St. John's Red Storm guard RJ Luis Jr. declared after the Red Storm's elimination from March Madness that he is entering the transfer portal. The decision came after a controversial decision to bench him in the final minutes of St. John's loss to Arkansas.
While Luis Jr. is in the transfer portal, he also has the option to declare for the NBA draft. He has completed three college basketball seasons and is thus eligible to enter the draft. He must declare 60 days before the draft to be eligible. The 2025 NBA draft is scheduled for June 25. These are the top five landing spots for him in the NBA if he foregoes his last year of NCAA eligibility.
Top five landing spots for RJ Luis Jr. in the NBA if he declares for the draft
#1 Phoenix Suns
If RJ Luis Jr. declares for the NBA draft, he won't be a first-round pick. Although he is a strong scorer in college, his shaky shooting and decision-making have made scouts question whether he can be an effective scorer in the NBA. However, his strong defensive play should ensure he gets drafted in the second round.
The Phoenix Suns would be a good fit for Luis Jr. They are in an interesting spot as Kevin Durant's status is up in the air for future seasons. If he leaves and the Suns start a rebuild, adding a dynamic defender with speed could make sense for the Suns.
#2 Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a perennially rebuilding team. One of their problems is defensive play. Although they can put up points, they struggle to get stops. Adding Luis Jr. in the second round would make sense.
#3 Sacramento Kings
With the departure of De'Aaron Fox, the Kings lost a lot of speed. As a result, they could look to add a speedster in the NBA draft. Luis Jr. would be an effective option and help build their defensive foundation for the future.
#4 Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a middle-of-the-road defensive team, which stops them from reaching the next level. Adding a versatile defender in the draft like RJ Luis Jr. could be what they need to take the next step.
#5 Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz have been one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, but the defense has stood out as especially horrible. If the Jazz add a star scorer with the second pick, they can add a versatile defender like RJ Luis Jr. in the second round.
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