2021 NBA Mock Draft (V2)

1.

With less than three weeks until the Pistons are on the clock and the combine behind us, the draft is rapidly approaching. Speaking of the Pistons being on the clock, will they be picking first on draft night? ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has already reported that the Pistons are gauging trade interest from teams around the league. Cleveland, Houston, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City have reportedly engaged the Pistons on what it might take to move up to the No. 1 spot to presumably take Cade Cunningham.

Is this Pistons GM Troy Weaver simply doing his due diligence or is he really interested in moving down to collect more assets? If a trade of this magnitude materializes, we still may have a few weeks before it is agreed upon. When the Celtics and the 76ers agreed to swap the first and third picks in 2017, there was only about a week to go before draft night, so we could see this dance continue for the next few weeks.

Most likely, Detroit will want to stay in the top-3 with a perceived dip in players after Cunningham, Jalen Green, and Evan Mobley. This may give the Rockets and Cavs their opportunity to move up for the No. 1 player in the draft. The longer the Pistons continue to listen to offers, the more likely it seems that they will be willing to trade the pick.

2.Pistons - Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State

Cade Cunningham finally puts the Pistons back on the NBA map in a big way. With two picks from last year’s draft that made the All-NBA Rookie Team this season and Jerami Grant emerging as a legitimate NBA scorer, the cupboard is not completely bare in Detroit. How the Pistons are able to bring along Killian Hayes next to Cunningham will be interesting in the upcoming years, as Hayes does not project to have great spot up shooting next to a guy who is going to have the ball in his hands a lot.

Cunningham is another big wing with the mind of a point guard. His 6’8” frame and 7’ wingspan allow for him to see over the defense in transition and pick and roll to make passes that many of his peers cannot. The one concern going into his freshman season was his outside shooting, and then he proceeded to make 40 percent of his 155 attempts, 60 percent of which came unassisted. He turned the ball over a little more than you’d like and his overall FG% of 43 is not perfect, but he was the Cowboys’ entire offense and was forced to take shots he shouldn’t have to in the NBA. He is also a very stout defender who may be able to even play some small ball 4 to get as many shooters on the court as possible.

3.Rockets - Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite

This selection is feeling more and more probable with each passing day. Between IG Live comments from Kevin Porter Jr. on Jalen Greens’ stream and the lack of rumors connecting Houston and any other player, Green is the betting favorite to hear his name second on draft night. Between Porter, Jae’Sean Tate, and Christian Wood there is little to dissuade Houston from taking any player or position, so Jalen Green should slot right into a heavy workload from the start.

Jalen Green is one of the best pure two guards to come into the league in the last handful of drafts. He has excellent size, athleticism, and shot making ability. He has an advanced skill set for getting to the spots he feels most comfortable in. Playing in the G League, under NBA veteran Brian Shaw, he is more prepared for the Association than most teenagers. Green was able to take the reins of the Ignite team and lead them in scoring, 3-point attempts, and steals. Coach Shaw gushed about his ability, character, and focus during the G League bubble, even calling him an “inevitable star.”

4.Cavaliers - Evan Mobley, C, USC

Cleveland finally catches a break in the lottery after dropping back in the last three drafts. While none of their draft picks have bombed, the roster in Cleveland continues to be a work in progress. The result is a lopsided roster that still contains too many front court players and too few shooters or playmakers. The fact of the matter is that none of the players on the roster will dictate what general manager Koby Altman does on draft night, and Evan Mobley may be too unique for him to pass up on.

How will Evan Mobley fit in with the rest of the Cavs’ roster? Jarrett Allen figures to be back after Cleveland spent a first-round pick to acquire the impending restricted free agent. Losing Allen for nothing or trading him at a loss will not be as attractive to GM Koby Altman. There are a few schools of thought when it comes to what role Mobley might play on a Cavs team that features Allen at center and incumbent power forward Kevin Love. Could Mobley come off the bench to start his career, playing both front-court positions? This would allow for the team to bring him along more slowly while also pairing him with intriguing options such as Allen, Love, or Larry Nance Jr. This would allow for Mobley to hone his wide array of skills on both ends of the floor without being too duplicative. Mobley will continue to hang his hat on his elite rim protection and ability to switch on the perimeter while providing a high floor on offense. If Mobley can turn into a shooter or more assertive scorer, the Cavs won’t have to worry about finding him a spot in the starting rotation.

