The NBA draft combine finished up over the weekend in Chicago.
While only one player in our previous Top 30 (Louisville's Terry Rozier) actually played in the 5-on-5 portion of the event, most of the prospects participated in team interviews, medical tests, measurements and, for about half our Big Board, athletic testing.
The results of the most important part of the combine, the medical testing, have yet to come in. The second-most important part, the player interviews, yielded a lot of interesting feedback from NBA teams.
The event also afforded me a lot of time to talk with numerous NBA front offices to get their latest thinking on where they had various players ranked on their team boards.
The combination of measurements, feedback from player interviews and conversations with NBA front offices has yielded some notable changes to both our Big Board and Top 100, as well as an updated Lottery Mock Draft in preparation for Tuesday night's draft lottery, where we'll finally find out who gets the No. 1 pick.
Until then, here are our latest player rankings, based on the latest feedback from NBA teams.
1. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Kentucky
Towns didn't show up to the combine. No interviews, no medical, no measurements, nothing. And his absence won't do anything to hurt his draft stock. In fact, of the roughly 100 NBA front-office people and scouts I spoke with over the past week in Chicago, all but a small handful of them had Towns as the No. 1 pick. Barring a late injury (see Joel Embiid last year) he's looking more and more like a lock to be the No. 1 pick.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 1
2. Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke
Okafor also skipped the combine completely. It was a small surprise given feedback from his camp that he's in the best shape of his life (an ongoing concern for scouts) and that he could've at least shown off a slimmed-down physique in testing. The scouts who still had Okafor No. 1 felt there was one team that might lean Okafor over Towns -- the Minnesota Timberwolves. Given that they have the best shot (25 percent) of landing the No. 1 pick on Tuesday, there's a chance that Okafor could still end up No. 1. Okafor will hold a workout for NBA teams in Santa Barbara, California, on Thursday. If he's really in great shape and shows more explosiveness, he'll help himself. I'll be in Santa Barbara to give a full report.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 2
3. D'Angelo Russell, PG, Ohio State
Russell was the highest-ranked player on our Big Board to show up in Chicago. He did interviews with a couple of teams, went through the medical testing and did the measurements portion, where he measured an impressive 6-foot-5 with a 6-9.75 wingspan. Those are very good numbers for a point guard. And despite all the hand- wringing about his position, virtually every team I spoke with has him ranked as a point guard. "He's the most creative passer in the draft," one GM said. "The way he sees the floor is special. I have no doubt he'll be a point guard in our league." Russell is also one of the more impressive people you'll meet in the pre-draft setting. He's going to nail the interview portion. The Russell-Emmanuel Mudiay debate is still raging, by the way, but based on dozens of conversations I had with NBA front offices, it sounds like the majority (roughly a 60-40 split) have Russell ranked ahead of Mudiay. Thus, he's moved up one spot on our Big Board and depending on how the draft order falls Tuesday night, could go as high as No. 2.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 4
4. Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China
Mudiay was actually the first player to announce he'd be completely skipping the draft combine. While GMs generally shrugged off the decision from Okafor and Towns, they were much more agitated about Mudiay. Why? Most of the key decision-makers in the NBA haven't seen him live. While he never was going to do 5-on-5, having the medical testing, measurements and interviews would've been really helpful. His decision clearly is affecting his draft stock as more than one GM asked how they could have him higher than Russell when Russell has done and proved so much more. There are still a handful of trusted, high-profile scouts who argue Mudiay is the second-best player in this draft. Said one, "Mudiay was regarded by everyone as a much better prospect than Russell this time last year. Russell went to Ohio State, was put into a lead role on a high-profile team, and wowed us. He's improved and we all saw it. But I suspect Mudiay improved too and we just didn't see it. We're judging Russell now versus Mudiay one year ago. This is such a huge developmental time for everyone; I suspect he's gotten better. When teams in the top five see him in workouts, their decision will get much harder."
