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2025 NBA Draft Thread
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Big NBA draft 2021 questions: Is No. 1 locked up, and who's looking to trade?
While the NBA world focuses on the championship series between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, 28 other teams are already in offseason mode; and with the 2021 NBA draft just three weeks away, the rest of July will serve as a sprint toward the Detroit Pistons -- or maybe some other team after a trade? -- making the No. 1 overall pick.
With that in mind, we asked our experts to tackle the big questions with this year's draft, starting right at the top.
Is Cade Cunningham a lock to go No. 1?
Jonathan Givony: Cunningham is not any kind of lock at No. 1 from everything I've gathered. Detroit is continuing to conduct due diligence on a group that also includes Jalen Green and especially Evan Mobley, while also exploring several trade opportunities that have emerged.
Troy Weaver, Detroit's general manager and head decision-maker, has done quite a bit of work on the top of this class, sources say, spending a week in the G League bubble in February scouting Green, Jonathan Kuminga and the Ignite program and then crisscrossing the country in March to take in the WCC tournament championship (where Jalen Suggs had a signature performance), two Pac-12 tournament games (during which Mobley had arguably his best two games of the season) and the Big 12 quarterfinals, where Cunningham had a relatively pedestrian game by his standpoint, going 6-of-15 from the field with six turnovers.
Teams including Cleveland, Houston, New Orleans and Oklahoma City are among those making overtures to evaluate what it would take to move up to the No. 1 slot, sources say, but those talks are at an early stage, and any trade is unlikely to be consummated until much closer to the draft, if at all. From all accounts, Detroit is comfortable standing pat at No. 1 and taking Cunningham but will be active in exploring the possibility of trading down and obtaining additional assets, with Mobley a potential target if something gets done.
That's what NBA teams tell me they are hearing coming out of Detroit's front office. But would the Pistons really pass on Cunningham if the draft were tonight? I still think the answer is no. I would put Cunningham as the overwhelming favorite to end up in Detroit at that spot still, which, by the way, I've been told he would be very excited about. The recent buzz about other options can be chalked up to a second-year GM doing his homework and trying to make sure he leaves no stone unturned with what might end up being the most valuable pick he ever has in his career.
All year, we've heard about a 'five-player draft.' Is there a player who could break up that top-five group?
Mike Schmitz: That coveted top five has evolved into more of a "core four" the further we've gotten from the start of the G League bubble, when Jonathan Kuminga averaged 22-7-3 over his first three games. While Kuminga reminded evaluators of his superior tools and skill potential during his pro day, there seems to be a lot more comfort with the projected top four picks -- Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Jalen Suggs -- given their respective résumés.
I do think scouts and executives are nitpicking Kuminga more than they should given his talent at a position every team needs. But if he were to indeed fall out of the top five, who could leapfrog Kuminga? As Jonathan Givony wrote after the combine, Scottie Barnes is the favorite. His shooting and scoring shortcomings won't be for everyone, but his engaging personality, defensive versatility and playmaking at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan give him an incredibly high floor. Whether he is a supercharged Kyle Anderson, a new-age Draymond Green or something in between, it's easy to project Barnes as a surefire starter who will help you win a lot of games. As we've seen year after year, shooters ranging from Duncan Robinson to Max Strus to Garrison Mathews to Bryn Forbes can be had as undrafted free agents. It's harder to find forwards with positional size, length, defensive versatility and the vision of a player like Barnes.
While he might not go in the top five, James Bouknight could ultimately end up as one of the best players to come out of this class outside that core four. With the NBA full of guards who can shoot off the dribble, score out of quick actions and create offense, Bouknight is a perfect fit and should look even better with NBA spacing at his disposal. Analytics models won't appreciate his negative assist-to-turnover ratio or sub-30% 3-point clip, but Bouknight is as talented of a shot-creator as you'll find after Cunningham and Green.
Could we see a team in the top four trading back to pick up more assets?
