Who is the best post player in the NBA draft?

ESPN Insider's Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton return to provide the kind of discussions that are happening in front offices around the NBA -- where scouts and statistical experts are breaking down NBA draft prospects using their "eyes, ears and numbers."

With less than two weeks to go before the draft, we're ranking and debating the best players by position in the draft. After beginning with point guards and continuing with wings, we conclude with post players.

Q: Who is the best post player in the draft?

Ford: Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky

I began the season convinced this would be Jahlil Okafor, but as the season progressed and Okafor's defensive and free throw issues became apparent while Towns progressed on both ends of the floor, I flipped to Towns. Two weeks before the draft, I don't actually think it's all that close. While Okafor has superior footwork and go-to moves in the paint, Towns trumps him in virtually every other category. He's a better athlete, superior defender, an shot-blocker, better shooter and, after watching him work out, I also came away supremely impressed with both his intelligence and work ethic. To me, he's the complete package for a modern NBA big.

Pelton: Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky

I'd agree with that, Chad. The stats and the scouting are all in alignment here. Towns has the better chance of developing into an above-average center at both ends of the floor, which is an incredibly valuable building block. Injury aside, his floor seems remarkably high given his combination of size and skill. It's difficult to see Towns failing and easy to see him developing into an All-Star as his offense progresses.

Q: Who is the second-best post player in the draft?

Ford: Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Baloncesto Sevilla

I have a feeling we may end up agreeing on this next guy as well. I really love Porzingis, though I've been burned in the past by international players. I'm a sucker for long, athletic guys with guard skills. However, I'm usually burned when those skills show up in practice or workouts and don't appear in games. In Porzingis' case, I think there's enough evidence of his play in Sevilla to safely say that the things I love about him (his shooting ability and his athleticism) will come through in the NBA. If Porzingis were playing at Duke or Kansas, I think he would be the toughest competition for Towns for the No. 1 overall pick. I really believe Sam Hinkie may pull the trigger on Porzingis at No. 3. I have no idea how he'll fit, but I'll still give them an A.

Pelton: Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke

Alas, no. You're more willing to buck conventional wisdom than I am. Since he's suffered by contrast to Towns over the past few months, let me make the case for Okafor. It's dangerous to write off any player defensively at age 19. It's possible that improved conditioning will make Okafor a more mobile defender, putting him in position to contest more shots and more effectively defend the pick-and-roll. And even if Okafor is below average defensively, the comparisons to players such as Al Jefferson and Nikola Vucevic may sell him short because Okafor shot a significantly higher percentage at Duke than those players ever have. Even if he's not the best prospect in this draft, Okafor is still a unique talent with great potential.

Q: Who is the third-best post player in the draft?

Ford: Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke

Interesting, I thought you had Porzingis higher on your Statistical Big Board. I like Okafor a lot. I think he'll be a beast offensively. I think he'll dominate in the paint from Day 1. And you are right: There are a number of factors (conditioning, system, maturity, etc.) that could lead to Okafor developing into a good defender. The talent to me is clear. My biggest concern is just the overall trend of the NBA toward floor spacing and the relatively paltry number of post-up plays teams run anymore. Maybe Okafor will be so good that he'll reverse that trend. Ten years ago, I think Okafor would've been a lock for No. 1. It will be interesting to see how the league develops and what role players like Okafor will play in it.

Pelton: Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Baloncesto Sevilla

Yeah, Porzingis has the better WARP projection, but I'm a little less inclined to trust Okafor's projection because of the regression to the mean his 2-point percentage suffers. The one caution flag I'll raise on Porzingis is that I think he has to develop into a good 3-point shooter to be a special player in the NBA. That's less certain than Okafor being a special offensive player. But I still think Porzingis is one of the five elite prospects in this draft a cut above everyone else.

Q: Who is the fourth-best post player in the draft?

Ford: Myles Turner, PF, Texas

I struggle a bit between Willie Cauley-Stein and Turner for the last spot. I believe Cauley-Stein has the potential to be the best defender in the NBA. He has all the physical tools and defensive instincts to guard all five positions. But his utter lack of an offensive game scares me. So did his very inconsistent efforts at Kentucky over three years. Turner also was inconsistent at Texas. But he's a similar size, a much better offensive player (he has the ability to stretch the floor) and he should be a good rim protector. And at the same age, he was a better player than Cauley-Stein as a freshman. I know there's some bust potential with Turner, but I really love the upside.

Pelton: Myles Turner, PF, Texas

If we talk about the direction the NBA is headed, I think Turner shines. While he didn't shoot the college 3 well as a freshman, his 83.9 percent free throw percentage suggests Turner should eventually develop into a dangerous outside shooter. The 3-and-D big man is an extremely rare species, and Turner's impressive shot blocking and defensive rebounding (his rates of both were similar on both counts to Towns) indicate he's got a real chance to join this group.