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The 2021 NBA draft will take place Thursday, July 29 with the Detroit Pistons holding the No. 1 pick. The Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic round out the top five selections.
We take a look at some of the prospects available in this draft, gauge their strengths, weaknesses, NBA comparisons and best landing spot within the player’s projected draft range. Here’s a breakdown for Oregon guard Chris Duarte.
Strengths
Duarte is a great shooter, connecting on 42.4 percent of his threes last season at Oregon. He’s got good mechanics and will be valued as a perimeter threat for a long time. Duarte has the ability to attack the basket, but his primary weapons is his shot. He has the skills be a decent defender in the league as well.
Weaknesses
He’s not a great passer and likely never will be asked to become one given his shooting abilities, but the biggest knock is his lack of upside. Duarte will be 24 on draft night, meaning he’s likely not going to make huge developmental jumps.
Player Comparison
The best comparison for Duarte is Danny Green, someone who is a great shooter with good defensive fundamentals and has stuck around the league for a long time. Duarte isn’t going to be a star, but he can be a contributor for a contending team right away.
Best Landing Spot
Duarte is expected to be available late in the first round and teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers will look at him. The Lakers make sense as they need to add shooting around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. That’s the best landing spot for the Oregon guard.