Celticmania Draft Prospect Ratings

[celticmania]

This upcoming draft is very solid and looking better and better every week.  There are many good players in this draft with starter potential but not necessarily superstar talents. I will be rating these prospects based on the following attributes: Size, Offense, Defense, Athleticism, Potential, Shooting, IQ/Intangibles, Risk, Rebounding for position, Passing for position. Very similar to the nbadraft.net ratings. They will be rated on a scale of one to ten in each category and ranked based on grade. I'll start with the top 5 prospects and add 5 more a little later.

1.Emmanuel Mudiay:
Size: 9.25 (6'5, 6'8 wingspan)
Offense: 9 (shifty, quick off the dribble, midrange game, can become an elite scorer)
Defense: 9 ( tools are definitely there, not sure if hes a great defender right now though)
Athleticism: 8.75 (overrated athletically, not quite Wall or Westbrook but definitely above average)
Potential: 9.5 (highest in draft, pass-first pg with elite scoring skill !!! )
Shooting: 7.75 (made a decent percent in China, read that he is a good shooter but inconsistency knocks him down a few points)
IQ/Intangible: 8.75 ( pass-first pg but has to limit TOs and extremely high character... passionate winner)
Risk: 9
Rebounding: 9 (size makes him good for a pg)
Passing: 9 ( potential to average 10+ assists)
OVERALL: 89 B++ (perennial all-star)


2.Jahlil OKafor:
Size: 9 (6'11, 7'5 wingspan)
Offense: 9 (rare post scorer but doesnt do much outside the paint, limited face-up game but has shown flashes... quick jab, quick spin)
Defense: 7.5
Athleticism: 7.75 (underrated athlete)
Potential: 8.5
Shooting: 8 (not a lot of range but has a sweet post jumpshot, not many centers can shoot that shot)
IQ/intangible: 9.5 (smart, understand post positioning.. love his passion and how he interacts with team)
Risk: 10 (pretty much sure thing)
Rebounding: 8.5 (good, not elite)
Passing: 9 (very good out of double teams)
OVERALL: 87 B+ (multiple time all-star)


3.D'Angelo Russell:
Size: 9.25 (true position is PG and is 6'5 with 6'9 wingspan !!!)
Offense: 9.25 (can do it all, shoot off catch, dribble, nice handle, floater game, etc)
Defense: 7.5 (may be slow for NBA PGs)
Athleticism: 7
Potential: 8.5 ( slightly limited by athleticism but enhanced by youth)
Shooting: 9.5 (just as effective off dribble which is a rare skill, borderline elite shooter)
IQ/Intangible: 8.5 (calm cool and collected, must begin to think like a PG though)
Risk: 9 (might not be quick enough for NBA pgs but his shooting is a huge safety net)
Rebounding: 9 (very good for a guard)
Passing: 9 (major part of his game)
Overall: 86.5 B+ (multiple time all-star)


4.Stanley Johnson:
Size: 9.5 (6'7.5 at least, 6'11 wingspan and big body)
Offense: 8.25 (uses physical tools to score in college, not going to be major scorer in NBA but does have great body control, firs step and solid handle)
Defense: 9.5 (Marcus Smart like, going to be elite)
Athleticism: 8.75 (great body, powerful athlete, doesn't jump through the roof but gets off the ground powerfully and quickly)
Potential: 8.5 ( physical tools and defense ability earn him points here)
Shooting: 8 (shooting 40% from deep, but not sure i trust his jumper)
IQ/Intangible: 9 (not super high iq, 2.5 TOs per but intangibles give huge boosts, exactly what you want from your top pick, hardest worker there is, always brings it)
Risk: 9 (may not become a great scorer but at least going to be a great defender, as high a chance to be a starter as anyone in this draft)
Rebounding:8.75
Passing: 7.5 (not a creator yet, only 1.9 assist per)
OVERALL: 86 B+ (potential all-star)


5.Karl Towns:
Size: 9 (6'11, 7'3.5 wingspan great for a PF, good for a C)
Offense: 8.5 (raw but has the skills.. shooting, dribbling, flashes of post game)
Defense: 9 (lacks strength but good shoot blocker, could average 2 per game in NBA)
Athleticism: 8 (good bounce with momentum, not elite explosiveness, lacks strength, not fluid/ awkward movements)
Potential:9 (boy if he adds lower body strength and develops killer instinct)
Shooting: 9
IQ/Intangible: 8.25 (smart player, plays with outstanding passion, but may be a little soft)
Risk: 7.5 (whoever drafts him is going off what he flashed in limited minutes and a small role)
Rebounding: 8.75 (very good per minute stats)
Passing: 9 (made some sick passes this year)
OVERALL: 86 B+ (potential all-star)
*note:could easily see 1-1.5 point boost in offense and risk if he was featured more in Kentucky Offense... could have 88 grade (would make him #2 prospect) if he showed more

[coffee425]

This upcoming draft is very solid and looking better and better every week.  There are many good players in this draft with starter potential but not necessarily superstar talents. I will be rating these prospects based on the following attributes: Size, Offense, Defense, Athleticism, Potential, Shooting, IQ/Intangibles, Risk, Rebounding for position, Passing for position. Very similar to the nbadraft.net ratings. They will be rated on a scale of one to ten in each category and ranked based on grade. I'll start with the top 5 prospects and add 5 more a little later.

