2026 NBA Draft Predictions

 2026 NBA DRAFT Scouting Reports

Welcome to the first post of the new site! Last year’s draft was a really good one, so good in fact, I would take Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper over any of the guys in this one. But where this draft shines is that at the top. I have the top 4 guys rated 90+ which is very rare, plus I think there are a decent amount guys past the top 4 that have upside to end up in the top of the class. And that seems to be the consensus. One thing I’ll say is that I agree on the top 4, I do not agree on the order. This draft has the juice and I’m super excited to see where everyone lands and watch those summer league games with an intense interest. Without further adieu, here is my order for prospect rankings and predictions that are sure to come true.

1. AJ Dybansta 6-10 217 lbs 7-0 wingspan 19.4 years old – Athletes at his size with his skills and fluidity come around maybe once a year if you’re lucky. I’m envisioning a career akin to Paul George. I think the difference is probably personality. Dybansta is a true alpha and I expect him to shine on the big stage. The knocks are clear now, an average feel for the game and highly turnover prone. Plus, no defensive stats at all, which is where PG has him beat. You should expect him to lead the league in turnovers for a few years. But he will work through this. Not quite the level of Cooper Flagg and I don’t even think not even Dylan Harper judging from what I just saw, but good enough that he can be in the 1st team All-NBA discussion when he hits his prime and I expect plenty of 2nd and 3rd teams. The reason he doesn’t grade higher is I just see a little Julius Randle in him, which is not a compliment. And his first name is AJ…Rating 93
2. Caleb Wilson 6-10 211 lbs 7-0 wingspan 19.9 years old – I watched his tape fourth out of the big four of this draft expecting to like him the fourth most like everyone has him ranked.  Well I like him better than that. When I see Wilson on these youtube videos, I feel like I’m seeing young Giannis. The shooting isn’t there, but everything else basically is. And most importantly, you can’t teach that size and athleticism. Those long strides are Giannis-esque. For me, the highest upside in the draft if he can become an efficient three level scorer. But not sure how likely that is. My rating for him has him as the 2nd pick and I’m surprised frankly that this isn’t being discussed more. I’m so so tempted to make him number one because I think he has a better character than that guy AJ, but his downside is maybe just a bit lower and riskier. Rating 93
3. Cameron Boozer 6-10 252 lbs 7-1 wingspan 18.9 years old – Super productive player who I think will have a very good career. And good news for Cameron is he looks to have a good head of hair so we won’t have to worry about any spray paint situations like his dad. I have the same concerns about him that other detractors do. He’s a stiff. A minus on defense for any position. The dude needs to hit a yoga class or something. Can he even touch his toes? Despite that, I think Boozer will put up productive numbers, a 20-10 guy, and can be the 2nd best player on a championship team. The upside doesn’t go as high as others just because of the lack of elasticity and athleticism. If I had to guess what kind of career he would have I would guess something like Domatas Sabonis, who coincidentally is also the son of a former great big man. If I were a rebuilding team, I wouldn’t be taking him at 1. But 2-5 is a fair range. Rating 91
4. Darryn Peterson 6-6 199 lbs 6-10 wingspan 19.4 years old – To be honest, I didn’t see that much of him in school and what I did see was not that impressive. And then all those weird injuries turned me off. Just felt like loser mentality and questionable assessments. “Cramps from Creatine.” Told his team he wasn’t playing 15 minutes before the last game of the season. Come on bro. But then I watched his tape including high school and some of his early season Kansas games. Wow, he’s an eye-popping athlete. And taller than I expected. The hardest player in the draft to evaluate I’m sure. The 1:1 assist to TO ratio is gross. I know he played off the ball in college and I just didn’t see the vision to call him a point, which is too bad because that’s where he would have been a guy with plus size. He’s probably a combo guard at best where his size is just above average. I don’t see how you could take him over Dybansta, but I do see how you could take him over Boozer. I see a career probably like Donovan Mitchell, which is my best comp for him. In the end, I just get too many Markelle Fultz vibes from him to take him over any of the other 3 guys. Has a Michael Myers tattoo, but is softer than my toilet paper. And I bet his readiness scores are as shaky as Bobby’s. Rating 91
5. Keaton Wagler 6-5 188 lbs 6-6 wingspan 19.3 years old – This guy can shake and he can bake. One of the youngest in the draft and a late bloomer make his trajectory hard to evaluate. But what a year he had, going from 4 star recruit to top 10 pick. Wagler’s calling card is his shooting, with range from everywhere. That skill alone gets him into an NBA rotation. But add the size and the strides he’s made, and it’s obvious he should be a top-10 pick. His playmaking isn’t quite at Acuff’s level, but it’s a plus, and he’s a way better defender on and off the ball. I see all-star teams in his future and even some all-NBA potential here. I would take him at 5. Wagler might have as much upside as anyone in this draft, but just not as sure a bet. Rating 88
6. Darius Acuff 6-3 186 lbs 6-6 wingspan 19.5 years old – If there was a guy that could be the next Jalen Brunson in this draft (which there isn’t because my guy is a living legend), it’s Acuff. Scoring at all levels and even developed the 3 this year, which is almost always the biggest question I have about guards and swingmen at the next level. The vision is super impressive also, hitting reads that I didn’t even see. Defense-wise, it’s a real bummer. He was getting cooked like a hot dog on the Fourth of July at the college level, so the NBA is going to hunt him, potentially off the floor. If he fixes this to get to a reasonable level then he’s an all-star and I like the range of 6-8 for him. Acuff is still young and he has a frame that can at least make him a difficult player to move so I think at the very least he will be a solid starter. And I really do think he has 3-4 all-star appearances coming based on his offensive stats, but not sure I see him as the lead guard on a contender. 85
