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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 Bol Bol (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Ceiling: Kristaps Porzingis

Floor: Manute Bol/Rik Smits

The son of NBA legend Bol Bol is a highly skilled wing forward in a center body. Very smooth shooter for his size & can score from anywhere including CONSISTENT long-range ability. Already shows the ability to put the ball on the floor & create shots for himself. Also shows flashes as a solid rim protector/shot blocker & if he can stay healthy I’m almost certain will become a highly productive player. However, his health is a huge if after suffering the same injury that ultimately ended Yao Ming‘s career just games into Bol’s lone season at Oregon which is the only reason he isn’t about 3-5 spots higher on this draft board.

Ceiling: Brandon Roy

Floor: Courtney Lee

Nickeil is one of my favorite prospects in this draft. Very high floor as a nice size combo guard who is already a decent secondary ball handler. N.A.W. carried his Va-Tech team to the sweet 16 this past season averaging 18/4/4/2 most of the season, & also displaying every bit of skill needed to be a reliable scoring playmaker at the NBA level. His defense is also underrated not because he averaged nearly two steals per game, but because he is very crafty defensively & with a little more muscle he can become a very solid defender & ball handling knockdown shooter if nothing else a la the Lee comp floor. He cannot only create for himself but also for others & he looks to fill up the stat sheet with an all-around skill set very similar to his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the L.A. Clippers.

Ceiling: Draymond Green lite

Floor: P.J. Tucker/Jared Dudley

This late bloomer junior from Japan has improved every one of his 3 years at Gonzaga. A very versatile front court defender who can defend 3-5 already has great instincts defensively & really good feel for the game overall for such a new basketball player. Capable shooter but certainly needs improvement. Has solid court vision & passing that gives you flashes of a point-forward but needs serious improvement to his ballhandling as he’s a straight line drive dribble guy as of now.

Ceiling: NBA Finals Paskal Siakam

Floor: Dante Cunningham

This Limoges forward wing prospect has been on the radar for 2 years now as an ideal forward for modern NBA play, which is a swiss army knife forward with the length to be interchangeable 3-5 & the shooting touch to pose a threat as a stretch shooter. Sekou is definitely raw offensively, but shows flashes of ball handling & shot-creating skill as evident with his recent 34-point game outburst in Euro play. Defensively Sekou is already NBA ready & interchangeable enough to defend wings & stretch.

Ceiling: Myles Turner

Floor: Adrien Payne

Claxton is a rim-running forward already equipped with decent stretch ability. Shows small samples of ball skill but will mostly be asked to rebound, defend & stretch the court as a knock down big. All things he did very well at Georgia.

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