2023 NBA Draft Big Board, by Cole Niles

This Mock Draft is a bit different than other mock drafts in a few ways. Some notes, before we get started:

• This is a big board of my favorite players, not a predictive board. Just ranking the players straight up, this is how I would have them arranged on my board.

• While I usually disagree with his scouting philosophy, I take after Kevin O’Connor’s strategy of using “Player Comparisons” as a way of saying “Shades Of”. It seems good practice not to tie one young player’s talent to another older player’s NBA legacy. “Shades Of” comparisons allows us to describe the aesthetics or playstyle of a player without saying that they will be “better” or “worse” than anyone. Each player’s “Player Comparison” section does not denote that they will be the same player, but rather that they possess (at least in part) similar attributes to another person in the league.

• I added the “I like them as much as” section to each player to contextualize, within my own mind, how I thought of the player at the time as a prospect. I put the compared player’s draft position next to their name to give an idea for their draft range as well. This is not necessarily a player comp (although I tried to sort of match up positions and playstyles for the most part). This is more about evaluation of value.

• I'm only going to 40. That's all I have time for right now with school.

So without further ado… the Cole Niles 2023 NBA Draft Big Board.

1. Victor Wembanyama

Position/Team: Center for Metropolitans 92

Player Comp: bigger Kevin Durant?

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: He’s the best prospect I’ve ever seen, and he may be the best prospect of all time. There’s not much else to say. Unless his injury risk became supremely significant, he would go #1 in every draft ever – and yes, that includes LeBron’s 2003 draft.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: I guess LeBron is who I should say here? I think it’s safe to say he’s one of the three best prospects ever. The way I see it, Kareem, Lebron, and Wemby are the three best ever. Kareem was the safest, Wemby has potentially the highest ceiling, and LeBron was somewhere in the middle of those two thing

2. Scoot Henderson

Position/Team: PG for G League Ignite

Player Comp: John Wall, DeAaron Fox, young Chris Paul

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: All of Scoot’s weaknesses are nitpicky. In some ways he’s just as complete a prospect as Wemby, and there’s a somewhat reasonable case that he may have an even better career than Victor. Scoot’s the 2nd best prospect I’ve ever scouted only behind Victor, so #2 still feels low.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Cade Cunningham (1st overall in 2021)

3. Brandon Miller

Position/Team: SF/PF for Alabama

Player Comp: Lauri Markkanen, slow Jayson Tatum

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: He’s got a pretty solid floor in the NBA, and his ceiling could extend pretty high too! But in regards to the people above him, I just don’t see as much upside with Miller. His shooting touch is for certain; as for everything else, it’s a bit less certain. Is that what I’m willing to use a top 2 pick on? Maybe… but not in this draft.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Jabari Smith Jr. (3rd overall in 2021)

4. Amen Thompson

Position/Team: PG for City Reapers, Overtime Elite

Player Comp: LaMelo Ball’s playstyle with Anthony Edwards’ athleticism, Best Case Scenario Lonzo Ball

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Amen has a ton of flaws, and they’re really important ones. But the athleticism is so freakish that he’s worth betting on. A lot of it will depend on fit at the next level with him, but if that’s sorted out then he could tilt games on both ends of the floor.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: LaMelo Ball (3rd overall in 2020)

5. Ausar Thompson

Position/Team: SF/SG for City Reapers, Overtime Elite

Player Comp: Paul George

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Ausar seems to be one of the more polarizing guys in this class. I’ve seen him dropping out of the top ten in some drafts, which would be, to me at least, one of the most shocking drops I’ve ever seen. If he were in any other class, I think he’s a top tier prospect deserving of a top 3 pick. His athleticism combined with feel will make him a fantastic addition to most teams.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Brandon Ingram (2nd overall in 2017)

