Drake Powell

Powell is the rare rookie who earned real minutes on defense before his offense caught up. Brooklyn traded up on draft night for the North Carolina wing (Atlanta's No. 22 pick), betting on a 6-foot-5 defender with the frame and feet to guard multiple spots. That bet mostly paid off: he started 24 of 63 games as a 19-year-old, a genuine sign of trust, and got to the line often enough that his .896 free-throw mark hints at real touch. The 3-and-D projection is still half-built, though. After hitting 38% from three in his lone college season, his rookie clip dipped to 28% on NBA range and volume, the swing skill that decides whether he settles in as a rotation regular or a defensive specialist. The defense already looks NBA-ready; the jumper is the tell.