Tier 1: Superstar potential
1. Zion - Elite floor, Elite but NOT a HOF ceiling, fit will play a role if he becomes an superstar level player. As special as they come. Even if others may have potential, no one should pass up on him for any reason whatsoever.
Tier 2: All Star potential
2t. R.J. Barrett - High floor, very high ceiling, could be one of the best players in the league in the right situation. Like this entire in this class, fit is important for Barrett long term.
2t. Ja Morant - One of the best talents in this class but one has to seriously question his floor. A bad fit could limit his impact. Best to put him around shooters. Special PG talent.
Tier 3.5: Decent Role player potential with All Star possibilities down the road. I do see these guys as Day 1 contributors.
4t. Reddish - Semi low floor, very high ceiling. System based player.
4t. Brandon Clarke - Mid high floor, very high ceiling, I strongly believe he can be the next DeMarre Carroll with Shawn Marion level athleticism. System based player. Will need time to translate into a SF.
4t. Darius Garland - Low mid floor, high ceiling.
4t. Bol - High floor and very high ceiling? System based player. Extremely bad flaws. Extremely good strengths.
4t. Coby White - Semi-Mid floor and high ceiling, System based player
Tier 4: Decent Role player potential or raw with AS possibilities. Deep Tier 4 class. One of the best in years. Of course, some of these guys could return.
9t. Jaxson Hayes - Low floor with high ceiling, Hayes has a blend of J. Noah, Capela and Robin Lopez in him. He is so far from ready to play, anyone who takes him will likely send him to the G-League for a season. System based player
9t. DeAndre Hunter - Very high floor with mid ceiling, you are looking at a Otto Porter Jr/Ron Artest type who can help you right away. He can fit any system to a degree and he fits the modern NBA.
11t. Rui - Teams will underrate him but he is a critical piece to a PnR team looking for a high end PnR finisher who can switch. May never be a superstar but in the right fit, you got someone who can really play. High floor, high mid ceiling. System based player.
11t. Mfiondu Kabengele - Low floor, mid high ceiling and not a system based player. He will generate a lot of attention in the mid 1st to late 1st range. To me, he is a prospect that you must look at due to his ability to fit the modern game.
11t. Goga Bitadze - Mid floor, mid high ceiling who is a system based player. The right team will have to draft him but in the right system, he could be more than valuable.
11t. Jarrett Culver - mid high floor with a lower-mid ceiling who would be at his best in a PG based role. Jalen Rose type.
11t. Sekou - low floor with high ceiling who has tremendous smallball four potential. Not the next Siakam but he can be very good down the road.
16. Bruno Fernando - mid floor with mid potential who has play in numerous systems but could be very good in the right one. Good pickup in this range.
17t. Tyler Herro - Low Floor, semi high ceiling with tremendous work ethic. Will need to adjust to the NBA game but has potential.
17t. P.J. Washington - Mid Floor, Mid potential who has a projectable jumper. David West type.
17t. Nickeil Alexander-Walker - mid floor with mid potential who can be a good role player for most teams in time. Gary Harris type
20t. Romeo Langford - Low floor/High ceiling, low end All Star potential but he has a lot of work to do. Work ethic will be critical with this one.
20t. Nassir Little - Semi low floor/Semi high ceiling. He translates extremely well physically and talent wise but his low feel for the game, lack of ball handling and inconsistent shooting. Who knows, his types have translated better than average into the NBA so he is not a risk in this range. I could see him being pushed up the draft board due to the need for wings in today's NBA and the lack of them in FA in 2019 could push him into the top 10 like it might for Romeo Langford.
20t. Keldon Johnson - mid floor with mid potential who is a system player. Needs to be protected.
20t. KZ Okpala - Low floor/High ceiling who is a system based player. System/culture/and fit will be critical.
24t. Grant Williams - High floor/Low ceiling. High quality late 1st round pick, wouldn't risk taking him 20 or better.
24t. Matisse Thybulle - Lower mid floor/Semi High ceiling. Has starting role player potential.
24t. Nic Claxton - Low floor, Semi high ceiling. System versitaility. Could be a big mover if he enters.
