Just 20 players will typically contribute in the NBA from a draft class. There are a few more interesting players who could carve out roles as well. The rest of the class will either end up overseas, in the G-League, out of basketball entirely or, if they are lucky, on the end of the bench of some team.
1. Cade Cunningham, Guard, Oklahoma State
A tall guard, lacking elite athleticism, Cunningham has great size for his position to go along with a good shooting and playmaking profile. He needs to tighten his handle, decrease turnovers, and improve defensively.
2. Evan Mobley, Forward/Center, USC
Mobley will most likely play center with some versatility to play the four. He is very consistent but needs to improve his shooting.
3. Jalen Suggs, Guard, Gonzaga
Suggs is very good at creating for others and has a very high motor. His defense has a chance to be elite.
4. Jalen Green, Guard/Wing, G-League Ignite
Green is a good athlete who profiles as a potential 25+ point a game scorer. His shot creation is his best trait. He needs to improve as a playmaker as well as defensively.
5. Scottie Barnes, Forward, Florida State
Barnes is the opposite of Green in many aspects. He has the potential to guard five positions and also is a very good playmaker, especially if considered a forward. He played point guard for Florida State.
6. Jonathan Kuminga, Forward, G-League Ignite
A high-risk, high-reward player, Kuminga has perhaps the higher upside in this draft and is also one of the lowest floors of the lottery prospects.
7. Alperen Sengun, Center, Besiktas (Turkey)
Turkish League MVP as a teenager, Sengun’s history shows a lot of NBA promise. However, it will take time for his game to adjust, as he is more of a back-to-the-basket player at this point. He did show more down the stretch of this past season in terms of translatable offense.
8. Moses Moody, Wing, Arkansas
Can be a prototypical 3-and-D wing. Lacks a high ceiling.
9. Josh Giddey, Guard/Wing, Adelaide 36ers (Australia)
A top-notch playmaker, he needs to either learn to shoot or defend to be successful in the NBA.
10. Franz Wagner, Forward, Michigan
Wagner is an analytics darling who has high steal and block rates and will be a serviceable player offensively.
11. Usman Garuba, Center, Real Madrid (Spain)
A very reliable player, a bit undersized. Needs to improve his shot if he wants to be a starter.
12. James Bouknight, Guard, UConn
Bouknight projects best as a Jordan Clarkson-esque score first sixth-man.
13. Keon Johnson, Guard/Wing, Tennessee
Johnson broke combine records and showed potential to be a high-end defender.
14. Davion Mitchell, Guard, Baylor
Mitchell developed his shot this past year. He is undersized and lacks elite athleticism, so his shooting will have to be elite.
15. Trey Murphy III, Wing, Virginia
Good shooter who projects as a possible 3-and-D wing.
16. Chris Duarte, Guard, Oregon
A 24-year-old prospect, he can come in and contribute immediately. However, he lacks high-end upside.
17. Kai Jones, Center, Texas
Jones is an athletic freak at center but has a lot of work to do.
18. Ziaire Williams, Forward, Stanford
A very raw player who needs time to develop and was in a very weird situation this past year at Stanford.
19. Jared Butler, Guard, Baylor
Butler was the guard with Mitchell on the Baylor national championship team. A medical red flag could cause him to drop.
20. Corey Kispert, Wing, Gonzaga
Kispert is a good shooter who will need to improve other aspects of his game to carve out a role in the NBA.