2024 NBA Mock Draft 2

Every year, I release 3 mock drafts prior to the NBA Draft, and this is the second!  While there has been a lot of commentary on the fact that this is considered a weak draft class and it is possible that there are no franchise altering players in this class, there are still several players who are really interesting and could play a large role for a team. 

All of my drafts are aggregates of several drafts and are intended to give an idea of what the draft is looking like at this point in time (while I would love it if I am right on several picks in the mock, there’s movement that I won’t know about until during the draft).  While I account for need in certain picks (more so in the first round, especially the lottery), these are not a reflection of what I think of each pick or how I would rank the prospects.  The picks are divided into three sections:  for the lottery, I provided vitals, in depth analysis, comparison, and the fit with the team.  For the remaining first round picks, I provided vitals, brief analysis, and comparison (I didn’t include fit with the team since many of these picks get traded on draft night).  For the second round, I provided vitals.  Lastly, note that I am doing this as a hobby and will almost certainly miss something that professionals will see; take my analysis with a grain of salt in that regard, and please do not think my opinions should supersede any other scouting reports, especially in a draft that contains so many different opinions.

This is the second mock draft and is meant to give an overview after the domestic withdrawl deadline.  The third and final will be released prior to the draft.

As a note, all measurements for remaining drafts will utilize those from the Combine if the measurements are available.

 

 

 

1:  Atlanta Hawks – Alexandre Sarr

Perth Wildcats (Australia), 19, PF/C, 6’11.75, 224.2 lbs., 7’4.25 Wing

Style Comp:  Jaren Jackson Jr.

Previous:  1

In a surprise twist, Atlanta got the top pick, though there is uncertainty about what their team will even look like with either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray expected to be traded (they might trade whoever gives a bigger return).  There isn’t a clear-cut option for Atlanta, though Sarr typically projected to be the best player in this class (I have him second best).  His defensive upside is amazing, and there is some potential with his finishing, driving and playmaking, though he is raw and has a poor jumper.  The fit isn’t totally clean since Atlanta likely will continue to include Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson in their plans for the future, and I don’t love the fit of Sarr with these two; still, they might just take whomever they view as the best player available.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they opted for Zaccharie Risacher or traded down to select a wing or Reed Sheppard; I also wouldn’t be surprised if they try trading this pick.

2:  Washington Wizards – Zaccharie Risacher

LNB Pro A (France), 19, SF, 6’10, 204 lbs., 6’10.5 Wing

Style Comp:  Maybe some combo of Harrison Barnes and Michael Porter Jr.?

Previous:  2

Washington is in a pretty good situation while having the second pick; even though they might not be able to select the player they want if Atlanta beats them to it, there are several players that would fit nicely in Washington.  After having a stretch where he struggled, Risacher finished strong, so he remains near the top of several boards.  He has received praise for his shooting ability and defensive potential.  That said, I am lower than most on him since I don’t fully buy his shot, he isn’t a good finisher, and is rawer than people make him out to be; many of his skills are more based on potential.  I’ve heard him described by some as the type of player that would fit with so many teams, though there’s a good chance that casual fans would be disappointed with what he’d be in the NBA if he were the top pick.  Washington is starting their rebuild and doesn’t have a ton of players we know will be there in the future (they do have some interesting players in Bilal Coulibaly, Denji Avdija, and Corey Kispert), so they should take whoever they like best and worry about fit later.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they also consider Donovan Clingan, Nikola Topic, Rob Dillingham, and Reed Sheppard, among others.  It’s also worth noting that I expect Sarr will be drafted by Washington if Atlanta passes on him.

3:  Houston Rockets (from BRK) – Reed Sheppard

Kentucky, Fr, 20, PG/SG, 6’1.75, 181.6 lbs., 6’3.25

Style Comp:  Malcolm Brogdon with some Mike Conley glimpses

Previous:  8

One to watch

I don’t expect Houston will actually use this pick since they have so many players who could play a massive role already, so a rookie might not get a ton of minutes immediately.  That said, Sheppard is one of the players they have been linked to so far.  Sheppard is the best shooter in this class and is a great athlete (he did better in a lot of the athletic tests than I expected at the Combine), though he is pretty small (he measured a bit smaller than I expected he would at the Combine) and isn’t the best ball handler for his size.  If they don’t trade the pick, Sheppard could fit in nicely due to his shooting ability and the fact that he doesn’t often need the ball in his hands to contribute on offense.  The other player that has been heavily rumored is Donovan Clingan, though I don’t understand that fit (I would think they would want to continue building around potential All-Star Alperen Sengun, and I don’t think Clingan could ever share the court with him).

