5. Bam Adebayo, C, Kentucky
Whenever we assess Kentucky products who weren’t stars, we almost wonder if we got to see all they are capable of. For every Karl-Anthony Towns, there’s a Devin Booker we didn’t know was a star. De’Aaron Fox has the limelight this year, with Malik Monk more under the radar. But what about their third freshman teammate, Bam Adebayo?
Adebayo is built like an NBA player who can spend time between the 4 and the 5 at the next level. The Magic are loaded at center, but no one else is really competing for minutes with Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo. Orlando could use a third, young big they believe in if they think Bam is the best player available. Selecting him could also open the door for a possible trade of one of the incumbents.
The former Kentucky man is going to eat on the glass. He also showed some glimpses in Lexington of being able to defend in space. Improving his rim protection is a must, but his jumper might be most pivotal. While we should not read too much into pre-draft work outs, this video is a good sign.
He won’t be a skilled big, but energy guys who can protect the rim and defend in space are valuable. If Orlando believes in the jumper, they could add a promising, young big. The way their roster is set up, though, they may be more interested in adding a wing or guard.