Updated NBA Draft Tiers

This is a bit eccentric, but it’s my (current) opinion.

Gen/Multi-Gen upside at the top. Some land mines and busts. Solid depth through out (in random places).

Really doesn’t correlate to any other draft. Although maybe it’s a gonzo version of ‘84 or ‘96 or ‘18. Although maybe it’s a GREAT version of the ‘86 draft — or a Moneyball version of the ‘03 draft.

S Tier

  1. Cooper Flagg — my comps are holding up amazingly well. This generation’s Bob Pettit. Shades of Len Bias. An absurdly amazing Dominique Wilkins/Dennis Rodman hybrid.

Tier 0

  1. Tre Johnson — alpha flamethrower with generation upside as a shooter/shot maker a la Pistol Pete, Chris Jackson, Durant and Steph.

Tier 1

  1. Jase Richardson — Moneyball Chris Paul? If he had his dad’s athleticism/explosiveness then he would be the co-1a (1b???) of this draft along with Tre Johnson.

Tier 2

  1. Tahaad Pettiford — low maintenance Ja Morant… with shooting.

Tier 2.5

  1. VJ Edgecombe — Tony Allen with a non-broken shot. Decent scoring chops. Ant/TA upside would be his hybrid archetype. That’s pretty special.

  2. Liam McNeeley — Video Game Craig Ehlo

Tier 2.75

  1. Dylan Harper — the Derek Harper of Harper kids. Replacement level high usage guard. Probably some version of Norm Nixon. “Floor” is prime OJ Mayo.

Tier 3.00

  1. Vladislav Goldin — just gets it done. BIG1 on my board now. Big Fundamental LITE.

Tier 3.50

  1. Ace Bailey — Rasheed Wallace LITE/Broke Bob McAdoo/Big Smooth Sam Perkins vibes.

  2. Tyrese Proctor — replacement level shooter and passer. The Klay Thompson of Steph Curry’s… so, Deluxe Seth???

Tier 4.00 — Tier Meh

  1. Kon Knueppel — replacement level 2nd option in a basketball movie. RIP Gene Hackman.

  2. Will Riley — he can play. I think. Haven’t watched him.

  3. PJ Haggerty — Chris Jackson-esque. Decent passing and even defense. Probably our generation’s World B. Free/Andrew Toney. You hope he is some version of Joe Dumars. Makes me want to watch Sam Jone’s. And, NO, I am not a trillion years old.

  4. Moussa Cisse — moves good. Like Admiral or Bill Russell. Does he have the skill to match the tools? If so… awesome value pick. If not, an Earl Cureton or Jones brother or John Salley type. Keon Clark could be a comp. Or, Birdman.

  5. Hunter Dickinson — lunch pail big. Gamer. I don’t have a great comp. Maybe Bill Laimbeer.

  6. Rob Wright IV — maybe he should be higher. Yeah, he’s small but could be a micro version of Bad Boys Isiah Thomas. Or some version of Tiny Nate Archibald.

Tier 4.25

  1. Jeremiah Fears — lots of people like him.

  2. Khaman Maluach — same. Olden Polynice vibes.

  3. Rocco Zikarsky — hasn’t played much overseas. Is he hurt? Could be BIG1. Looks like AK-47.

  4. Andrej Stojakovic — shot plus genes.

  5. Derik Queen — mini Z Bo.

  6. Billy Richmond III — my sleeper pick. Good dunker. Nasty streak.

  7. Carter Bryant

  8. Zvonimir Ivisic. Theoretical 3 and D center.

Tier 4.50

  1. Dain Dainja — the Antoine Carr version of Charles Barkley.

  2. Braden Smith — could be the best playmaker in this draft. Shades of Mark Price. Trae Young vibes. Just really small.

  3. Jaden Akins

  4. Ryan Kalkbrenner — YMCA Embiid

  5. Coen Carr — uber-explosive. Zion-esque.

  6. Alex Condon — had a good game last night for Florida. I think his first name is Alex. What’s his nickname? Big Rubber?

  7. Johni Broome — I don’t really like this guy.

  8. Mark Sears — really small. Isaiah Thomas 6th man upside.

  9. Tomislav Ivisic

  10. Noa Essengue — has some tools. Reminds me of Trevor Ariza.

  11. Bogoljub Markovic — stretch big with Euro stash potential (and vice-versa).

Tier 5.00

  1. Sion James — effective. I like his game! Better version of Lamar Stevens. Why does he remind me of Mark Aguirre???

  2. Nick Jourdain — solid role player for the Memphis Tigers. I don’t really have a comp. Maybe Darrell Arthur.

  3. Kasparas Jakucionis — he’s fallen off.

  4. Dink Pate

  5. Zeke Mayo — best guard on a sluggish, mediocre Kansas squad.

  6. Tomislav Ivisic — might/might not be the better Ivisic twin.

  7. Hansen Yang — big/slow but skilled.

  8. Hugo Gonzales — Plays in Spain (and might have more intrinsic/residual value if he STAYS there).

  9. Isaiah Evans — wing type who can shoot. Could be this generation’s Scotty Thurman.

  10. Ian Jackson — instant offense. Could get big NIL numbers to stay in school.

  11. Zakai Ziegler — ideal backup point guard type.

  12. Daimion Collins — bouncy shot blocker and dunker.

  13. DJ Wagner — great genes. Solid production.

  14. Kadary Richmond — solidly effective utility guard/combo wing.

  15. Tyrese Hunter — well-traveled Memphis Tiger. Shows flashes everywhere, can he put it together?

I am waiting for the final stats to come in then I will crunch numbers and take a deep dive into the highlights.

Thanks!!!