Written by: Dorjee D.
With the draft being less than 2 months away, mock drafts will be popping up everywhere. I will be sharing mine in the most detail possible. I’ll be explaining the prospects’ strengths and weaknesses. This is based on team needs and overall talent, as well as my knowledge of each prospect. With that being said, this year’s draft class is quite stacked, which will be hard to distinguish each pick. Everyone’s mock draft will be different and expect to see some controversial picks here. I will be sharing my first round first rather than the second round at a later date, Feel free to leave a comment regarding my mock draft, constructive criticism is more than welcome!
1. Detroit Pistons- Cade Cunningham 6’8 Guard/Forward
Cade Cunningham is going to be the first overall pick in the draft, no questions asked. He
has been the consensus number one pick for a long time now and I find this to be a great
selection for Detroit who struck gold in the draft lottery. Cade is hands down the most versatile
player in this draft class, being able to shoot, facilitate and get stuck in on defence. He is a
generational talent that would fit in any team. Detroit would benefit from this pick as it would
take less pressure off Jerami Grant. Having the first option like Cade is the right move for the
Pistons moving forward and I truly believe he can make them a perennial playoff team in the
future. He does not have a lot of flaws but they are noticeable at times. He isn’t the most athletic
player and sometimes struggles to take the rock to the basket in a strong and assertive way. He
also has a knack for committing silly turnovers but that can easily be resolved once he comes
into the NBA.
2. Houston Rockets- Evan Mobley 7’0 Center/Forward
Evan Mobley has been the consensus number 2 pick for a while now and I don’t see why
he won’t come draft night. Some people may be shouting out for Jalen Green here but I believe
that Mobley would be great in Houston’s system. He would slot right in at the power forward
position alongside emerging star Christian Wood which could end up being the “Twin Towers”
just like Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson many years ago. Mobley is a great defensive
presence and is a terrific shot blocker. He also has great pick-and-roll defence and can hold his
own against smaller, quicker players. His ability to finish off the pick and roll is excellent as he
shot 56.8% off pick and roll action plays. He has playmaking potential as well and isn’t shy to
handle the ball every once in a while. His major weakness is his size. He doesn’t have the
traditional big man play style such as being able to go into the post. Then again he can easily put
on some weight and become an intimidating force on offence.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers- Jalen Green 6’5 Guard
The most explosive player in this draft class, Green has superstar potential and this would
be an excellent pick for Cleveland. With the rumours of Colin Sexton being on the trade block,
why not draft a prolific scorer to pair alongside Darius Garland? Jalen’s ability to create his own
shot and get to the basket at will isn’t going unnoticed. The added bonus is that he played in the
G league and held his own, averaging 18 points on a respectable 46% from the field. He will be a
very entertaining player to watch as his craftiness and playstyle will please any viewer. He does
have some defensive potential as well since he’s so quick on his feet, but his defensive awareness
and IQ does need some work as he is sometimes lackadaisical on defence. This shouldn’t be a
big issue once he gets some real NBA experience.
4. Toronto Raptors- Jalen Suggs 6’4 Guard
The Toronto Raptors should be more than willing for us to draft the Gonzaga star. Suggs
is ideally the perfect replacement for Kyle Lowry and he would be a great fit alongside Fred
Vanvleet. He’s everything you need for a starting point guard, athleticism, facilitating, shooting
and is a terrific on-ball defender. He’s a great on and off-ball player and could play the 1 or 2
alongside Vanvleet who tends to thrive off the ball more. The Toronto Raptors also have one of
the best development teams in the league so Suggs definitely has the potential to become a
bonafide superstar for them. He is not the best finisher at the rim however and his shot creating
can be questionable at times but he is a steady and reliable guard who should fit in nicely with
Canada’s team.
5. Orlando Magic- Jonathan Kuminga 6’8 Forward
Kuminga is the biggest wildcard in this year’s class. A terrific defender and rebounder, as
well as a NBA-level body at only 18, he seems as a sure fire top 5 prospect. I see him as an
unpolished version of OG Anunoby, his defensive versatility will be key for Orlando. With
Jonathan Issac coming back this season, Orlando would have a scary young defensive frontcourt
alongside Wendell Carter jr. at the 5. A major weakness for Kuminga is his outside shooting and
ball handling. He showed carelessness with the ball at times and he would benefit greatly with a
good handle. He shot 24.6% from three last season with the G league Ignite which is a major red
flag. However I do believe he can develop a jump shot as he plays more and gains NBA
experience.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder – Moses Moody 6’6 Guard/Forward
Moody is one of the best shot creators in the class and would be a great selection for
OKC. Slotting him at small forward would create an exciting young big 3 alongside Shai
Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort. What makes Moses even more valuable is his defence.
