Image via Getty/Kevin C. Cox
1.
The NBA regular season has officially come and gone as playoff action for the 16 remaining teams began over the weekend. The attention of the teams that didn’t make the cut will turn to June’s NBA Draft. For some franchises, this is where the attention has been all along.
For the first version of our mock draft this year, we used our friends over at Tankathon.com to simulate the selection order. There are also a few things outside of the lottery that need to be cleaned up via coin flip later on.
For now, congratulations are in order to the Detroit Pistons for winning (this fake lottery spin) for the second consecutive year and having the chance to select Cade Cunningham’s co-star. We also saw the Orlando Magic earn a top pick and the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans luck their way into top picks thanks to shrewd trades with the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.
But that’s enough rambling, here’s our first mock draft of the season.
2.Detroit Pistons - Jabari Smith Jr., Auburn
Position: Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 220 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
The Pistons were lucky enough to win the NBA Draft Lottery last year and make Cade Cunningham the first overall selection. While it’s unlikely that Cunningham is named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year thanks to a slow start and an outrageously good rookie class, it’s still fair to think that he has the highest upside of anyone from the 2021 class. He’s got superstar potential. Now, the Pistons have to find someone to pair with him for their next era of basketball. The best choice here would be Jabari Smith Jr.
Smith may be the best player in this draft. His jump shot is smooth, and he comes ready to shoot from NBA 3-point range. While at Auburn, he shot 43 percent from behind the arc to help fuel what may be this draft’s highest offensive ceiling. As the season went on, it seemed as if Smith received more responsibility offensively to show what he could do. He’s one of the better athletes in this draft, but needs to attack the rim more often than he does. Smith has a strong frame, but still could benefit from an NBA strength program as his body matures. Adding 5 to 10 pounds of muscle could improve his game even more. Defensively he profiles as a very switchable athlete that could develop into an All-Defensive player in the NBA.
3.Orlando Magic - Paolo Banchero, Duke
Position: Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 250 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
The Magic are still in the early stages of a rebuild, but did grab a couple of very nice pieces in the draft last year. Jalen Suggs, the fifth overall pick, still has plenty of potential despite being hampered by injuries for much of his rookie season, and eighth overall pick Franz Wagner should find himself on one of the NBA’s All-Rookie teams. That said, the Magic are still a franchise that should be selecting the best talent on the board, and at No. 2 overall it’s without question Paolo Banchero.
Banchero belongs at the top of this draft thanks to the potential he has to do almost everything on the floor while being the perfect size for the NBA. While at Duke, he showcased that he’s a good athlete that can be devastating in transition with or without the basketball in his hands. He’s not scared of being the focal point of an offense, even if that means his shot selection needs to be improved at the next level. Branchero has an NBA ready body, but needs to learn how to use it a bit better. For a guy his size, he shies away from contact a bit too much, but does have an electric spin move he uses to get to the basket that will be tough to stop at any level.
4.Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers) – Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Position: Big
Height: 7’0”
Weight: 195 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 20
The Thunder seemingly own this draft and the next several thanks to the shrewd moves of general manager Sam Presti over the years. The franchise has too many draft picks to keep track of, including three in this year’s first round. This pick is one of five first-round picks that the team got when it sent Paul George to the Clippers. At some point, the team may need to consolidate some of its draft capital, but it can afford to wait for the next disgruntled star in the NBA to do that. OKC certainly got lucky with this one, vaulting up into the top four.
As for the pick, Chet Holmgren very well could be the player with the highest ceiling in this draft, but he also could be the top-five player that’s least likely to reach his ceiling. Holmgren has a lot of things to like. He’s a terrific shot blocker, has a solid jumper, and is pretty athletic for a guy his size. Holmgren is also comfortable operating in the open floor as a ball handler and passer. He’s able to shoot over smaller players with little hesitation, but isn’t strong enough for the NBA right now. Holmgren adding weight to his frame is a must and at this point it’s difficult to imagine teams with established big men not targeting him in the post. Other teams right now won’t exactly fear Holmgren punishing smaller players on switches, either.
