For every draft bust, there’s one player that defies the expectations of his low average draft positions on several mock drafts everywhere. Sometimes teams strike gold late in the first round and/or in the second. Let’s check out three players who could be a steal in tonight’s NBA Draft.
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There are two Murrays expected to be taken in the first round: Jamaal and Dejounte. The consensus for Jamaal Murray is that he’ll be picked inside the top six. Dejounte Murray, meanwhile, is projected to be snatched up somewhere in the middle to the late part of the first round. If you saw Murray play in college, you’d think he should be ranked in several mock drafts a lot higher. Perhaps it’s because he didn’t play in a much bigger program like a Duke or Kentucky why he’s being touted as a sleeper. You can even compare him to Kris Dunn, as Murray also has big size for a guard (6-5) and the penchant for stuffing the stat sheet. Murray averaged 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. His perimeter game needs major work though after shooting just 28.8 percent from deep in his lone year as a Huskie.
Thon Maker
Up to this point, experts are still a bit inconclusive on what to make of Maker? On one hand, Maker is a freak of nature. He’s 7-1 and has the slick ball-handling skills of a guard and could also snipe from the perimeter. He’s basically something a mad basketball scientist would fantasize creating in his lab. That being said, Maker didn’t play college ball, giving way for doubters to question his ability to cope up in the pros. In any case, the upside is huge for Maker and the team who’ll get him will have the responsibility of helping him unleash his boundless potential.
A.J. Hammons
Being too ripe for the NBA isn’t always a plus for draft hopefuls. Take for example Purdue’s big boy, A.J. Hammons. Hammons looks like a huge boulder rolling down a slope. He stands 7-0, weighs 280 pounds, and has a 7-3 wingspan. Those physical tools will go a long way in any level of basketball, but the fact that he spent four years in college appears to cause scouts to get a bit cold on him. He’s already 24, which is too senior for a rookie in today’s NBA. It limits teams’ long-term plans on rookies that old. Still, Hammons, who averaged 15.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game as a senior Boilermaker, could be an immediate contributor for the team that’ll select him this Thursday.
