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2019 NBA Draft Top-30 Prospect Player Comparisons

By Ed Memphis

NEW YORK - JUNE 19: NBA Draft Prospect, Ja Morant poses for portraits during media availability and circuit as part of the 2019 NBA Draft on June 19, 2019 at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JUNE 19: NBA Draft Prospect, Ja Morant poses for portraits during media availability and circuit as part of the 2019 NBA Draft on June 19, 2019 at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Memphis Grizzlies NBA Draft
Memphis Grizzlies NBA Draft prospect Cam Reddish (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Ceiling: Peak Harrison Barnes

Floor: Career average Nicolas Batum

Cam is a another top-five talent, but didn’t produce as expected his lone season at Duke, although he had to sacrifice his offense on such a loaded roster that also seriously lacked floor spacing. Cam Reddish is the ideal sized wing with ideal skills & ideal selflessness. However one can’t help but wonder just how ambitious is Reddish & does he have the will to come close to maximizing his immense talent & versatility. Will the former McDonald’s All-American be the Harrison Barnes that showed in Golden State he was a max contract candidate, or perhaps even better? Or is he just another swiss army knife, solid role player wing? Only time will tell.

Ceiling: Jamal Murray

Floor: Young Eric Gordon

Cody is a scoring combo guard, a super talented shot creator & although he isn’t bad as a passer, being he averaged 5 assists per game at North Carolina, he definitely isn’t a reliable playmaker yet. However, Cody is certainly a secondary ball handler who can create for himself or others occasionally if nothing else & hopefully he learns how to craft that skill more for others as well.

Ceiling: Peak Shawn Marion/Robert Covington

Floor: Jae Crowder (starter)

Hunter shot 41% from three-point land in college & showed immense potential as a serious 3 & D guy. Notice I said guy instead of wing or stretch because he is already both offensively & defensively. De’Andre gave Jarrett Culver trouble in the NCAA Tourney & with his already NBA-ready frame, his strengths in knock down shooting & defense will all but certainly translate well in the league. The levels of success for his career will hinge on system & opportunities. Hunter is the ideal off-ball wing.

Ceiling: Peak Rudy Gay or Nicolas Batum

Floor: Tim Thomas/Jeff Green

This do-it-all forward has become maybe this draft’s biggest enigma is another McDonald’s All-American who skipped college & pro basketball this past year, to intern with shoe company New Balance with an unprecedented 1 million dollar deal back loaded in up to 14 million dollars in incentives. As a result his stock dropped but he is a do it all skill player with smooth explosiveness & very head savvy playmaking ability for a forward. The lefty has work to do as a shooter & adding muscle but he is a point forward capable of filling up the stat sheet in triple-double type of ways.

Ceiling: Richard Hamilton/Kendall Gill

Floor: Nick Young/Ben McLemore

Romeo is another former All-American preps player I had pegged as a top-three draft candidate coming out of high school this time last year who dropped in draft position quite a bit, but part of it was due to torn ligaments in his shooting hand that helped ruin his shooting efficiency although he shot 47% overall from the field. The kid also faces criticism of being too passive & contempt with not asserting himself & one has to wonder how that will translate on the NBA level for a guy touted primarily as a scorer. Decent ballhandling, but could improve as well as his sense of urgency.

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