5 NBA prospects who could be huge steals on draft night
With the NBA draft just a couple days away, the basketball world is certainly familiar with projected top picks Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, and Dragan Bender.
Top picks are certainly the ones who bring cache to a struggling franchise, but this year's draft is ripe with some great talent in the second round.
Here are five players to hope your team can steal with a later pick Thursday night.
Kay Felder, Oakland
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Felder was arguably the best point guard in college basketball during his junior campaign with Oakland in 2015-16. The Detroit native averaged 24.4 points per game (fourth in the country), while leading everyone with 9.3 assists per contest.
Felder is virtually unstoppable at getting to the basket, and keeps the defense honest with his 36 percent shooting from beyond the arc. While his height is certainly an issue, he uses his sturdy frame to create space, and can be a huge offensive talent off the bench for any team in the NBA.
Caris LeVert, Michigan
There's little question as to whether LeVert's talent will translate to the NBA, but the knock on the Michigan star is his health. The 6-foot-7, 191-pounder had both his junior and senior seasons cut short due to foot injuries, and with just 33 games combined since 2014, most feel he wouldn't last in the rigors of the NBA.
In his 15 games of action during his senior season, LeVert was a statsheet stuffer, registering 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, connecting on 45 percent from beyond the arc. The 21-year-old will certainly have to add weight to his thin frame, but his talent alone is worth a flyer in the second round.
Gary Payton II, Oregon State
His name is synonymous with defense, and the son of the legendary "Glove" is no exception. The Oregon State senior is one of the best on that end of the floor in the draft. Unlike his father, the younger Payton is a high-flyer on the offensive end, often punctuating a fast break with a highlight-reel dunk.
A 31-percent shooter from beyond the arc, the 23-year-old will likely never be a dominant floor general in the NBA, but his physical tools and defensive intensity will make him a solid contributor for a long time at the professional level.
Dorian Finney-Smith, Florida
It's tough to look at Dorian Finney-Smith and not see a poor man's Draymond Green. The Florida senior has similar physical measurements to the Golden State Warriors star, and his stats compare well to Green's final season at Michigan State. Finney-Smith averaged 14.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest, while pouring in 37 percent of his 3-point attempts.
That accuracy from deep certainly makes him an intriguing prospect in the second round, and if he's able to add some weight to his frame, he could be a very solid contributor at the professional level.
Jake Layman, Maryland
On a Maryland team with Diamond Stone, Robert Carter Jr., Melo Trimble, and Rasheed Sulaimon, Layman was often the fourth or fifth offensive option. Despite that, he was still able to post very impressive numbers, averaging 11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
At 6-foot-9, Layman will have to add some weight to his 220-pound frame, but could be an ideal stretch-four should he do so. The 22-year-old improved from beyond the arc in each collegiate season, shooting a very respectable 40 percent in 2015-16. Layman isn't just a shooter either, as he consistently attacks the rim, proving to be one of the most athletic players in the Big Ten last season.