1.Emmanuel Mudiay:
Size: 9.25 (6'5, 6'8 wingspan)
Offense: 9 (shifty, quick off the dribble, midrange game, can become an elite scorer)
Defense: 9 ( tools are definitely there, not sure if hes a great defender right now though)
Athleticism: 8.75 (overrated athletically, not quite Wall or Westbrook but definitely above average)
Potential: 9.5 (highest in draft, pass-first pg with elite scoring skill !!! )
Shooting: 7.75 (made a decent percent in China, read that he is a good shooter but inconsistency knocks him down a few points)
IQ/Intangible: 8.75 ( pass-first pg but has to limit TOs and extremely high character... passionate winner)
Risk: 9
Rebounding: 9 (size makes him good for a pg)
Passing: 9 ( potential to average 10+ assists)
OVERALL: 89 B++ (perennial all-star)


2.Jahlil OKafor:
Size: 9 (6'11, 7'5 wingspan)
Offense: 9 (rare post scorer but doesnt do much outside the paint, limited face-up game but has shown flashes... quick jab, quick spin)
Defense: 7.5
Athleticism: 7.75 (underrated athlete)
Potential: 8.5
Shooting: 8 (not a lot of range but has a sweet post jumpshot, not many centers can shoot that shot)
IQ/intangible: 9.5 (smart, understand post positioning.. love his passion and how he interacts with team)
Risk: 10 (pretty much sure thing)
Rebounding: 8.5 (good, not elite)
Passing: 9 (very good out of double teams)
OVERALL: 87 B+ (multiple time all-star)


3.D'Angelo Russell:
Size: 9.25 (true position is PG and is 6'5 with 6'9 wingspan !!!)
Offense: 9.25 (can do it all, shoot off catch, dribble, nice handle, floater game, etc)
Defense: 7.5 (may be slow for NBA PGs)
Athleticism: 7
Potential: 8.5 ( slightly limited by athleticism but enhanced by youth)
Shooting: 9.5 (just as effective off dribble which is a rare skill, borderline elite shooter)
IQ/Intangible: 8.5 (calm cool and collected, must begin to think like a PG though)
Risk: 9 (might not be quick enough for NBA pgs but his shooting is a huge safety net)
Rebounding: 9 (very good for a guard)
Passing: 9 (major part of his game)
Overall: 86.5 B+ (multiple time all-star)


4.Stanley Johnson:
Size: 9.5 (6'7.5 at least, 6'11 wingspan and big body)
Offense: 8.25 (uses physical tools to score in college, not going to be major scorer in NBA but does have great body control, firs step and solid handle)
Defense: 9.5 (Marcus Smart like, going to be elite)
Athleticism: 8.75 (great body, powerful athlete, doesn't jump through the roof but gets off the ground powerfully and quickly)
Potential: 8.5 ( physical tools and defense ability earn him points here)
Shooting: 8 (shooting 40% from deep, but not sure i trust his jumper)
IQ/Intangible: 9 (not super high iq, 2.5 TOs per but intangibles give huge boosts, exactly what you want from your top pick, hardest worker there is, always brings it)
Risk: 9 (may not become a great scorer but at least going to be a great defender, as high a chance to be a starter as anyone in this draft)
Rebounding:8.75
Passing: 7.5 (not a creator yet, only 1.9 assist per)
OVERALL: 86 B+ (potential all-star)


5.Karl Towns:
Size: 9 (6'11, 7'3.5 wingspan great for a PF, good for a C)
Offense: 8.5 (raw but has the skills.. shooting, dribbling, flashes of post game)
Defense: 9 (lacks strength but good shoot blocker, could average 2 per game in NBA)
Athleticism: 8 (good bounce with momentum, not elite explosiveness, lacks strength, not fluid/ awkward movements)
Potential:9 (boy if he adds lower body strength and develops killer instinct)
Shooting: 9
IQ/Intangible: 8.25 (smart player, plays with outstanding passion, but may be a little soft)
Risk: 7.5 (whoever drafts him is going off what he flashed in limited minutes and a small role)
Rebounding: 8.75 (very good per minute stats)
Passing: 9 (made some sick passes this year)
OVERALL: 86 B+ (potential all-star)
*note:could easily see 1-1.5 point boost in offense and risk if he was featured more in Kentucky Offense... could have 88 grade (would make him #2 prospect) if he showed more

