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          NBA draft 2021: Winners, losers and lottery buzz from the NBA draft combine in Chicago

          • Jonathan Givony
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            Jonathan Givony
            ESPN
              NBA draft analyst and writer
              Joined ESPN.com in July 2017
              Founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams
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          • Mike Schmitz
          Jun 29, 2021, 07:00 AM ET

          CHICAGO -- NBA teams congregated for 10 days of competitive scrimmages, interviews, pro days, athletic testing, the draft lottery and more as part of the G League Elite Camp and 2021 NBA draft combine.

          This year's event featured a new setting (the sparkling Wintrust Arena on the South Side of Chicago) and a mostly new format intended to concentrate as much action as possible in one location. Teams sounded extremely pleased with the setup, which acted as a reunion of sorts for executives who mostly had not seen one another since the onset of the pandemic.

          Here's a look at who and what stood out during the combine, which wrapped up Sunday.

          Winners

          The NBA

          After conducting the combine for several years in a small, cramped and remote high school-caliber gym, the league took over the home of the WNBA's Chicago Sky and NCAA's DePaul Blue Demons, along with the five-star hotel connected by skywalk to the arena. The NBA finally created an atmosphere befitting an event that welcomes the next group of stars to its billion-dollar industry. There is very little chance the league will be looking to move this event elsewhere after the success it found.

          Quite a bit of thought went into the drill portions of the combine. Competitive action intended to replicate game situations (full-court transition action, pick-and-roll situations, etc.) replaced the traditional stationary shooting and ballhandling drills normally found in this setting.

          The agency-run pro day workouts, another new element to the combine, looked like a major success as well. The league was able to get buy-in from several lottery-caliber prospects (such as Scottie Barnes, Jonathan Kuminga, James Bouknight and Sharife Cooper), with those players clearly helping themselves by being showcased in front of an audience of GMs, presidents and high-level executives. The one-stop-shop nature of the combine was obviously a much-preferable format for teams.

          -- Givony

          Lottery prospects with buzz

          Scottie Barnes

          The lone lottery prospect electing to participate in all facets of the combine, Barnes had a big week in Chicago. He measured well (225 pounds, 7-foot-3 wingspan, 9-0 standing reach) and tested well (39½-inch vertical, some of the fastest drill times) and received rave reviews for his interviews with teams. He also showcased the type of progress with his shooting mechanics in his pro day workout that has NBA executives bullish about his ability to emerge as a consistent threat from the perimeter as his career moves along.

          Barnes has significant momentum coming out of Chicago and looks like a real threat to crack the top five on draft night. He's getting looks as high as No. 4 from Toronto, is strongly in play with Orlando at No. 5 and looks unlikely to fall past Oklahoma City at No. 6. This draft has been described as a five-player draft for much of the season, but Barnes has done what he can to deconstruct that narrative and put himself firmly in that group.

          Josh Giddey

          Giddey wasn't in Chicago, as he's currently training in Southern California with the Australian national team's Olympic roster, where his standing has improved considerably. Still, every team in the lottery was seemingly interested in learning more and gathering opinions about him, and he's getting enough buzz to potentially move into the top 10 picks on draft night. With the Boomers moving to Las Vegas next week and slated to play games against Argentina (July 10), Nigeria (July 13) and the U.S. (July 12, 16), Giddey will be scrutinized very closely by NBA teams, who will be flocking to evaluate him in person mostly for the first time.

          James Bouknight

          After Barnes, Bouknight was the next-most-willing lottery participant in NBA combine activities, declining only to take part in the athletic testing drills. Described as confident and brash by teams in his private interview sessions, Bouknight backed that up with an incredible shooting exhibition in his pro day. One longtime NBA executive described it as "the most impressive workout" he's ever seen.

          Bouknight found his rhythm early and unleashed a barrage of jumpers from stationary situations and off movement, shooting from difficult angles and vantage points while demonstrating exquisite footwork, touch and body control. While you never want to take too much away from a one-on-zero setting, Bouknight went a long way in answering one of the biggest questions teams had about him: his 29% 3-point shooting this past season. He went a long way in making his case as a top-10 pick in Chicago and will have a chance to further help himself in private workouts, where he's bound to excel if his combine showing was any indication.

          Sharife Cooper

          Cooper (and his trainer/father, Omar) won himself quite a few fans with his pro day, a grueling 60-minute workout capped off by suicide sprints intended to show off his elite conditioning. While Cooper elected not to take any off-the-dribble 3-pointers, one of his big question marks, his mechanics and balance looked a lot smoother in catch-and-shoot situations. The ballhandling ability and quickness he demonstrated looked elite as well. He was initially measured with an obvious typo of 6-3½ without shoes, but two sources who have measured Cooper privately in recent weeks say he is in fact 6 feet barefoot, which is actually taller than in previous settings. This was a good week for Cooper, one of the best passers and all-around most creative players in the draft. He also reportedly did extremely well in private interviews, helping to solidify himself as a top-20-pick candidate.