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 3
5. Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
Porzingis continues to be the wild card in this draft. Some teams have him ranked as high as No. 2 and No. 3 on their boards, while others have him in the eight to 10 range. The teams that have him high point to his unique combination of size, athleticism and skill. It's rare to find a 7-footer who can protect the rim, shoot the 3 and make high-IQ basketball plays. Teams that have him ranked lower worry about his thin frame and lack of rebounding in Spain. Porzingis will be coming to the U.S. in early June and will hold an NBA workout in Las Vegas on June 12. Once teams get to see him up close, in both this workout and in individual ones, I expect his draft status to firm up in the top five.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 5
6. Justise Winslow, SF, Duke
Winslow drew rave reviews from NBA scouts for his interviews in Chicago. "He's one of the most impressive young men you'll meet in any draft," one GM said. His measurements, however, left a lot to be desired. Winslow measured just 6-foot-4.5 in socks (translates to 6-5.75 in shoes) -- that's a bit undersized for the position he's most well-suited for, small forward -- and could make him vulnerable to a late surge by Mario Hezonja. "You're drafting Winslow based more on what kind of kid and player he is and less on a particular basketball skill," one NBA GM told me. "And you're hoping the skill part comes based on his work ethic. It reminds me of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist a few years ago. The intangibles are outweighing some red flags on his game. The only difference is that Winslow is a better spot-up shooter than MKG. But the similarities are there."
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 6
7. Mario Hezonja, SF, Croatia
After speaking with NBA scouts and GMs it's still very possible that Hezonja could end up being taken ahead of both Porzingis and Winslow. But will they draft him without the ability to work him out and interview him? Hezonja probably is stuck in Spain through the rest of the draft process because of his commitments to FC Barcelona. It's going to take a GM who is willing to take a risk to draft him above those two. But he has elite size and athleticism for his position, is a terrific shooter and plays with an intensity that few can match in this draft. "He's crazy," one GM said. "But I think it's a good crazy. The type of crazy confidence that elite players need. If he can keep that competitiveness under control and be patient, he's got a good shot to be one of the two or three best players in this draft in five years. He has that 'it' factor that several guys ahead of him don't."
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 7
8. Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky
"He's different, man," one NBA GM said. "And I don't know we know what to do with that." That statement was repeated over and over again this weekend by NBA scouts and GMs after sitting with Cauley-Stein in interviews. That talent? NBA teams, almost universally, believe he has the chance to be a transcendent defender in the NBA. "He could be the best defender the league someday. He has abilities, both physically and the way he reads the defense, that I've never seen in a prospect." But his personality isn't that of your typical jock and NBA teams are trying to come to grips with it. He was grilled on why he dyed his hair blonde, why he legally changed his name to TRILL, whether he loved art more than he loved the game. Cauley-Stein was passionate in interviews that he loves the game and it's the most important thing to him. But virtually all the teams I spoke with had reservations. Sometimes serious ones. "The potential's there for him to be one of the two or three best players in the draft. The potential's also there for him to be Larry Sanders. From day to day, we keep going back and forth between the two." It will be fascinating to see where he lands. I could see him going as high as No. 6 to the Kings or as low as No. 11 to the Pacers.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 8
9. Myles Turner, PF, Texas
Turner showed up at the combine and nailed his interviews. "He's a highly intelligent, thoughtful guy," said one GM, and spent much of his time, along with his camp, quieting concerns about his biomechanical issues. NBA doctors got a look at him this weekend and if they say the same thing that Turner's doctors are saying (that his knees are fine, and that his running issues are pretty easily corrected), he's going to rise. I think he's the last player on the board who could end up cracking the top five. "He's a long 7-footer who can stretch the floor and really protect the rim," one GM said. "He was up-and-down as a freshman. He's not ready, etc. But the upside? It's big. People forget he was ranked No. 2 [in high school] for a reason. He has time to get better. But what Turner has you can't teach. I think there's some risk there, but the upside is tremendous." Turner will work out alongside Porzingis in Vegas on the June 12. A clean bill of health and a new, improved running gait should do wonders for his stock, according to multiple NBA GMs. "If that's all clean, he's a top-five guy for us."
