As we near the NBA Finals, the 2021-2022 NBA season is coming to an end. With only four teams remaining, the majority of the league has turned its attention 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 order of the draft. There were also a few things outside the lottery that need to be cleaned up via coin flip later on. With the exception of the Brooklyn Nets’ decision to defer this year’s pick to the Sixers, the order is now set. The Orlando Magic will have the No. 1 pick with the Thunder and Rockets following behind them. The consensus belief is that the Magic are picking between three options in Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, and Paolo Banchero. The franchise has a chance to build off their historical No. 1 pick success after drafting Dwight Howard in 2004 and Shaquille O’Neal in 1992.
Without any more rambling, here’s our second mock draft of the season.
1.
As we near the NBA Finals, the 2021-2022 NBA season is coming to an end. With only four teams remaining, the majority of the league has turned its attention 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 order of the draft. There were also a few things outside the lottery that need to be cleaned up via coin flip later on. With the exception of the Brooklyn Nets’ decision to defer this year’s pick to the Sixers, the order is now set. The Orlando Magic will have the No. 1 pick with the Thunder and Rockets following behind them. The consensus belief is that the Magic are picking between three options in Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, and Paolo Banchero. The franchise has a chance to build off their historical No. 1 pick success after drafting Dwight Howard in 2004 and Shaquille O’Neal in 1992.
Without any more rambling, here’s our second mock draft of the season.
2.Orlando Magic - Jabari Smith Jr., Auburn
Position: Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 220 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 in the place as a franchise where they should be selecting the best talent on the board. Despite the temptation to pair Chet Holmgren with Suggs, a former high school teammate of his, the best player available is Jabari Smith Jr.
Smith may be the best player in this draft. His jump shot is smooth, and he comes ready to shoot from the 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 the 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 five-to-10 pounds of muscle could improve his game even more. Defensively he profiles as a very switchable athlete that could develop into a switchable, All-Defense player in the NBA.
3.OKC Thunder – 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.
4.Houston Rockets - Paolo Banchero, Duke
Position: Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 250 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
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 pair it should feel good about with 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.
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. Banchero 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.
5.Sacramento Kings - Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Position: Guard
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 195 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 20
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 it’s one that certainly needs help out on the wing. The thing that makes the most sense for the Kings is probably to trade away this pick.
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.Detroit Pistons - Shadeon Sharpe, Kentucky
Position: Guard
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 175 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
The Pistons were lucky enough last year to win the NBA Draft Lottery and make Cade Cunningham the first overall selection. Cunningham wasn’t 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 in the class. He was one of three rookies to be unanimously named to the All-Rookie team and should be the face of the Pistons for years to come. Without a doubt, he’s got superstar potential. The Pistons now have to find someone to pair with him for their next era of basketball. Missing out on a top three pick here hurts, but having Cunningham already in the fold softens the blow.
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.
7.Indiana Pacers - Keegan Murray, Iowa
Position: Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 215 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 21
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.
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.
8.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.
9.New Orleans Pelicans - Jeremy Sochan, Baylor
Position: Forward
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 230 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
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.
The forward from Baylor may be the best defensive prospect in this draft but has a 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.
10.San Antonio Spurs - AJ Griffin, Duke
Position: Forward
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 220 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18
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 over the top. The Spurs have historically had a terrific player development system, and their selection at ninth overall could be a huge benefit of that.
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 may not be as good of an idea in the NBA. If he can still shoot a solid percentage in the NBA, he’ll be a good 3-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.Washington Wizards - Blake Wesley, Notre Dame
Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 180 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 for the Wizards.
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.New York Knicks - Jalen Duren, Memphis
Position: Big
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 250 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18
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.
Jalen 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.
13.OKC Thunder - 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 he 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.
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 - Mark Williams, Duke
Position: Center
Height: 7’1”
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 - Malaki Branham, Ohio State
Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 180 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18
The Hawks this year turned what was an incredibly disappointing start to the season into a relatively impressive finish. Atlanta battled its way into the postseason with play-in victories over the Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers, the latter of the two on the road. That doesn’t change the fact that the Hawks need to improve the pieces around All-Star guard Trae Young if they want to maximize his potential as a lead guard. They’re going to need to add a capable secondary ball handler and much, much more defensive help on the wing.
