2021 NBA DRAFT (Final Rankings)
I have had a couple of weeks now to watch a lot of film, listen to a lot of podcasts and read a lot of draft "experts." It is now the day before the draft and it is time to consolidate my thoughts so that I can make fun of myself years from now when everything goes the direction of my Tyrese Halliburton takes from last season.
What I am going to do is list my rankings below with one caveat: The players in bold are players that I would actually draft, while the players in plain print are the ones that I would not.
So why not only rank the players that you would draft?
One, it is not as fun. And two, because every players "value" is relative to the eyes of the "evaluator." Ranking ALL of the players is a way for me to acknowledge that each player on the board has value. As in, "I can see why someone would value this player." And than utilizing the bold print acknowledges who I personally, based on my individual philosophy, would want on my theoretical NBA team.
The rankings...
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#1 - CADE CUNNINGHAM
High probability all-nba.
#2 - JALEN GREEN
High probability to lead the NBA in scoring.
#3 - EVAN MOBLEY
The perfect modern 5 man.
#4 - SCOTTIE BARNES
Charisma and competitiveness matter. Will overcome his weaknesses because he gives a shit.
#5- JALEN SUGGS
Doing all of the little things that help your team win matters. Will overcome his weaknesses because he gives a shit.
#6 - JONATHON KUMINGA
Has about a 40% chance of scoring 27PPG while playing pretty good defense. Has about a 40% chance of being a total flop. Has about a 20% chance of being a functional non-staring NBA role player. Anybody want to gamble?
#7 - ALPEREN SENGUN
Is a savant. Turkish basketball prodigy. Just draft him and figure out how he fits later.
#8 - JAMES BOUKNIGHT
He has clearly played basketball his whole life. Just draft him. Baller.
#9 - JOSH GIDDEY
50% chance of being a perfect modern NBA guard. 50% chance he cant shoot, is a terrible NBA athlete and is a total flop. Who likes to gamble?
#10 - CHRIS DUARTE
Can play basketball very well.
#11 - FRANZ WAGNER
Is 6'11 and will probably be able to defend, rebound, shoot and pass in time. Might not be able to shoot or make plays off the dribble in time.
#12 - TREY MURPHY III
Fits a $20-million NBA archetype like a glove. Wont be able to make plays of the dribble because he literally can not dribble.
#13 - CAM THOMAS
The idea of the game is to score more points than your opponent right?
#14 - COREY KISPERT
Hard to get excited about him. But, he is probably the last chance to get a player with about a 95% probability of being an NBA rotation player.
#15- ZAIRE WILLIAMS
Soft as a baby's bottom. But you just gotta pretend the whole Stanford thing never happened and draft him anyway.
#16 - JOSH PRIMO
A year away from being a year away, but fits the modern NBA. That rhymed.
#17 - USMAN GARUBA
Look, he cant shoot and he is not a center. You still take him and hope he is bulkier, European Mattis Thybulle.
#18 - TRE MANN
Does all of the things that NBA combo guards need to be able to do. Still growing, could fill out his frame and be a pretty darn good player in a year or two.
#19 - MOSES MOODY
I just think this is a limited player. Could be wrong!
#20- HERB JONES
Just draft him, and figure out the rest later. Don't ask me about the jump shooting.
#21 - JASON PRESTON
Does all of the things that NBA point guards need to be able to do. Originally thought he was a sleeper, but now realize that he is just flat out good. Skinnier than Tre Mann which is hard to do but has a 6'9 wingspan.
#22 - JARED BUTLER
Can be a role player on a win-now playoff team.
#23 - MILES MCBRIDE
Can be a role player on a win-now playoff team. Similar defense with more reliable jump shot than Davion Mitchell. Same finishing in the paint concerns.
#24 - DAVION MITCHELL
Doesn't really do the things that NBA players are asked to do. Could still be a role player on a win-now playoff team. I know his college stats in the paint and from three were good, but the context of those shots will change dramatically in the NBA.
#25 - JEREMIAH ROBINSON - EARL
This guy was a top 25 recruit, is a stong 6'9, plays his ass off and has a Villanova pedigree. Just has to improve his shooting, athleticism and ball-handling a teeny-tiny-little-bit and he will be a very good NBA role player.
#26 - KEON JOHNSON
Basketball is not a jumping and sprinting competition.
#27 - KAI JONES
Basketball is not a jumping and sprinting competition.
#28 - JALEN JOHNSON
Basketball is not a jumping and sprinting competition. I like how he passes the ball though.
#29 - NA'SHON HYLAND
3% chance that he is Gilbert Arenas. 97% chance that he is not.
#30 - SHARIFE COOPER
Has Lamelo ball level passing ability. Honey I shrunk Lamelo Ball.
#31 - JADEN SPRINGER
Has zero offensive game.
#32 - AYO DOSUMUNU
Has zero offensive game.
#33 - MARCUS GARRET
Should be able to carve out a regular season rotation role. Maybe even a defensive stopper in the playoffs role.
#34- ISIAH LIVERS
Should be able to carve out a regular season rotation role.
#35 - JOEL AYAYI
Should be able to carve out a regular season rotation role.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF...
Joe Wieskamp - Shooter with a 42' vertical.
Josh Christopher - Total wildcard.
Aaron Henry - 5 star recruit who can defend but cant score.
RaQuan Gray - Baby Zion.
TJ Thor - Freakazoid who can shoot a little bit.
Luka Garza - Enes Kanter with a jump shot.
Quentin Grimes - Big mature guard.
David Johnson - Can Pass.
