2019 NBA Draft: 4 value picks for title contenders

DaQuan Jeffries (Guard, Tulsa)

Unlike Windler and Jerome, DaQuan Jeffries isn’t viewed by many as a first-round talent. NBADraft.net‘s latest mock has him at pick 35, while The Ringer‘s mock predicts he will barely even be drafted at pick 54.

Ignore the experts – as a guard with a big man’s skill set and mindset, Jeffries has the potential defensive versatility to thrive in the era of small ball lineups. While he measures in at just six-foot-five, he played power forward during his senior year at Tulsa thanks to his 6-foot-11 wingspan and explosive leaping ability.

At 216 pounds and with a solid frame, he has the strength to bang with bigger players in the paint and compete for rebounds. He maximises those physical strengths to help his team defensively, communicating well on defense and hustling relentlessly on every possession.

Offensively he is more limited but is still able to contribute in a more specialized role. While he struggles to create shots off the dribble, he hit a respectable 36.6 percent from deep in his junior season, and his solid free throw numbers (74.4 percent) are a promising sign for his overall shooting potential. He’s able to set solid screens for teammates and either flare to the three-point line or cut and finish inside.

Jeffries may lack the overall upside of some prospects listed ahead of him, but his potential as a versatile small-ball big makes him more than worthy of a flier from a team picking in the second round.