7. Kingston Flemings 6-3 183 lbs 6-4 wingspan 19.5 years old – So he’s basically the same size as Steph Curry coming out. Not big and can’t shoot it like that, but I see some real potential in Flemings. Has a great feel for the game on both sides of the ball and recorded a 40 inch vert which can help offset some of the size issues. Looks like a true point guard to me and one that should be an above average starter and I project him to make 2-3 all star teams. A great player to take in the top 10. Rating 84
8. Nate Ament 6-10 210 lbs 6-11 wingspan 19.5 years old – Reminds me of Jabari Smith with a smooth game and a master of none archetype where nothing sticks out as extraordinary right now. Really needs to press some bench. He’s such a skinny boiii I think he won’t make an impact until year 3. Definitely has abs though, which is more important. And has a lot of upside with his size. All-star upside. The kind of potential you take a shot at in the lottery. I think he ends up as good as Jabari Smith is right now. Rating 83
9. Allen Graves 6-9 226 lbs 7-0 wingspan 19.9 years old – A winning team should absolutely draft Graves in the first round. Super high IQ player makes up for the fact that he’s ground bound. Can even shoot wide open 3’s. He’s unconventional, which is why maybe his draft stock isn’t as high as it should be. I just don’t see how he’s not a rotation guy at worst and a plus starter by the end of his rookie contract. Rating 81
10. Morez Johnson 6-10 250 lbs 7-3 wingspan 20.4 years old – Morez has one of my favorite qualities, a high motor. This is even more important for a big man who can impact the glass and defend the rim. I don’t see any reason why he can’t be a rotation big, especially if he can continue knocking down open 3s enough for defenses to respect him. More than likely I think he might rank as a solid starter, but no all-star teams. Can fit on any team. Next Naz Reid. Rating 81
11. Cameron Carr 6-6 190 lbs 184 lbs 7-0 wingspan 21.6 years old – Geez a 42 inch vertical and a 7 foot wingspan my goodness. Makes sense with his dad being Chris Carr, who lost to Kobe in the 97 dunk contest. And has pro level 3 point range. For an ex-player’s son though, his decision making is a little off. Super flashy and too much for his own good some times. And he’s so skinny, I wonder how long it will take for him to put on enough weight to impose his game, if ever. But his profile is hard to resist. I can see a JR Smith kind of career for him. And maybe he can do what his pops never did and win a dunk contest. Rating 79
12. Ebuka Okorie 6-2 186 lbs 6-7 wingspan 19.2 years old – A very young boyyy who needs to hit the gime. But has a fast first step, quick twitch, and moves like Gumby. If he’s able to put on 10-15 lbs this summer or next, I think he can be an instant contributor to a rotation with some potential to be a lead guard. Just might be a bit small. Late lotto to mid-first guy for me. Rating 77
13. Aday Mara 7-4 260 lbs 7-6 wingspan 21.2 years old – Every draft has one giant and this time it’s Aday Mara. What surprised me most about Mara is his passing. The guy really can drop dimes, outlets and sees the floor really well for someone his size. Can be a defensive anchor in the paint, but I worry about him on the perimeter in picks and switches. And forget the outside shot, that shit is not gonna happen. After seeing Wemby wreak havoc, I think every team might want their own giant to at least attempt to slow him down. He even has a standing reach that ends one inch under the rim! For that reason, I think he’s worth a late lotto pick. The fact that he probably can’t play starter minutes though does ding him. Rating 75
14. Brayden Burries 6-5 215 lbs 6-6 wingspan 20.8 years old – I don’t like when a freshman is almost 21 by draft night. He’s 15 months older than Cooper Flagg. I turned 21 going into my senior year. What’s he been up to? Of course he’s gonna be more polished than his freshman peers. But, he has some skills. Good shooter and can handle the ball. Moves well. He’s a combo guard with average size. There’s no all star potential in my eyes, but he should be a good rotation guy. A winning team with a need for range should take him, but not as high on him as the consensus. Rating 74
15. Labaron Philon 6-4 175 lbs 6-6 wingspan 20.5 years old – Best handle in the class and Philon can shoot. Reminds me of a poor man’s Kyrie. But that below the rim athleticism without enough horizontal or quickness to make up for it concern me and cap his upside. I don’t see a star here, but someone who can be in an NBA rotation as a backup guard getting 15-20 mpg. Not a lotto guy, but why not after that. Rating 73
16. Christian Anderson 6-2 180 lbs 6-6 wingspan 20.2 years old – Might be the best shooter in the draft and can pass also. He’s small and slight, but can easily be a rotation sparkplug for a team in the first round. Rating 73
17. Mikel Brown Jr. 6-4 190 lbs 6-7 wingspan 20.2 years old – Nope I’m not very high on him. I love the flashy athleticism and handle, plus shooting from anywhere on the court, but the rest of his game is questionable. He’s not a point guard so his size isn’t advantageous unless he’s a 1. I don’t think his upside is as high as others. Mid-lottery would be a mistake. I wouldn’t take a chance on him until after the lottery. Rating 71
18. Chris Cenac Jr. 6-11 240 lbs 7-5 wingspan 19.4 years old – A guy that probably should have stayed in school because he’s gonna be riding the bench his first two years. So raw, but also a huge dude which gives him more upside combined with his age than others in this draft range for a team who’s willing to be patient. I’d take a swing on him after the lottery mostly due to the fact that he can kind of shoot and defend. And has a pterodactyl wingspan. No idea how he ends up though.
19. Hannes Steinbach 6-11 248 lbs 7-2 wingspan 20.1 years old – The Big Bratwurst (my nickname for him) can rebound and can shoot a little bit. Looks like a poor man’s Hartenstein. I wouldn’t burn a lotto pick on him. Fine in the 20s if you want, but I feel like he is a second round talent.
20. Yaxel Lendeborg 6-10 241 lbs 7-3 wingspan 23.7 years old – He’s going to be 24 years old when his rookie year starts and I’m sorry, this guy did not do enough for me to think he should be anywhere near the lotto, let alone a first rounder. I wouldn’t even use a second round pick on ol’ Yaxel. What the hell has he been up to all these years? Being a ding dong probably. Call me ageist but I don’t want this old man. BUST
21. Karim Lopez 6-9 221 lbs 6-11 wingspan 19.2 years old – I’m rooting for him because he’s Mexican and I love burritos, but I don’t see a first rounder here.
22. Bennett Stirtz 6-4 186 lbs 6-6 wingspan 22.7 years old – Can’t believe he’s being considered in the first round. Bennett Stirtz? More like Bennett See Ya Later Kayla! BUST
23. Dailyn Swain 6-8 211 lbs 6-10 wingspan 20.9 years old – Don’t like him. His shot looks like Charles Barkley’s golf swing. I don’t see upside here. 2nd round guy at best.

