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Jonathan Givony
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Jeremy Woo
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Jeremy Woo
ESPN
- NBA draft analyst and author
Joined ESPN.com in 2023
Coated the NBA and NBA draft for Sports activities Illustrated from 2015-2023
The second spherical of the 2025 NBA draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday on ESPN.
Day 1 featured Duke phenom Cooper Flagg on the high of the board to the Dallas Mavericks, the New Orleans Pelicans buying and selling as much as No. 13 to take Maryland heart Derik Queen, together with a number of attention-grabbing picks and trades all through.
What’s in retailer for Day 2? Let’s speak by the most important questions heading into Spherical 2 and mission picks Nos. 31 by 59 with an up to date mock draft.
Who’re the most effective gamers nonetheless accessible? First-round-caliber prospects equivalent to Rasheer Fleming, Maxime Raynaud and Noah Penda may go early Thursday. Which workforce is ready as much as have an intriguing Spherical 2? And which under-the-radar prospects may flip into steals?
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo are right here that will help you navigate Spherical 2, with the assistance of their high 100 rankings. The mock draft write-ups beneath are from prospects’ scouting studies.
Extra NBA draft protection:
Mavs draft Flagg | Full Spherical 1 breakdown
Bailey’s shock by Utah | Which commerce received an A?
Commerce tracker | High 100 rankings | Extra draft
Who’s essentially the most attention-grabbing workforce on Thursday?
Givony: The Hornets, with choose Nos. 33 and 34, will certainly be a hotspot for commerce talks all through the day after including two first-round picks to their roster in Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley. Already sporting a reasonably younger roster, it isn’t clear what Charlotte’s urge for food can be for including one or two extra rookies. The workforce does have a transparent void to fill contained in the paint after buying and selling Mark Williams to the Suns for the No. 29 choose and a 2029 first-rounder. There are a couple of intriguing 7-footers accessible in Maxime Raynaud and Ryan Kalkbrenner, together with toolsy forwards equivalent to Rasheer Fleming and Adou Thiero.
Woo: The Timberwolves maintain the ability of selection at No. 31, not solely having dibs on whichever participant they need, but in addition the power to make use of it as a commerce chip. I am curious whether or not they seize a man like Fleming, or see extra worth in utilizing it to doubtlessly seize worth by different means.
Who’s an under-the-radar prospect you actually like who’s prone to be picked Thursday?
Givony: Noah Penda was drawing seems to be from groups within the first spherical due to his sturdy defensive versatility, passing and general really feel for the sport, however he could not acquire sufficient traction within the predraft course of as a result of his streaky taking pictures.
He’ll seemingly be a well-liked goal for playoff groups choosing within the 30s, like Minnesota, Boston or Philadelphia, who might want to stash a participant like Penda in Europe to protect roster flexibility. He’ll seemingly want to come back to the States instantly if he can discover a workforce keen to roster him, nevertheless.
Woo: Jamir Watkins is on the older aspect at 23-years-old, however he has been a contact undervalued. He is a wonderful perimeter defender who I believe will make sufficient photographs to stay on somebody’s bench. He’d be a very good goal for a workforce attempting to win subsequent season someplace within the 30s.
your Spherical 2 mock, what’s your favourite workforce and participant fit your needs’ve projected?
Givony: Maxime Raynaud to the Celtics at No. 32 is smart as an older, 7-foot prospect who can house the ground and doubtlessly be prepared to take in minutes after the Celtics traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks.
With Luke Kornet getting into free company and the Celtics navigating a monetary tightrope, having a smaller wage slot with Raynaud would seemingly give the workforce much-needed flexibility heading into the offseason.
Woo: Rasheer Fleming to the Timberwolves at No. 31 could be a pleasant worth play for Minnesota, which wants frontcourt reinforcements and may be capable to slide him into bench minutes out of the gate.
