We finally made it. We are now at center, the last step in my position by position breakdown of the NBA Draft. In the past week or so, I ranked the point guards, shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards so check those out if you haven’t already. In terms of the Sixers need at center, there really is none. Either if they trade one of Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, they probably still shouldn’t select a center in this draft. However, stranger things have happened so we need to do our due diligence and rank the centers.
Deyonta Davis, Michigan State
Davis isn’t the number one center on most boards but he is at least in the conversation for most people. That conversation starts with his physical tools. Davis stands at 6’10” with a 7’2” wingspan. Davis also boasts an excellent frame that should continue to fill out nicely. Davis is also mobile laterally with good vertical explosion. That’s the perfect profile for a really good two-way big. Davis will be able to stay with guards on the perimeter and protect the rim. On offense, he’s not extremely skilled but he should be an excellent role man in the pick and roll due to his athleticism and very nice touch around the rim.
Davis also projects well analytically. He was an efficient scorer who did well in limited minutes. He played enough (18.6 minutes a game) to give us a good sample size but not so much that he just accumulated numbers from being on the floor a ton. Davis has great per 40 minute numbers as result. There’s also the hope that Davis will only improve as a prospect as he gets stronger and extends his offensive range. He did not shoot many jumpers for the Spartans (that wasn’t his role) but has a smooth stroke with solid mechnics. Davis was only a freshman and late bloomer as a big time recruit so he certainly has a lot of room for growth in his game. I think he will excel in the NBA as a versatile big who could play either the power forward or the center position. Top 10 player in this draft for me.
http://gty.im/498515502
Jakob Poeltl, Utah
Poeltl is a guy that I have a tough time understanding. He’s big with standing 7 feet tall with a 7 foot wingspan. He’s also mobile, skilled in the post, and pretty strong for a 20 year old. That’s the profile of a pretty solid center prospect in today’s NBA. Still, I have my concerns about Poeltl finding a role in the NBA. He can certainly post up but I am not sure how successful he will be in that area at the NBA level. He really only played one NBA level player all season, Gonzaga’s Domantas Sabonis. Sabonis punked Poeltl. He dominated the Austrian. It was only one game but I can’t get it out of my mind. Sabonis is an NBA player for sure but Poeltl should have been able to leverage his size advantage into a better performance. If that game is indicative of some larger problem against high level competition, Poeltl is in trouble.
If Poeltl isn’t an effective post player, then I am not sure what his role is. He’s a fine rebounder and a decent to good defensive center. On offense, he becomes a role man without elite vertical athleticism and no ability to space the floor with even a midrange jumper. That’s a solid NBA backup with very little versatility. That’s more of a top 25 guy than a top 6 to 10 guy (Poeltl’s current projection) to me. Still, it also all bleak for Poeltl. There’s a chance his post offense translates to the NBA. If it does, he’s certainly worth a high pick. I think that risk is too high in the top 10 but once you get to 15 or 16 and some of the better bigs are off the board, the risk becomes more palatable.
http://gty.im/497922208
Chinanu Onuaku, Louisville
Onuaku’s value comes in the form of his defense. He’s undersized but a long 7’3” wingspan allows him to block shots at the rim with great ease. Onuaku is also really athletic and mobile. He’s good but not great hands defensively. I like to think of him as a poor man’s Nerlens Noel on the defensive end. That comparison holds up on the other end of the floor as well. Onuaku should be a fairly decent offensive player in the pick and roll as well. He’s big enough to set good screens and is pretty good around the rim. Onuaku, like Noel, also has some underrated passing abilities but doesn’t quite have the vision to effectively use it. Onuaku’s ability to be a playable offensive player will be to his success.
I think Onuaku could be a starter based on his defense but he has to make sure he doesn’t bog down an offense with ineffectiveness. I have decent faith in Onuaku to get to a fairly decent offensive level and at least be a high end back up as a defensive center. The Sixers obviously don’t need a center but Onuaku, if he falls into the second round where he’s projected, the team could select Onuaku as a Nerlens Noel replacement.
http://gty.im/507543256
Cheick Diallo, Kansas
Diallo will play a similar role at the next level as Onuaku. He also brings similar size at 6’9” with a 7’4” wingspan and athleticism that’s comparable with Onuaku. The difference between the two for me is that Onuaku has a higher offensive ceiling with his touch around the basket and passing ability. Still, Diallo could bring some great defensive ability to the Sixers or any other team. His speed and length will alow him to protect the rim and switch out onto the perimeter. Diallo needs to add more a little more weight to succeed at the NBA level but his defensive ceiling is incredibly high. I don’t like him as much as Onuaku, but he could certainly be a good replacement for Nerlens Noel if the Sixers decide to move in that direction.
http://gty.im/510029814
Georgios Papagiannis, Panathinaikos
Papagiannis is a guy who wasn’t on my list even a few days ago. If I had done the center position first, he would not have made this list. That’s because most people did not expect the big Greek to keep his name in the draft. I think Papagiannis is really interesting. There are a few international centers in this class. Zizic and Zuabc (who will make the honorable mentions) are interesting, but I prefer Papagiannis. He brings both size and mobility. He has really good hands and can finish in traffic due to that size. Papagiannis also has some ability in the post but I do wonder how that will translate to the NBA.
Papagiannis does need to improve as a defender. The big man has good size and decent mobility but he isn’t the most technically sound yet. Still, Papagiannis is incredibly young and most of the basic issues with his defense are correctable. I think if you stash him in Europe for a year or two, you could get a guy who could come over and make an impact for years to come. He’s probably more of a high end back up than a starter but that could be really good value for where I expect him to land in the draft. Papagiannis is someone the Sixers could select because he is a draft and stash player. They can select him and allow him develop for a few years without him taking up a precious roster spot. That’s important.
Honorable Mentions
Ante Zizic, Cibona Zagreb
Incredibly productive both professionally and in international competitions. Projects as an energy big that can be productive offensively while being solid defensively. I question how he will translate to the NBA with the athletic difference but he’s played well at every stop. Hurt by his desire to come over immediately as opposed to being a draft and stash guy.
Ivica Zubac, Mega Leks
Huge size at 7’1” with a 7’4” wingspan. Big strong kid who can finish around the rim. Really solid passer. Tons of potential but injury and attitude concerns make me drop him. Has starter potential but don’t see him reaching it. Probably still a first round pick.
Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV
Interesting guy. Projects as a stretch 5 who can protect the rim. Hasn’t necessarily put it altogether though and don’t know if he ever will. I would bet on him if not for very real injury concerns. Serious elbow problems.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
