2022: NBA DRAFT: Positional Breakdown: BIG MEN

 BIG MEN 

NOTE: Paulo Banchero and Chet Holmgren are locks to be picked in the top four and will be listed on my Franchise Cornerstone Positional Breakdown.

After Banchero and Holmgren, there is a debate on who the next best big man is. This year’s class has a lot of prospects that can carve out roles and have long NBA careers.

This draft could also indicate what certain teams plan on doing in free agency. Several teams have decisions to make regarding their big men. These include DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix), Jusuf Nurkic (Portland), Montrezl Harrell (Charlotte), Mitchell Robinson (New York) and Mo Bamba (Orlando). All but Phoenix have a pick in the top 13.

FIRST ROUND LOCKS: 



Jalen Duren-C-Memphis

6'11''/250/7'4''
12.0 PTS      8.1 REB        2.1 BLK       
Fr./18.6
Hometown: New Castle, DE
NBA Comparison: DeAndre Jordan/Jarrett Allen
ROLE: High Energy Big Man with All Star potential   
BEST TOOLS: Athletic Ability/Mobility/Length



Duren is one of the youngest players in the draft and offers incredible physical skills. Similar to Jordan and Allen, he doesn’t provide much offense on his own. If Duren can find the right system and right point guard, he can blossom into an All Star.

 


Mark Williams-C-Duke    
7'2''/242/7'6.5''
11.2 PTS      7.4 REB        2.8 BLK       
So./20.5       
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
NBA Comparison: JaVale McGee/Rudy Gobert
ROLE: High Energy Defensive Big Man  
BEST TOOLS: Length/Shot Blocking/Rebounding

Williams has Gobert like length with his nearly 9’9” standing reach and 7'6.5'' wingspan. His size and athletic ability should allow him to stick in the league like McGee. He does have All-Defense upside like Gobert. Williams also proved he is comfortable as a role player as he played alongside many talented players at Duke the past two seasons.


EJ Liddell-PF-Ohio St
6'7''/242/6'11.75''              
19.4 PTS      7.9 REB        2.5 AST        2.6 BLK
Jr./21.5
Hometown: Belleville, IL
NBA Comparison: Udonis Haslem/Grant Williams
ROLE: Versatile power forward and small ball four    
BEST TOOLS: Basketball IQ/Shooting/Hustle

Liddell is a winning player that can instantly play a role on a playoff team. He could be the missing piece for a title contender like Memphis, Milwaukee, Dallas or Miami. Those four teams pick right in Liddell’s range from picks 22-27.


Walker Kessler-C-Auburn
7'1''/256/7'4.75''      
So./20.9
11.4 PTS      8.1 REB        4.6 BLK                 
Hometown: Newnan, GA
NBA Comparison: Brendan Haywood/Jakob Poeltl
ROLE: Defensive Big Man/ Perfect second unit big  
BEST TOOLS: Elite Shot Blocker/Length/Defense

Kessler is a big man that knows exactly what he is on the court to do. He is a shot blocker and rebounder that can provide quality minutes off the bench.


FIRST ROUND BORDERLINE:


Patick Baldwin-PF-Wisconsin Milwaukee
6'10''/231/7'1.72''
12.0 PTS      8.1 REB        2.1 BLK       
Fr./19.6
Hometown: Sussex, WI
NBA Comparison: Brian Cook/Kelly Olynyk
ROLE: Good Bench Player  
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Hustle/BBall IQ  

Baldwin may be the most interesting prospect in the entire draft. He was a top 5 high school player but underwhelmed in one year in college. He has a very good fundamentally sound offensive game. However, he is not a great athlete as evidenced by his combine low 25 in max vert. He is also a very finesse player right now.


