Minnesota Sports Forum

1. C/PF James Wiseman o 7'1", 237 lbs (Memphis)

Strengths: Size for position, Rebounding, Rim protection, Scoring in transition, Roll man, Finishing, Post offense

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Facilitating, Pick-and-roll defense

NBA Comparison: Anthony Davis

2. SG/SF Anthony Edwards o 6'5", 225 lbs (Georgia)

Strengths: Size for position, Physical strength, Advanced handle, Isolation scoring, Scoring in transition, Facilitating

Areas for Improvement: Defensive engagement, Decision-making, Shot selection, Energy

NBA Comparison: Tyreke Evans

3. PG/SG Tyrese Haliburton o 6'5", 175 lbs (Iowa State)

Strengths: Court vision, Facilitating, Perimeter shooting, Rebounding, Off-ball defense, Efficiency

Areas for Improvement: Isolation scoring, Physical strength, Free throw attempt rate

NBA Comparison: Lonzo Ball

4. SG/SF Devin Vassell o 6'7", 194 lbs (Florida State)

Strengths: Off-ball defense, Individual defense, Perimeter shooting, Forcing turnovers, Scoring in transition

Areas for Improvement: Handle, Isolation scoring, Physical strength

NBA Comparison: Mikal Bridges

5. C/PF Onyeka Okongwu o 6'9", 245 lbs (USC)

Strengths: Rim protection, Defending in space, Rebounding, Roll man, Scoring in transition

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Facilitating, Assertiveness

NBA Comparison: Derrick Favors

6. PF Obi Toppin o 6'9", 220 lbs (Dayton)

Strengths: Post offense, Scoring in transition, Perimeter shooting, Roll man, Interior defense

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter defense, Pick-and-roll defense, Rebounding

NBA Comparison: John Collins

7. PG/SG Killian Hayes o 6'5", 187 lbs (Ratiopharm Ulm)

Strengths: Advanced handle, Facilitating, Mid-range game

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Isolation scoring, Shot selection

NBA Comparison: Goran Dragic

8. SF/PF Deni Avdija o 6'9", 215 lbs (Maccabi Tel Aviv)

Strengths: Scoring in transition, Facilitating, Defensive versatility, Handle

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Isolation scoring, Physical strength

NBA Comparison: Nicolas Batum

9. SG/SF Isaac Okoro o 6'6", 225 lbs (Auburn)

Strengths: Size for position, Individual defense, Scoring in transition, Finishing, Energy

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Handle, Isolation scoring, Rebounding, Facilitating

NBA Comparison: Jaylen Brown

10. SF/PF Saddiq Bey o 6'8", 215 lbs (Villanova)

Strengths: Perimeter shooting, Defensive versatility, Individual defense, Facilitating

Areas for Improvement: Isolation scoring, Forcing turnovers, Finishing

NBA Comparison: Otto Porter

11. PG Tyrell Terry o 6'3", 170 lbs (Stanford)

Strengths: Perimeter shooting, Handle, Finishing, Competitiveness

Areas for Improvement: Physical strength, Off-ball defense, Facilitating

NBA Comparison: C.J. McCollum

12. PG Kira Lewis Jr. o 6'3", 180 lbs (Alabama)

Strengths: Scoring in transition, Handle, Perimeter shooting, Free throw attempt rate

Areas for Improvement: Individual defense, Physical strength, Creativity

NBA Comparison: Jeff Teague

13. SG R.J. Hampton o 6'5", 188 lbs (New Zealand)

Strengths: Scoring in transition, Handle, Facilitating, Court vision, Confidence

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Shot selection, Decision-making, Floater game

NBA Comparison Jordan Clarkson

14. SG/SF Josh Green o 6'5.5", 214 lbs (Arizona)

Strengths: Size for position, Individual defense, Scoring in transition, Competitiveness

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Handle, Facilitating

NBA Comparison: Danny Green

15. SG Desmond Bane o 6'5, 215 lbs (TCU)

Strengths: Perimeter shooting, Facilitating, Rebounding, Individual defense

Areas for Improvement: Handle, Isolation scoring

NBA Comparison: Joe Harris

16. SG/SF Aaron Nesmith o 6'6", 213 lbs (Vanderbilt)

Strengths: Size for position, Perimeter shooting, Off-ball movement

Areas for Improvement: Defensive engagement, Handle, Isolation scoring

NBA Comparison: Terrence Ross

17. PF/C Reggie Perry o 6'9", 250 lbs (Mississippi State)

Strengths: Rebounding, Post offense, Finishing, Handle, Roll man, Facilitating, Competitiveness