Bobby Marks: It is probably best to break that question into two separate answers. As it relates to a team trading completely out of the top four, it is highly unlikely considering that Cunningham, Green, Mobley and Suggs are projected as franchise-level prospects. Now if Oklahoma City picks up the phone and offers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the No. 4 pick, the Raptors would certainly have to listen.
"The goal is to find a star player," Rockets GM Rafael Stone said recently. "When you bring in young players, especially, you're really looking for star potential. I wouldn't use the word 'expect.' I don't want to put that pressure on a player. I do think we're likely to get somebody really, really talented if we pick the pick."
In the past 20 years, there has been only one occurrence when a team traded completely out of the top four: when the Lakers traded the No. 4 pick (De'Andre Hunter) in 2019 as part of the package to acquire Anthony Davis. However, do not discount teams taking an aggressive approach as it pertains to moving back or up a slot within that range. We have seen such moves in recent years. In 2017, the Celtics traded the No. 1 overall pick to Philadelphia for No. 3 and a future first-round pick from Sacramento, and they drafted eventual All-Star Jayson Tatum. A year later, Atlanta moved back two slots in a draft-night trade with Dallas. The trade worked out for both sides, with Dallas drafting Luka Doncic and the Hawks picking Trae Young. Atlanta selected Cam Reddish a year later with the unprotected first-round pick that was acquired from Dallas.
The Pistons are sitting in the pole position and have their pick of Cunningham, Mobley, Green and Suggs. If a consensus is reached in the front office that there is little separation in talent and upside between the group, it would make sense for Detroit to explore swapping its pick with Houston if the Pistons could acquire a future first-round pick.
The Thunder, Knicks and Rockets control six of the nine picks from Nos. 16 to 24. How much trade action should we expect in that range?
Marks: The three teams are in a unique position not only because they each have two firsts in the 16 to 24 range but also because they have future first-round picks at their disposal if they want to move into the lottery. The decision to move up will get answered the night of the draft and dictated by their draft boards that rank the 60 best prospects.
For example, if New York has Gonzaga's Corey Kispert ranked No. 12 on its board and he is still available when it comes to San Antonio selecting at No. 12, would the Spurs entertain Nos. 19, 21 and 32? And if so, is that price tag too rich for New York?
Considering that Oklahoma City is at the sweet spot of the draft (Nos. 16 and 1
, trading out for a future lottery-protected first-round pick is counterproductive. The Rockets, on the other hand, could take an approach like Brooklyn did in 2019 and trade the No. 24 pick for a future first. The Nets traded the No. 27 pick to the LA Clippers for a lottery-protected first (from Philadelphia) in 2021. The pick that the Nets acquired eventually resulted in the No. 19 pick last November.
How can this draft set up free agency and the trade market?
Marks: The Cavaliers have two big offseason questions with the restricted free agency of center Jarrett Allen and rookie extension of Collin Sexton, and both players could be impacted by whom Cleveland selects with the No. 3 overall pick.
Even if the Cavs selected a big man in Mobley at No. 3, it's likely that Allen would still receive a lucrative contract in the offseason (think five years, $100 million). The Cavaliers could either pair him with Mobley or move him in a trade down the road, which would be better than letting him walk for nothing this summer.
Sexton's case is more interesting, because he is not a free agent but is eligible to sign an extension off his rookie-scale contract. Would Cleveland reward him with a max contract, knowing that Suggs or Green could produce at the same level and also be less expensive? Keep an eye on Sexton when it comes to trade talks, if the Cavs select a guard and negotiations stall when it comes to a new contract for Sexton.
With Toronto at No. 4, the future of free-agent guard Kyle Lowry is up in the air. If the Raptors draft Suggs or Green, Lowry becomes expendable, and the Raptors can use cap space to go out and sign a starting center or build out their bench. They also could use Lowry in a sign-and-trade deal if the market for the former All-Star dries up.
The Warriors are over the luxury tax and have limited means to add to their roster outside of their two lottery picks. Would Golden State package one or both for veteran help that fits the timeline of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green?