4:  San Antonio Spurs – Nikola Topic

Crvena Zvezda (Serbia), 18, PG, 6’6, 201 lbs.

Style Comp:  Goran Dragic with some early career Lonzo Ball

Previous:  3

While there is some uncertainty about exactly what San Antonio will do with their two top-8 picks, many are expecting this pick will be used on a point guard.  I believe he is the best point guard in this class due to his size, playmaker, and finishing ability while going downhill; while there are concerns about his shooting and defense, I think the shooting will be better in the NBA, and I’m not as worried about defensive ability with young players since most young stars don’t try on that end (I believe it is more of an effort issue with Topic, though there are some concerns that it might be his fundamentals).  Even if he doesn’t start immediately, Topic will be protected defensively and will pair very well with their franchise cornerstone, Victor Wembenyama, who can give Topic an easy passing target.  The other guard that San Antonio has been linked to is Rob Dillingham.

5:  Detroit Pistons – Matas Buzelis

G-League Ignite, 19, SF/PF, 6’8,75, 197 lbs., 6’10 Wing

Style Comp:  Raw Franz Wagner, prospect Deni Avdija

Previous:  4

In yet another draft, Detroit has fallen out of the top-4 despite a rough season; that said, this draft isn’t the worst to occur in with a variety of interesting prospects still available at this point.  Buzelis appears to be a polarizing player, since there are multiple things he is good at (he has a solid basketball IQ and has upside as a passer, help defender, and midrange shooter), though there isn’t any one skill that he can rely on; the biggest swing might be his jumper, which I do not buy.  In general, I don’t think there is anything that he will be great at during his rookie year, which could make it difficult for him to stick in the league.  Since Detroit already has Cade Cunningham, Monty Williams has shown that any other prospect will pretty much just stand in the corner unless he is a big man, so ideally they would like to draft a wing who can shoot (since they don’t want an Ausar Thompson part 2, who was forced into that role last year despite clearly not being a good shooter during the entire draft process).  Since there isn’t anybody here who fits that billing that makes sense with this pick, Buzelis is the closest thing, and they’ll just have to pray that he can shoot.

6:  Charlotte Hornets – Donovan Clingan

UConn, Sophomore, 20, C, 7’1.75, 282 lbs., 7’6.75 Wing

Style Comp:  Ivaca Zubac with some Mason Plumlee touch

Previous:  7

Charlotte is in one of the strangest places out of all the teams developing, as they have been rebuilding for a few years but have so much uncertainty.  Clingan is considered by many to be one of the safest picks in this draft since he is a talented player at both ends of the court in the paint and has a high IQ.  He is a talented defender in the paint who relies on that more than athleticism, which will work well for him; he also has shown potential as a passer.  He isn’t good outside the paint on either end, though I also think he is a bit rawer than people are making him out to be (he did deal with injuries, but he still rarely came close to 30 MPG during his sophomore year).  I still think he will have a role as a quality big man on a competitive team, whether he is starting or coming off the bench.  Charlotte is in a bit of disarray, as they definitely have Brandon Miller in their future, and will likely try to build around LaMelo Ball if he can stay healthy (Mark Williams and Nick Richards both look good, but the former was injured most of last year and the latter has an easier path forward as a backup big).  Clingan can easily fit with a lot of players, especially those currently on the team; that’s not the worst selection to make in a draft that doesn’t have a ton of clear superstars.  It’s possible that Clingan could go as high as 2 in this draft, and I don’t expect he’ll go later than 9 (I think Memphis would love to have him if he’s available).

7:  Portland Trail Blazers – Dalton Knecht

Tennessee, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’5.25, 212.2 lbs., 6’9 Wing

Style Comp:  Leaner Corey Kispert

Previous:  11

Unless there is a big or a larger wing at this point in the draft, Portland is in a tough spot with this pick given their recent lineup decisions.  Knecht is a natural scorer who can score from anywhere on the court and has appeared to be really skilled off the ball.  I expect that he also will be able to make an impact pretty quickly in the league, though I don’t think he will ever be a star.  He probably will be a poor defender, which could limit him to a bench role; that said, he is a good athlete who has nice size, so not being the primary focus on offense could result in him working harder on the defensive end, though that’s not a lock to happen.  Even though Portland has so many guards/smaller wings already and several who need the ball, there really isn’t a clear-cut option for someone who is a big or a bigger forward other than Ron Holland.  Even if it’s a clunky fit at points, Knecht is skilled enough off the ball that he can create shots without taking the ball from any of their other young developing talents who are more on-ball; he will also give Scoot Henderson another sharpshooting option to pass to.