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 10
10. Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona
Johnson is the highest player on the board to hit the "safe" category. He has an NBA body and toughness, plays with aggressiveness and possesses an adequate jump shot. His lack of explosive athleticism and his struggles finishing at the rim this year are points of concern, but nothing that suggests he'll fail in the NBA. "He's not as good as we thought he'd be coming into things," one GM said. "But he's not as bad as I think we've made him out to be either." He'll work hard and if he improves, he'll be a very good value pick here.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 11
11. Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
Payne continues to draw serious interest to the point that he's getting several looks in the lottery according to multiple team sources. He was the highest-ranked player on our Big Board to go through athletic testing and shooting drills at the combine and tested well on both accounts. His length, solid athleticism and craftiness with the ball, combined with terrific interviews have him ranked as the third-best point guard in the draft by about 80 percent of the NBA folks I spoke with. Two teams I've heard are especially high on him in the lottery -- the Hornets and Pacers. The Jazz (if they decide to move Trey Burke) and Thunder also are possibilities in the lottery.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 15
12. Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky
I was surprised by how consistently teams had Lyles ranked in the lottery (many in the top 10) this week. Especially when you ask them why and their answers sound a lot like this: "I'm not sure how good he can be," one NBA scout said. "But at his size and abilities, I think you have to seriously think about gambling on him earlier rather than later. He comes with more risks, but he's a sexier pick than Bobby Portis, I think." I get the feeling that teams aren't exactly sure what they have in Lyles, but as they look over the rest of the board, his upside is more appealing than anything that's left.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 16
13. Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
With the Splash Brothers continuing to shoot their way through the Western Conference playoffs, the need for shooting was a major point of emphasis from scouts this week. The NBA is a trendy league and right now the ability to stretch the floor is trending in NBA scout circles. Booker is widely seen as the safest bet to to do that, so much that a few teams told me he was in their top 10. Teams aren't necessarily sure that he'll be more than a terrific spot-up shooter, but his high basketball IQ and solid defense give them hope that he can be more -- especially after posting the best scores at the combine in both the lane agility (10.2 seconds) and shuttle run tests (2.75 seconds). But even if he isn't more than just a shooter, Booker's shot is so picture perfect that he should find his way into the lottery. Several teams -- including the Pistons, Hornets, Pacers, Jazz, Suns and Thunder -- are all looking for shooting. That gives Booker a lot of bites at the lottery apple.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 19
14. Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
Kaminsky didn't play at the combine, but he drew a lot of attention anyway for two reasons. One, he's a great interview. Everyone he spoke with came away impressed with his intelligence and personality. Second, he was the only player in the combine to measure with a shorter wingspan than height. His T-Rex status (big stature, little arms) is one of the reasons teams worry about him defensively in the NBA. While he was the tallest player (height-wise) of the players measured, a number of big men were taller when standing reach was measured. Some significantly. Nevertheless, if Kaminsky went to Miami, Indiana or Utah in the lottery it would surprise no one. If he slid down to the Bucks, I don't think that would be a strange outcome either. No. 10 to 17 seems like a very clear range for him.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 13
15. Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
Dekker's athleticism shined in the lateral quickness drills at the combine. He ended up with the sixth-fastest time among the participants there. His vertical jump was a little disappointing (and no one was more disappointed than Dekker, who was begging to do it again), but I don't think it matters. It takes 10 minutes in the gym with him to know he's an elite athlete. The big question marks center on his shooting (see my scouting report on it from a workout I attended in Chicago here) and confidence. Was his lack of assertiveness a Bo Ryan issue or does Dekker think too much? The psych tests teams will give him over the next few weeks will get to the bottom of it.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 14
16. Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
Portis' draft stock remains as steady as anyone not in the top four or five. He measured well, interviewed well and while his athletic numbers were disappointing (he topped out at 31 inches max vertical), I couldn't find a scout who didn't like him. Not one. "He's going to be in our league a long time," one GM said. "He plays hard, he rebounds, and he has a shot that is ugly, but it goes in and will be very hard to block. If you're looking for a solid rotation guy with an upside as a potential starter, he's your guy. And honestly, that's all you can really expect from this portion of the draft." Portis could go as high as Indiana at 11. Utah at 12, Atlanta at 15, Boston at 16, Milwaukee at 17 are all possibilities. I think Washington at 19 is his floor from the scuttle I heard in Chicago.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 17
17. Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
Grant is one of two guys at this portion in the draft who appears to be universally liked by teams. While some people quibble a bit with his jumper ("I'm surprised at his 3-point shooting percentage," one GM said. "Just based on what I saw on tape, I thought the percentage would be higher"), the only real issue is his age. If he were 19, he'd be a lock for the top 10. Instead he'll turn 23 before the season, a red flag for some. But for others, it won't be a major one. "Given the offense they ran at Notre Dame, you know he can play the pick-and-roll as well as anyone and that translates," one GM said. "I love the leadership he showed as well. Maybe his ceiling isn't as high as some, but he's another guy that I just don't see failing." His range is very similar to Cameron Payne's. He could go as high as Indiana at 11, Utah at 12, OKC at 14 or the Rockets at 18.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 18
18. Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
Oubre measured with a massive 7-2 wingspan at the combine and was the tallest of the wings. He also showed off above-average athleticism in the athletic testing. However, his interviews played to mixed reviews from scouts and whoever drafts him sees a project with major upside -- pushing him a little further down our board past a few mid-first round sure things. "I think he has a chance to be a 3-and-D guy in the league and his best NBA skill will probably be on the defensive end," one GM said. "I think he'll be able to lock down guys if he wants to. And I think he'll be a good shooter. It's the in-between stuff that I'm not sure he'll ever get. I don't think he can really dribble the basketball. But the biggest issue is his head. Is he ready to put in the work?" If he does, he could be a steal this late.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 12
19. Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA
Looney's draft stock might be the most fluid of anyone in our top 30. Teams are either hot or cold on him. There doesn't seem to be much in between. I had a couple of teams tell me he was a lock for the top 10 (one had him at No. 5 on their board) and I had several tell me that he was a late first-rounder (one had him as low as 30). He measured with a crazy long 7-foot-3 wingspan and was great in interviews, but some teams (based on his body fat measurement and his tendency to get winded in UCLA games) question his conditioning and whether he might have asthma. Looney is putting on a team workout in L.A. on Friday. I expect that if he's able to show off the versatility that he has, he'll jump right back up on the board.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 9
20. Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
Jones walks away with the award for most impressive interviews at the combine. Every team that spoke with him came away with a crush. "He's such a confident leader," one GM said. "He's all about winning and accountability. It's hard not to love guys like that. Especially when they see the floor as well as he does and win like he does." His measurements turned out to be OK -- 6 feet, 0.75 inches in socks (so roughly 6-2 in shoes) with a 6-5 wingspan -- nothing to get excited about, but not detrimental either (he's roughly the same size as Mike Conley). But his athletic testing numbers are the things that gave pause. His 32.5-inch vertical jump and his subpar 3/4 sprint and lane agility drill numbers weren't very good. In fact, Jones' lane agility score of 11.89 was the fourth worst in the entire combine. None of this, by the way, is very new. Scouts would've predicted all of it. The Rockets, I'm told, are really big fans and could grab him at 18.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 22
21. R.J. Hunter, SG, Georgia St.
Hunter looked great in a pre-combine workout I saw him in -- hitting 19-for-25 from NBA 3. His interviews were also strong. He has a great, confident personality. Those who question whether he can shoot are asking the wrong question. He can really, really shoot. The bigger issue is whether he can do anything else. Can he defend? He has the long arms to do so, and his lane agility scores were among the top at the combine which suggest yes. Is he a good enough athlete? He lacks strength and doesn't possess explosive leaping ability (he measured with a 33.5-inch max vert), but it really depends on what you're asking him to do. If it's spot-up duty, he's going to be a stud. If it's create your own shot off the dribble, there's evidence he might struggle. But at this point in the draft teams aren't looking for the next Kobe. They're looking for the next Wesley Matthews and Hunter could be that. The Thunder are a real possibility for him at 14. And while a few teams have him rated as a second-rounder, I'd be surprised if he lasted past the teens or early 20s.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 21
22. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
