NBA Draft 2022: Final Big Board of top 60 overall prospects

37. Marjon Beauchamp – G-League Ignite – Wing – 6’6, 195 lbs – 2001

Beauchamp went from JuCo star, to solid role player on G-League Ignite and a legitimate prospect. He was solid during the year for Ignite, especially as a slasher and transition finisher.  Beauchamp was a sub-par shooter from deep (27%), and I’m not sure if he will be a positive one at the NBA at any point.

Beauchamp isn’t bad at any one area, but he is just pretty good to below average at a lot of wing skills. He’s a pretty good cutter, not a great defender, and doesn’t do much from a self-creation standpoint. I like betting on wings, but Beauchamp doesn’t do enough to separate himself in my eyes (he’s also a bit older). He can extend his career as an energy guy deep off the bench, but he’s not someone I’m prioritizing.

38. Gabriele Procida – Fortutido Bologna – Wing – 6’8, 192 lbs – June 2002

Procida’s combine measurements stood out to me, standing just under 6’8 in shoes (although he has nearly a negative wingspan). He’s one of the few international prospects that likely helped himself with his on-court play this year.

Procida is a good run-and-jump athlete with good positional size. The shot looks promising and he should be able to hold-up down the line with some added strength. He’s a candidate to be drafted and stashed so I think there’s a chance he gets drafted in the 20’s, while a team is patient with his development.

39. John Butler – Florida State – Forward – 7’1, 174 lbs – December 2002 – Freshman

Those that make comments about Chet Holmgren’s frame have clearly never watched John Butler play. Jokes aside, what an odd-ball prospect. Butler is noticeably rail-thin, but showed some serious shot-blocking prowess (primarily from the weak-side and help rotations). Seeing Butler in-person, he moves very well for his size.

But those three skills are really the only things he can do right now. Butler shot 41% on twos, just 50% at the rim, had more turnovers than assists, and a low free throw rate and free throw percentage. He clearly needs to add weight, but even at 7’1, I’m not sure he’s ever a true five or just a four who roams and protects the rim. Shooting and rim-protection is a valuable intersection of skills, which has me intrigued, but Butler needs a year or two at least of G-League time and might not be meaningful until his second contract.

40. Caleb Houstan – Michigan – Wing – 6’8, 205 lbs – January 2003 – Freshman

Houstan was a projected lottery pick entering the year, billed as an elite shooter with size. But the shooting was not there this season, hitting just 35% of his threes, and 23% on non-rim twos. The form looked better off catch-and-shoot situations but off the move or with harder closeouts, Houston was easier to guard. His flashes of handling and self-creation were minimal as he struggled to get to the rim. There were some playmaking flashes off of designed sets, but how Houstan is going to generate pressure on the defense and create advantages at the next level.

At Montverde Academy, Houstan used his frame to be a disruptor on defense. That kind of stuff disappeared at Michigan where he gave offensive players way too much space on the ball and had low steal and block rates away from it. His body or movement skills don’t look great in person.

To his credit, I don’t think the 2021-2022 Michigan team was built to help him succeed. Without a create first point guard and playing multiple non-shooting bigs at a time, the offense lacked spacing. Houstan is still a 6’8 wing with a good-looking shot, so if he can rediscover that it might be enough to hide the other flaws and help him stick in the NBA.