written by: Bert
The NBA draft lottery has finally been set! With this, mock draft season is imminent. I’ll try to explain my picks as best I can. I will be considering team need as well as best player available to create as accurate of a mock draft as I can possibly create! If you disagree with any of my picks comment down below and give me your reasoning as to who I should have higher or lower!
This is all just my opinion based on my knowledge of the prospects and teams selecting them along with some reports that have come out about team’s interests heading into the draft.
This year’s draft has a consensus #1 overall pick, and 4 other prospects who will for sure go top 5. The question for them is what order they go in. From 6-30, well, it’s the single most subjective and disagreed upon draft that I’ve ever seen.
1. Detroit Pistons – Cade Cunningham 6’8 PG/SF
Cade is the consensus number 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. He can do it all, pass, shoot, play defense, play multiple positions, you name it. He will likely end up being a talent we all tune in to watch most of his games.
The question here now is what happens to Killian Hayes. In my opinion, Hayes cannot succeed next to Cade, both of their games do not mesh together and would not unlock each other’s potentials. Most likely scenario here is Hayes will likely be traded. The Pistons may try to play them together for a year, but eventually, I do believe Killian will no longer be a Detroit Piston.
2. Houston Rockets – Jalen Green 6’6 SG/SF
Now this is where the draft gets a bit contested and the readers at home might personally disagree with me. Normally, I would slot Evan Mobley here. He has been projected to go right after Cade ever since even before the conclusion of the NCAA tournament. However, in the case of the Houston Rockets, I would go with Jalen Green here. Christian Wood is a stud for the Rockets and I don’t see them trying to move him back to PF. He’s been too effective at center for them. Mobley in my opinion also cannot play PF full time. So, I think the Rockets would rather go with the person who has the highest upside.
Jalen Green is a fantastic scorer, he played for the G-League Ignite this past year and he was electric to watch. He’s the best pure scorer in this draft. Putting up almost 18 a night against grown men is no easy task and yet, that’s exactly what he did. He’s a freak athlete and has a nice pull up game. Reminds me of a more refined Anthony Edwards. He has defensive upside as well and I think a group of him, Christian Wood, and Kevin Porter Jr gives this team a lot of potential to eventually become one of the best offenses in the entire NBA once again.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers – Evan Mobley 7’0 C/PF
If this really happens, the Cavs should be ecstatic to pick up Mobley here. The Cavs organization has been drafting BPA (Best Player Available) instead of best fit for a while now, and Evan Mobley is the best player available. One of the best defensive prospects in the draft and very mobile. He’s been compared to AD and Bam but I don’t think he fits either criteria as Bam is a better playmaker and AD is… well…. better in almost every way. Mobley has potential to stretch his shot to the 3 which would help out Garland tremendously.
The only question is, what do they do with Jarrett Allen if this pick goes down? They could try to play Mobley at PF but like I said earlier, I don’t trust him as a full time 4. Maybe they end up trading Allen? Or maybe they end up trading down with the Magic or Thunder for this pick and taking a better fitting prospect in Kuminga as well as grabbing another prospect to help bolster their depth? There have been reports that the Cavaliers may try to trade this pick. However, that’s just a rumor, and in reality, only time will tell.
4. Toronto Raptors – Jalen Suggs 6’4 SG/PG
The Raptors should be excited about Jalen Suggs. If Lowry is gone, he is a perfect replacement. He does just about everything Lowry can do. He projects as a really solid playmaker, shot creator, defender, and overall leader. Scouts have been questioning the consistency of his shot and admittedly I have been as well. If there’s a team that I trust to develop Suggs to his full potential though, it’s the Toronto Raptors. If Lowry sticks around to the deadline, he could teach Suggs a thing or two and really be a fantastic mentor to him. He also fits great as a backcourt mate to Fred Vanvleet, who is at his best off-ball. Suggs can play both on and off-ball and overall is just a great fit next to Vanvleet and could form a top 10 backcourt with him.
5. Orlando Magic – Jonathan Kuminga 6’7 SF
Kuminga is one of the biggest boom or bust players in this draft. He also played with the G League Ignite as a teammate of Jalen Green. He’s projected as an elite defender, rebounder, and driver of the basketball, but his 3 pointer needs serious work as he only shot 24% from 3. The Magic can take this chance however, because if Kuminga can reach his ceiling he could really become a superstar.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder – Scottie Barnes 6’9 PF/SF
Scottie Barnes stock has been rising all throughout the year and has finally setlled as a top 6 pick. Some even have him ranked above Kuminga. Scottie can do just about everything on the floor except shoot/score. He’s got a whole lot of potential if he can ever just develop a jump shot. Could end up as a top 5 talent in the draft if he puts all his tools together at the next level. This pick would be a great consolation for the Thunder who got a little screwed by the lottery.
