2022 MOCK DRAFT 1.0

 UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

MOCK DRAFT 1.0:

1. HOUSTON ROCKETS: JABARI SMITH JR - They go with the best prospect in this draft. Chet Holgrem is a per-minute machine, but his slight frame and the fact that Smith is over a full year younger edge the Rockets toward a player with a better fit. It would not surprise me to see them move Christian Wood with this addition, as they would likely want to give more playing time to their blossoming young center, Alperen Sengun. Having both Chet and Alperen on the roster might be too much overlap, where Smith can get work at the 4 and would play more of an Al Horford type role, rather than a true center in the NBA.

2. ORLANDO MAGIC: PAOLO BANCHERO - The Magic might be too traumatized from their selection of Mo Bamba to draft Chet as well. Banchero is no slouch and can play both positions. Both Mo Bamba and Robin Lopez are on expiring contracts, so the Magic will draft him or Chet regardless if they are in this spot. WCJ is in a long-term deal, so I anticipate them trying to allow him to play his natural position more, while drafting a co-pilot in the front court that compliments his skillset.

3. DETROIT PISTONS: CHET HOLGREM - Fit wise, it probably makes more sense for them to go with Jaden Ivey or Shaedon Sharpe, but the Pistons are in no position to make guesses. They will select the best player available and in this case, it’s Chet Holgrem. Isaiah Stewart has looked solid in his first two seasons, but at no point has he made a case to solidify himself in the starting line-up. Bagley has already sort of hit the same wall in Detroit that he did in Sacramento and Kelly Olynyk is not a starting caliber player on a winning team. Holgrem could be a generational player that compliments Cade and could be the beginning of an exciting pick and roll friendship for the next decade.

4. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: JADEN IVEY - OKC has a lot of different avenues. They could go with the best player available, which would be the Jaden Ivey path. They could go super reach and get the best fit in Jalen Duren. They could go with the highest upside and get Shaedon Sharpe. Their other options could be trading down or trading out all together. Sam Presti is no stranger to wanting to acquire as many draft picks as possible and if there is no clear must-have guy they like, they may go with quantity over quality. The Spurs have 3 first round picks in this draft and could use a solidified star on their team for example. Assuming they keep the pick, Ivey would have to be flexible on his position if he wants to get playing time. Giddey and Shai are somewhat locked in at this backcourt, and he might be a bit undersized to play the 3 permanently. Thunder likely draft him or Sharpe and figure out the rest later.

5. INDIANA PACERS: KEEGAN MURRAY - I think they didn’t trade Sabonis to not get Turner more help in the front court. Murray is immediately better than Brissett and really only has to compete with Jalen Smith, who the Pacers actually like coming off of the bench. Duarte and Hield make Sharpe not as valuable of a selection, and Murray sort of completes their roster while moving on from TJ Warren. Murray was arguably the best offensive player in college basketball last year and he might even be a top 3 player had Richmond not had a wild first round upset.

6. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: JALEN DUREN - This would be the first surprise of the draft. Duren has slid on many draft boards, but I think team desire for him still remains in the top-10. Duren gives you 85% of what Chet gives you, but is 18 months younger. He might enter the league a bit raw, but his overall play is very reminiscent of DeAndre Ayton. He probably won’t ever have an extended shot, but he could float over some smaller guys once he gets in the league. His poor tournament play might cause him to slide a bit, but a team like Portland that is clearly trying to mix things up could see a lot of value in a fresh center. Nurkic is on an expiring deal and his health concerns and his inability to help Portland advance could be the last piece to fall now that CJ McCollum has been moved. Portland’s number 1 priority will be to re-sign Anfernee Simons, and with a ton of cap space and flexible contracts, they seem primed to bounce back.