 

2025 NBA Draft Assessment

 

    Heyyy look at that, the 2025 NBA Draft came and went, but yaboy HAS to go Post Malone no matter what and get those predictions public. I have to have a way to look back and confirm how right I was, like usual. One day this will be my CV when I apply to a GM position. Ayo, James Dolan, call me!

Alright so what I did was watched tape on the top 10 picks. Here are my thoughts aka the facts. Without further ado...

1st Pick: Cooper Flagg – I mean what’s not to like? The kid plays with a fire that you want to see in your star player. Looks like me on the tennis court. Not afraid of the moment and keeps improving at a rapid rate. Will be good enough in his prime to be the best player on a championship level team. I’m thinking averages along the lines of 27, 8 and 6. The new American great white hope. Rating for him is 96.

2nd Pick: Dylan Harper – Who are the 5 best dribblers alive? Dylan, Dylan Dylan… eh you get the joke. Has the best in & out dribble move I’ve seen, which is crazy at his age. Not at all a surprise to find out his dad was an NBA player when you see his preternatural feel for the game. Love the way he changes speeds, like Cliff Lee. The low shot release is a concern, but Halli has made it work so far so let’s see. The size he has increases his floor and he looks like a future All-star with some 3^rd team All-NBA potential. Rating 92

3rd Pick: VJ Edgecombe – Bit of a poor man’s Westbrook is what I see here. A high flyer who’s a bit undersized for the 2 guard position. If he can keep improving his spot up 3, that will open up so much space for his to use that athleticism. Lots of upside here, but also a lot of room for growth, like Bobby’s hairline and Josh’s weiner. I think we won’t be able to tell what his ceiling is until his second contract. Looks like a potential all star on the high end. Rating 86

4th Pick: Kon Kneuppel – Kuh-nipple is the stereotypical white. Great shooter, fundamentals, makes the hustle plays and does all the little things that add up to wins that don’t show up in the box score. And of course, he has defensive limitations and is an under the rim player. Reminds me a lot of JJ Redick and will probably have a similar career. Feels high to take a guy with such limited upside at 4, especially for Charlotte, but maybe they could use some guys in there that don’t add to the fuckery. They’re already way over the maximum headcases allowed. Rating 78

5th Pick: Ace Bailey – That is one nice piece of Ace (in a straight way). Long athlete who can make some difficult shots. High and quick release makes him hard to defend on the perimeter. The problem is he’s a low IQ player, and maybe person? Bob can relate. Knowing now that Utah drafted him, a city with absolutely no distractions, might be the best thing for him to unlock his game. Not the kind of guy I’d expect to see at the ápres ski in Park City. Shades of Julius Randle, with that big offensive game, but a total bonehead. Not as good a passer though. Actually, one of the worst passers I’ve seen, which is problematic. I don’t think he has the right mind to put it all together. Could have a career reminiscent of Kuminga, but if he does break through the ding dong-ness, he could be Rashard Lewis. Really tough call, but I think in this draft, you have a hard time not taking him at 5. Rating 83

6th Pick: Tre Johnson – This kid already has a bag of moves off the dribble and some crazy shot making, and that’s most of the appeal. You might even call me the Tre Johnson of mini golf. Drafting someone who you know can shoot from 3 and get their own shot is worth a top 10 pick. My concern is that everything else is sub-par. He’s not small, but isn’t long. The scoring at the rim is already bad, and the defense is worrisome. Could have a Malik Beasley like career, but hopefully he doesn’t take the “bet on yourself” line too literally. Rating 78

7th Pick: Jeremiah Fears – One of the younger boyyyys in the draft, I have to say I really like the kid. The handle is crazy and the guy can knife through defenses. This, to me, is the most “if he gets a 3 pointer, the upside is crazy” guy in the draft. There is some low-end all star potench here. Too bad he landed in New Orleans. Rating 81

8th Pick: Egor Demin – Let’s see, can’t shoot, can’t defend. The guy’s a great passer and he’s tall. But he’s not good enough anywhere else to be able to take advantage of that in the NBA. They say he’s high waisted? He’s top tall bro? Send him back to Europe. BUST

9th Pick: Collin Murray-Boyles – I see a little Draymond here. A high IQ player on both ends of the floor. Someone who will do more in terms of impact rather than statistics. Like Bob cheating at the Holiday Bowl. Shooting is the concern, but I still see him as a reliable 25 mpg guy that will be a good rotation piece. Rating 77

10th Pick: Khaman Maluach – Well he is big, no doubt about it. Which, I get. These guys who learn the game late are always a bit difficult to project. He does have a good feel for the game, but not a crazy athlete. This is not the next DeAndre Jordan or Dwight in any realm of possibilities. I think his upside is Clint Capela, but I wouldn’t expect more. I doubt he reaches that high, more of a rotation big I think. Rating 74. 