He is the kind of big-bodied shooter who may agency up the Wolves’ depth no matter what occurs with Naz Reid’s free company. The primary choose of Spherical 2 is especially beneficial on this two-day draft period due to groups eager to commerce up, however it may make sense to easily take the most effective participant accessible.
Spherical 2 mock draft
Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph’s
Strengths: Fleming is a toolsy ahead with spectacular highlights who improved leaps and bounds over the previous three years, growing right into a extremely environment friendly inside-out scorer to enrich his huge 7-foot-5 wingspan, which supplies him potential to develop into on the defensive finish.
Weaknesses: His really feel for the sport is a serious query mark, as he doesn’t course of the sport shortly on both finish of the ground. He generally struggles to make primary passes and is very mistake-prone off the ball defensively.
The decision: There is a premium on size, taking pictures and potential defensive versatility within the NBA, and Fleming may carry all three to a workforce with the persistence to develop his consciousness and approach defensively whereas the sport hopefully slows down for him offensively. He struggled badly late within the season, however his relative youth and trajectory at St. Joseph’s leaves room for optimism about his potential. — Givony
Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford
Strengths: Raynaud was late to the sport — he did not decide to the game full-time till his senior 12 months of highschool — however blossomed over 4 seasons at Stanford into a talented 7-footer who can house the ground and maintain his personal on the glass.
Weaknesses: The largest questions concerning his sport are on the defensive finish, the place he lacks some physicality and explosiveness, although his motor appeared improved on the NBA draft mix.
The decision: After competing in France alongside his good good friend (and now San Antonio Spurs star) Victor Wembanyama in his youth, Raynaud has developed right into a professional NBA expertise. He is perhaps a late-bloomer, however he suits a coveted mould along with his measurement and taking pictures means, which supplies him a faster path to a job on the subsequent degree than some gamers who can be drafted earlier than him. How he performs defensively can be one thing to look at early on, as flooring spacers like him can play an vital position within the NBA. — Givony
Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
Strengths: Kalkbrenner is an skilled heart whose means to function out of pick-and-roll, execute offensively, shield the rim and hit occasional 3-pointers makes him a dependable backup possibility.
Weaknesses: His 7-foot-6 wingspan is an asset, however he isn’t overwhelmingly bodily or explosive, posting underwhelming defensive rebounding numbers for a lot of his faculty profession.
The decision: One of the vital environment friendly and beneficial gamers in faculty basketball over the previous a number of seasons, main Division I in dunks by a large margin, Kalkbrenner is a identified participant whose occasional flashes of floor-spacing potential added a beneficial dimension to his sport. He may need limitations, however his measurement, size and consistency on each ends of the ground can be interesting to a workforce in search of rookie-contract depth on the heart place. — Givony
Noah Penda, F, France
Strengths: Penda is a strong-framed wing-forward with a wonderful really feel for the sport, a 6-foot-11.5 wingspan and defensive versatility who fills up the stat sheet with rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
Weaknesses: He’s stronger than he’s vertically explosive and stays inconsistent from the perimeter, taking pictures the ball with unorthodox mechanics, changing below 30% of his 3-pointers this season and all through his profession.
The decision: Making the transition from Professional B to Professional A glance straightforward, Penda had a wonderful season for a playoff workforce in France, making performs defensively and exhibiting the power to make use of his body and smarts to create for himself and others off the dribble. His taking pictures is a key swing talent, as he in any other case checks a whole lot of containers as a two-way contributor. — Givony
Tyrese Proctor, G, Duke
Strengths: Proctor is a sweet-shooting guard who performed a number of roles on the faculty degree, showcasing his means to perform on and off the ball.
Weaknesses: With a skinny body that did not evolve a lot in faculty and common bodily instruments, he has lengthy lacked a level of assertiveness and physicality on each ends, particularly in high-stakes moments.