7. SACRAMENTO KINGS: SHAEDON SHARPE - Kings go with the highest ceiling player. That has always been their thought process in how they draft, and they’ve actually had some solid drafts the last couple of years. With the recent acquisition of Sabonis, they probably don’t need frontcourt help, and their backcourt seems fine with a rotation of Fox, Mitchell, Davis, and DiVincenzo. Kings go either Sharpe or Griffin here, as they definitely need wing help. They were already pretty soft at this position and then they traded Buddy Hield. Sharpe did not get any game play last year as he was recovering from injury, but was probably the #1 projected pick if the draft were a year ago. Sharpe can score at all levels of play, is aggressive around the rim, has good size for a wing, and is only 18 years old. Scouts have been following him for years, so they might look to bring him into camp just to justify their priors. The talent pool sort of dips heavily after the first few picks of this draft, so Sacramento jumps at the opportunity to grab a guy whose value is at an all-time low. Many prospects cannot fathom a top-7 selection, so the fact that this might be his floor after not playing a year is a testament to how good he could be.

8. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: BENNEDICT MATHURIN - Mathurin was a player I followed for a large portion of last year, but that TCU game really won me over. The entire tournament, you could see his evolution of prospect to pro in real time. Mathurin plays a mature, pro-level style of ball. He gets to the line, can shoot from anywhere, chases down rebounds, and while it doesn’t translate to the box score, is a solid defender. At 6’7”, he would become one of the larger 2-guards in the league, and would be a solid complement to CJ McCollum in the starting line-up. They drafted a similar guy in Trey Murphy last year, but a team can really never have too many guys that can shoot the ball.

9. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: TARI EASON - Eason is a very San Antonio type of player. He plays ridiculous defense, is a legitimate scorer, and can stretch the floor from the 4. Keldon Johnson played admirably last year at the 4, but that’s not his natural position. Eason gives their starting line-up more size and gives the Spurs everything that Doug McDermott cannot. Eason and Poeltl would be a devastating defensive frontcourt and fit the grit of this team. His value seems to have him moving closer to the bottom of the lottery, but I think that has more to do with other players having value go up. Eason is the safest pick, as scoring comes and goes, but defense never waivers.

10. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: TYTY WASHINGTON - AJ Griffin is the best player available, but if they go with need, Washington is their best bet. Kentucky guards are better more times than not, and with Washington already having too many guys that all sort of do the same thing, it makes sense for them to go for a floor general. Beal will likely be invested in who they get and it’s very possible he may want Dyson Daniels, whose value has skyrocketed over the last couple of months. This draft is very thin at point guards that could probably start. There were no elite level point guard prospects, but at this point, Washington needs to win games with Beal in a contract year. They are a team that might try to get out of this spot one way or the other, or hopefully move in a more desirable position at the lottery.

11. NEW YORK KNICKS: DYSON DANIELS - If the Wizards and Knicks go back to back, the Knicks probably pick up whichever point guard that Wizards don’t. They both have overlapping needs and I don’t really see them going in a different direction unless someone crucial slips. There are mock drafts with them getting Jalen Duren, which would not be a bad idea considering Mitchell is on an expiring deal and oft-injured. Regardless of Mitchell, their back-up is Nerlens Noel, so they could look to upgrade regardless. The Knicks are loaded at 2-guard and wing, and Randle has a firm lock at the 4. They could go with AJ Griffin, the best player available, just to bring in some shooting, but the Knicks are another team that probably won’t like where they draft. Daniels is a large guard that passes well, plays elite defense, but needs work on his shooting. With his passing abilities, he probably projects as a point guard, but he can play multiple positions. Some might find value in him playing at a semi-professional level in the G-League, so he might be ahead of the curve compared to some of the freshman guard prospects he’s competing against.

