In our second edition of the NBA Mock Draft, we predict how the first-round will turn out for all teams one week before the lottery commences on June 23. Touted as one of the deepest draft classes in recent history, the upcoming pool of young players will certainly invite an across the board improvement of the already-crowded field of talents in the league.
While the playoffs are underway, the summer is already giving fans some much-needed excitement for the prospects that may come to their team via draft, free agency and the ever-active trade market. Combine that with the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, everyone will be on their toes this offseason.
NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Timberwolves get lucky, Pacers opt for certainty
After a downward spiral in the recently-concluded season, the Indiana Pacers will be able to brew a young talent in the draft as they own their first-round pick this year, unlike the previous season. However, the Blue and Gold is only projected to pick 13th, only bannering a paltry 4.8 percent of cracking the top four.
With the Tankathon lever, we simulated how the first-round of the NBA Draft will fare for all 30 teams. As usual, the six teams with the best odds at the top prize netted the first six selections, although the result catapulted a team on the verge of lucking out into a winning situation. Before the ink runs dry, here are the full first-round predictions for the upcoming draft.
NBA Mock Draft 1st Pick: Detroit Pistons
No surprise here—whichever team lands the first pick, Cade Cunningham should be the only prospect to look at, even if their existing roster provides plenty of positional overlaps and possible misfit. He is simply too good to be passed on. Build around him and never treat him like an additive, but a centerpiece.
The Oklahoma State product is oozing franchise centerpiece potential. Averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his lone college season, he is cut from the same cloth as the likes of LeBron James, Grant Hill and Luka Doncic versatility-wise.
Landing the top pick for the second consecutive time in our mock draft series, all signs point toward the Detroit Pistons getting rewarded for their subtle, yet equally boisterous tanking maneuver in the entire season—a half-baked aberration with the campaign still on the cycle of asterisks and peculiarity.
NBA Mock Draft 2nd Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves
Our deepest condolences to the Golden State Warriors, at least for this draft. After being in a precarious situation with their pick going to the Dubs if it lands outside the top three, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be picking in the top two for the second year in a row.
Evan Mobley’s 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game last season will be a glorious fit next to Karl Anthony-Towns. Minnesota has long searched for an ideal complement for the All-Star center, but one that can provide a seamless fit with him has always been elusive. The USC product will be a franchise-altering addition who can change all that.
You don’t need to be analytical to see why Mobley will be astronomically better than the Wolves’ makeshift alternatives at the four last season with Jarred Vanderbilt and Juancho Hernangomez. He is very good defensively and is able to switch onto backcourt players while being a threat in above the rim opportunities and serving as a threat from the perimeter.
NBA Mock Draft 3rd Pick: Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are clearly rebuilding, but they are reportedly vying to be more competitive next season. This dilemma is certainly understandable, especially with their roster still filled with many veterans who can be pegged as win-now players.
However, if anything, the rebuild should on full throttle in the Space City. If so, then Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs will be a heck of an accelerator. The athletic guard averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field in his lone season with the Bulldogs. He will be a sleek fit next to breakout stars Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood.
The Rockets were widely gagged on for their relatively mediocre trade return for James Harden, but Suggs, alongside their budding stars, may be enough of a cushion to make fans—and the entire world move on from their bitter breakup with the former franchise star.
NBA Mock Draft 4th Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder
Really, landing outside the top three should be an automatic loss for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Falling to this spot may be some unforeseen retribution from their needlessly competitive stance in the first 20 games of the season.
However, if they’re indeed looking at this as a consolation prize, then forward Jonathan Kuminga should be able to sap away most of their perceived draft loss. For a team in an eccentrically boisterous rebuild, the Thunder can secure a high-upside player to keep around in an organization currently characterized as a rotating door for journeymen and a crest of draft assets.
He’s made some serious strides as scorer, but his niche is on defense. The 6’8 forward can absolutely elevate 24th-ranked defense while providing lethal chops and potential to an offense that finished dead last in efficiency in the entire association. However, the rebuilding Oklahoma City shouldn’t be tempted to jump on the winning bandwagon next season. Keep losing for the future.
