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Ranking 2021 NBA Draft prospects based on potential

Here’s where DK Nation’s Chinmay Vaidya, Collin Sherwin and Ben Zweiman believe the ceiling each prospect is.

By Chinmay Vaidya
Baylor v Gonzaga
Jalen Suggs and Corey Kispert of the Gonzaga Bulldogs react in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Baylor Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 05, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The 2021 NBA Draft is fast approaching and the prospects have been going through their physical and psychological evaluations vying to improve their draft position. The Detroit Pistons hold the top selection, followed by the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Every team hopes to land a future Hall of Famer with its pick, but only a handful of draft prospects truly reach that elite level.

DK Nation’s Chinmay Vaidya, Collin Sherwin and Ben Zweiman put each prospect from the first round of the site’s latest mock draft into categories. Each category assumes the player has the potential tor reach that level on a championship-caliber team.

MVP

CV: Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley

BZ: Cade Cunningham

CS: N/A

All-Star

CV: Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green, Davion Mitchell, Josh Giddey, Keon Johnson, Jared Butler, Tre Mann

BZ: Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Davion Mitchell, Josh Giddey

CS: Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs

Starter

CV: Jonathan Kuminga, Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner, Alperen Sengun, Corey Kispert, Jalen Johnson, Kai Jones, Moses Moody, Usman Garuba, James Bouknight, Sharife Cooper, Chris Duarte, Ayo Dosunmu, Cam Thomas, Ziaire Williams

BZ: Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Kuminga, Scottie Barnes, Keon Johnson, Franz Wagner, James Bouknight, Jalen Johnson, Moses Moody, Corey Kispert, Alperen Sengun, Kai Jones, Jared Butler, Tre Mann, Chris Duarte, Isaiah Jackson

CS: Jared Butler, Tre Mann, Jalen Green, Davion Mitchell, Josh Giddey, Keon Johnson, Jared Butler, Tre Mann, Jalen Johnson, Moses Moody, Usman Garuba, Sharife Cooper, Chris Duarte, Ayo Dosunmu, Cam Thomas

Borderline starter/Sixth Man

CV: Isaiah Jackson, Quentin Grimes, Nah’Shon Hyland, Jaden Springer

BZ: Sharife Cooper, Trey Murphy III, Ziaire Williams, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaden Springer, Daishen Nix, Cam Thomas

CS: Josh Giddey, Kai Jones, James Bouknight

Rotation player

CV: Luka Garza, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

BZ: Quentin Grimes, Charles Bassey, Luka Garza, McKinley Wright, IV

CS: Isaiah Jackson, Quentin Grimes, Scottie Barnes, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

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