The decision: Proctor’s positional measurement, enchancment as a spot-up shooter and flashes of means creating out of pick-and-rolls throughout his three collegiate seasons are intriguing, however he by no means fairly turned the nook as some extent guard. He should add toughness to have a significant position off the ball on the NBA degree. — Givony
Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas
Strengths: Thiero is probably essentially the most explosive participant on this draft, an occasion creator defensively who’s a major mismatch attacking in a straight line and the open courtroom, drawing fouls in bunches and ending in highlight-reel trend.
Weaknesses: Considerably caught between ahead positions, Thiero is a piece in progress along with his talent degree, really feel for the sport and defensive engagement. He struggled to make photographs constantly and missed a lot of the predraft course of with a lingering knee challenge.
The decision: Thiero confirmed important progress as a junior, however should make strides along with his taking pictures and general consistency to play a job on the NBA degree. His defensive upside is clear given his bodily instruments, and his trajectory over his three collegiate seasons makes him an attention-grabbing developmental swing. — Givony
Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee, tremendous senior
Strengths: Lanier is a harmful motion shooter with stable bodily instruments. He has proved himself as a prolific shotmaker within the SEC after he transferred from North Florida to Tennessee.
Weaknesses: He has inquiries to reply along with his really feel for the sport, passing and defensive prowess, struggling to influence the sport on nights his outdoors photographs weren’t falling.
The decision: A real late-bloomer who averaged 3.7 factors per sport over his first three collegiate seasons, Lanier turned a nook along with his jumper as an upperclassman to enrich his stable measurement, body and 6-foot-9 wingspan. He isn’t a lot of a ball handler and might want to make the most of his instruments higher defensively, however he has a transparent area of interest to fill with the way in which he can house the ground and shoot off screens. — Givony
38. Indiana Pacers (through San Antonio)
Jamir Watkins, SG/SF, Florida State, senior
Strengths: Watkins is a stout defender with a wonderful body and a 6-foot-11 wingspan who crammed up the field rating impressively at Florida State.
Weaknesses: The 23-year-old was productive as a secondary ball handler final season however has by no means been capable of finding consistency along with his outdoors shot, hitting simply 32.5% of his profession 3-pointers on the faculty degree.
The decision: Few gamers helped themselves on the NBA mix as a lot as Watkins as he introduced physicality and high-level depth defensively whereas making performs everywhere in the courtroom. Turning 24 in early July, his NBA-ready body and instruments give him a direct talent he can cling his hat on, however discovering a technique to rating constantly within the half courtroom can be important to him sticking long run. — Givony
John Tonje, SF, Wisconsin, tremendous senior
Strengths: Tonje is a solidly constructed wing with good measurement, size and aggressiveness, coming off a breakout season at Wisconsin during which he emerged as among the best scorers in faculty basketball.
Weaknesses: He isn’t a lot of a passer and lacks nice instruments defensively, counting on a bully-ball model that may work higher as a 24-year-old in faculty than in opposition to NBA opponents.
The decision: Tonje had an amazing season for the Badgers, attending to the road and making 39% of his 3-pointers with sturdy quantity. His 41-point effort in opposition to Arizona on Nov. 15 was one of many extra memorable single-game efforts of the season. His maturity might be an asset within the correct position, however he nonetheless has issues to show on each ends of the ground for NBA functions, because the observe document of older gamers on this mould is decidedly blended traditionally. — Givony
Bogoljub Markovic, PF/C, Mega Superbet (Adriatic)
Strengths: Markovic is a talented huge man who scored from everywhere in the flooring with spectacular effectivity in his first season within the Adriatic League, successful the equal of rookie of the 12 months.
Weaknesses: With a 6-foot-11 wingspan and a slender body, he struggles to constantly make his presence felt defensively and on the glass, usually trying a step gradual along with his consciousness on each ends.
