[tps_header]North of the border destination for Hollis-Jefferson[/tps_header]
[tps_title]Nos. 20 to 16[/tps_title]
No. 20 Toronto Raptors
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
Toronto’s greatest need is to improve its defense. They finished the regular season ranked No. 23 in the NBA in defensive efficiency. Hollis-Jefferson, a high-energy, suffocating defender can guard up to four positions, including power forward. His lateral quickness is phenomenal. He is an above average leaper. Standing at 6’7” and 210 pounds, he has a long wingspan of 7’1”. Hollis-Jefferson’s shooting and scoring ability are his biggest question marks but he has the athleticism to get to the rim.
No. 19 Washington Wizards
Tyus Jones, PG, Duke
The immediate thought here: Why would Washington need Jones (6’1” and 185 pounds) when it has John Wall running the point? The answer: Jones can prove to be an excellent understudy to Wall and provide the Wizards a capable floor leader when Wall is on the bench. Jones has more promise than seven-year veteran Ramon Sessions, who made only 8-of-33 shots from the field in the first four games of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Atlanta. Jones is a playmaker who care take care of the ball (with a better than 3-to-1 ratio of assists to turnovers most of the season for Duke.
No. 18 Houston Rockets
Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
The Rockets need immediate help at the point guard position following the ankle injury to regular starter Patrick Beverly that benched him through the playoffs. Former Arizona guard Jason Terry, a 16-year NBA veteran who has thrived off the bench in his career, was thrown into the starting role. Veteran backup Pablo Prigioni is aging at 38 and rookie Nick Johnson needs more time to develop into a playmaker. Grant, who is 22 and decently sized at 6’4” and 200, can merit immediately playing time as Beverly’s backup with his maturity.
No. 17 Milwaukee Bucks
Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
Some scouts believe Harrell, a 6’8” and 255-pound power forward, is the most physical and high-energy frontcourt player in the draft. He reminds them of another Draymond Green of Golden State. The Bucks lack a player like him on the frontcourt with the departure of Ersan Ilyasova. Zaza Pachulia and John Henson are not as active on the glass (averaging in 2014-15 a combined 18.5 rebounds a game, which should be at least 20). Harrell is a relentless worker who will help the Bucks combat the physical, grind-it-out frontcourts of the Eastern Conference.
No. 16 Boston Celtics
Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
Boston has positional needs at small forward and center, specifically shooting overall and defense around the rim. The Celtics may go after a post player with their second pick in the first round at No. 28 (obtained from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for coach Doc Rivers two years ago). Dekker, who scorched Arizona from three-point range in the Elite Eight, can fill the need for scoring from the wing for Boston president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. Boston struggled last season guarding the pick-and-roll. Dekker has the size (6’9” and 220) and agility to stay in front of most wings.
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