Drafting is not easy to figure out

The NBA Draft is complete and there is more uncertainty than ever about the science of selecting the right player. The draft is so filled with oneand-dones, unproven college players, and prospects from the G League Ignite and Overtime Elite that there are sure to be busts.

Despite improved scouting, analytics, and technology, the draft remains a crapshoot because of the large number of inexperienced players who don’t spend enough time in college.

“I haven’t seen that misses have increased, because I think, at least when I have looked at it, the NFL gets four and five years to look at their prospects, and they make the same kind of mistakes,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said. “In my view it’s always been an inexact science. I think with some of these picks because there are only 60 of them, there is a tendency to try to hit home runs and use the draft to try to find something truly special, and like some of the players like Austin Reaves, you can get players like that as undrafted free agents. Miami has proven that. They’ve used undrafted free agency really well to get solid pieces.”

Bilas believes many overlooked players such as Reaves or Gabe Vincent or Max Strus become contributors but not necessarily stars.

“I’m not sure that you would necessarily call those players stars that are going to be huge difference-makers,” Bilas said. “I think the draft teams are looking for difference-makers, oftentimes drafting on potential, because the players are so young.

“Draymond Green was an example. Like he was taken in the second round, and he’s been an All-Star and a huge component to winning championships. You look back to some of the players — there have always been players that should have been drafted higher when you look back. It’s always been an inexact science.”