6. Cason Wallace

Position/Team: PG for Kentucky

Player Comp: Derrick White, Jevon Carter, smaller Marcus Smart

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Cason Wallace is simply going to be a solid NBA player. I even feel like he’ll be a starter for a while. I think his ceiling is probably limited, but he will absolutely provide quality minutes for teams sooner rather than later. People have been saying he will absolutely world class defender – and maybe he could – but the reality is that his height and athleticism caps him from that top end of defender for me. That said, so many advanced numbers love his offensive game too. He could really develop into a two way force, even if I don’t see it on tape at the moment.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Davion Mitchell (9th overall in 2021)

7. Jarace Walker

Position/Team: PF/C for Houston

Player Comp: Draymond Green, Patrick Williams, Deandre Hunter, caked up PJ Tucker

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Simply put, you cannot regret taking Jarace Walker in this draft. There’s a chance you regret not taking some high-upside guy that goes after him, but as far as your team is concerned, you will undoubtedly be better with Walker on your side. He’s the sort of guy that you take for that floor, and then hope that the ceiling is even higher than you thought it was. Defensive menace, floor spacing big, and a damn good competitor – he’s going to have a long NBA career

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Jonathon Kuminga (7th overall in 2021)

8. Keyonte George

Position/Team: SG/PG for Baylor

Player Comp: Less Athletic Bradley Beal, Jamal Murray, Jordan Poole

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Keyonte is a tough evaluation in the same way that Anthony Edwards was. Both pass the eye test so cleanly, yet both players’ college numbers show tons of red flags as far as their shooting percentages. At the end of the day though, George is one of the better shooters I’ve seen in recent years as far as the ability to plug him into any offense and immediately have a serious weapon. Once he figures out how to use his body well as a compliment to his shooting he could have All-Star potential, which is worth taking higher than most people have him in my opinion. Risky, but worth it.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Collin Sexton (8th overall in 2018)

9. Anthony Black

Position/Team: PG for Arkansas

Player Comp: Lonzo Ball, Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: I was crazy high on Anthony Black at the beginning of the season, but as others have heated up on him, I’ve cooled down just a tad. His lack of self-creation limits his ceiling for me, although I am confident, he will be a really solid player at least. As a defensive stopper and ball mover, he absolutely has a role on a team that needs a stabilizing force running the show. He’s a bit like Jarace Walker in that sense; if you want a solid defender who can give you a bit of a unique offensive skillset, look no further. He could make us look stupid for having him this low, however, if he figures out his jumpshot.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Jeremy Sochan (9th overall in 2022)

10. Brandin Podziemski

Position/Team: PG/SG for Santa Clara

Player Comp: Josh Hart, DLo, Beno Udrih

Strengths

- Fantastic at pace -- seems to control the rate the game is played when the ball is in his hands

- Really good passer, who will thrive in most actions you put him in. He can run a PnR, be a connector, and has a knack for finding guys when they cut

- Elite shooter, off the catch and with the ball in his hands. There is a serious get-hot quality to his shooting, but its scalable to so many different roles too

- Very good rebounder for position, which helps him start breaks by passing ahead

Not

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Podz is about as confident I can be in a role player making a difference at this point in the draft. His ceiling isn't too high, but there is little doubt this will be too low for him when we look back at this draft. I cant put him higher because I don't know which of the high potential guys ahead of him won't pan out.

I Like Him As Much as I Liked: Devin Vassell (11th overall in 2020)

11. Taylor Hendricks

Position/Team: PF for UCF

Player Comp: Jabari Smith Jr, Dorian Finney Smith, Saddiq Bey

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Taylor Hendricks is easy to envision in the NBA. His frame is ready for the physicality, and he can knock down threes when you need him to. I don’t know if I see insane amounts of upside for Hendricks, but he could absolutely swing games with combination of his gritty defense and shooting range. We thought Jabari Smith Jr. had a bit more off the dribble when he came out last year – I expect Taylor Hendricks to look a bit more like what Smith ended up being for the Rockets.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Wendell Carter (7th overall in 2018)

