The Rin ger's 2 019 NBA 2019 Draft Guide

PLUSES

• Capable of running pick-and-roll as a ball handler; the team that drafts him can use him in virtually any role on offense.
• A potential five-position defender with a rare combination of strength, agility, and anticipation skills; he can comfortably switch on-ball screens.
• Zion’s explosive jukes and hop-steps are glitches in the laws of physics; a player his size shouldn’t be able to create separation the way he does.
• A wrecking-ball finisher who can finish through and above contact; his size, athleticism, and ballhandling ability will lead to a lot of defensive fouls drawn.
• Dangerous on dives to the rim via pick-and-rolls and handoffs; he can flush lobs like DeAndre Jordan or pass on the short roll like Draymond Green.
• A smart, unselfish passer who thrives in transition; he lacks supreme vision, but his excellent rebounding and coast-to-coast ability are valuable tools.
• Punishes smaller players on perimeter drives and post-ups. Has basic moves now, but displays the dexterity and body control necessary to improve.
• An active and aware cutter who can exploit holes in defenses, even when they sag off him on the perimeter.
• Hustles and plays with a winning mind-set: dives for loose balls, rebounds out of his area, and pursues chasedown blocks.
• Defensive playmaker who alters shots and jumps passing lanes to spark transition chances, though in a pro system he’ll have to gamble less frequently.

MINUSES

• Clunky spot-up shooting mechanics; he brings the ball to his set point too early, which hurts momentum into his shot. Also needs to kick his strange habit of jab-stepping before he shoots.
• Developing a jumper off the dribble is the key to unlocking his full potential; he shoots the ball flat and looks uncomfortable even from the elbow.
• Must learn how to change gears to minimize sloppy passes or out-of-control drives that lead to charges.
• He can be predictable: He overuses the drop step on post-ups, and he rarely uses his right hand on shots near the rim. He needs a more diverse arsenal of moves on drives and post-ups.
• Defensive awareness could use fine-tuning; often falls into upright stance, ball-watches, and misses help rotations.
• Defensive discipline is lacking; though he makes explosive plays, savvy opponents will throw moves that make him leave his feet, or crash the boards when he overhelps.
• With his size and explosiveness, health is always a question: He suffered a right foot bruise in high school that put him in a walking boot, sprained his MCL at Duke, and has been out of shape in the past.

PLUSES

• Above-the-rim finisher with the hands and coordination to reel in tough passes. He runs the floor hard in transition, and can finish fluidly even after a couple of dribbles.
• With a wide frame, he should get significantly stronger, which will help him finish against contact, rebound, and defend the interior.
• Good free throw shooter who also has soft touch on hook shots from the short midrange; there’s a chance he could someday develop a spot-up jumper.
• Has the potential to become an elite rim protector: alters shots with his mere presence, and his long wingspan allows him to clog passing lanes.
• Excellent lateral quickness defending on the perimeter. May one day be able to switch, or defend pick-and-rolls regardless of the coverage.
• High-effort, attentive defender who’ll recover for chase-down blocks, which can mask some of his raw fundamentals.
• Multisport athlete until his senior year of high school, when a late growth spurt forced him to quit football and focus entirely on basketball.
• High-character, hard-working player who was raised by parents who had successful athletic careers: His dad played 12 years in the NFL, and his mom played college basketball.

MINUSES

• Gets caught in no-man's-land defending the pick-and-roll; he often looks confused, an understandable symptom of his inexperience.
• Commits careless fouls biting on pump fakes and reaching instead of using the rule of verticality.
• He gets overpowered on the boards, and sealed off underneath the rim, which currently limits his defense and rebounding. Does he lack toughness or strength?
• Lacks basic post skills. Banging down low won’t be a focus, but he needs to improve at burying defenders underneath the rim and finishing at tough angles.
• Inexperienced: He’s often a beat late making reads, doesn’t screen well, and sloppily executes simple plays like dribble handoffs.
• Reluctant with his left hand; he dunked nearly everything in college, but finishing at an elite level in the NBA requires more dexterity.
• Potential health concerns. He got banged up a few times over the course of the season, and sustained a bone bruise to his left knee, ending his freshman campaign.

