MOCK DRAFT WITH TRADES

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

MOCK DRAFT 3.0 WITH TRADES:

Now that we have the official draft order and we are starting to see the rumor mill pop up, I had a little too much fun with the trade machine and updated my draft in a way that is viable. 

1. DETROIT PISTONS - Cade Cunningham - Despite the baiting to try to get an elite player for the #1 overall pick, there would have to be too much roster jiu jitsu to get the type of franchise altering player they are looking for. Killian Hayes is starting to look more like a project, so they likely still give him sufficient minutes, but ultimately start building the team around Cade. Both #1 overall picks that the Pistons have selected were multiple All-Stars, so Cunningham has some big shoes to fill.

--- TRADE ---

2. ORLANDO MAGIC RECEIVE: #2 OVERALL PICK (Jalen Green)

HOUSTON ROCKETS RECEIVE: #5 OVERALL PICK, #8 OVERALL PICK - The Rockets consolidate talent due to the long list of point guards in this draft. Orlando trades up to get Jalen Green, who is a franchise-altering scorer and elite athletic guard. He is the most NBA-ready 2-guard in the draft and is a positional need for the Magic. They don't take their chances, adding Green to their starting line-up of Fultz, Isaak, Okeke, and Wendell Carter Jr. The Magic also have an early 2nd round draft pick and enough cap space to bring in some veterans to help propel this team the way the veterans propelled the Hawks.

3. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - Evan Mobley - Despite trading for Jarrett Allen last season, I still think they select Mobley here. He's a quick, defense-minded center that might end up playing both the 4 and 5. There is the possibility that they draft one of the many elite guards and flip either Garland or Sexton, yet I think they go with best available. Okoro had an okay rookie season, which would lead them to pursue Kuminga or Barnes, yet I think the Cavaliers are getting closer to a playoff push than they are to going after picks. Mobley is a very desirable asset, which could lead them to possibly even moving down in the draft.

4. TORONTO RAPTORS - Jalen Suggs - This is a no brainer for them. There's a possibility that Suggs goes as high as top-2, yet I think due to more critical needs from other teams, I think Suggs moderately slides. He's a complete package and is a culture fit for this Raptors team. He will be an excellent transition into the backcourt alongside VanVleet and I think he will acclimate quickly to their system. His passing is not of the level of Cunningham, yet his ability to score at all 3 levels, have lock down defense, and his ability to step up in big games make him every bit as valuable. His shot will continue to improve but he wants that last shot, and that trait is not common.

5. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Jonathan Kuminga - They trade down and draft an excellent wing prospect. With Wall locked in for a couple more seasons and Suggs and Cunningham off the board, they likely use one of their other picks to address the point guard position. This draft has no shortage of elite guard prospects and with the ascendency of Christian Wood, it made sense for them to trade out of that #2 spot and draft a complete team instead of a top-heavy one.

6. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - Scottie Barnes - There don't seem to be a ton of teams that I could really see trading up to this spot. The Thunder are looking more to acquire long-term assets, rather than try to make an immediate run. It is probably too early for them to select a center, with the recent departure of Horford and Brown, yet they could trade back or make a smaller trade down the line. Barnes hard to project, as he is still very raw, yet the goods are there and he has age and size on his side. There is not a locked in starting wing on this team, so he could end up being one of the cornerstones if he develops as more consistent shot.

--- TRADE ---

7. TORONTO RAPTORS RECEIVE: Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, #7 OVERALL PICK (Keon Johnson

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS RECEIVE: Pascal Siakam, Aron Baynes - This trade makes sense for everyone. Golden State will have an elite backcourt once again with Klay nearing a return. Poole and Lee have been solid bench guards, and Golden State still has another pick later in the draft. Toronto is looking to immediately capitalize in the youth movement. Siakam had an underwhelming year by his standards, yet he would be an incredible addition to this Warriors team. He can play either wing positions or small ball 5, and they get back veteran center depth in Aron Baynes' expiring contract. Wiseman and Suggs would have a blast in the pick and roll, and this allows the Raptors to break it down without going through a full rebuild.

8. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Davion Mitchell - They waited a few picks and still got the back-up point guard they needed. Mitchell is a little up there in age, has his own flaws, and measure smaller than expected, but there is a market for scrappy guards in this league. Mitchell is an elite outside shooter, above average passer, gritty defender, and has a very translatable game to the NBA. The Rockets are still a couple of years from being in a position to chase a playoff spot, but this draft will help catapult them. They still have a couple of picks in this draft to build out their bench or consolidate talent.

9. SACRAMENTO KINGS - Alperen Sengun - Sengun is the player they need. The 18-year old Turkish MVP could be the next International sensation. His per-minute production is incredible and positionally, the Kings could use a reliable big man. There are several teams directly behind the Kings that could also use a big man, so they might be more motivated to pull the trigger on him at 9. There are a lot of solid role players, but Sengun has a very high ceiling, which is enticing on a team that probably won't make the playoffs again next year. At some point the Kings will need to make a drastic move, but for now, this helps fill one of their needs.

10. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS - Corey Kispert - I think they are in a cautiously win-now situation before they burn all their bridges with Zion. Kispert is a solid pick for a team that ranked toward the bottom in 3-pointers. He can be played in several positions, is a respectable defender, and is NBA-ready. He will be an excellent role player that will help the bench get hot. They will try to find buyers for Adams and Bledsoe in this draft, but it has to be the right team.

--- TRADE ---

11. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS RECEIVE: #11 OVERALL PICK (James Bouknight)
CHARLOTTE HORNETS RECEIVE: Steven Adams - Pelicans find a buyer for Adams, and I think Charlotte makes the most sense. They need a reliable big man to pair with LaMelo, and Adams is a perfect fit. For the Pelicans, they get a steal in Bouknight, who could go as high as top 5-7. The Pelicans are trying to load up on scorers and with Bledsoe on the chopping block, they'll need that third guy that score for them. Their roster is incredibly young, but they need to make cap space to add some veteran players in addition to their draft picks.

12. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Jalen Johnson - There are many contributing factors for this pick. For one, DeMar DeRozan has probably already played his last game as a Spur. With that, they'll need some more wing players. Johnson has one of the highest ceilings in the draft but is incredibly raw. If you look at his per-minute stats, he should be a top 5 player, yet he had mixed results at Duke, and wing players typically take a little more time to develop a complete game. The Spurs are really good at finding talent later in drafts, so this could be another example of them finding a diamond in the rough.

13. INDIANA PACERS: Franz Wagner - With TJ Warren's relationship with the team shaky, and Doug McDermott on an expiring contract, Wagner is a really solid fit. Wagner could go much higher in the draft, but there have been some high risers and situational picks that might cause him to slide. He's a very well rounded player that defends at a high level, is efficient with his shot, and has a very high basketball IQ. His playmaking gives them another ball-handler and he is still only 19. We'll see if Carlisle decides to keep this pick or move him for a veteran. With their cap space tight, it's possible they keep this pick.

14. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Josh Giddey - There was a time when a very similar player was almost drafted by the Warriors last year, and his name was LaMelo Ball. Giddey played in the same league, and while his success was not quite as known, Giddey has a lot of room to go. He will likely not see significant minutes for this Warriors team, barring injury, but at some point they have to look at 33-year-old Steph Curry and start building around their next era. They very well could trade out of this pick, but with not a lot of exciting options to include with it, I'm not sure if they get a justifiable return.

--- TRADE ---

15. NEW YORK KNICKS RECEIVE: #15 OVERALL (Sharife Cooper)

WASHINGTON WIZARDS RECEIVE: #19 OVERALL, #21 OVERALL - The Knicks move up to get their guy. They need another ballhandler and Cooper is one of the more underrated guards in this draft. The Auburn product is old for a freshman, yet he is one of the best passers in this draft. He will make for an interesting fit in this Knicks system that is trying to consolidate talent to try to push them over the edge. His outside shot needs some work, but his high free throw percentage is an encouraging side that he'll just need reps. For the Wizards, they gain more assets and move down to the point in the draft where players that fit their needs are more easily attained.

16. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Kai Jones - With them trading away all of their bigs, they are left with Tony Bradley as their only viable center on the roster. Jones is very raw but he has big game upside. He overpowers his competition with his athleticism and comes with the grit and motor that you typically see from these Texas centers. He will be a project, but the Thunder are taking their time with this rebuild.

17. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: Ziaire Williams - He is a bit of a wild card, but he could end up being one of the sleeper long-term picks in this draft. As far as comps, his trajectory reminds me of a taller Cam Reddish. He's a 6-10 wing with close to a 7-foot wingspan, he's an above average passer for his position, and his 79.6% free throw percentage leaves me to believe his shot will start hitting eventually. He has a slight frame, so it will be interesting to see how he eventually develops. Williams has a very high ceiling, but he has not demonstrated the full scope of his athleticism or strength in game film. What he has shown is a silky wing that could develop into a Brandon Ingram type player. Memphis has a shortage of wing depth, so he makes sense to pair with a guy like Ja that can find him open looks.

18. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Isaiah Jackson - I think OKC loads up on bigs. After depleting themselves in the Kemba trade, I think they go back to back with Kai Jones and Isaiah Jackson, two of the better front court options in this draft. Jackson made his presence known at his lone year at Kentucky with his elite shot blocking prowess, rebounding excellence, and above average perimeter defense for his position. He's not a shooter by any means, but OKC is a perfect destination for a team rife with upside.

19. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Chris Duarte - The Wizards are a fringe playoff team, so if they keep their draft picks, I think they go with more veteran-type prospects, rather than raw talent. Duarte is a true 3-and-D player and exactly what this team needs. The Wizards were a poor defensive team and their bench was subpar, so Duarte could come in to this system and carve out a solid role right away. The Oregon product was already playing substantial minutes for the Ducks and his efficiency and maturity could immediately propel this Wizards team. Duarte reminds me a lot of Desmond Bane, who had a strong rookie campaign this past season.

20. ATLANTA HAWKS: Jared Butler - Despite how well Lou Williams performed last night, I think they need a secondary playmaker on their bench. Butler is not a project, he's an NBA-ready 2-way point guard. He has the size necessary to play a larger role if necessary, has a consistent outside shot, and a national title under his belt. The Hawks really can't ask for more when make a draft selection for a player filling a positional need. Butler is one of those players that several years down the line, teams might wonder why they let him slip past them.

21. WASHINGTON WIZARD: Ayo Dosunmu - Another NBA-ready guard, Dosunmu has flown under a lot of radars. He's a prolific scorer from the point guard position, a great outside shooter at 39% from beyond, and above average rebounder at 6.3 RPG last season and a solid passer. He does tend to force some of his passes, yet he should come in to this Wizards team and be immediately helpful with Raul Neto on an expiring contract. His defense is underwhelming, which might cause him to slide in this draft, but the talent overall is there. With this draft being so loaded at point, teams might be rolling dice at this point in the draft to make their selections.

22. LOS ANGELES LAKERS: Day'Ron Sharpe - The Lakers could very well go after a point guard, but I think based on what they look for in a center, Sharpe meets all of their check boxes. The Drummond experiment was a failure, the Harrell experiment was a failure. Instead of bringing either of them back, they can use their draft pick to get a guy that does basically the same things. He's a rim running, center that has a high basketball-IQ, solid passing skills, and tremendous size. LeBron is not super keen on young players, but he could be an excellent bench center behind whoever they decide to bring back.

23. HOUSTON ROCKETS: Usman Gabura - The Rockets were starting Kelly Olynyk for the second half of the season as their starting 4. To say they have a positional need would be an understatement. Garuba is a true definition of a project player, and the International prospect has all the makings of a high risk, high reward type player. I think Gabura goes as high as San Antonio in this draft, but he is a raw prospect that could find his way playing in the G-League most of the year. He projects as a Morris-twin or Covington-type player, so it will be interesting to see if he can secure a large role his rookie season.

