2021 NBA draft profile: International prospect Josh Giddey

Overall outlook on NBA draft prospect Josh Giddey

There is a lot to like about Josh Giddey as an NBA prospect, he’s tall, a great playmaker and by all accounts is a workhorse determined to get better. However, in today’s NBA, defense and shooting are two extremely important areas of the game and Giddey’s two biggest flaws are in those areas.

Giddey’s floor as a prospect is as a somewhat switchable playmaker in your starting lineup or as your lead point guard off the bench. His ceiling is something we might have never seen before  (a Luka Dončić without the elite scoring?), like a less defensively-minded but more willing to score Ben Simmons.

The knocks on Giddey’s game are legitimate and concerning if not addressed early. But the praises are real and the possible ceiling is exciting.

Giddey can both help you win games immediately and be a key development piece that spends time in the G-League in his first couple seasons, like Thunder’s Aleksej Pokuševski or the Mavericks Josh Green — multiple sources have told Hoopshabit Giddey would be open and willing to play G-League for development.

The biggest factor is fit, so, where does he land, and how does that team use him?

Who should draft Josh Giddey?

Giddey has been projected as high as seventh in mock drafts coming out around the time of the lottery, and as low as 13-17 by reputable draft analysts.

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Because of the Australian government restrictions on international travelers, there have only been three teams that have scouted Giddey in person prior to the Las Vegas Olympics scrimmages. The Golden State Warriors, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Toronto Raptors.

The Warriors and Pelicans both had scouts watching their draft and stash players Justinian Jessup and Didi Loudaza, while the Raptors sent their own scout separately. Many scouts and NBA decision-makers are waiting for the national team scrimmages in Las Vegas to finally see Giddey in person for the first time. This means that Giddey is an abnormality in the draft, as he didn’t participate in any of the in-person predraft scouting due to his national team commitments.

Giddey doesn’t need a high usage to produce and that leaves him being drafted as either a secondary playmaker or as a lead playmaker. So three teams that might suit Giddey best are the Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs.

Starting with the Warriors, who have both 7th and 14th overall picks and could be an interesting landing spot. Having the flexibility to take a let’s say Scottie Barnes at seven and then use 14 for a high upside pick like Giddey could make sense.

The Warriors have done their research on Giddey as well, as mentioned their scout Michael Lee has been watching Jessup and Giddey in the NBL this past season. But the team has also consulted former Warrior Andrew Bogut about Giddey as a prospect.

The Warriors love playmakers and having another possible switchable and intelligent passer fits what the Warriors do —  if they keep the young prospects on their team.

The next two are good fits for similar reasons, both the Pacers (No. 13) and Spurs (No. 12) are in NBA hell – not quite good enough for a real playoff run but not bad enough for a good lottery pick. Giddey fits both the rebuilding side or the trying-to-win team.

Ultimately neither you, the draft gurus nor I have any idea where Giddey will be drafted. But Giddey is a very young and talented playmaker, and that may get you as high as six or seven in this year’s NBA draft.