Ranking the 10 best prospects in the Central Division
No. 10: Jalen Duren
To be honest, ranking these players based off potential and current talent is a lot harder than I’d think. Jalen Duren, as well as the next two players, are really close when it comes to ranking. However, I will put Duren here. He was originally drafted by Charlotte with the 13th overall pick, but he was traded to Detroit in a 3-team trade with New York. I really liked his talent coming into the draft, and thought he would have been drafted a bit higher than he actually was.
Jalen Duren is your rim-running big man, similar to players like Robert Williams III, Jarrett Allen, and Deandre Ayton. That is what his game reminds me of. As of now, his shooting range is very limited, but his defense is immaculate, averaging 2.1 blocks per game in college, while only averaging 2.7 fouls per night.
I really like him in Detroit, but I am not sure where he’ll fit in, considering Isaiah Stewart seems to be the lock for the starting 5 as of now. I’m sure he’ll get some G-League run from time to time, but as of now, I believe he’s the backup center.
No.9: Chris Duarte
I am not sure how much more Duarte will progress when it comes to talent. This is his 2nd season in the NBA and he is already 25 years old, meaning he is only a few more years until he hits his prime. I do believe he’ll be a solid NBA player for many years, but I am not sure if he’ll ever be an All-Star-level talent.
As a rookie, Duarte looked very solid. He averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists a game as a rookie. But like I mentioned, he is already 25, meaning when he entered the NBA, his game was more developed than other rookies. No hate against Duarte, I really like his game. I am just not sure if he will ever become a top 50 player in the league.
No. 8: Ayo Dosunmu
Not saying I was right about Ayo Dosunmu becoming as successful as he was as a rookie, but let’s just say I said he was a snub when he wasn’t drafted in the first round. He was an All-Rookie Second Team member, and averaged 8.8 points and 3.3 assists per game on a playoff Chicago Bulls team.
As of now, with Lonzo Ball out with an injury for a bit, he might start at the point guard for Chicago for a bit. I do think he has a solid chance of breaking out as a solid NBA player. Will that happen? That remains to be seen, but I do think that considering he could potentially be a free agent next season, he will get a solid contract from someone, or have an offer sheet matched.