Top 5: The best big men in the 2018 NBA Draft
Big men in today's NBA are asked to do more than ever before as the game's evolved into one of spacing, speed, and 3-point shooting.
Traditional skills of rebounding, rim protection, and post scoring remain vital, but to stay on the floor bigs have to stretch their offense out to and beyond the 3-point line, and switch across multiple positions defensively.
The following five prospects all have the skills across these areas to become impact players in the league today:
C Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State
Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after averaging a zany 5.5 blocks per-40 minutes, 18-year-old Jaren Jackson Jr. checks off all the boxes NBA teams are looking for in a modern center, and in time could develop into an All-NBA defender.
Jackson Jr. can switch ball screens with ease, and has the foot speed to keep up with guards and wings on the perimeter as they drive, while deterring passes with his 7-foot-5 wingspan. He has impressive instincts and reaction speeds as a rim protector, and effectively uses both his right and left hands to alter and swat shots away at a high clip.
Although he's not a polished post scorer just yet, Jackson Jr. can stretch the floor with his jumper, as he shot 39.6 percent from three and backed it up with a 79.7 free-throw percentage at Michigan State. He can also attack off the bounce when the closeout comes, and is a solid finisher with both hands around the rim.
C DeAndre Ayton, Arizona
The near-consensus first overall pick for the Phoenix Suns, DeAndre Ayton's freak athleticism and his well-rounded offensive game should have him averaging a double-double from Day 1 in the league.
Ayton does it all offensively from the five spot, where he's a freight train of a rim runner, a matchup nightmare on the block or facing up a fellow big and to a lesser extent as a jump shooter, as he can pop to the mid-range and extend out to the 3-point line, where he shot 34.3 percent at Arizona on 35 attempts from distance.
While he's caught a lot of flak for his general lack of awareness on the defensive end, Ayton has the athleticism and speed to switch screens and keep up with perimeter players. His defensive fit alongside Arizona's other traditional center Dusan Ristic did him no favors, and there's potential for him to become a stronger defender in a more open NBA system.
PF/C Marvin Bagley III, Duke
Strictly from an eye-test perspective, nobody was more dominant than Marvin Bagley III last season, averaging a double-double of 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game on 61.4 percent from the field for Duke, while being named a consensus All-American and the ACC Player of the Year.
Bagley III overwhelmed the college competition when he put his head down to get to the rim, and possesses a soft touch in the paint and in post-up situations due to his advanced footwork. To be an elite scorer at the NBA level he will need to significantly improve his right hand, and most likely will need to rebuild his shot which has a very flat trajectory, as he shot just 62.7 percent at the free-throw line.
Defensively there is much more to be desired, as he gets caught flat-footed and ball watching in too many situations while allowing easy buckets to cutters and drivers, while not offering much in terms of rim protection either.
C Wendell Carter Jr., Duke
Not the sexy athlete or highlight-reel artist that his teammate Marvin Bagley III was last season at Duke, Wendell Carter Jr. could very well end up having a much more productive career due to his versatility as essentially an elite-level role player.
An instinctual and skilled player on the block, Carter Jr. can either score or set up teammates with excellent passing out of the post. He also can stretch it out and shoot, with a clean jumper that led to 41.3 percent from distance on 46 attempts.
Where he'll make his money is on the glass, as he's got a strong frame and has great technique in both box-outs and swim moves to attack the offensive glass and create extra possessions for his squad. While he's not going to be able to cover ground on perimeter guys in switches, he should excel as a rim protector with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and the quick reaction he displayed while protecting the paint this year.
C Mo Bamba, Texas
Standing at 7-feet tall with a record-breaking 7-foot-10 wingspan, and averaging 4.3 blocks per-36 minutes in his one-and-done season with Texas, Mo Bamba has unlimited potential at the defensive end and could easily lead the league in blocks for years to come.
Related: Why is Mo Bamba's pre-draft hype rising?
For a player of his size he has surprisingly agile feet and should be able to switch screens effectively while using his length to cut off driving and passing lanes. However, Bamba will need to pack more weight onto his frame to avoid being pushed around at will by the rest of the league should he want to reach an All-NBA level defender.
His offensive game is mostly limited to touches in the paint and finishing lobs at this point, and despite a solid shooting stroke, Bamba was a little too jumper happy in college and should look to attack more often.