Drafting Embiid, Ball and NBA Rising Stars by future potential

Which players on Friday's NBA Rising Stars rosters have the most potential?

Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz draft Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Lonzo Ball and more of the NBA's best rookies and sophomores to build two teams for five years from now.

The starting fives

1. Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers

7-0 | C | Age: 23.9

Mike Schmitz: #TrustTheProcess CEO Joel Embiid was a no-brainer at No. 1. The on-court superstar and social media savant has the modern game and larger-than-life personality that any NBA GM and fan base wants as a franchise cornerstone. He has been dominant when healthy in Philly, and his ability to score on the block, facilitate, space the floor, protect the rim and rebound the ball makes him one of the easiest bigs to build around in the league. When healthy, Embiid is the NBA's most coveted unicorn.

2. Donovan Mitchell | Utah Jazz

6-3 | SG | Age: 21.4

Jonathan Givony: Embiid was the big prize, and the guy I would have picked No. 1 as well, so obviously the draft starts here. What Mitchell is doing this year has been amazing, and I'd love to build my team around his talent and character. The fact that he can guard three positions, shoot off the dribble and bring real combo-guard skills has him looking like a franchise-caliber player.

3. Brandon Ingram | Los Angeles Lakers

6-9 | SF/PF | Age: 20.4

MS: Ben Simmons is a nightly triple-double threat and a unique talent, but Ingram is more than a year younger with greater physical upside and skill potential to grow into. I've long contended that Ingram will be the best prospect to come out of the 2016 draft, and that stance hasn't changed. Playing up to four positions in Luke Walton's system, Ingram has versatility, length and feel that he has put on display this season. As his 3-ball (39.3 percent) steadies and his frame matures, the 20-year-old has a chance to be one of the league's premier young wings.

4. Ben Simmons | Philadelphia 76ers

6-10 | PG/PF | 21.5

JG: This is a bitter pill, and Schmitz knows it. The jury is still out on Simmons' ability to contribute to winning, but you can't doubt his ability to rack up stats and triple-doubles. His talent with the ball in his hands is exhilarating to watch, and the hope is that he can continue to develop his ability to do the little things (and big ones, like make a jumper) as his career moves on. Surrounding Simmons with shooting will be the key.

5. Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics

6-8 | SF | Age: 19.9

MS: Tatum is an excellent addition to an already long, skilled core of Embiid and Ingram. He has done an outstanding job buying into his role under Brad Stevens and has already proven he can impact winning as a spot shooter and defender at the ripe age of 19. Tatum still has a lot more than he has shown in his bag of tricks as an isolation scorer, and he's undoubtedly one of the NBA's top young wings.

6. Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets

6-5 | PG/SG | Age: 20.9

JG: Murray has exploded in his sophomore season, being a huge reason why the Nuggets appear to be headed back toward the playoffs for the first time since 2013. His ability to play on or off the ball is a great fit alongside Mitchell and Simmons, who can all play together. Still only 20, he's younger than a number of rookies who were picked to this team.

7. Lonzo Ball | Los Angeles Lakers* (De'Aaron Fox fills in as an injury replacement)

6-6 | PG | Age: 20.3

MS: Before being announced out for the game due to injury, Ball was the pick here, as he's the perfect point guard to ignite the break for Ingram and Tatum, and space the floor while Embiid goes to work on the block. With scorers and spacers surrounding him, the ultra-unselfish Big Baller could focus on pushing pace, moving the rock, making open shots and rebounding/defending on the other end.

With Ball on the shelf, Fox makes sense here as our lead guard. He's a dynamic pairing with Embiid in pick-and-rolls, and will put pressure on the rim in the half court and transition while defending on the other end. Fox is still working to become more efficient offensively but his quickness can't be taught, and his two-way potential is a welcome addition.

8. Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics

6-7 | SF | Age: 21.3

JG: You can never have too many multipositional wings who can guard all over the floor, so Brown is a welcome addition to this squad. He has elite physical tools and has improved his offensive game significantly from his rookie season, now shooting 37 percent for 3. He still has work to do in that area, as well as from the free throw line, but I'll bet on a guy who is only 21 and has big-time intangibles.

9. Dennis Smith Jr. | Dallas Mavericks

6-3 | PG | Age: 20.2

MS: While Smith was the ideal complement to Ball, he also fits next to Fox on the offensive end, giving our team a whole lot of juice in the backcourt. He's an explosive ball-screen scorer who can make shots off the bounce and collapse defenses with his violent explosiveness. While Smith and Fox are both streaky shooters and improving playmakers, both can make basic reads in the half court, and having passers like Embiid, Ingram and Tatum certainly helps alleviate some of that pressure. Smith will have to give more on the defensive end, especially next to the slighter Fox, but our two-prong attack makes for one of the most explosive young backcourts in the NBA. We'll line our bench with versatile defenders, shooters and decision-makers to fit next to Fox or Smith.

10. Lauri Markkanen | Chicago Bulls

7-0 | PF | Age: 20.7

JG: Markkanen is well on his way to establishing himself as the best shooting big man in the NBA not named Kevin Durant. He's also showing more versatility than expected in other areas, in terms of rebounding, putting the ball on the floor and even showing some spunk on defense. Everyone will love playing with a guy like him, and he's only going to keep getting better, at still just 20 years old.

The bench

MS: I've rounded out my bench with a strong second unit. We have a host of versatile defenders who can shoot, dribble and pass, while adding a dose of toughness as well.

Saric brings feel, grit and floor-spacing at the 4. Prince is an underrated two-way combo forward and an excellent backup to Ingram/Tatum. Dunn is an ideal change-of-pace guard off the bench who can defend either guard spot and break down a spaced floor. Brogdon is a steadying force who can make a shot, play under control and defend multiple positions -- plus he brings intangibles while fitting into any lineup. Sabonis' passing, mobility and stretch potential are a welcome addition, and Brooks' physicality and never-ending confidence is perfect as an end-of-the-bench energizer.

With shooting/passing bigs, explosive guards, and two-way forwards, our group is built for the modern NBA.

JG: With plenty of ballhandling and shot-creation already in place thanks to my big three of Mitchell, Simmons and Murray, I tried to fill in some gaps with role players to round out the roster.

With Collins, I've got a big man who can rebound, finish and put a body on guys (hopefully Embiid ...) with his strong frame. Kuzma and Hield bring shooting and scoring. Bogdanovic can play any of the backcourt spots, which makes him a nice fit with all of the guards or wings on the roster. And Ntilikina is a lockdown defender who you can sic on 1s, 2s or 3s. He doesn't need to score and he's happy to make the extra pass.

There really weren't many bigs to choose from, so this team is going to play small, and who knows how they'll guard Embiid. But they might score 200 points with all the shooting that is in place between Markkanen, Murray, Kuzma, Bogdan and Buddy -- with Mitchell and Simmons creating most of the offense.