Jaylen Brown is an unbelievable athlete. Just how high will he be drafted?

Is there a better month to be a sports fan than June? We’ve got the NBA Finals, NHL Finals, College World Series, MLB Draft, NBA Draft and fantasy football is within smells reach. Today, I’m going to start to prepare you for next Thursday’s NBA Draft so when you watch, you know whether your team made a bonehead decision or nabbed the steal of the draft. Next week, I’ll answer some burning questions about the draft.

No. 1 Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons (LSU, SF/PF)

For the past two seasons, there was no doubt Simmons would be the first player selected. After a year at LSU, where his team didn’t win and he seemed passive at times, there is still little doubt because the kid is just that talented. Simmons is 6’10” and long, but runs the floor like a gazelle and has unprecedented handles and vision. Basically, if you were trying to construct the ultimate matchup nightmare at SF, Simmons would be the prototype. There are slight questions about his jump shot, but we are talking about a very young player with a great work ethic, so those concerns should be alleviated within a few seasons. He may not be the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, but he is without question the most likely player in the draft to win multiple MVPs during his tenure in the league.

No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers

Brandon Ingram (Duke, SF/PF)

We saw what Ingram was made of during March Madness. He is a big physical wing that can shoot the ball and score from any number of ways. The Lakers are hoping Simmons will fall to them, and it just may happen, as Simmons has declined to work out with the 76ers. Ingram is quite young for a college Freshman (still just 18-years old) but compared to Simmons, he is already the more polished player. His ceiling is limited, but we could still be talking about an all-star, year in and year out.

No. 3 Chicago Bulls  (projected trade via BOS)

Boston is built to win now and isn’t fond of who is available at No. 3, so Danny Ainge, who is no stranger to trades, pulls the trigger, sending 1.3, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley and No. 45 to Chicago for Jimmy Butler.

Dragan Bender (Maccabi Tel Aviv, PF)

You might think Bender, a 7’0″ stretch-four with both range and vision, would be an ideal fit for Brad Stevens’ system, but the Celtics have worked him out several times, yet are still shopping the pick. Now, Danny Ainge never leaves a stone unturned, but if Bender had wowed them, I would imagine Ainge would be focusing his attention on using several of his bajillion picks to move up in the draft and get another long-term starter. Bender would be a great piece for the Bulls to rebuild around, if they do, indeed, move Jimmy Butler. Bender is still fairly raw, but has undeniable potential and appears to have a high floor.

No. 4 Phoenix Suns

Jamal Murray (Kentucky, SG)

You might think the last thing the Suns need is another guard, but Murray isn’t just any guard. Kentucky was absolutely loaded, as usual, last season and Murray was far and away the best player on that squad. He scored over 20 points per game and was one of the top three-point shooters in the country. Brandon Ingram may be the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, but Jamal Murray is 1A, and could eventually morph into a Klay Thompson like scorer for the team that selects him. The Celtics are rumored to be considering him at three, but if they don’t take him, he won’t fall far.

No. 5 Philadelphia 76ers (projected trade via MIN)

The 76ers are loaded in the front court but need a true playmaking guard. In this deal, the 76ers move Jahlil Okafor and pick No. 26 to Minnesota for pick No. 5. Adding Okafor to Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins would give the T-Wolves a great frontcourt for years to come.

Kris Dunn (Providence, PG)

If you haven’t watched this Friar play, do yourself a favor; stop reading this article and go find a YouTube video of Dunn. He is 6’4″, lightning quick, sees the floor extremely well and has the presence of mind to run the point from day one. Many of these college point guards don’t have the muscle to compete from the get-go, but that isn’t the case with Dunn, he is strong and plays physical. His stock has steadily been rising, and it is possible he may be picked as high as No. 3 by the Celtics, but it is rumored he doesn’t want to play in Boston (likely because of Isaiah Thomas’ presence).

No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans

Marquese Chriss (Washington, PF)

Nobody has been shooting up the draft boards quicker than Chriss, a true boom or bust prospect. Chriss needs to develop his shooting and rebounding, but boy is he an explosive athlete. Some think he might be able to make the transition to small forward, which would alleviate the worries on the boards, but in today’s NBA you almost have to have a reliable outside shot to be a great wing in the league. Chriss could be an excellent companion for Anthony Davis as the two get up and down the floor very quickly for big men. I can’t imagine Chriss going higher than six, but that is really saying something, considering he was a 15-20 range prospect a few months ago.

No. 7 Boston Celtics (projected trade via DEN)

The Boston Celtics have a wealth of picks (No, 3, 16, 23, 31, 35, 45, 51 and 58). The Nuggets do not have a clear need and are the most likely team to trade out for more assets. In this trade, the Nuggets move back to No. 16 while adding No. 35 and Memphis’ Top-Eight protected 2019 First Round Pick)

Jaylen Brown (California, SF/SG)

I just talked about how great of an athlete Chriss is, but only Ben Simmons from this draft class has more athleticism and upside than Jaylen Brown. This is a player that we could be scratching our heads about in three years, wondering how he ever went in the lottery, because Brown is raw. However, he is also such a talent, that we could be asking the opposite questions, wondering how anyone took Brandon Ingram over him, let alone four or five other players. Brown definitely needs to work on his jump shot and there are questions about his energy, but in terms of body and upside, Dwayne Wade is the strongest comp I could find. Brown bullies other guards with his brute strength and athleticism, and he will be a fun player to watch if he can put it all together.

