The wait for this year’s draft is finally over. To cap off our draft coverage, we present the final 8 Points 9 Seconds Mock Draft.
Tonight’s draft is coming after one of the craziest few days in recent memory. The last time I was this glued to Twitter for this long, there was a chair in front of DeAndre Jordan’s door and Paul Pierce couldn’t use emojis (some things never change). Naturally, all the recent developments have made our second mock draft pretty obsolete.
We’ve been bringing you our draft coverage for several weeks now, from individual profiles to trade suggestions to our two mock drafts. It’s all led to today. In our first mock draft, we selected Terrance Ferguson, a mysterious guard who spent the last year playing in Australia, to head to the Indiana Pacers. The second time around, we predicted that UCLA big man Ike Anigbogu. Since then, both prospects have fallen down draft boards slightly, and neither are very likely to end up in Indiana. It’s time for our final attempt, mock draft 3.0.
Some of the below selections are more or less the same as they were in round two. That’s because I felt like they were still accurate despite everything that’s changed. So, if you’re reading through and you feel like you’ve heard a sentence or two before, that’s why. Don’t judge, it’s a hectic time.
Just like the first two mocks, only the first round is included. Scouting reports from Draftexpress.com and The Ringer were consulted while writing this post and the other two. Let’s do this.
Some things aren’t complicated. Fultz is in a tier of his own among this year’s draft class. At 19, he’s already an incredibly sophisticated playmaker and creator for both himself and for others. He’s got the physical tools to back up this skill too. Fultz’s 6-foot-10 wingspan gives him elite length at the point guard position.
It’s a lot of work trying to find holes in Fultz’s game. Some have criticized his casual approach to defense, while others worry about his shooting consistency. A lot of it seems like grasping for straws. Yeah, no one is perfect, but Fultz is about as well-rounded as rookies come. Markelle Fultz is the best player in this class, full stop.
Remember that week or two where Twitter and ESPN decided to fill time by pretending that the Lakers weren’t always going to draft Lonzo Ball? It seems like so long ago. (Pay no attention to the fact that I had the Lakers take Fox at No. 2 the last time around. It was just more fun that way).
Ball sees the floor in transition better than any guard prospect in several years. His future team will be in a better place offensively the second he walks through the door. Now that the D’Angelo Russell reclamation project will take place in Brooklyn, the Lakers have an even bigger hole at point guard. These first two picks are as much a lock as we can possibly declare before the draft.
Ball’s shooting mechanics and their quirks have been well documented, but the ball goes through the hoop an awful lot. I’m inclined to worry about his shot when it becomes necessary, not before. He might struggle on defense, but so will most rookies, and he should be able use that impeccable floor vision to nab a few steals here and there.
Josh Jackson took the third spot in our first two mock drafts because he’s widely believed to be the third best prospect in this class. That said, things are different now thanks to the blockbuster trade between the Sixers and the Assets, I mean Celtics.
The Celtics haven’t had Jackson in for a workout and seem to be put off a bit by some of the character issues that have been floating around. None of that means they absolutely won’t take him, but Duke forward Jayson Tatum seems more likely at this point.
Tatum has the perfect body for an NBA wing. He’s 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, and he has the footwork and offensive versatility to be a go-to scorer in the NBA.
In the modern NBA, Tatum probably functions best as a four on offense, but not necessarily on defense. That means that the small forward he’s paired with would ideally be sturdy enough to guard fours on defense. That could easily be Jaylen Brown someday, even if that day doesn’t come for a couple years.
The Phoenix Suns are still in best player available mode, so they likely won’t pass on Jackson if he’s available, despite the rumors that they’re big fans of De’Aaron Fox.
Jackson’s athleticism is just too intoxicating to ignore. His explosiveness is off the charts, and his two-way potential surpasses everyone else in this class. He can grab a rebound and go coast-to-coast, then lock down the other team’s star on the next possession.
The problem with Jackson is that his shot is in bad shape. While that might not really matter for a couple years, it will seriously impede his ability to become a legit star. The Suns already have a lot of shooting on their team, which should allow Jackson to develop his stroke slowly and surely, keyword should.
For a few weeks, it looked unlikely that Fox would fall all the way to the Kings, but thanks to the last three days or so, it’s more than plausible. Fox would be the most promising point guard prospect in Sacramento since … Jason Williams? That was 19 years ago. Maybe Isaiah Thomas counts, but only as a stretch. Regardless, Fox will be a very welcome addition.