          Trey Murphy III

          Only testing the waters initially, Murphy had such overwhelmingly positive feedback that he elected to sign with an agent and forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility right before the combine after receiving strong assurances of his candidacy as a first-round pick.

          Murphy continued his upward trajectory last week, measuring over 6-9 in shoes with a 7-foot wingspan, testing well athletically and then opening eyes with a strong pro day workout. Every NBA team is looking to add a big, bouncy sweet-shooting wing in Murphy's mold, and many feel that he has significantly more upside than your typical 21-year-old junior. Murphy has added some good weight to his frame since the conclusion of the season, looking like someone who should be able to spend time guarding power forwards eventually, as his size and length suggest. Drawing some comparisons to Cameron Johnson, Murphy is now gaining some buzz in the teens portion of the first round.

          -- Givony

          5-on-5 scrimmage standouts

          Josh Primo

          The youngest prospect in the draft, not turning 19 until late December, Primo was nevertheless the highest-ranked player to take part in the 5-on-5 scrimmages. While his stats didn't necessarily jump off the page (7 points on 8 FGA, 6 rebounds, 1 assist), Primo demonstrated obvious talent with his size, frame, length, fluidity and budding offensive versatility, especially in the first day of drills. Mostly known for his sweet shooting stroke, Primo made some highly creative passes off a live dribble that demonstrated potential as an on-ball creator once he adds strength and experience. Primo still has work to do defensively and in terms of scoring efficiency and decision-making, but his tools, talent and upside give him a very good chance to hear his name called in the first round, with plenty of room to continue to work his way higher in the draft with strong workouts, especially once he's fully committed to staying in the draft.

          -- Givony

          Josh Christopher

          After an up-and-down freshman season at Arizona State, Christopher elected not to dodge the competition and took part in the 5-on-5 scrimmages, posting a solid 28 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals in 49 minutes. Still only 19, Christopher showed obvious scoring talent. He attacked the rim with a head of steam, showing impressive strength, fluidity and explosiveness in the open court and in one-on-one situations. Shot selection, decision-making and a streaky jumper (1-for-10 from 3) are things he'll need to continue to work on as he matures, but Christopher helped himself by putting his talent on display, especially with an outstanding pro day showing, and is right back in the first-round conversation, where he started the season.

          -- Givony

          Quentin Grimes

          Leading the combine in scoring with an impressive 39 points in 50 minutes, Grimes looked like a completely different player from two years ago. At the 2019 combine, he struggled with confidence and pressure. He had dropped from being a potential lottery pick to likely going undrafted had he stayed in the draft.

          Now Grimes is an All-American who led Houston to the Final Four. He shot the ball exceptionally well last week, going 9-for-16 from beyond the arc and 6-for-9 inside of it. He also showed much more dynamic passing and decision-making inside the arc than we had seen from him at the college level, looking completely under control, extremely unselfish and tailor-made for the role he'll be asked to play in the NBA.

          NBA executives sounded very enthusiastic about Grimes' showing, as he appeared to have moved himself from a potential second-round pick to a strong first-round candidate. Still only 21 years old despite having been on the radar seemingly forever, Grimes has the right combination of youth, experience and productivity teams are looking for to hopefully be an immediate contributor on the wing.

          -- Givony

          David Johnson

          Johnson played in just one game due to a foot injury but still helped himself significantly in his 17 minutes of action by making quite a few winning plays. He measured a hair under 6-5 in shoes, with a 6-10½ wingspan and 203-pound frame. Johnson guarded everyone from point guards to power forwards in his time on the floor, showcasing the type of defensive and positional versatility every NBA team is looking for. The game comes very easily for him: He plays at different speeds off hesitation moves and gets teammates involved off a live dribble with either hand operating out of pick-and-roll or making the extra pass along the perimeter. He is only 20, and the fact that he made 39% of his 3-pointers this season also helps his cause.

          -- Givony

          Joe Wieskamp

          Wieskamp had one of the signature performances of the combine, posting 26 points (6-for-7 from 3) and 10 rebounds in his final outing. He's 6-7 with a 6-11 wingspan and made 46% of his 3-pointers this season. It's easy to see a role for Wieskamp in the NBA if he's able to transition his jumper to the NBA 3-point line as easily as he seemed to do in Chicago. He's been nitpicked at times for the slow release on his jumper and wavering confidence, things that did not appear to be an issue whatsoever in this setting as he knocked down 3-pointer after 3-pointer both with his feet set and off the dribble. Still only testing the waters, Wieskamp has a big decision ahead in determining whether to capitalize on his big combine showing or to return to Iowa for his senior year and make a run at the first round.