Christian Koloko-C-Arizona
7'0''/221/7'5.25''
12.6 PTS      7.3 REB        2.8 BLK       
Jr./22.0
Hometown: Douala, Cameroon
NBA Comparison: Gorgui Dieng/ Andris Biedriņš
ROLE: Energy big on second unit\
BEST TOOLS: Length/Mobility/Defense

His size and athletic ability give him a chance to be drafted in the first round. He can become a productive role player if he is able to get a little stronger. He could be a solid backup center right away.


Jaylin Williams-PF-Arkansas    
6′10”/237/7′1”         
10.9 PTS      9.8 REB        2.6 AST        1.1 BLK        1.3 STL                   
So./19.9
Hometown: Fort Smith, AR
NBA Comparison: Andrew Nicholson/Patrick Patterson
BEST TOOLS: Versatility/Rebounding/Hustle

Williams is a very well-rounded player that surprised a lot of people by turning pro this season. He could sneak into the first and become a very good role player.


Ismael Kamagate-C-France/Paris BB       
6'11''/220/7'3''
French League: 12.6 PTS    7.3 REB     2.8 BLK      
INT/21.4
Hometown: Paris
NBA Comparison: Andrson Varejao/Nerlens Noel
ROLE: High End Backup Big  
BEST TOOLS: Length/Defense

Kamagate could carve out a role on the right team as a defensive center. He would need to be the 5th option offensively.


GETTING DRAFTED BORDERLINE:

Trevion Williams-PF-Purdue
6′9”/265/7′2.75”      
12.0 PTS      7.4 REB        3.0 AST                                     
Sr./21.7
Hometown: Chicago
NBA Comparison: Brad Miller/Jared Sullinger
BEST TOOLS: Passing/Versatility/IQ  

Williams is very similar to another former Purdue great in Miller. Both are incredible passers for their size. Williams faces the same uphill climb that Miller had after going undrafted in 1998. Mille became a two time All Star. That may be lofty for Williams but I think he makes a NBA roster next year and can contribute in limited minutes.


Orlando Robinson-C-Fresno St
6′11”/244/7′4”         
19.4 PTS      8.4 REB        2.9 AST        1.2 BLK                           
Jr./21.9
Hometown: Las Vegas
NBA Comparison: Marreese Speights/Cole Aldrich
BEST TOOLS: Length/Scoring/IQ  

Robinson is an intriguing prospect that has a decent offensive game for a big. His scoring and shooting numbers really improved from last year.


Yannick Nzosa-C-Congo/Unicaja (Spain)
6'11''/215/7'6''
INT/18.6
Hometown: Kinshasa, DR Congo
NBA Comparison: John Henson/Jonathan Isaac 
BEST TOOLS: Length/Mobility/Shot Blocking Potential

His 7’6” wingspan and mobility give him a chance at getting drafted. He is a slender lefty that has excellent athletic ability. However, given his very young age and the fact that he only played 10 minutes per game at Unicaja make him a 3-5 year project. 


Dom Barlow-PF-Overtime Elite
6'10''/221/7'3''
OT/19.1
Hometown: Dumont, NJ
NBA Comparison: Donte Greene/Marquese Chriss
BEST TOOLS: Versatility/Athletic Ability

Barlow is a finesse stretch four that basically came out of no where and is now a borderline draft pick. The track record for these types of prospects is journeyman role player at best. Maybe he is the exception and gets drafted by the perfect organization.


Khalifa Diop-C-Senegal/Gran Canaria (Spain)
6′11”/231/7′2”
ACB (Spain):        6.5 PTS        4.2 REB                 
INT/20.4
Hometown: Guereo
NBA Comparison: Johan Petro/Thon Makur
BEST TOOLS: Energy/Mobility  

Diop provides this big man class with yet another raw athletic prospect. He has played professionally since age 17 but he still is far from ready to produce in the NBA.


Moussa Diabate-PF-Michigan
6'10''/217/7′2.5”      
9.0 PTS        6.0 REB
Fr./20.4
Hometown: Paris
NBA Comparison: Skal Labissiere/ Chris McCullough
BEST TOOLS: Mobility/Hustle/Defensive Potential

Diabate was a highly rated prospect that did not have high production in his one year in college very similar to Labissiere and McCullough. He has a nice combination of tools for a modern day big but he will be drafted as a long term project.


