Fien’s 2021 NBA Draft Big Board
- Zache Fiene
- Jul 26, 2021
- 11 min read
With the NBA season officially over, all eyes are now on the 2021 NBA Draft. It's the perfect time to share my thoughts on the top prospects of the draft. In this article is a ranked Big Board, individual player strengths and weakness, ideal roles, NBA comparisons, and more. Enjoy!
1: Cade Cunningham, PG (Oklahoma State)
The presumed 1st overall pick for a reason. There's nothing he can't do. He scores from the inside and outside well, playmakes at an elite level, and is a very solid on ball defender against guards and wings. He's a slam dunk can't miss prospect that would instantly elevate every team in the NBA.
Strengths: Size, playmaking, defense, finishing, off the dribble shooting
Weaknesses: Playing on offense without the ball
Ideal Role: Ball dominant floor general
NBA Comparison: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mixed with Jimmy Butler
2: Jalen Suggs, PG (Gonzaga)
Jalen Suggs is a very solid basketball player who just makes winning plays. He's got a sky high basketball IQ that makes him a great playmaker, viable scorer, and elite perimeter defender. He's also got crazy athleticism, which always helps in terms of creating offense at the next level.
Strengths: Speed and quickness, IQ, vertical leap, decision making, unselfishness, perimeter defense, motor
Weaknesses: Shooting consistency, shot creation
Ideal Role: Pass first floor general
NBA Comparison: Dejounte Murray
3: Evan Mobley, C (USC)
Mobley is a skilled 7 footer who moves super well and possesses all of the desired traits of a center prospect. He's long, athletic, and even has some shooting range. Perhaps the biggest jaw dropping skill of any player in the draft. He's already one of the best shot blockers in the league. Truly has an unlimited ceiling.
Strengths: Rim protection, quick feet, vertical leap, shooting range, finishing ability
Weaknesses: Thin frame, 3 point shooting consistency, playmaking ability
Ideal Role: Offensive focal point and rim protector
NBA Comparison: Chris Bosh
4: Jalen Green, SG (G-League)
Green caught the eyes of NBA scouts mainly due to his insane athleticism and scoring ability. He's a true 3 level scorer who can beat you from anywhere offensively. Shot selection and consistency are question marks and defense is almost non existent. Right now he's an exciting offensive player with a lot of upside.
Strengths: Vertical leap, quick first step, shot creation, ball handling
Weaknesses: Defense, decision making, body strength
Ideal Role: Go to scorer
NBA Comparison: Zach Lavine
5: Jonathan Kuminga, SF/PF (G-League)
Dubbed by many as the best defender in the draft, the ceiling for Kuminga is sky high. At 6'8" 220 with good vertical abilty and quick feet, he is very capable of guarding 1-5 in the NBA. He's very raw offensively, but he's a fun project with unlimited potential. At worst he's a versatile defensive stopper.
Strengths: Defensive versatility, athleticism, quickness, rebounding, motor, finishing abilty
Weaknesses: Jump shooting, playmaking, offensive feel
Ideal Role: Slowly brought along secondary scorer, defensive stopper
NBA Comparison: Raw Jaylen Brown
6: Keon Johnson, SG/SF (Tennessee)
I am significantly higher on Johnson than most, and to me it's the combination of his size, speed, and athleticism that makes him tantalizing. At 6'5" he uses his body well defensively and will hold his own against NBA wings. Offense is his question mark, but I liked what I saw in his body control and abilty to finish through contact. Oh, he's also the best vertical jumper in the draft. With a jumper he could be special.
Strengths: Athleticism, perimeter defense, IQ, finishing ability, toughness, motor
Weaknesses: 3 point shooting consistency, playmaking
Ideal Role: Two way wing, offensive cutter
NBA Comparison: Victor Oladipo
7: James Bouknight, PG/SG (UCONN)
A versatile offensive minded combo guard, Bouknight is an NBA ready scorer. He's above average athletically, and has a deep bag of moves to score from all 3 levels. He's a good ballhandler, but often uses it to score more than facilitate. I think he's a weird fit for a lot of teams, but he's got potential to be "the guy".
Strengths: Shot creation, 3 level scoring, ball handling
Weaknesses: Defense, facilitating mindset, shot selection
Ideal Role: Ball dominant guard allowed to play "free"
NBA Comparison: Jordan Clarkson
8: Moses Moody, SG (Arkansas)
Moses Moody is one of the best outside scoring threats in the draft. Not only is he great on stand still catch and shoot opportunities, he's also very effective coming off screens. He also has a very good dribble pull up, and uses it to elude incoming closeouts. Defensively he's pretty good too. Quick feet and super long arms for his size that should hold up against NBA guards. I don't think his ceiling is very high though.