8:  San Antonio Spurs (from TOR) – Stephon Castle

UConn, Freshman, 19, SG, 6’4.5, 193 lbs., 6’9 Wing

Style Comp:  Jalen Suggs without a consistent jumper

Previous:  6

Now that Toronto’s protected pick will convey this year after falling outside the top-6, it will be interesting to see what San Antonio opts to do with each of their picks.  I have Castle as one of the top-4 players in this draft due to his amazing defensive ability and athleticism and improving playmaking and finishing.  While he’s not that good of a shooter at this time, I think he will be a league average shooter, which would raise his upside significantly.  One thing that is worth noting is that he measured much smaller at the Combine than expected; his official height was 2.5 inches shorter than his listed height, though I’m not as worried about that since 6’4.5 with a 6’9 wingspan is still big enough to be a solid sized shooting guard or a bigger point guard (I think he could be the latter).  Even though I have San Antonio picking a guard already, if they view Castle as one of the best players in the draft, it makes sense to just select him.  He probably won’t be a starter in the NBA this season, so worrying about position overlap from a team that doesn’t have a ton of players who would make most teams is kind of silly.  They can bring him off the bench and have him develop in situations both on and off the ball; at worst, he’ll work his tail off defensively and encourage others to do the same.

9:  Memphis Grizzlies – Ron Holland

G-League Ignite, 18, SF, 6’6.5, 196.8 lbs., 6’10.75 Wing

Style Comp:  Jerami Grant, what everyone hoped Josh Jackson would be

Previous:  9

With Memphis not having a ton of needs, they could either take a player that fits best or take the best remaining, if they opt to keep the pick.  Opinions on Holland appear to be all over the place, especially among teams, though I have him as the third best player in this class (behind Nikola Topic and Alexandre Sarr, while just ahead of Stephon Castle).  He is an impressive athlete who plays hard on both ends, is a great finisher, and has shown potential as a playmaker and defender (I think he could be an average defender fairly quickly into his career).  The biggest issues to me right now are his shooting and shot selection; that said, I think there is upside with his shot.  I’m honestly not sure why there are several teams that don’t like him since he seems like he could transition to be a solid role player at worst given his work ethic (as such, I hope I’m right about that since I want the players to succeed).  While they could draft for need, Memphis hasn’t often done that in the last few years, and their biggest need is big who is a good rebounder, and I don’t think there’s anyone who can easily slide into that role as a rookie unless Donovan Clingan is still on the board.  As such, an aggressive wing who projects to be versatile and will play hard on both ends will be a welcome addition with the team.

10:  Utah Jazz – Rob Dillingham

Kentucky, Freshman, 19, PG, 6’1, 164.2 lbs., 6’3 Wing

Style Comp:  Hybrid of Lou Williams and smaller De’Aaron Fox

Previous:  5

One to watch

Utah could go a bunch of different directions with this pick, especially since they look like they might be closer to becoming a playoff team than they might have planned when trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.  Dillingham is an aggressive scorer who is also a great shooter and playmaker, which isn’t always the case for someone his size.  That said, he is small; this will always limit his defensive and finishing abilities.  I think the realization of just how small he was at the Combine has caused him to slip, though this shouldn’t have been a surprise (in fact, he measured bigger than I expected he would); I wouldn’t be surprised if he rose again.  I usually don’t like smaller guards, but he has won me over; I think he can find a role in the league, even if it is as a high-volume bench scorer.  I don’t know if there’s a slam dunk pick for Utah at this point, so I think Dillingham is fair; they already have several talented players on their team, so they might as well take a skilled player with high upside.

11:  Chicago Bulls – Cody Williams

Colorado, Fr, 19, SF/PF, 6’6.5, 178.4 lbs., 7’1 Wing

Style Comp:  Maybe Jaden McDaniels?

Previous:  11

I’m not going to try to lie and tell you that I have any idea what Chicago is going to do this offseason.  Williams has great length and is an impressive athlete, which plays well with his upside as a defender; he also has a nice handle and appears to have a high basketball IQ.  That said, I’m not high on him at all; I don’t think he’s a good finisher in coverage and appears to be an unwilling shooter, making me wonder how he is going to score in the NBA.  I also think that he is incredibly raw, skinny (I’m not worried about this long-term, but it will hurt for a couple years), and isn’t a good passer.  I am strongly of the belief that he would not be in lottery talks if his brother, Jalen, was not having so much success in Oklahoma City.  As for what Chicago will do, I’ve given up trying to figure out what Chicago is doing, so take your pick.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they view Williams in a similar light as Patrick Williams, who has had inconsistencies, but has shown versatility at points; maybe they take Williams as a result.