PLUSES

• Good passer for his position; has vision from all over the floor, though he does tend to force some passes into tight windows.
• Makes up for below-the-rim finishing on drives with a quick first step, decisive moves, and ambidexterity on his layups.
• Rapidly improving spot-up 3-point shooter who projects to have NBA range.
• Mobile on-ball defender with long arms and a stout frame, though he doesn’t quite have the size to be an enforcer.
• Active offensive player with a knack for crashing the boards and beating the defense up the floor in transition. If only he consistently brought the same effort on defense.

MINUSES

• Lacks explosiveness in traffic, which means he won’t be much of a pick-and-roll threat to throw down lobs or finish with power.
• Needs to diversify his offense: He rushes too many wild shots and lacks any advanced post moves; defenders will know he’s going to his right hook.
• Below-average defensive rebounder who doesn’t display a nose for the ball; his teams may get abused on the boards if they use him as a small-ball 5.
• Inconsistent motor and focus while defending off-ball or boxing out; doesn’t always make hustle plays like diving for loose balls and taking charges.

PLUSES

• Impressively logged as many blocks as missed shots during the regular season at Gonzaga.
• Explosive leaper with soft hands to catch tough passes, and the ambidexterity and spatial awareness to finish in a crowd.
• Good decision-maker. The type of player who plays “good to great” basketball by grabbing a rebound and locating an open teammate instead of forcing up a careless, contested shot.
• Handles the ball well for his size; he can take rebounds and go coast-to-coast. He’s mostly a straight-line driver but likes using a spin move to his right.
• Sets solid screens, and has good feel and timing on dives to the rim; with his passing and dribbling skill, he could be a weapon on the short roll.
• Strong indicators that he will develop a perimeter game: touch on floaters, post fadeaways, hook shots, and midrange jumpers.
• Plays his ass off. Makes the extra effort, attacks the offensive boards, dives for loose balls, and hustles back in transition.
• Excellent shot blocker. He’s a fast-twitch leaper who perfectly times his jumps and uses the rule of verticality to alter shots without fouling.
• Projects well as a pick-and-roll defender. Has the agility to hedge and help, and the recovery speed, anticipation, and switchability to take on wings and guards.

MINUSES

• Unless he develops a spot-up 3, he’ll need to play like a center on offense, which could create matchup issues for his team.
• Ideal role is small-ball 5, but a lack of length and strength will hinder his ability to defend larger elite bigs like Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns.
• Underwhelming defensive rebounder given his athletic gifts.
• Shooting upside is only theoretical: He overhauled his form after transferring from San Jose State to Gonzaga, but he still has rigid release and shoots a mediocre percentage from the line.

PLUSES

• Skilled interior scorer off of cuts and in the pick-and-roll. He’s a fluid ball handler and ambidextrous finisher with touch on floaters and layups.
• Bitadze is the best screener in this draft class; excels at the little things that young bigs often struggle with, like dribble handoffs and high-low passes.
• Capable of attacking off the dribble, which suggests long-term potential attacking closeouts, developing advanced post moves, and—hopefully—shooting.
• Projects as a positive spot-up shooter; he has the touch and smooth, consistent mechanics to continue to extend his range beyond the NBA 3-point line.
• Good passing vision, especially on the short roll, locating and accurately delivering the ball to shooters and cutters.
• Smart and competitive defender who understands proper positioning and fundamentals; he’s long, and has the potential to effectively drop in pick-and-roll coverages.
• Engaged off-ball defender who rotates well to alter shots or close out, though his lateral mobility must improve.
• Hard-nosed rebounder who chases boards out of his area and boxes out.