No. 8 Sacramento Kings

Buddy Hield (Oklahoma, SG)

Everyone knows Buddy Hield, the electric scorer that single-handedly led Oklahoma to the Final Four. He can score with the best of them, and will surely be in the running for Rookie of the Year. The beef on Hield is that his potential is limited. Granted, he has a very high floor, but his size and handles just aren’t on the same level as other players projected to be selected before him. The Kings would be an ideal landing spot for Hield as Demarcus Cousins draws tons of attention inside and would grant Hield more open shots so he doesn’t have to create off the dribble.

No. 9 Toronto Raptors

Skal Labissiere (Kentucky, C/PF)

I initially had them pegged to take Denzel Valentine, but it seems like his knee concern is going to drop his stock considerably. The Raptors are going to take either a shooting guard or power forward. At this point, it is a reach for Luwawu, Korkmaz or Richardson, so they grab the highly skilled project from Kentucky. Prior to the college basketball season, most expected Labissiere to go No. 2 behind Ben Simmons. As we’ve seen time and again with Kentucky, all of the stars splitting minutes tends to hold back some players from the stardom they are destined to. That may very well be the case with Skal, and a major breakout may be in store for him on the Raptors.

No. 10 Milwaukee Bucks

Jakob Poeltl (Utah, C)

If you are looking for a rookie that can help your fantasy team, look no further than the seven-footer that can run the floor, has an extremely high motor and plays efficient basketball like a wise veteran. Poeltl could step right into the Bucks as a 15 and 9 guy, but is unlikely to ever bloom into a star. The big knock on him is his demeanor. He is entirely coachable but doesn’t have the mean streak and tenacity you look for in a star big man. If there was any way the Pacers could move up to nab him, Poeltl would be an ideal fit for their system.

No. 11 Orlando Magic

Deyonta Davis (Michigan St, PF)

Orlando has made a habit of only drafting more polished players, but what Davis could eventually offer might be too good to pass up. This big man has appeared everywhere on big boards from top-7 to low-20s. There are a lot of varying opinions on the smooth big man, but there is one thing for sure: he has the raw talent to be a very fine NBA player. He already possesses the length, lateral quickness and instinct to defend at a high level, but is sometimes lackadaisical. Davis can move out to 18 feet and hit a finesse jumper or post up and use his strength to make a power move towards the hoop.

No. 12 Utah Jazz

Timothe Luwawu (France, SG)

This 6’7″ wing has taken some hits for his ball handling and free throw shooting, so many have him going towards the end of the first round. It only takes one team to dream on the talent, however, and I see Luwawu as a perfect fit with Dante Exum for this young Jazz team. The French shooting guard will be an excellent scorer, but also has great vision and plays unselfish basketball. His body will make for mismatches on both sides of the ball and he is plenty athletic to hold his own in the NBA.

No. 13 Phoenix Suns

Taurean Prince (Baylor, SF)

He isn’t going to win scoring titles and he doesn’t handle the ball or pass especially well, but Prince knows his role and does it exceptionally well. Think of Shawn Marion as the third wheel on those Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire teams. That is Taurean Prince. Running the court, slashing the lane and finishing at the basket, making good decisions, hitting the three in transition and most importantly, locking down the best wing on the opposing team with his freakish lateral quickness and long body. Prince may not have a great career, but if he ends up playing for a fast tempo team, he could be a very quality asset.

No. 14 Chicago Bulls

Henry Ellenson (Marquette, PF/C)

Chicago is likely going to be replacing Joakim Noah. Now, the Bulls have been an organization that tends to grab more polished assets in the draft, and many boards have seen Ellenson drop considerably over the last few months because of his questionable play as a Freshmen, but once Chriss, Skal and Deyonta Davis are taken, Ellenson will be the golden power forward on the board and I don’t expect the Bulls to pass on the opportunity. Ellenson was a highly regarded high school prospect, but didn’t develop quite as quickly as was anticipated, so the Bulls would need to beef the kid up and hope his athleticism isn’t as far behind as it looked in Marquette.

No. 15 Denver Nuggets (Domantas Sabonis — Gonzaga, PF/C)
No. 16 Denver Nuggets *via BOS* (Furkan Korkmaz — Turkey, SG)
No. 17 Memphis Grizzlies (Wade Baldwin — Vanderbilt, PG)
No. 18 Detroit Pistons (Malachi Richardson – Syracuse, SG)
No. 19 Denver Nuggets (Ante Zizic — Croatia, C)
No. 20 Indiana Pacers (Demetrius Jackson — Notre Dame, PG)
No. 21 Atlanta Hawks (Denzel Valentine — Michigan St, SG/SF)
No. 22 Charlotte Hornets (Cheick Diallo — Kansas, C)
No. 23 Boston Celtics (Thon Maker — Australia, C)
No. 24 Philadelphia 76ers (Malik Beasley — Florida State, SG)
No. 25 Los Angeles Clippers (Brice Johnson — North Carolina, PF)
No. 26 Minnesota Timberwolves *via PHI* (Dejounte Murray — Washington, PG)
No. 27 Toronto Raptors (DeAndre’ Brembry — Saint Joseph’s, SF)
No. 28 Phoenix Suns (Ivica Zubac — Croatia, C)
No. 29 San Antonio Spurs (Tyler Ulis — Kentucky, PG)
No. 3o Golden State Warriors (Malcom Brogdon — Virginia, SG)