Skip Bayless's 2017 NBA Big Board
Jun 19, 2017 2:25:00 GMT -5
Golden State Warriors (Caleb), Heat GM (Bryan), and 3 more like this
Post by Skip Bayless (Bball26 Analyst) on Jun 19, 2017 2:25:00 GMT -5
Skip Bayless's 2017 Big Board
Here's my big board for the draft this year. I'll be updating it periodically as I scout.
Where a player is currently ranked is just relative to everyone else I've scouted thus far.
Roast me in the comments below.
*Calm your tits. These are meant to give an idea of what this player's play style is like. Everyone plays differently.
1. Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
Height: 6'4"
Wingspan: 6'10"
Weight: 195
Offense: Big time scorer, has the height to finish at the rim and shoot over defenders at the next level. Very nice handles with a mean crossover. Not a pure shooter like Steph, more like Russell with streakiness and inconsistent mechanics.
Defense:Has the length to become a solid defender at the next level, but was lazy way too much on tape in college. Needs to fight more
on screens and be more consistent with contesting. Lack of effort more than a lack of athleticism/height. Still learning how to play off ball defense. Should improve with NBA coaching and better players around him
Intangibles: While I do worry about the 9-22 record in his one and done year, I look at the big picture and see a really bad Washington team relying on Fultz to do pretty much everything. Work ethic isn't an issue with him and the talk about him not really caring enough is silly (even though I entertained that thought for a bit).
Compared to Ball, Fultz has higher upside as a scorer and as an overall player. He's a score-first PG who can also distribute the
rock surprisingly well. He's a ball dominant player, so he needs to land on a team that will let him get his. There are some worries about him not leading his team to victories in college, but as we've seen with NBA superstars on bad teams, there's only so much you can do when your teammates can't shoot. It's a close one with Lonzo, but I rate Fultz slightly more because of his ceiling.
NBA Comparison*: Russell Westbrook
2. Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Height: 6'6"
Wingspan: 6'7"
Weight: 190
Offense: Has the size to finish against NBA defenders. He's fucking beautiful to watch in transition. He'll push to pass, but he can also push to score. Elephant in the room: his jump shot. That step back he likes to do won't work often/well in the NBA. He gets it off quick so I think his shot can succeed and he can take you inside so you need to respect the drive. Not an amazing handle, but workable. Not much of a mid range game, won't matter in current day NBA. Doesn't draw fouls at the rim enough.
Defense: Quick feet, good length and size. Can get hand in passing lanes (2STL/40). "Twitchy" defender which I really like. Good instincts on help defense.
Intangibles: HIGH basketball IQ. Plays the game of basketball very well instinctually. Makes the "right basketball play". Unselfish. Ball never sticks in transition. Was bred to be a basketball player.
He will have trouble at first scoring against NBA level defense, but he certainly has the IQ and measurables to improve over time. I think his game will fit ANY team and with NBA coaching he will just get better. He's a pass-first PG and his extremely unselfish play will endear him to teammates. Fuck Lavar Ball.
NBA Comparison*: Rajon Rondo
3. Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, Duke
Height: 6'8"
Wingspan: 6'11"
Weight: 204
Offense: Very polished offensive game. A bit streaky like almost all players coming into the NBA, but I like his shot form and he’s got a great post game already. He can pull out the Dirk fade, go to his left and pull up, or go to his right and drive. He played a lot of 4 for Duke and thrived there especially against slower footed PFs. He isn’t very good at running the PNR yet, but he’s shown an ability to play the pick and pop game. He’s very fluid in everything he does and should continue to improve. You’d like to see him become a better playmaker as he would often miss open teammates on the perimeter in college. One thing I’d like to see him cut down on is isolation ball. If he learns to play off his teammates better he’ll get better shots and he’s a knockdown shooter with time and space.
Defense: His defense needs work, both on ball and off ball. He’s still very young so with NBA coaching and experience I expect that to change. He has the length and size to play solid defense, but we said that about Andrew Wiggins coming out and he hasn’t improved a ton on that end. He needs to play more physical especially against NBA 4s, but as he grows into his body I’m sure the physicality will come. One thing he does do well on defense is hit the boards. He uses his size and length well around the rim.