          -- Givony

          Nah'Shon Hyland

          Few prospects improved their stock more than Hyland, who put up 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks in just 23 minutes before bowing out on Day 2 with a groin injury. The Atlantic 10 Player of the Year proved he's worthy of legitimate looks well into the first-round thanks to his deep range, slippery handle, positional length (6-9 wingspan) and budding playmaking. He also showed he fit right in against high-major competition, an opportunity he was robbed of when VCU's NCAA tournament game against Oregon was canceled due to COVID-19.

          Hyland showed glimpses as both a playmaker and defender. Whether it was a live-dribble lefty pass to a rim runner or a spin move drop-off to the big in the half court, Hyland showed that he has more on-ball potential than his career ratio of 107 assists to 110 turnovers would suggest. Despite his light 169-pound frame, Hyland also used his length to block jump shots on the perimeter and bother ball handlers. The next step for Hyland will be to continue building on his lead guard skills. He's still prone to jump-pass turnovers or telegraphed reads in pick-and-roll. But with the success of shot-making guards like Immanuel Quickley in today's NBA, Hyland's deep range, shot creation and never-ending confidence will be highly coveted.

          -- Schmitz

          McKinley Wright

          The 22-year-old Colorado guard moved himself into the draft conversation by more than holding his own against some of the NCAA's top guards, averaging 9.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 12.1 assists per 40 minutes over two scrimmages. Wright's defensive intensity caught the eye of NBA scouts. He routinely picked up 94 feet, got underneath bigger guards and proved to be a pest by staying attached, fighting over screens. Wright is also an excellent positional rebounder who can fill in the gaps on the offensive end as a cutter, driver, midrange shooter, occasional floor spacer and facilitator. At just 6 feet in shoes, Wright isn't the most dynamic off-the-dribble passer. He regularly puts two hands on the ball before making pick-and-roll reads, especially when faced with size and length. Despite a strong floater and smooth midrange game, he's still gaining consistency on his 3-point shot (33% in 130 college games). But Wright has impressed NBA teams thoroughly in interviews with a mature approach to the game and understanding of his projected role, regularly referencing longtime backups like Ish Smith as a career blueprint.

          -- Schmitz

          Jericho Sims

          No player to take the floor popped more than Sims, who has an excellent chance to hear his name called on July 29 as a product of his combine showing. Standing 6-10 with a 250-pound frame, a 7-3 wingspan and a gravity-defying 44-inch vertical, the 22-year-old Sims put his remarkable tools to good use, averaging 14.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in just 50 minutes over the course of two games. Sims regularly challenged shots around the rim, added value as the pick-and-roll drop defender and stepped out to check guards and wings on switches. Sims' 8-10 standing reach is considered low for a big man. Still, while he wasn't credited officially with any blocks, he showed that he has the potential to be a rim protector. Regularly tearing down the rim with lob finishes and putting pressure on the glass with swim moves and physicality, Sims thrived in a similar role to one he'd play at the next level while possessing measurements similar to Bam Adebayo's. Even if Sims is strictly an offensive rebounder and lob-catcher on offense, his mobility on the defensive end makes him at the very least worthy of a draft-day flier.

          -- Schmitz

          Jason Preston

          Preston proved he's far more than just a feel-good story with his play in Chicago. He was arguably the best passer to take the floor for 5-on-5 play. Preston's unselfishness and feel for the game shined brightly, and he showed he's more than capable of making virtually every pick-and-roll read necessary to run a team. With great size and length at 6-4 with a 6-9 wingspan, Preston is able to see over the top of the defense, hit the roll man in stride or fire passes to weakside shooters with either hand. Preston still has quite a bit of room to improve as a point-of-attack defender. Quicker perimeter players beat him off the dribble on a few occasions. Although an excellent passer, Preston is still working to become a more consistent scoring threat. He's a bit predictable when his 3-ball isn't falling (0-for-3 in Chicago), but Preston shot the ball fairly well in drills despite unorthodox mechanics. Given his late-blooming status, Preston has more untapped potential than your typical 21-year-old, and he's more than worthy of legitimate looks in the early-to-mid second round.

