NBA Draft 2021: 6 selections from the second round with most potential

No. 51 Los Angeles Clippers: Brandon Boston Jr., Wing, Kentucky

Another player who experienced a draft night slip, the Clippers took an upside swing here. Boston entered the college season as a projected top-five pick, but a tumultuous year sank his stock. He was projected to go in the ’30s or early ’40s but he dropped.

High School Brandon Boston and his college version almost feel like two completely different players. Yet even in a down year, he still showed some flashes of creative handling and shot creation. He struggled with his jumper as it looked like Kentucky tweaked his form a bit. His lack of strength was also evident, oftentimes unable to finish through bigger defenders.

But, those are improvable deficiencies. Boston also has a ways to go as a defender and the Blazers must drill simple concepts with him, but he has the length to at least be average on that end one day.

Boston is certainly a project, but it’s rare for a once projected top five pick to fall this far. While he was certainly misevaluated, there are still some tools in him that are usable. I also didn’t love his team context at Kentucky, and playing next to any NBA-level lead creator should make things easier for him. I no longer buy him as an isolation scorer, but I believe he can attack gaps.

Boston will need G-League time and doesn’t totally match up with Portland’s “win-now” roster. But at No. 51, they likely aren’t landing anyone who fits that so I don’t mind a pick on potential.