12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: MARK WILLIAMS - Honestly, this is not the easiest selection for them. Lou Dort has been a solid role player but has not been a transcendent player at the wing position. With such a strong backcourt and Derrick Favors able to opt out after basically being benched, the Thunder are looking for a more permanent option. There are some mid-level centers that will be available this summer, and they will likely still be able to nab one have them compete. After the success of Markkanen at the 3 in Cleveland, they might look to continue to try that role for Poku. None of the centers on their roster are true centers, and I think they want someone that can go toe to toe with these larger centers in the West - Jokic, Ayton, Davis, Gobert, and KAT. Williams was a per-minute monster and is a true 7-footer. It will be interesting to see if he’ll be able to play with the same intensity against the best in the league.

13. CHARLOTTE HORNETS: AJ GRIFFIN - With Hayward off-injured, Cody Martin potentially leaving in free agency, and Kelly Oubre non-existent in the play-in tournament, this team might be looking to make some moves this summer. My gut is telling me that if Utah breaks up the Mitchell-Gobert connection, Gobert is the prime option to go to Charlotte. I think Hayward gives Utah a lot of what they had with Joe Ingles. Utah gets out of that monster contract a couple years earlier. This solves Charlotte’s problem at center that has plagued your franchise for a decade, and Utah has their pick of the litter as far as prospects go - whether that be Washington, Bouknight, or McDaniels. Lastly, if Utah is trying to rebuild the character of the team post-Gobert, I cannot think of a narrative better than bringing Hayward back to finish his career with the team that drafted him. The team where he had his best years, got an All-Star, and where he played his least injured. This is my long way of saying they go with AJ Griffin because they will be shallow at small forward.

14. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: JEREMY SOCHAN - I got really close to having them select Johnny Davis here. I had an entire paragraph laid out and organized. Once I started writing about Sochan, I completely scrapped it because he is a better fit. Sochan is a high motor wing that can play both forward spots, had a fantastic tournament as a two-way player, doesn’t need the ball to make an impact, and with Sexton coming back and LeVert under contract for one more year, I think they go with Sochan and try to bring in some veteran help to fill out the back end of the roster. Walker Kessler could be a dark horse selection here, but I think they ultimately extend Moses Brown after his solid effort filling in for an injured Jarrett Allen. Sochan is over a full year younger than Davis, but he will come in with a somewhat raw offensive game that seemed to start gaining traction in the tournament. With Markkanen somewhat locked into that 3-position, he’ll have to earn his minutes over the season. His ability to play the 3 and 4 gives their roster a lot of flexibility. There is a lot of uncertainty around Kevin Love entering the final year of his deal, and they might be looking down the line with how they continue to build this roster. Cleveland has a lot to think about and they will possibly have a completely different draft situation in the second Mock regardless.

15. CHARLOTTE HORNETS: WALKER KESSLER - Their gamble paid off and they now have Gobert and Kessler in a dominant center rotation. Charlotte also owns the #45 pick in this draft and will likely use it on shooting to fill out their roster. This pick is probably necessary with Harrell unlikely to return. PJ Washington will probably play more minutes at the 4 unless he’s part of the Gobert package and Plumlee will likely get traded or cut this summer. Outside of maybe Johnny Davis, I don’t see another player the Hornets would really want to target here at this point in the draft. Maybe they make a major gamble on Jaden Hardy, maybe they go with the Swiss Army knife passing forward in Jovic, or maybe they reach for some controversial pick. With two picks essentially back to back, they will likely trade one, similar to what the Clippers did a few years ago. It will be interesting to see how they ultimately build this team around the LaMelo-Rozier backcourt, with or without Gobert.

16. ATLANTA HAWKS: KENNEDY CHANDLER - With Wright and Williams on expiring deals, I think they go with the best available ball handler remaining in the draft. Wendell Moore is a solid option for them, but this team is already pretty wing heavy. Chandler is not a large guard, but neither is Trae. What Chandler does is play a solid style of defense. The freshman from Tennessee is definitely a work in progress when it comes to his shot, but his game has shades of Pat Bevereley meets Davion Mitchell. He looked really good in the tournament, but continued to struggle at the line. Having one of the best free throw shooters in the league being your starter is a good fit for him. If we’re not talking about positionless basketball, he is the second best point guard prospect in this draft behind Washington, and he should get a good amount of minutes his rookie year.