5.New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers) – Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Position: Guard
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 195 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 20
When the Los Angeles Lakers made the trade for Anthony Davis back in the summer of 2019, it was a move that was looked at as a no-brainer. The thinking was that the Lakers would be consistent title contenders and the draft picks owed to New Orleans would end up being near the end of the first round. The Lakers won the Finals back in 2020 in the Orlando bubble, which ultimately does make that trade a win for them, but it’s sure starting to look like a massive win for New Orleans, too. The Pelicans making the playoffs this year AND getting a pick that falls in the top four of the draft would be the dream for the franchise.
With that pick, if Jaden Ivey is still on the board, he should be the selection. Ivey is the best true guard in this draft and plays the game like a number of other guards that we’ve seen come into the NBA lately. He’s not quite Ja Morant in terms of athleticism, but he’s the closest thing to him in this draft. The question is whether or not that athleticism will be enough for Ivey to be successful at the NBA level. Ivey was athletic enough at Purdue that opposing defenses couldn’t dictate what he did, but in the NBA that could change. While in college, Ivey relied upon his right hand far too often both when attacking the basket and finishing around it. NBA defenses will certainly be scheming for this from the day he steps in the league. As a shooter, Ivey is comfortable hoisting both off the dribble and on the catch from deep. His fearless demeanor is coupled with an intensity that could prove to be infectious. It’s worth noting that Ivey comes from a family of star athletes. His mom, Niele, is currently the women’s head basketball coach at Notre Dame, where she starred in college before playing five seasons in the WNBA. His father, Javin Hunter, played football at Notre Dame before spending time in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. His grandfather also played in the NFL.
6.Houston Rockets – Keegan Murray, Iowa
Position: Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 215 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 21
The Rockets made a solid pick last year at No. 2 overall when selecting Jalen Green. If they had to do it over again, they may take Evan Mobley or Scottie Barnes, but ultimately Green still has a ton of potential despite a very up and down rookie season in Houston. Houston has a young pair it should feel good about in him and Kevin Porter Jr. Now, the Rockets need to begin filling in the pieces around those two. Adding a lottery pick on the wing should be the place to start.
Keegan Murray has the chance to be a guy that puts together a long career in the NBA on the wing, but it’s all going to be determined by whether or not his shooting becomes more consistent. In relatively limited action as a freshman at Iowa, Murray shot just 29 percent from three-point range, but improved that to almost 40 percent on a higher volume as a sophomore. If he can mimic that second-year number, he’s going to stick around in the NBA. If not, it may be difficult to envision him as a success story in the pros. He doesn’t really do anything poorly, but doesn’t do anything great, either. He’s going to be a below-average athlete on the wing in the NBA that might be able to find his ideal role as a small ball power forward off the bench in the right situation.
7.OKC Thunder – Shaedon Sharpe, Kentucky
Position: Guard
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 175 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
Shaedon Sharpe is one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft. He’s a throwback in some ways as he’s the purest “prep-to-pros” guy that we’ve had in quite some time. Sharpe was originally regarded as one of the top players in the 2022 high school graduating class. He ended up graduating high school early, reclassifying to the class of 2021, and enrolling at Kentucky. However, Sharpe didn’t actually play for the Wildcats, instead choosing to focus on preparing for the 2022 NBA Draft. It’s an interesting play that makes him a bit more of a difficult prospect to evaluate. He was constantly the best athlete on the floor in his high school and AAU games, even though the competition isn’t as good as it would have been at Kentucky. He still needs to be molded into a better basketball player, but he’s already a strong finisher both above and below the rim. He’s got enough bounce to dunk off one step. As a shooter, he’ll need to adjust to the NBA’s three-point line, but he’s got a relatively smooth stroke and is comfortable letting it fly off the dribble, in the catch and shoot, and even grabbing the ball on a dribble handoff.
8.Indiana Pacers – Jalen Duren, Memphis
Position: Big
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 250 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18
This season, the Pacers signaled to the NBA with their trade of Domantas Sabonis that a rebuild was on the way. Indiana did well in that trade to land Tyrese Haliburton in the deal and now has the necessary guard to build around. More trades could be coming for the Pacers and we could see them in the first round more than once depending on what those deals look like. Maybe Indiana flips Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield for another first-round pick?
