Best centers in the 2016 NBA Draft: Jakob Poeltl tops final ranking

This is my final ranking of centers in the 2016 NBA Draft. We've already scouted these players ad nauseam. If you want a more basic evaluation or to read more about their strengths and weaknesses, head to last month's top 10 centers ranking. So let's talk about something different yet equally as important.

Fit is often discussed in a negative light. Plenty of analytic models and people around the league believe in a best player available strategy when selecting due to rapid roster turnover and the difficulty of scouting. However, I'm not quite behind that. Often, systemic and emotional fit is just as important as skill level -- and this draft is going to show that in a pretty high-level manner. The players are all bunched so tightly together based on skill level that the way they fit in a certain roster or situation could make or break whether or not they can carve out an NBA career. The right fit can foster better player development, and it can accentuate the best skills a player has.

What are the best fits for the top 10 centers in the class within their draft range? Let's take a look. Again, I've broken the players out into tiers ... and again, none are in Tier 1.

Tier 2

1. Jakob Poeltl | Utah | Draft Range: No. 6-12

New Orleans (No. 6): The upper bound of his range is in New Orleans, where the Pelicans will likely want someone to pair with Anthony Davis in order reduce the beating his body takes. My guess is that they look more in the backcourt, but Poeltl's game works well here assuming the Pelicans consider Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca sunk costs.

Toronto (No. 9): The Raptors are likely to lose Bismack Biyombo to free agency, and will need a backup center behind Jonas Valanciunas. I think they look more at the 4 or wing spots, but Poeltl should be in play.

Milwaukee (No. 10): The Bucks need further depth inside any way they can get it. Poeltl could provide that, and his athleticism and ability to move his feet could fit well in their switching defensive scheme.

Orlando (No. 11): He'd be a bit of a different look than Nikola Vucevic due to his mobility.

Utah (No. 12): It would be relatively difficult for me to see him getting past Utah. The team could really use a nice backup center behind Rudy Gobert, he'd fit well with Derrick Favors and Trey Lyles, and there isn't really a big, athletic wing on the board here that the Jazz could look at.

Jakob Poeltl will have plenty of reason for high fives on June 23. USATSI

Tier 3

2. Ante Zizic | KK Cibona (Croatia) | Draft Range: No. 12-23

Utah (No. 12): The upper bound of his range, Utah would really need to fall in love with him to take him. But he'd fit well as a high-energy backup center behind Gobert.

Boston (No. 16/23): The Celtics have a definite need inside, plus have so many picks to burn in this draft that Europe will be a priority for them. Maybe they can convince him to stay overseas for a year as a high-level stash?

Detroit (No.18): The Pistons really need a backup center who can handle minutes behind Andre Drummond. Zizic's high rebounding numbers would probably appeal to player/coach Stan Van Gundy.

Indiana (No. 20): Larry Bird tends not to select Europeans in the first round, but the team has such a need in the frontcourt that Zizic's NBA-ready game might appeal to him.

Atlanta (No. 21): The Hawks might lose Al Horford in the offseason, meaning the need for a center could be there. Zizic, again, possesses an NBA-ready game from dominating in a high-level European League.

3. Ivica Zubac | Mega Leks (Serbia) | Draft Range: No. 12-26

With Zubac, you can basically copy the same range as Zizic, and add in Philadelphia. He has a bit more upside than Zizic as a prospect due to his towering size, but there are some questions that teams have in regard to his injury history that may make his stock a bit more volatile from team to team.

Tier 4

4. Damian Jones | Vanderbilt | Draft Range: No. 14-32

Jones underwent surgery to repair a pectoral muscle on June 11, as reported by The Vertical Saturday morning. Having shot a couple of quick texts around the league, I don't anticipate this affecting his draft stock. Here are a few fits for him.

Chicago (No. 14): The Bulls kick off a massive draft range here, as the team might find use for an athletic center with Joakim Noah leaving.

Boston (No. 16/23), Detroit (No. 18), Indiana (No. 20), Atlanta (No. 21): Again, as mentioned above, all three of these teams have needs inside.

Toronto (No. 27): If the Raptors go a different direction at No. 9, they could look to fill their impending backup center need at No. 27.

Golden State (No. 30): The Warriors have had great success with one Vanderbilt project big in Festus Ezeli. But with him potentially leaving in free agency, they could look to fill that hole with another.

Los Angeles (No. 32): The Lakers could really work here as a place for Jones, as the team used Robert Sacre at times last year in the middle. I'd be surprised if he fell past this.

5. Cheick Diallo | Kansas | Draft Range: No. 16-30

Boston (No. 16/23): The Celtics could very much use an athletic big man in the mold of Diallo who can run the floor and finish plays in transition and the pick-and-roll. They also have a good developmental haven in Maine in the D-League.

Detroit, Indiana, Atlanta: Again, these three teams will be in the mix for any big men.

Denver (No. 19): The Nuggets have enough big men, but Diallo would give them something they don't have beyond Kenneth Faried in the ability to run the floor and get out in transition with Emmanuel Mudiay.

