2021 NBA Draft Big Board — 6. Scottie Barnes, Florida State
A 6-foot-7 forward who spent last season at point guard, Scottie Barnes brings a lot of interesting skills to the table. Above all else, he projects as an elite, switchable defender who could, in time, anchor an entire scheme. He shows great awareness off the ball, combined with the lateral quickness to stick with guards at the point of attack. Naturally, the “discount Draymond Green” comparison has been made.
It is a somewhat lazy comparison, but it does extend to the offensive end as well, where Barnes’ high basketball I.Q. and playmaking instincts are counterbalanced by a poor 3-point shot. He has room to improve, and can very feasibly get to a point where he is consistently hitting spot-up jumpers, but it needs a lot of work.
2021 NBA Draft Big Board — 5. Kai Jones, Texas
Consider this a personal flourish, as even the staunchest Kai Jones supporters have him situated closer to the end of the lottery than the top five. I, however, will go against the grain and voice my ardent belief that Jones is the potential steal of this draft, with a combination of athleticism and skill rarely seen in 7-footers.
He is a long way away — Jones is not a day-one, tier-one contributor — but goodness, are the pieces something to behold. He has shown flashes of pull-up shooting and face-up scoring, with long, sweeping eurosteps that leave defenders swiping air. He has a wide catch radius at the rim. On defense, he’s quick enough to contain guards, and long enough to shut off the rim. It will take time, but the right situation could propel Jones to stardom.