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There won’t be a Colorado Buffaloes player selected in the NBA Draft tonight. I’m sorry Namon Wright, but it’s not going to happen. So why are we publishing a bunch of NBA Draft coverage? Because Sam covers every game without complaint and if we’re gonna make him bus home at 11:15 p.m. on a snowy school night because he covered a Washington State game, we can, at the very least, let him publish his NBA Draft Big Board that no one asked for. Just let him have this. (The editor was not consulted before this article was published.)
Tier 1: Hall of Famers
1. Zion Williamson, PF, Duke
Player comparison: Charles Barkley + Bo Jackson
Draft range: 1
Best fits: literally any team
Tier 2: Potential All-Stars
2. Ja Morant, PG, Murray State
Player comparison: diet John Wall
Draft range: 2
Best fits: Memphis, Phoenix
Tier 3: High-end starters
3. Jarrett Culver, SG/SF, Texas Tech
Player comparison: Khris Middleton
Draft range: 3-6
Best fits: Pelicans (4), Cavaliers (5), Hawks (8)
4. Brandon Clarke, PF, Gonzaga
Player comparison: Defensive-minded Kenyon Martin
Draft range: 10-17
Best fits: Hawks (10, 17), Timberwolves (11)
5. De’Andre Hunter, SF, Virginia
Player comparison: Luol Deng lite
Draft range: 4-9
Best fits: Pelicans (4), Hawks (8)
6. Coby White, PG, North Carolina
Player comparison: Cuttino Mobley
Draft range: 4-7
Best fits: Suns (6), Bulls (7)
7. R.J. Barrett, SG, Duke
Player comparison: Harrison Barnes with Mamba mentality
Draft range: 3-5
Best fits: Knicks (3)
8. Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
Player comparison: Jeff Teague with hints of Damian Lillard
Draft range: 4-7
Best fits: Suns (6), Bulls (7)
9. Keldon Johnson, SG/SF, Kentucky
Player comparison: Bogdan Bogdanovic
Draft range: 12-18
Best fits: Pistons (15), Magic (16), Pacers (18)
Tier 3: Worth the risk
10. Sekou Doumbouya, SF/PF, France
Player comparison: Al-Farouq Aminu with more potential
Draft range: 8-12
Best fits: Hawks (8, 10), Wizards (9)
11. Matisse Thybulle, SG, Washington
Player comparison: Danny Green (without a jumper) + Charles Woodson
Draft range: 21-28
Best fits: Thunder (21), 76ers (24)
12. Nassir Little, SF, North Carolina
Player comparison: Stanley Johnson with Andre Iguodala upside
Draft range: 9-14
Best fits: Hawks (10), Hornets (12), Heat (13)
13. Rui Hachimura, SF/PF, Gonzaga
Player comparison: Marcus Morris with more marketability
Draft range: 11-20
Best fits: Heat (13), Celtics (14, 20), Spurs (19)
14. Jaxson Haynes, C, Texas
Player comparison: Clint Capela with possible shooter’s touch
Draft range: 9-17
Best fits: Hawks (10, 17), Celtics (14)
Tier 4: Safe bets with limited ceilings
15. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, Virginia Tech
Player comparison: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with less potential
Draft range: 12-16
Best fits: Heat (13), Pistons (15), Magic (16)
16. Goga Bitadze, C, Republic of Georgia
Player comparison: Jusuf Nurkic
Draft range: 10-22
Best fits: Hawks (10, 17), Celtics (14, 20, 22)
17. Grant Williams, PF, Tennessee
Player comparison: Paul Millsap lite
Draft range: 22-34
Best fits: Trail Blazers (25), Nets (27, 31)
18. P.J. Washington, PF, Kentucky
Player comparison: David West (non-All-Star version)
Draft range: 11-22
Best fits: Hawks (17), Pacers (18), Spurs (19)
19. Chuma Okeke, SF/PF, Auburn
Player comparison: High IQ Robert Covington
Draft range: 27-34
Best fits: Warriors (28), 76ers (33, 34)
20. Ty Jerome, PG/SG, Virginia
Player comparison: Malcolm Brogdon without length
Draft range: 23-34
Best fits: 76ers (24, 33, 34), Warriors (28)
21. Tyler Herro, SG, Kentucky
Player comparison: E’Twaun Moore
Draft range: 14-24
Best fits: Celtics (14, 20, 22), Thunder (21)
22. Carsen Edwards, PG, Purdue
Player comparison: Lou Williams with less sauce
Draft range: 27-35
Best fits: Pistons (30), Suns (32), 76ers (33, 34)
Tier 5: High-reward development picks
23. Nicolas Claxton, PF/C, Georgia
Player comparison: bootleg Marvin Bagley
Draft range: 17-27
Best fits: Hawks (17), Blazers (25), Cavaliers (26)
24. Cam Reddish, SF, Duke
Player comparison: Ben McLemore in Paul George’s body
Draft range: 5-8
Best fits: Cavaliers (5), Hawks (8)
25. Kevin Porter, Jr., SG, USC
Player comparison: DeShawn Stevenson
Draft range: 14-30
Best fits: Grizzlies (23), Cavaliers (26), Pistons (30)
26. Mfiondu Kagenbele, C, Florida State
Player comparison: Serge Ibaka lite
Draft range: 17-31
Best fits: Celtics (20, 22), Thunder (21), 76ers (24)
27. Romeo Langford, SG, Indiana
Player comparison: MarShon Brooks
Draft range: 15-23
Best fits: Pistons (15), Magic (16)
Tier 6: Safe bets who should be solid rotation players
28. Naz Reid, PF/C, LSU
Player comparison: Nene with range
Draft range: 29-42
Best fits: Spurs (29), Mavericks (37), Pelicans (39)
29. Cameron Johnson, SF, North Carolina
Player comparison: Justin Jackson (but better)
Draft range: 21-30
Best fits: 76ers (24), Warriors (28)
30. Eric Paschall, PF, Villanova
Player comparison: 3-and-D Anthony Tolliver
Draft range: 27-37
Best fits: Nets (27, 31), Suns (32), Mavericks (37)
31. Dylan Windler, SF, Belmont
Player comparison: Bojan Bogdanovic
Draft range: 28-38
Best fits: Warriors (28), 76ers (33, 34)
32. Admiral Schofield, SF, Tennessee
Player comparison: Treveon Graham +
Draft range: 32-44
Best fits: Mavericks (37), Pelicans (39), Heat (44)
33. Luka Samanic, PF, Croatia
Player comparison: Dario Saric lite (lazy comp)
Draft range: 19-40
Best fits: Spurs (19, 29), Suns (32) Mavericks (37)