As for their own selection at No. 7, the Pacers could use a young big man that can grow alongside Haliburton. Jalen Duren very well may be that guy. Duren is a freak athlete that needs some fine tuning as a basketball player. He’s already a terrific shot blocker and will immediately have an impact on the defensive end of the floor. Duren is athletic enough where he won’t be played off the floor by other teams and should be able to at least hold his own in pick-and-roll coverage. Offensively, there won’t be much more to his game than being a lob threat early on in his career. He certainly isn’t ever going to be a team’s offensive focal point, but he should be able to grow on that end of the floor. Duren also plays fast in transition and is the type of athlete that could cause nightmares for opposing bigs on the break.
9.Portland Trail Blazers – Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona
Position: Forward
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 210 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 19
The Trail Blazers took a step back this year, thanks in part to an injury to Damian Lillard, before trading away several significant pieces of the team in Robert Covington, CJ McCollum, and Larry Nance Jr. At the end of the season, Lillard proclaimed that this isn’t how it’s going to be moving forward for the Blazers and if they don’t get lucky in the lottery then it would make sense that this pick is traded to help the team win now. If it’s kept, Portland’s best bet would be finding someone that can hit shots off of Lillard’s playmaking and run the offense for himself while Lillard is on the bench.
In recent years, NBA teams have prioritized having a significant scoring option off the bench and Mathurin looks like he could be just that. He’s an above-average scorer from deep that can also attack the rim as needed. Mathurin is capable of scoring with the help of others, but doesn’t have any problem creating his own shot, either. He shot 38 percent from deep during his two years at Arizona on a total of 316 attempts. He shouldn’t be asked to be much of a creator for others and at times may play with blinders on when the ball is in his hands. Mathurin was a certified bucket for the Wildcats and he could be just that in the NBA, too.
10.Sacramento Kings – AJ Griffin, Duke
Position: Forward
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 220 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18
The Kings made the decision this season that their future is dependent on De’Aaron Fox and how high he can take the team. That’s a lot to ask of a borderline star guard for a franchise that hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2006. Trading away Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton means that this Kings team is going to focus on Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but they certainly need help out on the wing. Duke’s AJ Griffin could be a nice start there.
The scary thing about Griffin is the hitch he has in his shot. He needs a quicker release, and with the speed of the NBA game there are shots he gets off in college that he may not be able to in the NBA. If he can still shoot a solid percentage in the NBA, he’ll be a good three-and-D player off the bench. As the season went on at Duke, his offensive game expanded a bit as he seemed to be more comfortable putting the ball on the floor. He dealt with a number of different injuries while in high school that caused him to miss time, so the pre-draft process will be important for teams that are considering him.
11.San Antonio Spurs – Blake Wesley, Notre Dame
Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 180 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
It’s still weird seeing San Antonio in the NBA Draft Lottery, isn’t it? Head coach Gregg Popovich squeezed the most out of the team by getting this group to the NBA Play-In Tournament, but it’s clear that they need some help to get back to the top. The Spurs have historically had a terrific player development system and their selection at 10th overall could be a huge benefit of that.
Blake Wesley is oozing with two-way potential as a player in the NBA, but needs to significantly improve his jump shot if he’s going to come close to reaching his ceiling. He’s a terrific athlete and may have the quickest first step in the draft. Adding some muscle while maintaining his agility could turn Wesley into a terror on both ends of the floor. His arms seemingly go on forever and in college he was fantastic at reading opponents’ passing lanes to create turnovers that led to easy baskets. Wesley is a fine passer, but definitely profiles as a bucket-getter that can pass, rather than a pass-first guy that can score. His ability to finish around the rim is solid both above and below the cylinder. If the team that picks Wesley can create his jumper from scratch, he’s got star potential, but it’s going to take quite a bit of time.
12.Washington Wizards – Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
Position: Forward
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 230 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
If the Wizards want to build a competitive team around Bradley Beal, improving things on the defensive end of the court is a necessity. The Wizards were near the bottom of the NBA in defensive rating once again this year. That’s not going to be a recipe to getting back into the playoffs.
The forward from Baylor may be the best defensive prospect in this draft, but has limited upside offensively. On the defensive end of the floor, Jeremy Sochan will be able to defend both guards and bigs adequately. He’s a tireless athlete on that end of the floor that rebounds well and creates havoc with blocks and steals, too. On the offensive end of the floor, he will likely spend most of his time either setting screens and rolling to the rim or in the dunker spot. Sochan’s passing ability is fine, but could improve. His jump shot is a work in progress, but if he can figure that out and shoot around 35 percent from the corners in the NBA, he’ll be a tremendous success.
