2016 NBA Mock Draft: What Happens After Simmons and Ingram?

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
28 of 31
Next
Mar 23, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Cheick Diallo (13) dunks the ball during practice the day before the semifinals of the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Cheick Diallo (13) dunks the ball during practice the day before the semifinals of the South regional of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Kansas. Cheick Diallo. 27. player. 81. . Center

Cheick Diallo didn’t have the freshman season many anticipated. He missed Kansas’ first five games of the season while dealing with an eligibility battle with the NCAA. As the season progressed, he played a marginal role for the Jayhawks, not even participating in half a dozen games.

Diallo played like he was supposed to in the five-on-five games at the combine. Diablo showed his motor with his activity and rebounding. The 6-9 forward helped his draft stock by reminding scouts why he was a projected lottery pick before the 2015-16 season.

The return of Bismarck Byombo is uncertain. Byombo is going to command near-max money in free agency and the Raptors won’t be able to afford him after they sign DeMar DeRozan to a max contract. Diablo gives the Raptors more depth in the front court, and Diallo has the physical tools to be an interesting project behind Jonas Valanciunas.

Diallo’s lack of experience and he still has a lot of developing to do with his frame. But this means the former Jayhawk still has plenty of room to improve on both ends of the court. At times, he looked a little to sped up at times, which isn’t surprising to many, considering he’s still young.

Even though he’s played little high-level basketball to this point in his life, Diallo has a lot of upside.

Next: No. 28