Ibou Dianko Badji-C-Senegal/Forca Lleida CE (Spain)    
7′ 1”/240/7′8”
INT/19.8
Hometown: Dakar
NBA Comparison: Alexis Ajinça/Lucas Nogueira
BEST TOOLS: Length/Shot Blocking Potential

He is probably the rawest prospect of all the big men in the class. But you cannot teach a 7’8” wingspan.


Isaiah Mobley-PF/C-USC
6′10”/238/7′3”         
14.2 PTS      8.3 REB        3.3 AST                 
Jr./21.7
Hometown: Murrieta, CA
NBA Comparison: Josh McRoberts
BEST TOOLS: Length/Rebounding/Mobility

Mobley will not be a lottery pick like his bother last year, but he still has a chance to get drafted. He had a nice jump in production this year and like his brother he has very good mobility for a big.

 

Kofi Cockburn-C-Illinois 
7'0''/293/7'4.25''
20.9 PTS      10.6 REB     
Jr./22.8
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
NBA Comparison: Eddy Curry
BEST TOOLS: Power/Scoring/Rebounding

Given his size and college resume, Cockburn would have been a lottery lock 15-20 years ago. He is an oversized old school big that is a very good offensive player but lacks the skills of the modern-day NBA big. He is the type of player you root for to get drafted late.


Makur Maker-C-Australia
6'11.25''/232/7'1.75''
Fr./20.7
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya/ Perth, Australia
NBA Comparison: Perry Jones/Harry Giles
BEST TOOLS: Scoring/Mobility/Length

Makur has some perimeter skills but thinks he’s a guard and doesn’t seem to like to play too physical. Like Jones and Giles, he just seems likely to be another highly touted high school player that can’t seem to put everything together.


John Butler-C/CF-FSU    
7'1''/174/7'2.25''
5.9 PTS        3.2 REB        39.3%-3PT   
Fr./19.6
Hometown: Greenville, SC
NBA Comparison: Chris Boucher
BEST TOOLS: Long Range Shooting/Height/Mobility

Long Term Project that is too skinny and not skilled enough to play in the NBA anytime soon. He can hit an open three yet was a horrible free throw shooter (44.0%). At 174 pounds, he makes Chet Holmgren look like a body builder. Despite all of this he still may get drafted.


Kai Sotto-C-Philippines                                           
7'2"/240/7′5” 
Australia NBL:   7.6 PTS    4.5 REB      
INT./20.1
Hometown: Las Piñas, Philippines
NBA Comparison: Ryan Hollins
BEST TOOLS: Rebounding/Post Play/Length

Sotto has an outside chance to get drafted. He is a foreign prospect that played one year of high school in Ohio. He has been on the draft radar for years but is still a mystery to many scouts.


G-League Potential/Summer League Invite:

 

Darius Days-PF-LSU
6'7"/239/7'1'
Sr./22.7
Hometown: Williston, FL
BEST TOOLS: Rebounding/Power

Marcus Bingham-C-Michigan St
7'2"/240/7′5”
Sr./21.9
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
BEST TOOLS: Shooting/Shot Blocking

David McCormack-C -Kansas
6'11"/261/7′2”
Sr./23.0
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
BEST TOOLS: Rebounding/Post Play

Amadou Sow-F/C-UCSB
6'9"/235.7′2”
Sr./23.6
Hometown: Bamako, Mali
BEST TOOLS: Rebounding/Post Play

Shareef O'Neal-PF-LSU
6'11"/208/7′1.25”
Jr./22.5
Hometown: Los Angeles
BEST TOOLS: Athletic Ability/Defense


Kenneth Lofton-PF-LA Tech
6'11"/280/7′2”
So./19.9
Hometown: Port Arthur, TX
BEST TOOLS: Rebounding/Power








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