The top 50 prospects for the 2016 NBA draft

Entering the 2015-16 college basketball season, LSU freshman Ben Simmons was seen as the clear-cut No. 1 prospect for this summer’s NBA draft. Then Simmons struggled, the Tigers missed the NCAA tournament and suddenly Duke’s Brandon Ingram was seen by some as the best candidate to be the top pick this June. It will ultimately be a decision that could define a franchise, with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers holding the first and second picks respectively. And the intrigue will only increase from there, as trades could reshape the draft, and the league as a whole.

In terms of the fresh faces entering the league, here’s a look at the top 50 players ranked by their accomplishments to this point and potential for a bright future. And it starts by ultimately settling the Simmons-Ingram debate.

1. Ben Simmons, F, LSU

On Thursday night, this position could certainly flip flop with Ingram, the only two surefire stars in this draft, but Simmons has been, and continues to be, the top prospect in the field. He is capable of notching a triple-double every time he steps on the floor, and he has the potential and length to be a standout defender.

2. Brandon Ingram, F, Duke

The best pure scorer in the field, Ingram meshes a knockdown perimeter game with a seemingly effortless mid-range touch. He wasn’t quite as efficient finishing around the rim and through contact during his one year at Duke — per Hoop-Math.com, roughly a quarter of his attempts in the halfcourt were around the bucket, one of the squad’s lowest rates — but that should improve at the next level.

3. Kris Dunn, G, Providence

You can talk about the turnovers (20.9 percent turnover rate), you can talk about the inconsistencies in his jump shot (37.2 percent from deep in Big East play, but each time he rose into the air, the ball always seemed sure to dent the backboard more so than ripple the net), but Dunn’s in-game speed shiftiness and vision are unique.

4. Jamal Murray, G, Kentucky

There were few Division I players in 2016 who could get as hot as the 6-foot-4 Murray. Much of his offense was assisted — per Hoop-Math.com, nearly 90 percent of his overall three-point attempts came via a pass — and his lack of explosive speed and athleticism to separate himself could be an issue at the next level, but no player was better spotting up coming off a curl or a screen than Murray (1.22 points per play).

5. Dragan Bender, F, International

An uber-athletic stretch four who, in the uncertainty of this draft (outside of Simmons and Ingram, it is all very murky), might be the surest thing.

6. Marquese Chriss, F, Washington

Chriss has been the fastest riser on the draft board, and while the deficiencies are puzzling (he rarely crashed the defensive glass, and he connected on just 31.4 percent of his threes in Pac-12 play), the 6-9 Chriss is near automatic offense around the rim. Nearly 40 percent of his shots, according to Hoop-Math.com, were within a few feet of the bucket, and he made 65 percent. He can finish high above and through the thicket.

7. Jaylen Brown, G, California

The 6-7 guard’s shooting touch may be a ways off, but thanks to how referees are whistling the NBA game nowadays, Brown, who drew a whopping seven fouls per 40 minutes at Cal, should be able to use his aggressiveness to live at the free throw line.

8. Buddy Hield, G, Oklahoma

There has been so much said about Hield, a 6-4 marksman of a shooter. At the moment, it seems the negatives focus on his struggles to create for himself and how long it took him to reach the level we saw in 2016 (seriously?). It shouldn’t matter — he’s got range for days, and became a much better finisher at the rim in his senior season (58 percent around the basket, up from 50 percent as a junior).

9. Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah

A decade ago, Poeltl, a 7-footer with an array of post moves, would be a top-five pick. But while the NBA has changed, there should still be a high demand for the big, who significantly tightened his handle as a sophomore (possession rate of 26 percent, which led the team, while only giving the ball away on 14 percent of his possessions, per Ken Pomeroy).

10. Skal Labissiere, F, Kentucky

The potential is there, but it wasn’t apparent until March, when Labissiere began to find his niche outside of the post and in the mid-range. Coupled with his defensive potential — 11.5 percent block rate while using a little more than a third of Kentucky’s minutes — and he could blossom in the right system.

