2017 NBA Draft: Ranking the 10 most NBA-ready prospects

Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket against South Carolina Gamecocks forward Maik Kotsar (21) during the first half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 23, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) drives the ball past Xavier Musketeers forward Tyrique Jones (0) during the second period in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Xavier Musketeers defeated the Arizona Wildcats 73-71. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona

Draft Projection: Top 12

Let’s just get this out of the way right now, let’s not compare Lauri Markkanen to Dirk Nowitzki. It’s not fear to Lauri or Dirk. With that said, it’s easy to see why many want to jump to that hefty comparison.

Lauri averaged nearly 16 points per game at Arizona, while shooting 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range (on four attempts per game). At 7-foot tall, his shooting prowess is extraordinary to watch. Question is, will his exceptional skill set on the offensive end compensate for his lackluster ability on the defensive end?

What The Experts Say:

"[via The Step Back] He’s a big man who has outlier floor spacing prowess and insane fluidity shooting off the dribble for his size…However, due to lack of length (reported 7-foot wingspan) and vertical explosion Markkanen is a minus interior defender, and interior defense is the lifeblood of any NBA big man."

Markkanen fits well on a team with a dominant rim-protector. Problem is, those types of bigs are quickly dissipating from the NBA landscape.

To read a full scouting report on Lauri Markkanen, click here.