“He Doesn’t Pop for Me”: NBA Scouts Give Their Candid Opinions on Top Draft Prospects

Over the last week, I spoke with five NBA scouts. What follows below are snippets from their opinions. If Finch seems a little harsh, that’s on me, not him. I asked him to lean into his criticisms of the players, because those distinctions are what teams lean on to make decisions that will have huge consequences for everyone in the franchise.

This is part one of my Finch column featuring analysis of 25 players in alphabetical order. We will publish part two on Sunday.

Here, then, is what Finch had to say about …

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Darius Acuff Jr., 6–foot-3 freshman guard, Arkansas

Love that kid. The most complete point guard in the draft. Elite scorer. The numbers speak for themselves. His height is an issue, but he’s physically strong. Defense is a major issue. He doesn’t look like he gives a shit. The care factor wasn’t there. His metrics were bad. I think he has the potential to do it, but he’s going to have to prove it if he’s going to be a good NBA player. Is he going to be a high scorer on a bad team or is he going to be a guy that drives winning? I heard Sacramento is probably taking him. 

Nate Ament, 6-foot-10 freshman forward, Tennessee

Huge upside. The tell for me was how much freedom Rick Barnes gave him offensively. Probably one of the best kids ever coming into the draft. Maybe too much of a nice guy. He needs to get stronger, be more physical. He’ll be a much better three-point shooter as he ages. If you’re asking him to be an alpha, he’s not that. That’s not who he is as a human. He’s got that high release like Durant, it’s hard to block it. He has a very young body. Everyone’s trying to make sense of his year. He struggled moving to the next level. Some questions around his shooting, his reaction times. If you’re willing to be patient, he’s a really good pick in the long run.

Christian Anderson, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard, Texas Tech

Possibly the best shooter in the draft. Great human. Really good testing athlete. He needs to play more as a ballhandler. Size is an issue for sure. Jalen Brunson shows that we get caught up too much with measurements. Sometimes you gotta just watch a kid play. He’s slightly built, but if you can shoot it like he can, there’s gonna be a place for you. It’s one thing to defend in college, it’s another when you’re on an island. I don’t know that he’ll be able to get to the rim in the NBA. Can he finish at the basket? Does he make other players better?

Cameron Boozer, 6-foot-9 freshman forward, Duke

Analytics darling, ultimate winner. There’s no way he fails. He’s going to have a great career, but I just think he has a limited upside. He’s not very athletic, he plays under the rim. He’s going to be like a Kevin Love or Al Horford. He’s gonna be an every day guy. His ceiling isn’t a high as some of the guys that may go above him, but he’ll be one of the top two or three most important guys on your roster. Based on analytics, he’s the number one pick in the draft. He just doesn’t have a lot of lift around the rim. Defensively, with the four man spread out more, he could be a liability. Lack of lateral quickness is the question mark. Does he have enough athleticism, a perimeter defensive ability?

“Analytics darling, ultimate winner. There’s no way he fails.”

—Finch on Cameron Boozer

Jaden Bradley, 6-foot-3 senior guard, Arizona

Great intangible guy. He’s not a true point guard. His shooting range is a little suspect. Really good college basketball player but there’s not an elite skill to me that stands out. Has some toughness to him. He hasn’t been good in team workouts. He’s a hardworking kid, could be a third point guard, but quicker guards will give him problems. I could see him having a Kevin Ollie type career. How much better is he going to get?

Trevon Brazile, 6-foot-10 senior forward, Arkansas

Huge risk-reward guy. He’s got lottery level talent, but lack of confidence is a huge deal. He’s got size, he’s got athleticism, he can defend multiple positions. He’s a streaky shooter. I could see him making a team, but I could also see him not playing in the NBA ever. Can really shoot for a kid that size. He’s inconsistent which might be holding him back. One of the best run-jump athletes in this draft. He was kind of erratic this year. Left you wanting more. It’s going to come down to how quickly does he process the game. Second-round guy.