5.Raptors - Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga

Is there a better fit in the draft between team and player? Kyle Lowry is most likely going to be leaving the Raptors this summer and they could not be more fortunate to hand the keys over to Jalen Suggs. By plugging in Suggs, a mature lead guard that is used to deferring and doing whatever the team needs to win, Toronto should be back contending for a playoff spot next season.

Jalen Suggs starred for the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and did not disappoint, even if his team did in the national championship game. While it has become cliché to mention, Suggs is a former four-star quarterback recruit with offers from Ohio State and Georgia. It is easy to how Suggs can translate skills from one sport to the other, whether it’s getting downhill with the ball or fitting passes in between defenders. Gonzaga’s team did not ask him to shoulder all the scoring load, but when their team’s back was up against the wall, Suggs would more than not have the ball and would deliver. The wide-open NBA game will make it even easier for Suggs to get to the rim and punish teams for switching bigs or smaller guards onto him. There are some aspects of his game that he could clean up, including his 3-point shot, turnovers, and off ball discipline, but Toronto should have one of the better environments for him to succeed in.

6.Magic - Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite

Orlando hit the reset button this season by sending their best player to Chicago and their second-best player to Denver. The organization maxed out what they could do with Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, so they collected more draft picks and guys still on their rookie deals as lottery tickets. Magic GM John Hammond came from Milwaukee and you can see how that has influenced his drafting in Orlando. The only problem, they haven’t picked their Giannis yet, so the rest of the pieces have not fell into place.

Jonathan Kuminga is somewhat of an enigma in this class. Once thought to have a chance to go No. 1 overall, Kuminga enjoyed up-and-down season during his short stint on the G League Ignite. Kuminga has a strong, thick, and developed body that will allow him to survive on both ends in the NBA right away. His role on the Ignite team afforded him the opportunity to play with the ball in his hands and make the types of decisions he would not have been able to do on most college teams. The results were mixed, as his shooting percentages were below average from most areas of the court, but his flashes reminded everyone why he was so highly touted in the first place. Will this experience allow for him to grow more quickly as a big wing creator? On a team like the Magic, he will get every opportunity to grow in a low-pressure situation.

7.Thunder - James Bouknight, G, Connecticut

Oklahoma City could use just about everything on their roster. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turning into an All-Star caliber player entering his fourth season, the clock could be ticking on finding him a co-star to fight for a playoff spot with. Aleksej Pokusevski provided nothing if not entertainment in his rookie season. Continuing to build on a roster that values length, skill, and upside will prove important for OKC moving forward.

With a unit that ranked dead last in the NBA in offensive rating, adding James Bouknight would let the Thunder spread more of the scoring responsibility evenly across the roster. Bouknight is a true shooting guard with surprising bounce and array of pro ready moves. While Bouknight’s three point percentage was not up to par this season, he shot close to 34.7 percent the year prior while sporting a career 80.0 percent mark from the free throw line. With a 6’8” wingspan, he should be able to concentrate more of his game on the defensive end as his scoring responsibilities will be shared with Gilgeous-Alexander.

8.Warriors – Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State

Golden State endured their second straight season missing the playoffs during Steph Curry’s prime, which will light a fire under the franchise this offseason. This pick could easily be packaged for a veteran on the trade market to once again go all in to win a championship with the current core of Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. Too many nights the scoring load was all on Curry to carry their depleted roster. While Andrew Wiggins had his most efficient shooting season, more depth on the wing that can defend and knock down shots should be at the top of the list for Golden State.

Could Scottie Barnes represent the best opportunity to find the next Draymond Green? While he played some point guard in the ACC, Barnes projects as a long, athletic forward that has unique passing and ball handling skills for a guy that stands 6’9 with a 7’2.5” wingspan. There are limitations to his game that may be the difference between a super role guy and a starter, and they start with shooting the ball. Barnes only shot 40 3-point shots this year and connected on 12 of them for 27.5 percent. Even in the mid-range, Barnes had trouble connecting, often going to a long floater shot. Rebounding more and getting to the line at a higher rate will help bring more value to what he can do on the floor. Even in the mid-range Barnes had trouble connecting, often going to a long floater shot. Rebounding more and getting to the line at a higher rate will help bring more value to what he can do on the floor. This selection would let the Warriors play faster, defend more, and put another guy on the floor to find Steph and Klay in their preferred spots.