 

 

 

2023 NBA Draft Assessment

  

    The 2023 NBA Draft is quickly approaching and history is about to be made with Victor Wembanyama becoming most hyped player in the draft since LeBron. We have some intrigue at the 2 spot and a few other guys in the lottery who could have a big impact on their new teams. Others...won't. Without further ado, here are 16 guys I watched tape on and my predictions, which are the best on the web. Hopefully a smart front office doesn't find out about this blog or it's over for the rest of the league. Behold my crystal ball...

Victor Wembanyama - Best prospect since LeBron. The first guy on my blog to be rated a 100 point prospect and I’ve been writing since 2009. There’s not much to say other than I believe the hype and think he has top 5 of all time potential. My prediction is rookie of the year, defensive player of the year 5+ times, 4+ championship rings, 3 MVP’s if he wants them (aka Spurs let him play enough to get them). An incredible player that only comes around every twenty years. We had Jordan in 84 (great fucking year), LeBron in 03 and now in 23 we have the asparagus, Victor. It’s going to be fun to watch. Rating 100

Scoot Henderson - Scoot can fly. That’s for sure. There’s even an airline named after him. Google that shit (it’s not named after him, but there is a Scoot Airline). The first player I think of when I see highlights os Scoot is Russ, the BRODIE! Hopefully he has less of an ego and more of a J though. The tenacity, the leaping ability, even that elbow jumper is vintage Westbrook. And he definitely keeps his bod pretty tight. There’s definitely some holes in his game, the defense, the jumper, but with the fire he brings and the improvements he’s made in the last 2 years, it’s hard to doubt his trajectory as an All-star and possibly All-NBA guy. Despite his size being smaller than basically everyone else in the lottery, I would still take him at the 2 spot. I would rather bet on guys with passion for the game, not problem children like Miller. And Scoot has about 4 Rottweilers in him. Rating 91

Cam Whitmore - Damn Cam! Now this kid I’m high on. Makes me wonder why we aren’t talking about a big 4 in this draft. He has the size and explosiveness to be a great two-way player. Yes the shot could use some work, but it’s good enough for now. Only 18, he has a lot of upside. Reminds me of Scottie Barnes. Definitely not the same court vision, but comes into the league as a better shooter. I could see him having this kind of impact. I think he has a few All-star selections in his future and would be an easy fit to any team. That’s not something you can say about everyone in the lottery. Rating 88

Brandon Miller - I didn’t follow him much in college and really only knew that he was a lock for a top-3 pick and was favored to be the 2nd player taken in this draft. Not really sure about his character, but it’s never a good start when you’re associated with a homicide, but that’s just my opinion. I watched his highlights and am just not as impressed as the consensus. He seems slow. He doesn’t have a first step, he’s not quick, and his jump shot has a low release that doesn’t appear very quick either. When you combine those things, it’s not a good combination and caps his upside in my eyes. This is reflected in numbers when he faced top-50 NCAA teams, his percentages plummeted. If we’re talking Scoot vs Miller, Scoot is easily the better choice. Now if we’re talking Cam vs Miller, it’s a bit tighter, but I’m going Whitmore. Miller is a year and a half older and seems like a ding dong. He has NBA skills, no doubt, but he’s a fringe all-star at best and more likely a solid starter. Let’s pump the brakes on this guy.  Rating 82

Bilal Coulibaly - God damn this French bias of mine, but I like this kid! Super long and explosive, Coulibaly can impact both ends of the floor. The jump shot from basically every spot is a question mark for sure. Starts his release below his hips right now and it slows everything down. This is fixable, but it’s going to take 2-3 years before he scratches the surface of how good he can be. Bilal is not even 19 yet and has been progressing quickly. I think if he stayed in the French league another year, he would be a top-5 pick next year so I’m pretty high on him. Could be as good as OG Anunoby. Rating 81

Amen Thompson - After hearing so much about the twins, I thought their games and potential would be pretty identical. But after watching the scouting report on Amen, I can see he has another level to reach. He feels like an NBA2K create-a-player when you select the athletic swingman build. Super bouncy, but his shot form looks unredeemable. Comparison-wise I would say he reminds me of a taller DeAaron Fox with a worse jump shot. The passing looks pretty creative, especially in transition. The concern will be when the game slows down, like it does in the playoffs, how will he make a positive impact in a half court offense. I don’t have an answer for that right now. I’m not even sure he can be an average mid-range shooter. Maybe he’s Ben Simmons pre-mental breakdown and you have to put him in the dunker spot. The guy’s jump shot looks like Dwight Howard. But there is something here. I wouldn’t write him off and I see the potential. Most likely outcome I would give him would be a 5th or 6th guy who can cause havoc on a fast paced team. Rating 79 but if he starts to show that Thompson character, then it’s gonna be Amen Dropson to a 70.

Taylor Hendricks - What’s not to like from Hendricks? He will serve as a very good 3 and D guy in the NBA. I see flashes of PJ Washington who is another swingman that knocks down 3s at a respectable rate and blocks shots on the other end. Could he be an all-star? Maybe once or twice if there was a lot of injuries and everything broke his way, but I think it’s more likely that his future is as a valuable piece to a playoff team that can give you 30 minutes of high level production. His college stats I believe will match his NBA production. 15 and 7 with a block and a half. Every team in the NBA can use a guy like that. Rating 78

Gradey Dick - To me, this Dick reminds me of another dick, Tyler Herro. In a draft short on shooting, and I think pretty much every team could use another knock down shooter, the Dick has to go in the top 10. Will he be an all-star? Very likely not, but will this Dick be in the league for 10+ years helping teams space the floor? Almost certainly. Rating 78

Anthony Black - Black’s got the reverse Bobby haircut, gotta get rid of some of that. Another guy with a questionable J (not to be confused with the hard J). He does have great court vision though. I like his ability to see the game and his IQ is definitely going to cover up some holes in his game. Black will be as good as his jump shot can carry him, because he’s above average at pretty much everything else. It’s critical he gets this to a serviceable level because it will be the difference between him being an impactful starter, and maybe even better. Or he will end up an average backup. Worth a swing in the top 10 of this draft. Rating 77 but a 35% 3 point shot would unlock his game and elevate him to 85. Curious to see the outcome.

