2022 NBA Draft: 3 prospects that could be franchise-changing

Jalen Duren, C, Memphis

Jalen Duren has physical traits that few 18-year-olds possess. He is 6-foot-11, 250 lbs with an insane 7-foot-5 wingspan. He has a highly muscular build that makes him not look as big on the floor because his overall muscle mass fills his frame. Duren has looked dominant on the defensive end, while his offense only has upside. His potential reminded me of the Orlando Magic version of Dwight Howard when he was nearly unstoppable. I am not saying Duren can be that good, but the potential is there.

Duren’s potential for a team is an insane defender, similar to Rudy Gobert or Myles Turner. Duren’s physical presence is intimidating, and his productivity on the floor lives up to it. When on defense, Duren’s use of his body to stop players from driving the basketball is awe-inspiring. Few players can get past him, let alone over him; he is too big and strong to budge. With his insane 7-foot-5 wingspan and explosive power, Duren can block nearly anyone attempting to challenge him, averaging over two blocks per game in college.

He can also space the floor well because of his length and size. The craziest part of Duren’s game is that it is still raw at only 18 years old, leaving his upside sky high. Duren’s offensive potential is very impressive. He averaged 12 points per game. Duren has a solid mid-range while shooting nearly 60% from the field. Even though his free throw percentage is poor, he can still produce in other areas on offense. Teams looking to draft him may not be relying on his offensive side.

Duren still has a ton of upside on the offensive end, as his passing skills are often overlooked because of his overall position and potential on defense.

Weaknesses for Duren are primarily offensive limitations. Duren didn’t produce as much as we hoped when he entered college, but there’s an obvious potential that it will change with growth in the NBA. His free throw percentage is abysmal, averaging 62%, but that should improve with time.

Duren has a solid midrange game but needs to improve his consistency with his post-up scoring. Duren is still growing into his body, and it will take some time till he gets used to his size. Because of poor body control, Duren has struggled when committing offensive fouls and turning the ball over. He can make some mistakes on the floor, but that is not a concern at the next level.

Overall, I believe that Jalen Duren’s ceiling could be a prime Dwight Howard, but his floor could be Andre Drummond. Duren’s potential could land him in the top 10 of the draft, and when we look back years down the road, we could quickly think Duren was worth a top-five selection.