9.Magic - Moses Moody, G, Arkansas

The Magic select again in the top 10 with the pick they received from Chicago in the Nikola Vucevic trade. The team will want to get a hard look at the bevy of forwards and bigs that now inhabit their roster, so their attention should turn to someone that can get their own shot and theoretically be a shooter.

Moses Moody is and extremely young and long 3-&-D prospect out of Arkansas. Moody, who just turned 19 in May, boasts a 7’ wingspan to go along with a silky jumper that should translate immediately. While he is getting pigeonholed as a lower upside prospect because of his lack of passing or athleticism, his upside will come from the rate at which he gets to the line and rebounds the ball on the offensive end. Moody will be thrown right into the fire in Orlando where they will immediately lean on his ability to shoot the ball on a roster that lacks exactly what he brings to the table.

10.Kings - Alperen Şengün, C, Turkey

Sacramento got extremely lucky last draft with Tyrese Haliburton falling into their laps, but that is where the luck ended last season as many key contributors for the team missed time. The Kings may end up having to replace three rotation players based on how their off season goes, and decisions will need to be made on Richaun Holmes, Buddy Hield, and Marvin Bagley III. GM Monte McNair may have the opportunity to have another first team all rookie player fall into his lap.

Alperen Şengün is one of the most accomplished teenagers in the history of the Turkish League. His per 36 splits of 24.4/11.9/3.2 on 64.6/19.0/81.2 percent were as dominant as they look. Blessed with terrific footwork, touch, rebounding, and finishing ability, the floor for Şengün looks incredibly high on the offensive end. He will need to be able to spread the floor if he is going to play minutes at power forward, but his peripheral shooting numbers, paired with a smooth looking stroke, shows that there is still upside to be tapped into. The work that will need to be done will be on the defensive end where he does not project to be a great rim protector or a guy with quick enough feet to stay with NBA level athletes on the perimeter. However, he does still average over a steal and a half a game and two blocks per 36 minutes, showing that he does give effort on this end. His ability in the pick and role should immediately provide offense for De’Aaron Fox or Haliburton.

11.Pelicans - Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga

The clock is already ticking loudly in New Orleans with executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin dismissing Stan Van Gundy after one season. Griffin has done a good job of collecting assets with the Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday trades, but the roster built around Zion Williamson has not maximized his impact or Brandon Ingram’s. Decisions on restricted free agents Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart will either lock this existing roster together or create some big holes in the rotation moving forward.

Corey Kispert is one of the safest players in this entire draft, with elite level shooting from all over the court. At 6’7” he posses the size to shoot over smaller players and even give their line up some versatility at the three and four spots. While Kispert is known for his shooting prowess, he is a stocky 220 pounds that can body up guys down low and provide some toughness around the rim. His career two-point percentage of 58.5 percent is a testament to his touch, shot selection, and effectiveness in the open court. If point guard Zion is going to continue, putting shooters around him with size and versatility will be paramount.

12.Hornets - Jalen Johnson, G, Duke

Charlotte finally was able to hit on the next face of their franchise last draft by taking LaMelo Ball at No. 3. This injected excitement and optimism into a franchise that badly needed it after losing Kemba Walker to Boston a few years ago. Getting the best player in the draft was a franchise-altering stroke of fortune that sets the Hornets up nicely going into next season. The team has an interesting compliment of guards and forwards that can score, shoot, and get up and down the floor in transition. The last piece for the team going forward could be a center to do the dirty work and finish off plays from Ball and company.

Jalen Johnson only played 13 games for Duke after suffering a foot injury and losing minutes upon his return. There will be questions about why he left a program like Duke in the middle of the year, but Coach K publicly supported his decision and didn’t seem to hold it against him. Johnson is an intriguing combination of size and athleticism with a full court game. He was extremely productive on the boards and provides passing in the open court and from the post. The main questions surrounding his game are how well he’ll be able to shoot it, but his versatile offensive game and defensive effort will form an interesting combination to match with Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, and Jalen McDaniels.