Intangibles: Tatum has everything you’re looking for from an intangibles point of view. He’s already NBA-ready in his approach to the game and I’ve read that he has a great work ethic. He has international experience playing for team USA basketball. He has a calm demeanor and was a mature leader at Duke, impressive for his age.
Tatum is a NBA-ready scorer who fits the small ball mentality the league has shifted towards in recent years. His biggest hole in his game is his defense which I think improves with experience, however he needs to put in more effort and intensity on that end ala Josh Jackson. He can average double digit points his rookie year and grab 5-7 boards a game. I think he’s a strong rookie of the year candidate wherever he goes.
NBA Comparison*: Danny Granger
4. Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
Height: 6'8"
Wingspan: 6'10"
Weight: 203
Offense: I’m extremely worried about his ability to make NBA 3s. He shot 37.8% on 3s in college, but I think the sample size is small at only 1.0 3PM/2.6 3PA per game. His low FT% shows he’s not a pure shooter, but if he can make himself even a bit dangerous from NBA 3s it’ll improve his overall offensive game. As it stands now, his lack of a consistent jump shot lets defenders go under screens and sag off, closing driving lanes. Mechanics wise, he’s much better when he has momentum rising up then when he’s spotting up for a shot. One thing he has going for him on offense is NBA athleticism. He’s super bouncy especially when coming in hot.
Defense: Wiry frame with average length made it tough for him to check some college forwards let alone NBA forwards. 4+ fouls in 11/35 games. I like his intensity on defense. I think he’ll be able to check NBA guards pretty well. Active hands, will take the charge, hustles for those 50/50 balls.
He's a potential game changer on defense and will be really fun to watch on that end in the NBA. The intensity he displays on the court manifests itself in his lock down defense.
Intangibles: Jackson has some off-court issues, but nothing I would consider serious. He picked up some techs after losing his cool a couple times in college, but honestly if you looked at it some of those techs wouldn’t have been called in the NBA. Instead of labeling it as “struggles to control his temper” I see it more as being a passionate player who wants to win.
Josh Jackson reminds me a lot of Justice Winslow. He’s a game changing defender and that translates well at the next level. I think his average reach and wiry frame means he will have to defend guards, but he could do a decent job against some NBA SFs (aka not Lebron James). My biggest worry with Jackson at the next level is his jump shot. Guys like MKG and Winslow have struggled to fix their jumper in the NBA and that has led to them devolving into defensive stoppers that can make the occasional shot at the next level. Jackson’s NBA potential strongly depends on how his jump shot develops.
NBA Comparison*: Justice Winslow
5. De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
Height: 6'4"
Wingspan: 6'7"
Weight: 171
Offense: Attacks the basket in transition and half court sets. Aggressive as shown by his 5.9 FTs/game. His shot is broken as it stands right now, 24.6% from college 3. A lot of potential as a playmaker in the PNR game. He’s lightning fast in the open court and has a great first step. He may not be very good from 3, but I have faith in his jumper improving because he has a decent mid-range shot and shoots 74% from the line. His handle is nice and will take advantage of slow footed defenders. Flashes a floater that can help a lot at the next level. Needs to continue to improve in half court sets.
Defense: He’s got average length for a guard and a thin frame, but he’s good at putting pressure on the ball. He has active hands. Good closeout technique, won’t leave his feet too much and his quickness helps him recover even when he’s beat. A bit worried about bigger guards taking advantage of him, but he welcomes contact and will draw the charge. Effort isn’t an issue on defense.
Intangibles: Stepped up to the challenge against Lonzo Ball, putting up 59 points in two games against UCLA. Shows a lot of passion when he plays, gets hyped and will hype teammates up after making big plays. It’s silly to think some of these players don’t care, but it also says a lot seeing a guy in tears after a loss and that’s what Fox showed after losing in the tournament.
No doubt Fox has the drive to succeed at the next level, but like Jackson his ability to find range from the NBA 3 will determine how good of a player he becomes. If guys can consistently sag off against him on defense the rest of his offensive game is negatively affected with less space to drive and show off that speed of his. He reminds me a lot of John Wall coming out of college from the elite speed to the shoddy jump shot. Wall has improved his shot every year and hopefully Fox can do the same.
