Pascal Siakam – 27th overall (2016)
Finding someone who can average 19.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in the NBA Playoffs at 27th overall takes something special as far as player evaluation is concerned. It is harder to rank a player on a list like this who has yet to make it past his first contract as you are forced to do a lot of projecting.
Siakam’s current career path, especially with the Toronto Raptors roster as it currently stands, suggests that ‘Spicy P’ will be an NBA all-star as soon as this upcoming season. While we will see later that even Masai Ujiri can miss on non-lottery picks, Siakam was a gem of a find that Masai’s involvement with basketball without borders on the continent of Africa helped produce.
Siakam was a key player for the Toronto Raptors during their NBA championship season and carried the load at times during the regular season when Kawhi Leonard stayed on the sidelines due to load management. The most improved player this past season, Siakam is set to make a massive leap in 2019-20 for a Raptors team that lost its top player to free agency.
Siakam impressed with averages of 16.9 points and 6.9 rebounds on just under 55-percent shooting. He even developed three-point range. He is not exactly money from distance, but he managed to shoot at a decent 37-percent clip. After averaging 11.9 field goal attempts per game in 2018-19, Siakam could see that number jump to over 17 this upcoming season.
Siakam was an outstanding pick at 27th overall, but it is still worth noting that the 2016-17 rookie of the year in Malcolm Brogdon was drafted nine slots later. Pascal projects to be one of three players from the 2016 draft class to make an all-star appearance (along with current all-star Ben Simmons and eventual all-star Jamal Murray).