12:  Oklahoma City Thunder (from HOU) – Tidjane Salaun

LNB Pro A (France), 18, PF, 6’10, 205 lbs., 7’4 Wing

Style Comp:  More chaotic Herb Jones

Previous:  12

Oklahoma City has an interesting situation on their hands, since they really don’t have a need that can be easily solved with this pick.  Salaun is incredibly raw, but is a freak athlete who looks like he will be a great defender; he also appears to be a smart and skilled cutter already, which is especially impressive since he’s so young.  That said, I don’t buy his jumper, he has a wild handle, and often looks lost defensively.  He’s raw and all over the place, but if you’re patient with him, you could have an interesting player, especially on the defensive end.  Oklahoma City doesn’t have any needs that can be addressed at this point in the draft (I would argue the “needs” that they do have are more matchup dependent), so they likely will continue to do what they’ve done in taking whomever they believe has the highest upside remaining.  Salaun’s athleticism and defensive suggest that he might fit the bill in that regard.

13:  Sacramento Kings – Ja’Kobe Walter

Baylor, Fr, 19, SG, 6’4.25, 197.6 lbs., 6’10 Wing

Style Comp:  Raw Austin Reaves

Previous:  13

While Sacramento has been a pretty good team over the last couple years, there could be a massive need for them depending on how free agency looks.  Walter had a tough year at Baylor, but he is an aggressive player who has upside as a shooter and rarely turns the ball.  He is really raw right now, and struggles with his shot selection and efficiency; he also could improve as a defender and playmaker.  I think that there is upside, especially since his handle is so consistent and his motor is great on both ends for a player his age.  Sacramento is in an interesting position since Malik Monk is a free agent this year.  While I think it might take a year or two before Walter is ready to be a major contributor to a competitive team, I think he could eventually slide into the bench scoring role that Monk played.  While he likely won’t be as efficient as Monk, he could provide more defense.

14:  POR (from GSW) – Devin Carter

Providence, Jr, 22, SG, 6’2.25, 193 lbs., 6’8.25 Wing

Style Comp:  Bruce Brown

Previous:  16

Portland can pretty much go with whomever they want with this pick, though there might not be a ton of great options that fill a need for them.  I’ve been torn on Carter for a bit, since his size will make it tough for him to adapt in the NBA at times, especially defensively (which is his strength).  At the same time, I think his shot will translate, as will his ability to fill into a complimentary role.  His shot is a bit ugly, and while I think it will work, if it doesn’t translate, I don’t know what he can do offensively.  I don’t think there is a great fit that is available for Portland with this pick, but at least Carter will play hard and try to motivate others on the team.

 

15:  Miami Heat – Isaiah Collier

USC, Fr, 19, PG, 6’2.5, 204.6 lbs., 6’4.75 Wing

Style Comp:  Tyreke Evans

Previous:  14

Collier really had a brutal year at USC, but there are still believers in him.  He is strong aggressive, and a good playmaker.  I’m lower on him since I don’t think he’s a good athlete and I don’t believe in the shot at all.  It’s possible that he slips since he had a tough Combine as well; if I’m being totally honest, I’m surprised he’s still as high as he is.

16:  Philadelphia 76ers – Jared McCain

Duke, Fr, 20, PG, 6’2, 203.2 lbs., 6’3.5 Wing

Style Comp:  Seth Curry

Previous:  15

I consider McCain to be the second-best shooter in the class behind Reed Sheppard, and he is also a great shot creator, competitive on both ends, and has some playmaking ability.  His size and athleticism could limit his role in the NBA, though I still think he can be a solid bench player.

17:  Los Angeles Lakers – Kyle Filipowski

Duke, So, 20, PF/C, 6’10.75, 229.8 lbs., 6’10.5 Wing

Style Comp:  A strange combination of raw Alperen Sengun and more complete Mo Wagner

Previous:  18

One to Watch

Note:  New Orleans owned the rights to this pick, but opted to defer this pick to next year

I’m not the highest on Filipowski, but he is a skilled player on offense who has some playmaking ability and a high IQ.  He’s a poor defender and isn’t that great of an athlete, which has also impacted his ability of both ends, especially while finishing.  The biggest question is if his jumper will translate; I don’t believe it will, which makes me question if he can be an effective scorer in the NBA.  It’s also possible he drops in the draft solely because his wingspan is smaller than his height (I find it dumb, but some people care about that a ton).

