3 under-the-radar bigs for Cavs to target in the 2021 NBA Draft
By Corey Casey
#1: Ibou Dianko Badji – FC Barcelona II
The third prospect Ibou Dianko Badji is another international prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft who plays for FC Barcelona II and just turned 17. This year in eight games and three he has started, Dianko Badji is averaging only 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds, but has blocked 1.7 shots per game, according to Real GM.
Badji has a raw offensive game, but he would best described as just a flat out physical specimen with a ton of upside.
According to Schmitz, Badji he has eye-popping measurements.
First live look at Barcelona’s Ibou Badji. One of the most physically impressive prospects on the globe at 7-1 with a 7-8 wingspan and freakish athleticism. Putting a lid on the rim early. pic.twitter.com/rElFCRf76c
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) July 3, 2019
As Schmitz highlighted, Badji comes in at 7-foot-1 and has an unreal wingspan at 7-foot-8.
Again Badji is obviously still raw, especially on the offensive end, and is purely just a boom-or-bust guy right now, but he really could be just scratching the surface in terms of what he could be.
The Cavs still have a major need for a legitimate shot blocker, but if they miss out on Wiseman in the 2020 NBA Draft and if they can add another first-rounder in the 2021 NBA Draft, they could possibly roll the dice on Badji.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ thinking here, in a common theme, would be betting on Beilein and his staff developing and getting the best out of Badji.
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The Cavs if they added another first, and if all goes well, could get someone such as Cade Cunningham or Jalen Green, who have franchise type talent, and roll the dice on Badji and bet on his raw upside as an elite shot blocker down the road.