Strengths: Shooting, perimeter defense, length, IQ
Weaknesses: Shot creation, playmaking, ball handling
Ideal Role: Ready to contribute 3&D wing
NBA Comparison: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
9: Scottie Barnes, SF/PF (Florida State)
Barnes is a similar player to some other former Seminole lottery picks Jonathon Isaac and Patrick Williams. He's a defensive minded forward, but what makes him different is his playmaking ability. I would classify him as a point forward. Not only does he have good court vision, he actually can create some offense for others off the dribble. For himself though, not so much. He's got almost no offensive game at this point.
Strengths: IQ, playmaking, versatile defense, strong body, vertical leap
Weaknesses: Shooting, shot creation, post game
Ideal Role: Pass first point forward with a defensive focus
NBA Comparison: Draymond Green
10: Jalen Johnson, SF/PF (Duke)
Johnson has fallen down draft boards after a disappointing season at Duke that ended with Johnson quitting the team, but to me I'd bet on his raw talent. He's uber-athletic and has tools to be great. For him the worries are all between the ears. His basketball IQ and his overall mindset at times are huge question marks. He won't go this high on draft night, but he'd be a good gamble for a team in the teens to bet on.
Strengths: Offensive aggressiveness, playmaking, athleticism, size/length, spacing/cutting
Weaknesses: Shooting consistency, finishing ability, motor
Ideal Role: Short spurt offensive initiator
NBA Comparison: Rudy Gay
11: Corey Kispert, SG/SF (Gonzaga)
Kispert is the best shooter in the draft. He's shot up draft boards due to his scoring during Gonzaga's run to the National Championship. He's incredibly efficient, both in his shooting numbers and shot mechanics. He runs well off screens, and doesn't need a lot of room to get his shot off. I'm unsure if he'll ever be more than just a shooter, but his high basketball IQ and good size make me think he could be something defensively.
Strengths: Shooting, IQ, size
Weaknesses: Individual defense, shot creation, playmaking
Ideal Role: Complementary sharpshooter
NBA Comparison: Joe Harris
12: Josh Giddey, PG (Australia)
The first international player on my board, Giddey is someone who I think is ready to help an NBA team right now. He's a true 6'8" PG who excels as an offensive initiator. Watching his film, his basketball IQ immediately stands out. He sees everything, and has the ability to make any pass on the floor. Lot of question marks in his game, but the foundation is there to be a contributor very early on.
Strengths: Vision, IQ, ball handling, poise, size
Weaknesses: Athleticism, shooting consistency, scoring ability
Ideal Role: Ball dominant backup PG
NBA Comparison: Joe Ingles
13: Kai Jones, C (Texas)
With Kai Jones, you're betting on what you see and not his college production, which wasn't much. He's a super bouncy and quick big with high upside as a shot blocker and above the rim finisher. Due to his overall athleticism and quickness, he's also got a highly coveted skillset... the ability to switch in the pick and roll and guard smaller players. Super high ceiling for Jones, a very exciting player.
Strengths: Athleticism, length, rim protection, defensive versatility, motor
Weaknesses: Shooting, body strength, playmaking
Ideal Role: Two-way rim runner
NBA Comparison: Javale McGee
14: Davion Micthell, PG/SG (Baylor)
Mitchell has skyrocketed up draft boards due to his crucial role in Baylor's National Championship. He's a smaller guard at only 6'2", so he has to be crafty both as a primary ball handler and as a scorer. Where he's really going to make his money though is on the defensive end. He's a bulldog defensively, always playing with tenacity and toughness. He's not a great vertical athlete, and that's his biggest question mark given his size, but there is a role for him to contribute right away. At 22 years old already, his upside is a bit limited.
Strengths: Perimeter defense, ball handling, 3 point shooting, quickness, court vision
Weaknesses: Vertical leap, size, length
Ideal Role: Defensive minded complementary guard
NBA Comparison: If Donavon Mitchell played like Jrue Holiday
15: Franz Wagner, SF/PF (Michigan)
Wagner is a very well rounded prospect who doesn't have a signature skill that sticks out. But that's okay, because his measurables show promise that he might be able to develop one. He's a very long 6'8" with quick feet and insanely high defensive IQ. He's got promise on that end. Offensively was kind of a mixed bag. He has games where he shot the ball well, and games where he was a liability. Scoring is the big question mark here.
