43
Tres Tinkle Forward, Oregon State University
18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.5 blocks, 44% fg, 35% 3pt, 35 mpg
The Sacramento Kings could use some depth behind Harrison Barnes at the small forward, and adding a seasoned NCAA veteran, such as Tres Tinkle, could be a smart play.
Tinkle is a solid two-way player who could help make an impact off of the Sacramento bench from day one. Although his ceiling is not high, drafting this far back in the second round talent can be hard to come by.
Tinkle is exceptional at getting in passing lanes and racking up steals. His three point shot is quite average, but should be good enough to hit open looks as a pro. Something to keep in mind with Tinkle is his age, as the redshirt senior will be a whopping 24 years of age on draft night. This will likely deter many teams, as he will probably not develop much more. However, he should be able to contribute in the NBA.
Draft Stock Trend: n/a
44
Matthew Hurt Forward, Duke University
9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.7 blocks, 49% fg, 39% 3pt, 21 mpg
It is unclear whether or not Matt Hurt will enter the NBA draft or return to college for a sophomore season.
If he does decide to enter his name into the draft, he is a lock to be drafted somewhere in the second round. Hurt is a young player who can space the floor from the power forward position and has a decently high ceiling, as one of the top recruits in his high school class a year ago.
The TrailBlazers have been looking for a legitimate option at the power forward since the departure of LaMarcus Aldridge. Kevin Love has been a name that the team has been linked to for some time, but they have never seemed to be able to pull off a deal for the former All-NBA forward. Although a stretch for sure, getting their hands on Matt Hurt could give them a player in that Love mold. Although he probably wouldn’t be a contributor to begin, he could develop into a very good stretch four.
Draft Stock Trend: -9
45
Lamar Stevens Forward, Penn State University
17.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks, 43% fg, 26% 3pt, 31 mpg
Lamar Stevens has been a very good player for Penn State over the past four seasons, but his inefficient production will be a major red flag as a pro. Stevens is an athletic wing who does well getting to the basket, but his range is nothing short of awful. His free throw numbers suggest that his jumper may not be the source of the problem, however, but rather poor shot selection on his part.
Regardless of his offensive inefficiencies, Orlando simply needs a scoring-minded player to come off of the bench and provide an offensive jolt for a team that struggles to put points on the board. His four years in college should make him ready to contribute now, although he will probably be an extremely streaky NBA player. However, when he is on his game, he could be a solid addition to the Magic bench group that has little bright spots as of now.
Draft Stock Trend: -4
46
Cassius Stanley Guard, Duke University
12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, 47% fg, 36% 3pt, 27 mpg
Pick Via Brooklyn Nets (Less Favorable of BKN & NYK)
Casual fans of college basketball may see Cassius Stanley in a different light, but although he is incredibly fun to watch, he is not close to a first round talent this season. Stanley does bring loads of potential to the table for some NBA teams in the second round, if he does decide to declare for the draft. The hyper-athletic wing would likely benefit from another year at Duke, but if he does decide to enter his name into the draft pool, he is an interesting name to watch.
Stanley’s athleticism is what makes him such a gifted player, as his speed and leaping ability are as good as anyone’s in the NCAA. He has made some strides in his outside game so far, but perhaps all Stanley needs is to be more aggressive with his touches in order to show how special he can be. For a team like Boston with a boat load of picks this season, rolling the dice on a high-upside guy like Stanley could be a great investment with almost no risk.
Draft Stock Trend: n/a
47
Robert Woodard II Guard, Mississippi State University
11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks, 50% fg, 43% 3pt, 33 mpg
Pick Via Memphis Grizzlies (Unprotected)
The Bulls appear to have unwisely given up on former lottery pick Denzel Valentine, so looking for a floor spacing two seems like an inevitable next step. Robert Woodard’s stats don’t jump off of the page, but his athleticism and ability to shoot the deep ball make him a solid NBA prospect. Woodard can play well off of the ball, as he is good at making cuts and on the catch-and-shoot.
Woodard is an exciting player to watch, who loves to shoot the deep ball and make posterizing dunks. He could carve out a nice role on the Chicago bench as an outlet for Tomas Satoransky. He may not be a first round talent, but his game makes him a great prospect for the modern NBA. Woodard is a player who could very well outplay his draft position, although he projects to be just a role player professionally.