Versatility on the wing is at an all-time high in today’s league. Here are five sleepers at small forward in the 2018 NBA Draft class.
Part of the charm surrounding the NBA Draft each season is the concept of sleepers. Guys who don’t get much recognition on the national stage, yet have skill sets that project well at the next level. Whether it be an upperclassmen buried beneath the freshman hype or an international prospect with little casual exposure, there’s always a chance for something unexpected.
That’ll still be the case with the 2018 NBA Draft.
The small forward position is especially intriguing. The need for quality wings is at it’s peak right now, and that means teams are constantly looking for solid players who can hold down both ends of the floor in those spots. There’s more room than ever for swingmen to make their way onto professional rosters, and the small forward position encompasses a lot of those players.
Whether it be 3-and-D prowess or one notable strength, playing on the wing normally means you can contribute at multiple different positions in multiple different roles. There’s a ton of value in that, and the draft process consistently highlights it.
Related Story: NBA Power Rankings
As the college season edges closer (and the international season gets into full swing), let’s continue our analysis of the players people aren’t looking at enough. Going beyond the Michael Porters of the class, here are five under-the-radar small forwards worth monitoring.
5. Jeffrey Carroll, Oklahoma State
Carroll exploded onto the scene last season, upping his scoring average from 8.2 to 17.7 points per game for a competitive Oklahoma State squad. Now entering his senior season and with Jawun Evans in a Los Angeles Clippers uniform, there’s a clear avenue for Carroll to emerge as one of the Big 12’s most productive players.
There isn’t anything overly impressive about Carroll’s physical tools, but he’s a solid athlete who has shown he can compete against high-level competition. He shot 44.3 percent from deep on 4.1 attempts per game last year, which in and of itself gives him a clear path forward as an NBA prospect.
Related Story: College Basketball Rankings: Top 25 Teams In America
He also did a nice job on the boards, grabbing 7.3 rebounds per game while making the kind of winning, intangible-driven plays that upperclassmen tend to make. There’s something to be said for playing more than one season in college — something Malcolm Brogdon and Josh Hart, a Rookie of the Year and first round pick respectively, can attest to.
A smart player who knows his spots and can shoot at a high rate always has a chance in the league. Expect Carroll to generate some buzz as a second rounder once the season gets underway.
4. Vasilis Charalampopoulos, Panathinaikos
Aside from having the best name in this year’s class, Charalampopoulos has been flying under the radar for a few years now. Now just shy of 21, the Greek swingman figures to start the year in the second round conversation, with plenty of room to move up.
A mere glance at the scouting report will leave you impressed with Vasilis’ potential, and the film backs it up. He’s a legitimate playmaker at 6-8, showing nice vision on drives to the basket while backing that up with plenty of tools as a scorer. He’s shot 37.8 percent from deep with Panathinaikos last season, and has nice touch around the rim when looking to carve out space there.
The biggest knock on Vasilis — and perhaps the only thing keeping him out of the first round conversation, for now — is his athleticism. He’ll get shredded early by NBA athletes, and doesn’t have the explosiveness needed to generate plays at the same level he does overseas.
With that said, his high I.Q. and general skill level is more than enough to translate to professional success at any level. He has the kind of all-around productivity that should allow him to fit into several different lineups, while his combination of playmaking and floor spacing fits the mold of almost any modern offense.
3. V.J. King, Louisville
King stepped up in a big way in his freshman year with the Cardinals, shooting 42.1 percent from deep while quickly emerging as one of Louisville’s more reliable two-way assets. Now stepping into part of the void left by Donovan Mitchell, King will have plenty of room to increase his production in year two.
At 6-6 with a 6-10 wingspan, King has the physical tools of a quality NBA wing. He can guard multiple positions, while his competitiveness only adds to his appeal on that side of the ball.
Offensively, King’s stock is even higher. He hasn’t quite put everything together yet, but shoots it well from deep and thrives in off-ball actions as both a shooter and a cutter. King also showed promise in isolation, wielding a nice pull-up jumper with the length and explosiveness needed to get to the rim and finish around traffic.
It’s that polish off the ball, though, that’s going to be his calling card early on at the next level, as he does a nice job of staying in motion and choosing his spots on the perimeter. Another strong 3-and-D wing, expect King to work his way into the first round conversation eventually.
2. Dzanan Musa, Cedevita
Musa is firmly on the first round radar, rising up to No. 15 in ESPN’s most recent mock draft. But I’m not quite there yet. Musa is one of the enigmatic prospects in this year’s class, with the kind of flaws that make him more of a hit-or-miss than a surefire lottery talent.
Athleticism is what hurts Musa’s stock the most. Not only is he an iffy athlete, but his wingspan is actually a shade shorter than his height. He doesn’t really have the tools needed to be an effective NBA defender, and his competitive fire can only make up for so much.
On the offensive end, that length could yield some issues as well. He might not be a strong finisher when facing NBA rim protectors, and that caps a significant part of his game that has proven successful in Europe. He’s also a streaky shooter, something that has plagued him rather consistently in the early stages of his international career.
Related Story: NBA Draft: Best Player Ever Selected in all 60 Spots
In short, there are plenty of negatives, and that’s enough to detail my reserves when it comes to Musa as a mid-first round prospect. He does have excellent shooting mechanics that project better than his percentages, though, while his confidence and shot-making ability is undeniable at all three levels.
He has the nifty moves needed to overcome concerns about his frame (Gordon Hayward‘s arms are short, too), and combines that with an attack-first mentality that should bring some positives and negatives as he finds his way against better competition.
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.