Areas for Improvement: Rim protection, Perimeter shooting

NBA Comparison: Julius Randle

18. PF/C Jalen Smith o 6'10, 225 lbs (Maryland)

Strengths: Perimeter shooting, Rim protection, Rebounding, Finishing

Areas for Improvement: Physical strength, Post offense, Facilitating

NBA Comparison: Myles Turner

19. PF/SF Tyler Bey o 6'7", 213 lbs (Colorado)

Strengths: Defensive versatility, Forcing turnovers, Rebounding, Free throw attempt rate, Finishing

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Facilitating, Post offense

NBA Comparison: Jerami Grant

20. PF/C Precious Achiuwa o 6'9", 234 lbs (Memphis)

Strengths: Rim protection, Rebounding, Finishing, Defensive versatility

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Facilitating, Post offense

NBA Comparison: John Henson

21. PG Tre Jones o 6'2.5", 185 lbs (Duke)

Strengths: Individual defense, Forcing turnovers, Facilitating, Perimeter shooting

Areas for Improvement: Isolation scoring, Physical strength, Finishing

NBA Comparison: Cory Joseph

22. PF/SF Patrick Williams o 6'8", 225 lbs (Florida State)

Strengths: Defensive versatility, Off-ball defense, Finishing, Scoring in transition

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Handle, Post offense

NBA Comparison: Al-Farouq Aminu

23. PG Payton Pritchard o 6'2", 190 lbs (Oregon)

Strengths: Advanced handle, Perimeter shooting, Finishing, Facilitating, Decision-making

Areas for Improvement: Shot selection, Individual defense

NBA Comparison: Fred VanVleet

24. PF Paul Reed o 6'9", 220 lbs (DePaul)

Strengths: Defensive versatility, Rim protection, Forcing turnovers, Rebounding, Finishing

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Post offense, Facilitating, Physical strength

NBA Comparison: Kevon Looney

25. PG LaMelo Ball o 6'7", 190 lbs (Illawarra)

Strengths: Size for position, Court vision, Facilitating, Handle, Rebounding

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Shot selection, Decision-making, Defensive engagement, Physical strength

NBA Comparison: Tomá? Satoranský

26. SG Tyrese Maxey o 6'3", 198 lbs (Kentucky)

Strengths: Isolation scoring, Scoring in transition

Areas for Improvement: Perimeter shooting, Facilitating, Decision-making, Efficiency

NBA Comparison: Brandon Knight

27. PG Theo Maledon o 6'5", 187 lbs (ASVEL)

Strengths: Court vision, Decision-making, Facilitating, Perimeter shooting

Areas for Improvement: Isolation scoring, Physical strength, Finishing, Shot selection

NBA Comparison: Monte Morris

28. PG Cole Anthony o 6'3", 184 lbs (North Carolina)

Strengths: Isolation scoring, Handle, Perimeter shooting, Free throw attempt rate, Rebounding

Areas for Improvement: Shot selection, Defensive engagement, Facilitating, Decision-making

NBA Comparison: Cameron Payne

29. C/PF Zeke Nnaji o 6'10.5", 247 lbs (Arizona)

Strengths: Rebounding, Finishing, Mid-post offense

Areas for Improvement: Rim protection, Facilitating, Perimeter shooting

NBA Comparison: Cody Zeller

30. C/PF Isaiah Stewart o 6'8.5", 243 lbs (Washington)

Strengths: Post offense, Rebounding, Rim protection, Energy

Areas for Improvement: Defensive versatility, Perimeter shooting, Facilitating

NBA Comparison: Kyle O'Quinn


Edit 1: I will edit this post to include my full big board before the draft, but I figured we needed to have a thread for others to drop theirs as well. I'm sure there will be differing opinions and evaluations for this class. - 11/13/2020

Edit 2: My top-30 have been posted. - 11/13/2020

Edit 3: Players' strengths and areas for improvement have been added. - 11/14/2020

Edit 4: NBA player comparisons have been added for each prospect. - 11/14/2020

Thanks Cam, good stuff here. I simply don't know enough about all the prospects to give a proper ranking.

LOL, just noticed you have Ball all the way down at #25. The disdain lives deep within you. Love it though.

What are the knocks on Hailburton? Athleticism? I've looked into him a bit and would not mind if we happened to trade down and nab him. He looks like a complete player or has that type of skill set. Versus many other prospects his overall game or lack of big holes is very intriguing.

WolvesFan21 wrote:What are the knocks on Hailburton? Athleticism? I've looked into him a bit and would not mind if we happened to trade down and nab him. He looks like a complete player or has that type of skill set. Versus many other prospects his overall game or lack of big holes is very intriguing.