He is a great on-ball defender and shows potential to be a great two way player in this league. He
is also a great outside shooter which makes him even more deadly and helps spread the floor. He
is not the best at finishing at the rim and his ball-handling certainly needs work, but his offensive
skill set and defensive impact makes up for it.
7. Golden State Warriors – Scottie Barnes 6’9 Forward
If the Warriors decide to keep this pick, I believe that Scottie would be a perfect pick for
them. He is a great playmaker at his size, good in transition and finding his teammates for good
shots. His defensive versatility is incredible for his age, he can guard the 1-4 positions really well
and this will add more defence for the warriors front court. He reminds me of Draymond Green
and I believe Draymond can teach Scottie all there is to know about being a leader and
commanding presence on defence. His offensive skill set is extremely raw however, his outside
shooting is poor and he is not a good free throw shooter. He did show flashes of offensive spurts
and I believe he will be a great all-around player in the league
8. Orlando Magic (via Chicago) – Keon Johnson 6’5 Guard
The Magic have a very interesting decision to make at the 8th spot. Of course, this pick
was from the Nikola Vucevic trade and Orlando was fortunate enough to get another lottery pick
as the Bulls had a rough second half of the season. Keon Johnson is one of the most dynamic and
explosive players in the class and he would definitely light up a spark in Orlando during their
rebuild. He registered a 48 inch vertical leap at the draft combine which broke the record, which
is not only incredible but scary for opposing guards. His leaping ability helps him at attacking
the basket and will make for some great highlights. He is also a great perimeter defender and
that’s what Orlando needs. The big question is regarding his jumpshot, if he develops a
respectable jumper he will be a crucial player to any team.
9. Sacramento Kings – Jalen Johnson 6’9 Forward
The Kings would benefit greatly from drafting Johnson. With Harrison Barnes possibly
being a trade piece, they need a versatile forward replacement and Johnson would slot in nicely.
He is a very athletic player and his size is impressive. He is one of the best players in transition
in the class, being able to finish strongly at the rim will be key. He has potential to be a great
passer, being able to find his teammates in transition and kicking out to open shooters is a great
skill to have for any player. He is a good on-ball defender as well and this is due to his motor and
long wingspan/size. His offensive skill set is raw however, he tends to struggle to create his own
shot and that’s something he has to work on. He is a decent shooter however and has the
capability to be a solid all-around forward.
10. New Orleans Pelicans – Franz Wagner 6’9 Forward
One thing that the Pelicans is lacking is good perimeter defenders, and Franz Wagner
certainly fills a need for them. A great on-ball defender, he can guard multiple positions and this
is extremely valuable for any NBA team. He has potential to be a great shooter, and his ability to
spread the floor would be key as 3 and D players are a hot commodity in today’s NBA. He can
facilitate at a quality level as well and thrives in transition. His main area of concern is his ability
to finish around the rim and shot creation. He can’t finish well with his left hand, being too
comfortable with his right can lead to predictability and his lack of explosiveness is a negative
factor as well. That being said, he wouldn’t need to create his own shot and be the primary scorer
as that role is filled by Zion and Ingram.
11. Charlotte Hornets – Kai Jones 6’11 Center
With Cody Zeller potentially heading into unrestricted free agency, they need a starting
center and Jones would be a perfect replacement. He is a very athletic center, being able to drive
to the basket quite effectively and this helps him on defence as well. He thrives in transition,
finishing 75.8% of his attempts last season. He is a fantastic cutter as well, supply him with a
point guard like Lamelo Ball and he’ll be catching lobs on a daily basis. He has shooting
potential and he’s a relatively decent outside shooter. He is a very versatile defender, being able
to guard multiple positions and is one of the best shot blockers in the class. He is a bit light in
frame, and putting on a few more pounds will help him because at times he was being pushed
around on defence. He is also a bit erratic when driving, resulting in silly turnovers.With this
pick, Charlotte will have their big future to pair alongside Lamelo and become one of their best
bigs since Alonzo Mourning and Al Jefferson.