MINUSES

• Moves laterally like he has sandbags around his ankles; he currently struggles to stay in front of quicker forwards and is hopeless when switching against guards and wings.
• Needs to be perfect fundamentally to thrive defensively since he’s so slow-footed; he’ll need to develop as a drop pick-and-roll defender like Jusuf Nurkic.
• Gets into foul trouble because he leaps at pump fakes and gets too handsy on the perimeter when he’s a beat late due to his slow feet.
• Lacks explosiveness, which hinders his finishing against larger players and limits his rim-protection upside.
• Emotional player; got visibly frustrated in past seasons, though he’s gotten better at controlling his temper and not letting adversity impact his performance.

PLUSES

• Good ball handler who can grab-and-go in transition, or score with finesse on cuts and rolls. He stays low on his drives and scores like a guard around the rim with dexterous layups.
• Effective passer who could easily thrive as a scorer or playmaker on the short roll. He’s particularly comfortable making left-handed passes off the dribble.
• Avoided careless turnovers despite being forced into being a primary playmaker; he won’t have the same role in the NBA, but his skills will make him a tough cover in the pick-and-roll.
• Didn’t play with a point guard, which hurt his percentages: He shot 34.6 percent in two years on catch-and-shoot jumpers, which isn’t good but it’s something to build on.
• Good rebounder considering his underdeveloped body, though stronger bigs will move him off his spots until he adds muscle.
• Impressive defensive potential once his fundamentals improve: He’s mobile moving laterally and plays hard, plus has the length and reaction time to contain guards and wings.
• Good shot blocker who can alter perimeter jumpers and recover when beaten to swat away shots from behind; he’s an attentive off-ball defender who steps up for weakside blocks, too.

MINUSES

• Lacks physicality and avoids contact; he gets pushed around a lot. He had a late growth spurt, so either he’s just adjusting to his new body or lacks a degree of toughness.
• He should be considered no more than a theoretical shooting threat because of his average touch near the rim and his subpar percentages on his jumper and from the line.
• Must do a better job of establishing post positioning, especially when sealing defenders underneath the basket on cuts and rim runs.
• Thin frame allows beefier players to plow through him on the post and perimeter drives; he needs to get significantly stronger to effectively defend bigs.
• Too often stands upright or opens his stance on the perimeter, which allows opponents to blow by him. He needs to stay seated in his stance and move laterally on his heels.

PLUSES

• Fluid, coordinated athlete who moves surprisingly gracefully with the ball in his hands for a player his size; he’ll be a threat attacking defenders who are closing out.
• Lob threat with an excellent catch radius and the soft hands to corral any pass. He keeps the ball high when finishing, not giving mortals a chance to swipe at the ball.
• Terrific spot-up shooter, despite his funky mechanics. If his screening improves, he’ll become a pick-and-pop weapon.
• Tantalizing upside as a scorer off the dribble; few bigs can dribble and shoot as well as he does. However, his lack of strength and burst do limit his upside creating against a set defense.
• Flashes post upside with basic moves that culminate in a right hook. He’ll need to get stronger to carve out space closer to the rim.
• Potential deterrent around the rim due to his sheer length. He’s so long that his presence can alter opponents’ shots. He’s mobile when he chooses to be.

MINUSES

• Poor shot selection: He floats too much on the perimeter and settles for jumpers off the dribble. While that’s the most tantalizing area of his game, he needs to rein it in for now.
• Beanpole frame hinders his screening; he barely ever makes contact, since defenders can so easily sneak around him. Putting actual effort into his screens would pay dividends.
• Slow to react to pressure when playing in the post; it often seems like he doesn’t realize that passing the ball is an option.
• Poor effort plagues his defense: He fails to contest shots, help, communicate, and box out for rebounds. You won’t find him hustling back on defense.
• Lacks fundamentals; he plays high defending the post and can’t get low on the perimeter, which probably isn’t solvable due to his high center of gravity.
• NBA scouts question his work ethic and conditioning, on top of the durability concerns due to his frail body: He suffered a stress fracture to the navicular bone in his left foot at Oregon.

