2019 NBA Draft: Intriguing prospects at each position to watch for

Forward: Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga

When looking up and down draft big boards, good luck finding players as fascinating as Rui Hachimura. A player from Japan going into his third season for Gonzaga, Hachimura can make scouts captivated just by his frame. With a 7’2″ wingspan, a 234-pound frame and insanely fluid motion, he is just as fascinating as any freshman, just by how little we’ve seen of his sky-high potential.

Scouts would hope to see more than 11.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game coming from a player entering his junior year. His stock picked up last season with an extremely strong showing in March Madness, including this game against Ohio State where he was both incredibly efficient and able to deflect shot after shot, including a huge block late to seal the game.

It’s easy to see how he uses his length to outreach defenders for easy buckets and make plays on defense, but in the NBA he won’t have as much luck. Hachimura’s 3-point shot is less than respectable right now, and offensively he must find a role other than easy buckets created by others.

The physical profile is enough to put him on draft boards, but an improved skill-set is a necessity if he hopes to rise up into the lottery and possibly top 10. Shooting and the ability to create his own shot should be the X-factor in where he is drafted next year, as well as Gonzaga’s ability to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. Hype generated by a strong March Madness showing has serious impact, and if he can build off of last season’s run, may be a late riser after the college basketball season wraps up.

Forward: Nazreon Reid, LSU

Nazreon Reid is an intriguing case of a player who’s skill set does not match his physical profile… at all. DraftExpress lists him at 252 pounds, but LSU coach Will Wade spoke recently on his weight loss, as well as overall skill.

His size will likely always be a question mark throughout college and potentially the NBA, but it only takes one team to fall in love with his skill-set and take a chance on him.

Reid is insanely fluid for his size and displays great confidence on the perimeter with smooth, consistent jump shot, the occasional mid-range fadeaway, and the ability to create space on the wing, which you don’t see from 6’10”, 250-pound big men. He demands a larger defender on him, and when he drags them out to the wing, uses his fluidity to drive by them and finish at the rim.

Passing is where he can truly be a difference-maker, as Reid has the vision and passing ability of a guard. He makes quick decisions with the ball and can snap a pass to the paint while he roams the the perimeter. If he can become a playmaking big man who can space the floor and drags an interior defender away from the paint, that could be invaluable to any offense.

Reid has his fair share of weaknesses including athleticism, defense and staying engaged throughout the game, but his rare blend of skills make him a must watch to see if he can put it all together and have one of the most special profiles in the country.