On June 21, Keita Bates-Diop is likely going to become the first Buckeye to be selected in the NBA Draft since D'Angelo Russell was taken No. 2 overall in 2015.
His destination, however, is still very much up in the air.
Bates-Diop is projected as a late first- to early second-round pick and depending on team need, could fall into the low 40s or jump into the low teens. While it is difficult to project where he might end up on the draft board, we take a look at five teams that could add Bates-Diop to their roster via the draft in late June, in no particular order.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference this season, with a record of 27-51 entering the final two weeks of the regular season. Chicago will have two first-round picks after acquiring New Orleans' first-round pick in a trade earlier this season.
Bates-Diop won't be the Bulls' lottery selection, but it wouldn't be too far-fetched to see him selected with the pick that Chicago acquired from New Orleans, which could fall in the late teens to low 20s. The small forward position has been a revolving door for the Bulls this season, with Denzel Valentine, David Nwaba and Paul Zipser all starting games at the 'three' this season.
If he puts on enough weight, Bates-Diop could play more power forward in the NBA, but likely translates more as a small forward at the next level. The Bulls have a young core and would be a good fit for Bates-Diop, who could return to his home state of Illinois without too much pressure on his shoulders, considering he wouldn't be Chicago's top overall selection.
In addition, Chicago boasts a pair of young, talented point guards in Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn who are capable of creating opportunities for teammates off the dribble, which would take the pressure off of Bates-Diop to create for himself, something he has struggled with at times this season, especially off the bounce.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers traded their first-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, which keeps them out of the lottery this season, but Los Angeles got back into the first round by way of a trade with Cleveland in February. That pick will sit in the mid-to-low 20s come June, which is a prime spot for Bates-Diop to be selected.
Los Angeles has a bona fide superstar at small forward in rookie Kyle Kuzma, but there isn't much depth behind him. Luol Deng is at the end of his NBA career and is the Lakers' next best option at the 'three,' with Brandon Ingram able to play multiple positions. Should Bates-Diop be available, he would make sense for a Laker squad that is building for a playoff run in 2018-19 with the young pieces on its roster.
With a plethora of recent first-round picks already on the roster (Lonzo Ball, Ingram, Kuzma, Julius Randle), Bates-Diop wouldn't have too much pressure on him to produce right away.
Dallas Mavericks
Should Bates-Diop fall into the second round, the Mavericks could be a good fit for the former Buckeye. A team in the middle of a rebuild, Dallas holds a lottery pick and an early second-round pick, which could be used on Bates-Diop.
The Mavericks have plenty of depth at small forward, including former NBA champion Harrison Barnes, but at power forward, there isn't much behind Dirk Nowitzki, who is at the end of his NBA career.
If selected by Dallas, Bates-Diop could be asked to add more weight and play more of a stretch 'four.' If that were to be the case, Bates-Diop would likely get more playing time on a roster full of question marks. He could also push former Creighton star Doug McDermott for playing time off the bench behind Barnes, but McDermott has established himself as an elite shooter in the league, an asset that is not easy to take off the floor.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings, much like the Mavericks, have a lottery pick and an early second-round pick to their name. Bates-Diop could very well be an option for the Kings in the second round if he slips through the first round.
Should Bates-Diop land in Sacramento, he would have to fight for a roster spot with a number of young players currently on the Kings' roster. Sacramento features seven forwards on its roster that are 26 years of age or younger. So why would the Kings take Bates-Diop then, you ask? Simply put, he could be the best player available on the board when the Kings pick early in the second round if he drops that far down the board.
Bates-Diop would have a chance to compete for a job right away, as the Kings are full of players who have yet to make much of an impression in the league. Former North Carolina star forward Justin Jackson was taken in the first round last year by the Kings, but is averaging just 6.8 points per game in his rookie year.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks own two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, neither of which are their own. Atlanta owns the rights to Minnesota's first-round pick as well as Houston's, which puts the Hawks in the late teens with their first pick and likely one of the final picks in the first round.
The Hawks are full of unproven players at every position, and small forward is a need for Atlanta if they are to be competitive at all in the coming years. Former Baylor star Taurean Prince proves Atlanta with an average-at-best NBA small forward, and behind him the Hawks are well below average.
Bates-Diop would have a chance to make an impact right away in Atlanta, but because the Hawks have so many other needs to address, it is difficult to tell where they might go with either of their selections.
Just Missed The Cut
San Antonio Spurs – The Spurs hold a first-round pick in the 20s and are in desperate need of a point guard as Tony Parker nears the end of his NBA career. While Bates-Diop seems to be a perfect fit for the Spurs and the culture created by Gregg Poppovich, Bates-Diop isn't the playmaker that San Antonio needs right now to stay competitive in the Western Conference.
