I was going to wait till measurements came out to post my last board but at this rate I'm not sure that will really happen. So barring any crazy unexpected measurements this is my last board with the draft 2 weeks out.
A few notes: based on the measurements that have been released I kept Riller in tier 8 rather then moving him up and have Nnaji slightly higher.
Player POS
TIER 1
1 LaMelo Ball G
TIER 2
2 Anthony Edwards W
TIER 3
3 Killian Hayes G
4 James Wiseman B
5 Isaac Okoro W
6 Onyeka Okongwu B
7 Deni Avdija SW
8 TIER 4
9 RJ Hampton G
10 Cole Anthony G
11 Tyrese Maxey G
12 Tyrese Haliburton G
13 Devin Vassell W
14 Josh Green W
15 Patrick Williams SW
TIER 5
16 Kira Lewis G
17 Aaron Nesmith W
18 Tyrell Terry G
19 Obi Toppin B
20 Precious Achiuwa B
21 Xavier Tillman B
22 Saddig Bey SW
TIER 6
23 Leandro Bolmaro W
24 Theo Maledon G
25 Jaden McDaniels SW
26 Aleksej Pokusevski B
27 Desmond Bane W
TIER 7
28 Jay Scrubb W
29 Nico Mannion G
30 Zeke Nnaji B
31 Tyler Bey SW
32 Ty-Shon Alexander G
33 Jalen Smith B
34 Udoka Azybuike B
TIER 8
35 Isiah Stewart B
36 Malachi Flynn G
37 Grant Riller G
38 Paul Reed B
39 Immanuel Quickley G
40 Killian Tillie SW
41 Robert Woodard SW
TIER 9
43 Jahmi'us Ramsey W
44 Cassius Stanley W
45 Naji Marshall W
46 Elijah Hughes W
47 Skylar Mays G
48 Payton Prichard G
49 Marko Simonovic' B
50 Tre Jones G
51 Cassius Winston G
52 Devon Dotson G
53 Daniel Oturu B
54 Vern Carey Jr B
55 Jordan Nwora SW
TIER 10
56 Paul Eboua SW
57 Kaleb Wesson B
58 Nate Hinton W
59 Reggie Perry B
60 Yoeli Childs B
61 Lamar Stevens W
TIER 11
62 Marcus Howard G
63 Nick Richards B
64 Christian Vital G
I have some disagreements on this board and I'd love to hear your reasoning.
First, why is Ball a full two tiers above Hayes? Hayes averaged really similar numbers to Ball in a much more competitive league. He's demonstrated similar court vision. Both have question marks with inconsistent jumpers. But the Ball circus and question marks about his interviews seem make him a bit higher risk.
Second, why is Toppin so low? I'm not a huge fan of his game, but I think he's at least something like Kyle Kuzma or John Collins at the next level. That doesn't seem like a tier 5 player that is the 19th best player in the draft?
Third, you really like Maxey and Green, huh? I like both players, but I'm not seeing many people put them in the same class as Haliburton. I do, however, like Hampton being in that same class.
1. I have Ball two tiers above Hayes because I think Ball at his ceiling outcome can be a true primary initiator / engine of an offense in the NBA he is the only player in this class who I think this is true for. I really like Hayes and he is my favorite trade up candidate for the Cs, however I view him more as a secondary initiator type who will be best suited sharing creation duties in the NBA. I will say that Hayes is the safer prospect and one who I think at his floor is still a rotation player in the NBA where Ball is much more boom or bust.
2. Toppin really worries me in the NBA. The last measurements I have seen on him where from the previous off season where he measured 6'8 w/o shoes, 218lbs with a 6'10.5 WS. That really puts him at the bottom end of NBA big man measurements. He measured similar to Tatum and P George. The 218lbs at 22 years old especially concerns me given his below average lateral quickness. On offense he will clearly be a dynamic scorer but I have my doubts if he can ever be more then a stats guy on a bad team. Place him on this past seasons Celtics and who is he defending in the playoffs?
3. Green and Maxey are two of my favorites in this class. Both are blue chip high school recruits who project as + NBA defenders. Both prospects are a consistent 3pt shot away from becoming clear playoff rotational players. As a strong framed 6'3 combo guard Maxey should be able to defend point of attack and off ball on smaller wings. His ability to finish around the hoop and 3 level scoring would be a great compliment ti Tatum long term. Green should be a high end defender 1-3 with the size at 6'6 215 with a 6'10ws to switch and hold his own vs smaller bigs. I have Haliburton in this tier because as much as I like his game he is a skinny 6'5 combo guard who may struggle defending quicker points and larger wings. His lack of creation off the dribble has lead me to classify him more as a combo guard / wing then a PG. I still think he is one of the safest picks in this draft who ideally lands on a good team and plays a big minute 6th man role similar to the usage of Smart. ( I really like Haliburton to the Wiz where he can back up and play along side Wall and Beal).