NBA Draft: Boom-or-bust lottery prospects and where they might land

Sekou Doumbouya, F, Limoges CSP (France)

Currently playing in France’s LNB Pro A, Sekou Doumbouya should be the first international prospect off the board. He might also be the rawest talent in the lottery, as his physical gifts and flashes of skill outweigh his production to date.

At 6-foot-9 and with explosive athleticism, his ceiling projects as a nightmare mismatch in the NBA. A soccer player in his youth, his footwork is fundamentally sound and is a good sign of his potential as a post scorer. His long frame, solid build, and fluidity of movement fits the mold of a versatile defender able to guard the post or switch onto the perimeter.

Those tools are far from fully developed, though, which is why Doumbouya has played just 17.6 minutes per game across 34 LNB Pro A and EuroCup games. His production in those games doesn’t exactly scream “can’t-miss prospect”– 6.8 points per game shooting 47.4percentt from the field, 3.0 rebounds and more turnovers than assists.

The team that takes Doumbouya will be gambling on his long-term potential, and hoping that translates into performances like this sooner rather than later:

That game is the best-case Doumbouya going forward, but with a lack of consistent success overseas, it’s hard to say what he will become in the NBA. Taking a European prospect like Luka Doncic, a EuroLeague MVP, is one thing; taking a raw talent like Doumbouya is a much riskier proposition.

Where could he land?

Handcuffed by John Wall‘s ludicrous contract, the Washington Wizards might be tempted to take an all-or-nothing flier on Doumbouya’s potential. The Detroit Pistons are in a similar boat but might pick too late, while Atlanta’s two top 10 picks give them room for risk.