POST-LOTTERY MOCK DRAFT 2.0

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

Post-Lottery Mock Draft:

1. SAN ANTONIO SPURS - Previous: Amen Thompson - Victor Wembanyama - Well this is quite a turn of events. In my previous draft, I have them going with a different type of 3-and-D player. The Spurs keep this pick, and they don't hesitate. You could see the jovial reaction of the Spurs organization as soon as Charlotte got the second pick. Wembanyama is a lock at #1 with his elite two-way ability, his speed, playmaking, and upside. He very well could be a cheat code from the moment he steps on the floor. He has the ability to immediately make the Spurs a playoff team, and with their trove of assets, very well could look to pair him with another star immediately. This Spurs team will be very different, as Coach Pop has cultivated his fair share of Hall of Fame players.

2. CHARLOTTE HORNETS - Previous: Scoot Henderson - Brandon Miller - In my previous mock, I had what many might consider the consensus #2 player at #4, but I think the Hornets pivot and fill a critical need on the wing. Oubre is entering free agency, Hayward only has one year left on the books, and Bouknight has yet to make that jump. With Ball facing a lengthy recovery, he could find himself as the potential offensive leader for this squad, and in the running for ROTY. Miller's two-way ability and ceiling make him an intriguing player that can fit on any team. It's still possible the Hornets go with the upside of Scoot Henderson, but unless they trade Rozier in the next few weeks, I don't see them making that move.

3. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS - Previous: Jarace Walker - Scoot Henderson - I see a very real path where Portland moves on from Dame this season. There are several teams that will be vying for him, despite his hefty contract. Teams like Philly, Boston, and Phoenix that did not meet their goals this season, could be looking to throw the Hail Mary to bring in this future Hall of Famer. With their face of the franchise already selected at #3, I see this being a very real possibility. Fit-wise, his defense makes more sense next to Anfernee Simons, and his playmaking will drastically improve the offense of Shaedon Sharpe. If they keep Dame, I still like Walker's fit, but I think if Portland were to make a major move, it would be with a guy like Scoot.

4. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Previous: Brandon Miller - Amen Thompson - With rumors of Jalen Green already swirling, I see Amen Thompson being a lock at this pick. He fills so many needs with his two-way ability, his size for his position, and his athleticism. Aside from being able to guard 4 positions, he can also leap out of a building and his playmaking is elite. Thompson has the size that he could play the 3 if they keep Green another year. It would not surprise me to see them trade Detroit or Orlando Jalen Green just so the Rockets can trade for both twins. This will be an interesting draft.

5. DETROIT PISTONS - Previous: Victor Wembanyama - Jarace Walker - It seems almost a certainty that they will trade Bojan this summer. Their team is already heavy in the front court, but Walker has a very unique skillset. Aside from being an excellent two-way player, he also has underrated passing, and many have compared his game to being a Draymond Green architype. While his passing is not elite, he makes up for it in his scoring ability. With the Pistons short on wing options, he could be a day 1 starter, and can play the 4 or small ball 5 if required. If they make this move, look for them to shop Stewart, as he would likely be the odd man out in this rotation.

6. ORLANDO MAGIC - Previous: Asaur Thompson - Asaur Thompson - The first pick that didn't change, Thompson is probably still the best fit for them at this point in the draft. They continue to add size to their backcourt, drastically improve their perimeter defense, and give another scoring option outside of Paolo. The other players available around this pick seem like they could have similar upside, but Thompson likely has the highest floor. The Magic were quietly a fringe play-in team last year, so hopefully they can stay healthy enough to move themselves over the line.

7. INDIANA PACERS - Previous: Taylor Hendricks - Taylor Hendricks - He still makes the most sense to me for them. Yes, Cam Whitmore is there, he has a ton of upside, he could very well be the best player available here... but, I still like Hendricks more for them. His skillset is very much what made Jonathan Isaac a top-6 pick a few years back. With almost a 40% 3-point shot, defense for days, and him being only 19, there is a lot to be excited about. He can fit on any roster, can switch to any position, and can create mismatches with his shooting. Pacers will get younger this summer and still get better.