7. Golden State Warriors (via Minnesota) – Moses Moody 6’6 SG/SF
I love this selection here for the Warriors. Moody projects as a 3 and D guy with some upside as a shot creator. He’s got a 7 foot wingspan and he would fit in perfectly with the Warriors system. Klay Thompson is the perfect person for Moody to sit back and learn from and model his game after. With Klay Thompson having barely played in the past 2 years, it could be nice to get a possible replacement for him at this pick just in case Klay ends up going down with another injury or doesn’t look the same.
There’s a number of possibilities here for the Warriors though and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they went with anyone from Davion Mitchell to Franz Wagner here as well.
8. Orlando Magic (via Chicago) – James Bouknight 6’5 SG
The Magic have done a great job consolidating talent at the wing. Jonathan Isaac and Kuminga (who they picked earlier) could become the best defensive wing duo in the league. So why not take a player here who has a lot of Bradley Beal and Zach Lavine in his game? While not being good on defense at all, James Bouknight is one of the most electric offensive talents in the draft. He can score at all 3 levels and even has some upside as a passer. He’s great on or off the ball and brings the Magic something they desperately could use, which is a first option on offense who can create his own shot.
9. Sacramento Kings – Franz Wagner 6’9 SF/PF
Kings could use help just about anywhere, but especially on defense. Wagner projects as a versatile multi-positional defender with offensive upside. His shooting consistency needs a lot of work, but I like his form and think that within a few years he could end up as a very solid shooter. He had to carry a lot of the offense on that Michigan team this past year, but he won’t have to do that here with Fox. Haliburton, and Hield on roster. He’s also a solid passer with a lot of potential on that end. He’s very high IQ and helps his team in just about every facet of the game. He needs to get his weight up as well, but that is something able to be fixed. He reminds me of Gordon Hayward but a less consistent shooter.
P.S. You may know his brother, Mo Wagner!
10. New Orleans Pelicans – Cory Kispert 6’7 SF/SG
Best shooter in the draft, simple as that. Pelicans need floor spacers badly next to Zion Williamson and Kispert is the best in the draft at that. He also projects as an above average passer and a solid team defender. While Kispert has a lower ceiling than some other guys in the draft, he’s pretty NBA ready in terms of his shooting and his floor is more well defined. At worst he’ll still likely be one of the best shooters on your team. If the Pelicans really want to start winning games and develop a winning culture, this is an absolutely perfect pick for the Pelicans who need exactly what Kispert provides them.
11. Charlotte Hornets – Alperen Sengun 6’9 C
While being a little undersized, Sengun is one of the most interesting center prospects in the draft. He’s very solid offensively, even showing signs of a consistent 3 ball. He’s a fantastic rebounder as well. Sengun is a Turkish player who played in the Turkish Super League where he just won MVP at the age of 18 turning 19. He lead the Turkish Super League in scoring, field goal %, effective field goal %, and offensive rebounds. This is all playing against other grown men in Turkey which has some of the best basketball leagues in the world. The Hornets need a center badly, and this could be a great pick here. With the Olympics coming up soon, Sengun could increase his stock a lot by playing well for Turkey.
His biggest questions are on his defense in space, but he’s still a solid shot blocker and has a very long wingspan so post defense should be fine for him. If he can continue to score like this he would be a dream pairing with Lamelo Ball who could get him so many open looks and would allow the Hornets to run a 5 out offense.
12. San Antonio Spurs – Usman Garuba 6’8 PF
The Spurs international scouting is second to none and nobody has better defensive tape in this draft than Usman Garuba from Real Madrid. Losing LaMarcus Aldridge leaves the spurs with a big hole down low. Garuba is a very raw prospect on offense but his defense is incredible. The numbers don’t speak the whole story on him but he can guard multiple positions on defense. If anyone can develop Garuba into a Draymond Green type talent, the Spurs definitely can. In my opinion I think this is a great fit.