This dude is fast, and he could easily grow into a nightmare for opposing squads on both ends of the floor. He’s got the handle of a floor general several years his senior, and his deceleration could prove to be just as lethal as his top speed drives.
Fox’s biggest obstacle will be his shooting. He was straight up bad from 3-point range during his freshman year, and it will likely take several years for him become a threat from deep if it ever happens at all.
There’s usually at least one guy in every draft nowadays that’s just unconscious from long range, so much so that it vaults him into lottery consideration. This year, that guy just so happens to be seven feet tall.
Markkanen is capable of playing the four next to a rim-running center like Bismack Biyombo as well as playing stretch-five and allowing Frank Vogel to have a bit more shooting on the floor, something Orlando desperately needs.
The problem? Shooting is basically all Markkanen has at this point. He’s a subpar rebounder and his defense is currently an eyesore. The Magic have put up with those same issues with Nic Vucevic, though, and Markkanen is just too good a shooter to ignore.
Jonathan Isaac is exactly the kind of guy the Timberwolves should be targeting to round out their young core. He slots in perfectly next to Andrew Wiggins, pushing Karl-Anthony Towns to the five where he belongs (sorry, Gorgui). Isaac is an incredibly versatile scorer from inside the arc, but he doesn’t need the ball in his hands. That bodes well if he’s sharing the floor with guys like Towns and Wiggins. His 7-foot-1 wingspan should come in handy on the defensive end too.
Isaac is being marketed as a tall 3-and-D wing, but I’m not sure I’m completely sold on the 3 part yet. He shot 34.8 percent from deep on 89 attempts last season, a small and unconvincing sample. Hopefully, he’ll be able to improve his shooting while his scoring role is still limited. If so, the Timberwolves will be even scarier than they are now. That, or Derrick Rose could come and ruin the whole thing.
Madison Square Garden, the flashiest destination in the NBA, should be reserved for arguably the flashiest player in this class. Smith is crazy explosive, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a point guard who can play above the rim quite like he can. He’s a dynamic finisher at the rim and a capable passer, though he could certainly improve.
He has a low ceiling on defense, the main area where his lack of length hampers him. Hopefully playing with Courtney Lee, Kristaps Porzingis (maybe) and Willy Hernangomez help soften blow. Questions about his attitude have also floated around recently.
But come on.
Think of the dunks.
The Dallas Mavericks managed to find solid backcourt production from very unlikely places last season. Despite that, they could benefit a great deal from a blue-chip scoring guard like Malik Monk.
More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds
- 2 Studs, 1 dud from gut-wrenching Indiana Pacers loss to Charlotte Hornets
- Handing out early-season grades for Pacers’ Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin
- 3 positives, 2 negatives in Pacers In-Season Tournament win vs. Cavaliers
- 2 positives, 3 negatives from first week of Indiana Pacers basketball
- Should Isaiah Jackson’s days with Indiana Pacers be numbered?
Monk can straight up score, no two ways about it. He can also shoulder a heavier ball-handling duty on the Mavs than he did at Kentucky, where De’Aaron Fox had the ball in his hands most of time. That setup was necessary because Fox wasn’t a spot-up threat, but with guys like Seth Curry, Yogi Ferrell and Wes Matthews, things are a bit different in Dallas.
Size will be the biggest concern with Monk. 6-foot-3 isn’t very big for a shooting guard, and his 6-foot-4 wingspan will put him at a pretty serious disadvantage guarding bigger wings. He might always be a defensive liability, but he’s so lights out on the other end that he’s still worth a top-10 pick.
The Kings have approximately 35 young big men on their roster, so despite Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox looking like the backcourt of the future, they’d be wise to go with another guard here. Adding in Donovan Mitchell would round out a rotation with few glaring weaknesses.
Mitchell is wickedly athletic with the potential to become an elite defender. If everything breaks right, he and Fox could be a lockdown defensive tandem on the perimeter. Mitchell projects to be an effective shooter from long range as well and shows encouraging flashes as a playmaker.
Like Malik Monk, Mitchell is just a little too short to be a pure shooting guard, although his length helps to compensate for it. His finishing at the rim also leaves something to be desired, but that’s at least fixable.
Defense is French point guard Frank Ntilikina’s main attraction. He has no official wingspan, but it’s been rumored to be upwards of seven feet, a ludicrous figure for a point guard. He’s got good floor vision, even if he can’t always execute on it, and he can shoot the ball well off the catch and pulling up.