8. WASHINGTON WIZARDS - Previous: Cam Whitmore - Cam Whitmore - The Wizards still need an upgrade at wing. Kispert is too one-dimensional and they need some protection if Kristaps and Kuzma walk. Whitmore very well could be a project for the Wizards, but his talent is undeniable. We've seen the plethora of talent that's come from Villanova, and Cam is no exception. His college stats don't do him justice, but you got a glimpse of his defense and flashes of his offense. The Wizards make a swing here.

9. UTAH JAZZ - Previous: Anthony Black - Anthony Black - Black still has the best chance at improving this team this summer. He projects more as a guard than a wing, but his size makes him sort of a Cade-lite. He's incredibly athletic, has excellent feel for the game, and is elite defensively. He will have to improve his outside shot and decision making on his passes, but he possesses all the tools of the modern tall-guard. When you watch him play, you can definitely see the comparisons to Cade and Luka, albeit, not as complete. The Jazz have excellent scouts, so it will be interesting to see what they choose.

10. DALLAS MAVERICKS - Previous: Kris Murray - Jordan Hawkins - I think the Mavericks improve their front court via trade. With that being said, if they keep their pick, I think Jordan Hawkins is an excellent fit. He's got a 6-5 frame with a 6-10 wingspan, he can shoot 3-pointers at almost a 40% rate, he won the NCAA Title, and despite being a slightly older player at 21 years old, he's handled the pressure of the big stage and should transition well into the NBA. While his defense doesn't directly translate into steals in the box score, he impacts the game with more than just his shooting. It seems likely that any trade to improve their roster would include either THJ or Bullock, and he would be able to fill that gap and potentially more.

11. ORLANDO MAGIC - Previous: Cason Wallace - Cason Wallace - Cason Wallace is still a really good pick for them. He's sort of in that Jrue Holiday mold of twitchy 3-and-D guards. He is not lightning quick, but he's elusive and can find his spots. He is effective as a spot up shooter and his elite defense is really the major improvement. Especially bringing in a Thompson twin, the Magic will need to consolidate talent if they want to get some of these guys minutes. The Magic have been hovering the middle of the pack for a long time, so don't be surprised if they try to snag one of these Hall of Fame caliber coaches that just got released and go all in with a splashy free agent and a consolidation of prospects for another star.

12. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - Previous: Gradey Dick - Gradey Dick - He is still an excellent fit for them. The Thunder already have several players on their team that need to have the ball in their hand to be effective, and Dick has a way of breaking down defenses with his outside threat. He was hitting NBA 3's with ease in High School, and his quirky layups going right would make even Luka blush. Lu Dort might still start over him because of defense, but don't be surprised if the Thunder give him a long leash and become a lightning rod for their bench.

13. TORONTO RAPTORS - Previous: Keyonte George - Keyonte George - He makes a lot of sense to fill the Gary Trent role this summer. His production doesn't justify his salary if it means not being able to lock down the rest of their core. VanVleet and Poeltl are priority signs, and I'm sure they'll want to extend both OG and Siakam as soon as possible. Their team was sort of a disappointment after being such a solid squad over the past few seasons, but they will need to see Scottie Barnes make that leap many have been waiting for. George gives them another athletic piece to keep defenses honest and he fits the culture of the Raptors.

14. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS - Previous: Nick Smith Jr - Nick Smith Jr - Honestly, 14 is a steal for him. He could end up going top-10. Knee injuries really derailed his college career, but his name was floating in the Scoot/Wemby conversation a couple of years ago. He is an explosive player and his style reminds me of Jaden Hardy coming out of the G-League Ignite. The Pelicans will look to shake things up this summer, and Nick Smith Jr could be a major piece in their new look.

15. ATLANTA HAWKS - Previous: Dereck Lively II - Dereck Lively II - He still makes the most sense to go to the Hawks. The Hawks fizzled out again in the playoffs and they will be looking to move some of their frontcourt guys for salary relief. Lively would still allow Trae and Murray to play their game, would be a huge factor in the pick-and-roll, and would create a substantial defensive presence in the paint. Lively is a sturdy 7-feet plus, and with so many scorers already on their team, he can become an anchor and put-back machine. 