"There are rookies that help teams that are very good," Warriors GM Bob Myers said. "It's just a question of how much do they help, and do they make sense, and like I said, as it gets closer, we'll have a better idea."
The Thunder were considered a wild card this offseason because they could generate up to $36 million in cap space. However, with six draft picks, including five (Nos. 6, 16, 18, 34 and 35) with high value for players who could make the roster, Oklahoma City will likely take a back seat to free agency. The Thunder are still in a position to acquire additional draft assets because they have four trade exceptions ranging from $27.5 million to $9.6 million.
Which player in this draft is inspiring the widest range of feedback from team personnel?
Givony: Keon Johnson is the player you hear the widest range of opinions on from NBA teams. Some trusted talent evaluators say their teams group him in the second tier of elite prospects that is said to consist of Suggs, Kuminga and Barnes (after the top tier of Cunningham, Green and Mobley). Other teams say they view Johnson as more of a middle to late first-round flier on their draft board, citing his measurements (6-foot-3½ barefoot, 6-foot-7¼ wingspan) and underwhelming production in his lone season at Tennessee, where he averaged 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists with a mediocre 52.5% true shooting percentage.
Even Johnson's biggest fans are quick to say that he is a long-term prospect who will require significant playing time and reps to reach his full potential, as his frame and ballhandling ability are still at an early stage of development. Johnson's upside hinges on becoming a playmaking combo guard who uses his explosiveness to thrive in the open floor and get to the paint in the half court with his powerful first step. At this stage, his decision-making and overall skill set aren't where they need to be -- especially as an off-the-dribble shooter -- to justify that type of role.
Any team that picks Johnson, particularly in the top 10, will do so with the understanding that he'll need to shoulder a significant role early on to develop the parts of his game he needs to become the player many envision down the road, which will surely come at the expense of winning. Not every team in the NBA is on that type of timetable, but the way that G League assignments have been normalized and accepted as a legitimate development pathway could surely play a role in expediting his growth.
Which likely second-round prospect are you highest on entering the draft?
Schmitz: A few months ago, I would have mentioned names such as Trey Murphy III, Joshua Primo, Nah'Shon Hyland, Josh Christopher or Miles McBride. But with all those prospects now getting legitimate looks in the first round after a strong pre-draft process, I'll go with a player who doesn't have quite as much buzz: Isaiah Livers out of Michigan. Livers, who underwent foot surgery in early April, could have easily garnered first-round interest if he didn't miss Michigan's final five games and had been able to participate in the 5-on-5 portion of the combine.
Livers is 6-foot-7 and 232 pounds with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. He enjoys a career 41% 3-point clip and has a pure shooting stroke, strong feel and competitiveness defensively. And he was a key cog for one of the best programs in college basketball. Players like that have a market in today's NBA. Watching forwards ranging from Solomon Hill to Georges Niang playing legitimate minutes in playoff rotations bodes well for Livers. While not quite as long or bouncy, Chuma Okeke is a good template for the 22-year-old to follow. Simply put, so long as the injury checks out, it's easy to see Livers carving out a rotation on a competitive NBA team for years to come.
Speaking of collegiate seniors, I've always been a big fan of Herbert Jones' NBA projection. Even with his struggles from beyond the arc, 6-foot-7 wings with a 7-foot wingspan, ideal defensive versatility and a strong feel for the game get a lot of chances to stick in the NBA. I could see him having a Terance Mann type of impact in the right situation. Jones' coachability and accolades as SEC player of the year and defensive POY won't hurt, either. My last senior sleeper is Colorado's McKinley Wright IV, who might not hear his name called but reminds me a little bit of T.J. McConnell at the same stage with his defensive intensity, toughness, leadership, midrange game and court sense.
Every year, there are 'situational' sleepers who are better suited for the NBA than college. Who is your favorite player in that mold?
