Porzingis 2.0? The Next Giannis? NBA Scouts Predict the League's Next Unicorn
2017 will be known as the year of the unicorn.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kristaps Porzingis, NBA big men with unusual versatility, lead the league in scoring. The emergence of other human anomalies like Ben Simmons, a 6'10" point guard racking up triple-doubles, means scouts are doubling down on lanky, skilled stretch 4s and 5s. The next unicorns is out there, but where?
Bleacher Report contacted five NBA scouts to find out who they'd pick to follow Simmons, Porzingis and Antetokounmpo. The first three scouts each had different answers, a tribute to the talent on the horizon, but also the influence Antetokounmpo, Porzingis, Simmons, Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid are having on the development of young bigs at the college level and around the world.
Mohamed Bamba (Texas, C, Freshman)
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Scout 1: "Bamba is closest to a unicorn. [He has a] 7'9" wingspan, can handle, pass, shoot threes."
The NBA doesn't have a player with Mohamed Bamba's measurements and skill set.
A few come close physically, including Rudy Gobert, but nobody in the league can match Bamba's signature 7'9" wingspan, which points to Defensive Player of the Year upside for his impact rim protection. It's extraordinary how much ground and air space he covers between his length and nimble feet.
Bamba has flashed more offensively than just simple finishes off dump downs, dives, lobs and putbacks. His ability to give guards a towering, high-percentage dunk target (9'6" reach) is still valuable, but it's Bamba's improving footwork and shooting range that could earn him his unicorn card.
Skinny, 216 pounds and still lacking substantial scoring polish inside and out, we may only see glimpses of back-to-the-basket hooks and occasional jumpers during his one-and-done season at Texas.
But the best-case projection mirror forecasts a Gobert-like defensive presence and finisher—who can also spot up from three and create shots in the post.
Marvin Bagley III (Duke, PF/C, Freshman)
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Scout No. 2: "Versatile at both ends, but the kid can do everything on offense."
Marvin Bagley III's potential touches every strength and skill across the board.
He flies around the floor at 6'11", 220 pounds, while bringing bounce to the paint that translates to easy baskets above the rim. But we've seen athletes with his measurements and motor before. It's the do-it-all skill set and defensive speed that can separate Bagley as a unicorn.
The open floor initially illuminates his versatility, which comes to life in transition. A power forward/center, Bagley shows good ball control with his handle and the ability to initiate the break after clearing the defensive glass.
A threat to lead Duke in fastbreak baskets at the rim, he's also a tough cover for bigs in the half court, where he can play away from the basket and exploit his first step and quickness. He'll take defenders off the dribble and finish with layups and improvised runners typically used by wings or hybrid 4s.
Throw in developing back-to-the-basket footwork and hook shots and capable mid-range touch. Neither are currently strengths, but post moves and a jumper are still in his bag.
If Bagley can pick up defense in terms of learning the whistle, switches and rotations, and he can continue to sharpen his ball-handling, inside scoring and shooting, we could eventually be talking about one of the NBA's most multidimensional two-way players.
DeAndre Ayton (Arizona, C, Freshman)
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Scout No. 3: "I'd take Bamba over Bagley, but there is one more out there I'd take hands down over either."
Within the unicorn family, DeAndre Ayton fits the mold of an Embiid or Karl-Anthony Towns—long, nimble centers with bodies built for the paint and inside-out skill sets to score in volume.
Listed at 7'1", 250 pounds with a 7'5 ½" wingspan, his measurements practically match up with DeAndre Jordan's from the 2008 combine (6'11", 250lbs, 7'6" wingspan). Jordan recorded a 30.5" max vertical and 7.5 percent body fat. According to Arizona coach Sean Miller, Ayton's body fat is near six percent and his vertical just hit 43 ½".
The eye test backs Miller's claims. Athletic, chiseled and long, Ayton looks like he was put together in some basketball lab.
The unicorn potential kicks in once his perimeter game fully develops. He has been shooting threes for some time now. You got the impression in high school he just became bored with dunking.
A quick, uncontestable release on his jumper is convincing, even if he doesn't shoot a high percentage right away. Like Towns and Embiid, he's become a threat to pick-and-pop behind the arc, spot up or rise and fire over his man from the elbows or short corners.
With quick spins in the post and the ability to separate into quality one-handed looks around the key, Ayton can score from all three levels, as well as control the glass and block shots.
Staying fully engaged at both ends will be his top priority, but if we're talking about talent and upside, few non-NBA players have more. Ayton is the closest to becoming the next great scoring center.
Draft Expert Pick: Sekou Doumbouya (Guinea, PF, 2000)
4 of 5It's early to confidently predict the future for Sekou Doumbouya, who's only 16 years old, unpolished and playing in France's second division. But he's earned a spot on the unicorn watch list.
He first got there by averaging 17.8 points at 15 years old during the FIBA Europe U18 Championships, where his country won gold.
Strong and long at 6'9", Doumbouya's physical tools and athleticism immediately capture viewers' attention. And despite his age, there is still plenty of detectable skill just waiting to be sharpened and unleashed.
Though most of his early highlights will come above the rim, flashes of face-up scoring fuel all sorts of excitement over his versatility and upside. He's a power player with handles and shooting range. Doumbouya wows as a ballhandler and with his body control and ability to blow by defenders right or left using change of speed and direction.
It will be years before he shoots a strong percentage from outside, but he's already developed some three-point range and the shot-creativity to stop and pop or shake free with his back to the basket.
Scouts will have their eyes on Doumbouya over the next two seasons as he looks to move up the ranks from Pro B to Pro A and ultimately start putting it together. Steady development over the next 18 months could lead to top-five buzz before the 2019 draft.
Mini Unicorns
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Can a wing be considered a unicorn? It all depends on your definition, but a couple of scouts answered with perimeter players.
One executive named Luka Doncic, a strong candidate to go first in the 2018 draft.
He certainly checks the unique box for his 6'8" size, pick-and-roll facilitating, shooting and resume. After helping Real Madrid reach the 2017 Final Four and Slovenia win gold at EuroBasket, Doncic, 19 years old, currently leads Euroleague in scoring.
Visions of an NBA unicorn ultimately stem from his tools, scoring and playmaking versatility, but also intangibles that point to a consistently winning track record.
Another scout pegged Canada's R.J. Barrett, a 6'7" scoring guard, well-rounded with passing and defensive potential, as the next NBA unicorn.
Though highly touted even before winning MVP of the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic International Game, the hype got louder during this summer's FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, where he led Canada to gold averaging 21.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists after going for 38 points in a memorable win over USA in the semis.
He's expected to make his college decision on Friday, Nov. 10, with Duke, Kentucky and Oregon atop his list. Barrett would ultimately start at No. 1 on our way-too-early 2019 NBA mock draft.