The two guards have the most risk, IMO.
Mudiay has questionable motor/effort (via nbadraft.net)
Russell's year looks identical to Evan Turner's final college year. Just a large PG dominating college without the athleticism to blow by nba guards and the defensive liability... too much

[celticmania]

6.Kristaps Porzingis:
Size: 9 (7'0 tall, long wingspan, would be ten if he wasnt so skinny)
Offense: 9 (can shoot, drive, dribble, all around offensive star, rare skills for 7 footer)
Defense: 8 (really good shoot blocker: 1.3 per 20 in 14 Eurocup games, gets pints taken away because he's going to get bullied in NBA)
Athleticism: 8.75 (mobile, runs the floor like deer, plays above rim)
Potential: 9.25 (very rare combo of skills, can be special)
Shooting: 9 (44% from three in Eurocup)
IQ/Intangibles:8.5 (seems like good kid in interview i watched, made a few bad turnovers in the 3 games i watched)
Risk: 8 (may not translate to NBA which is always a risk for Euro players, if he doesn't gain weight he can just be another Jajuan Johnson)
Rebounding: 7.25 (pretty bad not awful for a 7 footer, should dominate boards with length in athleticism... 4.1 in 21 minutes per in eurocup)
Passing: 7.75 (small sample size, didnt have an assist in a couple of the games i watched)
OVERALL:84.5 B (potential all-star)
*note:only watched him play 3 times, but he was impressive

7.Mario Hezonja:
Size: 9.5 (6'8 2 guard !!)
Offense:9 (can shoot from anywhere on the floor, good at creating separation, good first step)
Defense: 7.5 (should be elite but shows extremely poor effort, should be a 6 but he's just so athletic)
Athleticism: 9.25 (unbelievable Euro athlete, not quite Wiggins who is a 10 but pretty impressive)
Potential: 9 (has all the tools, good scorer)
Shooting: 9 (44% 3 pointers in 19 ACB games, just went 8-8 from 3)
IQ/Intangibles:7 (from what i've read he has an awful attitude, has bad body language, hes the only thing in his way to stardom)
Risk: 8.5 (most athletes who can shoot and dribble make it, must improve mentality though)
Rebounding:7.25 (only 2.2 per 17.7 minutes, should get more based on hops)
Passing:8.5 (good passer, nice in pick&roll, doesnt handle the ball alot for Barcelona so relatively low assist numbers)
OVERALL: 84.5 B (potential all-star)
*note:small sample size, based on the 6 Barcelona games i watched this year

8.Kelly Oubre:
Size: 9 (6'7 7'2 wingspan !!!)
Offense: 8.75 (smooth, good instincts, must improve in half-court one-on-one situations but has the skills)
Defense: 7.5 (lazy sometimes, not a great understanding of team defense which led to him not playing much in the beginning of year , when focused i've seen him lock up, could be a 9.5 defensively with his tools)
Athleticism: 9.25 (very impressive, dunks with authority, great run/jump)
Potential: 9 (good shooter and super athletic)
Shooting: 9 (39% from 3, always shoots in motion, quick release)
IQ/Intangibles: 7.75 (not a high IQ guy, not always locked in)
Risk: 8.75 (he can shoot, he's athletic)
Rebounding:8 (pretty good could be better)
Passing:7.5 (not much of a creator )
OVERALL: 84.5 B (potential all-star)

9.Myles Turner
Size:9 (6'11 7'4 wingspan for a PF/C but a little thin)
Offense: 9 (great face-up/perimeter skills but nothing in the paint)
Defense: 9 (outstanding shot blocker but docked a point because he wont be able to guard pick and roll)
Athleticism:6.5 (very awkward and slow runner, not over explosive)
Potential: 8.75 (rarely see his combo of skills, athletic limitation hold him back a little)
Shooting:9 (outstanding for a big 86% from free throw)
IQ/Intangibles:9 (very humble and well-spoken, soft though)
Risk: 8.5 (good kid and at least going to be a floor spacer and rim protector)
Rebounding: 8.25 ( pretty good, not great)
Passing: 7 (makes right play, hasnt created for others that much)
OVERALL: 84 B (NBA starter/potential all-star)


10.Willie Cauley-Stein:
Size: 9 (legit 7 footer, not super long 7'2 wingspan)
Offense: 7 (fairly limited but he can catch and dunk)
Defense: 9 (could become elite shoot blocker due to athleticism 1.8 blocks in 25 minutes..not outstanding statistically for college but very good, 1.6 steals per)
Athleticism: 9.5 (as good a seven footer athletically ive seen, super fast, good bounce, fluid, not powerful though)
Potential:  8 (athleticism always means potential but probably never going to be an offensive threat)
Shooting: 6.5 (nothing outside the paint)
IQ/Intangibles:7.75
Risk: 8.5 ( if you're expecting a big man who runs the floor, finishes when he gets the ball, and makes an impact defensively he'll deliver)
Rebounding: 8.5 (7.1 in 25 minutes, pretty good)
Passing:7
OVERALL: 81 B- (NBA starter)

[PickNRoll]

At the risk of rehashing what's been said earlier, I don't  see Russell being anything like Turner.