Cason Wallace - Another one of those guys who if he can get a consistent 3 point shot going in the NBA, he will have a bright future. If he doesn’t then he might not do enough to stay in the league. The shot form doesn’t look bad so there is some hope. His defense is his calling card right now, being able to defend any guard in the NBA pretty well. Wallace has a weirdly high dribble that he also needs to tighten, but despite all that, Cason is worth the risk in the top-15. Rating 75

Kobe Bufkin - A late riser in the draft process. Bufkin has been moving up because of the progression he’s made as a freshman to sophomore and apparently had a strong showing at his Pro day. I like his game and can see him as some combination of Derrick White and Immanuel Quickley. Has a similar size/frame and can be above average on both sides of the ball. I see Bufkin as a solid contributor with some upside to be a 25-30 MPG guy on a good team in his prime. Rating 74

Keyonte George - Keyonte, who my computer loves to autocorrect to Keynote, will be a guy we inevitably see many times on House of Highlights. He has a tight handle, some creative footwork, and doesn’t mind letting it fly from anywhere. As far as experience goes, he seems like he has the least in the lottery discussion. Makes a lot of dumb mistakes and has a lot to learn, which leads me to think that we won’t know how good he can be until his second contract. Team culture will be a big thing for him to develop the right habits. I think 6th man is probably a good scenario for him. The things that cap his upside are that he’s not very big or long or explosive. That’s fine, but there’s a big risk here that he’s a one side only player and coaches don’t like that. He could turn out to be Jordan Clarkson, but it’s just as likely that he’s out of the league by 25. I wouldn’t take him in the top half of the lottery, but worth a swing after that for any team looking that doesn’t mind waiting for a contributor. Rating 73

Ausar Thompson - Truly don’t know what to think of this kid, except that his last name sucks. The shot mechanics look fatal and to me that caps his upside to borderline all star. His competition was basically the Washington Generals so I’m a bit lower on what I’ve seen in highlights. Speaks to his classic Thompson character that they chose to play in this lame league. One thing I like is the defense, especially the fact that he’s willing to pick up his man for 90 feet. If he can keep up his focus on this part of the game he can definitely earn some minutes. A special athlete, but is he something more than a 7th or 8th man? In my eyes, most likely not. Rating 73

Jarace Walker - I like him fine. Doesn’t wow me. If we’re talking about Walker and Hendricks as the 3 and D guys in the lottery, I have a strong preference for Hendricks. Walker looks less fluid in his shooting and his hip swivel. It’s no guarantee that he will be an average 3 point shooter at the next level. He does have youth on his side, being only 19, but anyone talking all-star potential is dreaming. Rotation guy, sure, but nothing too exciting to me. Rating 72

Derrick Lively II - Not so Lively averaged 5 POINTS A GAME. If you want a backup defensive big who only plays one side of the ball, here you go. Rating 68

Brandin Podziemski - I like him as a shooter. Is he the sleeper of the draft? Well…I think after his rookie contract he might be playing with Ben Simmons for the Shanghai Sharks. Rating BUST.

2022 NBA Draft: 6 Guys Outside the Top 3

 

    Here are some guys projected to go in the lottery that I've been scouting all year, but mostly just in the last 24 hours. This list includes 2 guys I would take over Paolo and one guy I think should be about 20 spots lower than his projection.

Jaden Ivey - After losing to a 15 seed in the sweet 16 this year, I was ready to write off Mr. Ivey. But damn, that first step is lethal! SHADES of D Wade in the Marquette days. Got a lot better from his freshman to soph year. Oozing upside here and I think we are scratching the surface. I think it’s going to take him 3-4 years before we see how good he is going to be. If he does end up in Sacramento, I hope he forces his way out, because that is the absolute worst situation for him. He’s an elite athlete that needs to learn good habits from a good organization. His rating has a range man. We gotta get this guy out of Sac town. Has All-star potench. I like him to figure things out anyway. That shot form isn’t the prettiest, but not unsalvageable. Would def take him over Paolo. Rating 86

Keegan Murray - Almost fell asleep watching his scouting report. Eh, he’s fine. Doesn’t have top-5 upside, but could be a solid rotation piece. If I were picking 5, I would be swinging for a prospect with more potential. I’m not really sure why he’s slotted in at 5 to be honest. The guy is old enough to buy beer, of course he looks good. Give me one of those young boyyyyys with some sizzle over the next Otto Porter. Rating 76.