Philadelphia (No. 24/26): The Sixers seem likely to move one of Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor (if not both), meaning they may want another project big man. He'd also fit with the kind of pace Brett Brown wants to run.

Toronto (No. 27): The Raptors will need a backup center and have a terrific developmental system in place both with the NBA team and the D-League team.

Phoenix (No. 28): He gives the Suns something different in the middle with his ability to handle pick-and-rolls and run the floor. As Tyson Chandler gets older, he struggles to do these things. However, he'd be the perfect mentor for a guy like Diallo.

Golden State (No. 30): The team has had luck with project bigs, and his ability to run would fit with their pace.

6. Chinanu Onuaku | Louisville | Draft Range: No. 26 to undrafted

I do not believe Onuaku goes undrafted. But with a heart condition hanging over his head currently and the way that we know potential injuries can affect stock, it would probably be relatively irresponsible to say it's a guarantee he gets selected. Still, based on skill, he's a late first to early second round pick. In my final mock draft, that's the range in which he'll be slotted. Here are some fits.

Philadelphia (No. 26), Toronto (No. 27): As mentioned, two teams that have a need at center spot by the end of the summer.

San Antonio Spurs (No. 29), Golden State (No. 30), Houston (No. 37): Three organizations that value analytics highly. Onuaku grades out quite well in that capacity due to his terrific rebounding and block rates at just 19 years old.

Boston (No. 31/35/45): Definite need inside and a ton of picks to spare.

Los Angeles Lakers (No. 32): Would be a terrific backup center option that could grow into becoming a starting with further offensive improvement.

Milwaukee (No. 36): He'd be a nice fit inside for the Bucks as a low-usage, good defensive center with a bit more girth than John Henson.

New Orleans (No. 39/40): Could be a nice developmental center option for them next to Anthony Davis as a primary rim protector.

Chinanu Onuaku has a pretty volatile range right now. USATSI

7. Georgios Papagiannis | Panathinaikos (Greece) | Draft Range: No. 23-No. 45

Papagiannis was a bit of a surprise international who decided to not withdraw from the draft. His range is pretty vast, but he could be helped if he's willing to stay in Greece for at least a year. I'll list the first-round teams below that could benefit. In the second round, just about anyone would be amenable to a good potential stash prospect.

Boston (No. 23/31/35/45): I'd imagine that Papagiannis will be in play for all of Boston's picks outside of the top two until he's selected, as they'll probably be looking to stash some bigs overseas.

Philadelphia (No. 24/26): Bryan Colangelo doesn't want to add three rookies to this roster if possible, meaning Papagiannis could work here.

Toronto (No. 27): Toronto could work even if he doesn't want to be stashed. Good developmental system. Need. Have had success with mobile, posting bigs like Jonas Valanciunas.

San Antonio Spurs (No. 29): The Spurs have a pretty uncertain offseason currently due to the Tim Duncan situation and others. They might want a player who has options in terms of whether or not he comes over or stays in Europe.

8. A.J. Hammons | Purdue | Draft Range: Second round to undrafted

Teams will need to vet Hammons well in order to see if they believe in him as a player. At his pro day two weeks ago, he looked to be in good shape and well conditioned. It will be important for him to sell teams that he's changed from his days when he was considered a low motor risk who has been suspended multiple times by Matt Painter. Every team in the second round that could use a big man will be in the market for Hammons.

9. Stephen Zimmerman | UNLV | Draft Range: All over the second round

Admittedly, I don't speak with representatives from every single team in the league. But I talk to quite a few, and I haven't heard one say that they're enamored with Zimmerman -- or that they've heard from anyone that he's a priority. It would be a surprise for me if he went in the first round. They point to the fact that while he's 7-feet tall, he doesn't quite play like it due to his long neck and somewhat limited explosiveness in short spaces. He's mobile, has potential to shoot it, and showed off some interesting passing ability that he showed in high school. But the key will be if he is strong enough to defend the interior and if he's quick enough to move around on the perimeter. He's hung his hat on defense in the past, he just needs to hope that the next level up doesn't expose him.

10. Diamond Stone | Maryland | Draft Range: No. 20-50

Teams have a bit higher of an opinion of Stone than I do. When I look at him, I see a guy who will be unplayable against a lot of different lineups in the modern NBA due to his inability to rebound and defend on the perimeter. To me, unless he gets into much better shape, he's a 20-minute per game player if things go right. But if teams think he can improve, there is some potential here. Here are some first round teams that could take the plunge.

Indiana (No. 20), Atlanta (No. 21), Charlotte (No. 22): All three have been mentioned as needing big men. He'd give Charlotte something a bit different with Al Jefferson potentially departing.

Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers (No. 25 and No. 32): He'd give the Clippers something a bit different than Cole Aldrich and DeAndre Jordan in the post due to his ability to post up for buckets. The Lakers just need big bodies.

Golden State (No. 30): Could lose Ezeli this summer, and have a strong developmental program. Not a perfect fit skill wise, but if they believe in his shooting they could try to make him Marreese Speights 2.0.