Why Tyler Ennis May Slide

In terms of maximizing his draft position, Ennis probably made the right decision coming out after his freshman season. He's not an elite athlete and his game doesn't need too much polishing - he plays with the decision-making and poise of an NBA vet. His assist-to-turnover numbers, for a freshman, are preposterous. The biggest knock on him is athleticism and that isn't going to change if he stays in school.

Here's the problem - if he doesn't project as a PG worthy of being in the Top 10, there aren't a lot of landing spots for him in the middle of the first round.

12. Orlando (from Denver) - If the Magic take a big man with their first pick, they will probably go with a perimeter player here. The question is whether they draft a PG and move Oladipo off the ball or draft a wing and continue the Oladipo as PG experiment. 

13. Minnesota - Rubio

14. Phoenix - Bledsoe, Dragic

15. Atlanta - Teague, Schroeder

16. Chicago - Rose (?) - Ennis would make sense here as a long-term hedge on Rose's health.

17. Phoenix 

18. Boston - Rondo - They could draft Ennis and move Rondo for picks.

19. Chicago

20. Toronto - If they didn't want to pay Kyle Lowry a lot of money in free agency, they could take the native son. If Greivis Vasquez is the starter, Ennis could fit right in as the No. 2 PG. As long as he can extend his range out to the NBA three-point line, he is ready for a role on a good team.

21. Dallas - Calderon, Larkin

22. Memphis - Conley

23. Utah - Burke

24. Charlotte - Kemba

I could see a situation where Orlando, Chicago, Boston or Toronto draft Ennis but all those teams have other options at PG and other needs they have to fill. Everyone else in that range is pretty much set at the position. PG is as deep a position as there is in the NBA.

Ennis is a guy who could fall on draft night, not because of his game but of because the way the draft board shakes out.