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ESPN Senior Writer- Senior NBA Writer for ESPN.com
- ESPN Insider NBA Draft Analyst since 2002
- Writes ESPN's NBA Draft Top 100 and Lottery Mock Draft
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ESPN Senior Writer- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
Chad Ford Big Board 4.0
ESPN Insider's Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton return to provide the kind of discussions that are happening in front offices around the NBA -- where scouts and statistical experts are breaking down NBA draft prospects using their "eyes, ears and numbers."
Ford's latest Big Board 3.0 was released Wednesday and three seniors -- Delon Wright, Frank Kaminsky and Jerian Grant -- are in the top 30. That leads us to the question every 76ers fan has to be asking right now
In years past, NBA GMs have really shied away from drafting seniors high in the draft. Can any of them be future stars?
Pelton: I think there's sometimes a stereotype that statistical analysts are against all older players in the draft. In general, it's true that age is an important predictor of future success, but that's only relative to level of performance. A truly dominant senior can shine statistically, and that's what we see with Kaminsky and Wright, who are ranked among my top 12 prospects in terms of projected WARP.
Kaminsky currently sits sixth, and he has a good chance at ultimately finishing in the top five. I don't know whether I see stardom in the cards for him in the NBA, but I think he could be a valuable -- and underrated -- role player in the mold of Channing Frye and Spencer Hawes. Wright is 12th in projected WARP but is tops in terms of projected performance in 2015-16 as a rookie. A team drafting him can expect instant contributions, especially if it builds a second unit around him as a playmaker with the ball in his hands.
Grant is a bit trickier.