13.Spurs - Josh Giddey, G, Australia

The Spurs have missed the playoffs for the last two seasons after a decade plus of playoff basketball prior. It feels like something will have to give here soon, as Gregg Popovich is not getting any younger and is not used to this type of consistent losing. The Spurs have some interesting pieces in Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Lonnie Walker, but they don’t project to have a No. 1 type of guy that will lead them back to the playoffs. They will also most likely lose DeMar DeRozan to another team this year in free agency, although a sign and trade opportunity could bring back assets or an interesting young player.

Josh Giddey is the third guard we’ve seen come from the Australian League in the last two drafts, but this Australian born player is unique in his own right. Standing at 6’8” and reportedly up to 220 pounds, Giddey is a terrific passer that has a wonderful eye not only in transition but also in the half court. His ability to skip the ball to the other wing or corner to open shooters is uncanny. His 7.4 rebounds a game to go along with his 7.5 assists a game show a well-rounded skill set that would fit in nicely with San Antonio system. As one of the youngest players in his class, Giddey will need to continue to develop his shooting stroke, agility to stay in front of quicker players, and ability to get to the rim more.

14.Pacers - Franz Wagner, F, Michigan

Indiana endured a tough season due to multiple injuries up and down their roster. They did well turning Victor Oladipo into Caris LeVert, but LeVert was not available for the play-in rounds due to injury. Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner, Jeremy Lamb, and TJ Warren all missed at least 10 games throughout the season, leading to below average results and their first-year head coach Nate Bjorkgren not making it to year two.

Franz Wagner is a big wing that hangs his hat on the defensive end and pairs it with good decision making on offense with shooting upside. Wagner can guard both wings and guards with his strong frame and sound technique. He’s able to stay in front of his guy with quick feet and then either poke the ball loose or contest with his long frame. He shoots it with a low release point that has had varying degrees of success throughout his career. His 83.5 percent free throw percentage points toward the skill eventually developing, but he will need to be more consistent after his month to month 3-point percentage buoyed wildly.

15.Warriors - Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor

Golden State will continue to look for more guys to take pressure of Curry’s scoring and distributing responsibilities, while also providing defensive cover for him. Davion Mitchell was a late bloomer after transferring from Auburn to Baylor a few years ago. Mitchell will be able to take the responsibility of guarding the opponent’s point guard and give them fits up and down the court. His ability to stay in front of his man laterally is unmatched in this class. Mitchell has also turned himself into a knock down 3-point shooter at 44.7 percent this season on 141 attempts. He is a long way from the freshman who only shot 28.8 percent as a freshman in 2018. His driving ability also opens the pass for him to find shooters and bigs under the rim for easy baskets. There may not be much more untapped potential for the 22-year-old senior, but he should be able to contribute immediately for the championship-minded Warriors.

16.Wizards - Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee

The Wizards pulled off one of the more surprising runs to the Eastern Conference playoffs in recent memory. Even with Bradley Beal dealing with injury, Russell Westbrook and the rest of the team did enough to make it out of the play-in tournament and into the first-round of the playoffs. The Wizards did a good job of finding a diamond in the rough with Daniel Gafford at center to serve as a lob threat for their guards, but the team needs to find more shooters to surround them with. Davis Bertans has not lived up to his contract thus far. Last year’s first round pick, Deni Avdija, does not project as a high-level three point shooter at this time either.

Keon Johnson set the NBA combine on fire last week, breaking a 20-year record in the vertical jump by leaping 48 inches. This comes as no surprise to anyone that watched Tennessee this year, as every game had the potential to feature Johnson’s electric two-footed dunk package. Johnson has some of the same shortcomings that many young, athletic guards have, with a jump shot that needs some work to stretch out to the NBA line. Johnson would add a dynamic athlete and a proclivity for hardnosed defense that the roster currently does not have. Theoretically, there are lineups that could feature Westbrook, Beal, and Johnson.

17.Thunder - Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky

With their second pick in the first round, OKC will need to address the big hole in the middle of their defense after sending Al Horford and Moses Brown to Boston. Isaiah Jackson projects as a guy that won’t need touches or the ball to impact the game for the young Thunder roster. Jackson is an athletic, rangy big man prospect that measured over 6’10” with a 7’2.5” wingspan at Kentucky’s pro day last fall. While he’s going to be a force on the boards and spend most of his time on both sides in the pain, Jackson does come with some upside where he could become a more dynamic defender on switches and expand his face up game.