Schmitz: A potential lottery pick entering his freshman season at North Carolina, Day'Ron Sharpe could be a great value pick for an organization that dives deeper into his high school career at Florida's Montverde Academy and considers the situational factors that limited his per-game production in Chapel Hill. Having recently watched Sharpe work out in Los Angeles, he is in far better shape than he was as a freshman (down from 278 pounds to 260), looks like he has legitimate potential as a floor spacer from 3 and really impressed with his lively nature and personality in our film session.
Playing behind two UNC bigs in senior Garrison Brooks and sophomore Armando Bacot, Sharpe was limited to just 19.3 minutes per game over 29 contests. Oftentimes playing alongside either Bacot, Brooks or fellow center Walker Kessler when he was on the floor, Sharpe figures to be far more efficient from inside the arc (52%) and even more effective as a passer (already a strength) when surrounded by shooting. The best rebounder in the draft (15.7 per 40 minutes) with Isaiah Stewart-like ball pursuit, Sharpe's physicality, instincts, touch and feel for the game give him a sturdy floor.
Staying in tip-top shape will be key for Sharpe, as his margin for error as a perimeter defender is much flimsier than bigs with Mobley-like fluidity. But Sharpe does have good instincts, and he played with a strong motor alongside Cunningham, Barnes and Moses Moody at Montverde. It's usually Kentucky prospects who outperform relative to expectations, but Sharpe is one of my favorites to earn that title next season as a rookie.
Two G League path players are likely lottery picks. Two are not locks to be drafted at all. What do you think this first G League Ignite class will mean for the future of the program?
I think the Ignite's first season was a major success regardless of what happens on draft night. That was my take right after the team made the playoffs of the G League season, and I haven't seen anything to change that since. To be able to recruit two top-six picks, give them such an outstanding platform to showcase themselves on and off the court and clearly help them improve their skill sets and knowledge of the game on both ends of the floor was a major win. You're seeing the results of that with the way they've recruited for next season, snagging Jaden Hardy and Scoot Henderson, as well as Dyson Daniels, who looks to be the absolute real deal from what I can see early on at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Latvia.
The question the G League and non-top-10 recruits will need to ask is how the roster will be filled out moving forward. History indicates that players ranked outside that range -- including Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix last year and Michael Foster this upcoming season -- are a major crapshoot in terms of projection. The main issue these players face is that the NBA rules force them into the next year's draft regardless of whether they feel like they've maximized their stock in their lone season in the G League. In Todd's and Nix's cases, it's obvious that another year with the Ignite could have certainly benefited them; unfortunately, they don't have that option and might be staring down the barrel of being late second-round picks or possibly undrafted. That isn't the G League's fault, but it's something future prospects will have to consider.
I spoke with G League commissioner Shareef Abdur-Rahim about this topic last month, and he was quick to point out that this year was a learning experience for the league, which was unexpectedly presented with a major challenge due to the pandemic. Still, he sounded extremely pleased with the outcome.
"This was an unusual year. Not what we planned. The feedback has been very positive, though, with NBA teams having an outlet to watch us develop players, and scout and evaluate guys against NBA talent, something that is new and different," Abdur-Rahim said. "This year, they played exclusively in G League games. Next year, we'll add in other competitions, different experiences to give guys other looks. We feel good about them playing in the infrastructure of the G League. We also learned a lot in a truncated season. It can work."
While the NBA world focuses on the championship series between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, 28 other teams are already in offseason mode; and with the 2021 NBA draft just three weeks away, the rest of July will serve as a sprint toward the Detroit Pistons -- or maybe some other team after a trade? -- making the No. 1 overall pick.
With that in mind, we asked our experts to tackle the big questions with this year's draft, starting right at the top.
Is Cade Cunningham a lock to go No. 1?
Jonathan Givony: Cunningham is not any kind of lock at No. 1 from everything I've gathered. Detroit is continuing to conduct due diligence on a group that also includes Jalen Green and especially Evan Mobley, while also exploring several trade opportunities that have emerged.
