In the ever-changing NBA that is becoming more position-less by the minute, we take a look at the best 2018 NBA Draft prospects at power forward.
As Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr mentioned recently, the power forward position is more or less gone. That’s not to say great players don’t exist anymore. It’s more a testament to how the league has evolved.
Most players who fit the traditional power forward archetype are now mostly asked to play center. Tall and long wings now play up positions, some at power forward for defensive versatility and better floor-spacing. This context is important to understand, as we’re going to discuss the five best NBA prospects at power forward.
In this group you’ll find players who likely can play multiple positions. But for most of them, playing in between a smaller wing and a large center will optimize their skill-sets best.
When thinking about these following five players, their ranking has to do with how much of an asset they would be manning the power forward position. Guys who fit where the NBA is heading are going to rank higher, especially those who do so in multiple areas. Let’s dive in.
5. Kevin Knox – Kentucky
Kevin Knox is your classic, modern forward, a tweener between two positions. At 6’9″ with a solid NBA frame, he could be best utilized switching between small and power forward, making him a great candidate to play predominantly at the latter position. Unfortunately, he’s generally a poor decision-maker, which hinders his long-term potential. Knox needs to become a student of the game.
It’s unclear if he’ll play at the 4 at Kentucky, since they have many bigs similar to him who are not true centers. At this point in his career, Knox is mostly physical tools rather than ability. That hasn’t stopped NBA teams from foaming at the mouth over potential, though. Knox can make jumpers, but not consistently. One positive for Knox is he’s relatively young. He’ll be 18 for his entire freshman year.
With a 7’0″ wingspan, you can envision Knox playing up a position and being able to create blocks and deflections. He’s better suited competing and focusing on defense, while he rounds out his offensive game. That’s why playing power forward over small forward makes a lot of sense given his skills. Fit him in between a shooting 5 and a two-way 3 and he becomes very intriguing thanks to his athleticism and tools.
4. Justin Jackson – Maryland
If Knox’s multi-positional potential excites you, then you’ll love Justin Jackson. The Ontario, Canada native stands at 6’7″ but boasts a wild 7’3″ wingspan. As a small-ball power forward, there’s even potential for Jackson to eventually guard some 5s in the NBA once he’s stronger.
Another encouraging sign about Jackson is he shot 43.8 percent on 105 3-point attempts. How well he shoots this year will likely tell us how legit those numbers are, but he did shoot almost 70 percent from the line. That shot likely unlocks Jackson’s offensive value. Defensively, there are less worries since he impacts almost every facet of the game.
Jackson will pick up plenty of steals and blocks, but it’s his versatility that makes him a perfect power forward in the modern NBA. Jackson has the potential to guard 1-5, not just 1-4. If he adds anything offensively or at least can keep up his 3-point shooting, this guy is going to be a stud in the NBA.
3. Jaren Jackson Jr. – Michigan State
When it comes to these top-3 guys, it’s very close. They’re in a class of their own. When it comes to Jaren Jackson Jr., he’s the only one who might be best off as a center. And we’re not talking about him as a small-ball center like Justin Jackson. At 6’10” with a 7’4″ wingspan, he wouldn’t really be on the small side.
Similar to Jackson, the intrigue revolves around his 3-point shot. In 19 games in Draft Express’ data base, Jackson connected on 41.6 percent of his attempts, heaving over four per game. That opens up his offensive game and value immensely. Add in his young age for his class and his ability to potentially switch on the perimeter and you see clearly his fit in the NBA.
The tricky side of things for Jackson comes down to his physicality. He needs to get stronger, rebound better and that’ll only help him on the defensive end. Right now he’s all tools on the defensive end, unlike Justin Jackson. He needs polish, but he’s not raw by any means.
2. Robert Williams – Texas A&M
Part of the reason why Robert Williams and the top player in this article are at the top is body of work. Jaren Jackson Jr. has more potential than Williams. We know much more about what kind of player he is. Interestingly enough, Williams probably has a lot less natural skill than Jackson.
Like Jackson, though, Williams may be best suited as a center. At 6’9″ he’s a bit undersized and he can’t shoot, so there aren’t many centers that make sense to pair with him. However, his 7’4″ wingspan and bulk might not be enough against centers. That being said, there’s a lot to like with what he can do.
Williams is a freak leaper whose athleticism shouldn’t be quantified. Just watch this dude jump. He can block shots at the rim and on the perimeter, where he can also switch out and defend a bit. Like Jackson, he’s very unpolished, but with his frame, athleticism and speed there’s so much that could be unlocked. He’s a defensive queen piece waiting to be nurtured, who in turn can set screens and be a lob target offensively. That potential may make him a lottery pick.
1. Miles Bridges – Michigan State
Miles Bridges, like Justin Jackson, is your modern power forward in a nutshell. Physical and tough, who can defend multiple positions, Bridges combines these with absurd bounce. Though he’s only 6’7″ on his best day, his chiseled frame and underrated foot speed make him a menace.
What was most encouraging about his freshmen year at Michigan State was how well he scored and shot the ball. NBA scouts will love his defensive versatility, but how many of them were expecting a near 39 percent shooter from 3? That’s the number to watch this season. If Bridges is making at least well over 35 percent, he’s probably going in the top 10, maybe top five.
Next: 2018 NBA Draft - 5 best prospects at the center position
As someone who can go in transition, defend all over the place and shoot the 3, there’s not much he can’t do. Now, he’s the man at Michigan State and should be in the running for the National Player of the Year. If Bridges can show some of his flashes of solid passing are for real, he might be the total package.