12. San Antonio Spurs – Josh Giddey 6’8 Guard/Forward
Josh Giddey being this high may raise a few eyebrows but I believe he would thrive in
SA. He is one of the best facilitators in the class and some may argue he is the best at disturbing
the ball to his teammates. He has a soft touch at the rim as well, which is a necessity as he isn’t
the most explosive player. Under Popovich’s system I believe he would thrive and would
develop into a solid wing playmaker or “point forward”. His outside shooting is poor but if he
fixes his shooting motion he should end up being a respectable shooter. He isn’t the best
defender either and gets blown by pretty easily on defence. He is one of the youngest prospects
in the class however, and he has so much raw potential so it’s worth the risk. If it’s any team to
maximize his skillset and potential it’s the San Antonio Spurs.
13. Indiana Pacers – Davion Mitchell 6’1 Guard
One of the best shot creators in the class, Davion Mitchell would bring excitement and
flair to a relatively traditional team in the Indiana Pacers. He’s one of the oldest prospects in the
class, turning 23 before the season so he is the most NBA ready prospect. His offensive skill set
is second to none, and his defence is very impressive despite being 6’1. He is a great ball handler
as well, being able to create his own shot through his craftiness. Pairing him with Malcolm
Brogdon would bring a perfect balance in the Indiana backcourt. His facilitating has potential as
well, being able to find his teammates on a regular basis is what he should excel at. His free
throw shooting definitely needs work however, shooting 64% as a guard isn’t going to cut it. His
fundamentals are there however, and he should be a respectable foul line shooter in the league.
14. Golden State Warriors – James Bouknight 6’5 Guard
This would be a dream pick for the Warriors if he falls to them. The UCONN guard is a
great scorer, being able to do so in all 3 levels. His 3 point shooting is second to none, and his
ability to finish at the rim is superb. Bringing him off the bench alongside Jordan Poole would
make a fierce second unit backcourt and he could learn under the greatest shooters we’ve seen in
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Bouknight also showed his athletic nature at times and this
makes him an even more versatile shooting guard. His major flaw is his poor perimeter defence
and IQ. He isn’t the worst at reading passing lanes. I’ll give him that but he tends to ball watch
often instead of rotating to the next man in front of him. Overall, he would be a great fit in this
Warriors system which is all about pace and space and constant moving, would be an eclectic
spark plug off the bench.
15. Washington Wizards – Corey Kispert 6’7 Guard/Forward
The Wizards need more forward depth and Kispert would be a solid pick for them.
Undoubtedly the best shooter in the class, he would benefit from getting good looks from a
premier playmaker named Russell Westbrook. He shot 40.8% off catch and shoot attempts in his
final season in Gonzaga and is good on the transition as well. He does need to work on his shot
creation, but this shouldn’t be a big issue as he won’t be one of the main scoring options. He is a
solid team defender as well, but struggles in 1v1 situations as his lateral quickness isn’t the best.
His playmaking is quite underrated as well and this skill would be pretty useful for more fluid
ball movement. Kispert will be a great role player at worst for the Wizards and his shooting will
always be valued.
16. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Boston) – Alperen Sengun 6’9 Center
Labeled by some as the “Turkish Nikola Jokic” he is the best playmaking big in the class
and does have jokic-esque qualities. Great post game and has outside shooting potential. He is
also a great rebounder. OKC would benefit from a versatile center after trading Moses Brown.
He played in the Turkish Super League so he already has more experience than most of the
players in the class. He even won MVP last season and he’s only 18, an impressive feat as it was
his third season playing with grown men. His major area of concern is on defence, although he is
a fantastic shot blocker, being slightly undersized and his poor positioning makes him easy to
attack at the rim. His wingspan is a saving grace however and he will probably hold his own in
the NBA when he’s in better conditioning as he’s always going to contest a shot.
17. Memphis Grizzlies – Usman Garuba 6’8 Forward
One of the best defenders in the class. Usman Garuba would suit Memphis’s culture as
being a grit and grind type of player. His defensive versatility is outstanding, being able to
defend the perimeter and interior effectively. His playmaking is also quite good, being able to
dish it out to his teammates in the pick and roll or finding cutters. He also has a ton of
experience, playing for Real Madrid allowed him to play against grown men and accomplished
athletes. His offensive game is extremely raw however, and he has many key areas to work on
such as his outside shooting and touch at the rim. He reminds me of an unpolished Bam
Adebayo, his defensive prowess will definitely not go to waste and I believe his scoring can be
developed with the more games he plays.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami) – Ziaire Williams 6’9 Forward
Ziaire Willaims is one of the most interesting prospects in the class. He suffered many
off-court issues such as missing games due to Covid-19 protocols , lost 2 family members and
sustained a knee injury that he played with for the season. However I believe he has a ton of
upside and OKC would be very fortunate to have him. He is a very versatile player, his offensive
skill set is quite polished and his playmaking potential is definitely something to keep an eye on.