NBA Mock Draft 5th Pick: Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic rebuilt in the middle of last season, dealing away their entire core to net some quality draft compensation from the Chicago Bulls. While they have a sizeable chance of obtaining the top pick, a selection in the upper-fifth of the draft should still merit a win for the franchise with the deep cast of prospects.
Jalen Green should be a legitimate contender for Rookie of the Year next season. His scoring ability may just the best among his peers and with Orlando, he’ll surely get an abundance of opportunities to fill up the box score. The Magic don’t really have a long-term answer at shooting guard, so he will immediately serve as one of the primary options on offense for the team.
His defense lacks substance but his offense may be one of the most NBA-ready in this draft. With a deep treasury of moves under his command, Green will be a healthy source of highlights not only for the currently unexciting Magic, but also for the entire league next season.
NBA Mock Draft 6th Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers
There isn’t a tremendous shake-up yet compared to our previous mock draft, but there is a good reason why. With the sixth pick in the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers can never go wrong with selecting Scottie Barnes, a perfect piece for their current crop of young players.
Scottie Barnes is a high-upside playmaking forward who can play multiple positions. He can direct the offense, defend virtually all positions, and score in the post with his tremendous footwork. His outside game is lacking, but his awe-inviting court vision will be a great additive to Cleveland’s measly offense which ranked 28th in efficiency last season.
The 6’9 forward possesses a skillset matched by only a few in the league. While cerebral players like him don’t necessarily right the ship immediately, his tremendous potential which blends well with their talented backcourt will help soften the waiting game for the Cavs as Barnes calibrates himself to the pace and physicality of the NBA.
NBA Mock Draft 7th Pick: Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors’ decline was one of the most peculiar things to happen in the NBA this season. After a respectable title defense campaign last year where they finished second in the west and just a win short of a Conference Finals appearance, the 2019 champs missed the postseason, including the play-in tournament.
Taking on the potential-filled Keon Johnson can be the answer to Toronto’s aspirations for a quick rebuild to return to contention as soon as possible. Perhaps the best perimeter defender in the draft, the Tennessee standout will make for an intriguing fit with Fred VanVleet, especially with Kyle Lowry’s almost certain exit.
Offense is not his strong suit, but he doesn’t need to be a focal point of the scoring attack to benefit the Raptors. While their 16th-ranked offensive rating indicates otherwise, Nick Nurse has a bevy of scorers in his arsenal with VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Pascal Siakam and the upstart OG Anunoby.
NBA Mock Draft 8th Pick: Orlando Magic (via Chicago Bulls)
Yet another wave of rebuilding is on full throttle for the Orlando Magic. However, settling for what they currently have on the backcourt to build around for the future would be an overestimation of their potential.
Markelle Fultz is coming off a major injury and even so, his potential is largely hampered by his inability to shoot reliably from the perimeter. Cole Anthony is a budding two-way guard, but he doesn’t look like a franchise centerpiece, especially with his struggles as a playmaker and his inefficient shooting from all over the court.
Davion Mitchell should be high on Orlando’s radar. He’s a point guard, but he can also slide in as a shooting guard with his explosive first step, shooting ability and penchant for shooting in traffic. His passing and ball handling are above average for his age and most importantly, his defense is ahead of most players on the Magic roster.
NBA Mock Draft 9th Pick: Sacramento Kings
Last year’s gigantic steal of Tyrese Haliburton in the NBA Draft was a much-needed patchwork to cover up the Sacramento Kings’ draft blunders in previous seasons. While they missed the postseason once more (no one’s surprised anymore), their draft steal streak may extend to two this summer.
Duke’s Jalen Johnson possesses tremendous upside as a playmaking forward. His court vision is more mature than his peers at his position, a la Draymond Green. More importantly, he is active and versatile on defense, an area where Sacramento needs a boatload of help to save their disastrous defense, which ranked as the worst in NBA history this season.
With Richaun Holmes’ impending free agency, as well as Marvin Bagley’s continuous hazy upside, Johnson will be more than enough to give the team some cushion in the frontcourt. Think of Aaron Gordon, but with better passing.
NBA Mock Draft 10th Pick: New Orleans Pelicans
Few teams in the NBA underperformed more than the New Orleans Pelicans in the season. Despite possessing one of the league’s most highly coveted young core, the team treaded on mediocrity for much of the season, finishing 11th in the stacked Western Conference.