18:  Orlando Magic – Yves Missi

Baylor, Fr, 20, C, 6’10.25, 229.4 lbs., 7’2 Wing

Style Comp:  DeAndre Jordan

Previous:  17

Missi is a freak athlete who could be a great finisher and defender, which should make him an interesting prospect.  That said, he is incredibly raw, is a bad shooter, tries for blocks, and fouls a lot.  He will take some time to develop, but I love him and think he has high upside.

19:  Toronto Raptors (from IND) – Tristan da Silva

Colorado, Sr, 23, PF, 6’8.25, 216.8 lbs., 6’10.25 Wing

Style Comp:  Joe Ingles

Previous:  20

da Silva has a reputation of being among the most skilled players in this class, as he is a good shooter and playmaker while also having a high IQ on both ends.  My biggest concern is his athleticism; skilled players who are not great athletes usually have difficulties in the NBA.

20:  Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyshawn George

Miami, Fr, 20, SG, 6’7, 208.8 lbs., 6’10.25 Wing

Style Comp:  Sam Hauser with some passing ability

Previous:  21

George is a great shooter, has amazing size, and looks like he could be a good playmaker.  He isn’t a good athlete or defender, which limits his upside; he is also incredibly raw at this point and could take a couple years before he is a contributor on a team.  That said, his playmaking and shooting potential at his size makes him an intriguing prospect.

21:  New Orleans Pelicans (from MIL) – Tyler Smith

G-League Ignite, 19, PF, 6’8.75, 223.8 lbs., 7’1 Wing

Style Comp:  Early career Michael Porter Jr.

Previous:  19

One to Watch

Smith has been polarizing amongst a lot of people, and I’ve been torn about him for a while.  He is an amazing athlete with great size (he didn’t measure as skinny as I expected at the Combine) who looks like he will be a good shooter.  While there is defensive upside, he is really bad right now at that end; the bigger issue is that he is a poor finisher at the rim when not dunking, which greatly concerns me.

22:  Phoenix Suns – Kel’el Ware

Indiana, So, 20, C, 6’11.75, 230 lbs., 7’4.25 Wing

Style Comp:  Myles Turner

Previous:  23

One to Watch

Ware is a really polarizing prospect, but I am so high on him.  He looks like a great shot blocker, finisher, and shooter, which will make him valuable as a stretch big.  He is still a bit raw and chases blocks; while that isn’t abnormal for young big men, it’s something to work on.  The biggest question is his work ethic; I think he’s shown this year that it’s improved, but some are still skeptical.

23:  Milwaukee Bucks (from NOP) – Carlton Carrington

Pittsburgh, Fr, 18, PG, 6’3.75, 194.8 lbs., 6’8 Wing

Style Comp:  Jamal Crawford

Previous:  28

One to Watch

Carrington is an iteration of a score-first guard that always seems to appear in each draft.  He is an underrated playmaker, has a beautiful handle, is an aggressive scorer, and has shooting upside.  His shot selection is awful, he hasn’t proven much defense, and he measured a bit smaller than I expected at the Combine (though I wouldn’t consider him small).  It’s always a crapshoot where high-volume young scorers go, since some love them and some hate them; if nothing else, he’ll be fun.

24:  New York Knicks (from DAL) – Zach Edey

Purdue, Sr, 22, C, 7’3.75, 299 lbs., 7’10.75 Wing

Style Comp:  Boban Marjanovic

Previous:  24

I’m admittedly not that high on Edey, but I expect he will be a first-round pick.  He’s a skilled player in the paint who really knows how to utilize his body.  That said, he is really bad outside the paint and in transition.  I don’t expect he’ll play more than 20 MPG (likely not topping 15 MPG), so I wouldn’t take him in the first round; that said, he could dominate backup or third string bigs.

25:  New York Knicks – Johnny Furphy

Kansas, Fr, 19, SG/SF, 6’7.5, 188.8 lbs., 6’8 Wing

Style Comp:  Raw Jalen Johnson

Previous:  25

A bunch of people love Furphy, but I’m not one of them.  He is a great shooter and dunker, which causes several to like his upside.  That said, he is raw, has a rough dribble, is a poor defender, and isn’t a good midrange shooter.  He also isn’t the best athlete and struggled at the Combine; I was also underwhelmed by his measurements.