          -- Schmitz

          Kessler Edwards

          Despite scoring just six points in 41 minutes and going 0-for-5 from 3, Edwards was arguably the best defender to take the floor in Chicago, locking up four positions comfortably and emerging as a real candidate to hear his name called in the top 40. Edwards collected five blocks and three steals over the course of two games, checking everyone from Bones Hyland to Raiquan Gray to Max Abmas to Quentin Grimes. Edwards played as a power forward/center at Pepperdine, and he passed his test defending NBA-caliber guards and wings with flying colors. He showed great foot speed, technique and a high motor both as a primary and help-side defender. At 6-8 with a 6-11 wingspan and an 8-10 reach, Edwards has ideal tools for a wing defender at the next level. If scouts believe in Edwards' unorthodox shooting motion that allowed him to convert 40% of his 3s on 344 attempts at Pepperdine, it's easy to see him getting looks as high as the late first round. With flat trajectory on his jumper, how Edwards' 3 translates to the deeper NBA line will go a long way in determining the type of career he'll have.

          -- Schmitz

          Losers

          DJ Steward

          Steward came into this week considered a borderline draft pick. He thoroughly struggled in the scrimmages (4-17 FG, 4 assists, 7 turnovers), likely extinguishing any hopes of hearing his name called, especially considering he weighed in at only 162 pounds. NBA teams unanimously agreed that Steward, still only 19 years old, should withdraw from the draft and return to Duke for his sophomore season, even though he has publicly announced his college career is over. He has quite a bit of work to do on his body, playmaking ability and defense based on what he showed in this setting and as a freshman.

          -- Givony

          Ariel Hukporti

          One of the youngest participants in the 5-on-5 scrimmages, Hukporti struggled to make his presence felt, appearing lost defensively and looking like the game moved too fast for him offensively. Hukporti measured extremely well at 7 feet tall in shoes, 246 pounds with a mammoth 9-foot-3½ standing reach, but he is probably looking at being a second-round/two-way-contract type of flier if he decides to keep his name in the draft as expected.

          -- Givony

          Greg Brown

          Brown had a tough week in Chicago, measuring just decently, struggling to make good decisions on either end of the floor, and getting dinged for underwhelming interviews with teams in private sessions. Brown is still only 19 and possesses thermonuclear explosiveness and strong intensity defensively. An NBA team will still be happy to add Brown to its roster to see if it believes it can develop his considerable upside into actual production, but he's probably looking at being no better than a second-round pick unless he's able to completely turn around his momentum in the pre-draft process.

          -- Givony

          Daishen Nix

          Despite dropping over 20 pounds since the G League bubble, Nix struggled to turn his newfound physique into on-court production. He scored just one point in 43 minutes over two games, missing all 10 of his field goal attempts. The big-bodied 19-year-old point guard did hand out 12 assists over the course of two NBA combine games, but he still has questions to answer about his perimeter shooting (0-for-4 from 3), finishing (0-for-6 from 2) and defensive consistency. There's no question that Nix is one of the draft's best passers, but for him to fully maximize his offensive potential he'll have to become a more consistent threat from 3. Although he was unable to improve his stock via 5-on-5 scrimmages, Nix's basketball savvy did show during drills, and the fact that he's improving his frame is a step in the right direction. He remains attractive in the early-to-mid second round for an established team that can be patient, as all of his shortcomings are fixable with the right development plan.

          -- Schmitz

          Max Abmas

          Abmas averaged 27 points per game during this year's NCAA tournament for Oral Roberts but cooled off in Chicago. He shot just 1-of-11 from 3 and 2-of-7 inside the arc while showing some of his limitations defensively and as a facilitator against length. It wouldn't be wise to overreact to Abmas' cold combine shooting. His career 41% 3-point clip, 88% free throw shooting and parking lot range are far more indicative of his touch, especially considering the NBA was debuting a new basketball. Abmas did also have his moments getting into the teeth of the defense for finishes, taking charges in transition and showcasing his all-around basketball instincts. But at a hair under 6-0 in shoes and weighing 162 pounds, Abmas still has considerable room to improve as a pick-and-roll ball handler and passer. Abmas' body of work is still worthy of a draft pick in the second round, given what we saw from Abmas against high major competition all season. But for Abmas to fully maximize his draft stock moving forward, he'd benefit from adding more nuance off the dribble and expanding his passing repertoire, as his margin for error is thin at his size.

          -- Schmitz

          Johnny Juzang

          Juzang struggled to carry the momentum from his NCAA tournament run with UCLA into Chicago. He shot just 4-for-13 from 2, 1-for-8 from 3 and showed he still has room to improve as both a decision-maker and defender. Becoming a more attentive on-and-off-ball defender will also go a long way in maximizing his 3-and-D potential given his tools at 6-7 with a 6-11 wingspan. While Juzang would surely garner interest throughout the second round if he elects to stay in the 2021 draft with his size, length and scoring ability, proving himself as a knockdown shooter, facilitator and defender next season could help elevate him to a first-round pick in 2022 with another year in Westwood.

          -- Schmitz