16. UTAH JAZZ - Previous: Brice Sensabaugh - Rayan Rupert - Rupert has been one of my fast risers due to his ridiculous wingspan. He played with Wemby, so his scoring numbers might not seem very impressive, but at 6-6 with a 7-3 wingspan, he'll definitely be an interesting player next to a 7-foot SF in Markkanen, and their defensive superstar Walker Kessler. Having already brought in Anthony Black, this makes for an interesting combination. Rupert is sort of a project, so he'll likely play off the bench, but his upside is tremendous, as his frame has drawn comparisons to fellow swingman, Nic Batum.

17. LOS ANGELES LAKERS - Previous: Jordan Hawkins - Jett Howard - With Hawkins no longer ont he board, I could see Howard being an incredible story line. LeBron played with Jett's father, and will get to mentor his son at the pro level. Jett's skillset fells completely in line with what LeBron looks for on a team. He needs shooters, plain and simple, and Howard is not hesitant to pull the trigger. He gives this Lakers team some protection if they cannot afford Austin Reaves this summer, and allows them some cheap shooting while still filling the roster with vets. The Lakers are all-in on this season, so they still have a few weeks before they're worried about their draft.

18. MIAMI HEAT - Previous: Trayce Jackson-Davis - GG Jackson - Jackson has been flying up draft boards, and with good reason. He was already a fast riser on my original board, but I've seen him going as high as the mid-lottery. This draft is very shallow in legitimate big men, so modern big men that can stretch the floor, play with their back to the basket, and defend are becoming the norm. He was a high usage player on a really bad team, in a really tough conference. Jackson could find some quality minutes backing up Bam Adebayo next season.

19. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS - Previous: Leonard Miller - Leonard Miller - He would still be an excellent fit for them. The Warriors don't seem thrilled with the development of Jonathan Kuminga, and with Draymond on an expiring contract, it wouldn't surprise me to see them draft him or Trayce Jackson-Davis. The Warriors' offense runs through Steph, but are heavily reliant on elite defense. It is difficult to predict what direction the Warriors will take now that they have a huge tax bill impending and probably not enough gas left in the tank to propel to another title run with their current roster.

20. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Previous: Terquavion Smith - Brice Sensabaugh - With them missing out on Brandon Miller, I see a scenario where Sensabaugh makes a ton of sense. He is a sturdy wing with a soft touch. His outside shooting is deadly and he has the weight to bully smaller players in the paint. He can hit the turnaround jumper with ease and is still really young at 19. Brice was victim to being on a bad team in a good conference, but made the best of it on a per-minute basis. Many have drawn up comparisons to TJ Warren or Jerami Grant, but I could see him playing a similar role to Trey Murphy.

21. BROOKLYN NETS - Previous: Kyle Filipowski - Kris Murray - With Filipowski returning to Duke, I think they go with a guy I previously had higher on my list. Murray's fall is more of a fit situation, but also, a lot of guys really have moved up in recent weeks. Murray could still slide into the late 20s, but I think his pedigree and the success of his twin brother make him an interesting prospect. If he's somehow still there at 24, I'd love to see the Kings draft him with Barnes on an expiring deal. That being said, Murray gives shooting from the front court, something the Nets seem very high on. Cam Johnson is entering restricted free agency and Royce O'Neal seems like an obvious moveable piece for them to get younger.

22. BROOKLYN NETS - Previous: Rayan Rupert - Kobe Bufkin - His game actually reminds me a lot of his teammate, Spencer Dinwiddie. With Seth Curry entering free agency, he could fill that void. He is a decent ball handler, can hit the step-back 3, is very efficient with 48/36/85 splits, and is an above average defender. Jett Howard took up a lot of usage on this team, so he was able to be effective in limited opportunities. Bufkin appears to be a high floor guard that has shown flashes up upside.

23. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS - Previous: Bilal Coulibaly - Maxwell Lewis - So we're assuming Dame gets traded, we don't know what we're getting back, and we're assuming Scoot Henderson is their guy. Maxwell Lewis is the perfect guy to fill in the role left by Jerami Grant. He moves around a little more than Brice Sensabaugh, but isn't as effective in his shot. He can do more with the ball, whereas Brice is deadlier in spot-up situations. They both sort of fill that wing/forward role, and is exactly what the Blazers need. If they end up with Miller, they would obviously need to pivot to either Colby Jones or Marcus Sasser.

24. SACRAMENTO KINGS - Previous: Dariq Whitehead - Dariq Whitehead - For all the same reasons he was selected here last time, they still apply. With Barnes on an expiring deal, Whitehead can be a player that can keep them in contention. Realistically, I think the Kings would be better off bringing in veteran like a Royce O'Neal or a Reggie Bullock, but the appeal of someone like Whitehead at 24 makes a lot of sense. While they have title ambitions, I think they have a long enough timeline to where Whitehead can develop and be a major contributor within a year or two.

25. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - Previous: Jett Howard - Bilal Coulibaly - Essentially replacing Dillon Brooks with another wing in the same mold. He is not a high-volume 3-point shooter, but he is efficient at them. He's not incredibly explosive, but he is able to twist around defenders and already has played with a big with Jaren Jackson's skillset. Coulibably could probably be a top-10 pick if he played out in France another year, but there are many execs that will likely consider him as high as the lottery. He could be a name that moves up in the next draft.

26. INDIANA PACERS - Previous: Jalen Hood-Schifino - Jalen Hood-Schifino - I still really like the pairing of Hendricks and Schifino to this current Pacers roster. They seem likely to move on from several players as they consolidate assets and try to bring in another star for Haliburton. Schifino definitely adds size at the 2 and they would have an entire starting line-up 6-5 or taller. Pacers take a chance on a guy that has lottery potential that slid to the late first.

27. CHARLOTTE HORNETS - Previous: GG Jackson - Trayce Jackson-Davis - He is the ultimate fit. With his not available at this point earlier in the first mock, he is a strong candidated to get drafted here. While he might not start right away for this team, he adds that Draymond piece that I think would fit well with Ball, Miller, and Williams. TJD would be the glue guy. I think he is a more natural fit than GG Jackson was and I think that his defense would improve this team as a whole. I think he would be a better version of what Nikola Jovic was able to do his rookie year for the Heat.

28. UTAH JAZZ - Previous: Colby Jones - Colby Jones - I still really like his combination of tools. While his free throw percentage is a concern, as many use that as a barometer to gauge NBA shooting efficiency, he was effective from beyond the arc in a majority of situations. If they were to do a big swing right here, I could see them going for a Sidy Cissco or Nikola Djurisic - two guys that are complete boom or bust players, but I think they play it safe and accumulate the best trade-now assets for when a star becomes available on the cheap.

29. INDIANA PACERS - Previous: Jaime Jaquez Jr - Jaime Jaquez Jr - JJJ is just a really good fit. He's an excellent defender, rebounds well for his position, and would make an excellent bench player. His game reminds me of the Martin twins and would be an excellent addition to the Pacers bench. With Hield nearing the end of his time in Indiana, he could see a large role once Mathurin moves to the starting line-up. His defense might even give him a strong case to start - it will be interesting to see how he does in summer league and beyond and what moves the Pacers make.

30. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS - Previous: Maxwell Lewis - Brandin Podziemski - After seeing no playing time at Illinois, he transferred to Santa Clara, where he lead the team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and was a major factor beyond the arc. His spits are elite at 48/44/77, and with Gordon on a non-guaranteed deal, and Powell being probably their most tradeable asset to clear cap space, Podziemski would be an excellent fit. They already have a couple of guards in the wings waiting for their opportunity, and with uncertainty about the future of PG and Kawhi, Podziemski is a player that can play multiple styles and fit any system.

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2023]