The Hornets have been rumored to take Zach Collins at this spot, but I really think Ntilikina is the better prospect. He’s not even from the states and I think there’s more film of him playing against legit competition than Collins. That’s not even bringing up the fact that Charlotte just traded for Dwight Howard and will already have a hard time finding enough minutes for Cody Zeller.
Must Read: What should the Pacers do with their fringe players?
Ntilikina needs a lot of work on his ball handling skills and his passing accuracy, two pretty crucial facets of being a point guard. If he can polish up his point guard skills, however, he could finally solve the Hornets’ problem of finding someone to back up Kemba Walker.
The Pistons need a big man fit for the modern NBA, and Zach Collins could potentially be just that
More from Pacers Draft
- Indiana Pacers: NBA continues to show contempt to small market teams
- Meet Ben Sheppard: What the Pacers’ surprise selection brings to Indy
- Indiana Pacers Post-Draft Grades: The Good, The Bad, and the Guards
- Grade the trade: Pacers shockingly move up into top 3 in 2023 NBA Draft
- Ranking 4 Best prospects for Pacers to finally turn things around at 2023 NBA Draft
Collins didn’t play a ton during his year at Gonzaga, which makes this pick a bit riskier than normal. However, he’s shown enough potential to stretch the floor and protect the rim to overcome that risk.
The Pistons have soured on both Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, a pairing that seemed to be a fixture just two seasons ago. Drummond hasn’t improved on his weaknesses over several seasons, and his game may just be too antiquated for today’s NBA.
Collins’ downsides are more abstract than just shooting or footwork. He needs to grow up a lot and stop committing foolish fouls that nail him to the bench. Only then does he have a shot of realizing his potential.
We made it all the way to No. 13 before finding a guy who’s older than 20, but better late than never. The Nuggets have enough youth, and they could use a player like Jackson, especially if Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler aren’t long for the team.
Jackson has an incredible basketball mind by all accounts, and it shows through in his game. Jackson doesn’t have any one elite skill that stands out above the rest, but he makes up for it by having a similar absence of glaring holes in his game.
He’s a good passer and an improving shooter, and he likely won’t be a liability on the defensive end. He isn’t as athletic as many of his fellow wing prospects, and his handle could be better. If he can improve his creation off the dribble, Jackson could rise above his station in the NBA.
Kennard has been rising up into the lottery on a lot of mocks recently, and even though I’m not sure why that is, I decided to follow suit and slot him next to Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow.
Kennard has great size for a shooting guard and can shoot the lights out of the gym. He showed off impressive handles last season as well, so he should be able to help Dragic with the ball-handling duties as well.
Kennard has short arms and average athleticism, meaning that he’s never going to be an elite defender. It’s unclear how well he’ll be able to create for himself in the pros, whether that’s at the rim or rising up over his defender. His flaws are pretty well covered by the rest of the Heat’s young core, so he’d be a measured risk at No. 14.
A center who can dive to the rim effectively and deter interior drives on the other makes life a lot easier for his team. Jarrett Allen could be that guy for the Portland Trailblazers. It seems that Portland has found something with Bosnian big man Jusuf Nurkic, but that’s far from guaranteed. Even if Nurkic becomes a star, I think having Allen in a backup role for a couple of seasons or more could be great for his offensive development.
Allen is freakishly long, but he moves very well for a big man. Plodding could never be used to describe him. He needs to learn to love contact a lot more than he does now or his potential will be significantly hindered. Another downside is his ability to defend outside the paint, or rather a lack of ability.
The Bulls have wasted too many draft picks on “NBA-ready” guys who never pan out. It’s time for a change, a risk that actually has a reward. Terrance Ferguson is He’s 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan and could potentially play a bit at the three, so Fred Hoiberg wouldn’t have to worry about finding minutes for his 18 point guards that can’t shoot.
Ferguson would help solidify a defense in Chicago that achieved some success last season despite what it looked like. Ferguson’s issues will lie more on the offensive side of the ball. He’s got a long way to go as a shooter and creator, but he’s had some hot streaks that create hope of something more down the line.
John Collins is perhaps the most efficient low post scorer in this draft class. His footwork is very advanced for a college sophomore, and he can play the pick-and-roll with Malcolm Brogdon as well. While his offensive game is similar to that of a traditional five, Collins is capable of guarding fours on the perimeter. His lack of 3-point shooting shouldn’t be too much of an issue if Thon Maker’s stroke is legit.
Collins very well might have been born a few years too late. His destiny seems to be a backup big who functions a bit more traditionally, in the mode of Enes Kanter or Al Jefferson. At the 17th pick, however, that’s nothing to sneeze at. Collins will be an asset wherever he goes.
