NBA Draft Big Board 2.0: The Top 30 players in the draft

NBA Draft Big Board 2.0: No. 28-30

28. Kendall Brown, Forward, Baylor

For those who have heard conflicting reports, Kendall Brown is staying in the 2022 Draft and not returning to school. One of the better athletes in the draft, Brown has the talent to be overwhelming at the rim and a difference-maker on defense. The problem is that he didn’t put it all together at Baylor this season; he was very reluctant to shoot even when wide open, and he would disappear from games at times. If he brings consistency to his effort then he can and should develop into a quality NBA rotation player.

29. Nikola Jovic, Forward, Mega

If Nikola Jovic becomes a regular rotation player then it’s going to be a mess with people getting him confused with Nikola Jokic all the time. He is a very different player than Jokic but does bring some big-man passing to the table that will be reminiscent of the two-time MVP. Jovic loves to run the offense even at 6’9.5″ and can make reads and hit his teammates with passes; the problem will be when he has to call his own name. He has good size potential on defense but this has also been a negative. If he puts it all together he could be really, really good; that’s an if, though, as we haven’t seen more than flashes yet.

30. Patrick Baldwin, Wing/Forward, Milwaukee

Once a top-5 player in this draft class, Patrick Baldwin Jr. went to play for his dad at Milwaukee. That did not go well, as Baldwin Jr. was terrible, often injured and his father has since been fired. Rough.

Baldwin still possesses all of that talent that made him an elite prospect, and if we ignore his entire college campaign still looks like a tantalizing project for a team. Even at 6’9″ he has a tight handle and a smooth jumper; he was also a ball hog at Milwaukee; was that because he was clearly the best player on a team coached by his father? Teams need him to commit to being a role player and building from there; is he capable of that, or will his struggles continue and wash him out of the league? The upside is massive, and it drags him into the final slot in the Big Board Top 30.

Just Missed the Cut: Bryce McGowens, Guard, Nebraska; Trevor Keels, Guard, Duke; Max Christie, Guard, Michigan State; Josh Minott, Forward, Memphis; Harrison Ingram, Wing, Stanford; Walker Kessler, Center, Auburn.