No.1 - Thon Maker (Sudan):
While his eligibility for the 2016 draft is still in question, I believe Thon has the highest ceiling of any prospect since Kevin Durant. This young man could be a franchise player in a few years due to his length and skill set. Think Giannis A. with a better jump shot - scary.
Best Case Scenario: Kevin Garnett
Bust Case Scenario: Perry Jones
Ballitics Bust Potential: 5%
While his eligibility for the 2016 draft is still in question, I believe Thon has the highest ceiling of any prospect since Kevin Durant. This young man could be a franchise player in a few years due to his length and skill set. Think Giannis A. with a better jump shot - scary.
Best Case Scenario: Kevin Garnett
Bust Case Scenario: Perry Jones
Ballitics Bust Potential: 5%
No. 2 - Ben Simmons (LSU):
Front-court teammate of Thon Maker for the Australian Olympic team. This kid averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists in a major Division I conference, that is impressive.
The only piece missing in his game is a consistent outside jump shot (he only attempted 3 3 pointers all year). He has decent mechanics and almost shoots 70% from the foul line, this is a good indication that that jump shot will improved with a lot of work. He displayed tremendous ball handling and court vision at 6'9". Also has an NBA ready body for that "point-forward" position, I think he will be a better and more consistent version of Lamar Odom.
Best Case Scenario: Poor Man's LeBron James
Bust Case Scenario: Michael Beasley
Ballitics Bust Potential: 5%
Front-court teammate of Thon Maker for the Australian Olympic team. This kid averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists in a major Division I conference, that is impressive.
The only piece missing in his game is a consistent outside jump shot (he only attempted 3 3 pointers all year). He has decent mechanics and almost shoots 70% from the foul line, this is a good indication that that jump shot will improved with a lot of work. He displayed tremendous ball handling and court vision at 6'9". Also has an NBA ready body for that "point-forward" position, I think he will be a better and more consistent version of Lamar Odom.
Best Case Scenario: Poor Man's LeBron James
Bust Case Scenario: Michael Beasley
Ballitics Bust Potential: 5%
No. 3 - Brandon Ingram (Duke):
Ingram averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds for a Duke team that overachieved this past season. At 6'9" he has great length and shot over 40% from 3. Some have compared him to Tracy McGrady, I do not believe he has the ball handling or playmaking ability of T-Mac, he's more likely a Rudy Gay. Great potential defensively, and he is over a year younger than Simmons and Maker.
Best Case Scenario: Paul George
Bust Case Scenario: Darius Miles
Ballitics Bust Potential: 15%
Ingram averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds for a Duke team that overachieved this past season. At 6'9" he has great length and shot over 40% from 3. Some have compared him to Tracy McGrady, I do not believe he has the ball handling or playmaking ability of T-Mac, he's more likely a Rudy Gay. Great potential defensively, and he is over a year younger than Simmons and Maker.
Best Case Scenario: Paul George
Bust Case Scenario: Darius Miles
Ballitics Bust Potential: 15%
No. 4 - Kris Dunn (Providence):
The first upperclassman taken off the board (sorry Buddy), at 6'4" he has optimal size at the point guard position. The Big East Player of the year averaged 16/6/5 while carrying an over performing Providence team to an NCAA win over USC. He has all the tools to be a really good guard in the NBA: good athleticism, decent shooting, very good ball handling, and great instincts for the game. He reminds me a lot of the Detroit Piston's Reggie Jackson. In 90% of the drafts he'd be a top 3 pick, but this is not one of those drafts. He has a lower ceiling than Maker, Simmons, and Ingram but also the lowest bust potential in the draft.
Best Case Scenario: Damian Lillard
Bust Case Scenario: Lance Stephenson
Ballitics Bust Potential: 2.5%
The first upperclassman taken off the board (sorry Buddy), at 6'4" he has optimal size at the point guard position. The Big East Player of the year averaged 16/6/5 while carrying an over performing Providence team to an NCAA win over USC. He has all the tools to be a really good guard in the NBA: good athleticism, decent shooting, very good ball handling, and great instincts for the game. He reminds me a lot of the Detroit Piston's Reggie Jackson. In 90% of the drafts he'd be a top 3 pick, but this is not one of those drafts. He has a lower ceiling than Maker, Simmons, and Ingram but also the lowest bust potential in the draft.