OG Anunoby is yet another prospect who has built his reputation upon impeccable defense. He has the upside to become a lockdown perimeter defender in the mold of Paul George, Jimmy Butler and even Kawhi Leonard, and he could potentially be able to guard every position in a pinch. That’s no small feat.
More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds
- 2 Studs, 1 dud from gut-wrenching Indiana Pacers loss to Charlotte Hornets
- Handing out early-season grades for Pacers’ Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin
- 3 positives, 2 negatives in Pacers In-Season Tournament win vs. Cavaliers
- 2 positives, 3 negatives from first week of Indiana Pacers basketball
- Should Isaiah Jackson’s days with Indiana Pacers be numbered?
On offense, he could be a sneaky good rebounder as a forward, but the rest of his game needs a bit of work. He’s a streaky shooter with bad footwork down low, and his handle is loose, to put it gently. Moreover, his ACL history is worrisome, and he might not be eligible for very many games next season.
With Paul George basically out the door, the Pacers need a three of the future, and Anunoby would be a huge value at No. 18. He doesn’t need to do everything right away, just stand in the corner and shoot. Hopefully he can handle that and make his money on the other end. The Pacers would be in a great spot if a defensive talent like Anunoby were to fall to them on draft night.
More from Pacers Draft
- Indiana Pacers: NBA continues to show contempt to small market teams
- Meet Ben Sheppard: What the Pacers’ surprise selection brings to Indy
- Indiana Pacers Post-Draft Grades: The Good, The Bad, and the Guards
- Grade the trade: Pacers shockingly move up into top 3 in 2023 NBA Draft
- Ranking 4 Best prospects for Pacers to finally turn things around at 2023 NBA Draft
Justin Patton has serious two-way potential thanks to his athleticism and fast-growing skill set. He’s got a great motor that could potentially help him become Dwight Howard’s successor and the Hawks’ center of the future. If things break right, Patton and Dennis Schroeder could become an excellent pick-and-roll pairing.
He’s got a lot of improving left to do, especially offensively. His footwork is rough, and he’s not very good at positioning for rebounds. Hack-a-Patton could become a problem for his team if he doesn’t improve his free throw shooting.
At No. 19, Patton is worth a gamble. He may never realize his potential on both ends, but teams will find that risk with every prospect this late in the game.
T.J. Leaf is an impressive scorer who could add precious flexibility the the Blazers core. Leaf has a high basketball IQ and excellent floor vision. If he succeeds in providing an offensive spark off the bench, he could even become a much cheaper alternative to Al-Farouq Aminu, providing Portland with the funds to further fill out their roster.
Leaf won’t be protecting the rim anytime soon, and a lineup with him at the four likely won’t set any rebounding records. His wingspan leaves something to be desired, and he’ll need to speed up his release against NBA defenders.
Overall, Leaf’s offensive game is pleasantly well-rounded, and glaring weaknesses are hard to find. He’s as safe a bet as you’ll find in the late first round.
The rim is safe in Ike Anigbogu’s giant hands. The big man out of UCLA projects to be a perfect modern center, capable of throwing down scary lobs and holding down the back line on defense. Think DeAndre Jordan or Clint Capela. That’s Anigbogu’s ceiling.
Fit is a bit of an issue in OKC, since Steven Adams seems to have the rim protection department covered for the time being, and with an expensive new contract too. However, he could match minutes with Enes Kanter, and Anigbogu’s upside is hard to ignore. A front line of Adams, Andre Roberson and Anigbogu could be elite defensively.
The Brooklyn Nets just traded away their franchise center and their leading scorer in franchise history. Bam Adebayo probably won’t quite fill those shoes, but he’s definitely worth a shot in the 20s. He’s just a bit short for a center at 6-foot-10, but he has the wingspan to make up for it, and at 250 pounds, I have a hard time believing too many guys will be bullying him around.
Adebayo will be a contributor on the glass right away, and his defensive potential is really impressive. The key for him will be to develop any sort of shot that isn’t a dunk. If he can do that, the sky’s the limit for his ceiling. If not, he might get played off the floor with smaller lineups.
You knew it was happening eventually. Harry Giles was projected to be a high lottery pick before a troubling litany of injuries sidelined him and hurt his stock. Despite the justified concerns, Giles has extreme upside, especially on the defensive end. In small doses, he’s shown the ability to switch one through five, although his rim protection is a bit lacking.