12. Dereck Lively

Position/Team: C for Duke

Player Comp: Mitchell Robinson, Willy Cauley-Stein, Ivaca Zubac

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: I love Lively’s game as a potential defensive stalwart in the middle, and the lack of Bigs in this class will probably drive up his value even higher. For a team that can ease him into a role with less offensive responsibility, I’d gladly take him in the lottery; especially if that team will commit to his development. If that jumpshot is unlocked… this will look way too low.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Mark Williams (15th overall in 2022)

13. Kobe Bufkin

Position/Team: SG for Michigan

Player Comp: Gary Harris, Manu Ginobili

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Kobe Bufkin will contribute right away. There’s no real holes to his game, so it makes sense for just about every team to have a need for him. I’m not quite as taken with his upside as many are, but I also wouldn’t be shocked if he had a career that ended up as one of the 7 or 8 best in the class.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Coby White (7th overall in 2019)

14. Maxwell Lewis

Position/Team: SF/SG for Pepperdine

Player Comp: Jalen Brown, Keegan Murray

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Rarely do you find a guy that looks like this and can do what he does with the ball in his hands. If he played at a bigger school, I think everyone would have him as high as I do. He seems like the sort of player that people will like as a sleeper… He’s not a sleeper. He’s just that good. He has All-NBA potential to me, and worse case he could be a solid three-point threat.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Jarrett Culver (6th overall in 2019)

15. Jalen Hood-Schifino

Position/Team: PG for Indiana

Player Comp: Jalen Suggs, Derrick White, Michael Carter-Williams

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Jalen Hood-Schifino is one of my personal favorites as far as feel for the game goes. I don’t see a scenario where he flames out of the league. I think his ceiling is higher than most for the opposite reason of most – his athleticism holds him back from being elite, but his natural navigation on both ends makes me think he can adapt to different scenarios far better than other players. Wherever he’s picked, I think he’ll get time early on… and if the shot comes around, he’ll be a really solid starter at the very least.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11th overall in 2018)

16. Cam Whitmore

Position/Team: SF/PF for Villanova

Player Comp: More athletic Keldon Johnson, Obi Toppin

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: I feel like I should like Cam more than I do, but there’s some things about his frame and skillset that seem hard for me to look past. He doesn’t play like an NBA wing really, but he’s too small to play PF. That’s why I keep comparing him to Keldon Johnson – a guy I really love, but is absolutely limited in a bunch of ways. Moreover, his highlights are great, but very few and far between. I feel like people are projecting far too much growth for what we’ve been shown already. Maybe Cam’s athleticism will take him over the edge, or maybe he develops more of an offensive bag. But for now I can’t put him any higher than this.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Obi Toppin (8th overall in 2020)

17. Bilal Coulibaly

Position/Team: SF for Metropolitans 92

Player Comp: Mikal Bridges, Al Faruq Aminu, Jalen Johnson

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Coulibaly is raw, to be sure. In fact I’m not completely convinced he’s actually even that good sometimes. But the tools combined with the fact that he checks basically every box you look for in a wing is enough to gamble on. I think his skillset is really scalable, which should mean that you’re not just completely throwing a pick away if he doesn’t work out exactly how you planned. And if he does work out, he’s just the sort of guy that will swing games into wins

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Mikal Bridges (10th overall in 2018)

18. Nick Smith Jr.

Position/Team: SG for Arkansas

Player Comp: CJ McCollum, JR Smith

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Some people err on the side of trusting his potential, which I get. But until he puts on weight, I’m not going to be sure that he can handle starter minutes and still be effective. He could be a great combo guard, but the upside is still a limited player who, in all likelihood, will always be a defensive detriment. One-way tweener guards like that aren’t usually my cup of tea.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Malik Monk (11th overall in 2017)

