|
Ricky Rubio 6-4 PG DKV Joventut (Spain) / 1990 |
| Precocious Spanish talent who is light-years ahead of any player his age in terms of experience, poise and feel for the game. Has played a huge role winning the ULEB Cup championship and Copa del Rey, as well as in winning the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. Has great size for the point and outstanding defensive ability. Impressive ball-handler and passer with outstanding natural instincts and a flair for the spectacular. Needs to continue to polish his scoring instincts and perimeter shooting ability. |
| Comparison:
Steve Nash |
Stats:
-. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $4,983,480 |
Ranking:
1st Point Guard / 1st International |
|
Blake Griffin 6-10 PF/C Oklahoma / Sophomore |
| Highly fluid and coordinated power forward with great strength and body control. Can create his own shot impressively and has no problem playing inside. Explosive finishing around the rim, but is capable of playing a finesse game too. Competes extremely hard and is an excellent rebounder. Has a great feel for the game and is a very good teammate. Skills facing the basket are improvable, not a great defender, but clearly has a big upside to continue to improve. |
| Comparison:
Carlos Boozer |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $4,458,840 |
Ranking:
1st Power Forward / 1st Freshman |
|
Demar DeRozan 6-6 SG USC / Freshman |
Freakishly athletic wing player with all the natural tools and physical attributes NBA scouts look for in a potential star. Excellent in transition, shows a smooth 3-point stroke, can pull-up off the dribble and appears to have a world of talent at his disposal. Still raw in the half-court, not a great ball-handler or shot-creator, tends to coast at times, and is an average defender at best. Clearly has a huge upside, but will be scrutinized heavily in his likely lone season of college basketball, and will have big expectations to fulfill. |
| Comparison:
Vince Carter |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $4,004,160 |
Ranking:
1st Shooting Guard / 2nd Freshman |
|
B.J. Mullens 7-0 C Ohio State / Sophomore |
| Highly intriguing big man with outstanding natural tools—size, strength, athleticism, great hands, and the ability to play inside or out. Can knock down jumpers smoothly or finish with either hand around the basket. Doesn’t always play hard, fails to box out or compete defensively, seems to go through stretches of unproductiveness. Superbly gifted and appears to have huge potential, but still has a lot to prove as well. |
| Comparison:
Chris Kaman |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $3,610,080 |
Ranking:
1st Center / 1st Sophomore |
|
James Harden 6-5
SG Arizona State / Sophomore |
| Versatile lefty shooting guard who is equally effective creating shots for himself and others. Extremely efficient player with terrific scoring instincts both shooting the ball from the perimeter or getting to the basket and drawing fouls. Very advanced player with an outstanding feel for the game, really understands how to move without the ball and find open teammates unselfishly thanks to his excellent court vision. Solid defender with long arms and a good physique. Has average size for his position and is not incredibly explosive to compensate. Ball-handling skills are improvable, especially with right hand. Polished, mature player with good, but not great upside, even though he’s extremely young for his class. |
| Comparison:
Caron Butler |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $3,269,160 |
Ranking:
2nd Shooting Guard / 2nd Sophomore |
|
Jrue Holiday 6-4 PG/SG UCLA / Freshman |
| Versatile combo guard with an outstanding feel for the game and the poise of a veteran. Can score in a multitude of ways but is just as comfortable giving the ball up. Can shoot the ball with range and is an outstanding defender. Complete player who knows how to play winning basketball. Shows the potential to play point guard down the road. Excellent on the pick and roll. More of a role player than a star? Good, not great athlete. Upside is solid but not out of this world. |
| Comparison:
Rodney Stuckey |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,969,280 |
Ranking:
2nd Point Guard / 3rd Freshman |
|
Brandon Jennings 6-1 PG Lottomatica Roma (Italy) / Freshman |
| Flamboyant and exceptionally talented lefty point guard with a flair for the spectacular and the demeanor of a star. Terrific athlete and flashy ball-handler who can change gears on the fly and create shots with a wide-array of impressive moves. A natural passer with exceptional court vision, makes incredibly difficult assists look simple. Shows nice potential as a scorer as well, with the ability to knock down shots off the dribble or beyond the arc. Shot-selection and decision making look questionable at times, appears to be more concerned with making himself look good than playing good basketball. Poor defender with a slight frame and below average size. Will be a fascinating case-study to follow playing for Euroleague team Rome straight out of high school. |
