NBA Draft Big Board 1.0: Three players in the top tier

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Christian Braun, Kansas Jayhawks. Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images /

NBA Draft Big Board 1.0: Tier 6A

21. Kendall Brown, Forward, Baylor

Athleticism absolutely matters in the NBA, perhaps more than any other single trait. That’s why Baylor’s Kendall Brown still has a shot to be selected in the lottery. He explodes to the rim both to finish and catch lobs, and he is a great cutter who can catch and pass again if he doesn’t have the angle. He has all the tools defensively but no consistency, and his shooting was theoretically “good” in college (38.9 percent) but on a tiny number of attempts. That will be the swing skill that determines if he is a starter or an overseas player five years from now.

22. Patrick Baldwin, Wing/Forward, Milwaukee

Patrick Baldwin was one of the top players in his high school class, but every year there is a player or two who absolutely plummets in draft stock after an abysmal freshman season; some of those bounce back once they reach the NBA (Cole Anthony, perhaps B.J. Boston) and others do not (Harry Giles). Baldwin played for his dad at Milwaukee rather than choosing a larger school (he was connected with Duke) and that was a mistake for everyone, as Baldwin suffered through injuries and inconsistency all season and his father ended up fired. That balance between potential and production lands Baldwin around here, in the final third of the first round.

23. Christian Braun, Wing, Kansas

If Ochai Agbaji was Kansas’ best player in the NCAA Tournament, Christian Braun was the gun who went off when the Jayhawks needed him to during their title run. He is an excellent athlete, which he leverages at both ends of the court, and has a solid shooting stroke even if his percentage has fluctuated each year. He looks like a classic 3-and-D wing, with a sliver of upside to become something more if things work out.

24. Wendell Moore, Wing, Duke

Scoring? Passing? Rebounding? Defense? Leadership? Wendell Moore offers all of that and more, a player who can do everything even if he isn’t truly elite at any one thing. The Duke wing is another junior who improved his stock in his third season, becoming one of the leaders of a FInal Four team. If his shot is as improved as it looked this season he’s a steal at 24, as he otherwise can do whatever is needed to win.

25. Blake Wesley, Guard/Wing, Notre Dame

Blake Wesley was relatively unheralded coming out of high school, in large part because of the impact COVID had on AAU and recruiting. He has the handle and passing to be at least a secondary creator, and at 6’5″ he could survive off-ball. His shooting left much to be desired, with poor mechanics and just a 31.8 percent percentage despite plenty of attempts. He is a good defender with length and has a chance to develop into a starter in the right ecosystem.