19. Gradey Dick

Position/Team: SG/SF for Kansas

Player Comp: Kevin Huerter, Marco Belinelli

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: If you’re a contender that needs an infusion of shooting, he can give you great bench minutes. My concern would be a team looking at some vertical pop and convincing themselves that that solves his footspeed issues – it doesn’t, which limits his ceiling massively. He’s more athletic, but I see his evaluation looking like Corey Kispert… who’s a fine player, but probably going to make you mad you spent a lottery pick on him in the grand scheme of things.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Cory Kispert (15th overall in 2021)

20. Sidy Cissoko

Position/Team: SF for G-League Ignite

Player Comp: Kyle Anderson with a bit more juice

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Sidy’s success could be really tied to where he goes. Will they give him the structure he needs to hide his mistakes? Will they let him do what he does best – pass the ball? It’s asking a lot, but if they do, then he could be a guy that means a lot to a playoff team a la Kyle Anderson. I see his developmental path as potentially a bit slower than most other guys in the draft. Give him to the right team, though, and you could have a fan favorite sort of player.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Kyle Anderson (30th overall in 2014)

21. Leonard Miller

Position/Team: PF/SF for G League Ignite

Player Comp: JaMychal Green, Paul Millsap

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Miller is one of the harder prospects in the draft for me. He’s improved so much over the course of the year, but for some reason I still am not completely convinced there’s a spot for him. I could easily see being wrong about him though. If he can be a bench big with some versatility, which I think he’s capable of, he’s a first rounder. He may be even better than that though

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Nassir Little (25th overall in 2019)

22. Rayan Rupert

Position/Team: SG/SF for New Zealand Breakers

Player Comp: Andre Iguodala, Dante Exum, Thabo Sefolosha

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Rupert is a guy that I can’t quit as a project. He’s certainly a few years away, and even then, he may be nothing more than a defensive energy guy. But that massive frame with his movement doesn’t come along very often. His handle is really promising to me too. At the end of the day I want him to go to a team that will bring him along slowly in the G-League, because throwing him into the fire this quickly would probably stunt his growth as a whole and cap his ceiling. You can’t take a guy with all these question marks that high, which is why he’s here.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: OG Anunoby (23rd overall in 2017)

23. Jordan Hawkins

Position/Team: SG for UConn

Player Comp: Max Struss

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Hawkins is a fantastic shooter from beyond the arc, which is arguably the most important skill in the modern NBA. But is he anything more than that? His athletic profile seems to posture toward a lot of potential, but I’m not so sure. His thin frame deters him from even trying to get in the paint at times, and I don’t know if he’s going to improve on those ancillary skills until he can beef up some more. If you want a wrinkle in the offense, snag him, but his ceiling may be no more than that.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Dylan Windler (26th overall in 2019)

24. Jett Howard

Position/Team: SG/SF for Michigan

Player Comp: Doug McDermott with some wiggle

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Jett, aesthetically, is good. You can run him off of a lot of screens and feel good about his ability to contribute as a shooter. He’s even got a pretty good handle, and makes some decent passes as a secondary ballhandler (although I would think you’re in a rough spot if that’s his role for your team). But the stuff that happens when you aren’t looking is ugly. He is going to be a negative defender – especially off ball, where he has a pretty bad IQ. At the NBA level he won’t be able to dance like he does in college, either. Limited player, but could become a really solid piece if he cleans up some of the little things.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Caris LeVert (20th overall in 2016)

25. James Nnaji

Position/Team: C for Barcelona

Player Comp: Robert Williams, Charles Bassey, Bruno Fernando

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Nnaji is a really solid player, but Usman Garuba has already tricked me once before. Nnaji is a better rim protector, but less switchable. It’s hard to see him being completely terrible considering he’s already contributed in Europe, but what can he be other than a rim runner? Probably nothing? Either way, he’s worth taking at this range, especially considering how few bigs there are in this class. But I’m not entirely sold, even as he becomes a trendier riser late in the process.