18.Grizzlies - Tre Mann, G, Florida

Memphis was able to get back to the playoffs. They were even able to steal Game 1 against the top-seeded Jazz before dropping the next four games. Ja Morant has established himself as one of the top rising stars in the NBA who has the ability to get the most out of the players around him. Dillon Brooks took it to another level in the playoffs. Add in a collection of recent draft picks like Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane, and Xavier Tillman with other players acquired in trades such as De’Anthony Melton and Grayson Allen, this team looks to be in a great position moving forward.

If the team lacks something at this point, it is a dynamic guard that can shoot the three and take some of the playmaking responsibility off Ja Morant. Tre Mann is a combo guard that burst onto the scene last season after a disappointing freshman campaign. Mann was able to take the reins at Florida to lead their team past the first-round of the NCAA Tournament. Blessed with an advanced pull up game, Mann is terror in the pick and roll where he can score from anywhere on the court. Injecting this type of shot making and secondary playmaking to this roster would be a great fit.

19.Thunder - Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn

It doesn’t seem like Kemba Walker will be long for the Thunder roster, and while they did draft Théo Maledon last year, Sharife Cooper might be too intriguing for OKC to pass up on. Cooper would add a true floor general to OKC’s bench that could make life easier for SGA and the rest of the roster. Maledon’s size could allow for them to pair off the bench as well.

Sharife Cooper came onto the scene a little later in the season for Auburn after an NCAA investigation, but he did not waste any time acclimating himself to the college game, scoring 26 points with 9 assists in his first game. Cooper is one of the best live ball distributors in this class that draws comparisons to the way Trae Young operates out of the high pick and roll. While he only converts threes at a 22.8 percent clip during his 12-game campaign, he lived at the line where he shot 82.5 percent.

20.Knicks - Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee

The Knicks enjoyed their most successful season in what feels like a decade. Much of the credit goes to Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau who turned the Knicks roster into a defensive machine in the regular season. Julius Randle finally put everything together and developed into a big initiator that the offense could run through. The roster has a mix of young up and coming talent in RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Mitchell Robinson, and Obi Toppin, but they will be relied upon more with free agent decisions looming on multiple rotation players.

Jaden Springer could bring some size, toughness, spot up shooting, and secondary playmaking to the Knicks who could be losing Derrick Rose, Elfrid Payton, and Frank Ntilikina. Springer won’t wow you with his athletic gifts, but he is a smart and heady defender that uses his quick feet, 6’7”-plus wingspan, and great technique to bother guards. He can also use this size on offense to bully smaller guards to either get to his mid-range game or find open shooters. Springer feels like one of the rare rookies that Thibodeau could trust early.

21.Hawks - Ziaire Williams, G/F, Stanford

The Hawks fairy tale playoff run came to an end after being defeated by the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was a valiant effort by the rest of the Hawks to try to keep the ship afloat after Trae Young’s foot injury. In the end, they didn’t have enough to get to the Finals, but they proved that they will be a problem in the Eastern Conference for the years ahead.

While Atlanta could use another point guard to run the bench unit when Trae Young sits, the draw of jumbo-sized wing Ziaire Williams may be too hard for them to pass on. Williams has a rare combination of size at close to 6’10” with a mix of perimeter skills that could have him picked before this. Williams endured a tough campaign his freshman season at Stanford due to complications with the pandemic and his percentages hurt because of it. His talent was evident at times, including a triple double at one point against Washington. His pull up jump shot passes the eye test, even if he shot below 30 percent this year. Add in his incredible 39.5” vertical and emerging playmaking ability, Atlanta continues to strengthen their enviable collection of talented wings.

22.Knicks - Chris Duarte, G, Oregon

The Knicks continue to put mature, pro-ready players around their young core with Chris Duarte. The Knicks may lose both Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks to free agency this season, so getting a reliable shooter and defender with this selection will be important for the Knicks to replicate last season’s success. Duarte is one of the oldest first rounders this year, playing his last season at Oregon at 23 years old. What Duarte is able to do, is shoot, score, and defend at a high level on the wing with 6’6” size. He should immediately break into the Knicks rotation to provide what they could be losing in free agency.

