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The 2016 NBA Draft arrives in two days and we already know who the Philadelphia 76ers are taking with the first overall pick. The team has let LSU prospect Ben Simmons know that he’s the main man at the top spot, eliminating any uncertainty as we count down to that first selection.
76ers have told Ben Simmons they will select him with No. 1 pick in Thursday’s draft. (via https://t.co/XKEWUfgd3c) pic.twitter.com/UDkLLzoqp8
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 21, 2016
Starting at the two spot, however, things could get a bit crazy.
Okay, that’s probably not true, either, as the Los Angeles Lakers are borderline locks to take Duke star forward, Brandon Ingram.
That is, of course, if recent Lakers trade rumors aren’t true and they don’t trade star point guard, that #2 overall pick and/or someone else before the draft starts.
Craziness Ensues
Regardless, the real insanity should start at the third overall pick, where the Boston Celtics reside and may have to decide between trading their pick or taking the next best player on their draft board. As the draft trickles down out of the lottery, things could get even crazier as team’s scouting could clash with some of the top media and draft pundits that think they know how teams plan on drafting.
Needless to say, prospects seen as round two talents could sneak into round one, or foreign players we’ve never heard of could hear their name called, as well. Who is most likely to be part of that group? We’ll touch on a few as we take a look at the top prospects that could sneak into the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft and maybe even be stars:
Kahlil Felder, PG, Oakland
Felder might be the most amount of fun we’ll find in round two if he stays there, as he does lack size for the next level. He’s got everything else you want in an NBA point guard, however, as he can set teammates up, he has a nice handle, he can run an offense, he gets in the passing lanes defensively and he has absolutely no problem scoring the ball.
With smaller point guards like Isaiah Thomas breaking the mold in recent years, there is a place for small guards who can flat out ball. Felder is one of them and even though he faced weak competition, is small and may have efficiency issues, the talent speaks for itself.
Ben Bentil, PF, Providence
A lack of true size at the NBA four spot seems to be holding Ben Bentil back, but NBA fans could otherwise be looking at a star in the making. Bentil’s lack of size likely has him landing in the second round on Thursday night, but if teams are smart, someone will pluck him off the draft board late in round one.
Bentil is still plenty big and physical enough, while he’s exhibited balanced scoring ability, nice toughness and physicality. Bentil lacks high end athleticism and isn’t the greatest defender, but he still has the upside of a strong two-way player that could grow into the role of a third scorer on his NBA team.
Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky
Remember those exciting smaller point guards that are becoming all the rage? Ulis is another reason why, as he blends excellent court vision, passing, ball handling, control and scoring ability together to give his future NBA team a talented scoring guard with loads of upside.
The lack of size is undeniable for Ulis, but he does everything you could possibly ask from him offensively. From running an offense, to finding open shooters, to body control and slicing through defenses, Ulis not only creates matchup problems on the fly, but knows when and when not to attack. Consistency is key for Ulis going forward, as he has all the tools to offset his size at the next level, but will need to be a little more efficient and perfect his mid-range and outside jumper. Even with some work ahead of him, though, he’s arguably a first round talent and an absolute steal if he sticks in round two.
Thon Maker, C, Australia
If you haven’t heard of Maker yet, give it another two days. He’s going to be all over draft day television and it’s starting to look borderline impossible for him to last beyond the first 30 draft picks. Originally a second round pick due to his raw ability, the flat out measureables and upside for the kid are simply too great for NBA GMs to ignore this Thursday night.
Maker looks to be a poor man’s Kevin Garnett from a physical and skill-set perspective, as he’s a rangy big man with terrific length, athleticism and scoring ability. There is clearly an argument for him to add strength and it’s obvious he’s raw, but there isn’t a ceiling here. Some even speculate he may be the top overall talent in this draft, yet he could be drafted well beyond the likes of Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram simply due to a lack of hype or a big stage. Don’t be shocked if he even sneaks into the lottery.