PLUSES

• Good spot-up shooter, and he’s comfortable on the pick-and-pop, which creates the space he needs for straight-line drives to the rim.
• Bouncy interior finisher who can finish lobs or score with touch, though he’d be even better if he breaks his habit of bringing the ball down to his waist before leaping.
• Active offensive rebounder with a nose for the ball; can grab the ball then quickly spring back up for putbacks.
• Energetic shot blocker; he has natural timing paired with quick-twitch leaping ability and length. He’s most visibly impactful in help defense situations when chasing down opponents.
• Major potential defending the pick-and-roll; he has improved in college and does a solid job of dropping to defend both his man and the ball handler. His length is a natural deterrent.
• Projects as a capable perimeter defender if his fundamentals improve. He lacks discipline, but has mobility recovering to his man laterally.

MINUSES

• Once he gets a touch, he’s not giving the ball up; he is a total black hole who record-scratches the offensive flow by holding the ball and then dribbling into traffic.
• Must improve drastically at simple role-player skills such as screening, boxing out, and executing plays.
• Foul trouble is an issue; it’s as if he were conditioned to leap at pump fakes and swipe for the ball. Savvy NBA veterans will exploit this tendency.
• He’s often out of position and frenzied in his defensive approach, causing him to fall off-balance in man-to-man situations.
• Average defensive rebounder who relies too heavily on athleticism instead of boxing out.

PLUSES

• Covers a lot of ground attacking closeouts with his quick first step and long strides. He’s a solid ball handler for his size and explodes at the rim when he has room to launch off two feet.
• Sets strong, fundamental screens; he could develop into a dynamic on-ball screen threat. He’s also a savvy cutter and tends to execute plays well.
• Flashes passing vision off the dribble and changes speeds well in the pick-and-roll; he could develop into a secondary playmaker who can leverage his size to create mismatches.
• Average 3-point shooter who could improve his consistency issues by steadying his unruly lower body; it looks like his legs have a mind of their own.
• Though it won’t be his primary source of offense, he’s a capable shooter off the dribble because of his handle; his numbers and range do need to improve, though.
• Disciplined defender who worked hard to improve his fundamentals after transferring to Villanova. With his mobility and strength, he could become a versatile defender.
• Good team defender who locks in off-ball; he rotates well, communicates, and hustles; he brings an energy that can set a tone for the defense.

MINUSES

• He slides well laterally but his initial movement turning his hips leaves him prone to getting smoked by quicker guards. He needs to get even quicker to amplify his versatility.
• Best suited for a switching scheme on defense; he’s so physically wide that fighting through screens against speedy opponents can be a challenge.
• Shorter wingspan limits his upside as a rim protector and rebounder in small-ball lineups; he’s more of a wing who can spell as a small-ball power forward.
• Less effective finishing off one foot around the rim; he doesn’t explode nearly as much. Improving his off hand would help in this regard.
• He’s a modern tweener without a defining skill or a clear position he can lock down on defense; he needs to prove he can be either a versatile defender or a reliable shooter.

PLUSES

• Crafty interior scorer who finishes with either hand and uses deceptive pump fakes to create space; loves to carve out space for his left-handed runner.
• Excellent screener who can facilitate on the short roll or pop for 3s; can be a playmaking weapon on switches.
• Tennessee runs its offense through him on the post; he loves absorbing contact, can finish over either shoulder, and throws accurate fastballs to cutters and shooters.
• Improved spot-up 3-point shooter. He must extend his range, but his touch from the line and midrange is a positive indicator for his projected shooting ability.
• A high-IQ defender who is always in the right position rotating as a help defender, and plays with strong fundamentals moving laterally.
• Plays tough, physical individual defense. He closes out hard and shows active hands, plus he’s an instinctual rebounder who boxes out.
• Hard-working, unselfish player. Lost weight and got better each season. He’ll take a charge or dive for a loose ball. Bonus: He does a good job of accentuating contact to draw fouls.

MINUSES

• Reluctant to shoot 3s, passes up open looks, and dribbles into short midrange pull ups. Does he lack confidence or is he aware of his limitations?
• Lacks verticality, so scoring inside against NBA length will require an adjustment.
• He doesn’t project as a shot creator because of his average first step and lack of shake as a ball handler.
• Tweeners don’t exist in today’s NBA, but athleticism still matters: He might not have the mobility to be a top-shelf defender on switches against guards and quicker wings.