NBA Comparison*: John Wall
6. Dennis Smith Jr., PG, NC State
Height: 6'3"
Wingspan: 6'3"
Weight: 195
Offense: Can score at 3 levels. Looked bad at times due to lack of help from teammates but also because he forced things and made the wrong plays at the wrong time. Can collapse the D. Score-first PG. Best athlete in this draft. Explosive, will fly down the lane similar to Westbrook. Still learning to play PG and can improve with NBA coaching. Will never be a knockdown 3 point shooter, but shooting stroke good enough to make D respect it. Physical player, will draw fouls. Should look better in the NBA. Physicality makes up for lack of length. Needs to take better care of the ball, but also won’t need to do everything on offense in the NBA.
Defense: Looks disinterested sometimes, but when locked in can be a pesky defender. Gets hand in passing lanes. 2.2 STL per 40. Short arms leads to some limitations, but can body up PGs in the NBA. As mentioned before, sometimes looks disinterested kind of like Harden does at times. NBA coaching is sure to focus on making sure he keeps his defensive intensity up at all times.
Intangibles: In a bad situation on a team with little help, but it’s a red flag that Smith didn’t give 100% and very clearly looked lazy at times on both sides of the floor. I’m willing to give him a pass, but he won’t endear himself to his teammates if he continues to give inconsistent effort. He plays with an edge when he’s locked in and reminds me a lot of Russell Westbrook.
Smith Jr. has as much potential as any of the 3 PGs ranked ahead of him on my big board. As he learns more about how to play PG the right way he’ll become a better distributor, but he’s already such a good slasher that he’ll get some assists simply by getting his NBA teammates open 3s. He’s going to be very exciting to watch especially in the open floor and should get on the SC Top 10 at least 5 times with highlight reel plays. He’s a tough shot maker and when locked in can make life difficult on D. DSJ has been overlooked, but with the right coaching and team fit he’ll become a household name.
NBA Comparison*: Russell Westbrook
7. Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
Height: 6'4"
Wingspan: 6'3 1/2"
Weight: 197
Offense: Arguably the best scoring guard in this draft. Fills it up from deep, mid-range, and will put you on a poster in space. Slight frame and below average length gives him trouble especially when driving to the rim in traffic. NBA spacing should only help his game. You want him to put on more muscle, but not at the expense of his touch. Can make the floater, goes to that rather than draw contact. Very very bouncy in space and is fun to watch in transition. Similar to KCP in my eyes but I can see him becoming a better shooter than KCP. Won’t ever be a PG despite his size saying he may fit that position. He can pass decently well for a 2, but isn’t the playmaker you need from a PG.
Defense: This is where his lean frame and lack of length becomes an issue. He can really only defend point guards at the next level and maybe some smaller 2s. He could fill out and become better at taking contact inside. Does a nice job of using athleticism to recover quickly and contest shots. His D will get better, but not sure if it will ever be what he’s known for.
Intangibles: Basketball IQ not as high as some other guys in this class, but relatively young and has room to improve. Like Fox, played exciting basketball with intensity and wore his heart on his sleeve. His shot selection can use work and NBA coaching will probably focus on improving that.
Reminds me a lot of KCP with a better touch. Will he be able to score without high volume in the NBA? Can he handle the bigger bodies at the next level? Durant had a lean frame, but he also had a much longer wingspan. Monk might be the best backcourt shooter in this draft, but his potential will depend on how much he can contribute in the other parts of his game that currently are still under construction.
NBA Comparison*: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
8. Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville
Height: 6'3"
Wingspan: 6'10"
Weight: 210
Offense: Much improved outside shooter from year one to year two at Louisville. Short for a SG, but has outstanding length. He’s a combo guard, but I don’t want him handling the rock too much because he’s not much of a playmaker. Oftentimes he passed up open teammates for a contested jump shot. Shot selection needs to improve. Efficiency was not good as a second year player, mainly because of shot selection and settling for the outside shot too often. Bouncy off two feet, not so much off one. Needs to drive and take contact more often, only attempted 3.2 FT/game. Really good burst when driving to the hoop.
Defense: Plus defender at both guard positions due to good length and bulky stature. 2.6 STL/40 in 2016. Adept at reading passing lanes and contesting shots. Defense should only get better in the NBA and has a chance to become a plus defender.