| Comparison:
Sebastian Telfair |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,710,560 |
Ranking:
3rd Point Guard / 4th Freshman |
|
Hasheem Thabeet 7-3
C Connecticut / Junior |
| Enormous big man with outstanding physical tools, including a fantastic frame and wingspan. Mobile center who can run the floor well and get off his feet impressively. High-percentage player from both the field and the free throw line. Draws a great deal of fouls just by being on the floor. A game-changing presence defensively thanks to his outstanding shot-blocking ability. Limited offensive player with poor hands and an underwhelming skill-set. Poor passer and average rebounder. Questionable lateral quickness and balance. Only playing basketball for a few years, and made huge strides from freshman to sophomore year. True age a question mark. |
| Comparison:
Samuel Dalembert |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,483,280 |
Ranking:
2nd Center / 1st Junior |
|
Earl Clark 6-9
PF/SF Louisville / Junior |
| Versatile 4/3 with great natural tools and considerable upside. Has a great frame and is a superb athlete. Likes to face the basket and put the ball on the floor. Can score around the rim cutting off the ball or beating players in the post thanks to his quickness. Has a very inconsistent jumper with range out to the 3-point line. Solid rebounder and emerging defender when he puts his mind to it. Lacks considerable polish offensively and isn’t as prolific a scorer as you might hope. Has a tendency to coast at times and may lack some mental toughness. |
| Comparison:
Marvin Williams |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,282,640 |
Ranking:
2nd Power Forward / 2nd Junior |
|
Tyreke Evans 6-5
PG/SG Memphis / Freshman |
| Impressive scorer who can create his own shot with the best of them. Athletic shooting guard with excellent physical tools. Possesses a powerful first step, nice hesitation moves and advanced instincts for putting the ball in the net. Streak shooter who can heat up at times from beyond the arc as well as pull-up in difficult fashion off the dribble. Dominant ball-handler who plays by himself all too often and is often criticized for his selfish play. Very turnover prone and not very efficient from the field. Body language is questionable at times. |
| Comparison:
Jamaal Crawford |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,168,520 |
Ranking:
4th Point Guard / 5th Sophomore |
|
Ty Lawson
5-11 PG North Carolina / Junior |
| True point guard who might be the quickest end to end player in college basketball. A master at igniting fast-breaks after made baskets. Has excellent strength, ball-handling skills, footwork and body control, and is especially impressive in transition. Court vision is solid, although has a tendency to over-do things at times, particularly with his decision making in the half-court. Loses focus and is still inconsistent as a floor general. Gets to the basket extremely well, and uses his strength to score even with contact. Possesses poor shooting mechanics, particularly off the dribble, and no real mid-range game. Gets in the passing lanes defensively, but lack of size and effort hurts his NBA potential on this end of the floor. |
| Comparison:
Raymond Felton |
Stats:
-. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $2,060,040 |
Ranking:
5th Point Guard / 3rd Junior |
|
Gerald Henderson 6-5 SG Duke / Junior |
| All-around shooting guard with nice tools and good upside to continue to improve. Very athletic swingman with a good frame and wingspan. Fluid and explosive player who gets to the line at a high rate and can really finish around the rim. Shows a decent pull-up jumper from mid-range, but is a streaky all-around outside shooter. Capable of playing very good defense. Ball-handling skills are average. Productivity wavers, appears to be more comfortable in a complimentary role. Upside is considerable, and will have every chance to help his draft stock in a very high profile situation. |
| Comparison:
Ronnie Brewer |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,957,080 |
Ranking:
3rd Shooting Guard / 4th Junior |
|
Chase Budinger 6-7
SG/SF Arizona / Junior |
