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NBA teams have begun to shift away from pure upside players in the draft.

A player like Nassir Little fell last June despite having the tools of a typical lottery pick.

"Teams appear to be relying more on collegiate production and maturity as opposed to pure upside plays that often characterized previous drafts," writes ESPN's Mike Schmitz.

Teams are valuing lower-risk prospects with a definable role more than ever.

"The days of a Thon Maker or Georgios Papagiannis going in the lottery seem to be behind us for now."

Via Mike Schmitz/ESPN

Nonsense ~ this ebs and flows like anything else.

Days are not "over"

I was surprised about Bol Bol falling in the draft.
Makur Maker better beware

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Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kendrick Nunn are fine examples of teams moving away from 'pure upside' and opting for 'collegiate production and maturity.'

Personally, I believe teams are looking for any type of NBA level talent and sometimes they screw it up. Anthony Bennett certainly wasn't an example of the NBA being lured by 'pure upside.'