Ranking the top 10 high upside prospects (ceiling), top 10 safest prospects (floor), and top 50 overall prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft
These two big boards are top 10 rankings of this year’s NBA Draft class if all eligible players reach their ceilings and if they only reach their floors.
Ceiling: high upside prospects
1. Markelle Fultz, G, Washington
There’s a reason that Markelle Fultz is the top prospect in this year’s NBA Draft. He’s an elite talent that can do anything on the court. He has great size and athleticism that should help him on both ends of the floor.
Fultz is a scorer that can shoot anywhere on the court, and has the ability to attack the basket. He’s also a great passer and rebounder for his position. Fultz is better on the offensive end than defensive end of the floor, but has enough skills that could help him become an elite defender.
Fultz will need to play with more intensity on defense, but it’s hard to blame him because he was doing everything for Washington on offense. He made his terrible teammates look mediocre, which was extremely hard to do. Fultz should be the top pick in the draft.
2. Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State
Jonathan Isaac is one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospects in this year’s draft. He has elite potential on both ends of the floor. He’s a combo forward that should be able to defend small forwards, power forwards, and even centers if he adds weight to his frame.
Isaac has the ability to switch onto guards in the pick-and-roll. He’ll need to continue to get stronger, but his speed and shot blocking ability makes his defensive floor higher than his offensive floor. Isaac has shown abilities on offense, but is inconsistent. He shows potential as a point forward that can handle the basketball, pass to open teammates, and score off the dribble.
These qualities are rare for 6-foot-11 forwards; the only forward that size that has shown he can consistently play at a high level with this skill set is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Isaac has a long way to go before reaching Antetokounmpo’s level, but his high ceiling will make him enticing for all teams.