| Athletic wing with excellent size and leaping ability. A very good perimeter shooter, both spotting up and coming off screens, thanks to his picture perfect mechanics. Intelligent player who knows how to move off the ball, find the open man with heady passes, and is very unselfish. A former world-class volleyball player who is still only scratching the potential on his basketball potential. A poor ball-handler--lacks the ability to create his own shot effectively, and has almost no mid-range game. Doesn’t utilize his athleticism effectively enough, and hasn’t shown go-to scoring mentality at this point. Lateral quickness and defensive intensity are questionable. |
| Comparison:
Brent Barry |
Stats:
-. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,859,160 |
Ranking:
4th Shooting Guard / 5th Junior |
|
Patrick Mills 6-0
PG Saint Mary's / Sophomore |
| Exceptionally quick point guard who helped his draft stock considerably this summer with the Australian national team in the Beijing Olympics, leading his team in scoring. Small, but fearless playmaker who is exceptional in transition and excellent at taking his man off the dribble. Very poised and mature player who took over the reigns at St. Mary’s immediately as a freshman and led them to the NCAA tournament. Has a decent stroke from beyond the arc, and can make shots from that range, but needs to work on his consistency. Tends to fall in love with his jumper at times. Playmaking skills, decision making ability need work. Too small to finish in traffic on occasion, lack of size may hurt his long-term potential. |
| Comparison:
Mo Williams |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,766,280 |
Ranking:
6th Point Guard / 2nd International |
|
Darren Collison 6-1
PG UCLA / Senior |
| Athletic point guard with an excellent feel for the game. Very poised, disciplined playmaker who executes in the half-court and gets out in transition well. Reads the floor and is fantastic running the pick and run. Terrific man to man and team defender who puts tremendous pressure on the ball. Shoots an excellent percentage from behind the arc, but will he be able to hit NBA 3’s with his awkward mechanics? Small and skinny. Not an amazing offensive threat, gets passive at times, especially finishing around the rim. A likely role player at the next level. |
| Comparison:
Earl Watson |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,677,840 |
Ranking:
7th Point Guard / 1st Senior |
|
Andrew Ogilvy 7-0 C Vanderbilt / Sophomore |
| True center with impressive scoring and passing ability. Has great hands and the ability to score with his back to the basket, possesses impressive touch with either hand, and draws fouls at a very high rate. Hits his free throws at an excellent clip. Fundamentally sound and capable of playing in the high or low post-- knows how to find the open man and shows some sparks of potential putting the ball on the floor or hitting a mid-range jumper. A relatively average athlete who could still improve his strength and toughness. Not a great rebounder or defender. Struggles stepping out and guarding the perimeter. Will have to wow NBA decision makers with his production, more-so than with his upside. |
| Comparison:
Brad Miller |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,594,080 |
Ranking:
3rd Center / 3rd International |
|
Patrick Patterson 6-8
PF kentucky / Sophomore |
| Strong, high-energy power forward who produced in impressive fashion from day one at Kentucky. Undersized, but possesses long arms, a great frame and solid athleticism to compensate. Very aggressive inside, uses his body effectively, can operate with his back to the basket with great touch, and is a terrific finisher around the hoop. Draws fouls at a nice rate and shoots a solid percentage from the stripe. Can knock down a mid-range jumper with decent accuracy. Very active player who really competes. Footwork, shot-selection and overall offense polish still improvable. A surprisingly average defensive rebounder. Relies too much on his natural tools at times, particularly on the defensive end. |
| Comparison:
Leon Powe |
Stats:
-. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,514,280 |
Ranking:
3rd Power Forward / 8th Sophomore |
|
Stephen Curry 6-3
SG Davidson / Junior |
| Incredible shooter/scorer who exploded onto the national scene with an amazing NCAA tournament run, leading his team all the way to the Elite Eight. Highly efficient and productive player who is clearly the most deadly perimeter shooting threat in college basketball. Hits tough shots with the greatest of ease, and is extremely difficult to shut down. Extremely poised and confident player with an excellent feel for the game, loves the big moments and is not afraid to take responsibilities. Upside is limited by his poor physical tools, showing average size, a thin frame, and underwhelming athleticism to compensate. Defensive potential is a concern. Needs to show some point guard skills to make his transition to the NBA easier. |