PLUSES

• Displays intriguing ballhandling potential for a player at his position, with crossovers and spin moves.
• Skilled interior finishing upside: He can make acrobatic attempts and finish with power in space, though he must improve scoring against contact and master his off hand.
• He has good footwork no matter the situation; he’s a patient post scorer yet a decisive attacker against closeouts or when rolling to the rim via cuts and screens.
• Active off-ball player who cuts, runs the floor hard in transitions, and relocates to get open for 3s; he’d be best suited for a fast-paced, motion-based offense.
• Instinctual rebounder, especially on offense, though on defense he must commit to boxing out. Could become a threat to throw outlets or grab and go to spark a break.
• Potentially a highly versatile defender if his body and fundamentals improve drastically; his coaches often trust him to switch screens, and he plays hard, though the results are mixed.
• Good help defender who’s active and aware in the passing lanes.

MINUSES

• He gets tossed around like a rag doll by larger players, which hinders his ability to defend the paint; he needs to add significant weight and muscle.
• Quicker players tend to smoke him. He has good mobility but defends from an upright position. His footwork is sloppy when closing out, often causing him to fall off-balance.
• Displays strong passing vision with difficult cross-court passes, yet he often can’t place the ball accurately on simple entry passes.
• Below-average 3-point shooter who can improve with a few mechanical tweaks; he brings the ball to his release point too early, and his feet could be turned slightly to alleviate tension.
• Not yet a factor shooting jumpers off the dribble.

PLUSES

• Body seems to have been built in a lab; possesses a thick frame and long arms to go with agility and explosiveness.
• Ambidextrous interior finisher who displays good footwork finding space for layups—that is, when he isn’t already in position to throw down pulverizing dunks.
• Soft interior touch and clean shooting form suggest he has a projectable shot to the NBA 3-point line.
• Made drastic improvements as a passer as a sophomore; he puts velocity on the ball and can effectively facilitate on the short roll and in the low and high post.
• Maryland plays at a snail’s pace, but Fernando is a force like Montrezl Harrell running the floor when he’s empowered.
• Good rebounder who can follow his boards with strong outlet passes. Considering his quick first step and aptitude for straight-line driving, maybe he can also handle in transition.
• Long-term rim-protection upside; his fundamentals must improve but he has what you can’t teach—length and mobility.
• Plays with better, more consistent intensity on defense than he did as a freshman; his overall improvement is a sign of a willingness to learn.

MINUSES

• Sets a lot of moving screens that’ll get called early in his pro career.
• Needs to be careful about bringing the ball down while loading up before dunks, since it leaves him prone to being stripped.
• He doesn’t handle the pressure of college double-teams well; will standard NBA pressure and length by superior defenders also give him issues executing plays?
• Unaware defender who often gets caught in no-man’s-land; he lacks positional awareness in the pick-and-roll and is still learning the intricacies of help defense.
• Athleticism can only go so far without fundamentals: He has improved but still bites on too many pump fakes inside and reaches too much on the perimeter.

PLUSES

• Good 3-point shooter with relaxed, simple mechanics. He can also straight-line drive to the rim; eventually, he could become a pick-and-pop threat.
• Instinctive cutter who’s a good finisher around the rim with enough touch to make circus finishes using either hand; however, his lack of explosiveness limits him against length or contact.
• Good post scorer who could use his size to his advantage against switching defenses; if a double comes, he has the passing vision to locate open teammates.
• Great passing instincts; he never seems panicked and delivers an accurate ball even when pressured. He’s a post playmaker and makes smart outlet passes in transition.
• Hyperalert off-ball defender who makes sound rotations and creates deflections with his remarkable anticipation skills and swift hands.
• Winning player who will dive on the floor for a loose ball, chase down rebounds, and run the floor, all of which should help him earn the trust of his coaches.