13.New York Knicks – Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 194 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 20
This season was without a doubt a disappointment for the New York Knicks after reaching the playoffs back in 2021. New York went into this year filled with legitimate hope and expectations, only to find themselves in the NBA Draft Lottery once again. The bright side for the Knicks is that RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, and Immanuel Quickley have the look of a nice young core of players. The two biggest questions are whether or not that will be enough to push this team into contention and whether or not general manager Leon Rose will give that group enough time to develop. Significant roster changes at any time in New York shouldn’t be a surprise.
Johnny Davis isn’t going to blow anyone away athletically, but he has a feel for the game that is near the top of this draft class. He’s a high IQ player that puts himself in the right spots more often than not. He’s not necessarily great at many things, but it’s hard to find a real hole in his game. He’s a fundamentally sound player that needs to put plenty of work in to improve his shot at the NBA level. He’s not a great athlete, but he’s a good enough athlete that he’s going to last in the NBA in some capacity. Davis will be a player that likely profiles as a high-end backup guard on a good team.
14.Charlotte Hornets – Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 215 pounds
Year: Senior
Age: 22
For the second straight season, the Charlotte Hornets were bounced out of the NBA Play-In Tournament in blowout fashion. The Hornets have a nice young group of players in LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and PJ Washington. But it’s not a complete group. It has become clear that high-priced free agent Gordon Hayward cannot be counted on to stay on the floor due to injuries. There was hope that last year’s first round pick James Bouknight would be able to shine, but he didn’t seem ready for the NBA in his limited action with the Hornets this year. The direction they take this pick could be telling about how the Hornets feel about his development.
Ochai Agbaji is a bit of a tweener as an undersized wing, but shot the ball pretty well at times at Kansas. He’s one of the older players in this draft. Combined with his size and average athleticism, that seems like a recipe to slide down the draft towards the end of the first round. In his last two years with the Jayhawks, Agbaji connected on 39 percent of his threes on 460 attempts. If he can do that in the NBA, there’s a place for him.
15.Cleveland Cavaliers – Tari Eason, LSU
Position: Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 216 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 20
The Cleveland Cavaliers were good this season for the first time in ages without LeBron James on the roster. The Cavs came close to making the playoffs, losing in the NBA Play-In Tournament to the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks to end the season. Over the last few years, the Cavs have drafted two potential superstars in Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. It’s safe to say they have one of the NBA’s best young trios if you include All-Star Jarrett Allen. Now, the Cavaliers badly need to add depth on the wing.
Tari Eason has the chance to be the ideal three-and-D wing in the NBA. He has the size, athleticism, and tenacity to be a plus defender in the NBA. While at LSU, he averaged two steals and more than a block per game. His combination of size and speed will allow him to defend point guards through power forwards and would make him a great counter to teams employing a small lineup. On offense, he should be expected to create for himself and others. The extent of his offensive work should come in transition and in catch-and-shoot opportunities in the half court. While at LSU, he shot 37.1 percent from deep, while averaging just a shade under 17 points per game.
16.Charlotte Hornets (via New Orleans Pelicans) – Mark Williams, Duke
Position: Center
Height: 7’0”
Weight: 242 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 20
Mark Williams won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award this past season and should be able to immediately help out defensively wherever he is selected in the draft. While at Duke, he averaged 2.8 blocks per game. He’s great on the offensive and defensive boards as well. Offensively, he’s not much of a threat on his own. His passing isn’t very advanced and he didn’t really shoot jump shots either. He shot 72 percent from the floor this past season for the Blue Devils on a shooting diet that mostly consisted of shots from inside the paint. He did make 72 percent of his free throws as well, up from 53 percent as a freshman.