Troy Weaver, Detroit's general manager and head decision-maker, has done quite a bit of work on the top of this class, sources say, spending a week in the G League bubble in February scouting Green, Jonathan Kuminga and the Ignite program and then crisscrossing the country in March to take in the WCC tournament championship (where Jalen Suggs had a signature performance), two Pac-12 tournament games (during which Mobley had arguably his best two games of the season) and the Big 12 quarterfinals, where Cunningham had a relatively pedestrian game by his standpoint, going 6-of-15 from the field with six turnovers.
Teams including Cleveland, Houston, New Orleans and Oklahoma City are among those making overtures to evaluate what it would take to move up to the No. 1 slot, sources say, but those talks are at an early stage, and any trade is unlikely to be consummated until much closer to the draft, if at all. From all accounts, Detroit is comfortable standing pat at No. 1 and taking Cunningham but will be active in exploring the possibility of trading down and obtaining additional assets, with Mobley a potential target if something gets done.
That's what NBA teams tell me they are hearing coming out of Detroit's front office. But would the Pistons really pass on Cunningham if the draft were tonight? I still think the answer is no. I would put Cunningham as the overwhelming favorite to end up in Detroit at that spot still, which, by the way, I've been told he would be very excited about. The recent buzz about other options can be chalked up to a second-year GM doing his homework and trying to make sure he leaves no stone unturned with what might end up being the most valuable pick he ever has in his career.
All year, we've heard about a 'five-player draft.' Is there a player who could break up that top-five group?
Mike Schmitz: That coveted top five has evolved into more of a "core four" the further we've gotten from the start of the G League bubble, when Jonathan Kuminga averaged 22-7-3 over his first three games. While Kuminga reminded evaluators of his superior tools and skill potential during his pro day, there seems to be a lot more comfort with the projected top four picks -- Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Jalen Suggs -- given their respective résumés.
I do think scouts and executives are nitpicking Kuminga more than they should given his talent at a position every team needs. But if he were to indeed fall out of the top five, who could leapfrog Kuminga? As Jonathan Givony wrote after the combine, Scottie Barnes is the favorite. His shooting and scoring shortcomings won't be for everyone, but his engaging personality, defensive versatility and playmaking at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan give him an incredibly high floor. Whether he is a supercharged Kyle Anderson, a new-age Draymond Green or something in between, it's easy to project Barnes as a surefire starter who will help you win a lot of games. As we've seen year after year, shooters ranging from Duncan Robinson to Max Strus to Garrison Mathews to Bryn Forbes can be had as undrafted free agents. It's harder to find forwards with positional size, length, defensive versatility and the vision of a player like Barnes.
While he might not go in the top five, James Bouknight could ultimately end up as one of the best players to come out of this class outside that core four. With the NBA full of guards who can shoot off the dribble, score out of quick actions and create offense, Bouknight is a perfect fit and should look even better with NBA spacing at his disposal. Analytics models won't appreciate his negative assist-to-turnover ratio or sub-30% 3-point clip, but Bouknight is as talented of a shot-creator as you'll find after Cunningham and Green.
Could we see a team in the top four trading back to pick up more assets?
Bobby Marks: It is probably best to break that question into two separate answers. As it relates to a team trading completely out of the top four, it is highly unlikely considering that Cunningham, Green, Mobley and Suggs are projected as franchise-level prospects. Now if Oklahoma City picks up the phone and offers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the No. 4 pick, the Raptors would certainly have to listen.
"The goal is to find a star player," Rockets GM Rafael Stone said recently. "When you bring in young players, especially, you're really looking for star potential. I wouldn't use the word 'expect.' I don't want to put that pressure on a player. I do think we're likely to get somebody really, really talented if we pick the pick."