The decision: Markovic had a breakout 12 months culminating in a robust exhibiting on the Nike Hoop Summit. At his greatest, his means to house the ground, push off the defensive glass and end skillfully within the paint is intriguing, however he’ll must make progress along with his physicality, really feel for the sport and toughness to utilize these instruments on the highest ranges. — Givony
Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane (Australia)
Strengths: Zikarsky is simply as younger, 18, as he’s massively sized, with a budding talent degree and apparent potential defensively, due to his gigantic 9-foot-6½ standing attain.
Weaknesses: Whereas his measurement is a major asset within the paint on each ends of the ground, he doesn’t transfer his toes notably properly in house or present as a lot physicality as one may hope, usually showing a step behind the motion due to a lack of understanding.
The decision: Zikarsky did not have as productive a second season within the NBL as most scouts had hoped he would. Though he was a constant issue on the offensive glass, he struggled to attain effectively, lacking layups and struggling to make free throws, which hindered a number of the optimism surrounding his floor-stretching potential. His means to impact photographs along with his distinctive size is interesting, however he’s nonetheless evolving as a rim protector when he is not parked below the rim. Regardless, his measurement and youth make him an intriguing guess for a workforce that believes in its participant improvement infrastructure, serving to the sport decelerate for him whereas his body continues to mature. — Givony
Koby Brea, SG/SF, Kentucky, tremendous senior
Strengths: Brea has been the most effective shooter in faculty basketball over the previous two seasons, hitting 47% of his 3s, whereas boasting stable bodily instruments.
Weaknesses: As efficient as he’s as a flooring spacer, his adverse wingspan, common protection and explosiveness restrict his role-player potential.
The decision: After making 50% of his 3s at Dayton in 2023-24, Brea backed up his efficiency with one other wonderful taking pictures season for Kentucky (2024-25). He is a standout flooring spacer and motion shooter in an period during which shooters in his mould are at a premium. What he can carry past his taking pictures will dictate how shortly he finds a job within the NBA. — Givony
43. Washington Wizards (from Utah, through Dallas)
Sion James, SF, Duke, tremendous senior
Strengths: James performed a vital position for Duke along with his regular ballhandling, unselfishness, defensive versatility and opportunistic scoring. He added much-needed expertise and toughness along with his ripped body.
Weaknesses: He has by no means been a really prolific scorer, missing nice size and dynamic shot creation, whereas having inquiries to reply about simply how good a shooter he’s, given his crude mechanics and the way even handed he was about letting photographs fly from the perimeter.
The decision: James performed an analogous position for the Blue Devils as he seemingly will on the subsequent degree, guarding a number of positions, staying lively off the ball and looking out greater than keen to do the little issues. He isn’t exceptionally lengthy, however he suits a novel mould bodily, which might be an asset for a workforce searching for a utility participant, particularly if he takes one other step as a spot-up menace. — Givony
Johni Broome, C, Auburn, tremendous senior
Strengths: Broome is a bodily and extremely productive inside-outside menace with a very good really feel for the sport. A finalist for the Picket Award, he was the most effective participant in faculty basketball for stretches at a time final season.
Weaknesses: Missing nice size and explosiveness, Broome received by on timing and tenacity in faculty however is perhaps extra of a situational match on each ends of the ground within the NBA, particularly if his unconventional taking pictures mechanics and profession 30% 3-point share do not translate.
The decision: It’s onerous to understate simply how efficient Broome was this season. Minor accidents hampered him late, however his instincts as a scorer, passer and rebounder had been obvious all through. His streaky taking pictures and restricted defensive instruments considerably complicate his NBA match, however he’s among the many most confirmed prospects on this draft. — Givony
Alex Toohey, SF/PF, Sydney (Australia)
Strengths: Toohey is an clever, versatile ahead whose maturity stood out each within the NBL and on the NBA mix.
Weaknesses: Simply a mean athlete, he has made strides as a shooter. He might want to develop into extra constant from past the arc to carve out a job on the NBA degree, although.
