Source: Michael Hickey / Getty
Below you’ll see the final update on Wednesday afternoon before the NBA Draft. Here’s what analysts predict Edey, Ware, and the Pacers…
1. Zach Edey
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Jonathan Givony & Jeremy Woo, ESPN.com – #17 Los Angeles Lakers
Gary Parrish, CBS Sports – #24 New York Knicks
Kyle Boone, CBS Sports – #19 Toronto Raptors
Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports – #14 Portland Trailblazers
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report – #13 Sacramento Kings
Krysten Peek, Yahoo Sports – #19 Toronto Raptors
Kevin O’ Connor, The Ringer – #12 Oklahoma City Thunder
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic – #14 Portland Trailblazers
Quick analysis: Edey is quickly becoming one of the more interesting prospects in this draft. Will he land in the lottery or slip to the mid 20’s? I could see either scenario happening. When it comes to “fit” you have to think Heat, Knicks, Thunder would land him in winning situations with a chance to develop.
2. Kel’el Ware
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Jonathan Givony & Jeremy Woo, ESPN.com – #23 Milwaukee Bucks
Gary Parrish, CBS Sports – #21 New Orleans Pelicans
Kyle Boone, CBS Sports – #37 Minnesota Timberwolves
Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports – #21 New Orleans Pelicans
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report – #19 Toronto Raptors
Krysten Peek, Yahoo Sports – #24 New York Knicks
Kevin O’ Connor, The Ringer – #13 Sacramento Kings
Sam Vecenie, The Athletic – #30 Boston Celtics
Quick analysis: While Ware has more pure NBA traits than Edey you see that both of them have rather wide ranges in where they could get picked. For me, I’m most intrigued by the Kings at 13 with Ware developing behind Sabonis.
3. Pacers
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Jonathan Givony & Jeremy Woo, ESPN.com –
Gary Parrish, CBS Sports – No second-round picks
Kyle Boone, CBS Sports – No second-round picks
Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports – No second-round picks
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report – #36 Cameron Christie, SG, Minnesota…#49 Harrison Ingram, SF/PF North Carolina…#50 Justin Edwards, SF, Kentucky
Krysten Peek, Yahoo Sports – #36 Bobi Klintman, PF, Cairns Taipans (Australia)…#49 Ulrich Chomche, C, Cameroon…#50 Trentyn Flowers, PG/SG, Adelaide 36ers (Australia)
Kevin O’ Connor, The Ringer – #36 Tyler Smith, F/PF, G League Ingnite…#49 Melvin Ajinca, SG, Saint-Quentin (France)…#50 Justin Edwards, SF, Kentucky
Staff Picks, SI.com – #36 Ajay Mitchell, SG, UC Santa Barbara…#50 Jaylen Wells, SF, Washington State…#51 PJ Hall, PF, Clemson
Quick analysis: I’m still not convinced the Pacers will end up making all three of their picks next week. If they do it will be interesting if they draft older college players or less experienced overseas guys. I’m most intrigued by Trentyn Flowers, Nikola Djurisic, and AJ Johnson.