In the past 20 years, there has been only one occurrence when a team traded completely out of the top four: when the Lakers traded the No. 4 pick (De'Andre Hunter) in 2019 as part of the package to acquire Anthony Davis. However, do not discount teams taking an aggressive approach as it pertains to moving back or up a slot within that range. We have seen such moves in recent years. In 2017, the Celtics traded the No. 1 overall pick to Philadelphia for No. 3 and a future first-round pick from Sacramento, and they drafted eventual All-Star Jayson Tatum. A year later, Atlanta moved back two slots in a draft-night trade with Dallas. The trade worked out for both sides, with Dallas drafting Luka Doncic and the Hawks picking Trae Young. Atlanta selected Cam Reddish a year later with the unprotected first-round pick that was acquired from Dallas.
The Pistons are sitting in the pole position and have their pick of Cunningham, Mobley, Green and Suggs. If a consensus is reached in the front office that there is little separation in talent and upside between the group, it would make sense for Detroit to explore swapping its pick with Houston if the Pistons could acquire a future first-round pick.
The Thunder, Knicks and Rockets control six of the nine picks from Nos. 16 to 24. How much trade action should we expect in that range?
Marks: The three teams are in a unique position not only because they each have two firsts in the 16 to 24 range but also because they have future first-round picks at their disposal if they want to move into the lottery. The decision to move up will get answered the night of the draft and dictated by their draft boards that rank the 60 best prospects.
For example, if New York has Gonzaga's Corey Kispert ranked No. 12 on its board and he is still available when it comes to San Antonio selecting at No. 12, would the Spurs entertain Nos. 19, 21 and 32? And if so, is that price tag too rich for New York?
Considering that Oklahoma City is at the sweet spot of the draft (Nos. 16 and 1
, trading out for a future lottery-protected first-round pick is counterproductive. The Rockets, on the other hand, could take an approach like Brooklyn did in 2019 and trade the No. 24 pick for a future first. The Nets traded the No. 27 pick to the LA Clippers for a lottery-protected first (from Philadelphia) in 2021. The pick that the Nets acquired eventually resulted in the No. 19 pick last November.How can this draft set up free agency and the trade market?
Marks: The Cavaliers have two big offseason questions with the restricted free agency of center Jarrett Allen and rookie extension of Collin Sexton, and both players could be impacted by whom Cleveland selects with the No. 3 overall pick.
Even if the Cavs selected a big man in Mobley at No. 3, it's likely that Allen would still receive a lucrative contract in the offseason (think five years, $100 million). The Cavaliers could either pair him with Mobley or move him in a trade down the road, which would be better than letting him walk for nothing this summer.
Sexton's case is more interesting, because he is not a free agent but is eligible to sign an extension off his rookie-scale contract. Would Cleveland reward him with a max contract, knowing that Suggs or Green could produce at the same level and also be less expensive? Keep an eye on Sexton when it comes to trade talks, if the Cavs select a guard and negotiations stall when it comes to a new contract for Sexton.
With Toronto at No. 4, the future of free-agent guard Kyle Lowry is up in the air. If the Raptors draft Suggs or Green, Lowry becomes expendable, and the Raptors can use cap space to go out and sign a starting center or build out their bench. They also could use Lowry in a sign-and-trade deal if the market for the former All-Star dries up.
The Warriors are over the luxury tax and have limited means to add to their roster outside of their two lottery picks. Would Golden State package one or both for veteran help that fits the timeline of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green?
"There are rookies that help teams that are very good," Warriors GM Bob Myers said. "It's just a question of how much do they help, and do they make sense, and like I said, as it gets closer, we'll have a better idea."
The Thunder were considered a wild card this offseason because they could generate up to $36 million in cap space. However, with six draft picks, including five (Nos. 6, 16, 18, 34 and 35) with high value for players who could make the roster, Oklahoma City will likely take a back seat to free agency. The Thunder are still in a position to acquire additional draft assets because they have four trade exceptions ranging from $27.5 million to $9.6 million.
Which player in this draft is inspiring the widest range of feedback from team personnel?