Strengths: Defensive versatility, IQ, playmaking, length, quickness
Weaknesses: Shooting consistency, athleticism, shot creation
Ideal Role: Playmaking forward
NBA Comparison: Lamar Odom
16: Alperen Sengun, C (Turkey)
My second raked international prospect, Sengun is unlike many of the international bigs to come over recently. He's a true bruising back-to-the-basket type of center. He also has good shooting touch and some range. He's a really exciting project for a team looking for a big.
Strengths: Post game, strength, touch, range
Weaknesses: Speed, vertical leap, defense
Ideal Role: Low post scoring 5
NBA Comparison: Nikola Vucevic
17: Cameron Thomas, SG (LSU)
Cam Thomas is a bucket. He put up 23 PPG this year at LSU, but his efficiency was not great. Cam can score in bunches from anywhere, anytime he wants. Great shot creator and shot maker off the dribble. Outside of scoring, not sure he offers much in terms of fitting in an NBA offense. He's better off on a bad team where he can get a lot of touches early.
Strengths: Shooting, shot creation, quick first step, midrange game, floaters
Weaknesses: Shot selection, defense, playmaking
Ideal Role: Off the bench bucket getter
NBA Comparison: Lou Williams
18: Usman Garuba, PF/C (Spain)
First word that comes to mind when watching Garuba is "energy". He's got a super high motor and it feels like he's constantly outworking guys. He's 6'8" with a enormous 7'2" wingspan, and that helps him lock up 1-5 on defense. Very promising player on that end. Offensively he's raw and doesn't provide much in terms of scoring besides cutting for easy layups and dunks. But he is valuable on that end just for his willingness and almost eagerness to do the "little things".
Strengths: Motor, length, defensive versatility, screening, athleticism
Weaknesses: Offensive feel, shooting, go-to moves
Ideal Role: Small ball 5 off the bench
NBA Comparison: Kenneth Faried
19: Sharife Cooper, PG (Auburn)
Cooper has some elite tools, but perhaps his biggest shortcomings are the most important in the eyes of NBA GM's. He's only 6'0", and he's not much of a shooter at all. Where he does excel is as a plamaker. He's lightning quick, a great ball handler, and has tremendous court vision. I think he's a good investment for a contender who needs a backup PG.
Strengths: Vision, ball handling, speed, IQ, leadership
Weaknesses: Size, shooting, vertical leap
Ideal Role: Floor general off the bench
NBA Comparison: Young Rajon Rondo
20: Isaiah Todd, PF (G-League)
Todd kind of took a backseat to Green and Kuminga and has subsequently been forgotten about. He's got a lot of desirable skills for someone his size. Good length, shooting ability, and quick feet all help him score at a good rate. He's got a high ceiling, but also a low floor if it doesn't click for him quickly.
Strengths: Length, range, athleticism, quickness, touch
Weaknesses: Strength, motor, decision making
Ideal Role: Floor spacing 4
NBA Comparison: Bobby Portis
21: Trey Murphy, SF/PF (Virginia)
Murphy will likely go higher than this on draft night, but I'm concerned with his small sample size and overall upside. He's a simple evaluation. He's nothing more than a catch and shoot wide open 3s guy on offense, but he's versatile and stout defensively. Super long arms to go with his 6'7" height that allow him to guard up. Should be ready to contribute in a niche role for a contender.
Strengths: Versatile defense, 3 point shooting, spacing, IQ, length
Weaknesses: Shot creation, playmaking, body strength
Ideal Role: 3&D wing
NBA Comparison: De'Andre Hunter
22: Chris Duarte, SG/SF (Oregon)
Duarte for now is just a shooter, but he's got promise to develop into more. At 6'6" with good athleticism and body strength, he could be a plus defender rather quickly. He is already 24, so it would likely have to click for him sooner rather than late for him to stick in a contender's rotation.
Strengths: 3 point shooting, motor, IQ, size
Weaknesses: Age, shot creation, athleticism
Ideal Role: Complementary sharpshooter
NBA Comparison: Gary Trent Jr
23: Tre Mann, PG/SG (Florida)
Mann is a score first guard who especially excels as a shooter. He's quick, crafty, and efficient with his dribbles and he gets to his spots well. He's a high upside player who should be ale to provide scoring in short spurts right away.