24. HOUSTON ROCKETS: Moses Moody - Moody is all over draft boards, but I tend to split the difference whenever trying to rate prospects. He has lottery upside, as a large 2-guard. His outside shot is good at 36%, but tends to fall in love with that shot, going 0-4 in the Razorbacks' final game against Baylor. His fizzling out at the end of the season will cause a lot of teams to have a recency bias with his game. The Rockets take a chance on him for his length and outside shooting.

25. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: Tre Mann - They need to prepare themselves with the inevitability that Reggie Jackson is probably getting paid this off-season. They need to shore up their point guard depth, and Mann is an excellent choice with his combination of reliable shooting, defense, size, and rebounding. His passing needs work, but Clippers have a lot of playmakers, so he fits the style of their play. Plus I lowkey want to see commentators get completely confused by having two Mann's on the roster.

26. DENVER NUGGETS: Jaden Springer - Springer is a large, two-way guard that will help bridge them until Jamal Murray returns. Springer has a similar skillset and offers a lot more size than Campazzo. Much like Murray, his passing is not his strong suit, yet his ability to score from anywhere on the court, his production on defense, and his rebounds make him an excellent fit for a team heavily reliant on Jokic as their primary ball handler. Springer has lottery upside, so there's a chance he might not make it to this part of the draft.

27. BROOKLYN NETS: Trey Murphy III - They honestly could use another big, but I don't see any of what is available at this point in the draft as a viable option. Murphy has been booming of late on the draft boards, and he could have a lot of value as an upside role player. He's an elite outside shooter, and efficient from everywhere on the floor, he's over 6'9", can guard multiple positions, and has a 7-foot wingspan. With Joe Harris' implosion in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, they might look for another wing scorer to bolster their depth chart in the event that the injury prone big 3 is unavailable. 

--- TRADE ---

28. CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE: #28 OVERALL (Cameron Thomas), Paul Reed

PHILADELPHIA RECEIVE: Tomas Satoransky - With uncertainty surrounding Ben Simmons, they can't rely on only George Hill, Tyrese Maxey, and Shake Milton. Hill is on an non-guaranteed contract and is already 35, and Maxey and Milton play more off-ball. Satoransky is a great passer, has the size to defend against larger guards, is a career 37% outside shooter, and with so much other offensive talent on that team, his value exceeds that of a flyer prospect. For the Bulls, Cameron Thomas is an additional scorer, and despite them going all-in to get Vucevic, I don't see the Bulls as a viable playoff contender. At this point, they need to prepare themselves is LaVine asks out, and Cam could end up being their future 2-guard within a couple of years. Paul Reed was sort of a throw-in to get the trade to work, but with Thad Young and Al Farouq-Aminu getting up in age, Reed could be an important piece for them in the future.

29. PHOENIX SUNS: Neemias Queta - He is a pure upside pick. He was dominant in the Mountain West Conference, where he led Utah State to second place. His per-minute production is incredible. He is a blocking machine with legit passing skills, is a decent free throw shooter for his position at 71%, and stands at almost 7' 1" with a 7' 4" wingspan. He is a somewhat older player, but is essentially a poor man's Embiid. If anyone can find a use for him, it'll be Chris Paul, yet he should stand firmly behind Ayton and Saric on the depth chart. It would not surprise me to see him spend most of the season in the G-League, but with injuries being so prevalent these days, teams are loading up at every position.

30. UTAH JAZZ: Daishen Nix - There is a lot of value to be had with players that skip college to go straight to the G-League. The Jazz have a championship-ready team, but they risk losing Mike Conley in free agency, and they need a versatile point guard. Even if Conley returns, there is an inherent injury risk built into the cake, and there is very little depth behind him. Nix is a large point standing over 6' 4" and has almost a 6' 7" wingspan. His outside shooting was atrocious last season, but it was not a significant part of his game. His value comes in how he uses his body and his elite vision. He overpowers smaller guards in the paint and chases down rebounds on every play. His role will be small at first, but he has a very high ceiling. He was a top-15 prospect last year and his 45-point triple-double in high school got him national recognition.

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