Givony: Keon Johnson is the player you hear the widest range of opinions on from NBA teams. Some trusted talent evaluators say their teams group him in the second tier of elite prospects that is said to consist of Suggs, Kuminga and Barnes (after the top tier of Cunningham, Green and Mobley). Other teams say they view Johnson as more of a middle to late first-round flier on their draft board, citing his measurements (6-foot-3½ barefoot, 6-foot-7¼ wingspan) and underwhelming production in his lone season at Tennessee, where he averaged 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists with a mediocre 52.5% true shooting percentage.
Even Johnson's biggest fans are quick to say that he is a long-term prospect who will require significant playing time and reps to reach his full potential, as his frame and ballhandling ability are still at an early stage of development. Johnson's upside hinges on becoming a playmaking combo guard who uses his explosiveness to thrive in the open floor and get to the paint in the half court with his powerful first step. At this stage, his decision-making and overall skill set aren't where they need to be -- especially as an off-the-dribble shooter -- to justify that type of role.
Any team that picks Johnson, particularly in the top 10, will do so with the understanding that he'll need to shoulder a significant role early on to develop the parts of his game he needs to become the player many envision down the road, which will surely come at the expense of winning. Not every team in the NBA is on that type of timetable, but the way that G League assignments have been normalized and accepted as a legitimate development pathway could surely play a role in expediting his growth.
Which likely second-round prospect are you highest on entering the draft?
Schmitz: A few months ago, I would have mentioned names such as Trey Murphy III, Joshua Primo, Nah'Shon Hyland, Josh Christopher or Miles McBride. But with all those prospects now getting legitimate looks in the first round after a strong pre-draft process, I'll go with a player who doesn't have quite as much buzz: Isaiah Livers out of Michigan. Livers, who underwent foot surgery in early April, could have easily garnered first-round interest if he didn't miss Michigan's final five games and had been able to participate in the 5-on-5 portion of the combine.
Livers is 6-foot-7 and 232 pounds with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. He enjoys a career 41% 3-point clip and has a pure shooting stroke, strong feel and competitiveness defensively. And he was a key cog for one of the best programs in college basketball. Players like that have a market in today's NBA. Watching forwards ranging from Solomon Hill to Georges Niang playing legitimate minutes in playoff rotations bodes well for Livers. While not quite as long or bouncy, Chuma Okeke is a good template for the 22-year-old to follow. Simply put, so long as the injury checks out, it's easy to see Livers carving out a rotation on a competitive NBA team for years to come.
Speaking of collegiate seniors, I've always been a big fan of Herbert Jones' NBA projection. Even with his struggles from beyond the arc, 6-foot-7 wings with a 7-foot wingspan, ideal defensive versatility and a strong feel for the game get a lot of chances to stick in the NBA. I could see him having a Terance Mann type of impact in the right situation. Jones' coachability and accolades as SEC player of the year and defensive POY won't hurt, either. My last senior sleeper is Colorado's McKinley Wright IV, who might not hear his name called but reminds me a little bit of T.J. McConnell at the same stage with his defensive intensity, toughness, leadership, midrange game and court sense.
Every year, there are 'situational' sleepers who are better suited for the NBA than college. Who is your favorite player in that mold?
Schmitz: A potential lottery pick entering his freshman season at North Carolina, Day'Ron Sharpe could be a great value pick for an organization that dives deeper into his high school career at Florida's Montverde Academy and considers the situational factors that limited his per-game production in Chapel Hill. Having recently watched Sharpe work out in Los Angeles, he is in far better shape than he was as a freshman (down from 278 pounds to 260), looks like he has legitimate potential as a floor spacer from 3 and really impressed with his lively nature and personality in our film session.
Playing behind two UNC bigs in senior Garrison Brooks and sophomore Armando Bacot, Sharpe was limited to just 19.3 minutes per game over 29 contests. Oftentimes playing alongside either Bacot, Brooks or fellow center Walker Kessler when he was on the floor, Sharpe figures to be far more efficient from inside the arc (52%) and even more effective as a passer (already a strength) when surrounded by shooting. The best rebounder in the draft (15.7 per 40 minutes) with Isaiah Stewart-like ball pursuit, Sharpe's physicality, instincts, touch and feel for the game give him a sturdy floor.