Mikel Brown Jr., 6-foot-5 freshman guard, Louisville

Ultra talented. Can play on or off the ball. I worry a little bit about a lack of toughness. Is he a true competitor? He could end up being a hell of a player. He might be the most talented in that point guard group, but with the injuries you have to wonder. There are some questions as to how he handles physical play. Turns the ball over a little too much, but the talent is real. He’s going to have to get better defensively. Sometimes you didn’t feel a real commitment from him on that end of the floor. He wandered off the ball, late for closeouts. He’s been going these workouts with his dad twice a day for the last seven years. He’s built to shine in these things. The question is his feel for the game. Very streaky shooter.

Brayden Burries, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Arizona

I don’t think he has the upside of these other guys, but he’s got the physical body. He’s not a true point guard, but he’ll be a good point guard in the NBA. I don’t think he’ll every be a great, great player, but he’s a very safe pick. He can do a little bit of everything. You don’t want him to be the point guard, but he can handle it. Just a winner. Very solid, strong body. I don’t think he does anything great. Off the ball defensively, he’s very alert. He can get to the rim and finish. You question whether he can be a true lead guard. Like, what’s his decision making?

“You question whether he can be a true lead guard. Like, what’s his decision making?”

—Finch on Brayden Burries

Cameron Carr, 6-foot-5 junior guard, Baylor

He was the darling of the combine. Big-time talent. The mental toughness scares me a little bit. The fact that he left Tennessee like he did is a red flag. He shows you flashes of being a good defender. He’s a home run swing type guy. He could be a big-time player but you could also wind up missing on him. Sometimes he looks a little immature out there. He can attack the basket in the open floor. High level athlete. He’s got prototypical length and dimensions. Can he put all of that together and help the team win?

Chris Cenac Jr. 6-foot-11 freshman center, Houston

The most improved player in college from last October to April. He’s still got a long way to go, but he’s a skilled big, can really shoot it. Needs to improve his lower body and core strength. The day he steps into the NBA, he’s going to be a rebounder. His swing skill is his shooting. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with his mechanics. People look at him as a five, but I’m not sure he’s big enough to do it. His foul shooting was in the sixties (62.1 percent), so that’s an issue. Is he going to be a face-up guy that you have to honor? Because there’s not a whole lot else to his game. His shot block numbers are low. He’s shown that he can shoot the ball a little bit. He’s got to fall in love with the physicality of banging down low.

Ryan Conwell, 6–foot-3 senior guard, Louisville

Played well in Chicago. My question is with the defense because it’s an enormous change going to the NBA. I’ve heard good things about his predraft workouts. He’s a tough combo guard. Those guys tend to have a real chance. He’s not a point guard. He has to be a knockdown shooter, not just a scorer. He’s not a special defender. Not a super dynamic athlete. He can really shoot. Size and defense could be the issue. He’s a second-round pick or an undrafted guy to me. 

A.J. Dybantsa, 6-foot-9 guard, BYU

Best player in the draft. He makes coaching the game easy. You don’t have to run any plays for him. He can defend any position. He just needs to mature some. He settles for a lot of midrange jump shots. I’d love to see him get to the basket a little bit more, beat people off the dribble and finish. He’s athletic and seems to care about defense. There’s probably more upside to Peterson, but he’s a safer pick than Peterson is. Not a total consistent shooter, don’t totally trust the defense yet, but that all comes around. The only question is, how does he process the game? Can he actually make the right reads? He’s not going to be able to force his way through like he did in college. He has the mindset to be great.

Zuby Ejiofor, 6–foot-9 senior forward, St. John’s

Late second round guy who battles his way through the G League. Doesn’t shoot it, doesn’t handle it, so you can’t play him on the perimeter. Great effort player, but you’ve got to figure out where you’re going to play him. He doesn’t shoot the ball well enough to depend on him as a four. Tries to go off the dribble, sometimes it looks bad. If he can get that three-point shot he’s gonna have some really productive years. He can move his feet, he’s got switching capabilities. He’s going to come in and battle. Does he have the height to battle against fives in the NBA? He’s interviewed really well.