I Like Him As Much as I Liked: Bruno Fernando (34th overall in 2019)

26. Dariq Whitehead

Position/Team: SF for Duke

Player Comp: Terrence Ross, Lonnie Walker

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Dariq Whitehead is polarizing for me because I had such high hopes for him this season. If I hadn’t known what he was capable of in high school, I’d probably put him even lower than where he is right now. That said, I think that with a reduced role he could fit into a team. Over time that would hopefully give him some time to get his athleticism and rhythm back, which could unlock the ceiling we all say in high school. Worth a chance in the late first round – but I wouldn’t hold your breath. Unfortunately, it’s more likely he ends up like the guy I say I like him as much as below.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Harry Giles (20th overall in 2017)

27. Kris Murray

Position/Team: SF/PF for Iowa

Player Comp: Grant Williams, Keegan Murray

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Kris Murray will be a plug and play role player immediately in the NBA. He won’t light up the league, but I’d be shocked if he was out of the league anytime soon either. I imagine he’ll slot in as a stretch four for a team that wants to spread it out a bit. His versatility makes him an asset for any team.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Omari Spellman (30th overall in 2018)

28. GG Jackson

Position/Team: PF for South Carolina

Player Comp: Late-stage Carmelo Anthony, Rui Hachimura, Michael Porter Jr.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: GG has been as high as #5 on my board at points during the year, and he’s fallen as low as the second round. His feel for the game will suck you in, but then leave you scratching your head the very next possession. The eye test is so clear, but he’s so much of a projection. On top of all of this, he’s one of the worst passers I’ve evaluated in some time, which is basically the most important skill I think a guy can have at this stage of the draft. Unless you’re freaky at some other thing, you better be able to share the ball as you come off the bench. I think a lot of his success depends on what organization he goes to, and how well they can ease him into a role. He’s just risky, but the reward is understandably enticing.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Patrick Baldwin Jr. (28th overall in 2022)

29. Brice Sensabaugh

Position/Team: SG for Ohio State

Player Comp: Kenrich Williams, Sindarius Thornwell, Malaki Branham

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Brice Sensabaugh, at the end of the day, is a fine player. He’s just not someone I would get excited about. He may need a bit of time to get up to speed with the NBA, but even so I don’t see his ceiling as anything more than a role player. There’s nothing really to hate about his game, but there’s not a ton I particularly love either. A bit undersized for SF, but not quick enough for SG, I don’t necessarily see him making much of an impact any time soon. But if I was a team that needed wing depth sooner rather than later, it’s a “why not” sort of pick.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Andrew Nembhard (31st overall in 2022)

30. Trayce Jackson-Davis

Position/Team: PF/C for Indiana

Player Comp: Jaylin Williams, Dwight Powell, Brandon Clarke

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Jackson-Davis is another guy whose talent I absolutely love, but only in the right context. Give him a guy like Myles Turner to stretch the floor and he could open up a ton for you. Fail to do so, and he may not be used to maximize his talents at all. Good organizations should take a serious look at him

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Jaylin Williams (34th overall in 2022)

31. Jordan Walsh

Position/Team: SF/SG for Arkansas

Player Comp: Jared Vanderbilt, Bruce Brown

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: I’m higher on Walsh than most because I see him as a potentially high-upside role player in the right circumstance. Having a guy to do the dirty work like Walsh does is so important to winning in the playoffs. I don’t really think he’ll be a 30+ minutes a night kind of guy, but if he can be a 7th man who really disrupts on D, he’s worth this pick to the right team.

I Like Him As Much as I Liked: Josh Minott (45th overall in 2022)

32. Oliver Maxence-Prosper

Position/Team: SF for Marquette

Player Comp: Otto Porter, Jordan Nwora

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: OMP is a player that a few people have really fallen in love with lately. Upon first watch I did too, but his lack of polish is hard to ignore. Sometimes his defensive highlights look like he gets cooked, but the guy misses the shot. Sure he disrupted the play, but NBA guys will exploit the fundamentals weaknesses far more.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Jordan Nwora (45th overall in 2020)