Best Case Scenario: Damian Lillard
Bust Case Scenario: Lance Stephenson
Ballitics Bust Potential: 2.5%
No. 5 - Jamal Murray (Kentucky):
Murray averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in what will turn out to be his only season at Kentucky. At 6'5" he does not possess great size for the shooting guard position. He his a better playmaker than his 2 assist per game average would indicate. His shooting ability and ball-handling ability are one of the tops in the class. I believe that he has good enough court vision to play the point guard position at the next level. For now, his best comparison is Bradley Beal.
Best Case Scenario: Bradley Beal
Bust Case Scenario: O.J. Mayo
Ballitics Bust Potential: 10%
Murray averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in what will turn out to be his only season at Kentucky. At 6'5" he does not possess great size for the shooting guard position. He his a better playmaker than his 2 assist per game average would indicate. His shooting ability and ball-handling ability are one of the tops in the class. I believe that he has good enough court vision to play the point guard position at the next level. For now, his best comparison is Bradley Beal.
Best Case Scenario: Bradley Beal
Bust Case Scenario: O.J. Mayo
Ballitics Bust Potential: 10%
No. 6- Jaylen Brown (Cal):
This young man averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds last season. At times Brown looked like a man amongst boys - this...is not necessarily a good thing. A lot of his strengths: NBA ready body, good size for his position, excellent speed, bouncy for his size; aren't necessarily going to translate to the next level when he's matched up against players that can match his size, speed, and jumping ability. He is going to have to find more finesse ways to score offensively in the league and that's why I believe he is a bit of a project player. His handle is decent and he has shown flashes of being able to get it done from the outside, plus you can not teach his combination of size speed and athleticism. His ceiling is relatively low compared to the top 5 picks in this draft, still he has All-Star potential in the right system. Reminds me of a Jimmy Butler, only time will tell if he develops his offensive repertoire to a Butler-esque level.
Best Case Scenario: Jimmy Butler
Bust Case Scenario: Xavier Henry
Ballitics Bust Potential: 25%
This young man averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds last season. At times Brown looked like a man amongst boys - this...is not necessarily a good thing. A lot of his strengths: NBA ready body, good size for his position, excellent speed, bouncy for his size; aren't necessarily going to translate to the next level when he's matched up against players that can match his size, speed, and jumping ability. He is going to have to find more finesse ways to score offensively in the league and that's why I believe he is a bit of a project player. His handle is decent and he has shown flashes of being able to get it done from the outside, plus you can not teach his combination of size speed and athleticism. His ceiling is relatively low compared to the top 5 picks in this draft, still he has All-Star potential in the right system. Reminds me of a Jimmy Butler, only time will tell if he develops his offensive repertoire to a Butler-esque level.
Best Case Scenario: Jimmy Butler
Bust Case Scenario: Xavier Henry
Ballitics Bust Potential: 25%
No. 7- Buddy Hield (Oklahoma):
He averaged 25 points and 6 rebounds last season, he is the best shooter in this draft and it's not really all that close - 46% from 3 and 89% at the line. He showed the ability to get his shot off verses very athletic defenders with subtle jab steps, step backs, and 1 to 2 dribble pull up jumpers. Those are NBA shots - Buddy is the best fit for a team that already has offensive pieces (i.e. a Minnesota) because he is efficient off the catch and shoot. By NBA standards he is an average athlete, not especially quick or explosive. At 6'4" he is undersized for the two spot and doesn't have the handle to play the point guard position (they also said this about Stephen Curry, go figure). At 22 years of age he does not have the ceiling of other top picks but subsequently has a lower bust potential than a lot of the one and done prospects. He reminds me of a J.J. Redick.
Best Case Scenario: Ray Allen
Bust Case Scenario: Salim Stoudamire
Ballitics Bust Potential: 5%
He averaged 25 points and 6 rebounds last season, he is the best shooter in this draft and it's not really all that close - 46% from 3 and 89% at the line. He showed the ability to get his shot off verses very athletic defenders with subtle jab steps, step backs, and 1 to 2 dribble pull up jumpers. Those are NBA shots - Buddy is the best fit for a team that already has offensive pieces (i.e. a Minnesota) because he is efficient off the catch and shoot. By NBA standards he is an average athlete, not especially quick or explosive. At 6'4" he is undersized for the two spot and doesn't have the handle to play the point guard position (they also said this about Stephen Curry, go figure). At 22 years of age he does not have the ceiling of other top picks but subsequently has a lower bust potential than a lot of the one and done prospects. He reminds me of a J.J. Redick.
Best Case Scenario: Ray Allen
Bust Case Scenario: Salim Stoudamire
Ballitics Bust Potential: 5%