Strengths: 3 point shooting, shot creation, athleticism, offensive aggressiveness
Weaknesses: Defense, playmaking, decision making
Ideal Role: Offensive initiator off the bench
NBA Comparison: D'Angelo Russell
24: Zaire Williams, SF/PF (Stanford)
One of the toughest evaluations for me. Williams has super appealing measurables and physical tools, but just hasn't put it all together yet. He was terribly inefficient as a scorer in college, but that's his MO on the offensive side. He's a score first player. Defensively he's okay, but his appealing tools make him projectable as a plus versatile defender. High upside, but also a super low floor. Teams that are a few years away should be all over Williams in the late 1st.
Strengths: Shot creation, perimeter defense, length, athleticism
Weaknesses: 3 point shooting, shot selection, overall feel
Ideal Role: Developmental scorer
NBA Comparison: Cam Reddish
25: Josh Primo, SG/SF (Alabama)
This would be my dart throw if I'm an NBA GM picking in the late 1st. Primo is a prototypical NBA scorer with a sweet shooting stroke. He's long and quick enough to be a great defender, but he's not there yet. He's serviceable on that end though, mostly due to his motor and tenacity. At 18 years old, he's more of a project than a plug and play guy, but I like his upside to an NBA offense.
Strengths: 3 point shooting, shot creation, IQ, motor
Weaknesses: Athleticism, ball handling, playmaking
Ideal Role: Developmental bucket getter
NBA Comparison: Caris LeVert
26: Jaden Springer, PG/SG (Tennessee)
Springer has been my biggest faller so far, and it's simply because I think he has the most blurry path to NBA success. He's a Robin (not a Batman) by nature and will struggle to command the attention of any defense in the NBA. Still, I think his playmaking and perimeter defense are both already valuable assets.
Strengths: IQ, motor, perimeter defense, playmaking
Weaknesses: Athleticism, burst, shooting, shot creation
Ideal Role: Secondary ball handler to complement a scorer
NBA Comparison: Malcolm Brogdon
27: Isaiah Jackson, PF/C (Kentucky)
At just 19 years old, Jackson is exciting as a project. He's got tremendous potential as a versatile defender given his otherworldly athleticism, and makes his money on offense with explosive rim running and offensive rebounding abilities. There's holes in his game for sure, but I like his chances to be a valuable NBA player.
Strengths: Athleticism, rim protection, quick feet, rebounding
Weaknesses: Shooting range, strength, defensive discipline
Ideal Role: High energy small ball 5
NBA Comparison: Nic Claxton
28: Jared Butler, PG/SG (Baylor)
Butler is tough to project in terms of landing spot on draft night, as he has some medical issues that are kind of a question mark at this point. But if he's ready to go, then Butler will likely be a steal for a team in the late 1st come Thursday. He's got tremendous scoring ability from 3 and the mid range, and also is a pretty good playmaker. He can shoot it off the catch or create for himself off the dribble as well.
Strengths: Shot creation, 3 point shooting, playmaking, motor
Weaknesses: Athleticism, finishing ability, size
Ideal Role: Offensive initiator off the bench
NBA Comparison: George Hill
29: Josh Christopher, SG (Arizona State)
A definite project who is nowhere near NBA ready. Relies a lot on athleticism to get shots. He is a good shooter off the dribble and possesses some in-between game as well. He's got major holes in his game and I worry about his long term fit in an NBA offense. Tremendous upside though defensively.
Strengths: Athleticism, shot creation, strength, ball handling
Weaknesses: 3 point shooting consistency, playmaking, overall feel
Ideal Role: Developmental spark scorer
NBA Comparison: Nick Young
30: Jason Preston, PG/SG (Ohio)
Preston rose up draft boards as he propelled Ohio to an upset win in the NCAA Tournament. He's a playmaking point guard who completely controls the game. He's got scoring ability as well, especially as a catch and shoot 3 point shooter. I think he's a player that would seamlessly fit in any NBA offense.
Strengths: Playmaking, 3 point shooting, IQ, rebounding
Weaknesses: Athleticism, defense, shot creation
Ideal Role: Offensive initiator
NBA Comparison: Lonzo Ball
Honorable Mentions:
Quentin Grimes, PG/SG (Houston)
Greg Brown, SF/PF (Texas)
Jerimiah Robinson-Earl, PF/C (Villanova)
Charles Bassey, C (western Kentucky)
BJ Boston, SG/SF (Duke)
Ayo Dosunmu, PG (Illinois)
Miles McBride, PG (West Virginia)
JT Thor, SF/PF (Auburn)
David Johnson, PG/SG (Lousiville)
Luka Garza, C (Iowa)
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