Isaiah Evans, 6-foot-6 sophomore wing, Duke

Streaky shooter, but capable. Didn’t seem to take that next step at Duke. He never got better defensively. His body obviously needs work, but Reggie Miller played in the NBA for a long time, and he had a terrible frame. He seems to have some decent mental toughness. He doesn’t pop for me. He can make a catch-and-shoot jump shot, but you don’t feel his presence defensively. He’s going to have to do a lot more than put the ball in the basket. His three-point shooting went down (from 41.6 percent to 36.1) on more attempts. The analytics guys don’t like that. I don’t see him as a point guard in the NBA. His value in the league is going to rise and fall off how well he shoots the three ball. How many positions can he guard? 

“Streaky shooter, but capable. Didn’t seem to take that next step at Duke. He never got better defensively … He doesn’t pop for me.”

—Finch on Isaiah Evans

Kingston Flemings, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Houston

Love this kid. I might take him over Boozer. He’s got some Derrick Rose in him, that type of burst. Biggest concern is his size. He’s a big time midrange shooter, but that’s not what we want. Can he stretch it out to the three-point line? He has a hard time finishing at the rim because of his size. You worry people will run over him and get to the basket. He put on 18 pounds since coming to Houston. Terrific open court player. He’s got such a bright personality. 

Ja’Kobi Gillespie, 6-foot-1 senior guard, Tennessee

This kid could be a hell of a second-round pick. He’s not a true point but he developed a better floor game. He can shoot the heck out of it. He’s as good as Walter Clayton. Tough, competitive guy. Was a former football player. He’ll have to fight through the G League but he has the makeup that he can make it one day. He’s small, but he’s a really good basketball player. He’s got to be a point guard. Very good defensive hands and ability to get steals. He’s a backup guard that coaches can trust, like a safety net. Smart, tough, makes the right play, tries to guard. Good leader.

Allen Graves, 6-foot-9 freshman forward, Santa Clara

Little bit of a mystery for some people. Really high in all the analytic models. Not a great athlete, so he won’t wow you, but he makes smart basketball plays. Was not impressed with him in Chicago. He has a nice looking stroke. People are saying Toronto has guaranteed him. He’s an intangible guy. Late bloomer, was a redshirt in 24-25 on a mid-major team. He only had four starts this year. High steals, good rebounder. He’ll fit in with a good team rather than be someone you’re going to put on a billboard. His steals and three-point shooting got him into the first round. Came on strong this year. The questions are going to be around his athleticism and who he guards.  

Keyshawn Hall, 6-foot-7 senior wing, Auburn

Could get 35 tonight and four tomorrow night. Will he be mature enough to stick? Because his role is going to dramatically change from who he thinks he is. He killed that team at Auburn. I wouldn’t touch him. They suspended him during the heart of the SEC season. I think he can score and he’s got athleticism. He’s got NBA size on the perimeter. If he’s in good shape, he can make things happen. Does he have the motor?

Bryce Hopkins, 6-foot-7 senior guard, St. John’s

He got so much better every year. At Kentucky he was an undersized four man who couldn’t shoot, but he developed into a legit three. He’s tough as hell. The big thing for him is to get that three-point shot. I see him as an international or G League guy. I don’t see the real specialness with him. You have to hope he develops into a consistent shooter. He can guard multiple positions. Will probably go somewhere in the second round. 

Joshua Jefferson, 6-foot-9 senior forward, Iowa State

Man, he’s a warrior. Super smart basketball player. He’s not super athletic but he has everything else. Strong, competes, defends. The offensive side is not concerning, it’s defensively. Size is a concern. Can he guard a smaller guy? His athleticism will be the challenge because he’s got to be a four, maybe a three/four. I just don’t know if he’s going to be able to guard on the perimeter, but he’s a good playmaker. Is he bouncy enough? Is he athletic enough to survive in a game that’s getting so much faster? Not a great outside shooter but not terrible. He did a lot of backing defenders down in college, but I’m not sure that works in the NBA. He has slimmed down.

