What the experts say
ESPN [$] (Jonathan Givony): 17th
The Athletic [$] (Sam Vecenie): 15th
Sports Illustrated (Jeremy Woo): 19th
Sporting News (Chris Stone): 19th
Bleacher Report (Jonathan Wassermann): 17th
Quotes:
Having placed him 19th on his most recent Big Board, Woo pointed to how Nesmith’s elite shooting potential will lift up what else he brings to the table for NBA teams:
"“If Nesmith’s shooting plays up in an elite capacity, which it could, the rest of his game should accessorize that skill pretty well, and he has a chance to at least be an average defender. His ability to catch and shoot under duress and off movement is a pretty rare, and capable floor spacing tends to come at a premium, understandably, given the way the NBA continues to trend. He’s pretty squarely a first-round talent as long as his medical checks out, and offers a degree of safety in this part of the draft.”"
SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell similarly outlined how Nesmith’s dynamic off-ball shooting can make him a key cog on the next level, even with his deficiencies in other areas:
"“Nesmith might be the best shooter in this class. The 6’6 sophomore guard was making 52 percent of his three-pointers before suffering a season-ending foot injury, showing a rare ability to knock down tough shots off of movement. That’s how he’s going to be used in the NBA, too. There isn’t much upside for him as a creator or finisher on offense. Defensively, he’s solid if unspectacular, knowing where to be and how to use his length while having the greatest blend of speed and strength.”"