MINUSES

• Slow shooting release is the only cause concern for his jump shot; he’s also a nonfactor shooting off the dribble from all ranges.
• Lacks athleticism; he’s not that quick, and he’s a below-the-rim player. If he gets stronger and adds weight to better play at the 4, it’s critical that he ensures the bulk doesn’t slow him down.
• Needs to tighten his handle and footwork so he’s called for fewer travels when attacking closeouts.
• Stiff in guarding man-to-man when he doesn’t stay seated low in his stance; his technique must improve so he can trigger his theoretical versatility as a multipositional defender.
• Tore his left ACL in March; he had previously suffered a bone bruise in the same knee in June 2017 during tryouts for the Under-19 USA Basketball team.

PLUSES

• Dribbles low to the ground like a guard, with a quick first step enhanced by fluid crossovers and hesitations; he likes driving left to get to the rim, shoot a runner, or pull up from the midrange.
• Projects to be an effective shooter in the NBA, though he made only 30.1 percent of his 93 catch-and-shoot 3s and 75.8 percent of his 240 free throw attempts in college. He has good form, soft touch on floaters, and the ability to hit shots off movement.
• Coordinated finisher at the rim who can use either hand from tough, off-balance angles. He’s an active cutter and runs the floor hard.
• Flashes playmaking skills with accurate cross-court passes from the post or drive-and-kicks to shooters and cutters; if he further tightens his handle, he could even run some pick-and-roll.
• Small-ball big potential: Projects as a valuable on-ball screener if his shooting improves since he can pop, attack off the dribble, roll and finish with finesse, or locate open teammates.
• Excellent perimeter defender who moves well laterally when sitting low in his stance, and who recovers and closes out well. He has the makings of a super-switchable defensive presence.
• Impactful off-ball defender who hustles and displays good awareness with his rotations; though he’s not a rim protector, he can disturb opponents with his attentive weakside help.
• Always willing to take a charge or dive for a loose ball. His aggressive style also allows him to rebound much better than his slim frame would suggest.

MINUSES

• Thin upper and lower body will limit his ability to add muscle, and therefore to effectively defend stronger, beefier bigs; he gets pushed around a lot.
• Lack of length and leaner frame could limit his success protecting the rim. At least he can switch or hedge.
• Takes too many midrange attempts; it’s critical that he maximizes his shooting potential to extend his range and unlock his offensive impact.
• Prone to lose control of the ball when bumped, though most of his college turnovers were the result of defensive pressure with players doubling him on drives or post-ups.
• Should be a mismatch nightmare against smaller players in the post, but his lack of strength and post moves and his tendency to settle for pull-ups are concerning.

PLUSES

• Explosive lob threat who finishes strong against contact and draws a lot of fouls; Arkansas rarely ran pick-and-roll, but that’ll be his primary skill in the NBA.
• Displays fluidity that could translate into greater pick-and-roll upside if his ballhandling and touch develop.
• Excellent on-ball and off-ball screener who displays an understanding of timing and angles.
• Relentless rebounder.
• Grinds hard defending man-to-man, plus has terrific shot-blocking instincts from the weak side and on the perimeter.

MINUSES

• Partially tore his meniscus in high school.
• Nonthreat outside of the paint due to average touch and funky shot form; he’s also a poor free throw shooter.
• Lacks passing vision.
• Heavy feet defending on the perimeter, which limits his effectiveness on a switch. His lean frame and average length also limits him against beefy centers.
• Commits too many careless fouls biting for pump fakes, reaching, and attempting to block shots he has no chance at.

PLUSES

• Excellent passer from all over the floor; he makes quick reads and delivers accurate passes. Could become one of the NBA’s better passing bigs.
• Fluid ball handler who uses crossovers, hesitations, and spin moves to attack the basket from the perimeter or high post.
• Elite screener for his age; he could develop into a multidimensional screening threat on the pop, short roll, and dives.
• Good shooter off the catch; a creative coach could even utilize him off screens since he’s effective setting his feet after movement.
• Solid positional defender who tends to make good rotations; he’s not a rim protector, but there’s value in not screwing up.
• Projects as a sturdy low-post defender if he adds muscle, due to his effort level and positioning.
• Porter comes from a basketball family; Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. is his brother.