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The 2021 NBA draft will take place Thursday, July 29 with the Detroit Pistons holding the No. 1 pick. The Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic round out the top five selections.
We take a look at some of the prospects available in this draft, gauge their strengths, weaknesses, NBA comparisons and best landing spot within the player’s projected draft range. Here’s a breakdown for Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu.
Strengths
Dosunmu is an excellent passer and rebounder. He is an aggressive offensive player who can get to the basket often. He’ll knock down free throws at a good rate, complementing his aggressiveness well. Dosunmu helped build a program at Illinois and has leadership skills that could translate well in the NBA. He is also a good defender and projects well on that side of the ball in the NBA.
Weaknesses
His three-point shooting is questionable given the high variance in his percentages over three seasons. He struggled to pass out of double teams and occasionally forced the ball into tight spaces. People will remember Dosunmu’s rough outing against Loyola-Chicago in the tournament and he could fall as a result.
Player Comparison
Dosunmu compares well to guards Jrue Holiday and Reggie Jackson. He’ll have to be more consistent as a perimeter shooter, but his other skills match those guards. Both have had long careers in the league, but have never been considered superstars. Dosunmu has a similar path at the moment.
Best Landing Spot
Dosunmu could go anywhere from the late teens to the early second depending on how teams view him. The Rockets would be a great spot in the early 20s if they don’t take a guard No. 2 overall. The Los Angeles Clippers are also a decent option at 25.