3. Chuma Okeke
Chuma Okeke, like Kevin Porter Jr, is anther player that may be able to be had at a later pick due to injury concern. Okeke tore his ACL in the Sweet 16 during Auburn’s Final Four run and is not always a name you see being mocked in the first round.
However, he is everything you want in a modern-day role player. The 6’8″ Atlanta native projects as a combo forward with the length and lateral quickness to defend multiple positions at the next level and to check the best wings in the league. Bruce Pearl, his head coach at Auburn, had this to say about his defense, courtesy of 247 Sports:
"“I’m going to ask the coaches in our league to please vote for Chuma on the all-defensive team…One of the reasons why he has a tremendous future in the NBA is he can guard any position on the floor. He has the size, the length, the foot speed to stay in front. He is always in the right place defensively. Always…he’s as good as I’ve coached defensively.”"
Okeke is also no slouch on the offense end. He shot 38.7 percent from beyond the arc in 2018-19 and went for double figures in every game he played in during March Madness. He helps space the floor and battles on the offensive glass. If the Brooklyn Nets do add Kyrie Irving and another max player this offseason, Okeke would be a great fit due to his Swiss Army knife defense and catch-and-shoot ability.