Ben Saraf - NBA Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Brooklyn has four first-round picks this year, including back-to-back picks at the end of the first round. Saraf, a southpaw guard, is a creative playmaker capable of getting others involved in the offense. Saraf earned MVP honors during the FIBA U18 EuroBasket last summer and has been rising up draft boards since.

Ben Saraf is averaging 12.2 points, 4.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals on 45.3% shooting from the field in 47 games this season. He is projected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick, given his scoring ability, playmaking and court vision. He dazzles with his passing and innate ability to make pinpoint, cross-court passes off drives and in pick-and-roll situations. It is unclear how many of their first-round picks the Nets will ultimately keep, but Saraf would be a good addition to their backcourt if this is the direction they want to go.

Saraf is on Ulm in Germany with Essengue and is a bit more decorated than his French teammate. He won MVP of the Under-18 European Championships this past summer while putting together one of the best scoring performances in the event's history. Since then, he's been a bit up and down. He's averaging 12.1 points and 4.3 assists this season while shooting 45 percent from the field because he's excellent with his gathers on drives and sharp with his midrange game, but he also has games when he'll miss several shots and look out of sorts if teams fight to take away his left hand. He's extremely dominant on that wing, and he needs to continue adding to his overall handle package.

The Suns could use more playmaking and ballhandling across the court, and Saraf's combo-guard tendencies in addition to his passing vision would be a strong fit.

Pro Comparison: Manu Ginobili

In the mid-to-late first round, Ben Saraf should start to earn consideration from teams interested in adding more creation and playmaking.

The numbers and eye test show a guard with an advanced handle and passing feel in ball-screen situations. Teams will debate his shooting and defensive projection, but he's been effective pulling up in the mid-range, and his competitiveness has looked like a plus.

Teams will be hoping to see him at the NBA combine, where they'll learn official measurements and analyze his shot.

Scouting report: Saraf brings a potent combination of size, scoring instincts, feel for the game, aggressiveness and playmaking, showing supreme timing and creativity operating in the pick-and-roll. His sharp basketball instincts are evident in every aspect of the game.

His struggles with turnovers, scoring efficiency and porous defense against higher-level competition have caused some pause among talent evaluators about how his game might translate to the NBA ranks. -- Givony

NBA intel and fit: The Nets have a void in the backcourt, depending on what they do with their first few picks, and this situation will be considered highly attractive to any of the guards slated to be picked in this range.

With five picks in the top 36, the Nets can go in many different directions on draft night. They might elect to be a conduit for trades as they are also projected to have more salary cap space this offseason than any other NBA team. They could also take some swings on talent, picking a younger prospect in need of development, aided by minutes and opportunity to play through mistakes.

Brooklyn also holds the No. 36 pick, giving it flexibility to move around or out of the draft as value presents itself. -- Givony

Saraf is a 6'5 point guard who has had a productive season as an 18-year-old in the German league playing for Ulm alongside Noa Essengue. The Israeli floor general is skilled in the pick-and-roll. He's more of a passer than a scorer, bur he does have a nice mid-range pull-up game. Saraf is a shaky jump shooter from deep (29.4 percent from three) who will need to develop more range on his jumper to keep defenses honest from going under screens and sagging off him. Still, his 32.4 percent assist rate, 2.6 percent steal rate, and 27.6 percent usage gives him a chance if he can improve on his struggles to score efficiently in the halfcourt.

The UN needs to look into whether there's a factory in Europe that creates 6-foot-5 guards who orchestrate brilliantly but lack that extra scoring punch to justify putting the ball in their hands full-time. But Saraf separates himself from that archetype by pairing passing creativity with more aggressive wiring, including unique rim and ball pressure for his player type. He doesn't shoot it quite well enough to justify full-time creator duties, but Saraf can do enough off the catch that one can easily imagine him hitting shots when he isn't driving against closeouts. This young Wizards team needs gasoline for their offense, and Saraf can provide that.

Saraf is an Israeli guard who has acquitted himself well overseas as a scorer and playmaker at just 18 years old this season, and he's crafty in using his smarts to find open teammates. Brooklyn needs to invest in talent — regardless of how ready they are or aren't — and long-term Saraf has the tools to be a starter in the league.

The Nets have five top 36 picks. Are they really going to keep all of them? I doubt it. But regardless of what Brooklyn does, drafting one or multiple guards could make some sense since this roster is a clean slate. Saraf has enough size that he could play with others if his shooting comes along. But for now, his best skill is his playmaking as a lefty shot-creator who relies on guile, footwork and body control.