SI Top 80 player rankings: Nance projected as a second round pick. PBJ drops out of the lottery; Christie still a first rounder

[CatManTrue]

Interesting summary. PBJ first:

18. Patrick Baldwin Jr., F, UW-Milwaukee | Freshman
Height: 6' 9" | Weight: 220 | Age: 19 | Last rank: 9

Baldwin has appeared in just 11 games this season, with various injuries making it difficult for NBA scouts to come see him. When he’s been available, he hasn’t played particularly well, which is due in part to the lack of quality team infrastructure around him, but he’s also not blameless. Those struggles can’t be totally ignored just because he was a touted high school prospect. Baldwin has great size, good ball skills and a sweet shooting stroke, and as long as he gets back on track, it’s still pretty simple to envision him finding an NBA role in the long run (think Cam Johnson). The unusual circumstances have made this a more difficult eval than it needs to be, but even if he’s just an above average role player in the end, Baldwin is still a worthy first-round talent. Much would seem to hinge on his predraft process, which should give him a better platform to win teams over come spring.

NBA Draft Big Board: Ranking the Top 80 Prospects | Sports Illustrated

www.si.com

 

[CatManTrue]

27. Max Christie, SG, Michigan State | Freshman​

Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 190 | Age: 18 | Last rank: 29

Although Christie’s freshman year has been challenging and his play has trended down a bit in February, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic in the long run, and he remains in the first-round picture. He’s played a lot of minutes for Michigan State and clearly earned some trust from Tom Izzo, but he hasn’t been heavily featured in the offense. Christie has an excellent frame and a projectable jumper, and while he’s a long ways off, there have been signs of progress with reason to think he might close the season strong. His intangibles are strong, and as a skilled, versatile wing, Christie is the type of player a team should feel comfortable investing in and taking a swing on, particularly in a draft class that leans heavy on developmental prospects. If he returns to school, he’d be a breakout candidate.

 

[CatManTrue]

The best for last:

51. Pete Nance, F/C, Northwestern | Senior​

Height: 6' 10" | Weight: 225 | Age: 22 | Last rank: NR

The younger brother of Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr., Pete has followed a similar path as a late-blooming, versatile forward. He didn’t get the family gifts for leaping out of the gym, but Nance is a terrific passer with a good feel for screening and playing team basketball, and he’s got enough length and mobility to ascribe some role upside. Nance isn’t overly physical and needs to be a bit less reliant on his jumper, but he should be able to space the floor and find teammates while providing size and cover on the other end. He deserves to be in the mix for a two-way contract whether or not he gets drafted.

 

[Titanium999]

Cool! Young will be pro also

 

[Catfanincolo]

Cool! Young will be pro also

I agree. Just not in the NBA. He could have a long, Shurna-like career overseas.

 

[GatoLouco]

I agree. Just not in the NBA. He could have a long, Shurna-like career overseas.

If he wants to, he for sure can. But, unlike Shurna, it won't be in the best European league.

A caveat to these rankings is that they are an attempt to evaluate talent/potential talent of available players. But they are different from draft boards. Those attempt to match what's available to what teams want. If there are 20 point guards in the top 50 of a board like this, it does not mean all 20 will be selected. It is not that unusual to see players ranked in the 90's and still showing up in draft boards. So it's not a direct read that Nance being #51 necessarily points to a late 2nd round pick.

 

[charcat]

PBJ could get a good ramp to the NBA by playing at NU next year. Immediate playing time, visibility in the BIG10 and a good supporting cast. Just saying

 

[CatManTrue]

If he wants to, he for sure can. But, unlike Shurna, it won't be in the best European league.

A caveat to these rankings is that they are an attempt to evaluate talent/potential talent of available players. But they are different from draft boards. Those attempt to match what's available to what teams want. If there are 20 point guards in the top 50 of a board like this, it does not mean all 20 will be selected. It is not that unusual to see players ranked in the 90's and still showing up in draft boards. So it's not a direct read that Nance being #51 necessarily points to a late 2nd round pick.

NBA teams don’t value second round picks as much as first round / lottery picks. If he’s a consensus top 50 prospect, he’ll likely get drafted even if just for developmental potential. His brother was also a second round pick I believe.

 

[TheC]

NBA teams don’t value second round picks as much as first round / lottery picks. If he’s a consensus top 50 prospect, he’ll likely get drafted even if just for developmental potential. His brother was also a second round pick I believe.

Make no mistake. This would be awesome for NU if he were to be drafted.

 

[CatManTrue]

Make no mistake. This would be awesome for NU if he were to be drafted.

Just imagine if we had landed PBJ or Christie and had two players drafted in the same year.

Kind of like when we had two first round picks in football…