23.Lakers - JT Thor, F, Auburn

The Lakers followed up their championship bubble season with an injury-laden campaign that saw them lose in the first-round to the young and energetic Suns. The Lakers had very little chance with a hobbled LeBron James and Anthony Davis. When these two players weren’t generating offense for them, there were very few guys on the roster that could make anything happen with the ball. Montrezl Harrell fell out of the rotation, Dennis Schröder, and Kyle Kuzma couldn’t provide necessary scoring, and Talen Horton-Tucker is only a second year player that isn’t quite ready to be asked to shoulder a playoff scoring load.

JT Thor may not be ready to contribute right away, but the Lakers could be intrigued by a 6’9” wing with a 7’3.25” wingspan. With the second longest wingspan at the combine this year, Thor presents one of the more unique blends of length, defense, and shooting upside in the entire draft. Few prospects provide the type of shot blocking and shooting combination at this of size in the NBA. While the percentages with his three point shot weren’t stellar at 29.7 percent, his strong free throw percentage at 74.1 percent, combined with some adjustments he’s shown to his left handed stroke at the combine have people confident that this could be one of the bigger steals in the draft. A high upside guy like Thor could be an attractive trade piece as well for more immediate help for the ring chasing Lakers.

24.Rockets - Kai Jones, C, Texas

Kai Jones is coming into the draft as a sophomore, but he is still new to the game after picking up the sport in his teenage years. This could either be looked at as an opportunity to select a guy with what seems like unlimited potential or as a long developmental process.

Jones brings an incredibly long, athletic frame to the table, standing over 6’11 with a 7-foot wingspan. He can challenge shots, catch lobs, and get out and run in transition. Where he really becomes an intriguing player is with the jump shot. Shooting 38.2 percent last year from three, on albeit a very small sample size, this combination of talents could be too much to pass up on at this point in the draft.

25.Rockets - Roko Prkačin, F, Croatia

Roko Prkačin is one of the more intriguing forwards in the entire draft. The 6’9 Croatian boasts a 6’11” wingspan and will not turn 19 until late November. He blends these impressive measurements with a complete game that could take more time to develop overseas while the Rockets continue to cultivate their roster. Prkačin is an aggressive and assertive player on both ends of the floor where he uses his body to finish dunks and body guys on the defensive end. His shot has a small hitch in it at the top, and his lower body is inconsistent, but he can make outside shots. He can provide a multitude of options as a roll or pop man with emerging abilities to put the ball on the floor and move the ball around to teammates.

26.Clippers - Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois

The Clippers have made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in their franchise’s history, but face an uphill battle against the Phoenix Suns after losing Kawhi Leonard indefinitely and losing the first two games of the series. The Clippers have been able to come back from multiple 0-2 deficits throughout the playoffs with unlikely heroes like Terrance Mann and Marcus Morris Sr. shouldering more of the scoring load. There are some decisions to be made on the roster, as starting point guard Reggie Jackson, who was acquired on the buyout market, will leave a large hole on the roster if he is not retained.

Ayo Dosunmu tested the waters last year but came back to Illinois and became a First-Team All-American. Dosunmu stuffed the stat sheet every night, averaging 20.1/6.3/5.3, and enjoying multiple triple-doubles before a disappointing second round exist in the tournament. The junior lead guard has great size for either guard spot at 6’5” with a 6’10” wingspan that should help him become a more rounded player as his ball handling responsibilities will shrink on a championship-focused team. He will need to prove that his 39.0 percent shooting from three was not an aberration after a 29.6 percent shooting season his sophomore year. He should be able to provide on ball and off ball scoring and playmaking for a team in need of it.

27.Nuggets - Cameron Thomas, G, LSU

While the playoffs ended earlier than expected for the Nuggets this season, they boast one of the strongest rosters from top to bottom in the entire NBA. Lead by league MVP, Nikola Jokić, Denver has a strong mix of young athletic, skilled forwards, along with a collection of guards that can get their own bucket. Unfortunately, Jamal Murray’s season was cut short and limited how much they were able to accomplish in the playoffs.

For a team that has almost everything, this pick is based on taking the best available player, and that is Cam Thomas. Thomas had one of the most productive scoring seasons for a freshman in the SEC’s history. With adequate size for a two guard in the NBA at 6’4”, Thomas’ best ability is putting the ball in the basket. With over seven free throw attempts per game, Thomas was able to get to the line at will. While his shooting percentages leave a lot to be desired, you can see why the difficulty of his attempts affected how those final numbers shook out. On a team like Denver, he should be able to take advantage of wide open looks, but his attention and effort on defense will need to amp up considerably to get a rotation spot on a team with championship aspirations.

