Big Board 7.0: New ranking for top 30 NBA draft prospects
Chad Ford updates his rankings of the top 30 NBA draft prospects. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
10:00 AM ET
With the NBA draft combine in the books and the deadline for NCAA underclassmen to withdraw from the draft coming Wednesday, it's time for another update to our Big Board.
Here's the latest intel on the top 30 prospects after consulting NBA scouts and general managers.
Note: This board projects every player who has declared for the draft. You can follow our
in/out list for a complete look at every prospect and his draft stock.
1. Markelle Fultz
Previous rank: No. 1
Washington
Freshman
Guard
Fultz skipped most of the combine, deciding just to do a handful of interviews. It won't matter.
More and more scouts seem to be leaning toward Fultz as the consensus No. 1 pick in the draft. With the Celtics now holding onto No. 1, that only makes his case stronger.
It's not a sure thing that the Celtics will take Fultz No. 1 (nor is it sure they'll even keep the pick), but all signs point to him being the top pick in the draft in a month.
2. Lonzo Ball
Previous rank: No. 2
UCLA
Freshman
Guard
Ball's talent is being eclipsed somewhat by the
headlines his father is generating. I was skeptical for months that it would have much of an impact on his draft stock, but at the combine there was a lot of grumbling among scouts.
Still, with the Lakers landing the No. 2 pick, he has a great shot at going No. 2 and the talent to be a star.
3. Josh Jackson
Previous rank: No. 3
Kansas
Freshman
Forward
Jackson wasn't at the draft combine, but it won't affect him much. He seems to be a popular pick among scouts as the third-best prospect in the draft.
The challenge for him will be the Sixers at No. 3. Would they really select another non-shooter given their current personnel?
Perhaps. Coach Brett Brown loves tough-nosed defenders, and Jackson is the best wing defender in this draft.
4. Jayson Tatum
Previous rank: No. 4
Duke
Freshman
Forward
Tatum's scoring acumen and NBA readiness make him a popular prospect. Among NBA scouts and GMs in Chicago, he was actually the favorite to win Rookie of the Year in 2018. He's just got to find the right fit.
Most scouts point to Boston as being the easiest fit for Tatum. Would they be willing to move down a few spots in a trade with a team like the 76ers to get him? I think the Celtics would want a lot more on top of the No. 3 pick to make that swap.
5. De'Aaron Fox
Previous rank: No. 5
Kentucky
Freshman
Guard
Fox was the highest-ranked prospect to show up at the combine and do anything besides interviews. He was measured and did medicals.
His measurements came in a little shorter than expected and his weight still isn't quite cracking 170 pounds. But he was a big hit in interviews for NBA teams and there is a handful of clubs that prefer him to Ball.
6. Jonathan Isaac
Previous rank: No. 6
FSU
Freshman
Forward
Isaac wasn't at the combine but that won't prevent him from going high in the draft.
He has picked up some momentum in recent weeks as teams watch the playoffs and see him as a perfect long-term fit in the positionless modern NBA. I could even see him creeping ahead of Jackson and Tatum with great workouts.
Oh, and our analytics team has him No. 1 on its board.
7. Malik Monk
Previous rank: No. 7
Kentucky
Freshman
Guard
Monk may end up moving up three or four spots on draft night thanks to where the Sixers and Magic fell in the lottery.
He's the best shooter and scoring guard in the draft -- by a long shot.
8. Dennis Smith
Previous rank: No. 8
NC State
Freshman
Guard
Smith's draft stock has been on the rebound the more NBA teams have dug back into his tape and talked to his coach.
His team struggled, but Smith is a ready-made modern NBA point guard. It speaks to the incredible depth of this draft that he still is this low on the Big Board. In other drafts he'd be a top-three pick.
9. Zach Collins
Previous rank: No. 9
Gonzaga
Freshman
Center
Collins' combination of size, athleticism and skill set is super intriguing for NBA teams -- many of which are now projecting him as more of a stretch-4 than a center.
His biggest obstacle is the teams drafting in the top 10 in this draft. Almost all of them are after guards or wings.
10. Lauri Markkanen
Previous rank: No. 10
Arizona
Freshman
Forward
Kelly Olynyk's clutch play against the Wizards in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semis highlighted the value of 7-foot shooters.
Markannen is probably a better shooter and athlete than Olynyk, but the draft is so crowded at the top that the Wolves and Mavs appear to be the only teams that would pick him in the top 10.
11. Frank Ntilikina
Previous rank: No. 11
France
Age: 18
Guard
Ntilkina appears to be almost a lock to go in the top nine with the Knicks (No. 8) and Mavericks (No. 9) hungry for a point guard and in love with his skill set.
Other teams worry that he's moving up the board based on his position and not his talent. But I'll be surprised if he's still on the board at pick No. 10.
12. Harry Giles
Previous rank: No. 12
Duke
Freshman
Forward
Giles showed up at the combine and did the athletic testing, interviews and medicals. The medical evaluations (which teams haven't received yet) will be key.
If he's cleared, he has a great shot at the lottery. If he's red or yellow flagged, he could fall a few spots, depending on what the doctors say. But based on pure talent he remains one of the top prospects in this draft.
13. OG Anunoby
Previous rank: No. 13
Indiana
Sophomore
Forward
You can say the same thing about Anunoby that you do about Giles. Teams love him as a prospect. They just need to figure out how his ACL is healing after his January injury.
If things look promising, he's a potential lottery pick. If they don't, I still think he goes in the high 20s. There's just too much raw talent there.
14. Luke Kennard
Previous rank: No. 15
Duke
Sophomore
Guard
Kennard didn't do the athletic testing at the combine, disappointing some NBA GMs.
But he knows teams aren't drafting him because he's an elite athlete. They want shooting, high basketball IQ and toughness.
Kennard has several teams in the late lottery looking at him. Nos. 12-17 seem to be his range right now.
15. Donovan Mitchell
Previous rank: No. 22
Louisville
Sophomore
Guard
Mitchell had the best combine of anyone, and he didn't play a minute of five-on-five. His elite athletic testing numbers -- combined with a crazy, Dwayne Wade-esque wingspan of 6-10 -- have some lottery teams targeting him now.
He's not the shooter that Kennard is, but he's a better athlete and defender and equally good playmaker. You'll see teams asking those two to workout against each other.
Mitchell also appears to be in that Nos. 12-17 range.
16. John Collins
Previous rank: No. 21
Wake Forest
Sophomore
Forward
Collins produced solid athletic testing numbers at the combine (including an impressive 37.5-inch vertical). But the big key for him will be his ability to prove to scouts that he can stretch the floor.
He didn't do it a lot at Wake Forest, but some scouts think he can make the transition.
17. Terrance Ferguson
Previous rank: No. 16
Australia
Age: 19
Guard
Ferguson did interviews, athletic testing and medicals at the combine. His 38-inch vertical confirmed how explosive he can be. And everyone knows he can shoot the ball.
It's about consistency for Ferguson at the moment, and teams are all over the place on whether he'll be able to put it all together anytime soon.
18. Jarrett Allen
Previous rank: No. 14
Texas
Freshman
Center
Allen's elite wingspan (7-foot-5) and his solid athletic testing numbers helped him at the combine.
However, after interviews some NBA scouts wondered just how long it was going to take him to be an impact player in the NBA. That's caused his stock to drop slightly.
19. Ike Anigbogu
Previous rank: No. 18
UCLA
**Freshman
Center**
Anibogu's freakish 7-foot-6 wingspan is an obvious plus, but he tested below average as an athlete at the combine and that may put a pause in his rise on the draft board.
He's got great length and strength, but as an athlete he is more powerful than explosive.