NBA Draft 2021: Cade Cunningham clear No. 1 pick in way-too-early mock draft

Franz Wagner flew a bit under the radar as a freshman at Michigan (11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 31.1 3P%), but there’s something to be said about a 6’9 teenager with a well-rounded skill set, two-way instincts, and tangible upside as a shooter. Freshmen with comparable height, shooting volume, and impact stats have a favorable track record with regards to professional upside, meaning we could be in store for a breakout campaign from the sophomore forward.

Undersized as he may be (6’2, 163 pounds), Duke freshman DJ Steward is a flamethrower from downtown (.483/.382/.843 clip in EYBL) and showcases enough shot versatility and foundational passing to warrant reps with the ball in his hands.

Figuring out who will emerge as a starter in Duke’s crowded rotation is a fool’s errand, but if he cracks the starting lineup or earns himself a featured role as a sixth man, Steward could see himself situated on the first/second-round bubble in the 2021 NBA Draft. The odds that he returns for a sophomore season are probably 50-50, however, given the abundance of five-stars in Durham.

The Villanova forward isn’t flashy nor overly athletic, but intelligent two-way players who can spot up, make complementary passing reads, compete on the glass, slide their feet on the perimeter, defend within a scheme, and finish at the basket with feathery soft touch shouldn’t be overlooked with regards to impacting winning in the NBA.

Robinson-Earl should build off of a solid freshman campaign (10.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals) with a larger role on offense and, if his touch and free throw shooting (81.4 FT%) finally manifest in the form of potent three-point shooting (32.8 3P%), the 6’9 forward could find himself in consideration for a first-round pick in next year’s draft. (As an aside, the query noted above with Wagner also applies to Robinson-Earl, which speaks to some sneaky upside.)