28.Nets - Usman Garuba Usman, F, Spain

The Nets looked like championship favorites after acquiring a third star in James Harden during the season. The offensive pace that they were on would have been some of the best the league has ever seen. Unfortunately, a bevy of injuries derailed what looked like a championship caliber team. The Nets have a nice compliment of players around Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, but they could use someone with size, athleticism, and shooting upside at this point in the draft.

Usman Garuba is an intriguing defensive talent from Real Madrid. Known as one of the best defenders, if not the best defender in this class, Garuba is able to do advanced things in the pick and roll that you typically do not see from a teenager. Using his long frame and quick feet, Garuba can play any style of defensive you could look for in ball screens. Pair this with his shot blocking ability, and you have a small-ball 5 that should be able to do all the dirty work you need. On the offensive end, he is primarily a finisher right now, but there have been glimpses of corner threes and short roll passing that gives Garuba an opportunity to grow into even more of a force. Either way, the Nets will not be looking for Garuba to do anything outside of his current skillset.

29.76ers - Trey Murphy III, G, Virginia

Losing to the Hawks has sent shockwaves throughout the entire 76ers organization. Questions continue to surround Ben Simmons’s and Doc Rivers’s effectiveness within a playoff environment. Daryl Morey is not known to be very patient and may look to move Simmons in the off season, and there will be plenty of suitors for the versatile 24-year-old point guard. The 76ers may not have many glaring needs on their roster, but Morey will always value shooting and size on the wing.

Tre Murphy III measured in at just over 6’9” with a 7’ wingspan and the ability to play either forward position. With shooting splits better than 50/40/90, Murphy III is a low maintenance player that could find himself in the rotation immediately after transferring to Virginia from Conference USA. He is also able to defend on the perimeter and contest shots with his exceptional frame.

30.Suns - Day’Ron Sharpe, F, North Carolina

The Suns are the surprise of the season this year, boasting the second-best record in the league and only two wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since Charles Barkley in 1993. Lead by two superstars, Chris Paul and Devin Booker have combined to form one of the best backcourts in the NBA. GM James Jones pushed many of the right buttons in the off season to build around their young nucleus of Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges. The only misstep looks to be drafting Jalen Smith at 10 overall last season. A curious fit next Deandre Ayton, Smith has not been able to crack the Suns’ playoff rotation.

A legitimate back up to Ayton may fall into their laps at the end of the first-round, with Day’Ron Sharpe presenting a very interesting opportunity for Phoenix. Sharpe is more of a throwback type of center who can go to work on the block and crash the boards with effort, but what sets him apart from this year’s class of centers is his passing ability. While his 3 assists per 40 minutes won’t wow anyone, his AST% of 15.4 is even higher than Mobley. If Sharpe can hone this skill to go along with his rebounding and finishing abilities, he could prove to be even more than just a rotation big in the NBA.

31.Jazz – Jason Preston, G, Ohio

The Jazz enjoyed a very successful regular season and parlayed it into the #1 seed in the NBA Playoffs. Donovan Mitchell has turned himself into a legitimate superstar player, capable of taking over any game he plays. Rudy Gobert also won his third Defensive Player of the Year Award in the last four seasons, anchoring Utah’s defense. Quinn Snyder’s system has taken the NBA’s 3-point revolution to the next level, while also maintaining a top four defensive rating this season. The Jazz could go a multitude of different ways with this pick, but the potential of a young forward may be too good to pass up.

Jason Preston surprised some in the NBA Draft media by forgoing his last year of eligibility at Ohio University after a strong showing at the NBA combine. Could Preston have received a first-round promise to stay in the draft? The Jazz could make sense as they look for more size, shooting, and playmaking at the back up guard spots. Standing 6’4” with a 6’8” wingspan, Preston can pair with any of the guards the Jazz currently have on the roster. The last two seasons in Athens, Preston put up 16.3 points a game, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while making 39.9 percent of his threes. Questions about his strength and ability to get to the rim could be softened by guys like Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanović, and Mike Conley if he is re-signed.