Benedict Mathurin - I had not heard of this guy until last week. The first thing I notice about him is how freaking high he jumps, even on his 3 point shot! Reminds me a bit of JR Smith, not quite as explosive. He’s a fun offensive guy to plug into a rotation, but a total cone on D. At this point of the draft, I don’t mind taking a guy like this in the top 10. Has a pretty good ceiling, great arms, clearly keeping his bod pretty tight, and enough potential that he could be your 4th or 5th guy on a contender if his defense gets up to a passable level. I think he’s going to have a sideways S-shaped trajectory, fast starter, then hit a wall and maybe make it out the other side better and more reliable in year 3 or 4. Rating 75

Dyson Daniels - Love the kangaroos. His father was a former Aussie pro and his cousin Skyler is a 2k legend so obviously I’m a BIG fan of this kid. Players that get after it on the defensive end are exciting because a big part of being a great defender is having passion and fire. I usually try to pick different comps than the ones being thrown around, but the Lonzo comp is a pretty good one. Both have dynamic court vision and size for the PG position and can defend, but maybe not shoot the best. Dyson is far from a finished product. HIs athleticism isn’t the best, but he’s a crafty player who I think can be a very solid 6th or 7th man. If he gets that 3 going to 37%, he can be a 3rd man on a contender. 78

Shaedon Sharpe - I’m going into this not liking this guy at all. In a recent interview, he said “I see myself being one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.” And yet he was too much of a coward to actually play against college kids. Now, the buzz is he is doing terribly in interviews. Sure, he has a lot of upside and can jump real high, but these high level athlete, low character guys are a dime a dozen. BUST 

AJ Griffin - AWFUL name, but I’ll give him a pass since he is Adrian Griffin’s kid. There is a lot to like with this kid. Has an NBA ready body, might be the best shooter in the draft, and a high basketball IQ. Apparently had some injuries in high school that he was still coming back from during his Freshie season. Watching some old clips of him dunking and his head gets to the rim! I think he is flying under the radar, like Tom Cruise in Top Gun 2, due to the injury. Looks like a top-5 pick to me and a guy that can elevate as high as 3rd best player on a contender. Rating 84

NBA Draft 2022 Top 3?

 

    Who you got?? The 2022 NBA Draft is in 2 days and the only sure thing seems to be a consensus of the top 3 guys to be selected. Jabari, Chet, then Paolo seem to be the order right now. You're here because you want to peer into my crystal balls? Well lucky for you I'm gonna give you a look into the future. One thing I can tell you is one of these guys does not belong with the other two. The other thing I can tell you is I don't think anyone in this draft will be as good as the giant baguette (a nickname I share) in 2023.

Chet Holmgren - I think he’s probably the best player in the draft. Dude is gonna get bitched around like AJ in the Shelby days, but I think he can be strong enough in a few years to handle contact. I hate to compare anyone to KD, but he does seem like he can be a less athletic version of him. My favorite thing about Chet, other than having the whitest name ever, is that he’s a high level competitor. That fire can carry him to great heights. The fact that he’s a two-way player will make him even more valuable in today’s NBA. Top-5 player? Highly unlikely. More like a top-20 player that will make a few all star teams starting in year 4 or 5. It might not seem like it now, but I think his offensive game is really going to show some versatility with NBA spacing and schemes. Maybe Jack Harlow will even write a song about him. Rating 92.

Jabari Parker - Every team can use a Jabari Parker. He’s a medium ceiling, high floor guy. The shooting is NBA-ready, combined with his height, length, and high shot release, there’s no reason he won’t be scoring 20 a game by year 2. If he was more explosive, I think he would be my top pick in the draft, but does seem to get slowed down around the rim and that’s going to be even more difficult in the league. Has All-star potential for sure, but might not put up numbers outside points and rebounds, so I don’t see him exceeding 3rd team NBA in his best season. And I don’t see him being the best player on a contender. But plug him in right now and he can be a solid starter with room to grow into a few All-star teams. Rating 90.

Paolo Banchero - Hello Melo. The first person I see when scouting Paolo is Melo, but a watered down version. If I was the next Chad Ford (my dream 15 years ago) and my reputation depended on stating the order from best to worst of Chet, Jabari, and Paolo, I think the top 2 would be close, but Paolo is a distant third. The NBA is finally appreciating 2 way players. Dudes that can actually defend. No more coveting guys that can make a bucket and give it up on the other end on the next possession. Paolo is crafty, but slow. The buckets he got in college are gonna be harder to translate than a guy like Jabari, who can shoot over anyone. He’s got a long, slow release. I would bet he never makes an All-star team, but can be a guy who can score 20 a game with no peripheral stats. I haven’t scouted the rest of the top guys yet, but I’m wondering if he should even be locked in at 3? I would make a heavy bet that he doesn’t finish as a top-3 guy from this draft. Rating 83.

 

Well here we are at the 2020 NBA Draft, which is being held in mid-November in the weirdest sports years, and life years, of all time. With the season starting in about a month, this is gonna be a quick turnaround for these rooks. I freely admit I didn't watch any college hoops this year because the class seemed uninspiring. I feel vindicated by that especially not having a March Madness and a lot of the top guys not playing in the NCAA or playing 2 games like Wiseman. 

I picked 12 guys to watch film on this year. Below is the 12 guys along with ratings and my assessments. This draft is going to be one of the worst on the last 20 years. It's like a bad vintage of wine, just stay away from it because even the good ones aren't that good. Also, it seems like half the first round is all wiry ass dudes who will never be able to put on more than 10 more pounds. And just as a refresher, here is my rating system. 

Grading System: 1-100

A+/A 100-95 = Can’t Miss Franchise Player. Best Player on championship contender potential. Perrenial MVP candidate. (LeBron/Duncan would have graded as 100)

A/A- 94-90 = Potential multiple All-Star and 1st /2nd team NBA potential. Potential Franchise player. Might be good enough to be best player on championship contender with good supporting cast or be an excellent second banana on championship team (think Harden, Embiid)

B+/B 89-85 = Potential all-star 1-3 times in career. 3rd team NBA potential. Average to Low end second best player on championship contender, high end 3rd best

B/B- 84-80 = Might be 3rd best player on championship contender on high end, solid starter on low end

C+/C 79-75 = Starter on high end, 6th-7th man on low end

C/C- 74-70 = Potential rotation player, quality backup

D+/D 69-65 = Bench filler. Might get a few minutes here and there.

D/D- 64-60 = 12th man. Never seen this dude without warmups on

F 59-0 = Bust on high end, Bobby Thompson at the zero end (pre blowing out his knee on storied crossover)

Ok let's get to this shit. 

