Behold, my final big board for the 2021 draft. No huge swings or surprises from last time, but there were some notable risers.
Jaden Springer’s potential as an on and off ball guard really entices me. I don’t think he can control all 48 minutes as the lead guard, but he can contribute in a joint backcourt no doubt. His jump shot will be the key to unlocking all of his potential on offense. His defense, tenacity, and finishing ability are NBA ready.
My wild card that I could simply not get a read on is Josh Giddey. In at #15, I can see all the range of outcomes on his pro career. He is so smart in interviews and his high IQ is evident on the court, too. He is an exceptional passer and reminds me of Lamelo Ball at times with both his vision and passing talent. The issue is that his jump shot is slow and lacks a good foundation. I knocked Lamelo for this coming into the league and it was definitely an overreaction. Giddey doesn’t have much burst and getting past perimeter defenders is a huge question mark. Giddey, like Lamelo, just needs his jumper to be good enough where defenders can’t go under P&R actions (33-35%). If that happens, I like Giddey a ton as a 6’7″ lead guard who can make all the passes.
My high floor safe play this year is Jared Butler. With Butler being cleared by his doctors to compete in the NBA, all concerns from me went out the window. His ceiling is unknown right now but I can’t see him being a bust or even below average. He has a smooth jumper with a knack for making big plays. He’ll be an easy plug and play from the moment he steps on the NBA floor. Eight man rotations are huge in the playoffs and I wouldn’t be shocked if Butler goes to a contender and contributes valuable minutes instantly.
Thanks for reading I really appreciate it! Any questions, or if you just want to talk hoops, let me know in the comment section!