With the NBA draft almost here, the internet is full of mock drafts, yet none of them are exactly the same. Players like Michael Foster Jr, Andrew Nembhard, Bryce McGowens, MarJon Beauchamp, and Blake Wesley can appear in the top 20 of one mock draft and in the second round of another.
It is tough predicting who will be available after the first thirty picks are off the board. However, I believe I have five intriguing prospects who are predicted in every mock draft to have their name called in the second round or go undrafted.
The second round is a great opportunity for a savy NBA team to find a role player. Someone who can effect the game even if they aren’t scoring points.
Kessler Edwards and Herb Jones were both drafted in the second round last year, and they both contributed meaningful minutes to eventual playoff teams this past season.
Here are five prospects who might emulate that same value in the coming years.
But, before that, I have two bonus prospects.
Isaiah Mobley is kinda under the radar this draft season. After being part of the combine last year and electing to go back to college, Isaiah wasn’t invited to the combine this time around. At 6’9.75″ in shoes with a 7’3 wingspan, I thought he had enough potential to be drafted last year or at least receive a summer team invite.
As a junior at USC, Mobley shot 35% from behind the arc (down from 43.6% the season before) and averaged 14.2 pts, 8.3 rebs, 3.3 asts, .9 blks, and .8 stls a game.
He has all the tools to be a solid 3 and D power forward and even has decent court vision. Mobley may go undrafted, but I think someone will notice him during the summer league and give him a chance.
The second bonus prospect is Hyungjung Lee. Lee is a shooter. He was the first Davidson player to join the 50-40-90 club in college basketball, something Curry didn’t do.
Though Lee has good size at 6’7, he isn’t the most athletic player. He will struggle with his on-the-ball defense in the NBA. But, he is a disciplined player with okay court vision and decent but not amazing passer. He won’t take his defender off the dribble, but as a spot up shooter, he can find a place in the league.
Now, 5 intriguing prospects. Each one of them has at least one hole in their game, but the potential to be a solid role player is there.