Dzanan Musa | C | Age: 19.0 | Cedevita
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Strengths
- Has excellent size for the wing at 6-8 without shoes. Theoretically can play some 4, despite having a wing skill-set.
- Gifted, aggressive scorer with a nose for putting the ball in the basket. Has done it at every level he's played. Career 23 points per-40 minutes in 228 games. Averaged over 22 points per-40 in an efficient manner, playing against top European competition as an 18-year-old, an extremely rare feat historically. Can create his own offense impressively and make tough shots off the dribble. Advanced pick-and-roll player. Great in the open floor pushing rebounds off the defensive glass. Takes and makes 3-pointers prolifically.
- Instinctive, competitive player. Has toughness. Doesn't mind contact. Draws fouls in bunches. Finds teammates creatively. Solid rebounder. Gets in the passing lanes. Plays with a chip on his shoulder. Loves the big moments. Infatuated with the NBA. Idolizes Kobe Bryant.
Improvement areas
- Just an average athlete. Upper body is hunched, causing him to play smaller than his size. Needs to continue to improve his frame. Hasn't put on all that much weight over the past few years. Major question marks about his ability to defend his own position.
- Competitive nature can get the best of him. Rubs teammates and coaches the wrong way at times. Body language leaves something to be desired.
- Shot-selection and decision making could stand to improve. Likes to catch, hold and iso, which won't be his role early on and may not be viable long-term with his average tools. Career 31 percent 3-point shooter on 680-plus attempts.
Projected role: Microwave scorer
Physical Comps
PLAYER AGE HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Dzanan Musa 18.1 6-8.5 195 6-9
Joe Ingles 21.7 6-10.25 209 6-8.25
Rodney Hood 21.6 6-8.5 208 6-8.5
Omri Casspi 21 6-9.25 211 6-9.25
Khyri Thomas | SG/SF | Age: 22.0 | Creighton
Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports
Strengths
- Not overly tall at a shade under 6-4 in shoes but has a massive 6-10½ wingspan that should allow him to defend any of the backcourt positions. Strong frame.
- Highly efficient offensive player. Career 58 percent 2-point shooter and 41 percent from 3. Hit 67 percent of his free throws as a senior. A good passer. Understands his role. Rarely turns the ball over. Strong feel.
- One of the better defenders in the draft. Physical player who brings a consistently high energy level. Talks non-stop. Showed the ability to guard anywhere from 1-4 at the college level. Doesn't get posted up despite lack of size. Gets in the passing lanes consistently. Career 2.0 steals per-40. Coaching staff raves about his approach to the game and intangibles.
Improvement areas
- Not a prolific offensive player. Was a role-player most of his college career. Doesn't have much wiggle with the ball. Rarely gets to the free throw line. At his best making spot-up jumpers and attacking in the open floor. Struggles to shoot off the dribble.
- Already 22 years old. One of the older players projected to be picked among potential first rounders.
- Lack of size isn't ideal at 6-2½ barefoot coupled with his lack of ball skills. Will need to be surrounded with creators at the 1 and 3.
Projected role: 3-and-D wing
Physical Comps
PLAYER AGE HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Khyri Thomas 22 6-3.75 199 6-10.5
E'Twaun Moore 22 6-4 191 6-9.5
Norman Powell 22 6-4.25 215 6-10.75
Gerald Henderson 21.6 6-5 215 6-10.25
Grayson Allen | SG | Age: 22.6 | Duke
Andres Kudacki/AP Photo
Strengths
- Made a large volume of 3s throughout his college career (38 percent). 85 percent free throw shooter. Shoots it with deep range pulling up off the bounce or with his feet set. Can come off screens and shoot on the move.
- Good athlete in the open court. Explosive leaper in space. Attacks closeouts with excellent footwork. Makes a lot of hustle plays. Gets in the passing lanes frequently. Energetic, tough and competitive. Willing to do the little things.
- Can play some point guard in a pinch. Runs the offense. Passes ahead in transition. Can drive and dish some. Unselfish player overall. Academic All-American. Ticks a number of boxes NBA teams look for in a role player.
Improvement areas
- Clunky ball-handler. Lacks a degree of wiggle and shiftiness. Two-footed jumper who lacks the length to finish efficiently inside the paint. Doesn't get to the free throw line at a great rate. Mostly a straight line driver. Relies heavily on pull-up jumpers.
- Heavy footed defender. Doesn't cover ground well. Gets burned off the bounce too frequently.
- Didn't show much improvement from his sophomore to senior year. Was an inconsistent player overall. Numbers stagnated against elite-level competition. Struggled to handle pressure at times. Tripping incidents.
Projected role: Energetic shooting backup combo guard
Physical Comps
PLAYER AGE HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Grayson Allen 22.6 6-4.5 198 6-7.25
Jrue Holiday 19.1 6-4.25 199 6-7
Austin Rivers 19.9 6-5 203 6-7.25
Gary Harris 19.7 6-4.5 205 6-6.75
Josh Okogie | SG | Age: 19.7 | Georgia Tech2015 Nike Global Challenge.
- Improved standstill shooter who made 38 percent of his 3s and 82.1 percent of his free throws; 93rd percentile on 62 catch-and-shoot jumpers. Was tasked with the role of primary shot-creator on an underwhelming Georgia Tech team, which played a big part in his inefficiencies offensively.
Improvement areas
- Extremely rigid ball handler. Shouldn't be tasked with shot-creation duties in the half court. Struggles to change speeds and directions. Feel for the game is still a work in progress. Unable to execute simple passes. Partially a function of developed bad habits given his role in college but settles for low-percentage shots in the half court. Head down to the rim. Career 119 assists to 134 turnovers.
- Still has questions to answer as a shooter, especially off the dribble. Shoots a set shot on the move. Doesn't get much lift. Needs time and space.
- Not the finisher his tools suggest. Career 45.4 percent from 2 on 768 attempts. Shot 43.2 percent from 2 as a sophomore. Shot 44.6 percent at the rim in the half court and 0-for-10 on floaters.
Projected role: 3-and-D wing
[paste:font size="5"]Physical Comps
PLAYER AGE HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Josh Okogie 19.7 6-4.5 211 7-0
Norman Powell 22 6-4.25 215 6-10.75
Tyreke Evans 19.8 6-5.25 221 6'-1.25
Jason Richardson 20.4 6-5.75 213 6-11.5