27t. Talen Horton-Tucker - Lower low floor with a semi high ceiling. His projectabiity is everything.
27t. Jalen McDaniels- Teams have been high on his ceiling and role playing potential off the bench for awhile. He is a Swiss army knife and teams could see him as the big man's version of Terrance Ferguson. I can see him going in this range and his floor is higher than people think.
27t. Gafford - More of a 2nd round floor. He does play the PnR well, move well and space and flash potential in space on defense. He is more inconsistent but his potential to be a two way player who can defend in space on defense and play in space on offense makes his NBA ceiling higher than most in this range. Teams will be higher on him after workouts. His ability to play in space on both ends will appeal to a lot of teams looking for a big who can protect others, especially on D in the switching parts of the game.
27t. Kevin Porter Jr. - Low floor/High ceiling with questionable work ethic and character.
27t. Charles Bassey - Mid-high Floor, mid ceiling who will enter the draft without an agent. Likely returning back into the draft.
32t. Cameron Johnson - Big mover, lower mid floor/semi high ceiling. More NBA ready than Final Four hero Justin Jackson. He is a clearly better NBA prospect to me.
32t. Admiral Schofield - semi low floor/semi high ceiling - I see a lot of P.J. Tucker long term is Scho in flashes. I need to see more of Scho, Tennessee just hasn't been a team I've watched a lot of. This is could change the time the draft is here.
32t. Ty Jerome - Not quite the shooter Shamet was but a better PG and a much better defender. But he doesn't have the positional versatility that Shamet had. Jerome really is a PG. Potential to be a low end starter in the NBA which is pretty good for a 2nd round grade. high floor/semi low ceiling.
35t. Justin Wright-Foreman - Ben Gordon like but not as long (6'6 wingspan compared to Ben's 6'8.25 wingspan). More skillful scorer than Ben, not as athletic which shows especially on defense. Good passing vision. Has potential as an instant scorer off the bench.
35t. Chuma Okeke - Semi high floor with a mid ceiling. Injury dropped his value. Top 20 value when healthy!
Tier 5: Low floors with Decent Role player potential or career backups with limited potential - I don't have any Euros in the range, just haven't watch much at this stage. I usually watch them during pre-draft season.
37t. Naz Reid - Brian Grant like - Semi mid floor, low mid ceiling. Limited on defense. Rotational piece for the NBA at the 5.
37t. Zach Norvell - semi low floor, semi high ceiling. Has two way potential. Consistency is an issue. Flashes Michael Redd potential.
39. Tacko Fall - semi high floor, low ceiling. rotational big. system based player.
40t. Dylan Windler - semi mid floor, semi mid ceiling. system based player.
40t. Killian Tillie - Hasn't declared. semi mid floor, semi mid ceiling. system based player.
40t. Shamorie Ponds - High Floor/low ceiling. D.J. Augustin type depending on what you think. I will likely lean more Augustin.
44. Jalen Lecque - Placeholder spot, I have no clue about him for now.
45. Jalen Pickett - Entered but not really entered. Could be a 1st rounder next year.
46t. Miye Oni - Low floor - high mid potential - I think he could be the Josh Richardson of this class in the right situation. Not sold he will come out as a 2nd rounder. His potential is his calling card.
46t. Mike Daum - Mid high floor - low potential - I compare his type to Kris Humphries. 23 years old but he has a lot of translatable skill.
46t. Louis King - Low floor - semi mid potential - Has the size and skill. I am not sure about the rest. Workouts will matter, if he does poorly, I can see him going back to Oregon.
46t. Marial Shayok - Low floor - semi mid potential, consistency is an issue for Shayok but his talent and skill as well as his body isn't. He will likely go undrafted but his development in the G-League could see him playing good in the NBA sooner than later. Sleeper.
46t. Carsen Edwards - Mid high floor with a low ceiling, shooting will be critical for his prospects. Moved up the list due to the tourney but I can see him having issues translating to the NBA. Shooting will be everything.
46t. Lindell Wigginton - 2020 prospect but low floor/mid ceiling. Can boost his ceiling in 2020. Has the ability.
