MOCK DRAFT 2.0

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

MOCK DRAFT 2.0

I'd like to take this opportunity to send my prayers to the Clarke family. He was taken too young and was on such a positive trajectory. I hope his family is healing and they can find peace.

There have been several position changes in the draft and I wanted to update it as I continue to scout this class. I'm very excited for this new group of prospects and there are a lot of promising young stars. I will go with a different format to make this more readable.

1. HOUSTON ROCKETS: Cade Cunningham - In my previous draft, I had the Rockets going second, targeting Jalen Suggs. While he is still a possibility, I don't think the Rockets pass on Cunningham. He is almost the consensus #1 overall prospect in this draft and a dream selection for this Rockets team. The fit does not really make sense if John Wall is healthy, but he could be a candidate to be bought out as the team is loaded on draft picks and they need minutes available to develop their young players.

2. ORLANDO MAGIC: Jalen Suggs - Fultz is recovering from a season-ending injury, Cole Anthony has been okay, but his production doesn't translate to wins, and Michael Carter-Williams is sort of a last resort at the point. They go with Jalen Suggs and have no regrets. They can probably use Cole off the ball at the 2-guard or try to draft someone later in the draft. Jalen Green is arguably a better fit, but if you have an opportunity to draft Suggs, you don't squelch it.

3. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: Evan Mobley - It's possible they pivot to get a guy like Barnes or Johnson here, but realistically, I think they figure out the fit later, or move Naz Reid to the 4 and have Mobley start off the bench. Based on them passing on Wiseman last year, there's a solid chance they let Mobley slide or trade out of this spot. The Timberwolves have won 3 straight, which is should leave fans optimistic that if their team is fully healthy, they have playoff upside. They don't want to win too many games or else Golden State snags their pick.

4. DETROIT PISTONS: Jalen Green - I feel like the Pistons would actually prefer to slide outside of the top 3 so they can justify drafting Green. Stewart has shown a lot of promise and the 2-guard is their glaring weakness. He G-Leauge experience could put him a step above some of the collegiate prospects, and a Pistons team with a Hayes-Green-Bey-Grant-Stewart core has a positive trajectory. They have one year to figure things out until their books move on from Griffin and they can consolidate into relevance.

5. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Jalen Johnson - Johnson is arguably the highest ceiling player still on the board. He is incredibly raw so he could be a 2-3 year project before he starts paying dividends. The Thunder are very likely going to try to trade down out of this pick, moving down to target Alperen Sengun or Kai Jones. They have solid young centers, but I think the position is still up for grabs. It is very possible they go the Hornets route and run with a small ball center next year and just keep the ball moving.

6. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: Jonathan Kuminga - Both Kuminga or Barnes could be selected here. At some point they are likely thinking past Kevin Love and who they want at the 4. Larry Nance could stay, but his ceiling is quite limited. Okoro has less than impressed, but the game seems to be slowing down. Kuminga has been playing with pros all year in the G-League and put up very respectable numbers. After seeing LaMelo's results of playing pro at 18, you might start see some of the G-Leaguers moving up in drafts in upcoming years.

7. SACRAMENTO KINGS: Alperen Sengun - With Richaun Holmes and Hassan Whiteside on expiring deals, I think they go with the best center outside of Mobley in the draft. International prospects have been hit or miss over the years, but Sengun might be the real deal. The Kings have a great guard rotation, passed at the opportunity to trade Barnes at the deadline, and are really hoping a star slides out of the top-5 (or they get lucky in the lottery). They probably need a coaching change to unlock Bagley, but they have a lot of solid young players that just need the right system in place.

8. TORONTO RAPTORS: Scottie Barnes - There are a lot of really good guards available here, but I think when Lowry was out, they had very strong results from Malachi Flynn. With that being said, Barnes is a very Raptors-esque player. He is an excellent defender, can play both forward positions, is an above average passer, and has room to grow as a shooter. He could end up being a Draymond-lite and has a unique skillset that would greatly improve this Raptors team.

9. ORLANDO MAGIC: Corey Kispert - Orlando is one of the worst scoring teams in the league and Kispert is one of the best 3-point shooters in the draft. He compliments the defense of Isaac and Okeke and with a solid competition at center between Bamba and Carter Jr, they might look to draft a wing to allow Isaac to come along slowly. His defense is far from elite, but he provides that spark off the bench and being a senior, he's already used to a heavy work load. He should make an immediate impact in this offense that is now devoid of whatever 3-point shooting that had via trades involving Gordon and Fournier.

10. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Davion Mitchell - With Raul Neto and Ish Smith on expiring deals, I think they make a run at Davion Mitchell. Just based on salary alone, Westbrook is likely entrenched in the starting point guard spot, but with a guy like Davis Bertans on the bench, they need a competent passer that can defend. Mitchell fits the bill. He's also a competent outside shooter in his own right, knocking down a ridiculous 45% of his 3-point attempts. His age might cause him to slide a bit, but after winning a national title, his stock has been elevated.

11. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: Keon Johnson - While Johnson's production leaves much to be desired, he got hot at the right time. His passing from the 2-guard position and solid defensive numbers make him an intriguing prospect. He has a slight frame but could develop as time goes on. His ability to get to the line is one of the best in the draft and this would honestly be more of an upside pick than to satisfy a positional need. It's possible they try to get a big for their bench, but I think they'd rather focus on Hayes' development.

12. INDIANA PACERS: James Bouknight - The explosive guard could be an excellent bench pairing with TJ McConnell. He has a ton of room to grow and could eventually take Jeremy Lamb's spot. He rebounds well for his size and is a sufficient defender. His inconsistency will cause him to slide out of the top-10 most likely, but he's had very impressive games throughout the season. He has all of the cons of a young player in regards to decision making on the court, but his had a lot of room to grow both as a shooter and as a playmaker.

13. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Jaden Springer - This might be a reach, but this kid can shoot the ball. He is a 44% 3-point shooter, has a solid combination of rebounding, assists, and steals, and his 81% free throw percentages should imply little regression as he enters the league. He also happens to be a 6-4 205-pound guard. The Tennessee product could very well play both guard positions and will be a key player for this team as they ease Klay Thompson back into the line-up.

14. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Isaiah Jackson - Jakob Poeltl is likely the starting center going forward for this team, but Isaiah Jackson will give him a run for his money. Jackson is arguably the best blocker in the draft, and one of the best rebounders. Kentucky centers have a history of being gritty, balanced players, so Jackson should be no exception. The Spurs refuse to enter a full rebuild, so Jackson is one of the transitional pieces necessary for them to remain relevant while developing young talent.

15. CHARLOTTE HORNETS: Day'Ron Sharpe - The UNC product sort of fizzled out at the end of the season and he didn't play a ton of minutes, but his per-minute production is one of the most impressive in this draft class. He is far from an outside shooter, missing the only two attempts last season, but he could be very useful for the Hornets in large center matchups where PJ Washington would get beat up. In addition to his impressive rebounding and scoring per-minute, he is also a solid passer and would be a perfect fit in the pick-and-roll with LaMelo.

16. BOSTON CELTICS: Moses Moody - I think Fournier has done little to impress, leaving the door open for Moses Moody to get drafted. He is a solid outside shooter, good rebounder for his position, and is one of the younger players in the draft. He's built like a tank, being 6-6, 205 pounds, and can get to the line in big moments. His ceiling is sky high, so him sliding to 16 would be excellent for them. The Celtics need to address their problems at center at some point, but I don't think this is the draft to do that. For now, they will continue to develop Robert Williams III and maybe find a veteran player to bring into the mix.

17. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Jared Butler - Theo Maledon has been okay for them, but I'm not sure if he is developing to their expectations. Butler on the other hand, just won a national title, is a competent passer and defender, and has basically the same skill set as Maledon but better. He's a 42% shooter from beyond the arc and his production leads to wins. It's possible they go with a center should one of the better ones slide to this point in the draft, but between Bradley and Brown, they probably see what they have for a full season before replacing one of them. Butler is honestly a steal at 17.

18. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: Franz Wagner - Wagner honestly has a similar skill set to Justice Winslow, but is more efficient, and is a better decision maker on the floor. He was a pivotal piece for Michigan last season, but he finished the year softly and might cause him to slide down in the draft. He has great size and reminds me of Joe Ingles. Wagner has NBA DNA, being the younger brother of Mo Wagner, yet they have a very different skill set.

19. HOUSTON ROCKETS: Ayo Dosunmu - He is on my draft board as being one of the high risers in the draft. He has excellent size, shooting ability, rebounding, and passing. With John Wall's future in Houston uncertain, he could be exactly what they need to transition. He defense needs some work, but with his frame, it might be something he improves over time like Zach LaVine. He was one of the most consistent scorers last year for Illinois, and despite a less than impressive tournament, should see success when given minutes.

