2021 NBA Draft Big Board — 18. Tre Mann, Florida
Tre Mann took a big step forward in his sophomore season, hitting 40.2 percent of his 3s and emerging as Florida’s most dynamic offensive threat down the stretch. At 6-foot-5, he has excellent size for either guard position, with deep range, a beautiful stroke, and the slippery ball-handling of a seasoned NBA guard.
Defense was not a strength of Mann’s in college, but he has the skill set of a potential go-to playmaker. He’s an intelligent passer, who can work out of the pick-and-roll and take advantage of a skewed defense. He probably shouldn’t be the only ball-handler on day one, but a team searching for the next volume-scoring comboguard should think long and hard about Mann.
2021 NBA Draft Big Board — 17. Jaden Springer, Tennessee
A hyper-efficient analytics darling who should make a quick impact at the next level, Jaden Springer screams fan favorite. He just helps pieces fit together. He’s not an offensive leader, he’s not a go-to scorer, but he does all the little things necessary to win games and elevate teammates.
As a freshman, Springer shot 43.5 percent from deep. He’s a great spot-up shooter who excels at beating closeouts and picking apart fissures in the defense. His basketball I.Q. and court vision were on full display at Tennessee. Defensively, he’s an absolute hound, with great tenacity and awareness beyond his years. At just 18 years old, he has a lot of time to grow.