13. Indiana Pacers – Keon Johnson 6’5 SG
This is far enough for Keon Johnson to fall. While I’m not particularly high on Johnson myself, many other teams are reported to be. This pick is a simple one. The Pacers had some of the worst perimeter defense in the league this year (and interior without Myles Turner) and Johnson is one of the best perimeter defenders in the draft. The questions with Keon lie with his jump shot. If he can’t develop a consistent jumper, he might end up as just another bench guy brought in to play defense. If he can get the jump shot going, his defense and shooting could end up being a key piece to a championship team. So the boom or bust potential of Keon relies mostly on his jump shot getting better in the NBA. He is also one of the best athletes in the draft, which is something you cannot teach.
They could also very well target Davion Mitchell here as well, it wouldn’t be a surprise to me. Speaking of Mitchell….
14. Golden State Warriors – Davion Mitchell 6’1 PG/SG
Davion could go anywhere from 7-14. If he falls here I believe the Warriors will immediately snatch him up. He projects to be a solid defender and shooter which is exactly what the warriors build their identity around. He is also expected to be the most NBA ready prospect because of his age (turning 23 this year). I have some red flags on Mitchell, personally I think he’s being a little overhyped. This is not to say he’ll be BAD but I’m just not sure he’ll live up to the expectations many others have given him. He’s coming out of a senior season where his shooting splits took a massive leap almost out of nowhere. That’s a red flag to me because I find that players that explode onto the scene like this in their senior year typically underperform in the NBA. However, if he proves me wrong, he could end up being a really solid player to give Steph a break and shoulder a lot of offensive load when he’s not in the game.
15. Washington Wizards – Ziaire Williams 6’9 SF
The Wizards have a serious need at the SF position. With Moody, Kispert, and Wagner gone, the Wizards would likely take Ziaire Williams here. Ziaire has one of the highest ceilings in the draft but had an overall disappointing season at Stanford. While he didn’t shoot well on paper, a lot of his shots weren’t horribly missing, they were simply not going in. Not to mention his situation at Stanford was really difficult as he lost 2 family members during the time, was playing with a knee brace on a hurt knee, and had almost no home games due to COVID protocols at Stanford not letting them play on their home court.
I’m still a big fan of him. He was rated as an easy top 10 talent before his season with Stanford and I think he still has the potential to show that in the NBA. Ziaire has a lot to work on, shooting efficiency, shot IQ, and finishing inside. His biggest weakness is his strength, however. If he can get his strength up it would immediately fix a lot of his game as he would be able to drive it better and shoot more efficiently there. He has a lot of things going for him too, he’s one of the best pull-up shooters in the draft, he has real potential as a passer, he’s a solid rebounder, and his defense is very underrated, with Ziaire taking full advantage of his length to grab steals and keep other players from shooting right over him. Overall he’s a boom or bust, but I think he will succeed in the NBA and he will be a great future piece for the Washington Wizards.
And with this pick, please Washington, no more Raul Neto at SF.
16. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Boston) – Josh Giddey 6’8 SF/PG
If Giddey is available here the Thunder should be celebrating. His stock has been rising slowly throughout this year and he has a serious shot to go in the lottery of this years draft. He’s a fantastic playmaker and can be compared to one Lamelo Ball in most areas of his game. His jump shot needs work, as does his shot IQ, but he can definitely re-tool his form and I believe he will. This pick might end up being an absolute steal for the Thunder if it ends up happening. However he is also a big boom or bust. He could end up like Lamelo or get triple doubles on the regular or he could end up like a worse version of Lonzo Ball. He’s a risky pick but one that is worth taking for sure.
17. Memphis Grizzlies – Kai Jones 6’11 C
This feels like a Grizzlies pick. Kai Jones plays with grit and determination. He’s a very solid shot blocker already but very raw in most places. he’s also extremely athletic and offers Ja Morant another lob threat down low. Sitting behind Jonas Valanciunas could be REALLY good for him, as he’d be mentored in how to score the ball efficiently and maybe even develop into Jonas but with much better defense. Kai can also shoot the ball a little bit and projects to be able to stretch his jump shot out to mid range and 3 point range. Kai has a lot of potential and he could very well end up being one of the best centers in this draft in a few years. With this pick the Grizzlies also now have insurance for when Jonas gets too old.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami) – Cam Thomas 6’4 SG
Cam Thomas is one of the best pure scorers in the draft. His only problem? He’s REALLY bad on defense. The Thunder don’t mind that too much, however, because they could really use the scoring punch off the bench. Thomas could also play well next to Lu Dort who would cover for his defensive weaknesses. To me, Thomas seems like he could be the next Lou Williams.
