Might be a better SG in the NBA. NBA comparison: Wayne Ellington |
| 14. Reggie Jackson, G
21 years old, 6’3” Boston College |
What I like: Great length for his position. Can get to the rim. Good handle and sees teammates well. Shoots the ball well. Enormous wingspan.
What I don’t like: Might not have the quickness to get to the rim in the NBA. Not a pass first PG. NBA comparison: Randy Foye |
| 15. Chris Singleton, F
21 years old, 6’8” FSU |
What I like: NBA ready body. Plus defender who plays exceptional interior defense and disrupts lanes. Has a great handle. Improved his offensive game every year in college. Gets to the line at a high rate.
What I don’t like: Runs the floor well, but is not quick. Never developed into an offensive threat in college. Average shooter. Cannot really create his own shot. NBA comparison: Gerald Wallace |
| 16. Jimmer Fredette, PG
22 years old, 6’2” BYU |
What I like: Able to get his jump shot off at any time even with multiple defenders in his face. Knows how to score.
What I don’t like: Bad defender. Little speed and athleticism. Does not facilitate. Still a virgin. NBA comparison: Bryce Drew |
| 17. Nikola Vucevic, F/C
20 years old, 6’11” USC |
What I like: Has the height to play C in the NBA. Can shoot the ball. Quick for his size. Can put the ball on the floor.
What I don’t like: Not very athletic. 24” max vertical. Will never be an elite NBA defender. NBA comparison: Darko Milicic |
| 18. Deandre Liggens, G
23 years old, 6’6” Kentucky |
What I like: Can get to the rim. Good facilitator. Classic example of a college player who projects better to the NBA than do his teammates who got more minutes. Each time I watched Kentucky, he was the most talented player on the floor. Projects as an NBA PG. 6’6” will be a dangerous defender at the 1. Extremely quick for his size.
What I don’t like: For some reason he didn’t start ahead of Brandon Knight. A/TO rate very high. Might not be a good decision maker. 23 years old. Average jump shooter. Plays a bit out of control. NBA comparison: Jalen Rose |
| 19. Kawhi Leonard, F
19 years old, 6’7” San Diego State |
What I like: Rebounds extremely well for the SF position. Grabbed over 10rpg in his sophomore year. Shoots close to 50% from inside the arc.
What I don’t like: Does not have range on his shot. Turns the ball over. Not particularly strong. Combine measurements show that he is not very athletic. NBA comparison: Al-Farouq Aminu |
| 20. Davis Bertrans, SF
18 years old, 6’10” Latvia |
What I like: Stroke city. Has a quick release shot with perfect form. NBA ready size. Good athleticism.
What I don’t like: Lack of quickness at the SF position. NBA comparison: Clifford Rozier |
A million thanks for posting this inofrtmaion.