2017 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0

28. SF Rodions Kurucs, Barcelona

Kurucs is a raw, but skilled player who could transition nicely as a draft-and-stash prospect at the next level. He’s 6-8 with somewhat unimpressive explosiveness, but makes up it with he’s fluid mobility and multifaceted offensive game.

Kurucs’ most pressing issue is going to be his strength when making the switch to the NBA, as it is with a number of European prospects early in their career. He’s a lanky forward who can get around the court with ease, but often gets overpowered by stronger opposition in the post and is going to be overpowered quite often on the defensive end early in his career.

With that said, Kurucs’ all-encompassing offensive output could be a nice addition to almost any team. He’s a smooth shooter from deep and can create off the dribble a bit when driving down the line, while also having the ability to post up smaller defenders and utilize his body in the high post. That may not translate quite as well early on, but has his body matures, his scoring instincts from numerous areas on the court will be a strong asset.

In addition to his scoring, Kurucs sees the floor extremely well for a forward. He can wrap passes around his defenders and find open teammates on the perimeter with ease at times, and operates well at multiple different speeds depending on the pace of the game.

He’s someone who can dish the ball out in stride and provide a secondary or tertiary playmaker for an offense depending on the situation. He won’t be the primary ball handler, but is highly skilled in his approach to the game.

Next: 27. Hart