Anthony Edwards

I think he’s the best player in this draft. I just watched him critique himself openly and honestly for 22 minutes with Mike Schmitz and the fact that he could do that and know where he needed to improve, I really believed he would improve those areas. This kid has a fire in him that the other top prospects just don’t. Reminds me of Oladipo with shades of Westbrook, with the imposing athleticism (though I think he’s gonna be easier to coach than Russ, because who isn’t). He’s a combo guard at the next level and I think he can be an instant impact guy. The shot is going to take some time to develop as NBA players will dare him to shoot, but I think he’s willing to put the work in. Edwards will be a fun a player to watch and I personally think he can be a low 2^nd or high 3^rd best player on a championship team. I don’t see him as a perennial all star, but I could see him making 2-3 appearances in his prime and perhaps borderline for his mid-career. Rating 89

Lamelo Ball

These are the guys I used to think would be the best players because I love that flash and I love tall point guards. Lamelo has that for sure. The court vision is right up there with some of the best point guards in the league. Super accurate passes which is an underrated skill. He’s got the Busted Ball shot though, that runs in the family and I frankly think he’s pillowy soft the way he avoids contact. Doesn’t seem to take the game too seriously and while he has a lot of potential, I don’t know that he has the drive to realize all of it. We basically have the closest thing to Lamelo in the NBA already in Lonzo. I think Lonzo was a bit more mature, but Lamelo has a bit more upside due to his ability to break people down. In a normal draft I think he would be worth a lottery pick, but really I don’t see him being more than a point guard in the 15-35 range. He might have the highest upside, but if I had to set a line on all star appearances at 1.5, I’m taking the under. Average to below average point guard who will have some stats like 17-9-6 but shoot 40%FG 70%FT. This damn family is like the Kardashians of the NBA. They just keep popping out more of them. Lamelo is also the next NBA player who never closes his mouth, like Draymond. Rating 84

Tyrese Haliburton

Very interesting game with some definite pluses and minuses. As a shooter, he reminds me of Kevin Martin with the funny release and the lanky frame. Also works off screens in the same way. For sure has to tighten that form up, but just needs tweaking, not a full teardown to rebuild. He’s a much better passer than Martin though, making me think he is a potentially capable starter and at worst a really good backup at the 1 or 2. I like his feel for the game and think he can be one of the better players in this draft. Rating 80

Onyeka Okongwu

Like this kid. Bouncy athlete that is an elite shot blocker. Still needs to get stronger and work on him jump shot, but you can say that about almost any rookie. I’m getting some notes of Serge Ibaka more than I am of Bam. Don’t think he has Bam potential, but could possibly be as good as early Serge. Side note, Bam and Serge both excellent athlete names. Maybe they just call him On, which could be good too. Upside is there for him to be a top-10 pick. I would take him over Wiseman. Rating 79

Killian Hayes

I had to take my French bias out of the picture during this assessment, so hopefully Killian won't hold this against me. I'm down to go to a café with him and eat a pain au chocolat anytime. He seems to have some similarities to Lamelo. Both are tall point guards with good vision who are both lacking fire and intensity. I think Killian can be a solid rotation player at the next level, maybe as good as Evan Fournier, another baguette, but I don’t like his low release on his shot and I am worried about that weak handle and left hand domination. It’s gonna take time before we see whether he can make it or not. He’s pretty young though and seems to have gotten much better each year so maybe he can be a starter in 2-3 years. Not an all star, but there's upside. Rating 79

James Wiseman

A springy 7 footer with low basketball IQ and a low motor. Not a very fitting last name. Dude has that sleepy look and lacks any nastiness. I’m so underwhelmed by him. Sure he has length and agility, but he will only be as good as his mental game gets and I don’t see a bright future there. He reminds me of a chef with all the best ingredients, but can only make an average meal of out them. If a team like Golden State or another team with a good infrastructure drafts him, this will raise his likelihood of reaching his potential in a bigger way than other prospects, but he’s just another guy I don’t see making an all star team and will just be a below average starter, solid backup big. A dime a dozen. Rating 78 

Isaac Okoro

Definitely agree with the Gerald Wallace comps and I think that’s probably his best case scenario. He will come to the league already an above average defender, but he really looks lost on offense. Could easily end up being a Thabo Sefolosha kind of guy who defends another team’s best player, but gets ignored on offense. The shot looks ugly and I would be amazed if he became a league average shooter. Guy is not an all star but another good rotation guy with upside if he can figure out offense. Gotta give him an extra point for the motor though. Can’t teach that. Rating 75

Devin Vassell

Haven’t seen any great comps for him, but I think he’s a player with some upside. The improvement he’s made from his Freshman to Sophomore season certainly points to that. Love his ability to shoot on spot ups and especially love his ability to defend on and off the ball. Really smart on that end. I could see him as a poor man’s Trevor Ariza in the pros. Just not as fluid an athlete. Rating 74

Obi Toppin

This guy terrorized my school, (go Rhody!), for the last two years so I am familiar with him. Already 22 which is hard to ignore, but after watching film on top prospects coming out after their freshman year, you can clearly see the difference in experience. Does a lot of little things well and seems to have a pretty good basketball IQ. The problem is, he’s a wiry guy with below average agility so he’s kind of caught in between positions. I don’t think he’s fast/agile enough to be a perimeter player and he will probably never be strong/tall enough to be a traditional big man. I think his best hope is he turns into some form of Lauri Markkanen. He’s not on the same level as a shooter though and not sure he ever will be. Could be more like a Trey Lyles type or a bit better. I think he can be a rotation guy, not a starter. Rating 74