His defensive impact is also superb, a good perimeter defender who always shows 110% effort.
If he gets a bit stronger and gains more muscle he would be even more effective as that is his
biggest area of concern. His finishing ability is a bit raw as well, and hopefully he becomes a
more steady player when driving to the basket this is due to his strength/size. He is still one of
the most intriguing prospects in the class and has more upside than downside.
19. New York Knicks – Tre Mann 6’4 Guard
The Knicks just came off a great season, making the playoffs for the first time in 8 years.
Nevertheless, Elfrid Payton should not be in the rotation for next season and I believe Tre Mann
would be an ideal pick for them. His offensive skill set is very good, being able to score off the
dribble and his outside shooting is good. He’s an athletic player who uses his handles and
craftiness to create his own shot quite well and he is a good playmaker. I do however think he’s a
bit erratic with the ball which resulted in silly turnovers, and he isn’t the best defender. His
wingspan puts him at a disadvantage but I believe he will be a great spark plug off the bench. He
also has Derrick Rose as his teammate to mentor him which is good company to have as his
qualities as a three-level scorer will be put to good use.
20. Atlanta Hawks – Jared Butler 6’4 Guard
Butler’s offensive skill set would be very valuable to the already offensively talented
Atlanta Hawks team who just came off an unexpected conference finals berth. He is a great
outside shooter and is fantastic at handling the ball. His ability to create his own shot by using
his craftiness should not be unnoticed. He is a solid defender as well, holding his own at the
perimeter. He would be the perfect player to bring off the bench and help the scoring output
when Trae Young is on the bench. He isn’t the best finisher at the rim and is turnover prone, but
his offensive consistency makes up for it. If he becomes more assertive when he drives to the rim
he would be a serious threat on offence.
21. New York Knicks (via Dallas) – Josh Cristopher 6’5 Guard/Forward
A very versatile scoring wing, this would help out the bench production for New York
which was lacking on many occasions last season. Christopher’s offensive versatility is very
impressive, being able to create his own shot effectively. He’s very athletic as well, which helps
him finish at the rim on a consistent basis. He has shown flashes of playmaking brilliance and
this makes him even more well-rounded and he shouldn’t be known as just a pure scorer. His shot
selection is a bit questionable at times however, and while his defence isn’t the worst, he has
lapses of poor man to man defending and rotations. Cristopher would bring excitement to this
already fun Knicks team and bring more bench scoring.
22. Los Angeles Lakers – Isaiah Jackson 6’10 Center
The Lakers need a center, plain and simple. With Gasol at the twilight end of his career
and Harrell having a disappointing season. As well as Drummond being a negative more than a
positive, Jackson would be an ideal pick to fill in at the 5. He’s one of the best shot blockers in
the class and is great at contesting shots, something the Lakers did not have too often last
season.Great post defender and is great in the interior, always contesting a shot in close
proximity. He’s a fairly decent free throw shooter, shooting 70% from the charity stripe and that
will allow him to get some on the board as his offensive game is pretty raw. He has been working
on his jump shot however and if he is able to be a respectable outside shooter it would work
wonders for him. Keep in mind that he’ll be playing alongside one of the greatest players of all
time, some guy named LeBron James, so his offensive output could be fulfilled with easy baskets.
23. Houston Rockets (via Portland) – Sharife Cooper 6’1 Guard
Cooper’s skill set would benefit under Stephen Silas which is why they should draft him
if he’s still available. A speedy and shifty point guard, he is great at facilitating and setting up his
teammates in P&R situations as well as kicking it out when driving. He is a solid on-ball
defender as well, he holds his own despite being undersized. He is great at drawing fouls, which
allows him to be at the free throw line often. His scoring skillset is very unpolished however, as
he isn’t the best outside shooter and is a poor finisher at the basket. I believe he can develop a
jump shot however and he would have the opportunity of playing with experienced point guard
John Wall.
24. Houston Rockets (via Milwaukee) – Jaden Springer 6’4 Guard
Springer is one of the youngest in the class, but already shows valuable skills for any
NBA team. His defence is great, being able to move laterally well and has a high motor and
defensive IQ. His playmaking is promising as he finds his teammates quite frequently and is
good in transition. He’s very athletic as well, which allows him to be solid defensively and
driving to the basket. His offensive game is very raw, his outside shooting and shot creating
definitely needs work but he certainly has the capabilities to do so. He’s still only 18 and has so
much room to grow, this pick gives Houston more defensive stability for the backcourt.
