Ohio State basketball: Where will Malaki Branham, E.J. Liddell get drafted?

Two Ohio State basketball players will get taken in tonight’s NBA Draft. Both Malaki Branham and E.J. Liddell have a chance to be taken in the lottery, although only one of them seems like a sure lock for that. Where could each of these guys end up getting taken?

Let’s start with Branham. Branham has a higher ceiling than Liddell and is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. What Branham did in the second half of last season was super impressive and is a big reason why he will likely go in the back half of the lottery.

Branham will likely go in the 11-14 range. The Knicks and the Wizards at 10 and 11 respectively are possibly shopping their picks. A team could trade for those picks and take Branham. Branham’s shooting ability and wingspan are very attractive in the modern NBA.

As far as Liddell goes, he’s a guy who is ready to contribute to a good team right now. He’s someone that can come off the bench and give a contender solid minutes right away. That’s part of the reason why he’s projected to go somewhere between 17-22.

Because Liddell’s ceiling isn’t as high as some of the other prospects in this draft, I see him getting drafted around 20. There are some good teams in that range that would help Liddell meet his potential. He’s not going to be a superstar, but he could be a solid starter on a good team.

Liddell really improved his three-point shooting and his defense last year. He was the Ohio State basketball team’s best shot-blocker and he shot 37% from deep. Those are two things scouts asked him to work on, and he did. Now, he’s going to be a first-round pick because of it.

We will let you know where these two guys end up getting drafted tonight! The Draft starts at 8 pm on ABC and ESPN.