19. New York Knicks – Isaiah Jackson 6’10 C
One of the best defensive centers in the draft. At Kentucky he averaged 2.6 blocks a GAME in only 20 minutes. Extend that to 36 minutes and he averages about 4. Great post defender and shoots 70% from the FT line. That could project well into him developing a 3 point shot. If he can, it’ll be a deadly weapon in his arsenal and would help the Knicks a lot.
For the Knicks they also need some consistent paint presence. Mitchell Robinson is hurt pretty often and Nerlens Noel might not stick around for a long time. Getting Jackson ensures that even with injuries, the Knicks will have a consistent paint defender who has potential to stretch it out to the 3 on offense as well. Tre Mann would also be considered here but we’ll get to that in a minute.
20. Atlanta Hawks – Sharife Cooper 6’1 PG
The Hawks could use someone like Cooper who can run the offense while Trae Young sits. He plays fast like Trae and is one of the best playmakers in the draft. He has a lot of potential if only he can learn how to shoot. Recent footage has shown his shot form has gotten better, and Trae Young himself could give Cooper some pointers. He’s not a bad defender for his height either. Cooper could settle really nicely into a 6th man role in Atlanta, and would add even more depth than the Hawks already have
21. New York Knicks (via Dallas) – Jaden Springer 6’4 PG
I like this fit in New York because Jaden is a lot of what they need. He’s not the best playmaker per say but he’s been improving and can hit open guys in stride. He’s also projected to be a really solid shooter and good defender. I know coach Thibs doesn’t play rookies much, but Springer’s defense could force Thibs hand into playing him earlier than he might have thought. I could definitely see Tre Mann being the selection here once again and I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened. However I think Jaden could help them a bit more immediately
22. Los Angeles Lakers – Chris Duarte 6’6 SG
Chris Duarte is speculated to have been given a draft promise in the first round. I’m betting that team is the Los Angeles Lakers who need all of what Duarte brings. Duarte is a really solid shooter and defender. He could take Wes Matthews role and immediately come in and look better. He’s seen as another NBA ready prospect and I have to agree. Being 24, he better be NBA ready that is! He’d be a really nice piece to this Lakers team who could always use more defense and who would love more shooting around Lebron and AD.
23. Houston Rockets (via Portland) – Jalen Johnson 6’9 PF
This is a bit lower than a lot of mock drafts have Johnson going, but I think he needs to be in a certain situation in order to succeed. I think Houston could really be that situation. Jalen is very raw at almost every aspect of the game but he is hyper athletic and a solid shot blocker. He has a lot of potential in his shooting form (which I don’t think is too bad) and he has a lot of upside as a passer. His vision is surprisingly solid for a player his size and if he develops his game he could end up being the long coveted “point forward” type of player.
24. Houston Rockets (via Milwaukee) – Tre Mann 6’4 PG
Rockets should be drafting for upside here. Tre Mann is likely going to be the best player available here. Mann has shown drastic improvements from year to year as not only a shot creator, but as a playmaker. His defense isn’t bad either, but his short wingspan puts him at a disadvantage and it will be harder for him to become a solid defender. John Wall could also help mentor Mann with his playmaking, as not so long ago, Wall was one of the best playmakers in the NBA. He could be a really nice duo with Jalen Green and Jalen Johnson (the previous two picks for Houston).
I could also see them taking a swing at BJ Boston here seeing as they don’t have an early second round pick.
25. Los Angeles Clippers – Day’Ron Sharpe 6’11 C
Clippers have a big need for a center. Zubac doesn’t always cut it for them defensively and Serge Ibaka is too injury prone and old. Day’Ron Sharpe could help boost their post defense and allow them to match up with bigger guys down low instead of needing to go small ball most of the time. He can block shots but that’s not exactly his forte. Sharpe excels at rebounding and sticking with his defender. Sharpe has a high defensive IQ and is one of the best rebounders in the draft. His big problem is offense. he needs to seriously improve at a number of areas on offense in order to be anything more than a bench guy brought in to defend once in a while.
I could also see them going Trey Murphy or Jared Butler here but we’ll get to them soon enough.
26. Denver Nuggets – Trey Murphy 6’9 PF/SF
Trey Murphy is a very slept on prospect in my opinion. He is a bit older at 21, but I think he’s going to be very solid at the next level. He played his role at UVA very well and I think he’d fit in great in Denver. He shot 50/40/90 in college and was a great offensive weapon who could do it all. He doesn’t make many mistakes and he’s got a high IQ. Murphy is a good swing passer as well, the master of the hockey assist. Now he’s not locking anyone down any time soon but I think his defense is a little better than some give him credit for and I think the Nuggets will be able to develop him really well into reaching his full potential which could be a worse version of Khris Middleton in my opinion.