| Comparison:
Jannero Pargo |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,438,680 |
Ranking:
5th Shooting Guard / 6th Junior |
|
Omri Casspi 6-8 SF/PF Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) / 1988 |
| Big small forward with nice physical tools for an international player. Shows good size, a solid frame, and above average athletic ability. Confident, intense and highly aggressive scorer who takes the ball strong to the rim and displays impressive toughness. Wants to make plays and has the offensive instincts needed to get the job done. Ball-handling, mid-range game and especially perimeter shooting ability are still improvable to make the full transition to the small forward spot. Has made strides defensively, but still has a ways to go. Will have an opportunity to contribute at a very high level in the Euroleague with Maccabi Tel Aviv. |
| Comparison:
Matt Harpring |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,373,880 |
Ranking:
1st Small Forward / 4th International |
|
Tyler Hansbrough 6-9
PF North Carolina / Senior |
| The best player in college basketball? A beast around the basket-- relishes contact and makes a living with an incredibly soft touch and some of the best post moves seen in the NCAA. Gets to the free throw line at a superb rate. Unstoppable motor. Face-up game is coming around nicely. Lacks size, length, quickness and explosiveness, which limits him defensively, and is a bit more advanced age-wise than most players in his class. Average passer. Production is what gets him in the first round, more than potential. |
| Comparison:
Luis Scola |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,318,920 |
Ranking:
4th Power Forward / 2ns Senior |
|
Gani Lawal 6-8
PF/C Georgia Tech / Sophomore |
| High-energy power forward who appears to be on the verge of a breakout season as a sophomore. Not incredibly tall, but extremely long and athletic with a great frame to compensate. The stereotypical hustling role player. Very active around the basket, gets his hands on plenty of loose balls, an excellent offensive rebounder and a talented shot-blocker to boot. Makes plays around the rim, quick off feet and very instinctive. Gets to the free throw line but does not convert. A surprisingly average defensive rebounder. Very foul prone, and extremely turnover prone. Work ethic, character are reportedly superb. Still raw, but with a big upside. |
| Comparison:
Udonis Haslem |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,266,120 |
Ranking:
5th Power Forward / 9th Sophomore |
|
Nick Calathes 6-5 PG/SG Florida / Sophomore |
| Incredibly skilled and versatile combo guard who displays an outstanding feel for the game. One of the best passers in the country already as a freshman. Flirts with a triple-double on a nightly basis. Excellent ball-handler who excels on the pick and roll and gets to the free throw line at a high rate. A streaky shooter, but finds a way to make shots despite his awkward mechanics. Average athlete who struggles finishing around the rim in traffic. Displays excellent toughness and is constantly in the mix for rebounds. A below average defender, will need to add significant strength to compensate for his underwhelming lateral quickness. A unique prospect who needs to find the right fit. |
| Comparison:
Beno Udrih |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,215,480 |
Ranking:
8th Point Guard / 10th Sophomore |
|
Tyler Smith 6-7
SF/PF Tennessee / Junior |
| Versatile forward with terrific physical tools—an NBA body, wingspan and athleticism. Naturally instinctive, extremely aggressive player who likes to face the basket from the power forward position. Excellent passer and very efficient offensively. Outstanding in transition—finishes well at the basket. Very active defensively. Still making the transition to the small forward position. Ball-handling skills are improvable, especially going right. Doesn’t take many shots from behind the arc. Plays out of control at times. What’s his bread and butter in the NBA? Regardless, has a big upside. |
| Comparison:
Julian Wright |
Stats:
-. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,167,000 |
Ranking:
2nd Small Forward / 7th Junior |
|
Sam Young 6-6
SF/PF Pittsburgh / Senior |
| Strong and extremely athletic forward with an NBA body and a terrific wingspan. Gets his points mostly on the catch and shoot—where he excels out to beyond the 3-point line, as well as in transition and in the post. Loves to shoot turnaround jumpers. Excellent rebounder and defender. Tough as nails. Still making the transition to being a full-time wing player. Limited ball-handler. Struggles shooting off the dribble. Not a very creative offensive player. Projects as a role player who can knock down shots when needed. |
