What prospects are not getting the attention they deserve as the NBA Draft approaches?
It is officially June; let the countdown to the NBA Draft begin.
On the 25th of this month, 60 of the top young players in the country will join the NBA – albeit at a variety of different levels – while many others will look to sign on to summer league squads to make a roster as an undrafted free agent.
Over the next few weeks, we will all be treated to articles about the top draft picks, namely the players slated to be selected in the top 10. These are the players most likely to make a significant impact, so it makes sense for most of the discussion to be spent on them.
Every year, however, players selected beyond the top 20 picks break onto the NBA scene in ways most scouts and general managers did not fathom. Jimmy Butler, Mason Plumlee, and Draymond Green represent just a few of the players that were “slept” on during draft day, and, undoubtedly, we will reflect upon the 2015 Draft in the same way.
Before I get to the best candidates to be the top sleepers in the 2015 class, let’s go over the ground rules:
- First, we should operationally define the term “sleeper:” A player that will exceed expectations despite a lower-than-expected draft position.
- For the purposes of this article, the player has to be projected outside the top 20 picks. While certain players drafted higher can eventually be deemed sleepers, an immediate draft review is too early to tell a “sleeper” amongst the top picks.
Without further ado, here is my list of sleepers for the 2015 NBA Draft:
JP Tokoto | SG | North Carolina | Junior
When reflecting on the 2015 NBA Draft, I think many will look back and think that JP Tokoto should have been selected higher. An all-around player and elite athlete, Tokoto’s biggest flaw as a player is his lack of a jump shot. While the former Tar Heel is an inconsistent shooter, his shot is by no means broken – it just needs a bit of tweaking. If Tokoto can become a perimeter threat, he could one day be a starter in the league.
Cedi Osman | SG/SF | Turkey | Born 1995
Osman is one of my favorite international draft prospects in 2015, and he should hear his name somewhere between 25 and 40 on June 25. Like Tokoto, Osman can fill all areas of the stat sheet, though Osman is a considerably better shooter. Not an elite athlete, Osman is a crafty player averaging 7.8 points and 4.0 rebounds for Anadolu Efes in Turkey at the young age of 20, and may be the next overlooked international prospect to make a big impact. Asking him to play a role similar to Marco Belinelli could be a good goal for the team that selects the wing from Turkey.
Rakeem Christmas | PF | Syracuse | Senior
Once an underwhelming blue-chip recruit, Christmas broke out as a senior for Jim Boeheim, posting averages of 17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. Christmas showcased the ability to finish with authority inside and defend the rim very well at the college level. Christmas is never going to be a star in the NBA, but he has the tools to be a very good contributor off the bench for a decade. When drafting late in the first round or at the beginning of the second round, isn’t that what teams should look for?
Joseph Young | PG | Oregon | Senior
Young was the unquestioned leader in Eugene as a senior and averaged 20.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in his final year as a Duck. Young is one of the top shooters in the draft from the point guard position, making 2.5 per game from deep as a senior. Asking Young to be a starter in the league may be too much, but as a gunner off the bench, Young could provide immense value. Former Oregon floor general Aaron Brooks has carved out a nice career in a similar role, and odds are good for Young to do the same.
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