Top-10 draft-eligible centers: Poetl leads potential-filled group

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This year's crop of big men who can play the five spot at the professional level are entering a league where teams are continuing to conjure up ways to use the position effectively. Traditional bigs still have value, yes, but in order to keep up with a faster brand of basketball - where playing back to the basket isn't ideal - those players will need to adapt.

There isn't a Dwight Howard, Andre Drummond, or DeAndre Jordan in the 2016 class of centers. The best prospect out of the gate, Utah's Jakob Poeltl, is a late lottery pick at best.

Franchises looking for size down low will need to temper expectations in terms of receiving immediate value from their selections. There's a great deal of potential to be had with the following talent, but, realistically, we won't know how great some of these centers will be until well down the road.

1. Jakob Poeltl

College: Utah
Age: 20
Height/Weight: 7-1/242 lbs
2015-2016: 17.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.9 APG
Strengths: Physically built, rebounder, plays hard, finish with both hands
Weaknesses: Offensive limitations, low ceiling,
Comparison: Andrew Bogut

2. Ante Zizic

College: Cibona Zagreb - International
Age: 19
Height/Weight: 6-11/240 lbs
2015-2016: FIBA Eurocup - 14.8 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 0.7 APG
Strengths: Physical tools, motor, energy on defense, touch around the rim
Weaknesses: Consistent shooting from range, help defense, basketball IQ
Comparison: Nikola Pekovic

3. Damian Jones

College: Vanderbilt
Age: 20
Height/Weight: 6-11/248 lbs
2015-2016: 13.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.2 APG
Strengths: Physical tools, finishing at the rim, isolation in the post
Weaknesses: Poor free-throw shooter, defensive rebounding
Comparison: Festus Ezeli

4. Ivica Zubac

College: Mega Leks - International
Age: 19
Height/Weight: 7-1/265 lbs
2015-2016: FIBA Eurocup - 8.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Strengths: Size, above-average athlete, can play above the rim
Weaknesses: Not explosive, poor free-throw shooter, rebounding
Comparison: Chris Kaman

5. Stephen Zimmerman

College: UNLV
Age: 19
Height/Weight: 7-0/235 lbs
2015-2016: 10.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 0.8 APG
Strengths: Physical profile, rebounding, mid-range shooting
Weaknesses: Toughness, strength, defensive pick-and-roll coverage
Comparison: Cole Aldrich

6. Diamond Stone

College: Maryland
Age: 19
Height/Weight: 6-11/255 lbs
2015-2016: 12.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.4 APG
Strengths: Physical profile, offensive potential, confidence
Weaknesses: Questionable conditioning, focus, maturity
Comparison: Kendrick Perkins

7. Thon Maker

College: Orangeville prep - HS
Age: 19
Height/Weight: 7-0/219 lbs
2015-2016: N/A
Strengths: Size, length, motor, mobility
Weaknesses: Feel for the game, strength, offensively raw
Comparison: Nerlens Noel

8. Zhou Qi

College: Xinjiang - International
Age: 20
Height/Weight: 7-2/209 lbs
2015-2016: China - 15.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.5 APG
Strengths: Physical tools, offensive upside, high ceiling
Weaknesses: Strength, mental toughness, defensive rebounding
Comparison: Loren Woods

9. Chinanu Onuaku

College: Louisville
Age: 19
Height/Weight: 6-10/245 lbs
2015-2016: 9.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.6 APG
Strengths: Physical tools, crashing the glass, setting screens
Weaknesses: Undersized, turnovers, predictable offense
Comparison: Reggie Evans

10. Georgios Papagiannis

College: Panathinaikos - International
Age: 18
Height/Weight: 7-2/240 lbs
2015-2016: Euroleague - 5.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.4 APG
Strengths: Interior presence, solid pick-and-roll player, soft hands
Weaknesses: Conditioning, lack of intensity, toughness
Comparison: Primoz Brezec