Staying in tip-top shape will be key for Sharpe, as his margin for error as a perimeter defender is much flimsier than bigs with Mobley-like fluidity. But Sharpe does have good instincts, and he played with a strong motor alongside Cunningham, Barnes and Moses Moody at Montverde. It's usually Kentucky prospects who outperform relative to expectations, but Sharpe is one of my favorites to earn that title next season as a rookie.
Two G League path players are likely lottery picks. Two are not locks to be drafted at all. What do you think this first G League Ignite class will mean for the future of the program?
I think the Ignite's first season was a major success regardless of what happens on draft night. That was my take right after the team made the playoffs of the G League season, and I haven't seen anything to change that since. To be able to recruit two top-six picks, give them such an outstanding platform to showcase themselves on and off the court and clearly help them improve their skill sets and knowledge of the game on both ends of the floor was a major win. You're seeing the results of that with the way they've recruited for next season, snagging Jaden Hardy and Scoot Henderson, as well as Dyson Daniels, who looks to be the absolute real deal from what I can see early on at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Latvia.
The question the G League and non-top-10 recruits will need to ask is how the roster will be filled out moving forward. History indicates that players ranked outside that range -- including Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix last year and Michael Foster this upcoming season -- are a major crapshoot in terms of projection. The main issue these players face is that the NBA rules force them into the next year's draft regardless of whether they feel like they've maximized their stock in their lone season in the G League. In Todd's and Nix's cases, it's obvious that another year with the Ignite could have certainly benefited them; unfortunately, they don't have that option and might be staring down the barrel of being late second-round picks or possibly undrafted. That isn't the G League's fault, but it's something future prospects will have to consider.
I spoke with G League commissioner Shareef Abdur-Rahim about this topic last month, and he was quick to point out that this year was a learning experience for the league, which was unexpectedly presented with a major challenge due to the pandemic. Still, he sounded extremely pleased with the outcome.
"This was an unusual year. Not what we planned. The feedback has been very positive, though, with NBA teams having an outlet to watch us develop players, and scout and evaluate guys against NBA talent, something that is new and different," Abdur-Rahim said. "This year, they played exclusively in G League games. Next year, we'll add in other competitions, different experiences to give guys other looks. We feel good about them playing in the infrastructure of the G League. We also learned a lot in a truncated season. It can work."
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Gang Green 
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Definitely the Pistons
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Definitely the Rockets
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Been hearing Detroit really likes Green. Can see Houston being the team promising to draft him too if Cleveland is offering Sexton and the 3rd to Detroit to get Cade.
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HOU$TON
formerly convertibleburt
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Houston fasho
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Green gonna be my first rocket jersey since T-Mac.
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Anybody could make a promise outside the top 2-3 
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Same here
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why would Jalen and his team even entertain that thoughAnybody could make a promise outside the top 2-3
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It’s not up to him and his team though. They aren’t the ones making the promise
It’s just some team saying they’d take him if he he’s there.
Like the Lakers could have a promise to Chris Duarte for example, but the Knicks could take him right before.
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Yeah a draft promise is irrelevant if outside of Top 2-3 pick. It's just to save him from working out for teams.
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Juzang probably could’ve snuck in the late first round.
Not mad at coming back to school to try to get into that lottery range.
Not mad at coming back to school to try to get into that lottery range.
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^^^
Not sure about that, read that his performance at combine wasn't great and saw him projected 2nd prior to that. He can go back to UCLA and make that NIL money so why not LOL
Not sure about that, read that his performance at combine wasn't great and saw him projected 2nd prior to that. He can go back to UCLA and make that NIL money so why not LOL
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No he couldn't have...which is why he's going back to school. Lottery next year?
He was awful at the Combine. He would have been lucky to get drafted late 2nd.
