The Return of TUP/ NBA Draft Top 20

A lot happened when I was on this little two week hiatus due to working 84 hours a week. The White Sox suck, the Bulls could get Kobe, and the NBA Draft is only a little over a week away. Here's a list of the best 20 players in the draft. To see the first list I compiled way back when, go to the old site. Extended Mock Draft coming soon.

Top 20 NBA Draft Prospects

1. F Kevin Durant, Texas
Comparison: Dirk meets T-Mac
Ceiling: 27-32 PPG, perennial MVP candidate
Bust Factor: Non-existent
Rating: 100

2. C Greg Oden, Ohio State
Comparison: David Robinson meets Emeka Okafor
Ceiling: 21-25 PPG/double digit rebounds, perennial first team all-NBA defender, possible MVP candidate, multi-time champion
Bust Factor- Non-existent
Rating: 99

3. F Al Horford, Florida
Comparison: Carlos Boozer
Ceiling: 18-23 PPG/8-10 rebounds, one of the better low post scorers in the league
Bust Factor: very low
Rating: 95

4. F Corey Brewer, Florida
Comparison: Josh Howard
Ceiling: 17-22 PPG, second best player on a really good team, possible all-NBA defensive team
Bust factor- very low
Rating: 94

5. F Brendan Wright, North Carolina
Comparison: Marcus Camby meets LaMarcus Aldridge
Ceiling: 17-23 PPG/8-11 rebounds,
Bust Factor: high
Rating: 93

6. G Mike Conley Jr., Ohio State
Comparison: Tony Parker
Ceiling: 15-20 PPG/7-9 assists, point guard for championship level team
Bust Factor: low
Rating: 93

7. F Julian Wright, Kansas
Comparison: Shane Battier meets Lamar Odom
Ceiling: 15-19 PPG/6 rebounds/6 assists, third best player on championship level team/second best on playoff team, box score filler
Bust factor- moderate to low
Rating: 90

8. F Jeff Green, Georgetown
Comparison: Antwan Jamison
Ceiling: 16-19 PPG, third best player on championship level team/second best on playoff team
Bust Factor- low
Rating: 90

9. F Joakim Noah, Florida
Comparison: Marcus Camby meets Tyson Chandler
Ceiling: 12-14 PPG, one of the best rebounders in the NBA, defensive prescience, energy guy
Bust Factor- high to moderate
Rating: 88

10. F Yi Jianlian, China
Comparison: Pau Gasol
Ceiling: 17-21 PPG, huge boost in team’s international fanbase
Bust Factor- very high
Rating: 87

11. F Al Thornton, Florida State
Comparison: Al Harrington meets Corey Maggette
Ceiling: 16-19 PPG, second best or third best player on good team
Bust Factor: high
Rating: 85

12. C Spencer Hawes, Washington
Comparison: Brad Miller
Ceiling: 16-19 PPG, a very good scoring big man
Bust Factor: high to moderate
Rating: 85

13. G Javaris Crittenton, Georgia Tech
Comparison: Stevie Franchise meets Baron Davis
Ceiling: 17-21 PPG, a scoring guard
Bust Factor: high
Rating: 84

14. G Acie Law IV, Texas A&M
Comparison: Billups
Ceiling: 15-18 PPG, clutch shooter that can lead a good team
Bust Factor: low
Rating: 84

15. F Nick Young, USC
Comparison: Jamal Crawford without the point guard skills
Ceiling: 15-18, third best player on a good team
Bust Factor: moderate
Rating: 82

16. G Rodney Stuckey, Eastern Washington
Comparison: Gerald Wallace meets Randy Foye
Ceiling: 14-17 PPG, third best player on good team
Bust Factor: high
Rating: 80

17. F Thaddeus Young, Georgia Tech
Comparison: Travis Outlaw meets Darius Miles
Ceiling: 15-17 PPG, smart, athletic swing man who can score
Bust Factor: high to moderate
Rating: 80

18. F Josh McRoberts, Duke
Comparison: Andrew Bogut but more athletic
Ceiling: 13-16 PPG/7-8 rebounds, good passer, possibly the first big off the bench for a good team
Bust Factor: very high
Rating: 79

19. C Jason Smith, Colorado State
Comparison: Troy Murphy meets ZaZa Pachulia
Ceiling: 13-15 PPG
Bust Factor: very high
Rating: 77

20. G Arron Afflalo, UCLA
Comparison: Raja Bell
Ceiling: 13-15 PPG, very good defender
Bust Factor: high to moderate
Rating: 77