It’s almost imperative for New Orleans to field a much more competitive team around Zion Williamson, especially with big markets perpetually carving their way to his eventual free agency later on. It’s clear that this roster is far from sufficient to even challenge the best of the West, but drafting Moses Moody can change all that.
The sweet-shooting swingman will be a very viable replacement for Josh Hart, avoiding an inevitable overpay. More importantly, he can easily slide in and make an impact as a volume bench scorer, or as a complementary piece in the starting lineup. Also, he provides some needed length on the defensive end, an area that wrecked the Pelicans’ playoff aspirations this season.
NBA Mock Draft 11th Pick: Charlotte Hornets
One of the constants in the league in recent years is the Charlotte Hornets’ subpar play from the center position. As a result of an undermanned rotation and injuries, the Buzz City simply hasn’t gotten much from their big men since, well, Al Jefferson.
At his best, Alperen Sengun is a throwback, back to the basket center armed with a deep collection of moves and great footwork to score in the post. He’s not nearly a Jokic or even a Sabonis, but his understanding of the court and how to get to his spots is top-notch. His mid-range game and potential as a stretch five makes him a viable pick and pop option, though it still needs a lot of work.
Cozy Zeller and Bismack Biyombo isn’t a pairing that will make any noise against the likes of Joel Embiid. Both are ideal bench players, and giving them exhaustive minutes is a miscalculation. Next to LaMelo Ball, Sengun should have loads of chances to make his presence known as a frontcourt partner, though all of these lie on his ability to reach his potential as a high-risk, high-reward prospect.
NBA Mock Draft 12th Pick: San Antonio Spurs
You know that the past two years have been truly weird when the San Antonio Spurs, perpetual NBA playoffs residents, failed to qualify for the postseason. Now, with their long reign of dominance well into its end, the Alamo City now houses a cast of young players to usher in a new era.
However, with Gregg Popovich still manning the sidelines for the Spurs, the franchise will never hover on tanking mode. Alas, even while getting entangled with COVID and injuries this season, they managed to eke out a play-in spot. Next season, they can easily be a surprise team in the West with the development of their young players and…Australian playmaker Josh Giddey.
DeMar DeRozan will almost certainly leave San Antonio, and it simply makes too much sense for Giddey to play with the Silver and Black. Their pedigree for developing international players is easily the best in the league, and the tall playmaker will find a seamless fit with the team bannered by DeJounte Murray and Derrick White. He’s not athletic and his defense is iffy, but his passing is too good that it can usurp his deficiencies.
NBA Mock Draft 13th Pick: Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers were also one of the biggest disappointments in the season. With a depleted roster, locker room mishaps and coaching discord, the team outright missed the playoffs for the first time in six years. However, in a summer of looming changes, the Blue and Gold can get early help from the NBA Draft with Corey Kispert.
The 6’7 sniper from Gonzaga is one of this class’ best shooters. He is never shy to pull the trigger, has a very quick release, and can easily go microwave with his shot. He isn’t the most athletic guy, but he has a knack for timely cuts to the rim and is never settled with just standing around on offense.
With this pick, the Pacers go for the sure thing. While he won’t solve Indiana’s problematic defense last season, he can at least be an effective team defender with his length. And with Doug McDermott‘s relatively expensive market this offseason, Kispert should be more than enough of a replacement.
NBA Mock Draft 14th Pick: Golden State Warriors
The injury-laden Golden State Warriors had an up-and-down campaign, hovering around .500 basketball before gaining momentum towards the end, only to be eliminated with two straight blunders in the play-in tournament.
Next season, the Dubs are projected to be beck in the thick of things in the West, with Klay Thompson returning and James Wiseman improving. However, the Stephen Curry-led team still has a chronic issue to solve: three-point shooting outside of the Splash Brothers. For years, while the Warriors trotted out the two best shooters in history, the cast around them lacked a reliable outside shot. Michigan’s Franz Wagner could easily change that.
After striking out on a top pick, the 6’9 forward should immediately contribute to a Golden State team in need of shooting. His deft three-point stroke, off-ball movement and court awareness are all common motifs in Steve Kerr’s complex offense and Wagner should thrive as a sniper off the bench. Beware of his defense, though.
