ESPN's Doug Gotlieb's rankings
Here's my current ranking of this year's NBA draft prospects. If you're interested in seeing how my list has evolved throughout the season, check out my previous editions from December and February.
1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky Wildcats
Think Tyson Chandler on defense, with some Tim Duncan on offense. With great timing on blocking shots, solid ball-handling on the perimeter and an improving jump shot, there seems to be a limitless ceiling for Davis at this point.
2. Bradley Beal, Florida Gators
Beal is a prototype 2 who wasn't even run off of many screens in his one college season. He seemed to take a huge leap from the beginning to the end of the season in terms of his off-the-dribble game. He should translate into an NBA shooting guard right away, especially with his athleticism and range.
3. Andre Drummond, Connecticut Huskies
Drummond is a freak athlete who has a way to go to be a starting big man in the NBA. On the other hand, he has massive upside, an incredible body and great spring. There is a DeAndre Jordan quality to how poorly he has developed thus far on offense yet how physically imposing he will someday be, but if the right team takes him and he buys in, he can be better than Jordan.
4. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina Tar Heels
Smooth and steady, Barnes is not the next Kobe Bryant, but he is still a solid NBA wing for years to come. His game lacks the burst to create a lot of his own shots, but he can post, will guard some and really made strides in being a solid 3-point shooter.
5. Royce White, Iowa State Cyclones
White is similar in many ways to former New York Knick Anthony Mason. He is an undersized 4 who has a high motor, can handle, shoot some, rebound and score in the low post. He has been very open about his anxiety disorder, as well as his transgressions that lead to him leaving Minnesota. He is a risk, but he can also be a dominant player, one who took over at midseason after two years of rust wore off.
6. Meyers Leonard, Illinois Fighting Illini
Leonard is a freak athlete, with a perfect frame to play 15 years inside in the NBA. Leonard is Andrew Bynum-like in his goofiness, but even though he's just a kid, his body and skill set are those of a man. He can play the high and low post, guard ball screens, shoot, and has good hands. Is he a killer? I'm not sold, frankly, but man, the potential is there.
7. Perry Jones, Baylor Bears
He dealt with a ton of hype and pressure at Baylor, where he played a lot of center and spent the rest of the time at the 4 spot. He is a 4 or a 3 in the NBA -- one who had moments during college where he looked the part of a super talent.
8. Damian Lillard, Weber State Wildcats
A scoring point guard who is best off of ball screens, Lillard benefits from both the lack of great point guards in this year's draft and the need for a scoring PG to play right away.
9. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina Tar Heels
A 7-foot running big man who can hit an 18-footer, Zeller needs to develop more than just a jump hook, but for now, he is actually ahead of the big man learning curve on offense. At a minimum, Zeller is a backup big man who can stretch his range to 22 feet.
10. Dion Waiters, Syracuse Orange
With no position per se, Waiters should have the same role in the pros as in college, where he came in and changed the tempo. He is a dynamic Dwyane Wade-type of driver who will be a streaky shooter from NBA range, but he can get to the rim and is ideal for playing the role of an off-the-bench dynamo.
11. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State Buckeyes
A lot of people, myself included, have been down on Sullinger for how he's played against NBA length, which is a fair criticism. My guess, though, is that while he is likely much shorter than the 6-foot-9 he's listed as (he always looked 6-7 to me), he also played out of position as a center and should continue to develop his legs, not just lose weight. While the worst-case scenario is Michael Sweetney, the best-case possibility is Elton Brand.
12. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky Wildcats
MKG is very young and everyone loves his competitive drive, but before you take him No. 2 overall, realize that he played a lot of 4 in college, has a funky jumper and probably translates into a defensive specialist who can rebound and score in transition, but not really wow anyone on offense. If he's closer to 6-5 (instead of 6-7, his listed height at UK), which is shooting guard size, then what is he? A great kid to have on your team who will fight and scrap and become a double-digit scorer, but not an NBA All-Star, and maybe not a consistent starter.
13. Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Moultrie is a long, athletic 4 who looks the part of an NBA big. His ability to play out on the floor combined with his athletic gifts keep him in my top 15.
14. Terrence Ross, Washington Huskies
Ross is the best scoring 2 with legit size in this year's draft. Beal should eventually get there and may be a better athlete and pure shooter, but Ross gets you buckets.
15. Thomas Robinson, Kansas Jayhawks
A monster in college, Robinson is likely a rotation guy in the NBA at worst, a starting power forward at best. He has stretched his range to 20 feet and will finish above the rim, but he doesn't have the fluidity to be special in face-up opportunities in the league.
16. Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut Huskies
Smooth and effortless, Lamb could be a steal, or he could be a dud that teases you. He just needs to be on a team with great leadership and to change his body some.
17. Moe Harkless, St. John's Red Storm
I'm not totally sold on taking Kidd-Gilchrist ahead of Harkless, as Harkless has the scoring skill and perimeter ability that MKG lacks. Harkless does need to continue to improve his range, but as a 3 he has size, can rebound and definitely can score.
18. Austin Rivers, Duke Blue Devils
Rivers is incredibly shifty off of ball screens and a very streaky shooter. He is likely to come off the bench and be called upon to score early in his NBA career. He can turn teammates off with some of his antics and shot selection, but he can get into the lane and has all the pro ball-screen scoring angles down pat. Rivers is not a point, but he might be a backup point, and while he doesn't finish enough above the rim, he does have some D-Wade to his game.
19. John Henson, North Carolina Tar Heels
A crazy-long face-up 4 who still hasn't put on the strength needed for the NBA, Henson has become a better and much more refined player over the course of his college career. He is so long he should eventually be able to guard Kevin Durant types as well as power forwards if he adds enough strength.
20. Terrence Jones, Kentucky Wildcats
Jones will have to switch positions from a face-up college 4 to an NBA 3 man, and despite his obvious talent, he is no lock to be an NBA starter. Jones' perimeter game is based mainly upon playing as a pick-and-pop 4 with a mismatch in college, and now he will be forced to play and defend on the wing. Additionally, although he matured during his two seasons in Kentucky, it was under the heavy-handed leadership of John Calipari in college, so his newfound freedom may not be a good thing in the pros. Jones is a very strong left-handed player who needs to really put time into developing a consistent jumper and buy into being a lockdown defender/rebounder if he wants to be more than an end-of-rotation guy in the NBA.
[ Edited by jimrat on Jun 16, 2012 at 11:48 AM ]