33. Noah Clowney

Position/Team: C/PF for Alabama

Player Comp: poor man’s JJJ, Chris Boucher

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Clowney is another name I see climbing more than others, and I can’t quite get on board. In theory he could be a steal if the shot gets worked out… but he is not currently a good shooter. Likewise, I think his defense is a bit oversold too. He needs to figure out the on-ball stuff too. I see him as more of a project than most.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Daniel Gafford (38th overall in 2019)

34. Kobe Brown

Position/Team: PF/SF for Missouri

Player Comp: David Roddy, unathletic Josh Smith, older Jarace Walker

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: I’m a coward. I like Brown a decent bit more than where I have him here, but I really just don’t trust that most franchises will use him in the right way. He can be a swiss army knife off of the bench, but most teams won’t allow him to fully use his skillset. If he goes to a team like the Spurs, Grizzlies, or maybe the Pacers, I like what he could be. But I don’t think he’ll thrive in most environments despite his versatility. Let him be a dirty-work sort of guy for your team and he’ll do wonders

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Jalen Johnson (20th overall in 2021)

34. Ben Sheppard

Position/Team: SG for Belmont

Player Comp: Bryn Forbes

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Sheppard will get on the floor and stay there so long as he hits shots like he did this last season at Belmont. I’m a tad lower on his defense than most others are, but if I am wrong, he could be a serious player. I like him as a bench piece that adds a wrinkle to the offense

I Like Him As Much as I Liked: Isaiah Joe (49th overall in 2020)

35. Amari Bailey

Position/Team: PG/SG for UCLA

Player Comp: Quentin Grimes

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Bailey doesn’t give you tons to hate, but there’s something about the pace he plays at that I don’t love as much as some other guys. His defense could be better than I expect though, which could net him some early minutes for a team

I Like Him As Much as I Liked: Saban Lee (38th overall in 2020)

36. Terquavion Smith

Position/Team: SG/PG for NC State

Player Comp: Bones Hyland, Devonte Graham

Strengths

Weakness

Why He’s Here for Me: I don’t really buy this sort of player. They usually look better than a lot of guys during the regular season, but become virtually unplayable when the playoffs start. I don’t care about his 6th man of the year potential; I care about his ability to win me a title. Nevertheless, I could see him contributing more easily than a lot of other guys around this spot. His frame is better than most of the other sparkplug sort of players, so there’s a tad more upside.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Bones Hyland (26th overall in 2021)

37. Jalen Wilson

Position/Team: SF for Kansas

Player Comp: Harrison Barnes, Justin Jackson, Kenrich Williams

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: As much as I want to put him higher, I can’t. He’s simply not a special player. That being said, I think he could very well fulfill some spot minutes on just about any team in the league. Early 2nd seems right for him.

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Cody Martin (36th overall in 2019)

38. Colby Jones

Position/Team: SG for Xavier

Player Comp: bigger Tre Jones

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Colby Jones is an undeniably good basketball player… it’s just a matter of how good he can be. I see him as a third or second guy off the bench sort of player in a few years, which isn’t tons to aspire to. But if you’re a contender just trying to get depth, then why not?

I Like Him As Much as I Liked: Devonte Graham (34th overall in 2018)

39. Tristan Vukcevic

Position/Team: C/PF for KK Partizan

Player Comp: Andrea Bargnani, Jock Landale

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: Vukcevic has a rare skillset as a big who can shoot threes well already. His frame is solid too, and he’s already played at the professional level. He’s worth a risk at this point in the draft

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Luka Garza (52nd overall in 2021)

40. Colin Castleton

Position/Team: C for Florida

Player Comp: Day’Ron Sharpe, Walker Kessler

Strengths

Weaknesses

Why He’s Here for Me: It seems like rim running bigs are harder to find than ever in the past. Their value seems to be misunderstood, too. It’s why a guy like Walker Kessler was able to affect the Jazz’s defense so much as a rookie – I’m not saying Castleton will do that exactly, but he absolutely can in a more limited role

I Like Him as Much as I Liked: Christian Koloko (33rd overall in 2022)