The decision: Toohey checks some containers along with his really feel for the sport, constant motor, size and anticipation on the defensive finish. He has sharp basketball instincts, however he’ll must develop into a extra constantly aggressive and impactful offensive menace to make use of them in an NBA position — one thing he took a step in the appropriate path with this previous 12 months. — Givony
Kam Jones, PG/SG, Marquette, senior
Strengths: Jones had a productive, environment friendly season orchestrating Marquette’s five-out spacing, making huge photographs and scoring prolifically en path to a first-team All-Large East marketing campaign.
Weaknesses: He isn’t essentially the most explosive guard and took a step again as a shooter in an expanded position this season, having some inquiries to reply about his protection and talent to create effectively in a extra compact position.
The decision: The senior answered the decision on the ball this season, rating among the many greatest pick-and-roll creators within the nation, after working primarily off the ball a season in the past. His decisiveness as a passer and scorer stood out, however his streaky taking pictures from past the arc and middling defensive influence give him some areas to work on as he seems to be to reveal that his sport interprets to greater ranges of competitors. — Givony
Javon Small, PG, West Virginia, senior
Strengths: Small is a troublesome, well-rounded guard who exhibited a number of sturdy role-playing qualities, carrying an undermanned West Virginia workforce along with his protection and talent to create off the dribble this season.
Weaknesses: He has performed what he can along with his body however doesn’t possess nice measurement, size or bulk by NBA requirements.
The decision: Small had a standout season within the Large 12, showcasing the burst to attain in bunches and arrange others on a roster that relied on him to do each. Efficiently managing that accountability whereas nonetheless offering vitality defensively, he possesses enchantment for groups in search of guard depth. His means to take one other step as a shooter, finisher and decision-maker is a focal point, as he isn’t fairly large enough to rely solely on his protection. — Givony
Micah Peavy, SG/SF, Georgetown, senior
Strengths: Peavy is a flexible wing with stable measurement who defends with high-level depth and made notable strides in 3-point taking pictures as a fifth-year senior.
Weaknesses: Peavy has unorthodox mechanics on his jumper, hitting 32% from 3 and 61% from the free throw line for his faculty profession, with lackluster effectivity contained in the arc. Whereas his motor translated in a wide range of methods on the faculty degree, he lacks nice size for NBA functions, with an excellent wingspan. He turns 24 on July 16.
The decision: Within the third cease of his faculty profession, Peavy stored Georgetown afloat at occasions final season along with his assertive, opportunistic scoring, exhibiting versatility discovering teammates and making extra photographs than anticipated from past the arc. His profession struggles from the free throw line, at-times adventurous decision-making and age are issues. Nonetheless, the dearth of gamers in his mould will give him alternatives to indicate his sport interprets to greater ranges of competitors — Givony
Vladislav Goldin, C, Michigan, tremendous senior
Strengths: Goldin is a chiseled heart with nice measurement and size whose motor and productiveness made him a key participant in a number of NCAA event runs.
Weaknesses: Goldin strikes properly and might play above the rim with a head of steam, however he lacks quickness guarding in house and pursuing rebounds. His lack of perimeter talent limits his versatility, as he isn’t an excellent passer and does not have a lot vary on his jumper at this stage. At 24, he is one of many oldest gamers on this class.
The decision: Goldin was a power rolling to the rim and on the offensive glass, as his depth degree and measurement on the rim will be imposing, even when he isn’t essentially the most fluid or coordinated athlete. Whereas he experimented with a jumper at occasions as a fifth-year senior, the Russian heart with a 7-foot-5 wingspan suits a extra conventional mould on each ends, making his means to anchor a protection and clear the glass constantly vital on the subsequent degree. — Givony
Lachlan Olbrich, PF/C, Illawarra
Strengths: Olbrich is a throwback huge man with a robust motor and really feel for the sport whose enchancment this season helped the Illawarra Hawks to the NBL championship.
Weaknesses: With out the size to play heart (6-foot-11 wingspan) and an absence of floor-spacing means for an influence ahead, he’s considerably caught between positions on each ends and does not possess nice explosiveness to compensate.