Intangibles: MUCH improved shot his second year at Louisville which speaks volumes about his work ethic. Known to have very high character and well-spoken on/off the court. He has the right mentality to survive in the NBA. Makes winning plays. Long term upside looks good in part to his work ethic.
Donovan Mitchell is one of my favorite players in this draft. He has some issues with not finding open teammates and taking too many contested jumpers, but that also says a lot about how confident he is in the work he puts in. Great intangibles give me confidence that he will improve quicker than some other prospects. If he learns to use his strength more against NBA guards especially when driving to the hoop his long wingspan will give him another way to get buckets. If that 3 point shot continues to develop, I can see him becoming a Will Barton kind of player.
NBA Comparison*: Will Barton
9. Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
Height: 7'0"
Wingspan: N/A
Weight: 225
Offense: He’s got a sweet stroke from deep at a 42.3% clip in college. Loves driving to his left, and consequently isn’t very good/is uncomfortable going to the right. Easily exploited at the next level. FT% is high, could draw more fouls especially with his size. Not really a playmaker at 0.9 assists per game but can make the right basketball play. Not much of a post-game, but can face up and rise over you with his jump shot. Pick and pop game is pretty good with him. Pretty good fit offensively in today’s NBA. His slight frame and below average reach does him no favors around the rim, but with space he’s got some bounce in him to slam it down. Above average agility for his size. Is a good fit on any team as a stretch 4. Sometimes guards defending him can take away his jump shot and he struggles because of his lack of a post-game.
Defense: Defense is below average. Too lean to defend big 4s and 5s consistently, gets pushed around. You can get position on him if you just push him around a bit. Help defense needs work. Lack of length led to only 0.7 BPG. Isn’t really a factor at all on defense so he needs to get coached up hard. Doesn’t crash the defensive glass as hard as you’d like with his size. Does a good job limiting fouls, but also shows his lack of aggressiveness on D.
Intangibles: By all accounts he’s a well-liked teammate who plays unselfish basketball and is easy to play on a team with. He’s experienced as he played in all 37 games this past season.
Markkanen has some Dirk in his game from his nice shooting stroke to his below average defense. Teams can’t expect him to give you much on defense, but on offense he spreads the floor and can drive well for his size. His small wingspan gives him defensive limitations inside. He won’t develop into the type of star Dirk is, but he could be a guy that gives you 15-20 a game, 5 ish rebounds a game and chips in an assist or two when it’s all said and done. I’ll take that.
NBA Comparison*: Dirk Nowitzki
10. Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Florida State
Height: 6'11"
Wingspan: 7'1"
Weight: 205
Offense: Flashes 3-point scoring, mid-range scoring, and even a post-game from time to time. He can make the turnaround jumper from either shoulder. He loses confidence too easily as you can see his splits from month to month fluctuate significantly. He’ll average double digits some months and fall to 8 PPG other months. He has the length to become a factor inside, but currently does not have the frame to survive down there in the NBA. He’ll get knocked off balance too easily against college opponents when driving to the rim. When his shot isn’t falling, he becomes almost a non-factor on offense because he isn’t strong enough to force himself inside without losing control.
Defense: Very good defensive player. His length allows him to get blocks and disrupt dribblers. Needs to get stronger to become more of a factor, but has the potential to check 1-4 in the NBA. He really likes to compete on defense, but as I’ve been saying he can get pushed around too easily so adding strength is a must.
Intangibles: His lack of confidence at times scares me, but he’s a young kid who’s still growing physically and mentally so that can change in a heartbeat. He will be factor on defense immediately at the next level, but I think it will take time for his offensive game to develop. He shoots FTs in the 70s% so there is potential for him to develop into a nice shooter.
Overall, I think Isaac has all the measurable to become a really good player in the NBA but I think he maxes out as a 3 and D guy who can check guards and some forwards, especially if he never really gains enough strength. I’ve seen comparisons to Kevin Durant thrown out there but he’s not close to the shooter Durant and has a similar body type, which was what most people criticized Durant for coming out of college. Will I take Isaac on my team? Absolutely. I wouldn’t take him in the top half of the lottery though.
NBA Comparison*: Thaddeus Young