Hollis-Jefferson tested as, quite possibly, the best athlete at the combine. He scored a very good 38-inch maximum vertical and ranked in the top two on both lane agility and 3/4 court sprint scores. Combine that with terrific length, a great motor and all the intangible stuff and at the very worst, he looks like the sort of lockdown defender who could shut guys down at three positions on the floor. His shot is broken -- some teams believe it is beyond repair and that's why he's this low. But I heard a growing chorus of teams that said he deserves to be this high, or even higher (just like Willie Cauley-Stein) despite his offensive woes. His defense has the potential to be so special that he'll be worth it.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 24
23. Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV
Vaughn surprised everyone here by not participating in the 5-on-5. Apparently his agent had better info than we had. Of all the players on the proverbial first-round bubble, it's Vaughn who has appeared to have made the most strides since declaring for the draft. "I think a lot of times with those bubble freshmen, you think you have another year to evaluate, so you focus on what they need to work on," one GM said. "But once it was a reality that he was in the draft, the question becomes, 'Can he play?' and I think the more we watch him, especially in the second half of the season, the answer is yes. He's got a chance. He's young, but he can really score in just about every way." The range right now seems to be 20 to 40, but a lot of teams had him in the 20s.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. NR
24. Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
Harrell showed up with some freaky measurements at the combine. He stands just 6-foot-7 in socks. But he has an incredible 7-4.25 wingspan. That plus-9.25 inches between his height and wingspan are the biggest in the combine and give teams hope that he might be able to play some 5. "He has the game of a center," one NBA GM said. "But you write him off because of his size. But when you factor in his 9-1 standing reach he's on par with Kaminsky. And you know he has the strength and engine to compete in the middle. I think he could surprise some people and be a Ben Wallace-type big in our league."
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 23
25. Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
Everyone likes Wood's talent, but he was another player who raised more questions than answers in interviews with teams. Why wasn't he playing? Why wasn't he in better shape? What's he been doing the past month? Lots of questions about maturity are surrounding him right now and as a result, you're seeing him slide just a bit on draft boards.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 20
26. Delon Wright, PG, Utah
Wright is the third senior on our Big Board and the one who draws pretty varied opinions depending on whom you speak with. His poise and size for position are major positives. Teams love his steady decision-making as well. But he's not a great shooter and his athletic testing at the combine (31-inch max vertical and an 11.20-second lateral agility score) left a lot to be desired as well. "He's going to be a nice backup in our league," one GM said. "And as long as your expectations are set, he could be a really nice piece in the 20s."
PREVIOUS RANK: NR
27. Terry Rozier, PG, Louisville
Rozier was the only player on our Big Board to participate in the combine in its entirety. He played 5-on-5, did the measurements, athletic testing, interviews and medical, and I think it paid off. While his play wasn't necessarily extraordinary, he helped himself in a couple of ways. "I've always thought he was a fearless kid," one GM said. "And I think he proved that by coming out here and playing his ass off. I don't think he's got special floor vision and his jump shot could get better, but he plays at a great pace, is really tough and is so quick with the ball. He impressed me."
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 25
28. Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia
Anderson nailed the interview portion of the combine. "He's really an exceptional guy," one GM said. "I thought he was one of the most impressive people I interviewed." However, his shooting woes that began after he returned from injury at the ACC tournament continued when he shot 9-for-25 in the NBA 3-point drills. "I think he's going to be closer to the Anderson we saw as a sophomore than the one we saw as a junior," when it comes to NBA 3-point shooting, the GM added.
PREVIOUS RANK: No. 27
29. Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse
McCullough, despite the ACL tear, appears to be sneaking back into the first round. Whereas guys such as Harrell, Wright and Anderson are considered "safe" picks, McCullough is a swing-for-the-fences type of player. "He won't be ready all season," one GM said. "I'd take the same approach with him that Philly did with Nerlens Noel. He's not that type of talent, but a year working on his body and learning the nuances of the game could be good for him. If he had stayed in school, I think he would've been a lottery pick next year. So he has good value here."
PREVIOUS RANK: NR
30. Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky
Johnson is another "safe" late first-round pick. No one thinks he'll be an NBA All-Star but his combination of size and strength make him an ideal NBA backup big man. With so many teams needing help off the bench in the middle, the likelihood he hears his name called somewhere in the late first round is high.
PREVIOUS RANK: NR
Next five in: Jarell Martin, PF, LSU; Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas; Cedi Osman, G/F, Turkey; Mouhammadou Jaiteh, PF, France; Vince Hunter, F, UTEP