Fubo News breaks down the former NBA draft lottery picks that still have potential despite slow starts to their careers.
This season, Coby White has proven that when a player is drafted high in the lottery, it is more often than not for a very good reason. He did not give the Chicago Bulls immediate gratification in his first few seasons but is flourishing this season.
One of the best point guards in the NBA today, De’Aaron Fox struggled with efficiency, shooting and being more than just a good stats, bad team guy for his first three to four years.
Malik Monk, a contender for Sixth Man of the Year and Clutch Player of the Year couldn’t find his role for four years with the Charlotte Hornets.
There are countless examples like White, Fox and Monk of players that were drafted in the lottery, but took at least a few years to find their NBA legs.
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Much like in the real world the need and desire for immediate gratification is not a foreign concept in the NBA. Fans and teams equally want these kids to come in and show they can be All-Stars either as rookies or in their first two seasons in the league.
But sometimes it is the most patient teams that are rewarded with impact players through years of development and putting them in a position to succeed.
White needed the opportunity to shine without multiple high-volume scorers in front of him on the depth chart. Fox needed head coach Mike Brown and the acquisition of All-Star Domantas Sabonis while Monk needed a change of scenery to play with his college teammate.
Several more players could be the next White, Fox or Monk, struggling to find their role now, but either time or a variable away from becoming an impact player, a star or even a perennial All-Star.
For this exercise, I am exclusively looking at players who have played at least two full seasons and no more than five total seasons. The 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 draft classes.
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2018 Draft: Deandre Ayton – Portland Trail Blazers
This class is one of the most notorious in recent years with Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Mikal Bridges all playing to either star or superstar levels.
The enigma of the class is the player who was selected first overall: Deandre Ayton.
Just looking at the counting stats Ayton has had a terrific start to his career. He has averaged a double-double in each of his six seasons, has a career 59.3% shooting percentage and was a starter on an NBA Finals runner-up.
Ayton has the talent, size and athleticism to be the anchor on an elite team. He needs the right coach, leaders on the court and voices in his ear to guide him to being more than just good counting stats. There is no question that Ayton can be one of the top five centers in the game today with the right surroundings.
He might be a player like Monk who finds his home on a third team with all the right pieces around him and a coach who has the right voice to get through to him.
2019 Draft: De’Andre Hunter – Atlanta Hawks
The 2019 class has already produced three All-Stars in Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and Darius Garland, with Tyler Herro, P.J. Washington, RJ Barrett, Cameron Johnson and now White carving out terrific roles on their teams.
In five seasons Hunter has had a career pretty similar to White. He is good, but not spectacular at everything. He has produced in a modest role but has yet to stand out for an Atlanta Hawks team that could use a wing to stand out.
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The blueprint is there for Hunter to be the next White if Atlanta can find a way to consolidate its roster, opening up a consistent role for the fifth-year forward. Hunter has shown flashes as a three-and-D wing, a scorer and a potential star.
There is no reason for Hunter to not be either an impact defender or a do-it-all wing that impacts winning at the highest level.
2020 Draft: Patrick Williams – Chicago Bulls
There are a few options here with the likes of Killian Hayes, Deni Avdija and Aaron Nesmith all starting to show some flashes this season after three either disappointing or challenging seasons for the lottery picks.
Since Zach LaVine went out and Williams was moved back into the starting lineup he has played the best stretch of basketball of his career.
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Williams is averaging 13.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals plus blocks on 53-48-72 splits in those 18 games. Sometimes the geography and composition of a team can hurt individual players like Williams and his development. If this stretch is real, Williams could be in line for an even bigger jump if the Chicago Bulls make the right move with LaVine this season or during the off-season.
2021 Draft: Davion Mitchell – Sacramento Kings
A draft class this fresh is the toughest to make any declarative statements about. At this point, it is pretty clear that Franz Wagner, Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley and Cade Cunningham have All-Star potential in their future.
Otherwise, there are no busts two seasons into a player’s career. There is time for the likes of Ziaire Williams, James Bouknight and Josh Primo to find their roles in the league.
The one player who has had a rollercoaster start to his career and has shown flashes as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league is Davion Mitchell. In Mitchell’s rookie season, he played 27.7 minutes per game, scored double-figures and played in 75 games. Since then he has seen his role drop to 18.1 minutes last season and 13.1 minutes this season.
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There are a lot of guards in front of Mitchell in the rotation on this Sacramento roster that is trying to contend for a championship.
Mitchell has the potential to make a similar impact as Jose Alvarado is having as a backup point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans. Mitchell earned the nickname “Off Night” for a reason with his ability to win games on the defensive end.
The x-factor will be three-point shooting. In Mitchell’s final season in college, he shot 44.7% from three but has not found that success in the NBA. If Mitchell can find his shot while maintaining his defensive prowess, that is a combination of a Sixth Man of the Year contender.
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