2017 NBA Draft: 5 top prospects with the most bust potential

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Mar 23, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) shoots over Xavier Musketeers forward RaShid Gaston (35) and forward Kaiser Gates (22) during the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Lauri Markkanen

Mock Draft: Pick 9 – Dallas Mavericks

The skinny on Lauri Markkanen is that he’s a floor stretching big who can’t defend. I can basically write my “Why Lauri Markkanen isn’t playable in the playoffs” piece now, and just store if for a few seasons.

To be 7-foot tall and not block shots is a skill. You’d think that just by standing there and raising a hand in earnest, you could get more than 0.7 blocks per 40 minutes. Yet, here we are. Considering his poor block rate, his poor rebounding numbers, and lack of a post game, Maarkanen is not a center.

So Maarkanen is a floor stretching four who can rain down threes? Perfect.

Well, not exactly. Markkanen is so slow you need a calendar, not a stopwatch to time his closing speed.

A player who is too slow to guard the four, and not strong enough to defend at the five, Markkanen will be an exploitable weak link on defense, especially in the playoffs.