Zaccharie Risacher
SF
France
• 6’9″
/ 204 lbs
Projected Team
Atlanta
PROSPECT RNK
2nd
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
10.1
RPG
3.8
APG
0.9
3P%
35.2%
The betting markets have flipped in recent days to launch Risacher over Alex Sarr as the betting favorite to go No. 1 overall. Atlanta is reportedly still considering both Frenchmen as well as Donovan Clingan, but Risacher is looking like the pick for now.
Alex Sarr
C
France
• 7’1″
/ 217 lbs
Projected Team
Washington
PROSPECT RNK
1st
POSITION RNK
1st
The draft cycle has thus far featured a “top two” of Sarr and Risacher in some order. Here, the Wizards get the one still remaining in Sarr, a 7-foot-1 center who has immense defensive potential with room to grow into a switch-everything anchor on that end.
Kentucky
• Fr
• 6’3″
/ 181 lbs
Projected Team
Houston
PROSPECT RNK
7th
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
12.5
RPG
4.1
APG
4.5
3P%
52.1%
Houston grabs the most potent 3-point shooter in the draft. Sheppard rated in the 100th percentile (!) in jump shots as a true freshman at Kentucky and was aces as a catch-and-shoot weapon to boot. He adds playmaking on both ends as a passer and defender.
Connecticut
• Fr
• 6’6″
/ 210 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
PROSPECT RNK
3rd
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
11.1
RPG
4.7
APG
2.9
3P%
26.7%
Spurs need backcourt help, and they get it here with a potential star in Stephon Castle. He’s a defensive stalwart at the point of attack and a selfless do-it-all guard who can create when necessary.
Matas Buzelis
SF
G League Ignite
• 6’8″
/ 209 lbs
Projected Team
Detroit
PROSPECT RNK
9th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
11.9
RPG
3.0
APG
1.6
3P%
41.5%
Buzelis has been rising behind the scenes in recent weeks and seems to be in the mix for Detroit here. The Pistons have new decision-makers and may see him as a potentially interesting combo forward addition to pair with Cade Cunningham.
Connecticut
• Soph
• 7’2″
/ 280 lbs
Projected Team
Memphis
PROSPECT RNK
4th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
13
RPG
7.4
APG
1.5
BPG
2.5
A trade! Donovan Clingan, potential No. 1 pick, slides all the way to No. 6, and Memphis flips places with Charlotte as part of a deal to get their man.
Ron Holland
SF
G League Ignite
• 6’7″
/ 197 lbs
Projected Team
Portland
PROSPECT RNK
10th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
19.5
RPG
6.7
APG
3.1
3P%
24%
It seems possible Holland slips out of the top 10 entirely, but the idea of Portland snagging him at 7 to pair with Scoot Henderson is appealing. He’s a long wing with tons of tools.
Tidjane Salaun
SF
France
• 6’9″
/ 212 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
PROSPECT RNK
15th
POSITION RNK
4th
PPG
11.9
RPG
3.0
APG
1.6
3P%
41.5%
San Antonio adds another French star to its ranks in Salaun, who has familiarity with Victor Wembanyama, with both their sisters having played together previously on the FIBA circuit. Salaun’s a stellar shooter with length.
Colorado
• Fr
• 6’7″
/ 178 lbs
Projected Team
Charlotte
PROSPECT RNK
11th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
11.9
RPG
3
APG
1.6
3P%
41.5%
Some in NBA circles think Cody Williams might sneak into the top five on draft night, which would make this trade-down and secure for Charlotte a potentially savvy move at No. 9. He shot great as a true freshman at Colorado and has the length and physical tools to become something special.
Nikola Topic
PG
Serbia
• 6’6″
/ 201 lbs
Projected Team
Utah
PROSPECT RNK
8th
POSITION RNK
3rd
Topic is a wild card after being diagnosed earlier this month with a partially torn left ACL. He’s the best passer in this draft and was a top-five talent prior to the injury, though, so a smart team might be wise to take the discount and think longer term.
