update as of 5/4
Tier 1
Doncic Wing
Tier 2
Jackson Big
Ayton Big
Tier 3
Bamba Big
Bagely Big
Porter Jr Swing
Young Guard
Tier 4
Sexton Guard
Carter Big
Miles Bridges Swing
Mikal Bridges Wing
Z Smith Wing (moved up a tier)
Tier 5
J Porter Big
R Williams Big
Gilgeous-Alevander Guard
K Knox Swing
M Robinson Big
L Walker Wing
J Okogie Wing (added)
Tier 6
O Spellman Big (added
S Ponds Guard (dropped a tier)
T Brown Wing
Bates-Diop Swing
Musa Wing
Melton Guard
Evans Wing (moved up tier)
Tier 7
McCoy Big (dropped tier)
Milton Wing
Alkins Wing
Bonga Wing
A Simons Wing
Duval Guard
Divincenzo Wing (added)
Allen Wing
K Thomas Wing (added)
Tier 8
Trent Jr Wing
Frazier Wing
Brunson Guard
Shamet Guard
Mykhailuik Wing (added)
B Bowen Wing (added)
Hutchison Wing (added)
Holiday Guard (added)
D Graham Guard (added)
Wiley Big (added
Tier 9
Carter Guard (added)
Wagner Big (added)
G Clark Swing (added)
J Jackson Swing (added)
I have added players and shifted some guys around. This gets my list up to 48 players.
I have highlighted in orange a few players who I think have a great chance to out player their current tier much like D Mitchell has this year. Im not saying these players will be stars but they might go mid second and be surprise contributors.
1. Zhaire Smith, he is an absolute freak athlete. At this point he isn't much of a creator on offense but can hit open shots, is super active on the boards, and plays elite D. He could be the player who everyone looks back on as the steal of this draft and potential best player long term.
2. J Porter, not the hyped prospect his brother was but he has a lot to like when projecting him to the NBA. If he gets his body in line he could be a unique prospect who can both facilitate from the perimeter, shoot the 3, defend the 5, and give some rim protection.
3. Josh Okogie, he is a player that I cant believe more draft pundits are not higher on. He is only 6'4 but has a 7' wing span and was last weight in at 213lbs. He put up good number on a bad GT team scoring 18 ppg and 6rb. He projects as a good 3pt shooter and is really good at drawing contract and getting to the foul line. He also averaged 1blk per game and 1.8stl per game. Into today's position less game he will be a very switchable defender who I think will be a surprisingly effecting scoring option given good spacing.
4. Bates-Diop, he has the perfect size, length and skill set to player the modern swing role. He will need to gain strength to compete against the elite of the position but I feel he is currently being under sold on most mocks.
5. Grayson Allen, he is the classic over exposed college player. We have seen him so much that every one of his weaknesses are pointed out and put on display. My bottom line with Grayson is that I can see him contributing minutes on a playoff winning team. He shoots the ball well, is a capable secondary ball handler, is super competitive (to the point of immaturity), and has good positional strength.
6. Sviatoslav Mykhailuik, he is another player who we have seen a lot of over the past 4 years. Despite being a senior he is only 20 yrs old thanks to starting college at 17. His clear path to an NBA job will come as a lights out 3pt shooter. I was very impressed watching Myhaluik defend Marvin Bagely this year. Despite only having a 6'5 wing span at 6'8 and weighing in around 205-210lbs he seems to be a very willing and active on defense. As a bench shooter in the Kyle Korver mold all teams will really ask of him is to shoot lights out and engage on defense. I think he will be able to do both on the NBA level and will find him self a solid role on a wining team.