WAY TOO EARLY MOCK DRAFT 1.0

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

Way Too Early NBA Mock Draft:

1. DETROIT PISTONS - Victor Wembanyama - There might be someone that goes super bold and says one of the other top prospects goes ahead of him, but they'd be mistaken. Detroit has a plethora of big men, but none are as versatile or have the ceiling of big Vic. The Pistons with Vic might be in a position to where they can consolidate some of their talent and bring in some veterans to take advantage of him during his rookie contract. He has All-Star upside his rookie year and is projected to be the best two-way big man prospect since Anthony Davis. Many are comparing to Kareem and Wilt Chamberlain and it's not difficult to see why.

2. SAN ANTONIO SPURS - Amen Thompson - I'm predicting Scoot to fall slightly. He is going to be an elite guard, but his lack of elite size, elite defense, spotty shooting, and inconsistent scoring make him a project. Amen Thompson can play and guard multiple positions and will give the Spurs more flexibility to complete their roster this summer. Thompson is a more complete player and has pro experience just like Scoot. The Spurs very well could decide to stick with Scoot, as a small market team wanting the big name, but Thompson is probably the better fit.

3. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Brandon Miller - With the extension of Kevin Porter Jr, they likely look to complete their rotation. Miller is the best wing in this draft and would give the Rockets a ridiculous offensive ceiling with Green-Miller-Jabari. Sengun is slowly becoming a mini Joker, so he is able to play into his strengths instead of being relied on as the primary facilitator. It's possible the Rockets go with the pure upside decision and go with Scoot Henderson here, but I just don't know what you do with KPJ at that point when you have him signed in a lengthy contract.

4. CHARLOTTE HORNETS - Scoot Henderson - I think regardless of fit, they go with best player available. Charlotte seems like they could be a good candidate to try to trade up to get Wemby, but assuming they stick with Mark Williams and Nick Richards, Scoot would basically be groomed to play alongside Melo. Especially with Melo possibly not being able to be ready to start the season at full strength, Scoot could carve out a nice role with this team. Rozier is on not the best contract, but with Dennis Smith on an expiring deal, they could find themselves short on guards if they move in another direction. Overall, I think 4 is the lowest Scoot slides, but depending on team, could go as high as 2.

5. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS - Jarace Walker - This might be a reach, but I think they hedge their bets against whether or not Jerami Grant returns to the team. If Jerami Grant returns with the salary he is making now, they'd be deep into the salary cap with probably not much better results than they had this year. They tried to bring in defensive guys like Reddish and Thybulle, but ultimately, they don't really have a defensive identity. Simons is a major defensive liability and Grant put up his worst defensive rating this season. Walker is a soft reset button and it gives the Blazers another young guy to build around Shaedon.

6. ORLANDO MAGIC - Asaur Thompson - Their guard rotation is pretty suspect and I think they add someone to the mix that they can move around to the best fit. Thompson has upside as a facilitator, triple-double machine, and elite defender. Asaur might already be a better shooter on draft night, but his brother Amen might have a slightly higher ceiling. This pick seems like a low-risk, high-reward pick. They are either getting Jaylon Brown, or they're getting Evan Turner. 

7. WASHINGTON WIZARDS - Cam Whitmore - With their entire front court essentially entering free agency, they need to draft a guy that could give them some offensive upside. Whitmore is a large 3-and-D forward that projects as an elite shooter and his defensive is already considered at the top of the class. This Wizards team could go for one of the top-tier guards if they can move up, but assuming they are drafting in this range, this pick make sense for them.

8. INDIANA PACERS - Taylor Hendricks - The 4 is the Pacer's weakest decision, and it's not necessarily a stretch for them to go after a guy like Hendricks at 8. His elite athleticism and range make him a potential day one starter. Pairing Hendricks with Turner could be a devistating front court. Both players can block, both players can defend, and both players can shoot. The Pacers are still figuring out this rebuild, but I could see them drastically improving with him on the team.

9. UTAH JAZZ - Anthony Black - With Jordan Clarkson unsure to return, they go with an upside pick in Black. He has the ability to play both guard positions, guard wings, is a solid playmaker, and is only 19. His shot needs some work, but his defense is already at a pro-level. The Jazz are definitely ahead of schedule thanks to Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen, and have seen solid flashes from Talen Horton-Tucker, Sexton, and Fontecchio. They are definitely a fun League Pass team.

10. DALLAS MAVERICKS - Kris Murray - He is much lower on other draft boards, but I think he is a name that rises into the lottery on draft day. Murray is a perfect fit for the Mavericks. His brother got drafted by the Kings last year and they are very similar players. Defensive-minded stretch-4. His game is similar to Tobias Harris and Aaron Gordon. He is an older prospect, but fits their timeline. This is not a frontcourt heavy draft, so the Mavs look to improve on positional need unless they can find a suitor for the pick.

11. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - Gradey Dick - The Thunder need help at the wing. They have guys that aren't really wing players sort of filling the role. Lu Dort was supposed to be their wing of the future but had a really bad season and they might be looking for someone that is more of a specialist. Dick is probably the best shooter in the draft. He is up there with guys like Cam Thomas and Corey Kispert, and although they have size, are really more so to see over defenders than to actually defend. Dort has never averaged over 35% from beyond the arc, or over a steal per game in a season, so he might have an easy path for minutes. The Thunder need to do something because it's starting to seem like it's the same story every season. Depending on how Chet impacts their team, we might see some sweeping changes later in the season.

12. ORLANDO MAGIC - Cason Wallace - I still think the Magic are uncertain about their guard rotation. You have guys like Suggs and Fultz that show some nice signs of being a two-way star guard, but injuries and inefficiencies make you question those decisions. Wallace is the next class of Kentucky guard and he checks all of the boxes. He's 6'4", efficient, and plays elite defense. He's drawn comparisons to Jrue Holiday and Eric Bledsoe. He might not be a heavily involved as a rookie, but Fultz only has $2 million guaranteed on the books next year and could be a cut or trade candidate, Cole Anthony has not really materialized, and Suggs has probably sat more than he's played. The Magic hit big with Paolo, so it'll be interesting how the build the team up around him.

13. TORONTO RAPTORS - Keyonte George - It seems to me that VanVleet and Poeltl are likely the priorities to re-sign this off-season. They traded away a first rounder to get Poeltl for a stretch run and have no clear viable back-ups at that position. This team is essentially 1 point guard, 3 wings, and 1 center at any given time, so I think George can fit the bill. While on paper, his shooting appears very inefficient, he projects as a much better NBA shooter. His quickness and explosiveness project him as a solid shot creator, and I think he'd benefit on a team where he's not relied on as heavily to lead the team's offense.

14. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS - Nick Smith Jr - With Josh Richardson on an expiring contract, I think they go with a guy with a similar skillset. Nick Smith's numbers don't reflect the injury-riddled season he had. If you look at his nice run from mid-February to mid-March, you have a better idea of what his potential could be. He would probably be more efficient in an NBA line-up, but he has shown potential as a 3-and-D guard. With the trade of DeVonte Graham and the constant injuries to their starting-5, Smith might see some playing time as a rookie. His ceiling alone could make him a lottery pick, but he might slide due to his lack of playtime.

15. ATLANTA HAWKS - Dereck Lively II - This team gives me the feeling that they are going to make some big moves in the off-season to address some of their cap issues. I think some of the more expensive players like Collins, Capela, Bogdan's expiring, and possibly even Trae Young are all possibilities to at least be shopped. This team has a lot of problems - several wings that all do the same thing, a $40+ million point guard that can't defend, and a front court that can't guard the paint and earning $45 million. I think Okongwu is going to get a bigger role next season as potentially the starting 4, and Dereck Lively would be the Kessler-type center they are hoping for. Atlanta going tens of millions into the luxury tax to basically be .500 is not their goal, and I think a middling team is the worst thing they could be right now.

16. UTAH JAZZ - Brice Sensabaugh - The Jazz have a good amount of defense with multiple 7-footers on the team. A guy like Brice Sensabaugh could be a shot in the arm for their bench. He's instant offense with his ability to overpower defenders and score in the paint. He also hits the 3-ball at a very high rate, and efficiently. He could be a candidate to slide in the draft, despite his gaudy numbers, due to his defensive concerns. The Jazz have a lot of directions they could pivot to with their rebuild.

17. LOS ANGELES LAKERS - Jordan Hawkins - LeBron loves shooters, and LA loves winning, so it's a good match. The sniper from UConn has played well all year, and continued throughout the tournament. He can get hot from beyond the arc, can get to the free throw line, doesn't kill you with turnovers, and doesn't get into foul trouble. He's a bit older for a prospect, which might keep him out of the lottery - just low enough for the Lakers to scoop him up. His game is similar to his teammate Austin Reaves, who is in line for a big payday this summer.

18. MIAMI HEAT - Trayce Jackson-Davis - He is essentially the Draymond prototype, making him a real possibility for Golden State should they go with him over Leonard. An elite rebounder, defender, and passer for his position, he does what you need him to do and do it well. There might be some issues with him being in line-ups with Bam and Jimmy due to the lack of outside shooting, but TJD is definitely a glue guy for a lot of teams. If he was 2 years younger he'd easily be a lottery pick.

19. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Terquavion Smith - Honestly, I was quite surprised with Smith decided to go back to school. He did flame out in the tournament last year, but he averaged 23.8 points over his last 5 games leading up to the tournament, and 4.6 3PG. Clemson took him out again, but I think he should stay in the draft. He would be an excellent addition to any team's bench, and I think the Rockets need a guy behind Green. They just extended Kevin Porter Jr and they drafted TyTy Washington last year, they already have probably too many wings and forwards, and there isn't really a must-draft center at this point in the draft.

20. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS - Leonard Miller - Miller is an elite G-League prospect that is known primarily for his defense. With there being some questions floating around about Draymond's return and Kerr not particularly impressed with Kuminga's defense, Miller might be an option for them. Miller rebounds at a very high rate for a wing and has the size and length to play the 4. There are elements of his game that are still developing like his outside shot and passing, but he should be able to get to respectable levels once he's gotten more experience. The way Golden State's team is structured he should have a nice role and develop well as a player.

21. BROOKLYN NETS - Kyle Filipowski - The Nets are in an interesting position. They've basically been .500 since the Kyrie trade set off a flurry of other player acquisitions. They now have a bunch of 3-and-D wings and are entering a draft full of 3-and-D wings. What makes sense is for them to either consolidate their picks to move up in the draft or get some veteran pieces to build around Dinwiddie and Bridges. Their first pick, I like for them to get Kyle Filipowski. While his game is more NBA ready than his frontcourt mate Dereck Lively, his ceiling likely is not as high. He moves decently with the ball, but probably projects more as a 4 with stretch upside. He could be a nice bench piece for this short rebuild team.

22. BROOKLYN NETS - Ryan Rupert - He is sort of a project player and a definite swing player. His game is raw, but he has the frame to grow into a nice 3-and-D player. He is one of the youngest players in this draft class and has spent the past year playing professionally. With Seth Curry on an expiring contract, there's an opportunity for him to potentially play some minutes his rookie year. Expectations would need to be tempered but he might be a name that breaks out in the next year or two.

23. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS - Bilal Coulibaly - I think Portland doubles down on their interest in going defensive heavy. Sidy Cissoko and Marcus Sasser might be names that they'd throw around, and to a lesser option Jaime Jaquez Jr. Bilal is mostly a defensive specialist, but has shown to be pretty efficient as a shooter in low volumes. He plays in France with Wemby, so he might already have an understanding on how to share the paint with a guy like Nurkic. He's very young, so he might be brought on slowly, especially if the Blazers keep Thybulle and Reddish on roster.

24. SACRAMENTO KINGS - Dariq Whitehead - He was a top class prospect a year ago, and has slid a bit after an underwhelming season at Duke. He's elite as an outside shooter, something that plays in well with this current Kings team, but also has some upside as a defender. His limited playing time definitely hurt his draft position and he never really broke out. Once he fills out, he could be a huge boost to the wing rotation of this team, especially with Harrison Barnes on an expiring contract.

25. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - Jett Howard - A large shooter, he has potential to be the eventual Dillon Brooks replacement. He is not afraid to shoot the rock and had 4 or more 3's in 5 games, and averaged 2.7 per season at a 37% clip. He's a low-turnover guy, he looks for the pass, and his a solid free throw shooter. His size would allow him to guard multiple position and he would fit right into the high-powered Memphis offense.

26. INDIANA PACERS - Jalen Hood-Schifino - After passing on a Thompson-twin, they go with a Thompson-lite. The Pacers already have several oversized guards, and despite his size, JHS is not regarded as an elite defender. His game needs a lot of work and he's not a very explosive player. He is however, very acrobatic around the rim, has great court vision, and projects as a solid passer. While Nembhard has done well as the starting-2 for a rookie, they need someone with a little more size to pair next to Haliburton. JHS could be that secondary ball handler to take some of the backcourt pressure off of him.

27. CHARLOTTE HORNETS - GG Jackson - With there still being some uncertainty surrounding whether or not Bridges will come back next season, GG Jackson would be an excellent fit if he slides in the draft. He's been a fast riser for his explosiveness and defensive acumen, he would be competing with PJ Washington at the 4 with them having similar skillsets. Jackson is larger and more athletic and PJ Washington is close to the end of his rookie contract.

28. UTAH JAZZ - Colby Jones - Another electric 3-and-D guy, his skillset is a premium at this point in the draft. There are question marks on most of the big men around this draft, so it's not likely the Jazz get a back-up big at this point in the draft. Jones could go as high as the early 20s, as his passing is excellent, he is hyper efficient with his scoring - going 51% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc, and his plays a solid brand of defense.

29. INDIANA PACERS - Jaime Jaquez Jr - The Pacers tend to get at least one older player as of late, and JJJ might be who they go after. He's been a household name at UCLA for a couple of years now and he's finally throwing his name in the hat. He capped off his season with a solid rebound-rate, solid scoring, and excellent defensive numbers. His size creates mismatches if played at the 2 and can guard wings. He projects as a solid role player with starter-upside.

30. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS - Maxwell Lewis - A confident wing player with a diverse skillset and a propensity to score in bunches. His game is not perfect, he does turn over the ball quiet a bit and is often called for fouls, but his comfortable playing with a high usage, has respectable shooting averages, and is an above average defender. Entering the final season of the George-Kawhi wing combo before they can both opt out, the Clippers might start drafting pieces that they could build around.

- Adam Safianow - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2023]