https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...oel-embiid-and-more-pro-prospect-comparisons/
Who's the Donovan Mitchell of this draft?
Player archetype: Explosive mid-to-late first-rounder whose athleticism, aggressiveness and intelligence displayed in his rookie season make teams who passed on him feel tons of regret.
2018 draft prospect:
Donte DiVincenzo, PG/SG,
Villanova.
Why: I joked to DiVincenzo during the Final Four that he was hands-down the best white-guy dunker in college basketball. He laughed, and then he told me about his 43-inch vertical. While I don't think DiVincenzo is going to come into the NBA and have the immediate impact that Mitchell did (nobody will, by the way, because rookies are rarely if ever that good), and while I don't think DiVincenzo is going to be drafted as high as Mitchell was (13th), I do think he has the explosiveness, the aggressiveness, the basketball IQ and the work ethic to greatly outperform his draft position. After Villanova won the Final Four,
Ryan Arcidiacono told me that he doesn't think DiVincenzo's game has a noticeable weakness, and that he could end up being the best NBA player to ever come from Villanova.
Who's the Robert Covington of this draft?
Player archetype: Undrafted (or lightly regarded) player from a mid-major school.
2018 draft prospect:
Melvin Frazier Jr., F,
Tulane
Why: Frazier certainly could get drafted, maybe even late in the first round. But like Covington when he came to the NBA out of
Tennessee State, even hardcore college basketball fans would have a tough time identifying Frazier. But NBA scouts know: He's a long and athletic wing player with a decent shot and excellent defense. In other words, he's exactly the player who is in demand in today's NBA.
Who's the OG Anunoby of this draft?
Player archetype: Talented player who, because of a season-ending injury in college, an
NBA team can get a steal on.
Why: It's wild to think that Anunoby, who thrived in his rookie season, fell all the way to the
Toronto Raptors with the 23rd pick of the 2017 draft. It was because of his knee injury in January, but it still looks like a huge miss for the eight or so teams picking just ahead of the Raptors. Something similar could happen to Brown, who is a much better player than the guy we saw this past season. His sophomore season was heading toward disappointment even before it ended early with an injury. His 3-point shooting was the most alarming part, dipping all the way down to 26.7 percent. But it's not as if he has a broken shot. And his high-level defense, toughness and athleticism mean there's a whole lot to like here.
Who's the Zach LaVine of this draft?
Player archetype: Incredible athlete who needs to learn to become a basketball player,
2018 draft prospect:
Hamidou Diallo, G, Kentucky
Why: Diallo is an incredible physical specimen: Out-of-this-world speed with out-of-this-gym leaping abilities. His 44.5-inch vertical at the combine a year ago was the second-highest in NBA combine history. And yet we still don't know whether he's just an Olympic track and field athlete masquerading as a basketball player or a real, actual basketball player who can become a student of the game. He was fine this past season for
Kentucky -- he averaged 10 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists and shot 33.8 percent from 3 -- but his sky-high potential always left you wanting more. LaVine's one-and-done stats at
UCLA were frighteningly similar, by the way: 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists and shot 37.5 percent from 3.