Providence
• Jr
• 6’3″
/ 195 lbs
Projected Team
Chicago
PROSPECT RNK
12th
POSITION RNK
4th
PPG
19.7
RPG
8.7
APG
3.6
3P%
37.7%
Few have had a better pre-draft process than Carter, who broke a combine record in the 3/4-court sprint and tied for the best max standing vertical leap at 42 inches. He’s coming off a Big East Player of the Year season for Providence and has improved as a shooter. That could make him a ready-made 3-and-D weapon with playmaking to boot.
Tennessee
• Sr
• 6’6″
/ 213 lbs
PPG
21.7
RPG
4.9
APG
1.8
3P%
39.7%
OKC secured an elite defensive guard via Chicago in Alex Caruso this week via trade and adds an elite offensive guard via the draft with Knecht here. He was a five-year college player whose game is NBA ready.
Kentucky
• Fr
• 6’1″
/ 165 lbs
Projected Team
Sacramento
PROSPECT RNK
7th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
15.2
RPG
2.9
APG
3.9
3P%
44.4%
One of the surprise fallers of the draft, Sacramento stops Dillingham’s fall and brings him in at No. 13. He’s an electric offensive weapon whose shortcomings on defense may give teams pause.
Duke
• Fr
• 6’2″
/ 203 lbs
Projected Team
Portland
PROSPECT RNK
14th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
14.3
RPG
5.0
APG
1.9
3P%
41.4%
Being a shot-maker at the guard spot in the NBA is a must. Being one who can make TOUGH shots in the NBA is a plus. That’s what McCain brings to the table. Electric shooting weapon who can make shots off movement, and he’s a relentless rebounder for a guard his size.
USC
• Fr
• 6’3″
/ 205 lbs
Projected Team
Miami
PROSPECT RNK
13th
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
16.3
RPG
2.9
APG
4.3
3P%
33.8%
There’s a wide range of draft outcomes for Collier somewhere between late lottery and the 20s, but he finds a home in Miami as a disruptive offensive weapon who can create and penetrate as a lead guard.
Colorado
• Sr
• 6’8″
/ 217 lbs
Projected Team
Philadelphia
PROSPECT RNK
24th
POSITION RNK
6th
PPG
16
RPG
5.1
APG
2.4
3P%
39.5%
Da Silva is a big wing who was a great shooter at Colorado. Da Silva is one of the oldest prospects in the draft. He is also one of the most NBA-ready players because of his ability to score off cuts, catch-and-shoot attempts, dribble handoffs and in isolation.
Purdue
• Sr
• 7’4″
/ 299 lbs
Projected Team
L.A. Lakers
PROSPECT RNK
23rd
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
25.2
RPG
12.2
APG
2.0
BPG
2.2
With JJ Redick in place as the coach and the Lakers seemingly locked in on bringing in Bronny later in the draft, L.A. signals its intentions to remain competitive around LeBron with a win-now piece in Zach Edey, who can be a depth piece at center right away. Edey is coming off back-to-back player of the year seasons at Purdue.
Baylor
• Fr
• 6’5″
/ 197 lbs
Projected Team
Orlando
PROSPECT RNK
18th
POSITION RNK
4th
PPG
14.5
RPG
4.4
APG
1.4
3P%
34.1%
Walter showed all the tools that made him a five-star prospect during his one season at Baylor. He has the array of athleticism and quick-trigger shooting to make for an easy NBA projection. He’ll need to improve his shooting and touch overall, but at 19 years old with his track record as a gunner, I’d buy into him here at the back of the lottery.
Miami (Fla.)
• Fr
• 6’7″
/ 209 lbs
Projected Team
Toronto
PROSPECT RNK
29th
POSITION RNK
7th
PPG
7.6
RPG
3.0
APG
2.2
3P%
40.8%
Toronto values toolsy prospects with length and smarts and, well, check and check here with George. He had a fabulous, if surprising, freshman season at Miami and has intrigued teams with his size and shooting ability.
Kansas
• Fr
• 6’8″
/ 189 lbs
Projected Team
Cleveland
PROSPECT RNK
25th
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
9
RPG
4.9
APG
1
3P%
35.2%
You have to do some projecting here to buy into Furphy because of his limited role at Kansas and hit-or-miss production. However, he can shoot it great from anywhere on the floor and has the ball skills to be an attacker off the bounce. Could be a nice developmental piece for the Cavs, who don’t quite have a player stylistically who plays like him.
