Ranking the Top International 2013 NBA Draft Prospects

One of the most exciting and intriguing aspects of the 2013 NBA draft is gauging the crop of international prospects.

We might not find a Dirk Nowitzki or Tony Parker in this class, but there are a couple of potential stars and a handful of attractive role players.

France boasts a trio of big men with incredible length and upside, and Brazil has a shot-blocking pair of its own. Meanwhile, Eastern Europe might produce a couple dynamic playmakers with varying levels of athleticism.

Who are these overseas hopefuls, and how will their talents translate to the NBA? Our international rankings break down each foreign standout and how he'll fit in the association.

11. Augusto Cesar Lima, Brazil PF/C

Age: 21

Height/Wt: 6'10", 225 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Energy defender off the bench.

While his offensive skills and footwork are somewhat of a project, Brazilian enforcer Augusto Lima has intrigued scouts with his ability to play above the rim.

His power, agility and instincts allow him to continuously alter and reject shots, and he can elevate to score when he's close to the basket. Most importantly, scouts love his motor, as he's exhibited tremendous energy at the Adidas Eurocamp:

"

Augusto Lima is a monster, one of the older guys here but just plays in beats mode all the time #adidasEurocamp

— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) June 8, 2013"

Just because Lima's ranked low on our list doesn't mean he's a bad prospect.

If he finds the right system, he will be a solid power forward to plug into the rotation for 10-15 minutes a night. Offensive development would lead to even more playing time.

Draft Outlook: 50th to undrafted

10. Alex Abrines, Spain SG

Age: 19

Height/Wt: 6'5", 190 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Reserve shooting guard, possibly a starter eventually

Young Spanish gunner Alex Abrines has shown flashes of brilliance against top-level competition in Europe, and the question is whether he can translate or develop it into NBA success.

He's got a clean, smooth shooting motion that lends itself to catch-and-shoot prowess and off-the-bounce usage. Abrines knows how to slide into the open spaces to get open for spot-up chances, and he can also put the ball on the deck a little.

A recent win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv demonstrated his knack for scoring:

"

DX #3 1993 international prospect Alex Abrines was glued to the bench all season for Barcelona. Tonight? 21 points in 21 minutes vs Maccabi.

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 4, 2013"

There are two main concerns for Abrines: Can he excel as a man-to-man defender in the NBA, and will he be strong enough and skilled enough to create his own buckets?

Draft Outlook: 40th to undrafted

9. Bojan Dubljevic, Montenegro PF/C

Age: 21

Height/Wt: 6'10", 242 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Low-post offensive weapon

No 2013 international post player has the combination of power and polish that Montenegro native Bojan Dubljevic possesses.

He uses his 240-pound frame to get position deep in the post, and then uses his footwork and soft touch to do the rest. Dubljevic is a skilled pick-and-roll finisher and can score with either hand. His outside shooting touch will also make him a great pick-and-pop weapon in the Association.

Even though he's a below-average athlete, a number of teams and scouts loved what he brought to the table at the Eurocamp.

"

Bojan Dubljevic, just left Euro camp where he had several interviews with Nba teams. He left great impression and I expect him to be drafted

— Misko4Raznatovic (@MiskoRaznatovic) June 10, 2013"

His lack of explosiveness and quickness limits his upside, but there's no question that he has the offensive skills to put the ball in the hoop in the NBA.

Draft Outlook: Mid-to-late second round

8. Nemanja Nedovic, Serbia G

Age: 21

Height/Wt: 6'4", 195 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Combo guard off the bench, eventually a starter

Along with Dennis Schroeder, Serbian standout Nemanja Nedovic is one of the only foreign guards with true dynamic potential.

His ball-handling and quickness foil most defenders, and his perimeter touch has yielded some NBA-range bombs. Consistency is still an issue, but the talent is too much to ignore.

Will he be able to develop into a legitimate floor general? Bleacher Report's own Jonathan Wasserman loves his combination of passing skills and athleticism:

"

Nemanja Nedovic racked up 8 assists in his game at Eurocamp today. Has that above-the-rim athleticism, rare for a ball-handler.

— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) June 9, 2013"

Rafal Juc of Eurohopes.com notes that Nedovic needs to fully utilize his explosiveness during games:

"

Nemanja Nedovic's athleticism is off the charts, but he barely takes advantage of it during games. Might go at the end of 2nd round though.

— Rafal Juc (@rafjuc) June 10, 2013"

Nedovic must show that he can shoot consistently and make sound passing decisions on every possession. If he can improve his efficiency early in his career, his ceiling is extremely high.

Draft Outlook: Early-to-mid second round

7. Mouhammadou Jaiteh, France PF/C

Age: 18

Height/Wt: 6'11", 249 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Rebounder, two-way project

Although he has minimal athleticism and almost no formidable post moves, Mouhammadou Jaiteh has size and time on his side.

The French big man is just 18 years old, and he's got an NBA-ready body:

"

Mouhammadou Jaiteh stock surely to rise after measuring out at 6'11 with a 7'4 wingspan. Everywhere online had him listed at 6-9. #HSUM2013

— Nike Hoop Summit (@nikehoopsummit) April 15, 2013"

His strength and length will help him prosper as a rebounder on both ends of the floor. Jaiteh will clean up the glass and get second-chance points for his club, while also providing a big body to bring in off the bench to guard the paint.

Offensively, he can't be trusted early in his career beyond close put-backs. Nevertheless, his age makes him an attractive prospect to select and develop.

Draft Outlook: 30th to 50th pick

6. Livio Jean-Charles, France F

Age: 19

Height/Wt: 6'9", 217 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Finesse four

With his fluid style of play, excellent mobility and court awareness, French forward Livio Jean-Charles has rapidly climbed draft charts in recent weeks.

His breakout performance came at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, where he used his length and soft touch to dominate the field:

"

Livio Jean Charles ('93) enters the 2013 NBA Draft. With 27 points & 13 rebounds was MVP at Nike Hoop Summit. Projected 2nd round pick.

— Eurohopes (@Eurohopes) April 25, 2013"

Jean-Charles has superb body control and can change his shot in mid-air. While he's not an amazing leaper, his agility and long reach help make up the difference.

If he wants to be more than a peripheral player in the NBA, he must bulk up and add some power post moves to his game. Right now, he's just a smooth finesse forward who uses his reach to score and block shots.

Draft Outlook: 25th to 45th pick

5. Lucas Nogueira, Brazil C

Age: 20

Height/Wt: 6'11", 215 lbs

Best-Case NBA Role: Shot-blocking project

With a 7'6" wingspan and a 9'6" standing reach, Brazilian center Lucas "Bebe" Nogueira is turning heads with his physical tools and upside.

He's raw on both ends of the floor. Sometimes he's caught in the wrong spot defensively, and he doesn't yet own effective post moves.

Fortunately, he's a mobile physical specimen who can rebound and protect the rim. Nogueira also started answering the questions about his intensity this winter.

"

Impressive performance by Lucas Nogueira. Bebe protected the rim extremely well in his 20 minutes on the court. Looked focused. No mistakes.

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 19, 2012"

In the NBA, he could become a pick-and-roll lob problem for opponents, and he might also develop into one of the best shot-blockers in the league.

Draft Outlook: Late first round

4. Giannis Adetokunbo, Greece SF

Age: 18

Height/Wt: 6'9", 196 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Young, versatile project, potential star swingman

Greek youngster Giannis Adetokunbo has become one of the most exciting and perplexing international prospects in recent years.

He shows signs of being a multidimensional threat. His length and massive hands help him rebound and finish, his ball skills and awareness allow him to facilitate and his athleticism allows him to terrorize opponents in the open floor.

But Adetokunbo has a thin frame, a mediocre jump shot and hasn't proved himself against major competition.

The range of scout opinions illustrate how much of an enigma he still is.

