None of the top prospects in the 2016 NBA draft took part in the combine in Chicago last week, an unfortunate precedent for fans in recent years as there's too much to lose and too little to gain for the best players.
Still, plenty of second-tier draft hopefuls went to the Windy City in hopes of proving themselves not only in the athletic testing, but also in 5-on-5 scrimmages, shooting drills and the all-so-important interview portions of the combine.
As we know by now, the findings and measurements can only reveal so much. A high body fat percentage may indicate a questionable work ethic, for example. On the flip side, just because a player is in tip-top shape doesn't necessarily mean the talent is there.
Evaluating all this is just as much of an art as it is a science, but this year's combine had several first-round hopefuls that raised their draft stock and, therefore, improved their chances of working their way on the fantasy radar as rookies next season. Here are some of the ones to watch:
Cheick Diallo, PF, Kansas
Chad Ford's draft projection: Late-first-round pick
Diallo's freshman season at Kansas was so disappointing that it's easy to forget the 6-foot-9 power forward was ESPN's No. 7-ranked recruit in 2015. His 7.5 MPG as a freshman dropped the former lottery hopeful into the back end of the first round, according to ESPN Insider Chad Ford and most other NBA draft experts, but his standout performance in Chicago could change all that.
Still too light to log big minutes as an NBA power forward at 218.6 pounds, Diallo impressed in the measurements by coming in with a miniscule 5.6 percent body fat and a huge 7-foot-4½ wing span.
But it was his performance in the 5-on-5 workouts that stood out most. Diallo dominated, reminding scouts of his tantalizing abilities. He ran the floor, showed great athleticism and defense and displayed the tremendous motor he's known for en route to 18 points, four rebounds and four blocks on Thursday and nine points, 10 rebounds and two blocks on Friday.
It's easy to see Diallo going as high as the No. 21-23 range to teams like Atlanta, Charlotte or Boston.
DeAndre Bembry, SF, St. Joseph's
Draft projection: Mid-first-round pick
An athletic, playmaking forward is a big deal in the NBA these days -- did you watch the Golden State-Portland series with Andre Iguodala and Al-Farouq Aminu? -- and that can only help someone like Bembry. The swingman measured just shorter than 6-foot-6 with shoes on and turned heads in the 5-on-5 workouts on Thursday, displaying the type of ball-handling skills and athleticism that has a chance to translate quickly at the NBA level.
One area in which Bembry must improve at the next level is his jump shot. After shooting 32.7 percent from deep as a sophomore in 2014-15 and averaging 1.6 3s per game, those numbers fell this past season (26.6 percent, 0.9 3s). That's one reason why he isn't projected to go in the lottery.
Playing time could be difficult to come by for Bembry if he goes to a playoff-caliber team at the end of the first round like the Clippers or Spurs. That's worth keeping an eye on.
Jaron Blossomgame, SF, Clemson
Draft projection: Second-round pick/undrafted
Blossomgame measured just taller than 6-foot-7 with shoes on and came in with 5.25 percent body fat, both encouraging numbers. His hand width of 10 inches also put him in elite company at the combine, as only nine others reached that number.
The athletic swingman is projected by most to be a high second-rounder next month, but he helped himself by draining all four 3-point attempts in his two 5-on-5 workouts. Though it's a small sample size, the improvement Blossomgame's made from behind the arc is evident, and his positive showing at the combine only reinforced that.
He still hasn't decided whether to stay in the draft, but after a solid junior season where he showed drastic improvement as a shooter (51.3 percent from the field, 44.6 percent from 3), his impressive showing in Chicago gives him a chance to raise his stock.