17. HOUSTON ROCKETS: WENDELL MOORE - The Rockets need a glue guy. They have Jalen Green, they have big men, they need that wing player that has the wherewithal to either pass or shoot. Moore has excellent awareness, can play defense well, and is arguably one of the best shooters in this class. With both Paolo and Griffin on his team, it’s not surprising his usage was under 20%, yet that is the role he will likely play on this team. He sort of did what he usually does during the tournament, so he should fit right in and play whatever role Stephen Silas envisions for him. I don’t see Jae’Sean Tate being a long-term option at the wing, nor do I see Eric Gordon being with this team after this summer. The Rockets have developed a lot of prospective talent, but outside of Green, I don’t think anyone is untouchable. They could end up being a very active team on draft night and it will be interesting to see which direction they will go.

18. CHICAGO BULLS: NIKOLA JOVIC - Patrick Williams finished the year strong after being injured for most of the year, but was not consistent in the playoffs. With Zach LaVine in a contract year, Jovic is a guy that the Bulls can market as the next big euro sensation. The move would allow Williams to play the 3, move DeMar to the 2 where he played most of his career in Toronto, and have Jovic as the Draymond type role for this team. Vucevic has one more year on his deal, had a pretty steep decline offensively, and will be entering his age-32 season. This move puts the Bulls in a spot where they really need to protect themselves as this roster either ages or expires. Jovic will have a lot to prove in the combine and Summer League to earn minutes his rookie year, but he looks to be a future highlight reel for whatever team selects him. It is obvious that players like Luka and Jokic have influenced his style of play and he will get a chance to play them at the pro level to see how he stacks up.

19. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: EJ LIDDELL - Liddell might be a bit of a reach for them, but they have Prince, Layman, and Okogie all on expiring deals. Vanderbilt would likely solidify himself into the starting line-up, but this would leave the Wolves with a very shallow group of big men off the bench outside of Reid. Liddell is a tweener that is a prolific blocker, solid around the basket scorer, above average passer, and quality outside shooter. Probably the closest comparison to his game would be Grant Williams for the Celtics, a player who has seen his role steadily improve and his defense invaluable to their playoff run. His offensive game might not necessarily translate if he goes to the Wolves, but his defense and efficiency should remain.

20. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: OUSMANE DIENG - There are few reasons why I feel like Dieng is an excellent pick for the Spurs. For one, they have 3 picks in this draft, one of them being 5 slots from this position. Dieng is mostly considered a lottery pick, but his terrible season in Australia has somewhat put some water on that fire. That being said, he is projected that high because of what scouts think he could become - and that looks a lot like Kevin Durant. He’s 18 years old, is already somewhere around 6-9 to 6-10 and still growing. He has a 7’+ wingspan, but outside of his size he is one of the more raw prospects. He could definitely be a high riser in this draft if he can show his ability to get rebounds and shoot 3’s in scrimmages, but I have him on the fringe of the lottery until I see him play better.

21. DENVER NUGGETS: JOHNNY DAVIS - The Nuggets are making this pick not for next year, but for 2023. In the short term, they give themselves some depth behind the oft injured Barton and Porter Jr, but this team is financially obligated to Murray, Porter, and Gordon long-term, and are about to give Jokic the highest ever contract in NBA history. Contracts like Barton, possibly Morris, and possibly JaMychal will both need to be shed to make room. They will be scraping toward the hard cap otherwise. Depth wise, guys like Facundo are probably gone with them drafting Bones Hyland, Nnaji is still on his rookie deal to replace some of their aging forwards, Cousins might take another discount to come back, and Rivers will probably return unless he gets a long-term deal elsewhere. Davis is a good fit. He plays the 2 and 3, has good size and rebounding ability for his position. Will have the benefit of one of the best passers in the league find him on the perimeter ot help his efficiency, and Davis might be considered a steal at #21 in this draft. I’ve been somewhat cautious not to rate shooting guards too high in this draft, as they are the most plentiful position in this draft, and depending on what you need your 2-guard to do, you could probably find decent value later in the draft and address other needs now.

22. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: OCHAI AGBAJI - Agbaji reminds me a lot of Desmond Bane - a shooting senior 2-guard with a legitimate outside shot - strong defensive instincts, solid rebounder for his position, and a strong NBA body. Agbaji is a little more one-dimensional than Bane and is not as great of a defender or passer, but what he lacks in those areas, he gains in Championship pedigree. Agbaji is a perfect fit for their bench, as Tyus Jones is likely to get a long-term deal elsewhere, sliding Melton to the back-up point guard position. I see Agbaji being a spark plug off the bench, finding shots in open spaces, driving to the basket, and embracing Grizzlies culture. There may be better per-minute players available for the Grizzlies, but their scouts know what they are doing and they will pick someone you didn’t expect.

23. BROOKLYN NETS: JADEN HARDY - You would think and hope they would try to run it back - preferably with Ben Simmons being the primary ball handler. You would hope that Seth Curry and Joe Harris return to full health. This team was rife with dysfunction, but I think a guy like Jaden Hardy would fit right into the chaos. Hardy was at one point considered a top-5 prospect in this draft. Many expected him to go on a similar trajectory to Jalen Green in last year’s draft, but a poor start to the year has him outside of the lottery. His major flaw has been his offensive efficiency. While Hardy is a bucket getter, it takes him a lot of shots to get there. He’s a decent passer for a 2-guard, plays good defense, but his shot selection needs some major work. His 3-point percentage during AAU was considerably higher, and his free throw percentage hovers around 90%, so a team like Brooklyn may see him slide and know exactly what to do with him. Between Kyrie, Durant, Harris, Curry, and Nash - they have enough shooting experience to help with his shot.

24. MILWAUKEE BUCKS: PATRICK BALDWIN JR - It’s sort of a match made in Heaven really - you get a kid that was born in Green Bay, went to school in Milwaukee, and drafted by the Bucks. Baldwin was a 5-star recruit that probably would have been a top-10 pick if he didn’t decide to play for his dad, where his injury plagued season was cut short to prepare for the draft. During his time, he showed some flashes, but ultimately, he was playing hurt for most of the season, so it was probably a wash that he decided to drop out early. Baldwin is a prototype 3-4 forward. It’s hard to really assess him from his little time spent in UWM, but his size combined with his scoring and defensive potential make him an interesting prospect. With Wes Matthews and Serge Ibaka on expiring deals, as well as Nwora playing basically no minutes in the playoffs, Baldwin could end up being a focal point for this top-heavy Bucks team.

25. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: MALAKI BRANHAM - They already got a wing and power forward, I think they will look to build off of that with a shooter. Branham is a hyper efficient 2-3 that is one of the younger players in this draft and also started playing some of his best basketball at the end of his college career. I completely understand that they might have too many guards already, but Primo and Walker have abysmal offensive ratings, Vassell spends a majority of his time at the 3, and Josh Richardson is entering the final year of his deal. One thing I’m sure not a lot of people are talking about is that the Spurs, in addition to having 3 first round picks, also have a decent amount of cap room, as well as another pretty early pick in the second round. They have very movable contracts in Collins, McDermott, and Richardson if they want to do a complete tear down, and they have two more years of Dejounte Murray in a vastly undervalued contract. The Spurs will be throwing darts on the best players available and consolidate and flip the prospects they fail on.