"

6-9 PG Giannis Adetokunbo ('94) might be the biggest int'l draft sleeper in last decade, but he's still so obscure & risky choice.

— Rafal Juc (@rafjuc) February 27, 2013"

Jonathan Wasserman notes his upside and versatility, likening him to a current international NBA star:

"

Watched Greek prospect Giannis Adetokunbo yesterday, who many compare to Nic Batum. Huge upside/talent is there, kid just needs to find it..

— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) April 29, 2013"

Lastly, an NBA executive gives Adetokunbo megastar praise:

"

According to @chrismannixsi one NBA executive said about Giannis Adetokunbo: "Kevin Durant like ability".

— Eurohopes (@Eurohopes) June 9, 2013"

At this point, it looks like the "Greek Freak" is the ultimate risk/reward foreign player in the 2013 class.

Draft Outlook: Mid-to-late first round

3. Sergey Karasev, Russia SF

Age: 19

Height/Wt: 6'7", 197 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Efficient rookie, eventually starting swingman

Russian small forward Sergey Karasev is the best all-around player among 2013 international prospects.

He might not have the size of Rudy Gobert or the massive upside of Dennis Schroeder, but Karasev can impact the game as a scorer and facilitator.

At only 19 years old, he has a magnificent feel for the game as a passer, and cutter, and he boasts an NBA-ready shooting stroke.

"

Just spent the last 30 min rebounding for Sergey Karasev. That basically consisted of me watching the ball swish through the net

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) May 31, 2013"

Karasev's weaknesses lie in his athleticism shortage, as it might be tough for him as a slasher and a stopper at the next level. If he can improve his ball-handling a little more, the offensive end of things shouldn't be a problem. But as a one-on-one defender, he might have some trouble.

Draft Outlook: Mid-to-late first round

2. Rudy Gobert, France C

Age: 20

Height/Wt: 7'2", 238 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Shot-blocker with gradual offensive production increase

The most physically-impressive foreign prospect is French center Rudy Gobert, whose 7'8.5" wingspan and 9'7" standing reach help him alter boatloads of shots and score above the rim.

At the NBA draft combine, he was literally on a different level size-wise.

"

Rudy Gobert so far the one guy with the "Whoa" presence. Stands out among centers with his height, length. #NBACombine

— NBA Guru (@NBAGuru) May 16, 2013"

Factor in his quick feet and mobility, and you have a monster shot-swatter in the making. He can cover a ton of ground quickly and impact the game as a help defender or one-on-one stopper.

Offensively, he doesn't exhibit advanced post moves, but he can finish over anyone and flourish in pick-and-roll scenarios.

Once he adds a few pounds and becomes more assertive as a post player, he'll be a matchup problem for countless NBA squads.

Draft Outlook: 10th to 20th pick

1. Dennis Schroeder, Germany PG

Age: 19

Height/Wt: 6'2", 165 lbs

Probable NBA Role: Above-average starting point guard

German speedster Dennis Schroeder tops our list because he has the best chance to be an upper-echelon playmaker at the NBA level.

His mix of quickness and vision has international hoop gurus likening him to star floor generals. ESPN's Fran Fraschilla, like many other experts, compares him to the Boston Celtics' elite quarterback.

"

Rondo. Mid-first. RT @mrwils24: @franfraschilla Who does Dennis Schroeder remind you of? Is he lottery pick this year?

— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) June 8, 2013"

Schroeder's jumper and mid-range game aren't awe-inspiring, and his leaping ability is mediocre, but his speed and 6'8" wingspan are enough to fuel him on both sides of the ball. He plays stifling perimeter defense and has a knack for knifing through foes' defensive efforts.

He's not a lock to be an NBA success, but it's looking more and more like he'll be an exciting all-around point guard.

"

The more I watch Dennis Schroeder, the more I like him. He's a real PG. no reason he can't go late lottery.

— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) June 5, 2013"

Expect to hear his name called early in the draft, perhaps in the lottery.

Draft Outlook: Lottery to 20th pick

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