Tier 2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Ty Jerome, Carsen Edwards, Dylan Windler
Of the names listed in these tiers, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is the one I’m least confident about making it to 24. There are teams ahead of Philadelphia — Indiana and OKC being prime destinations — who need someone with NAW’s skill set.
At 6-foot-6, Alexander-Walker has great positional size and length for a comboguard. He lacks high-level athleticism, but is an elite passer who can shoot triples at a high rate. The Sixers have the personnel to limit his role and mitigate those athletic concerns.
As for Ty Jerome, the primary concern is also athleticism. He’s a below-the-rim player with below-average quickness, which presents unique challenges at the next level. Philadelphia should buy into his skill package and basketball I.Q., though.
Jerome is one of the draft’s best shooters, whether it’s spotting up or off movement. He can also snake through the defense in pick-and-rolls and pinpoint high-difficulty passes to open teammates. He reads the game better than most rookies. His ceiling is just limited.
Carsen Edwards is a certified bucket. He’s a stocky 6-foot guard who’s both quick and explosive, using dynamic step-backs and crossovers to generate space off the dribble. He’s also a dynamic shooter off the catch, whether it’s spotting up in tight quarters or curling around screens.
In the modern NBA, Edwards’ ability to hit threes from well beyond the NBA range — and the shot versatility he brings alongside that range — should earn him a role. Even if he’s limited to microwave minutes in the second unit, that’s typically solid value for the late first round. And there’s potential for more.
At Belmont, Dylan Windler flew under the radar as a highly productive mid-major wing. He has great size at 6-foot-8 and should offer some degree of versatility as a result. He’s a plus shooter, decent passer and a solid bet to crash the glass when able.
Players at Windler’s size who can not only shoot, but hit difficult shots in tight spaces have value. Windler was the crux of Belmont’s offense, often leaning step-backs and deep NBA-range threes. He also has a decent in-between game and operates well as a cutter.