Minimal Excitement to Conclude Lottery Picks
Although most of the popular prospects were positioned atop this draft board, there was still real value in the late lottery. Memphis trades up to grab Cedric Coward–one of the fastest risers in this year’s class. His story is fascinating. Going from Willamette to Eastern Washington to Washington State to getting drafted in the lottery is truly defying the odds. He’s slightly older than most players taken in this range, but also might be the most mature. Due to the competition and sample size, there is real uncertainty surrounding him. Coward is another high-risk/high-reward player who could pay major dividends for the Grizzlies.
The Bulls take Noa Essengue in somewhat of an unexpected pick. He has a lot of physical appeal as a skilled athlete with size and versatility. Essengue has shown the ability to do a little bit of everything on the court. He’s a switchable defender with length and anticipation, but also provides a malleable presence on defense. The lack of three-point shooting is a real concern and probably limits how much he can play for this group alongside a healthy Josh Giddey. Only time will tell if he’s a meaningful part of Chicago’s long-term plans.
While there is some excitement from the masses surrounding a frontcourt pairing of Derik Queen and Zion Williamson, this is likely a pick to possibly move Williamson elsewhere. There is virtually no scenario where he and Queen can exist on the same court due to the lack of rim-protection. However, Queen is a very skilled post player. He’s able to consistently find success as a face-up scorer or finisher with his back to the basket. Queen rebounds his position and has upside as a floor-spacer.
While everyone else is trying to hit homeruns, the Spurs continue hitting singles. The 6-foot-6 Carter Bryant might not be the most attractive or exciting pick in the draft, but he has a clear archetype and pathway to success. His identity as a 3-and-D player who already seems reliable in both areas should allow him to carve out a productive role as a rookie. Should his offensive game continue to expand, Bryant could realistically outperform his draft position.
Rounding out this grouping, Sorber has the potential to give the Thunder a lot of flexibility going forward. The draft coverage alluded to this, but Sorber’s development would allow OKC to continue earning assets for their expensive luxuries. Right now, his appeal lies within his defensive ability. Sorber is a useful offensive threat with feel and the ability to score near the basket. If he pans out, it allows the Thunder to continue hoarding draft capital and replace established players with cheap contracts. In theory, the rich get richer.