A week has gone by since the last name has been called in the 2021 NBA Draft. Players from all over the country and the world had their dreams come true of getting their names called as a selection into the National Basketball Association. There is a ton of new, young talent coming into the league this upcoming season, but led by no other than Oklahoma State’s, Cade Cunningham. Cunningham and Jalen Green are separated from the rest of the pack because of their pure ability to do everything on the basketball court. For those two it was easy to go one and two, but the value picks are something great to look for. Here are some of the best value picks from the 2021 NBA Draft.
READ MORE: The Best NBA Draft Classes of All Time
SG Moeses Moody, Arkansas (Golden State Warriors, Pick 14)
Moses Moody was the best player on an Arkansas team that made its way to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. The freshman played his way easily into the top-10 prospect list going into the NBA Draft. Moody is a complete prospect who will make an impact the second that he steps onto the floor for the Warriors. He should get good minutes in his rookie season.
PF Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova (Oklahoma City Thunder, Pick 32)
There was a little bit of shock when the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Josh Giddey with the number six pick in the draft when James Bouknight was still available. But, Sam Presti redeemed himself by selecting the co-Big East Player of the Year, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. Robinson-Earl is a great pick who has the ability to play both ends of the floor exceptionally well.
Great finisher inside the paint, with a killer mid-range game as well. Rebounding is no problem with his size, the only part of his game that will need development right away is the three-point shot. A great value pick here for the Thunder.
PG Miles McBride, West Virginia (New York Knicks, Pick 36)
If you did not watch Miles McBride play basketball while at West Virginia, you missed out on great talent. New York getting McBride at 36 is another great value with the ability that he brings to the game. A tough, defensive-minded guard who has the killer instinct to make the big shot. He has the ingredients to become a very good player in the NBA.
SG Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (Chicago Bulls, Pick 38)
Just like the Miles McBride pick, Ayo Dosunmu has great value at 38 where he was selected by the Bulls. In the eyes of a lot of people, Dosunmu was going to be taken in the latter portion of the first round but slipped down to the second round which makes his value skyrocket. A two-way guard who plays tremendous defense and has the speed and athleticism to zoom past a lot of guys offensively. His game from college should translate just fine into the league.
James Bouknight, UConn (Charlotte Hornets, Pick 11)
This is by far the most surprising drop-off pick of the NBA Draft. Bouknight could have easily been selected inside of the top seven but dropped outside of the top ten, which makes this one of the best value picks of the draft. There are inconsistencies with Bouknights game, but his overall skill set and IQ make him a top prospect.
One big part that is missing is his consistent three-point shooting. Out for a decent stretch of 2020-21 with an elbow injury, Bouknight shot just under 30% from beyond the arc. That should be fixed hopefully in a short period of time because this kid can flat out play the game of baseball. A backcourt of LaMelo Ball and James Bouknight will be fun to watch.
There are definitely more than just these four players who have great value with where they were picked, but these four were on the top of the list. This specific class will be one to watch for in the coming years as some will make an impact right away, and some will take time to develop.
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