Dayton
• Jr
• 6’9″
/ 235 lbs
Projected Team
New Orleans
PROSPECT RNK
20th
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
20.4
RPG
8.5
APG
2.6
3P%
38.6%
New Orleans has some options here in this exercise either at guard or at center — Tyler Kolek, Bub Carrington and Yves Missi also seem in play — but Holmes falls here in this mock. He was dominant at Dayton and brings inside-out versatility to the center position.
Marquette
• Sr
• 6’2″
/ 195 lbs
Projected Team
Phoenix
PROSPECT RNK
26th
POSITION RNK
8th
PPG
15.3
RPG
4.9
APG
7.7
3P%
38.8%
Phoenix is seemingly very interested in Tyler Kolek given his prolific college career and win-now skill set that could help with Kevin Durant in town. He’s an elite distributor who plays a selfless style and has developed into a well-rounded offensive weapon as a scorer, too.
Pittsburgh
• Fr
• 6’4″
/ 195 lbs
Projected Team
Milwaukee
PROSPECT RNK
17th
POSITION RNK
7th
PPG
13.8
RPG
5.2
APG
4.1
3P%
32.2%
A diverse shot-maker and creator, Carrington is seen as a potential lottery talent who has the tools to develop into something special. He was a surprise one-and-done who might not be ready but learning from Damian Lillard could give the Bucks real depth at the point guard spot.
Virginia
• Soph
• 6’6″
/ 213 lbs
Projected Team
New York
PROSPECT RNK
22nd
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
8.1
RPG
6.9
APG
0.8
3P%
20%
If Tom Thibodeau was allowed to create a player in a lab, that player would look a whole lot like Ryan Dunn. I talked to Dunn at the NBA Combine, where he gushed about his love for playing defense and doing the grimy work to earn minutes. This guy is ready to play 48 minutes every night with no load-management breathers.
Indiana
• Soph
• 7’0″
/ 230 lbs
Projected Team
New York
PROSPECT RNK
27th
POSITION RNK
6th
PPG
15.9
RPG
9.9
APG
1.5
3P%
42.5%
New York may look to add at the center position here with Isaiah Hartenstein headed to free agency. Ware has a nice pedigree as a former five-star who broke out at Indiana last season, averaging 15.9 points, 1.9 blocks and shooting 42.5% from 3.
Minnesota
• Fr
• 6’5″
/ 190 lbs
Projected Team
Washington
PROSPECT RNK
40th
POSITION RNK
11th
PPG
11.3
RPG
3.6
APG
2.2
3P%
39.1%
With Sarr already in the fold, Washington takes a swing on a young developmental player in Christie who has a ton of upside as a long wing with shooting skills.
Illinois
• Sr
• 6’6″
/ 220 lbs
Projected Team
Minnesota
PROSPECT RNK
33rd
POSITION RNK
8th
PPG
23.0
RPG
4.0
APG
2.3
3P%
36.2%
Shannon was found not guilty in his rape trial earlier this month, potentially clearing the way for teams to feel more comfortable taking him in the first round. He was one of the best players in the Big Ten last season and could add depth to a contending Wolves team.
Baylor
• Fr
• 6’11”
/ 229 lbs
Projected Team
Denver
PROSPECT RNK
19th
POSITION RNK
4th
PPG
10.7
RPG
5.6
APG
0.4
BPG
1.5
No. 28 feels like the floor for Missi, who has a lot of fans with the way he moves, jumps and defends at his size. Great defender with unique movement skills for a 7-footer.
Duke
• Soph
• 6’11”
/ 230 lbs
Projected Team
Utah
PROSPECT RNK
16th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
16.4
RPG
8.3
APG
2.8
3P%
34.8%
There might not be a star here, but in Filipowski I feel confident there’s a capable stretch big. He became an offensive hub at Duke in two seasons as a capable passer and defender to go with his shooting ability.
Creighton
• Sr
• 6’7″
/ 201 lbs
Projected Team
Boston
PROSPECT RNK
28th
POSITION RNK
6th
PPG
18.5
RPG
9
APG
3.9
3P%
38.1%
Scheierman was one of the big winners of combine week after standing out in the scrimmages. He’s an older prospect but could produce instant value for a contenting Celtics team that has shown it values size and shooting.
