If it feels like the 2021 draft just happened, and it’s way too soon to start thinking about next year, well…you’re not totally wrong. But here we go again. NBA teams have already begun preparing for the season ahead and familiarizing themselves with the upcoming draft class, and with that in mind, so have we.
Two prospects are at the forefront of the NBA’s discussion as potential No. 1 picks: Duke’s Paolo Banchero and Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren. Handicapping the top pick is a toss-up between them right now. I loosely canvassed a range of front office personnel over the past few weeks and heard arguments for both players — suffice it to say there’s not a whole lot separating them yet, and it will be an ongoing storyline to monitor throughout the season.