52t. Markus Howard - More of a high European prospect. He is an elite scorer and shooter but not much else and his defense can be labeled as a better Jimmer. Mid floor/low ceiling. His shooting, ability to create his own shot and BBIQ will appeal to teams looking for a 2/way. His 2/way appeal helps his NBA profile.
52t. Terrance Mann - I actually like his potential. Clearly 2/way contract. Not NBA ready whatsoever but he does show enough to play in the G-League and see if he can have a NBA career. Low floor/low mid ceiling.
52t. Lawson - He is a really good college player. One of the best but he doesn't really have a position or a legit skill. Growth will be critical but should be a 2/way prospect with potential to be a low end rotation player. Low floor/low mid ceiling.
52t. Nwora - 2020 prospect but low floor/mid ceiling. Can boost his ceiling in 2020. Has the ability.
52t. Jalen Smith - 2020 prospect but low floor/mid ceiling. Can boost his ceiling in 2020. Has the ability.
52t. Queta - Obvious 2020 prospect but low floor/mid ceiling. Can boost his ceiling in 2020. Has the ability. The 1st round hype he was getting was misguided.
52t. Jordan Bone - 2020 prospect but low floor/mid ceiling. Can boost his ceiling in 2020. He is unique. He is one of those rare seniors who can take a major leap. Don't be surprised if him and Yves Pons takes a major leap in 2020. Both have the athletic ability and their development has been ample. Rick Barnes is working his magic in Knoxville.
59. Charles Matthews - Injuries could lower his status but he is a clear NBA player to me. Mid high floor/low ceiling.
60?. Jordan Poole - Sam Veceine is sold on him. I just haven't watched Michigan much and when I did, they played bad and lost or they just played bad this year. Like Maryland last year, when I get a chance to watch their games, I will probably bump these guys up.
61?. Iggy Brazdeikis - See Poole. I am pretty much putting the UM guys in this range till I can really rate them.
62t. Konate - His potential is much higher than his floor. He has talent and ability but the G-League should be an option for him. low floor/semi-mid ceiling.
62t. Paschall - Been watching Paschall for a while. Not sold on his standing reach. 2/way guy. He can play in the NBA right now but I am not sure he can stick. mid high floor/low ceiling.
62t. Cassius Winston - Moved up due to the tourney but I have questions about his ability to play bully ball 6'1 185.
62t. Tookie Brown - Mid high floor, with a semi low floor, this is my steal of the draft. I didn't really watch his games much but I watched him at Portsmouth and he clearly looked like a NBA player, the numbers and highlights match and he has that IT0 factor of just getting buckets in kinda way. He has moved up my draft board. IT0 of this class. I think he will get some looks in the draft.
62t. Ahmed Hill - semi low floor, with a semi low ceiling
62t. Nick Perkins - semi mid floor with low ceiling
62t. Justin James - semi low floor, with a semi low ceiling
62t. Fletcher Magee - semi mid floor with a low ceiling who has potential to develop into a rotation player. I like his 2/way potential. An elite shooter and can get from three in every way like Redick. I wouldn't be suprised if he was drafted in the 2nd round.
62t. Obi Toppin - semi low floor, with a semi low ceiling
62t. John Konchar - semi mid floor, semi low ceiling. All around player. Flashes potential to be a good NBA player. G-League will be a need. Shades of a bigger, strong, taller, not quite the shooter and skill of Scott Skiles. Like Skiles, doesn't lack a skill but does he have the athletic ability. He isn't anywhere near as good as Scott was. Scott was a lot more polished but John is 6'5, 215. His potential is there.
62t. Simi Shittu - very low floor with a semi high ceiling
62t. Jarrell Brantley - semi low floor, with a semi low ceiling
62t. Daishon Smith - mid floor, low ceiling, good player who has 2-way potential to be a decent player.
62t. Isaiah Roby - 3/D potential ceiling. 6'8, has the size, can get blocks and steals. His shooting needs work. Doesn't quite have the athletic ability. Clearly a 2/way guy. Some will say he has RoCo potential but he really going to have to improve his shooting. Guys like Ennis and Covington shot it better but than again, they played for small schools, not in the Big 12. For positions where they have taller better bigger players, we should take it more seriously as well seen with guys like Taurean Prince.