• Turner was a Junior and was nowhere near as productive as a Freshman
• Turner played a different style, averaging 9.2 rebounds. Mixed it up near the hoop more.
• Turner played more minutes with a higher usage rate
• Russell is a much better 3 point shooter  on 3 times more attempts
• Russell's TO rate is 40% lower
• Russell is a much more natural playmaker.  Assist numbers don't reflect this for whatever reason.
• Even though Russell is only 6-5, he has a 6-9 wingspan, longer than Turners
• Russell has much better handles

[celticmania]

Yeah i think youre right. I dont see the comparison. Russell is twice the shooter Turner is and has a better handle. Russell scores most of his points from the outside and Turner scored mostly in the paint and with the 10 foot pull up jumper he was so good at.

[Nerf DPOY]

I think a good comp for Russell might be Goran Dragic. Lefty combo guards(in a good way) that rely more on instincts, skills, and being nifty to get their points rather than being just plain explosive.

[BleedGreen1989]

Yeah, add me to the list who strongly disagrees with the Russel and Turner comparisons.

I'm super high on Deangelo. Like, model glue high.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I have to say that that the Euroleague is getting pretty solid at developing guys.  Not that they weren't before, but I have really liked the last few seasons of prospects (Saric/Nurkic/Bogdanovic for instance).  I would be really happy with Hezonja or Porzingis if we end up drafting 7 - 10.  One of them will slip for sure

[BornReady]

For your top 5 mine is the same but I put Okafor no 1 and Mudiay behind Johnson cuz of injuries and playing in China

[PickNRoll]

I think a good comp for Russell might be Goran Dragic. Lefty combo guards(in a good way) that rely more on instincts, skills, and being nifty to get their points rather than being just plain explosive.

Good comp.  Goran might be a little more explosive finisher.  But Goran only averages 4 assists in 33 minutes.  I think Russell will be a better distributor.

[celticmania]

Anyone have any opinions on who the 5-10 next best prospects are (after my top 10)

[PickNRoll]

I have to say that that the Euroleague is getting pretty solid at developing guys.  Not that they weren't before, but I have really liked the last few seasons of prospects (Saric/Nurkic/Bogdanovic for instance).  I would be really happy with Hezonja or Porzingis if we end up drafting 7 - 10.  One of them will slip for sure

Hezonja had a heck of a game the other day.  I'm not sold yet.

http://youtu.be/uowz0HBafrk

[CFAN38]

Nice job alot of work put in there.

My one criticism is that I feel your overly positive and optimistic. At this point watching prospects many people fall into the same boat. This lowest individual ranking I see you giving is a 6.5 for Turners Athleticism.

To me a ranking system needs better defined.

Example Big man Athleticism (run, jump and lateral)

1. College Stiff  3 Average college big    5 Average NBA athlete    10 Elite (prime D Howard)

If this is the case I would rank the current Cs big athletically as follows

Sully 5
KO 5
Zeller 6
Bass 7

Going on that scale Turner is prob a 5, Okafor a 6, WCS a 9, Towns a 7, Harrell a 7.5

This change in scale should bring everyone down. You currently have most of the top ten as potential allstars.

[PickNRoll]

Nice job alot of work put in there.

My one criticism is that I feel your overly positive and optimistic. At this point watching prospects many people fall into the same boat. This lowest individual ranking I see you giving is a 6.5 for Turners Athleticism.

To me a ranking system needs better defined.

Example Big man Athleticism (run, jump and lateral)

1. College Stiff  3 Average college big    5 Average NBA athlete    10 Elite (prime D Howard)

If this is the case I would rank the current Cs big athletically as follows

Sully 5
KO 5
Zeller 6
Bass 7

Going on that scale Turner is prob a 5, Okafor a 6, WCS a 9, Towns a 7, Harrell a 7.5

This change in scale should bring everyone down. You currently have most of the top ten as potential allstars.

You might even say Sully and KO are below average NBA athletes.

[PickNRoll]

Anyone have any opinions on who the 5-10 next best prospects are (after my top 10)

Kevon Looney, Devin Booker, Montrezl Harrell, Frank Kaminsky