By R.L. Bynum

A quality team will take Drake Powell this week in the NBA draft based on his potential, not expecting him to make a significant immediate impact.

That’s the assessment of ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony ahead of the draft at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The first round airs on ABC and ESPN at 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the second round at 8 p.m. on Thursday on ESPN.

“Everybody likes the long-term potential, the defense and the length and the intangibles,” Givony said during an online press availability Monday with ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks. “By all accounts, he’s a very high-character young man.”

Givony, in his mock draft on ESPN.com with Jeremy Woo, has the Boston Celtics picking Powell in the second round as the 32nd overall selection in Monday’s mock draft. They had Powell going to Boston as the 28th pick in the first round in their Sunday mock draft.

Givony suggested that Powell will play most of his first pro season in the G League much like former UNC forward Harrison Ingram, who played 50 games in the G League and only five in the NBA after the San Antonio Spurs made him the 48th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

“He’s probably not ready to play an NBA game anytime soon,” Givony said, “especially on the offensive end. He wasn’t ready to be an impactful player, even at the college level, at times this year for North Carolina.”

Powell, measured at the NBA Draft Combine at 6–5¼ (without shoes on) and 200 pounds, was Carolina’s Defensive Player of the Year. He scored in double figures 10 times, including a season-high 18 points against Michigan State and an ACC-high 17 points against SMU. He led UNC in plus/minus 10 times, four times more than any other Tar Heel.

Given the revenue-sharing and NIL money that Powell could have made during a sophomore season at UNC, many were surprised that he opted to head to the draft. Givony sounded like he was part of that group, but he didn’t question the decision.

“I’ve learned over the years not to pass judgment on guys who are applying for the draft or going back to school,” Givony said. “It’s such a personal, individual decision. It’s hard for me to say whether somebody’s making a mistake or not because you don’t really know all the factors that are in play here.”