Okongwu would fit well in Charlotte, Detroit, New York — pick a team that needs a center and plug him in. The plus side is that Smith has a big leap and good verticality when he times things, so he projects as a good weakside shot blocker. He’s even starting to shoot a bit, though that remains a long shot. He's an improving defender who's able to make up for his lack of rim-protection skills with mobility, quick hands in the passing lanes and that nearly unsurpassed ability to end possessions after a missed shot (an often overlooked portion of the defensive game). Scouting analysis. The big fella has always been a major defensive liability and hasn’t shown much desire to improve. Earlier this season, Ibaka played especially well when Marc Gasol went down, expanding his role while also boosting his efficiency with averages of 18 points and 10.3 rebounds per game on 54.6 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from deep across that period. Only four other players have ever reached that mark and they’re all former league MVPs and in the Hall of Fame (h/t DJ Foster). Meanwhile, at least 38% of the picks were complete busts, and probably more like 50% once we include guys like Bagley and Bamba in due time. 16.3 points, 14.2 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 61.8 FG%. He needs to play drop defense and protect the rim, but he’s a huge lob threat and far more ready to play than Wiseman too. If you think he's going to spend more time at the 4 even with Nikola Mirotic and Julius Randle in tow, he'd also be the Association's best power forward.". There's a new favorite for the No. Most players of this type are second-contract or even second-team guys. However, a lumbering centre who isn’t a great defender and can’t shoot will only get you so far in today’s NBA. He brings consistent effort and does not take plays off, and it’s his defensive versatility that stands out. There’s no starter potential here, but that’s a valuable bench rotation guy. ", From Bleacher Report: "His appeal may be a bit less clear on the surface level, but it's there when you look for it... No digging is required. Jordan made three All-NBA teams and 2x First Team All-Defense. But over the past decade, drafting a lottery center that isn’t the clear #1 talent yields about a 1-in-6 chance of success and a near 50–50 chance at completely missing. ", (Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn, USA TODAY Sports), Don't expect to see Gobert launching threes anytime soon. Wiseman isn’t ready to play winning basketball right now. While Joel Embiid might be the overwhelming favorite as the best center in the NBA, that doesn't mean there are not many other great NBA centers in the league today. The Rockets have agreed to trade Ariza and the No. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLC’s Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, Consensus Mock Draft: Picture of Top 3 picks becomes clear, 2020 NBA Draft: Top shooting guard prospects, 2020 NBA Draft: Top point guard prospects, Danilo Gallinari joins Hawks via sign-and-trade, Keep track of every new uniform for the 2020-21 NBA season, Mavericks unveil white-and-gold City Edition uniforms, Nuggets convert Bol Bol's contract to standard multi-year deal, Miami Heat, Bam Adebayo finalize five-year extension, Rockets add Christian Wood in trade with Pistons. Does he change everything on defense? On a middling or lottery team, he’s just a guy, but he will be more valuable the better team he’s on. There’s no doubting that. With that in mind, Bleacher Report compiled a ranking of the 10 best. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Okongwu will never match Bam’s special defensive instincts and athleticism. It’s a damn shame he’s been stuck in Orlando all these years. Though he’s a couple inches shorter than ideal, Okongwu is a strong, smart, switchy defender who looks the part of a modern NBA center. Oturu reminds me some of Christian Wood, who’s going to get a fat paycheck this summer — but only after he bounced around the NBA and G-League half a decade before finding a role. There is no shortage of teams that would love to have a fearless, no-nonsense warrior like Adams. He ran the floor well and displayed a soft touch in the paint at Memphis, though he made highlight reels more for his array of dunking finishes. 1 pick, while James Wiseman emerges as the likely 2nd pick, which currently belongs to the Warriors. But he’s also slow making decisions with the ball and responds instead of anticipating on D, and he’s undersized to have any real chance defensively. Throughout the NBA’s hiatus, we’ve been breaking down the top 10 players at every position for the 2019-20 season so far, and today we’re ranking the best centers in the league. And despite all that, he’s one of the most dominant big men in NBA history anyway (remind you of anyone?). He's now the best center in the league. 16 pick to the Pistons. As a defender, he ranked ninth in the country by averaging 2.7 blocks per game, including eight in his first college game against Florida A&M, seven against TCU of the Big 12 and six against Oregon in Pac-12 play. Bam was the best player in the Eastern Conference Finals, which is pretty darn valuable. Oturu is too small to be a good defensive center in the NBA, but he has nice touch around the rim and added a passable three this year, so that makes him a valuable archetype in today’s game. Every Free Agent Signing So Far and Accompanying Knee Jerk Reactions, The Best Point Guards in the NBA Right Now, former league MVPs and in the Hall of Fame, The Best Shooting Guards in the NBA Right Now, The Best Small Forwards in the NBA Right Now (2019-20). Glenn James/Getty Images. We list the top 10 centers in the NBA before the beginning of the 2019/20 NBA regular season. He's also far from realizing the full extent of his well-rounded potential, so don't forget about his ability to team up with Oladipo and push the Pacers even higher up the Eastern Conference standings. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited. Wiseman is physically overwhelming. At 6'9 with a 7'1 wingspan, Okongwu would’ve been a tweener a decade ago. He also needs to improve ballhandling and creating his own shot as he develops his game further, with much of his production in college coming off feeds from Maryland’s guards.