He’s an excellent rebounder, and he runs the floor well for a near seven-footer. Alongside the injuries, his outside shot needs work, and his interior game isn’t much further along. To top it off, he’s not really great at shooting free throws.
Giles has intoxicating upside, but the two risks that he uses to run up and down the floor make it dangerous to give him more than a late first-round flyer.
D.J. Wilson displayed very intriguing potential to stretch the floor as a futuristic big man during his sophomore season at Michigan. At 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Wilson could potentially bring his perimeter skills to the floor as a small-ball five, opening up all kinds of possibilities for the Jazz, who normally have played very big lineups relative to the rest of the league.
He’s a great finisher and has impressive ball handling skills for someone of his height, but he’ll need to thicken up if he’s to have a chance banging around with NBA big men in the post. If he does, he’ll bring a versatility that the Jazz have lacked in recent years.
3-and-D wings are always at a premium in the modern NBA, and Semi Ojeleye has everything it takes to thrive in such a role. Ojeleye is a combo forward who will be comfortable guarding multiple positions, and his 3-point range already looks pretty solid. He’s on the older side at 22, but in his case, I think he will in fact come into the league able to contribute right away.
His offensive game is slightly elementary. His handle needs work and he can’t really create much other than back-to-the-basket turnaround jumpers. All that being said, role players don’t need to have every trick in the book under their belt. Ojeleye is destined to spot up in the corners and lock down opposing wings. He can do that well, and that’s what matters most.
Jusuf Nurkic very quickly became a hero in Portland, and the Blazers would certainly love to have him be their center of the future. The sample size is small, however, and it might not hurt to have a backup just in case. Regardless, I have high hopes for Anzejs Pasecniks.
Pasecniks runs to the rim with all the force that his 7-foot-2 frame contains. He can move well on defense, but he has a ways to go toward understanding what’s happening in front of him. Terry Stotts should help with that.
On offense, it’s unclear how far out he’ll be able to stretch his game, but with everything else that he brings, a 3-point shot would be pretty gravy.
Jawun Evans is fast.
What he lacks in height, he makes up for with truly insane speed, stampeding to the rim faster than you can say, “maybe we shouldn’t have D’Angelo Russell for one year of Brook Lopez and this pick” Evans has all the tools to be a maestro in the pick-and-roll. He can pull up, he’s a great passer and he can get to the rim with ease.
He’s a smart defender as well, and he could improve to be average despite being undersized. Being only 6-feet-0 along with only average explosiveness has severely hampered his draft stock, but teams in the 20s should take a long look at him. His 3-pointer needs work as well.
Evans has everything he needs to run an NBA offense. Taking a flyer on him to backup Lonzo Ball could pay off in the long run.
The Lakers could use a small-ball five in case Larry Nance Jr. heads elsewhere in a trade, and that’s where Ivan Rabb comes in. Rabb is an elite rebounder with a whole catalogue of little tricks to get the best position under the hoop.
He struggles defending out on the perimeter, meaning he’ll probably have to play the five in the NBA. He’s got a solid post game and can cut to the basket in a pinch.
His outside shot is pretty broken, so don’t get your hopes up that he’ll be stretching the floor much. He’s got a lot of other translatable skills, though, and he would thrive in a backup role in Los Angeles.
I’m not sure anymore if the Spurs just know which foreign guys are going to become really good or if those foreign guys become good as soon as the plane touches down in San Antonio. Either way, Isaiah Hartenstein has some serious stretch-five potential. He’s 7-foot-1, but he’s got the skill set of a perimeter player. He moves like someone six inches shorter, and he can really handle the ball.
His 3-point range is still forming, but there’s plenty of reason to believe that it will get there. Despite his height, his explosiveness is a bit lacking, so don’t expect him to be throwing down a whole lot of violent dunks. That’s what Jonathan Simmons is for, though. Hartenstein could be a great stretch-five if all goes right.
The Jazz will need 3-point shooting if Gordon Hayward heads elsewhere, and that’s exactly what Tyler Lydon brings. Lydon has a quick release for 6-foot-10 guy and can score from all over the court. He’s got elite instincts playing off the ball and could become one of the premier cutters in the league if he reaches his ceiling.
Lydon is a bad defender and that will realistically never change. He’s kind of slow, and he’s caught in limbo, lacking the strength to guard bigs and the quickness to guard wings.
Next: Trade for Paul George no longer imminent
Still, his offensive upside is enough to give him a chance, and a 6-foot-10 offensive spark off the bench is a pretty great return at No. 24.