2018 NBA Draft: 5 under-the-radar small forward prospects

1. Rodions Kurucs, Barcelona

There’s a good chance we would have seen Kurucs taken off the board somewhere in the mid-to-late first round in last year’s draft. After dropping out at the deadline and returning for another season in Barcelona, however, Kurucs will need to reaffirm scouts’ confidence with a more talented international class around him.

Kurcus brings a lot to the table from an NBA perspective. He’s a plus athlete a 6-9, bringing length and explosiveness that could help his transition to the next level. He’s another streaky shooter, but has shown more stability that Musa over the past season while looking plenty comfortable both on and off the ball.

In isolation, Kurucs thrives from mid-range. He can use his length to elevate over smaller defenders, while his timing and shiftiness as a ball handler — even without an overly tight handle — allows him to generate space.

Next: 5 best prospects at small forward

His frame will need to fill out before he’s a reliable defender, but the tools are there. Kurucs is still a draft-and-stash guy at 19, but  has the kind of offensive repertoire needed to stand out as one of the better international prospects for a second straight season. Expect him to stay firmly entrenched in the top 20 conversation as the season transpires, especially if he gets more run with Barcelona’s main team.