NBA Mock Draft 15th Pick: Washington Wizards
After a late season spurt, the Washington Wizards managed to climb out of their near-season-long hole to qualify for the playoffs as the eighth seed before succumbing to the 76ers in quick series. Heading into next season, the Wiz are projected to remain as a playoff contender, despite their barrage of roster issues.
One issue that plagued them all season was the inconsistent production they got from their centers. Aside from Daniel Gafford’s near-messianic entrance, Washington settle on a revolving door rotation between Robin Lopez and Alex Len after Thomas Bryant’s season-ending injury. Even if the latter was healthy, in the East—that’s a “Yikes”.
Kai Jones, the Texas product, is an offense-oriented big who can play above the rim, space the floor with a perimeter game that stretches out to three-point territory and thrive on fast break opportunities. He is not strong enough to back down against the best bigs in the league, but he can be a high-upside center who can compete with Gafford for starting minutes.
NBA Mock Draft16th Pick: Boston Celtics
It seems like we’re ringing a rhyme here, but the Boston Celtics have also disappointed in the previous season. Despite the roster headed by three All-Stars, the C’s only managed to secure the seventh seed before losing quickly to the similarly star-laden Brooklyn Nets.
If anything, what Boston needs is depth. They’re currently too top-heavy to field a supporting cast that can hold its own against opposing benches. Thus, a breath of fresh air may be what this team needs on the gutters, especially with the front office undergoing a massive overhaul and turnover in the offseason.
Alas, if Connecticut’s James Bouknight is still available, the Celtics shouldn’t get too cute and strike the iron while still hot. Few prospects have more upside than Bouknight as a scorer. As an explosive three-level guard, he can be the perfect solution to Boston’s dearth of playmakers aside from their stars while proving to be a logical deterrent to overpaying Evan Fournier in a wishful return.
NBA Mock Draft 17th Pick: Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies aren’t necessarily craving for young assets in the present, especially with the team boasting one of the league’s deepest roster flocked by high-upside youngsters in the NBA. The team is literally stacked at every position, with this depth as one of the catalysts to their playoff run this season.
However, more talent is always welcome. Usman Garuba, the big man from Real Madrid, already exudes Memphis basketball in his game, playing a defensive, blue-collared approach to the game that should be more than an intriguing fit for the upstart Grizzlies.
His offensive game needs a lot of smoothening, but if the bruiser can get it together, he should be a great complement to Jaren Jackson Jr. in the frontcourt while doubling as a security blanket for Jonas Valanciunas. Sounds familiar, right? I bet Memphis wants a rewind—or even an upscale— of the old Grit N’ Grind.
NBA Mock Draft 18th Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat)
So why would the Oklahoma City Thunder draft a guard with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander already on the roster, you asked? It’s simple—only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can legitimately set up the offense on the team, unless you’re pegging Lu Dort and Ty Jerome as playmakers. I don’t.
For a rebuilding team, winning is more of an obstacle, more so for a team on an in-your-face tanking job. But this draft is so deep that even the 18th pick can net them a great asset—in this case, Florida’s Tre Mann should be a wonderful get.
The 6’5 combo guard could be a versatile option in the backcourt for OKC. The sweet-shooting Mann can serve as a shooting guard next to SGA, or be a primary scoring option off the bench to help lift up the league’s worst offense last season.
NBA Mock Draft 19th Pick: New York Knicks
The New York Knicks were a pleasant surprise. Although they embarrassingly lost to lower-seeded Atlanta in the playoffs, it was a campaign to be proud of—and thing are just getting started in the Big Apple.
However, the Knicks must solve their giant crevice at the point guard position. Derrick Rose is ideally a microwave scorer for the second unit. Elfrid Payton is—don’t even get me started. Frank Ntilikina is merely a situational player at this point. Get Jared Butler at the earliest opportunity.
New York needs offense and Butler can supply a ton of it. His deficiencies as a playmaker can sequester him from a 30-minute role, but much of the offense revolves around Randle anyway, and what the team perfectly needs is a scoring force in the backcourt.
NBA Mock Draft 20th Pick: Atlanta Hawks
It remains to be seen how the Atlanta Hawks will fare in the playoffs with the team still alive, but whatever happens, they shouldn’t rest on their laurels and be satisfied with their current bunch, especially with their lack of a sustainable option to back up franchise centerpiece Trae Young.