20. ATLANTA HAWKS: Josh Giddey - With the Hawks much improved over last year, they have the luxury of taking a chance on a high-upside prospect. Giddey is an intriguing player, being 6-8 and playing the point guard. He unsurprisingly is one of the best rebounding guards per-minute in this draft, but is also one of the best passers. His shooting is mostly unimpressive, but his hustle could make him an important asset for this Hawks team. He defends well and being one of the youngest players in this draft means he has plenty of room to grow.

21. NEW YORK KNICKS: Neemias Queta - With Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson their only healthy centers, I think the Knicks address this issue with one of their two picks at this point in the draft. Queta went to a school you probably didn't watch any games from, but his combination of scoring, passing, and defense is pretty much unmatched by anyone in this class. As an older player, he could slide as far as the second round, but for a Knicks team that looks solid up and down, he is the complimentary piece they need to pit up against the elite centers in the East.

22. NEW YORK KNICKS: Chris Duarte - You can never have too many shooters, and Duarte is probably the best one left on the board. He shot 42% from beyond the arc, is an elite defender, and a respectable rebounder and passer. He is one of the oldest players in the draft, but with this Knicks team intrenched in the playoffs, they need consistency when it matter. His slight frame might make him best suited for a bench role, but has developed an NBA body of the last couple of seasons for Oregon.

23. LOS ANGELES LAKERS: Sharife Cooper - He is incredibly fast and an excellent passer, what better player to develop behind than LeBron James. While a bit undersized, he finds a way to score regularly. He has a small sample size, but with questions revolving around the long-term status of Dennis Schroder, Cooper seems like a reasonable selection. The talent pool is somewhat dwindling at this point in the draft, so they could do a lot worse than Cooper as a flyer.

24. HOUSTON ROCKETS: Usman Garuba - The highly touted International prospect does not necessarily wow you with his production, but he is intriguing none-the-less. He has solid size, mobility, and basketball IQ, but needs a lot of work as a shooter. I think system will make a lot of difference in his success, so he very well could be a G-League guy his entire first year as he rounds out his skill set. He is very raw, but if you can look past his slow release and other faults, he has a ton of athleticism and could be a bruising bench player for a good team.

25. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: Tre Mann - They do have a lot of guards, but the more shooters around Simmons and Embiid, the better. Mann is an efficient shooter, solid rebounder, and okay passer. He's a 6-5 point guard, which has translated to some pretty impressive defensive stats. He performed well in the tournament and his heavy work load should allow him to hopefully transition quickly into the NBA. He finished the year on a high note, which might help prevent him from sliding into the second round.

26. DENVER NUGGETS: Josh Christopher - Having moved on from Gary Harris, they will need some guard help with Jamal Murray likely out for all or most of next season. His defense looks very good at this point, but his shooting needs a lot of work. He completely fell apart toward the end of the season, but started the year strong. His 80% free throw percentage implies that his shot can be fixed, but his size and defense alone should make him a solid pick-up for this Nuggets team.

27. BROOKLYN NETS: Kai Jones - Jones' stock improved toward the end of the season with a nice little run to finish out. He is sort of a poor man's Myles Turner, but with Claxton and DeAndre Jordan as their only centers (Jeff Green doesn't count), Jones could see some minutes next season. Jones has been moving up draft boards, but I'm not convinced he will go as high as lottery/mid-round. He will be an excellent add to any team late in the first round and should be productive throughout his career.

28. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: Zhaire Williams - The Stanford product is a highly rated prospect, but has not done well in big games. His lack of efficiency has drastically hurt his stock, as one point he was one of the top prospects in the draft. Williams needs to add weight, but he has a Paul George type frame and will hopefully develop into a well rounded wing. He did make 80% of his free throws, so he should get better as time goes on, and having less pressure to produce right away might be better for his development.

29. PHOENIX SUNS: Filip Petrusev - He's had an interesting development. He left Gonzaga after two years to play professionally overseas. In that time he became an excellent outside shooter, ridiculous around the rim scorer, and a respectable defender. He sort of reminds you of what Meyers Leonard was supposed to be. His floor seems to be a floor spacing back-up center, and you can never have too many of them in the league.

30. UTAH JAZZ: Greg Brown - With Ingles and Bojan starting to regress, it might be time for the Jazz to think long-term at the 4. Brown is still very raw, but his combination of rebounding and outside shooting from the 4 make him very appealing. He is one of the younger players in the draft and with Jazz already the most winningest team in the league, taking a flyer on a high ceiling guy seems like the right move. 

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2021]