17.Atlanta Hawks – Jaden Hardy, G-League Ignite
Position: Guard
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 198 pounds
Age: 19
Jaden Hardy is an undersized wing that’s capable of handling the basketball offensively to create his own shot or operate in the pick and roll. He was able to fill it up in the G League, scoring 17.7 points per game in 12 games at the G League Showcase. His three-point numbers aren’t great, but it’s worth noting that they are diluted a bit by the fact that he went a combined 4-25 on pull up and step back 3-pointers. While not overly impressive, his numbers were much better on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
18.Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets) – Dyson Daniels G-League Ignite
Position: Guard
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 199 pounds
Age: 19
Dyson Daniels is a player that took advantage of the opportunity presented to him by the NBA G League Ignite instead of playing in college or professionally elsewhere until he was eligible for the draft. He’s a strong passer and a relatively high IQ player that will be able to make his teammates better when he’s on the floor. Daniels’ shot from the outside isn’t going to scare anyone in the NBA–he shot 25 percent from deep with the Ignite–but he does have a knack for getting to a good place inside the paint to unleash a floater that has quite a bit of feel. He shouldn’t be a day one starter in the NBA, but could grow into that role one day. He’ll be a plus defender at his size that could be tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player.
19.Minnesota Timberwolves (picks 18 and 19 decided by coin flip TBD) – EJ Liddell, Ohio State
Position: Forward
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 240 pounds
Year: Junior
Age: 21
EJ Liddell would make a lot of sense for a team that’s searching for a consistent three-point shooter as a complementary player. Liddell wasn’t much of a shooter when he arrived at Ohio State, shooting just 19.2 percent from deep in 16 minutes per game as a freshman. However, his improvement has been steady, shooting 33.8 percent as a sophomore and knocking down 37.4 percent of his 3.8 attempts per game from deep as a junior. If NBA teams think this improvement is for real, he’s worth a flier late in the lottery.
20.Chicago Bulls – Walker Kessler, Auburn
Position: Center
Height: 7’1”
Weight: 245 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 20
Walker Kessler is a shot-blocking machine and may be the best interior defender in this draft. His size and wingspan allow him to challenge all types of shots around the rim. He isn’t quite the prototypical big man that’s going to be picked apart in isolation, but that isn’t his strong suit either. Offensively, Kessler looks to be a solid screener and rim runner. He hasn’t shown the ability as an outside threat or passer, but is great around the rim cleaning things up or catching lobs. As of now, he isn’t much of a threat as a post-up player.
21.Denver Nuggets (picks 20 and 21 decided by coin flip TBD) – Christian Koloko, Arizona
Position: Center
Height: 7’1”
Weight: 230 pounds
Year: Junior
Age: 21
Christian Koloko is an incredibly energetic, raw talent that’s going to need time to develop. At the very least, he should be able to provide energy and shot blocking for an NBA team off the bench. He still has plenty of upside on the offensive end if he’s in the right player development situation, but that will need to take some time. Right now, he should be used primarily as a guy that can set screens and roll to the rim. He can also outhustle opponents down the floor in transition for easy finishes at the rim.
22.San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors) – Malaki Branham, Ohio State
Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 180 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18
Malaki Branham showed in college that he has a deep repertoire on the offensive end of the floor. While at Ohio State, he shot 41 percent from beyond the arc and nearly 50 percent from the floor in total. He’s certainly much more of a scoring guard than he is a passer. Branham could be a really talented scorer off the bench for an NBA team with the potential to be developed into a starting shooting guard.
23.Memphis Grizzlies (via Utah Jazz) – Kendall Brown, Baylor
Position: Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 205 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18
Kendall Brown is one of the better athletes in this draft and can make plenty of plays above the rim on both ends of the floor. He throws down thunderous dunks and can block the occasional shot, but shouldn’t be considered a rim protector by any means. Brown shot the ball relatively well at Baylor, but didn’t shoot the ball that often from deep. For the Bears, he finished the season with just 41 attempts from deep, connecting on 34 percent of them. If that number can be improved upon or even kept in that neighborhood, that will be good enough to crack an NBA rotation. The hesitation to shoot needs to disappear.
24.Milwaukee Bucks (picks 23-25 decided by coin flip TBD) – Tyty Washington, Kentucky
Position: Guard
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 197 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 20
Tyty Washington showed the athleticism in college to be able to shake free against lesser defenders and create his own shot, but that may not quite be enough to make it in the NBA at his size. He’s comfortable pulling up from deep off the dribble or on the catch-and-shoot. He shot 35 percent from deep in his lone year at Kentucky. Washington isn’t scared to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket, but the overwhelming majority of his finishes come with his right hand. NBA teams will be able to force him into uncomfortable situations near the hoop. While attacking the basket, he’s very comfortable pulling up short and dropping in a relatively consistent floater. His passing ability is strong enough to the point where he should be able to run a second unit right away, but may need some seasoning before he’s ready to shoulder more of the load.