| Comparison:
James Posey |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,120,200 |
Ranking:
3rd Small Forward / 3rd Senior |
|
Terrence Williams 6-5 SG/SF Louisville / Senior |
| Incredibly versatile shooting guard who plays three positions at the collegiate level. Outstanding athlete with a lightning quick first step, terrific leaping ability, and a frame that is tailor made for professional basketball. An excellent defender first and foremost thanks to his physical attributes, length and the hard-nosed style of play he brings to the court. Fills up the stat-sheet with assists, rebounds and turnovers. Not a prolific scorer, very inconsistent with his jumper but settles regardless for bad shots from the perimeter. Doesn’t get to the basket or free throw line enough. |
| Comparison:
Tony Allen |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,075,440 |
Ranking:
6th Shooting Guard / 4th Senior |
|
Jordan Hill 6-9 PF Arizona / Junior |
| Super athletic power forward with a big upside. Likes to play inside, and has decent size and length to operate efficiently in there. Runs the floor and moves off the ball well. Has great hands and the ability to finish everything around the basket. Excellent rebounder who competes on every possession and can also block the occasional shot. Developing a mid-range jumper, but lacks polish on his entire offensive game. Average defender due to his lack of strength and awareness. Only playing basketball for a few years now, still has plenty of room to develop. |
| Comparison:
Amir Johnson |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,039,800 |
Ranking:
6th Power Forward / 8th Junior |
|
Damion James 6-7 PF Texas / Junior |
| Tough, athletic combo forward who is slowly making the transition to playing on the wing full time. Monster rebounder who never gives up on a single possession. Solid shooter with his feet set, can make open 3-pointers at a very solid clip. Excellent getting out in transition, moving off the ball and finishing around the basket. Unable to create offense for himself due to his poor ball-handling skills. All-around perimeter skill-set still needs work. Horrendous free throw shooter. Versatile defender who can guard multiple positions, but still needs work on his fundamentals. |
| Comparison:
Carl Landry |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,009,680 |
Ranking:
7th Power Forward / 9th Junior |
|
Vladimir Dasic 6-9
PF KK Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro) / 1988 |
| Versatile international combo forward with intriguing physical tools and skills. Athletic player with a very nice frame. Extremely confident and aggressive. Capable of facing up from the perimeter to take his man off the dribble or knock down 3-pointers. Terrific at getting in the passing lanes and igniting fast-breaks. Still working on polishing up his all-around skill-set to make the transition to playing on the wing full-time. Shot-selection, decision making questionable at times. Can he defend NBA small forwards? |
| Comparison:
Vladimir Radmanovic |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $1,003,560 |
Ranking:
8th Power Forward / 5th International |
|
Greivis Vasquez 6-5 PG/SG Maryland / Junior |
| Unpredictable guard with a terrific flair for the spectacular. Spends heavy minutes at the point guard shot and displays excellent creativity and court-vision. Great ball-handler who excels in transition. Decision making can be very poor at times. Extremely turnover prone. Capable of making shots from outside, but shot-selection needs serious work. Settles too often for tough pull-up jumpers early in possessions. Deceptive athlete who finds a way to get to the basket thanks to his terrific feel for the game. Average defender who could struggle guarding point guards at the next level. |
| Comparison:
Carlos Arroyo |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $996,240 |
Ranking:
9th Point Guard / 10th Junior |
|
Nando De Colo 6-5 PG/SG Cholet (France) / 1987 |
| Extremely skilled and creative French point guard who burst onto the scene in 07/08. Poised, talented playmaker with a superb basketball IQ. Loves to operate on the pick and roll. Great feel for setting up teammates for easy baskets, has excellent ball-handling skills and outstanding court vision. Great shooter on the catch and shoot or off the dribble. Average athlete by NBA standards, will struggle in particular on the defensive end, where he probably cannot defend point guards. Big European guards in his mold have struggled in the NBA in the past. |
| Comparison:
Jordan Farmar |
Stats: -. |
| Rookie
season salary*: $989,040 |
Ranking: 10th Point Guard / 6th International |