25. Los Angeles Clippers – Chris Duarte 6’6 Guard/Forward
The Clippers would benefit from Duarte’s outside shooting and defensive help. A very
efficient catch and shoot player, shooting 47.7% in his last season at Oregon. He’s a good shot
creator as well, being able to shoot off the dribble at an efficient rate. He’s a good slasher as well,
being able to finish at the rim on a consistent basis, which makes his offensive skill set even
more useful. His playmaking isn’t the best, he’s more of a pure scorer who needs others to feed
him the ball or multiple screens and rolls. Although his help-defence is solid, he tends to get
blown by on 1v1 defence scenarios. This a relatively safe pick from LA who would benefit from
another dynamic bench scorer.
26. Denver Nuggets – Trey Murphy III 6’9 Forward
Murphy is a great shooter at his size, shooting 41.7% on catch and shoot attempts last
season. His shooting stroke is impressive for a taller player, and has the fundamentals to be a
great shooter in the league. He is a solid defender as well, being able to guard multiple positions
on the floor and his length and wingspan helps him to contain and contest shots. He is a very
efficient finisher at the rim, and is good at cutting to the basket. He would get so many easy
baskets because he would have the privilege of playing with Nikola Jokic. His major flaw is his
poor rebounding. He needs to be able to box out better in order to get defensive rebounds and his
motor isn’t the best in terms of getting physical in the post. He would be an ideal pick for Denver
who needs some depth with aging forward Paul Millsap and JaMychal Green not having much
left in the tank.
27. Brooklyn Nets – Day’Ron Sharpe 6’11 Center
The Nets need a center badly, Claxton is promising but Deandre Jordan is clearly
showing his age and is not going to help a championship contender like Brooklyn. Sharpe is one
of the best rebounders in the class and is an elite offensive rebounder. His motor is incredible and
he is not afraid to get physical. He is a great shot blocker and is a surprisingly decent perimeter
defender, his interior defence would greatly benefit the Nets. His facilitating skills goes
unnoticed by many, he is a great passer off the high post and knows when to kick out to open
teammates. His offensive game is raw however and a key improvement has to be his jumpshot.
This issue is not too severe as he would be playing on the most talented offensive team in the
NBA. KD, Kyrie and Harden would be taking most of the shots and that definitely takes pressure
off Sharpe which would enable him to get on the offensive side of the glass.
28. Philadelphia 76ers – Cam Thomas – 6’4 Guard
Thomas is one of the best scorers in the class, the reason why he dropped this low is
because his defence is absolutely terrible. He is a great 3-level scorer, fluid jumpshot and is a
good outside shooter. He is excellent at drawing fouls and converts his free throws at a good rate.
He’s known for making tough shots and he shows flashes of Lou Williams. His defence is his
major flaw. His defensive ability and IQ is really bad BUT he has the capabilities to be an
average defender in this league. He’s an athletic and physical player, so if he used that to his
advantage on defence compared to offence he would be somewhat decent. He is pretty erratic
when driving to the rim, and needs to improve there. This would be a low risk pick for Philly as
they would benefit from pairing him with Tyrese Maxey, a supremely offensively talented young
second unit backcourt.
29. Phoenix Suns – Brandon (BJ) Boston 6’7 Guard/Forward
Although Boston had a very underwhelming season at Kentucky, I believe that he has
potential to be a solid role player in the league. He has the potential to be a solid outside shooter
and scorer. He is a decent defender as well, being able to read passing lanes extremely well. He
isn’t a good finisher at the rim however, and his shot selection and consistency is questionable.
He would benefit from playing under CP3 and Devin Booker, being able to learn from them and
become a better player.. This a bit of a risky pick but this won’t hurt the Suns too much as
they’re a championship caliber team already.
30. Utah Jazz – Na’Shon (Bones) Hyland 6’4 Guard
Bones is an exciting player to watch and would be a solid pick for the Jazz. His offensive
skill set is very impressive, being able to create his own shot and is a fantastic outside shooter.
His ability to shoot off the dribble and make them consistently, as well as making shots from
deep is gonna be useful for any team and pleasing for the casual NBA viewer. He is good at
reading passing lanes as well and he’s a solid team defender. He isn’t a good on-ball defender
however and he has a knack for committing silly turnovers. He isn’t very assertive with the ball
either which can be exploited by wiser, experienced defenders. Overall this would be a exciting
pick for Utah and he would form a fierce backcourt with Jordan Clarkson off the bench.