26. DALLAS MAVERICKS: CHRISITAN BRAUN - This might not be the sexiest pick for this hot Mavs team, but they will need to dress their other problems outside of this draft. With Luka’s contract kicking in, they are deep into the luxury tax before they even try to bring back Jalen Brunson. Players that failed to make the deep playoff cut like Green and Chriss might have value being packaged with some of their higher priced contracts like Hardaway, Dinwiddie, Bertans, and Powell. Moving on from a couple of these guys will allow the Mavs to try to lure in some veteran free agents and hopefully hit big on their first round pick. Here enters Christian Braun - a 6’ 7” swingman that averaged 39% from beyond the arc last season, 50% from the field, and almost 7 rebounds per game. Despite the heavy minutes, he did have a low usage because of Agbaji, but much like Jalen Brunson, enters the league with a Championship mentality. He is only a shade younger than Luka, so I think they will get along and his above average passing ability works well in Jason Kidd’s offense. His game is not perfect, but for a team like the Mavs with Championship aspirations, these are the kind of picks they need to do and bring in some veteran leadership to bring it all together.

27. MIAMI HEAT: JOSH MINOTT - He’s another player that seems to be a higher riser to the draft. He was sort of a late addition, but we’ll get to see him perform at the combine. He’s a 3-4 combo forward with near 7’ reach, elite defensive numbers, and will eventually shoot more 3’s in the NBA. His defensive numbers are really what the hype is about and for a team like the Heat, this is a great fit for him. With PJ Tucker getting up there in age, Haslem ready to retire, Dedmon entering his age-33 season, they need some youth at these positions. Until he is able to develop his shot, he could see a lot of his time at the 4. He’s a shade over 200lbs, so he’ll need to bulk up, but is an excellent rebounder on a per-minute basis, and gets to the line often and knocks them down pretty well. Miami will unfortunately forfeit their second round pick this draft, so they will have to complete their roster on scraps this summer.

28. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: CHRISITAN KOLOKO - The Warriors need to be pretty strategic in how they enter this Summer. Looney is entering a pretty shallow center pool this off-season. The Warriors already have the largest payroll going into next season - and they have several veterans they’d like to bring back. They will have to be creating and that might include having to trade Wiggins, or trading Wiseman for a package of picks. With the emergence of Jordan Poole, he might force the hand of Golden State to play Klay at the 3 post-Wiggins. Regardless of how they make cap space, it’s unrealistic they can afford to bring back Looney without making a series of moves. Christian Koloko is one of the best per-minute centers in this draft. He does not have the advanced metrics quite like Looney, but a per-36 double-double that averages 3.9 blocks, has passing abilities, and is 7’ 1”. With Wiseman coming off a major injury, Koloko could be an option for them and help establish a role for himself. The Warriors have several prospects that make you think they’ll be in good hands, with guys like Kuminga stepping up, Moody looking solid in flashes, and Poole far exceeding his draft position.

29. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: JOHN BUTLER - It’s almost a cheat code that a team this good will get 2 first round picks in this draft. That being said, Butler is a very intriguing prospect. At 7’1” it’s hard to know if he’ll project as a 4 or a 5 with his 190 LB frame, but regardless, I think there will be plenty of suitors for Kyle Anderson this off-season. The Grizzlies already have a lot of guys that seem interchangeable at the 4 and 5 - Clarke, Tillman, Jackson, Tillie, Aldama - but I think his upside is too high to ignore if you’re going to take a flier. Nothing about his game really wows you outside of his size, but projects as a Kristaps-lite. Blocking and 3-pointers are his speciality, but legitimate concerns about his strength, durability, and ability to guard against bigger centers will come into question. Butler will be somewhere between a Kristaps and a Bol Bol, and for those that are counting how many games each of them has missed, you could easily see him free fall into the second round or later.

30. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: KENDELL BROWN - His tournament play will have him sliding to the second half of this draft, and the Thunder’s selection wraps up a very solid first round. They found a second go-to scorer, a legitimate 7-foot center, and now they receive a defensive-minded wing player from a great program. Brown is a young wing that has shooting upside but is a work in progress, can rebound well, and was able to produce decent numbers despite such a low usage. Brown was projected to go much higher in this draft and was at one point considered a potential lottery pick. His advanced numbers likely tell a better story, as his offensive rating is above average and his defensive rating puts him among the elite category. He has drawn comparisons to several other 3-and-D wings, but he’ll look to make a name for himself as early as Summer League.

SECOND ROUND:

31. INDIANA PACERS: JAKE LARAVIA - The Wake Forest product can play both forward positions, is a true 3-and-D wing, and has solid passing abilities. Should be a solid fit behind Murray on the roster.

32. ORLANDO MAGIC: MARJON BEAUCHAMP - Sliding to the second round makes this pick really desirable. He is a scoring machine in the G-League that got better toward the end of the season. Can play both the 2 and 3 and will be really dangerous once he is able to fix his shot.

33. TORONTO RAPTORS: ISMAEL KAMAGATE - This International prospect from France has begun making waves. With slim pickings in the center pool for this draft, the Raptors might be willing to take him on as an inexpensive project with incredible upside.

34. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: BRYCE MCGOWENS - There is not a significant need for the Thunder to draft a SG, but he’s the best player available here. A solid scorer with size, his ability to get to the rim makes him already ahead of a large portion of the guards in this draft.

35. ORLANDO MAGIC: DAVID RODDY - Roddy is a per-minute monster. He is either going to be a huge steal in this draft, or end up being like Tyler Bey and maybe we see his name pop up in 3 years. He has a lot of overlap with Jonathan Isaac, so it will be interesting to see how they manage their minutes. He’d likely be a G-League player all year.

36. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: JUSTIN LEWIS - After Marquette completely fell apart to UNC in the first round of the tournament, he might end up returning to school. Should he enter the draft, this is the range he’ll get drafted. If Lewis can put together a year like he did in the games leading up to the tournament, he could be a lottery lock. He has time though.

37. SACRAMENTO KINGS: JEAN MONTERO - The high upside Montero is one of the top point guards in this draft. A prototype guard, he might play some minutes in the G-League or if the Kings find themselves outside of the playoffs again. Montero might be considered a steal at #37.

38. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: JD DAVIDSON - Another prototype guard. He gives them protection if they pivot away from Tre Jones, is a good passer and rebounder, and a solid defender. Turnovers are an issue and he runs hot and cold with his shooting, but it’s a shallow pool at the point guard this draft.

39. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: BLAKE WESLEY - Another athletic guard/wing combo, he has hops for days. Whether that will translate into a complete player is to be seen, yet his explosiveness and above average defense make him a fringe first round pick.

40. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: LEONARD MILLER - If he ends up staying in the draft, he has a pretty wide draft range. Another guy that you draft purely on size and upside, he has the skill-set to become a complete player at either wing position.

41. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: DALEN TERRY - A triple-double guard threat with legit playmaking abilities and defense. Shooting is a work in progress, but the Pelicans drafted a player like that a few years ago that now plays for Chicago.

42. NEW YORK KNICKS: IBOU DIANKO BADJI - Likely a G-League stash, you’ll see his profile and start playing Mo Bamba off your playlist. Badji has a ridiculous 7’8” reach, but has not figured out how to use it properly. He could play a major role in a couple of years if he does.

43. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: KOFI COCKBURN - With this being their only pick in the draft and being so draft hindered, they might reach and get Kofi here. He has developed into a strong center, but hasn’t seen much love in Mock Drafts to reflect his talent. 

44. ATLANTA HAWKS: TERQUAVION SMITH - The NC State product requires a lot of work, but the Hawks are pretty thin at the 2 with Huerter and Bogdan oft-injured. A bit undersized, this defensive guard has put up some big offensive games, making him a potential first round selection. Smith is of great value here and also fills a need for them.

45. CHARLOTTE HORNETS: JALEN WILLIAMS - The Santa Clara forward is your typical 3-and-D guy. Regardless of how the Hornets handle their roster, he’s a good player to potentially replace Cody Martin.