Deni Avdija

So this is Dario Saric 2.0. I like his game but more as like a mid to late first rounder than a lottery player. Can be a solid rotation player, but isn’t good enough to be a starter. Limited upside from poor shooting and athleticism. Nice haircut though. Rating 73

RJ Hampton

Definitely has Dante Exum vibes with the quickness and explosiveness, but a much skinnier frame and a primadonna attitude. Think Bill Simmons eventually could rename the Dion Waiters award after him because he’s a classic overconfidence guy. I definitely see Jordan Clarkson and some JR Smith in his game, possibly even some Ricky Davis. Definitely has upside but it’s going to take a lot of things to go right for him to reach it, starting with his jump shot. I made a big mistake on the last RJ that came in the league, RJ Hunter, thinking he would be good and I think it's because I was rooting for a good RJ to enter the league after watching the great underrated MTV show RJ Berger. I can see clearly now and I think he more likely ends up RJ Shampton. At the end of the day, aren't we all rooting for a good RJ? Rating 70

Pat Williams

Great frame and looks like an NBA player, but I don’t see anything more than an energy guy off the bench. Classic Marcus Haislip vibes creeping up draft boards with big athleticism, but offering little else. Rating 69

And this concludes another entry that will offer ammunition for the ugly world of cyberbullying. You can't make fun of me unless I see some draft predictions of your own!

2018 NBA Draft Best & Worst Picks

     We have another NBA Draft in the books. No NBA players were traded in this draft, so it lacked a little sizzle, but we did get Luka Doncic's hot mom, Michael Porter calling himself the best pick Denver's ever made, Kevin Knox and his forehead wrinkle getting the NY boooooo treatment, and this great pic of Lonnie Walker and the floating hat trick. There were some surprises and some questionable moves (looking at you PHX for trading away an unprotected pick for Mikal Bridges) so I am going to give my 5 best and 5 worst picks of the draft.

Best Picks

Luka Doncic 3rd overall pick - This one is more obvious than Bobby getting hairplugs in 10 years. Luka's the best player and he fell to 3 and was then TRADED for Trae Young and a pick. Let's all remember when this looks really bad in 5 years that it was really stupid in the moment.

Michael Porter Jr 14th overall pick - I would have to compare how I feel about Michael Porter to Sting. I don't really like anything he says, but I really respect that he's saying it. Could easily be a top-3 player in the draft. The injury risk is a big one and he may have to redshirt this season, but for him to fall this far in favor of future bench guys like Wendell 'I've seen Black Panther too many times" Carter and Jerome Robinson who looks like he could be Greg Oden's older brother, is just ridiculous. Even if he doesn't pan out, you have to take a swing on a guy like this.

Robert Williams 27th overall pick - Best pick of the draft, even with the awful name, the Celtics made out like banditos with Big Bob. Such a perfect fit for them and exactly what Boston needs. I have all the faith in Brad to mold him into another version of Clint Capela. 14 points, 10 boards, 2 blocks a game. This is not the Fab Melo remix babayyyy.

Elie Okobo 31st overall pick - I've got a thing for the Frenchies. I think Josh's dog has a chance to be the best PG out of this class. That's not saying much because I don't really believe that any of them will be a top-15 PG, but Okobo has a chance to be a lower-tier starting guard. Phoenix should give him the keys early and let him and Ayton get familiar.

Mitchell Robinson 36th overall pick - I can't believe the Knicks made a good pick! This is like when Josh connects his bat to the wiffle ball. Everyone has low expectations so you're just happy it happened. The Knicks are not known for their player development, and for a guy who seems super immature, I'm not sure having access to that #nyclifestyle is really putting him in the best position to succeed. I think his best case scenario is him getting cut from the Knicks in 2 years and having to play for his life on another team a la Hassan Whiteside. Let's look back on this pick in 5 years, not 2, to see if it turned out to be good, but this low in the draft, why not take a shot on a guy with his upside.

*Bonus* Best Undrafted Player
Malik Newman - Hellooo Newman! Signed a two-way deal with the Lakers already, which essentially means he's going to be on their G-league team for most of the year, but they can bring him up for a maximum of 45 days during the season. This guy is an athlete who can shoot all over the floor. Had an up and down season for Kansas, but I think he can make an impact on the next level. Could be another Jodie Meeks if he gets an opportunity.

Worst Picks

Deandre Ayton 1st overall pick- Guy thinks he made it already. I stop short of calling him a bust, because I think he will put up some numbers, but they will be meaningless for his team. This guy is a loser and always will be. I get the appeal at around pick 4, but at 1, I'm not touching a guy with a gentle mental.

Jerome Robinson 13th overall pick - I only watched like 2 minutes of him because he was on BC and they haven't been good since Jared Dudley, but I don't see it. Guy says he's 21, but do we know that? Google him and tell me he's as young as he says he is. Here's a guy who won't be getting a second contract.

Grayson Allen 21st pick, Chandler Hutchinson 22nd pick, Aaron Holiday 23rd pick - That's right, I'm calling out a whole trio. Back to back to back busts. Grayson is a little bitch who got worse every year at Duke. Chandler lacks the middle of his first name. Also, he stinks. Aaron Holiday is like the 3rd Hemsworth. I realize comparing the Holidays to the Hemsworths is an insult. Even Ashley Stubbs wants to file a grievance with me.

Sviatoslav Mikhailiuk 47th overall pick - I have watched this kid enough to know that he is softer than the softest ultra soft that Charmin makes. Softer than AJ's #dadbod even though he's not a dad (that we know about). I'll be shocked if he's in the league in 3 years.

That's all I got for this year. Already looking forward to who emerges as the top players in the 2019 NBA Draft, but so far it looks like a race for #1 from two teammates, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish with possibly cross-town rival Nasir Little getting in the mix (loved what I saw from him in the High School All Star games). What were your favorite/least favorite picks?