[16] Oklahoma City Thunder
P.J. Washington | Kentucky (NCAA Fr.) | PF | Age: 19
Washington fancies himself a small forward, but might end up seeing significant minutes at both Kentucky and in the NBA as a versatile big man who can operate inside and out thanks to his budding skill level. Becoming a more consistent shooter and defender will be key to unlocking his NBA potential.
The Thunder owe the Timberwolves their 2018 first-round pick, lottery protected until 2020; converts to second-round picks in 2020 and 2021 if not conveyed.
[17] Miami Heat
Brandon Randolph | Arizona (NCAA Fr.) | SG | Age: 20
Randolph wasn't considered one of the top 35 or so prospects in his high school class, but he has a chance to exceed that fairly quickly thanks to his impressive combination of size, length, athleticism and perimeter shooting prowess, which are highly coveted in today's NBA.
The Heat owe the Suns their 2018 first-round pick, protected Nos. 1-7 in 2018 and unprotected in 2019.
[18] Boston Celtics (via Clippers)
Jarred Vanderbilt | Kentucky (NCAA Fr.) | SF | Age: 18
Vanderbilt is yet another combo forward type vying for minutes and shots on a stacked Kentucky roster. He has the size and length to play quite a bit of 4 in the NBA, but he is a very good ball handler and passer who does an excellent job of crashing the glass and igniting fast breaks. Vanderbilt needs to significantly improve his jumper to maximize his NBA potential, as he has been considered a non-shooter for most of his career.
The Clippers owe the Celtics their 2019 first-round pick, lottery protected in 2019 and 2020; converts to 2022 second-round pick if not conveyed.
[19] Toronto Raptors
Brian Bowen | Louisville? (NCAA Fr.) | SF | Age: 18
Bowen is one of the most prominent players mentioned in the recent FBI/DOJ NCAA investigation, which will almost certainly complicate his college eligibility and potentially his NBA future. He has good size for a wing and advanced scoring instincts from the perimeter, but wasn't considered a can't-miss prospect and thus could have benefited greatly from gaining experience at the college level. He might have to look to Europe or the G-League now.
The Raptors owe the Nets their 2018 first-round pick, lottery protected until 2023; converts to second-round picks in 2023 and 2024 if not conveyed.
[20] Portland Trail Blazers
Landry Shamet | Wichita State (NCAA So.) | PG | Age: 20
Wichita State was a different team last season after inserting then-freshman Shamet into its starting lineup. The tall, fluid point guard can play at different speeds, has a high basketball IQ and made 44 percent of his 3-pointers last season.
[21] Utah Jazz
Oscar Da Silva | Stanford (NCAA Fr.) | PF | Age: 19
Da Silva is a sleeper in this NCAA freshman class, a fluid athlete with length who impacts the game in many different ways thanks to his versatility and high basketball IQ. The German/Brazilian's defense is ahead of his offense at the moment, and the development of his frame and perimeter jumper will likely dictate how long he ends up staying in college.
[22]Washington Wizards
Rui Hachimura | Gonzaga (NCAA So.) | PF | Age: 19
Hachimura had a breakout performance at the U19 World Championship in Cairo this summer, finishing second in scoring and third in rebounding. With Gonzaga losing quite a bit of firepower this offseason, he'll be expected to step into a far more prominent role. Hachimura is a skilled combo forward with a 7-foot wingspan, and his continually improving jump shot is noteworthy from an NBA standpoint. His biggest question marks revolve around his defense.
[23] Denver Nuggets
Olivier Sarr | Wake Forest (NCAA Fr.) | C | Age: 18
Sarr is a fluid and mobile 7-footer who shows nice versatility on both ends of the floor. He's still in an early stage of development, particularly in terms of his frame, but should emerge as an interesting prospect for NBA teams to track in the ACC down the road.
[24] Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers)
Clifton Moore | Indiana (NCAA Fr.) | PF/C | Age: 18
Not all that highly regarded coming out of high school, Moore has a chance to exceed many of those in his class long-term thanks to his impressive physical tools, budding skill and overall talent. He ticks many of the boxes that NBA scouts look for in young big men prospects, and even if he's very far away from being a finished product at this stage, he's someone teams will be monitoring over the next few years to see how he's developing.
The Cavaliers owe the Hawks their 2019 first-round pick, protected Nos. 1-10 in 2019 and 2020; converts to second-round picks in 2021 and 2022 if not conveyed.
[25] Philadelphia 76ers
Kezie Okpala | Stanford (NCAA Fr.) | SF | Age: 18
Okpala is a big, long-armed wing who emerged as a prospect late in his high school career. He can handle the ball, play at different speeds and show off projectable jump shot that should improve over time. Okpala has a number of attributes that are coveted in today's NBA, but will likely need time, experience and continued development to reach his potential, which he'll get at Stanford over the next two years.
[26] Minnesota Timberwolves
Josh Okogie | Georgia Tech (NCAA So.) | SG | Age: 19
Okogie is a chiseled guard with a 7-foot wingspan and good athletic ability. He averaged an impressive 16 points per game as a freshman in the ACC. Okogie has excellent potential defensively, but needs to improve his jump shot considerably to cement his standing over the next two years.
The Timberwolves owe the Hawks their 2018 first-round pick, lottery protected until 2020; converts to second-round picks in 2020 and 2021 if not conveyed.
[27] San Antonio Spurs
Goga Bitadze | Mega Bemax (international '99) | C | Age: 18
The Georgian has great size for a center at 6-foot-11 with a 251-pound frame and 7-foot-2 wingspan. Bitadze is fairly skilled on top of that. He can step out and make 3s, and has good instincts as a passer and rebounder. Bitadze needs to prove he can defend his position at the pro level, particularly in terms of protecting the rim and stepping out on pick-and-rolls, but will get the opportunity to do so in the Adriatic League. His intensity and focus tend to waver.
[28] Houston Rockets
Sacha Killeya-Jones | Kentucky (NCAA So.) | PF | Age: 19
A highly touted recruit, Killeya-Jones was a total nonfactor as a freshman. He might be able to put things together in the next two years still, as his skill level and overall talent is undeniable. He's a long, rangy and mobile big man with impressive footwork and touch, but struggles to put it all together in game settings. He also lacks a degree of toughness and feel.
The Rockets owe the Hawks their 2018 first-round pick, protected Nos. 1-3 until 2023; unprotected in 2024.
[29] Boston Celtics
Terence Davis | Ole Miss (NCAA Jr.) | SG | Age: 20
Davis is a long-armed, wide-shouldered shooting guard who excels in transition and making open 3-pointers. He's a good athlete with significant potential on the defensive end. Davis lacks a degree of polish and feel, especially as a ball handler and passer in the half court.
[30] Golden State Warriors
Lamar Peters | Mississippi State (NCAA So.) | PG | Age: 19
Peters is a small but extremely athletic guard with outstanding potential as a shot creator. He changes speeds powerfully in the open floor. Peters made 3-pointers prolifically as a freshman and is a competitive defender. He needs to improve his court vision considerably, and his decision-making is still a major work in progress.