11. Henry Ellenson, F, Marquette

We didn’t see more than a few glimmers of Ellenson’s ability to stretch the floor (28 percent from beyond the three-point line), but the mechanics are solid, and Ellenson’s deference to teammates is buoyed by his superb half-court vision.

12. Deyonta Davis, F, Michigan State

Yet another prospect whose skill set was only fleetingly on display during his one season in East Lansing. At the moment, the 6-10 Davis is a skilled rebounder who meshes an ability to control the defensive glass with adroit timing around the rim (blocking more than 10 percent of opposing teams’ shots).

13. Wade Baldwin, G, Vanderbilt

It’ll be interesting to see how Baldwin exists within the offensive structure of whichever team drafts him. He epitomizes the new-look NBA — his fellow Commodores scored 1.3 points per pick and roll play, per Synergy, and Baldwin is a threat from deep (40 percent). That said, he often seemed nonexistent on the court (which, of course, may have been a symptom more of Vandy than Baldwin).

14. Dejounte Murray, G, Washington

A 6-4 guard who made just 46 percent of his two-point field goals, and 29 percent of his threes, Murray will be drafted solely due to his potential and upside (the NBA’s magic word).

15. Domantas Sabonis, F, Gonzaga

The big was one of the most skilled rebounders in Division I this past season, which he couples with one of the softest touches around the rim — 73 percent near the bucket.

16. Furkan Korkmaz, G, International

What is attractive about the 6-7 guard in this draft is his shooting ability, connecting on more than 40 percent of his threes while overseas.

17. Ante Zizic, C, International

The 7-footer is all high motor, and that is really his best attribute (along with his soft hands). In a league where the bigs are less relied upon to dominate the post than fly about the court, Zizic is an attractive draft option.

18. Malachi Richardson, F, Syracuse

Richardson is the quintessential “benefitted from an NCAA tournament run” draftee. The wing made 42 percent of his threes during ACC play, which was about 36 percent in the postseason, and he excels at soaring above the rim for tip dunks and in transition.

19. Thon Maker, F, High School (One-year removed)

The 7-footer is either the next Kevin Garnett or the next high-school-to-the-pros cautionary tale. He is a tantalizing prospect.

20. Cheick Diallo, C, Kansas

For a big who often never left the bench during his lone season in Lawrence, NBA teams are complimentary of the 7-footer’s motor, defensive length and ability to run from rim to rim in transition. Diallo was likely always a better fit in the pros than in the college game.

21. Ivica Zubac, C, International

A brute 7-foot-1 project in a draft that is full of them.

22. Denzel Valentine, G, Michigan State

Similarly to his senior brethren Hield, we all know what Valentine can do. But unlike Hield, Valentine can do a little bit of everything, posting a pair of triple-doubles while averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game for the Spartans.

23. Patrick McCaw, G, UNLV

McCaw is all about intrigue. A 6-7 point guard who thrives in pick-and-roll scenarios, he can connect from deep (35 percent), and lock up opposing guards and wings (2.5 steals per 40 minutes).

24. DeAndre Bembry, F, St. Joseph’s

A smooth scorer who is efficient in the halfcourt, there are questions whether a weak perimeter game will hamper him at the next level.

25. Brice Johnson, F, North Carolina

The Ken Pomeroy player of the year for his efficiency as a Tar Heel, Johnson is a sheer beast on both the offensive and defensive glass and is hard to keep from scoring at the rim. A future resident of Lob City.

The Best of the Rest

26. Taurean Prince, G, Baylor

27. Demetrius Jackson, G, Notre Dame

28. Juan Hernangomez, C, International

29. Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt

30. Malik Beasley, G, Florida State

31. Tyler Ulis, G, Kentucky

32. Diamond Stone, F, Maryland

33. Zhou Qi, C, International

34. Chinanu Onuaku, C, Louisville

35. Guerschon Yabusele, F, International

36. Paul Zipser, G, International