Michigan State Basketball: Potential draft suitors for Cassius Winston, Xavier Tillman

Xavier Tillman, PF/C, Junior

The last time an underrated Michigan State power forward wearing No. 23 was a pro prospect, 34 teams passed on him before Golden State snatched him up in the second round back in 2012. Three NBA titles later (along with three all-star appearances and an NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award to his name), NBA executives don’t want to make the same mistake twice.

Here’s where Xavier Tillman could end up.

• Nuggets (22nd selection): Tillman may be targeted to join another fellow Spartan, Gary Harris, and bolster the Denver frontcourt. He would join a serious contender and give the Nuggets another weapon to go along with the formidable pair of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.
• Pelicans (13th, 39th, 42nd, and 60th): The Pelicans have a trove of picks thanks to the Anthony Davis trade prior to this past season (it’s safe to say LA is more than content with that deal). They are loaded with solid players along the perimeter (Lonzo Ball, JJ Redick, Brandon Ingram and of course Zion Williamson). They need to add depth to their big man rotation.
• Kings (12th, 35th, 43rd, and 52nd): Much like New Orleans, Sacramento has a ton of picks at their disposal. The strength of their team lies in their guard play. De’Aron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic are fantastic but the latter was reportedly dealt to Milwaukee. Minutes down on the block are ripe for the taking.
• Celtics (14th, 26th, 30th, and 47th): Don’t be surprised if the Celtics have both Cassius Winston (to be Kemba Walker’s protege) and Tillman on their radar with the large collection of picks they have handy. Boston has an abundance of ballers handling the rock and on the wings (Kemba, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown). They need to add some muscle to deal with the beasts of the east (Milwaukee, Miami, Brooklyn, etc.).
• Hornets (3rd, 32nd, and 56th): Similar to Boston, Charlotte’s strength is along the elbows (Devonte Graham, Terry Rozier and former Spartan high-flyer Miles Bridges). Charlotte is a couple of quality big men away from being a contender in the Eastern Conference. Throwing Tillman into the mix would be a wise move.
• Wizards (9th and 37th): If Tillman slips to 37th, he’d be a wonderful choice for Washington. With superstar guards Bradley Beal and John Wall taking care of the offensive fireworks, Tillman can be instantly plugged in to become the anchor of their defense.
• Pistons (7th): Once again, a lot can transpire on draft night as it unfolds. Detroit watched him workout and they like his potential. Blake Griffin is injured often and could be on the trading block for future assets. Christian Wood is emerging as a go-to player but does management have the guts to ink him to a huge contract or will he walk away? Tillman fits the mold of the stalwarts that have made Detroit’s championship teams so powerful: a resilient, rugged, defensive-minded warrior. He has Piston written all over him. Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace both took Detroit to great heights. Can Tillman be the next to do so? Let us dream.