Philadelphia 76ers 2017 NBA Draft: Position Rankings
By Owen Nelson
Center
Biggest Riser: Justin Patton, Creighton
Biggest Faller: Harry Giles, Duke
Most NBA-Ready: Jarrett Allen, Texas
Best Post Scorer: Jarrett Allen, Texas
Top Shooter: Anzejs Pasecniks, Latvia
Best Defender: Ike Anigbogu, UCLA
Best Rebounder: Ike Anigbogu
Most Athletic: Harry Giles
Biggest Question Mark: Harry Giles (Three knee surgeries)
Best Potential: Harry Giles
Biggest Sleeper: Thomas Bryant, Indiana
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Center Ranking
- Jarrett Allen, Texas
- Justin Patton, Creighton
- Ike Anigbogu, UCLA
- Harry Giles, Duke
- Caleb Swanigan, Purdue
- Anzejs Pasecniks, Latvia
- Bam Adebayo, Kentucky
- Jonathan Jeanne, France
- Thomas Bryant, Indiana
- Tony Bradley, North Carolina
- Luke Kornet, Vanderbilt
- Viny Okouo, Congo
- Alpha Kaba, France
- Isaiah Hicks, North Carolina
- Eric Mika, BYU
Center Analysis
The center class is very weak this year. As a matter of fact, there are no sure-fire franchise players, if a team needs a center they’re better off waiting for the 2018 NBA Draft where there’s Mo Bamba and DeAndre Ayton.
Justin Patton’s draft projection has fluctuated throughout the season due to inconsistent play. At times he’s shown franchise potential but at other times he’s shown bust potential. He doesn’t look tough enough to last in the NBA but his skill and athleticism is so promising that he could be a starting caliber center. Even so, it’s really tough to project how Patton will do in the NBA.
Meanwhile, Anzejs Pasecniks showed his shooting touch this season with Gran Canaria. Mixed with his 7-1 height, Pasecniks has the tools to be successful in the NBA. To last in the league he needs to bulk up as he only weighs 220lb at the moment.
The biggest boom-or-bust prospect in this draft is Duke’s center Harry Giles. Once regarded as the nations top talent Giles’ draft stock has plummeted after undergoing three knee surgeries in the last four years. On top of this, Giles’ vertical jump at the NBA Combine showed that his explosive athleticism hasn’t returned, this also negatively effected his draft stock.