The 2016 NBA Draft is headlined by a pair of swingmen: LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram.
Simmons is expected to the the top pick when the Philadelphia 76ers open the draft on June 23, but it’s hard to find a consensus on which player is the clear-cut No. 1 prospect in this class.
Here are our top 10 swingmen (some players you might consider swingmen are featured in our guard rankings).
1) Ben Simmons (SF/PF, LSU, 6-10, 240 pounds)
Simmons is an athletic, versatile forward who attacks the rim with ferocity and has the highest upside of any player in this draft. He’s also a very good rebounder and has underrated playmaking ability. His jump shot must improve for him to become a stretch-4, though.
2) Brandon Ingram (SF, Duke, 6-9, 195)
Ingram isn’t overly athletic, but his excellent shooting range and length make him an asset offensively. If he added a bit of strength, posting up smaller forwards could lead to a huge increase in scoring.
3) Jaylen Brown (SG/SF, California, 6-6, 225)
Brown’s shooting range, athleticism and strength make him a threat from the outside or by penetrating the defense and finishing at the rim. His defense is more polished than most guards and small forwards in this draft, too.
4) Denzel Valentine (SG/SF, Michigan State, 6-5, 210)
Valentine isn’t a flashy player, but he’s fundamentally strong and has a well-rounded skill set. His consistent jump shot and above-average perimeter defense make him a two-way player who could play a meaningful bench role as a rookie.
5)Â Timothe Luwawu (SG/SF, France, 6-7, 195)
Luwawu is a long-term project. He’s arguably the most athletic swingman in this class, but his lackluster shooting range, weak defense and lack of strength all are concerns at this stage in his development.
6) Taurean Prince (SF, Baylor, 6-8, 220)
Prince is a physical, smart small forward who can defend and score on the low-block. He’s not going to wow you with his athleticism, but he’s a reliable two-way prospect.
7)Â Patrick McCaw (SG, UNLV, 6-6, 180)
McCaw increased his scoring average about five points per game as a UNLV sophomore, and he also made an impact defensively with 2.5 steals per game.
8) DeAndre’ Bembry (SG/SF, St. Joseph’s, 6-5, 205)
Bembry is a consistent scorer who averaged more than 17 points per game in each of the last two seasons. But his 26.6 percent success rate on 3-point shots is a bit of a concern.
9) Caris LeVert (SG, Michigan, 6-7, 190)
LaVert attacks the basket with good athleticism and strength, while also being able to hit from mid-range if needed. He increased his scoring average in each of his four seasons as a Wolverine, finishing with 16.5 points per game as a senior.
10) Daniel Hamilton (SG/SF, UConn, 6-7, 200)
Hamilton arguably is the best rebounder among guards in this class. He pulled down 8.9 boards per game as a sophomore last season, in addition to 12.5 points per game.
Thumbnail photo via Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports Images
