2021 NBA Draft Big Board — 14. Jalen Johnson, Duke
Jalen Johnson left Duke midseason and left a lot of thin-skinned people upset. Naturally, there have been reports of spotty background checks, and it would appear personality concerns could dint his draft stock come July 29. That is — in my opinion — pretty silly, as Johnson’s upside rivals the best prospects in this draft.
At 6-foot-10, Johnson is a wizard in transition, with great downhill speed and physicality, and a real gift for distributing the ball to open shooters. He’s a non-spacer at the moment, and the recent Ben Simmons flameout will naturally cast doubt on a player in Johnson’s mold, but he’s smart enough (and athletic enough) to find ways to contribute. Not every Simmons-adjacent prospect is terrified of the free-throw line, either.
2021 NBA Draft Big Board — 13. Trey Murphy III, Virginia
At 6-foot-9, Trey Murphy’s NBA appeal is not hard to decipher. He’s big, shoots a gorgeous 3-pointer, and can defend all over the court. He fits just about every system and style on paper, and that’s why he has been one of the biggest pre-draft risers. He could earn looks as high as the lottery.
Murphy hit 43.3 percent of his 3s last season and shot over 50 percent from the field. He doesn’t carry much water as an on-ball scorer, but he cuts, screens, and passes at a high level. On defense, Murphy has great free safety potential, with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and acute awareness of his surroundings.