“Man, he’s a warrior. Super smart basketball player. He’s not super athletic but he has everything else.”

—Finch on Joshua Jefferson

Morez Johnson Jr., 6–foot-9, sophomore forward, Michigan

I love him. Not an overly skilled guy but he’s tough, does the dirty work, rebounder, finisher inside. He’s going to defend, he’s going to rebound. You can switch with him on the pick and rolls. He’s strong enough to guard around the basket. He’s ready to rebound from day one. The question is, what are we going to do with him offensively?  How long will it take him to improve that? He struggles to finish around the rim. There’s so much emphasis on switchability, this guy can switch. You could make the case that he has the best motor in this draft. He’s a winning player all the way. He can guard everybody. You wonder if he’s able to put the ball on the floor and make quick reads. Should go in the top 15.

Alex Karaban, 6-foot-8 senior wing, UConn

I’ve always wanted to like him. He makes clutch shots. He is just so unathletic and slow. Somebody will take him in the second round but I’m not a big fan. He’s going to have issues defending. He’s a late rotation guy for somebody. I’m not worried about him being slow offensively because you’re not going to isolate him. Anything he gets is going to be off the better players. He could be a Sam Hauser or Ty Jerome. It was great for him that he stayed in college but I just don’t know how much better he’s gotten. He’s not like this big-time rebounder, not quite there defensively. The shot is good, not great. The one reason I won’t write him off is because he obviously knows how to win. Once he gets into summer league and gets into a camp, coaches are going to respond to him. There are questions around defending in space. Who does he guard?

Yaxel Lendeborg, 6-foot-10 senior forward, Michigan

He’s a nice kid, he’s got some talent. He’s ready to play right away. Showed that he can defend all five guys. I wish he was in better shape, but he’s gonna be a good player. He doesn’t do anything great, but he does a lot of good things. I could see him going late lottery. He has shot it well in workouts. The one thing that might give people a little pause is that he’ll be 24 years old in September. I wonder about his defensive transition, although it’s not like he can’t guard. Physically he’s not going to develop a whole lot more, but his game can continue to evolve.

Aday Mara, 7-foot-3 junior center, Michigan

I like him okay. His body scares me a little bit. He’s a 15 to 25 guy for me but supposedly there’s a couple of teams that have him in the top ten. I don’t know if he fits everybody. He’s got length. I worry about his lower body when it comes to rebounding. Can he hold his position? But runs the floor well, passes really well. You’re going to be limited in what you can do in ball screen coverage with him. Hopefully his shooting hits. I don’t know if he can get out defensively and play the pick and roll. He’s an archetype you don’t find that often. The more you dig into him, the more you appreciate his feel for the game, especially his passing. Should be able to develop as a shooter, but his free throw percentage was pretty poor (56.4 percent).

“Hopefully his shooting hits. I don’t know if he can get out defensively and play the pick and roll. He’s an archetype you don’t find that often.”

—Finch on Aday Mara

Nick Martinelli, 6-foot-9 senior wing, Northwestern

I’m going into the cliché bag here. Tough, hard-nosed player. Got kind of a funky offensive style with all those back-down and up-and-unders. Is he gonna be able to go out on the perimeter and guard? He’s going to have to make adjustments because nobody’s gonna give him the ball and let him take seven or eight bounces. Needs to become a better shooter. Northwestern didn’t win a lot, but he plays the game like a winner. He’s a little mechanical, stiff. Somebody could take him. His former teammate Brooks Barnhizer has done well. He’s going to have a steady diet of guys out on the perimeter he’s gonna have to guard. I think he’s a very viable second-round pick. You question how he fits in today’s pace and space. He’ll have a chance to make someone’s team.