Yes, not a lot of burst going to the rack and an unorthodox shooting form that some question will translate. So purely physical and mechanical stuff versus skills or on court production at the college level.

Q12543 wrote:Thanks Cam, good stuff here. I simply don't know enough about all the prospects to give a proper ranking.

LOL, just noticed you have Ball all the way down at #25. The disdain lives deep within you. Love it though.

I appreciate that, Q. I think LaMelo Ball deserves a first-round grade, but I don't see the star-level, potential first overall pick prospect that Jonathan Givony, Mike Schmitz, and others see in him. Some team will fall in love with the idea of what he could be, but there are too many holes in his game -- some of which can't be fixed by skill trainers.

WolvesFan21 wrote:What are the knocks on Hailburton? Athleticism? I've looked into him a bit and would not mind if we happened to trade down and nab him. He looks like a complete player or has that type of skill set. Versus many other prospects his overall game or lack of big holes is very intriguing.

Haliburton doesn't have elite quickness or burst, which makes it more difficult for him to beat his man in one-on-one situations. He also shies away from contact at times making him take tough runners instead of getting all the way to the rim. Adding some bulk and strength should help rectify that. Neither issue should cause him to fail at the next level. He's a very well-rounded and versatile prospect.

Camden0916 wrote:

WolvesFan21 wrote:What are the knocks on Hailburton? Athleticism? I've looked into him a bit and would not mind if we happened to trade down and nab him. He looks like a complete player or has that type of skill set. Versus many other prospects his overall game or lack of big holes is very intriguing.

Haliburton doesn't have elite quickness or burst, which makes it more difficult for him to beat his man in one-on-one situations. He also shies away from contact at times making him take tough runners instead of getting all the way to the rim. Adding some bulk and strength should help rectify that. Neither issue should cause him to fail at the next level. He's a very well-rounded and versatile prospect.

I think one of the other small knocks is while I don't think there is doubt about Halliburton knocking down 3's at the NBA level with his shot there is questions about who well he will he able to get that shot off quickly off the dribble.

So yeah he might be limited to being more of a 3rd best scorer on a team. If all the other stuff translates and he is an elite catch and shoot 3 point shot...he would be insanely valuable. He would be a Covington type complimentary player that can also handle the ball and play PG when needed. Think elite shooting Rubio or Shaun Livingston. Can you think how good And valuable those guys would be if they could have also shot the ball at a really high percentage from 3?

monsterpile wrote:

Camden0916 wrote:

WolvesFan21 wrote:What are the knocks on Hailburton? Athleticism? I've looked into him a bit and would not mind if we happened to trade down and nab him. He looks like a complete player or has that type of skill set. Versus many other prospects his overall game or lack of big holes is very intriguing.

Haliburton doesn't have elite quickness or burst, which makes it more difficult for him to beat his man in one-on-one situations. He also shies away from contact at times making him take tough runners instead of getting all the way to the rim. Adding some bulk and strength should help rectify that. Neither issue should cause him to fail at the next level. He's a very well-rounded and versatile prospect.

I think one of the other small knocks is while I don't think there is doubt about Halliburton knocking down 3's at the NBA level with his shot there is questions about who well he will he able to get that shot off quickly off the dribble.

So yeah he might be limited to being more of a 3rd best scorer on a team. If all the other stuff translates and he is an elite catch and shoot 3 point shot...he would be insanely valuable. He would be a Covington type complimentary player that can also handle the ball and play PG when needed. Think elite shooting Rubio or Shaun Livingston. Can you think how good And valuable those guys would be if they could have also shot the ball at a really high percentage from 3?

It's why Lonzo Ball is the common NBA comparison for Haliburton. He's the mold for what you just expressed. Haliburton projects to be better than the eldest Ball son, in my opinion.

1A. Wiseman
1B. Killian Hayes
3. Haliburton
4. Deni
5. Lamelo Ball
6A. Okongwu
6B. Jalen Smith
8. Devin Vassell
9. Edwards
10 Nesmith
11. Saddiq Bey
12. Toppin
13. Paul Reed
14. Patrick Williams
15. Theo Maledon
16. Tyrell Terry
17. Precious Achiewa
18 Isaac Okoro
19. RJ Hampton
20. Daniel Otoru
21. Pokusevski
22. Tyler Bey
23. Immanuel Quickley
24. Desmond Bane
25. Vernon Carey
26. Josh Green
27. Nnaji
28. Jaden McDaniels
29. Kira Lewis
30. Reggie Perry
---------------
31. Malachi Flynn
32. NIck Richards
33. Tre Jones


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Solid board, KG4Ever. You and The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor have something in common putting Killian Hayes at the top of this class. He's an intriguing prospect for sure.