75. Luguentz Dort - low floor/mid ceiling. Has a projectable frame and skill-set but just is completely unpolished and not ready for the NBA.
76t. Aric Holman - projectable player. Obviously has to put on more size. 3/D PF. A clear low floor semi mid ceiling who is a 2/way option. Could move up into the 2nd round with ease.
76t. Caleb Martin - semi mid floor with a low ceiling who has potential to develop into a rotation player.
76t. Juwan Morgan - semi mid floor with a low ceiling who has potential to develop into a rotation player.
76t. Josh Reaves - semi mid floor with a low ceiling who has potential to develop into a rotation player. His defensive potential will warrant some looks in the 2nd.
76t. Anfernee McLemore - 2020 prospect but low floor/semi-mid ceiling.
76t. Tremont Waters - 2020 prospect but low floor/semi-mid ceiling.
76t. Cody Martin - semi mid floor with a low ceiling who has potential to develop into a rotation player. Great passer for position and you hope he can develop into a secondary playmaker who is a 3/D player long term. Has long term
76t. Darius Bazley - low floor/mid ceiling, workouts will be critical for him. Could move up.
76t. Robert Franks - semi mid floor with a low ceiling who has potential to develop into a rotation player.
76t. Bennie Boatwright - 2020 prospect but low floor/semi-mid ceiling.
76t. Udoka Azubuike - 2020 prospect but low floor/semi-mid ceiling.
76t. Brian Bowen - low floor/mid ceiling, workouts will be critical for him. Could move up.
76t. D’Marcus Simonds - low floor/semi mid ceiling, he can play but he has to develop his shooting ability and his decision making. If he can develop it, he could be a NBA player but it's unlikely.
76t. Amir Hinton - very low floor/mid ceiling, he has the tools, skills and the talent but he is so far away from others. It's like watching a HS player who played HS ball.
76t. Jaylen Hoard - low floor/semi mid ceiling, his ability to play in Europe next year could push him into the 2nd round. He has the talent and size to play in the NBA but he doesn't have the skill, readiness, or feel at this point.
Tier 6: G-Leaguer who have the potential to be career backups with limited potential or non NBA prospects who will practice their trade overseas.
91t. Ethan Happ - Tremendously skilled big with no range whatsoever.
91t. CJ Massinburg - Euro
91t. Kerwin Roach - Euro
91t. Ky Bowman - G-League
91t. Tyler Cook - Euro
91t. Chris Clemons - China
91t. Matt Morgan - G-League
91t. Makai Mason - G-League
91t. Tyus Battle - 2020 prospect but not getting drafted in 2020 either.
91t. Dean Wade- Has a lot of potential in countries that value big men passes in Europe but no NBA Potential.
91t. Kenny Goins - G-League
91t. Christ Koumadje - G-League
91t. Zac Cuthbertson - G-League - poor man's NAW
91t. Jakeenan Gant - very poor man's Jarian Grant
91t. Trayvon Reed - G-League
91t. Matt Morgan - G-League
91t. Cameron Young - G-League - Klutch Client
As I stated on top, this is an extremely DEEP class but not so top heavy or mid heavy. If this was mixed last year class. Zion would be 1. R.J. and Ja would be ahead of Mikal/WCJ/Trae/JJJ at #7/#8. While Cam/Clarke/White/Garland/Bol in the same tier with Sexton/SGA/Miles B./Knox and to be honest, they would be behind all of them but Knox's as well. Trae was in that tier for the longest till I bumped him up a few weeks before the draft ahead of JJJ. It took me the longest to be convinced Trae was good enough to be an All Star potential type and not just way down the road.
Basically, this draft isn't nowhere near as top heavy as 2018. You got basically the #4 prospect in this class, would be #16th in last year's draft combined. That's said, after the first 13th prospects, last year class doesn't hold water to this year's class in terms of rotation potential and I haven't included the 2nd round internationals yet. Just a lot of rotation pieces in this draft with some upside. That's the strength of this class. Clearly not the top.