Jared Butler is also a very real option for them here.
27. Brooklyn Nets – Neemias Queta 7’0 C
There’s no getting around it, Brooklyn needs an inside presence badly. They need someone to hold down the paint but also be quick enough to keep up with a guy like Giannis who can really move for his size. To combat this, I introduce to you, the most slept on center in the entire draft, Neemias Queta. Queta may be turning 22 soon, but I don’t see this as a downside considering how much he can already do. He can defend multiple positions with his foot speed, he’s tall and long, and he’s a really good playmaker. His assist numbers look worse than they should be because he didn’t play with many good shooters to maximize his talent, but trust me, he’s probably the best playmaking big man in the whole draft. He’s also a really good rebounder and has a high PER. The only thing holding him back is his jump shot, but in mid range, he’s not bad, and around Kyrie, Harden, Durant, and Green he won’t have to space the floor too much. Plus he shot 70% from the line this past season. Which is a good sign he could stretch his shot out even further.
I really like Queta and I think the Nets would be drafting an absolute STEAL with this pick. He will have some things to work on such as his shot, weight, and turnovers. However, I think he can fix all that and become a legitimate solid starting center in the NBA.
28. Philadelphia 76ers – Jared Butler 6’4 PG/SG
At this point, this should be a no-brainer for the Sixers. Butler is a solid defender who is projected to shoot the 3 well at the NBA level. The Sixers could use as much shooting and defense as possible if they intend to keep Ben Simmons. Even if they decide to trade Simmons, Butler’s defense could prove useful as well, as they’d likely have to replace that aspect of Simmon’s game. Butler is also a decent playmaker albeit a little turnover prone.
29. Phoenix Suns – Na’Shon (Bones) Hyland 6’4 SG
The Suns have reached for guys they like in almost every draft since James Jones has taken over. This doesn’t stop here as the Suns take a projected early 2nd rounder in Hyland. Honestly, this is a great pick. It’s hard to find a better backup to Devin Booker this late in the draft. Hyland is projected to be a very solid shooter and elite defender with his 6’9 wingspan. What’s holding him back from going higher than normal is his questionable decision making and age. Hyland will be turning 21 this year and he also had more turnovers than assists. I don’t think he’s as bad as the numbers bear it out to be, however, it shouldn’t matter too much. If Cameron Payne sticks around (which I think he will) they won’t need a playmaker off the bench. As a bench backcourt, Payne and Hyland would be a dynamic duo for years to come.
30. Utah Jazz – Miles McBride 6’2 PG
Miles McBride has some REALLY impressive tape. The Jazz pride themselves on defense and shooting and McBride is great at both. I think he would be the perfect backup to Mike Conley who keeps getting injured with the Jazz as is. He’s also a very solid playmaker and would elevate the people around him. He is also turning 21 this year, however, with his 6’8 wingspan I think McBride can come in right away and provide some really solid minutes for the Jazz.
Two Players That I Wanted to Slot in But Couldn’t Exactly Fit Into the First
Ayo Dosunmo 6’5 PG
Ayo is a player I really like but I couldn’t find a specific spot for him. I think if he fell to the 2nd round he could be a big steal. Ayo is a very hard worker and has been improving his 3 point shot throughout the years, however, many scouts still doubt his ability to shoot at the next level. Ayo’s defense is very solid as well rocking a 6’10 wingspan. His playmaking is also pretty good but he has some very real turnover concerns and decision making concerns. He is 21 so his upside is slightly limited by his age but I still think he can develop into a solid PG and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was taken in the first round.
Brandon Boston Jr. (BJ Boston) 6’7 SF/SG
This was a prospect who was thought to be a lock for a top 5 pick back before his season at Kentucky. He then went on to have one of the most disappointing seasons I’ve seen for a projected top pick. He still has the potential, but many scouts and teams have been turned off by his performance at Kentucky. I still believe he has a chance to go first round to a team who just wants the highest potential player in the late first. The Houston Rockets could be one, or maybe they trade into the early first to grab BJ Boston. Either way, he’s a project who has a heck of a lot to work on, but also has a really high ceiling. Should he ever reach it, there’s gonna be a lot of people wondering how he fell so low.