Lou Williams will most likely ponder retirement or go to a contender in the offseason while Kris Dunn isn’t reliable at all with his long string of injuries. Staggering Bogdan Bogdanovic as the nominal point guard with the second unit can only do so much, especially with his own track record with an assortment of ailments.
Jared Springer can be the perfect backup. He is a bona fide three-level scorer who possesses length and the physical tools to even play next to Young. His late-game maturity is impressive while his intensity on defense can mitigate Atlanta’s vulnerability on perimeter defense.
NBA Mock Draft 21st Pick: New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
Congratulations to Tom Thibodeau for winning Coach of the Year, but please stop overplaying Taj Gibson due to nepotism. Kentucky’s Isaiah Jackson and his all-around efficiency would easily be a better fit with Julius Randle or even Obi Toppin off the bench. As an added bonus, he can score the ball, unlike, well, Taj Gibson.
NBA Mock Draft 22nd Pick: Los Angeles Lakers
The defending champs (not for long) need a big help on the playmaking-outside-of-LeBron department. Dennis Schroder shattered under pressure in the postseason while being thoroughly inconsistent on both ends. Sharife Cooper should get the job done, more so with Alex Caruso and Talen Horton-Tucker’s impending free agency.
NBA Mock Draft 23rd Pick: Houston Rockets (via Portland Trail Blazers)
NCAA’s leading scorer Cameron Thomas is your prototypical shot-happy, Houston Rockets guard who should entice the team enough with his upside as a lethal scorer who can absolutely thrive in Paul Silas’ run and gun offense. Oh, wait, you already have KPJ? Oh well, how about replacing the oft-injured Eric Gordon?
NBA Mock Draft 24th Pick: Houston Rockets (via Milwaukee Bucks)
Speaking of replacements, how about letting Danuel House go for a modern NBA swingman with loads of potential? Stanfords’ Ziaire Williams could land in Rockets territory seeing that teams have more urgent needs, but the 6’7 wing could easily be the steal of the draft with his high-motor 3-and-D play.
NBA Mock Draft 25th Pick: LA Clippers
Reggie Jackson’s renaissance is quite nice, but the odds of him replicating his play next season will not be as high. Anyway, the Clips still need another young blood in the frontcourt despite Terance Mann’s development, and Ayo Dosunmu could be a solid addition with his on-court maturity despite being a rookie.
NBA Draft Mock 26th Pick: Denver Nuggets
Oregon’s Chris Duarte should be an easy-fix 3-and-D bench piece who can thrive next to Facundo Campazzo in the second unit, especially if Austin Rivers finds a new home in the offseason. With Jamal Murray probably out for a good chunk of the season next year, more backcourt depth will be welcome.
NBA Mock Draft 27th Pick: Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets don’t really need anything else to be frank (duh), but you can never go wrong with drafting an extra shooter, especially if you’re a contender. It helps to have an added layer of protection whenever Joe Harris and Landry Shamet somehow ends up on the inactive list. Josh Primo will surely be thrilled with an almost-automatic ring right from the get-go.
NBA Mock Draft 28th Pick: Philadelphia 76ers
As a 3-level scorer with some defensive upside, Arizona State’s Josh Christopher can help soften the underrated blow of possibly losing Danny Green in the offseason. They already have Matisse Thybulle and Furkan Korkmaz as likely successors, but the 76ers aren’t exactly a bastion of a healthy roster.
NBA Mock Draft 29th Pick: Phoenix Suns
It isn’t as glaring, but the Phoenis Suns don’t really have a backup big who can provide what Deandre Ayton provides, even in spurts. Dario Saric is best as a power forward and Frank Kaminsky should be used only sparingly. Day’Ron Sharpe’s back to the basket game should be an uncompromised cushion for when Ayton is in foul trouble or injured.
NBA Mock Draft 30th Pick: Utah Jazz
Georges Niang has been fine as a 9th man, but he’ll most likely net bigger offers elsewhere in free agency. Roko Prkacin, the 6’9 Croatian sniper, can be an extension of Bojan Bogdanovic on the bench not just with the demographic similarity, but also with his shot-making and court vision as a big combo forward.