The decision: Olbrich returned to Australia after a productive freshman 12 months within the Large West. He has come a good distance since, exhibiting wonderful passing means, a robust inside talent degree and the trouble and physicality to get by defensively. His means to determine the way to preserve defenders trustworthy from the perimeter will seemingly be essential for his NBA probabilities, given his lack of bodily defensive instruments. — Givony
Eric Dixon, PF, Villanova, tremendous senior
Strengths: Dixon is a wide-bodied energy ahead who had a wildly productive season, main the nation in scoring as a sixth-year senior. He is making an apparent leap as a shooter.
Weaknesses: His 6-foot-11½ wingspan, common bodily traits and inconsistent defensive influence are limiting elements.
The decision: Scoring prolifically from the perimeter at 259 kilos this season, Dixon labored himself from a reluctant shooter into essentially the most dynamic taking pictures huge man within the nation over the course of his faculty profession. His means to rediscover a number of the physicality and toughness he demonstrated earlier in his profession as a rebounder and defender in a extra minor position could be extremely useful in carving out a submit within the NBA. — Givony
Alijah Martin, SG, Florida, senior
Strengths: Martin is a robust, explosive wing whose shotmaking and defensive versatility performed a key position in Florida’s championship run.
Weaknesses: Whereas he has a 6-foot-7½ wingspan, Martin is not an excellent ball handler or passer for his measurement. He has been vulnerable to streakiness at occasions from past the arc.
The decision: Bouncy, bodily and difficult, Martin had some sturdy two-way efforts, particularly when his shot was falling at a excessive charge. Taking part in greater than his listed peak defensively and making spectacular performs in house, his bodily instruments had been an asset on the faculty degree, however he’ll should develop into a extra dependable shooter or efficient playmaker to ease his transition to the NBA. — Givony
53. Utah Jazz (through LA Clippers)
Amari Williams, C, Kentucky, senior
Strengths: Williams is a British heart with an attention-grabbing mixture of size (7-foot-6 wingspan), rebounding prowess, shot-blocking timing and really feel as a passer.
Weaknesses: Not a lot of a scorer outdoors of his means to attract fouls due to his superior measurement, he does not have any vary on his jumper, by no means improved as a free throw shooter (profession 63%) and does not carry as a lot defensive versatility as scouts may hope he would. He struggled when pressured to step outdoors the paint and canopy floor and wasn’t all the time nice taking part in with depth or consciousness.
The decision: Williams won’t be adept at making fast rotations as a rim protector or flipping his hips on the perimeter, however he has wonderful bodily instruments and ranked among the many greatest rebounders within the nation in his lone season at Kentucky. Mix that along with his means as a set off man in handoffs and his means to play above the rim on the transfer and he’s an attention-grabbing situational match for some groups. — Givony
Dink Pate, SG/SF, Mexico Metropolis (G League)
Strengths: Pate, 19, is a swingman with intriguing bodily instruments and a robust highschool pedigree who has upside to develop into long run.
Weaknesses: Pate is at an early stage of improvement along with his taking pictures, protection, decision-making and all-around consistency, being miscast as some extent guard earlier in his profession and thrust right into a troublesome state of affairs within the G League because the youngest participant in that league for 2 consecutive years.
The decision: Pate had a couple of productive video games for the Mexico Metropolis Capitanes after preventing an uphill battle for the G League Ignite final season. He flashed means to weave his technique to the rim in transition, made some easy performs off the dribble and received scorching from the perimeter at occasions, however he has loads of issues to wash up on each ends of the ground as he stays inexperienced in some ways. Even so, his youth and flash give him intrigue for groups that imagine of their participant improvement. — Givony
Viktor Lakhin, C, Clemson, tremendous senior
Strengths: Lakhin is a flexible huge man and fifth-year senior who made actual strides as a shooter to enrich his inside talent degree, in addition to his passing and defensive timing.
