With the NBA draft being tonight, I decided to do a mock draft…..

 

1. 76ers: Markelle Fultz G Washington

Breakdown of player: Extremely skilled, can score from all three levels of the court. He is refined as a passer, has excellent height and length, and can handle the ball with ease. He is a good defender when he wants to be, and has a nice chase down block. Excellent finisher around the rim. Needs to work on free throws and his defense. He isn’t a super athlete, and that can hold back his potential a little bit.

Fit with team: The 76ers have accumulated a lot of talented, athletic guys, but they are missing a shooter, go to scorer kind of guy. Fultz can and will be that guy.

Pro comp: James Harden

2. Lakers: Lonzo Ball PG UCLA

Breakdown of player: Ball is a high IQ point guard with incredible vision. He has great instincts on both offense and defense, and he is a good shooter with range. He just has a feel for the game. His shot is funky, and his upside as a scorer is not high. His dad is also a big distraction off the court, he struggles on defense because he isn’t a great athlete.

Fit with team: Being the hometown kid, his team, the Lakers, need a facilitator and point guard. With D’Angelo Russell gone, he is the future point guard star in L.A.

Pro Comp: Jason Kidd

3. Celtics: Jayson Tatum SF Duke

Breakdown of player: Tatum doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but he is the most polished player in the draft. He is very advanced as an isolation scorer, and he lives in the mid range. He is a 15+ points per game guy from day one. Struggles with vision, defensive effort, and shot selection.

Fit with team: Celtics need a scorer that is a complement to Crowder and Jaylen Brown. Tatum is that kind of player.

Pro Comp: Paul Pierce

4. Suns: Josh Jackson SF Kansas

Breakdown of player:  Athletic freak with top tier competition. Slasher on offense, sees the floor well, can handle, and is an okay shooter. Great instincts and aggression on defense. Off the field issues, over aggression at times, and a weird shot are things that might be looked at negatively.

Fit with team: Suns have a lot of scorers, but they need athleticism and defense on their team. Jackson is the guy for that. He fits perfectly between Booker and Chriss to form a nice young core.

Pro comp: Jimmy Butler

5. Kings: De’Aaron Fox PG Kentucky

Breakdown of player: Speed speed and more speed. His whole game revolves around that. Phenomenal athlete, has the stamina to run for hours. Vision is solid, very good at attacking basket, dribbling is good because of how fast he is.  Defensive potential through the roof. Strength and shooting are two major concerns for Fox that limit his full potential.

Fit with team: Great complement next to Buddy Hield, as he is a drive and kick kind of guy and Hield is a shooter. The kings desperately need an athletic point guard. Fox is perfect fit.

Pro Comp: Mike Conley

6. Magic: Dennis Smith PG NC State

Breakdown of player: Super athletic, score first point guard who does have the ability to pass. Potential to be a good defender. Very strong for a point guard. Very quick first step. Don’t love his effort, consistency, and his ballhogging at times.

Fit with team: Magic just need guys. They have no one you can point to and say he’s our guy. Smith has the potential to be that guy.

Pro comp: Eric Bledsoe

7. Timberwolves: Jonathan Isaac PF FSU

Breakdown of player: Modern player. Good at everything, not great at one thing. Solid shooter, pretty good offensively, needs to refine skills. Defensive potential is big, good athlete, good shot blocker. Not a player you build around because he isn’t great offensive player and might never be one either.

Fit with team: Slides right in to the 4. Twolves need defense and versatility, and he brings both. Perfect player for coach Thibs.

Pro Comp: Serge Ibaka

8. Knicks: Malik Monk G Kentucky

Breakdown of player: Streaky but whens he is hot, he is the best shooter in the draft. The guy knows how to score, and he is a very good athlete. Lack of height and length makes me question defensive upside and what position he plays.

Fit with team: Knicks need a shooter to fit the triangle and just need young, exciting talent in general

Pro comp: J.R Smith

9. Mavericks: Lauri Markkanen PF Arizona

Breakdown of player:  Big guy who can shoot. Perfect for the modern NBA. Can really stroke it. Questions of athleticism, defense and strength make him a polarizing prospect.

Fit with team: Dirk is getting old and they will need to fill that spot soon. Adds shooting to the roster and depth.

Pro comp: Ryan Anderson

10. Kings: Zach Collins C Gonzaga

Breakdown of player: Love him. Skilled, aggressive player who has great potential as a shot blocker. He is tough, he finishes well around the rim, and he has light feet and good hands. Just needs to develop more and isn’t a great athlete.

Fit with team: Kings just need talent. BPA (Best player available)

Pro comp: Al Horford

11. Hornets: Frank Ntilikina PG France

Breakdown of player: He is a big guard with a ridiculous 7ft wingspan. Has potential to be a lockdown defender. Has shown flashes of playmaking skills. Very raw, needs to improve in all areas. Boom or bust

Fit with team: Great complement to Walkers offensive skill set. Can play behind or with him. Brings defensive versatility to a team that needs it.

Pro comp: Dante Exum

12. Pistons: Donovan Mitchell G Louisville

Breakdown of player:  Defensive is already spectacular. Athletic with a 6’10 wingspan. Shooting and offensive game improving dramatically. Height is a problem. Only 6’2 and has trouble consistently knocking down jumpshots. Shot 40% from the floor in college.

Fit with team: Pistons don’t love Reggie Jackson and KCP is a free agent so he can play both the 1 and the 2.

Pro comp: Marcus Smart

13. Nuggets: Justin Jackson SF UNC

Breakdown of player: Good shooter with nice floater game and good defender. Potential to be a nice 3 and D player. Needs to add strength and limited as an athlete.

Fit with team: Nuggets don’t have a glaring need so they can just go BPA. Gallinari is a free agent and Wilson Chandler is upcoming FA next year so he can be SF of the future.

Pro comp: Trevor Ariza

14. Heat: TJ Leaf PF UCLA

Breakdown of player: Very skilled, can shoot, pass, and rebound. Very high IQ for a PF and sees the floor well. Isn’t a good athlete and does not play a lick of defense.

Fit with team: Need a stretch 4 opposite of Whiteside. Leaf is the perfect fit

Pro comp: Boris Diaw

15. Blazers: Harry Giles PF Duke

16. Bulls: Luke Kennard SG Duke

17. Bucks: Jarrett Allen C Texas

18. Pacers: OG Anunoby SF Indiana

19. Hawks: Terrance Ferguson SG 36ers

20. Blazers: Anzejs Pasecniks C

21. Thunder: John Collins PF/C Wake Forest

22. Nets: Juwan Evans PG Oklahoma State

23. Raptors: Isaiah Hartenstein PF Germany

24. Jazz: Derrick White G Colorado

25. Magic: Justin Patton C Creighton

26. Blazers: Bam Adebayo C Kentucky

27. Lakers: Ike Anigbobu C UCLA

28. Lakers: Jordan Bell PF Oregon

29. Spurs: Mathias Lessort PF France

30. Jazz: DJ Wilson PF Michigan