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 score-first guard than he is a passer. Branham at the start could be a really talented scorer off the bench for an NBA team with the potential to be developed into a starting shooting guard if his shooting is as good in the NBA as it was at Ohio State.
18.Houston Rockets – Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
Position: Guard
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 194 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 20
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.
19.Chicago Bulls - EJ Liddell, Ohio State
Position: Forward
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 240 pounds
Year: Junior
Age: 21
The Bulls returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 this year thanks to a slew of roster moves that started last season with the accusation of big man Nikola Vucevic. Adding DeMar DeRozan last summer was the final push from out of the lottery to into the playoffs. The biggest question facing the team this offseason is whether or not the team will be able to retain forward Zach LaVine in free agency. If they do, the future is still relatively bright for the Bulls, if they don’t their window of competitiveness could be closing before it really even opens.
EJ Liddell would make a lot of sense for a team that’s searching for a consistent 3-point shooter as a complimentary 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. His improvement has been steady, however, shooting 33.8 percent as a sophomore before 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.Minnesota Timberwolves – Kendall Brown, Baylor
Position: Forward
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 205 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18
The Wolves were one of the feel-good stories of the NBA this year. It was the just the second time Minnesota made the playoffs since 2004. Anthony Edwards is an emerging young superstar, but there may be questions as to whether or not Karl-Anthony Towns is the correct player to pair with Edwards. Even if he is, more depth needs to be added to the frontcourt after Towns and Naz Reid. The Wolves should start to find themselves in the playoff conversation for years to come after how well Edwards has developed.
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 won’t be confused with a rim protector by any means. Brown shot the ball relatively well while 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 but did connect 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, but the hesitation to shoot needs to disappear.
21.San Antonio Spurs – 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.Denver Nuggets - Jaden Hardy, G-League Ignite
Position: Guard
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 198 pounds
Age: 19
This year for the Nuggets was a bit of a lost season. Yes, Nikola Jokic was the NBA MVP for the second straight season, but neither Jamal Murray nor Michael Porter Jr. played a single game all season long. Any hopes of a deep playoff run with the roster around Jokic were severely misguided. Next season should be different for Denver, as long as Murray and Porter Jr. are back, no matter what they end up doing with this pick.
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.
23.Memphis Grizzlies – Walker Kessler, Auburn
Position: Center
Height: 7’1”
Weight: 245 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Age: 20
The Grizzlies are another team that fans should start getting used to on the national stage. There are few players as electrifying as All-Star point guard Ja Morant. As long as he stays healthy, Memphis is going to be a factor in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies are still a young team and should continue to get better. At some point, they may need to consolidate some of their young, talented players into a second All-Star to join Morant, and this pick could be part of that process.
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.
24.Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers) – TyTy Washington, Kentucky
Position: Guard
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 197 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 20
The Nets had the second most disappointing season in the entire NBA this season (looking at you, Lakers…). Kevin Durant was in and out of the lineup due to a knee injury, James Harden refused to play well before he was traded for Ben Simmons, who never played because of a back injury, and Kyrie Irving refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and missed 53 games because of it. So far, it’s hard to call the Durant/Irving partnership in Brooklyn as anything but a failure. Sure, they may have won the 2021 title had Durant been a shoe size smaller, but they didn’t, so the pressure is only going to continue to mount until this team at least wins the Eastern Conference.
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.Milwaukee Bucks - Patrick Baldwin Jr., UW-Milwaukee
Position: Forward
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 230 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 19
Patrick Baldwin Jr. is a local kid that has the talent to be a first-round pick but didn’t have a very strong showing in his only year in college. He’s got all the tools to be a star, but the question about whether or not it will come to fruition. His jumper is visually appealing but he didn’t shoot it all that well from the outside in an admittedly small sample size. That’s a skill that could improve in the NBA, especially with a much lighter burden on his shoulders. If he can hit open threes and play good defense then things will work out for him in the NBA.
26.San Antonio Spurs – 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: 224 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 - 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.OKC Thunder - 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.