Weaknesses: He isn’t notably quick or explosive, being considerably caught between positions. He has relied on timing and craft on the faculty degree, which could not translate seamlessly in opposition to higher athletes. He has had a number of accidents over the previous few years, lacking a lot of the predraft course of with a ligament tear in his foot that may sideline him for a number of months.
The decision: Lakhin had a terrific season, doing slightly little bit of the whole lot along with his really feel for the sport, of entirety and maturity on the defensive finish. His enchancment as a flooring spacer is notable. The shortage of pattern measurement along with his jumper means he’ll want to remain wholesome and show this a part of his sport is actual to carve out a significant position within the NBA. — Givony
Hunter Sallis, SG, Wake Forest, senior
Strengths: Sallis is a skinny guard with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, nice confidence in his pull-up jumper and a stable motor defensively.
Weaknesses: After taking pictures the three at a wonderful 41% clip a 12 months in the past, he struggled badly this season (28%), ending his faculty profession changing simply 33% of his general makes an attempt by 4 years, all whereas not being an excellent shot creator or passer.
The decision: Sallis did not make the soar that scouts had been hoping for after passing up second-round alternatives a 12 months in the past to return to Wake Forest, the place he performed a high-usage position comparatively inefficiently however nonetheless discovered methods to make an influence along with his vitality defensively and on the glass. There are features to understand about his size and flexibility, however enhancing his body and constantly demonstrating the power to make photographs from outdoors can be key for him to carve out a distinct segment long run. — Givony
Kobe Sanders, SG/SF, Nevada, senior
Strengths: Sanders has wonderful measurement for a guard who performed on the ball as a lot as he did in his lone season at Nevada.
Weaknesses: He has a adverse wingspan and is a participant with common expertise, which confirmed up totally on the defensive finish and generally in his poor shot choice.
The decision: Sanders had a terrific season as a grad switch utilizing his measurement and talent to play with tempo to create off the dribble. He was one of many high midrange scorers within the nation, however might want to make strides along with his decision-making and spot-up taking pictures to ease his transition to the NBA. On the subsequent degree, he’ll face one other studying curve defensively if he does not add extra toughness and physicality to his sport. — Givony
Saliou Niang, SG/SF, Trento (Italy)
Strengths: Niang is a bodily gifted wing on a powerful trajectory who emerged from obscurity and developed into an impactful participant within the Italian League and EuroCup for Trento.
Weaknesses: His offensive profile is questionable, as he has little taking pictures vary, hitting 11 3-pointers in 45 video games whereas posting extra turnovers than assists.
The decision: Niang’s defensive versatility, rebounding and depth enabled him to contribute in opposition to high-level competitors this season, discovering methods to contribute on each ends regardless of missing important offensive polish. He’ll seemingly have to search out some sort of taking pictures vary to have any probability of taking part in a job within the NBA, however he has upside to faucet into primarily based on the advance he has proven the previous two years. — Givony
Ryan Nembhard, PG, Gonzaga, senior
Strengths: Nembhard is a cerebral level guard who led Division I in assists and confirmed his playmaking imaginative and prescient vividly within the G League Elite Camp and NBA mix scrimmages.
Weaknesses: Standing at 6-foot in sneakers, he lacks nice measurement, power, size and explosiveness, limiting him as a finisher contained in the paint and defensively.
The decision: Nembhard is perhaps behind from a bodily perspective, however he is in all probability essentially the most established flooring normal on this draft. His gaudy 3.9 assist-to-turnover ratio and the way in which he passes folks open stood out continually final season. His polish as a distributor alone ought to discover him a distinct segment to fill on the subsequent degree, however his means to develop into greater than an opportunistic shooter may assist solidify his standing. — Givony
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft professional and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and worldwide groups.
Jeremy Woo is an NBA analyst specializing in prospect analysis and the draft. He was beforehand a workers author and draft insider at Sports activities Illustrated.
