NBA Draft 2016: Assessing Scouting Reports on Stars from Experts' Mock Drafts
With the NCAA tournament behind us, the focus for the top players around the country now moves toward the 2016 NBA draft in June. While there is a lot of time before the teams make their picks, there is already a lot of disagreement over the top prospects.
No matter the season, there is rarely any sort of consensus when it comes to selecting the best players in the class. This year features a few who stand above the rest, but even those men have plenty of question marks that will be examined in the coming months.
Although we know a lot can change, we can take a look at the early analysis from the top experts around the league concerning these projected top picks.
Ben Simmons, PF, LSU
The majority of mock drafts have Ben Simmons as the No. 1 pick, and for good reason. The 6'10" forward has a skill set few can replicate, with the ability drive and pass like a point guard to go with the size and athleticism to score in the post.
Simmons' versatile game allowed him to produce some impressive numbers during his freshman season, including 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. This makes it easy to imagine what he could do at the next level with more talent around him.
On the other hand, not everyone is convinced he will be a star. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress is one of the few experts who has Brandon Ingram going No. 1 overall with Simmons at No. 2 in his mock draft. Givony's post for The Vertical explained a few of the question marks—such as poor effort and attitude—although this sums it up the most:
"Simmons has displayed a penchant for stat-mongering like few players in recent memory, seeming to pad his numbers in blowouts. At times, it appears he only passes when guaranteed an assist and chases home-run plays at inopportune times in search of a highlight. Simmons seems to value those things over winning.
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The fact that LSU's season didn't go as well as planned probably contributed to a poor attitude on the floor, although this is not an excuse. In all likelihood, he will be on a losing team again during his rookie season.
Another issue with Simmons is his weaknesses—like shooting and defense—are easier to exploit at the NBA level.
Despite the question marks, though, his upside remains off the charts. His problems are fixable, but his pure talent cannot be taught. If he lands with a team that knows how to use him, Simmons could easily become one of the best players in the NBA within a few years and is worth the top overall pick.
Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke
No matter which teams end up where in the lottery, most project this class to have a defined top tier with just two players. In some order, Simmons and Ingram will likely be off the board with the first two picks.
While Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports has Ingram going No. 2 in his mock draft, he notes how the Los Angeles Lakers would be excited if they could get the Duke star at this spot:
"This isn't exactly a consolation prize, as Ingram is a terrific prospect in his own right for many of the aforementioned reasons. He's big, long, can shoot, and will fit the modern NBA game perfectly once the rest of his frame fills out. He should be able to slide seamlessly between the 3 and 4, as he's tough and embraces contact.
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The freshman averaged 17.3 points per game this season and only got better as the season progressed, scoring at least 20 points in four of five postseason games. At 6'9", he has ideal size to play on the wing in the NBA with the wingspan necessary—DraftExpress lists it at 7'3"—to get a shot off against almost any defender.
While Ingram did play at the 4 in college for the undersized Blue Devils, at 190 pounds, he would need to put on a lot of weight to spend time there in the NBA. On the other hand, it wouldn't be surprising to see him slide to the 2 thanks to his shooting ability and lateral quickness. At any position, he could be an elite scorer with the tools to create his own shot and finish either at the basket or from the outside.
Even though he won't be able to fill up the box score quite like Simmons, the upside as a go-to offensive option is there.
Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky
Few freshmen enter the college game with as much confidence as Jamal Murray. However, the Canadian guard stepped onto the court at Kentucky and quickly became the man for the Wildcats.
Murray was an incredible pure scorer all season, averaging 20 points per game while shooting 40.8 percent from three-point range.
In a string of tweets, his head coach, John Calipari, had some high praise for the guard after he announced his intentions to declare for the draft:
"The improvement Jamal showed over the course of the season may be unmatched by anyone I've ever coached. He grew into a true winner and one of the most efficient scorers. What I love about Jamal is he's a great teammate who has a smile on his face every day. I'm going to really miss coaching him.
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It's this overall profile that has ESPN's Chad Ford listing him as the No. 4 pick in his mock draft, two spots ahead of Naismith Trophy winner Buddy Hield. He wrote, "while Hield's a better player now, Murray is three years younger and can play point guard."
Some analysts have a wider gap, with Gary Parrish of CBS Sports putting Murray at No. 3 and Hield at No. 9.
The problem with this analysis is the fact Murray hasn't done much to prove he can be an effective point guard. While the presence of Tyler Ulis forced Murray off the ball last season, his 2.2 assists and 2.3 turnovers per game do little to show he can run an offense or create for others.
At a similar height to Hield (depending on the listing, both are about 6'4"), the fact is Murray's best case might be that of the Oklahoma star. In that case, there isn't much of a draw in selecting the young, less developed player over someone who can contribute at a high level right away.
The 19-year-old Murray was an excellent scorer this season, but Hield was the best in college basketball and could provide more for an NBA team next year and possibly beyond.
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