46. DETROIT PISTONS: KHALIFA DIOP - I think they double-down on center in this draft. Diop is a rising center prospect from Senegal. Most of who is left in this draft is going to be end of season play or G-League all year, especially on a team with a lot of other prospects to prioritize.

47. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: KEON ELLIS - Another elite defensive prospect from Alabama, this senior will enter the league as a true 3-and-D 2-guard. Quality shooting, elite defense, solid rebounder, good size, you couldn’t ask for more in a 2nd round pick.

48. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: TREVOR KEELS - His game against UNC might have salvaged his draft value. Honestly, he should return to Duke next season with the stacked roster they have in place. His numbers don’t wow you, but he was a critical role player for their bench. The Timberwolves might have a role for him if they trade Beasley.

49. SACRAMENTO KINGS: TREVION WILLIAMS - The Purdue product was a critical player on that team. While his stats don’t jump at you, his per-36 is a monster double-double, with over 5 assists. He doesn’t take a lot of shots but he makes them pretty accurately for a big and showed up in big ways during the tournament. He could be a riser in this draft or return for a larger role next season.

50. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: JABARI WALKER - At this point in the draft if they do end up working out a point guard, they could find one in free agency. Jabari Walker should probably be drafted higher and they could probably use his shooting and rebounding. His direct stats don’t tell the whole story, as his defensive rating is elite.

51. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: MICHAEL FORSTER JR - He spent the last year in the G-League and developed a reputation for being basically Eric Paschall. He could end up being a better shooter and rebounder in his career, but he’ll enter the League on a win-now roster.

52. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: YANNICK NZOSA - He is one of those players you draft and they probably never play a minute in the NBA - signing with a country in Europe or Asia. His defense might translate to the NBA but he is as raw as prospects come, and with Zion re-entering the line-up, there won’t be room for him on the depth chart.

53. BOSTON CELTICS: ANDREW NEMBHARD - It’s tough to say if he’ll actually get drafted, but I feel like point guard has been a position Boston has been trying to figure out since Kyrie Walked (pun intended). Kemba was a bust, Schroder was a bust, and Payton hasn’t made a leap. They might bring him in and see if he can play a larger role.

54. MILWAUKEE BUCKS: FORFEITED PICK

55. MIAMI HEAT: FORFEITED PICK

56. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: MATTEO SPAGNOLO - Washington might try to just double-down at the point guard position - they are that thin. Spanolo is not an elite passer, but his claim to fame is super elite outside shooting. He does other things, but just being hyper efficient is why you might keep an eye out for him. I think he probably signs with another league that can pay him a larger contract.

57. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: RYAN ROLLINS - A 3-and-D guard that can kinda shoot, but it’s a work in progress. When you watch him you see a little bit of everything, but doesn’t do much consistently outside of score. For his size, he’s a solid rebounder and can get steals, but he’ll have trouble getting minutes on this roster.

58. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS - He’s sort of a tweener 4-5 that makes sense for Cleveland for depth behind Mobley and Allen. He’s a solid, but not elite rebounder, a consistent scorer, and elite blocker. His play at the end of the season might push him closer to a first round selection.

59. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: DREW TIMME - Probably a luxury pick at this point, he’s an intelligent, offensive-minded power forward. He might have to fight for minutes with Naz Little, Greg Brown, and Trenton Watford, but maybe his high IQ and pedigree earn him some garbage time.

60. INDIANA PACERS: HUGO BESSON - With the constant injuries to Brogdon and McConnell, they get an opportunity to do a guy that probably should be drafted a dozen slots sooner. He’s not really great at anything specifically, but he’s a prototype guard that can rebound well and projects as a better shooter than his stats say.

- ADAM SAFIANOW - NBA ANALYST - UPSYDE SPORTS [COPYRIGHT 2022]