How are Gonzaga stars Drew Timme and Julian Strawther viewed as NBA prospects? We asked NBA executives

Timme and Strawther have helped lead Gonzaga to the Sweet 16 - and both will likely be picked in the 2023 NBA Draft

Drew Timme and Julian Strawther are two of the best college basketball players in the country. They have helped lead the Gonzaga Bulldogs to the Sweet 16 for an eighth consecutive season, and they are not done yet. 

Gonzaga, the third seed in the West Region, takes on No. 2 seed UCLA on Thursday night in Las Vegas with a berth in the Elite Eight on the line. Leading up to the game, we asked three NBA front office executives to evaluate the NBA potential of Timme and Strawther. They were granted anonymity in exchange for their analysis.

• GONZAGA VS. UCLA PREDICTION

Here is what the NBA executives had to say:

DREW TIMME

NBA Executive No. 1: There are not many guys like him succeeding in our league right now. He will need to prove he can consistently shoot it with more range than he does now. I love his combination of hands/footwork/touch around the basket. It reminds me of Luis Scola. Timme's lack of athleticism hurts him more on the defensive end as he will get exposed guarding a power forward and he doesn't provide any rim protection as a center. His intangibles are appealing and he has swagger that will help him, but the odds are not in his favor unless he can become a consistent range shooter, which is an area he can improve.

NBA Executive No. 2: Timme is a terrific college post player. He has great feet in the post and has had an incredible career. He's extremely efficient. Here are the issues: he's not a rim protector, he doesn't play above the rim and he doesn't hit three's. But he has a solid chance because of his personality and work ethic. His coach will have to be on board to utilize Timme by putting him in positions to do what he can do, not what he can't do. He'll likely start on a two-way contract.

NBA Executive No. 3: Timme is a dominant force. He's heavy legged, hard to get off the floor and move laterally. He's unshakable. I love his ability to make plays. He's an instinctive scorer who knows where to hit you and create space. What do you do with him on defense is the question. He's too small to protect the rim. There's a lot to like, but does his skillset fit in the modern NBA? It's hard for a guy who's 6-foot-10 and doesn't protect the rim to stay in the league. Offensively, he'd do well at the five, but can he be an anchor defensively? Will he develop a three-point shot?

Drew Timme

JULIAN STRAWTHER

NBA Executive No. 1: Strawther has a translatable skill with his shooting ability and he has enough size for a wing position too. He knows how to play off of playmakers and his shooting will give those guys more space in the NBA. He can put it on the deck a little too, which makes him more than just a one dimensional catch and shoot threat. He's a serviceable defender and seems smart enough to accept and understand his role.

NBA Executive No. 2: I liked Strawther last year after the Duke game and then his play tailed off in the second half of the season. He has a chance to be a rotation player as a 3-and-D wing. He has good measurables, a good spirit about him and he plays with a good motor. Strawther will be drafted before Timme.

NBA Executive No. 3: Strawther's frame and athleticism is unsatisfying. He's doughy, not strong enough. When he gets in a rhythm, he's smart with using screens and finding space. He's got one of the best runners/floaters in the country. He doesn't have the ability to finish over/through bigs so that floater is important. Shooting is Strawther's strength. He makes tough shots on the move. Sometimes he's too nonchalant and undisciplined defensively. He's not super quick. He has a great wingspan, but doesn't use it enough. I see him as a bench guy in the NBA. He has the size, length and shooting to carve out a role. It comes down to will he defend. He'll have the chance to show if he can be a good shooter or an elite shooter. 

Julian Strawther :: Photo by Erik Smith/Myk Crawford