25.San Antonio Spurs (via Boston Celtics) – Nikola Jovic, Serbia
Position: Big
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 209 pounds
Age: 18
No, this isn’t Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. If Jovic pans out, it’s remarkable how similar their names are and the jokes will be great. If he doesn’t pan out, the jokes will still probably be great. Jovic plays like a huge guard with a really smooth shooting stroke that will serve as a great baseline for NBA teams to work with. Jovic is all potential right now and will need a significant amount of work to become an above-average NBA player, but it’s clear why he could become one.
26.Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers) – Christian Braun, Kansas
Position: Forward
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 218 pounds
Year: Junior
Age: 21
Christian Braun wasn’t a consistent enough shooter in college to be a lottery player, but he’s been good enough to find himself in the first round. While he was at Kansas, he was lights out on a smaller volume from deep, knocking down 44 percent of his three-point attempts (2.3 per game). His efficiency dropped to just 34 percent in his sophomore year on a much higher volume (5.1 attempts per game) before finding a happy medium as a junior at 38.6 percent on 3.3 attempts per game. He did expand his game offensively as a junior as he attacked the basket at a higher frequency, more than doubling his attempts from inside the arc.
27.Dallas Mavericks – Trevor Keels, Duke
Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 221 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18
Trevor Keels still has the option to head back to Duke for a second season, but he could find himself in the first round if he does decide to enter the draft this year. He has the potential to be a defensive stalwart, thanks to a very strong frame. In the NBA, he should be able to develop into a strong enough defender to guard point guards through small forwards and even some smaller power forwards. He wasn’t as consistent of a jump shooter as teams would like after he shot 31 percent from deep at Duke. If he returns to school, he could be a lottery pick by this time next year.
28.Miami Heat (picks 27-28 decided by coin flip TBD) – Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee
Position: Guard
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 171 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
Kennedy Chandler is an undersized guard that really excelled as a passer while at Tennessee. He’s got a solid shooting form that led to a 38 percent connect rate from deep as a freshman. He averaged 4.7 assists on the season, but could stand to cut down on his turnovers a bit. Defensively, he’s going to be targeted in the NBA because of his size. He averaged over two steals per game. After declaring for the draft officially over the last week, Chandler could be a name to watch rise up draft boards.
29.Golden State Warriors – Ousmane Dieng, France
Position: Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 216 pounds
Age: 18
Ousmane Dieng is a prospect with a pretty wide range of outcomes for his career. If he is able to improve his shooting, he’ll be a star. If that’s not the case, Dieng is going to be just another guy struggling to make it in the NBA. For his size, he’s got a really smooth handle and a nice looking jump shot. It just doesn’t go in often enough. While playing in the NBL, he connected on just 27 percent of his three-pointers, while taking more than four per game. If that gets fixed, he’s going to be an NBA starter for a while. If it doesn’t, well, at least you read about what could have been.
30.Memphis Grizzlies – Marjon Beauchamp, G-League Ignite
Position: Forward
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 199 pounds
Age: 20
Marjon Beauchamp is a good defender with arms that seemingly go on forever. That alone means there’s a place for him in the NBA. Like so many other guys like him in the past, the thing that is going to determine whether or not he’s a success story in the NBA is if he can figure out his jump shot. He’s a terrific athlete that can absolutely play above the rim and guard several positions. While in the G League, he shot just 24 percent from deep. He seemingly knows where he’s supposed to be at both ends of the floor and is able to find his way to the rim both in the half court and in transition.
31.Oklahoma City Thunder (via Phoenix Suns) – Wendell Moore Jr., Duke
Position: Guard
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 195 pounds
Year: Junior
Age: 20
Wendell Moore Jr. is sort of a do-it-all player that doesn’t seem particularly great at any one thing. But he doesn’t seem to have many glaring weaknesses right now. He really improved as a shooter each year while at Duke, going from a 21-percent three-point shooter as a freshman to a 41-percent shooter as a junior (on 3.2 attempts per game). It’s encouraging that his assists shot up throughout his time at Duke as well, while his turnovers slightly dropped. He can handle the basketball and run the offense, but his ideal role is probably as a secondary playmaker that is asked to knock down open jumpers.