NBA Draft 2021: Final Big Board of top 60 prospects before draft night

6. Franz Wagner- Michigan

Sophomore – 6’9, 220 lbs – August 2001

A team-defense god, Wagner has one of the highest floors in this class. He suffocated Big Ten offenses all season with his length and awareness. His +5.3 defensive BPM was sixth in the country. Wagner moves very fluidly for a 6’9 player and has the wingspan needed to disrupt all sorts of actions. On the ball, he’s got quick feet and flexible hips. He navigates screens exceptionally well.

Wagner’s offense will dictate his ceiling. He does a good job of attacking pre-created advantages with his stride length and nifty finishing craft. He shot the ball much better in the second half of the season and while the release is a bit slow, his body looks sound. He’s also a good passer at his size. If he can hit open threes with ease, he’s a three-and-D plus wing.

Wagner doesn’t have the sixth-best upside in the class. It’s probably not even in the top ten. But it’s easy to envision him as a plus role player on a title-contending team. Some teams love to take upside swings in the draft, but at some point, Wagner’s surety is too much to pass up on.

7. Scottie Barnes – Florida State

Freshman – 6’8, 225 lbs – August 2001

Barnes is a unique prospect who spent a large part of the Seminoles season as the lead ball-handler. He’s a terrific passer, with an assist rate over 30%. He sees the floor well and his height allows him to hit specific windows. He should theoretically be a positive team defender, but Leonard Hamilton’s weird scheme didn’t allow him to show it. But he’s got positive length and leaping ability and a frame that should add muscle.

Barnes’ jumper is a pretty major concern. He shot 11-40 (27.5%) from deep with wonky mechanics. A large part of me doubts he’ll ever be a passable shooter. His lack of a jumper means he has less room to use his passing. Taking him top seven means that the team needs to trust their shooting coach. But even without a reliable jumper, Barnes has the tools to be a linking four on offense and a good team defender on defense, while being known as a positive guy and good kid who should bring a boost to the locker room.

8. James Bouknight – Uconn

Sophomore – 6’5, 190 lbs – September 2000

Prior to a mid-season elbow injury, Bouknight was one of the best pure scorers in this class. His 40 point outburst against Creighton remains one of my favorite watches. Bouknight can fill it up at all three levels. He’s an acrobatic finisher with soft-touch, can get to his spot in the mid-range and while the percentage wasn’t great (I believe the elbow injury played a role in that), he’s shown he’s a capable shooter.

Bouknight will need to improve his feel, oftentimes having too much tunnel vision and missing cutters. But he’s a pure bucket getter, with good athleticism that you could plop in any game and he’d get buckets. Bouknight needs to make more impactful plays on both ends, but he’s got elite scoring upside and could be a 20-point per game player down the line.

9. Keon Johnson – Tennessee

Freshman – 6’5, 185 lbs – March 2002

Johnson measured in a tad shorter than anticipated at the combine, but then set records for his vertical. His athleticism was on display in games, making some breathtaking plays on both ends.

Offensively, he’s not necessarily an isolation scorer but knows how to get to spots and shoot over defenders. He’s not a great three-point shooter yet but has an impressive mid-range game and soft-touch indicating he’ll be able to get there. I was impressed with some of his passing reads as a handler in the pick-and-roll. Defensively, he’s got the body and quickness to hang with bigger guards and even smaller forwards.

After missing a large chunk of his high school senior season with a knee injury, Johnson was still productive and has more room to grow than I think people give him credit for. Once the jumper comes along, he’s a viable two-way starter.

10. Moses Moody – Arkansas

Freshman – 6’6, 205 lbs – May 2002

Another player I view as low-risk, low-ceiling is Moody. He’s a prototypical three-and-D wing but he needs to improve as a defender to hit his max outcome. He got a lot of on-ball reps at Arkansas and while they yielded mixed results, it was good for development. Still, Moody seems better acquainted for an off-ball role. He’s got good shooting versatility and can attack closeouts. My favorite micro skill off his is his footwork off the catch.

Moody will need to shoot better to maximize his value (just 35% last season from deep) but there’s the basis of a starting-caliber wing in there. He’s an easy plug-and-play guy in a variety of systems.