26:  Washington Wizards (from LAC) – Tyler Kolek

Marquette, Sr, 23, PG, 6’1.25, 196.6 lbs., 6’2.75 Wing

Style Comp:  Dallas version of Jalen Brunson

Previous:  29

I feel like Kolek has the skillset where he could easily end up being a backup point guard, though he’s not a lock.  He is a great playmaker and shooter who has a high IQ and is really consistent.  The things that will hold him back is that he is small (he measured smaller than I expected at the Combine) and a poor athlete.  I typically am afraid of smaller and unathletic guards, though Kolek’s skill might make it work.

27:  Minnesota Timberwolves – Bobi Klintman

Cairns Taipans (Australia), 21, PF, 6’8.5, 212.2 lbs., 6’11 Wing

Style Comp:  John Collins with defense

Previous:  26

One to Watch

Klintman is a high risk, high reward selection, which makes him pretty polarizing.  He has so much upside due to his athleticism and size; he also has potential as a shooter, playmaker, defender, and ball handler.  That said, he is raw, is a poor decision maker, and struggles to finish at the rim.  I’ve been torn on him due to his struggles as a finisher and lack of strength.

28:  Denver Nuggets – Jaylon Tyson

California, Jr, 21, SF, 6’5.5, 218.2 lbs., 6’8 Wing

Style Comp:  Pacers T.J. Warren (pre-injury)

Previous:  30

I’ve been really high on Tyson throughout this draft process since I think he will fit into an NBA role very easily.  He is a good athlete, shooter, defender, and could be a good rebounder and finisher.  His weaknesses are related to making turnovers and struggling against bigger defender, though I think those will be minimized as a role player.  It is worth noting that he is a bit smaller than I expected he would be.

29:  Utah Jazz (from OKC) – Terrence Shannon

Illinois, RS Sr, 23, SG/SF, 6’5.75, 219.4 lbs., 6’8.75 Wing

Style Comp:  Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Previous:  27

One to watch

Shannon’s draft stock will likely solely depend on the result of his trial that starts on June 10^th.  He is a great defender and finisher who is improving as a shooter.  That said, his jumper is still streaky and some might find him a bit small for a versatile wing.  The bigger question is the result of his rape trial; if he is found guilty, his stock will likely plummet.  We should learn the result prior to the draft.

30:  Boston Celtics – DaRon Holmes

Dayton, Jr, 21, PF/C, 6’8.75, 236.2 lbs., 7’1 Wing

Style Comp:  Jalen Smith

Previous:  34

Holmes feels like the most likely to be taken if a team wants a big late in the first round.  He looks like he could be a really good defender, lob finisher, screen setter, and passer out of the post.  I think he’s rawer than people think; he also is a streaky shooter and can be a sloppy passer.

 

 

31:  Toronto Raptors (from DET) – Kevin McCullar

Kansas, RS Sr, 22, SG, 6’5.25, 205.8 lbs., 6’9 Wing

Previous:  24

One to Watch

A late season injury has resulted in McCullar’s stock dropping significantly.  I’ve always been lower on McCullar since I don’t buy his jumper, though he could sneak into the first round if he’s healthy enough or there aren’t fears about the long-term impact of the injuries.

32:  Utah Jazz (from WAS) – Ryan Dunn

Virginia, So, 21, SF, 6’6.25, 213+.6 lbs., 7’1.5 Wing

Previous:  32

33:  Milwaukee Bucks (from POR) – Baylor Scheierman

Creighton, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’6.25, 201.6 lbs., 6’8.25 Wing

Previous:  44

One to Watch

Scheierman had an impressive Combine and played very well in the scrimmages, especially showcasing his IQ and passing ability.  I expect that he will sneak into the first round.

34:  Portland Trail Blazers (from CHO) – Pacome Dadiet

Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany). 18, SF, 6’8, 210 lbs.

Previous:  41

One to Watch

Dadiet has showcased some of his talent recently, and is now a riser on several mock drafts.  It’s possible that he ends up in the first round; all it takes is one team being afraid that he will not be available later.

35:  San Antonio Spurs – Dillon Jones

Weber State, Sr, 21, SF, 6’4.5, 236.8 lbs., 6’11 Wing

Previous:  31

36:  Indiana Pacers (from TOR) – Justin Edwards

Kentucky, Fr, 20, SF, 6’6, 209.4 lbs., 6’10 Wing

Previous:  37

37:  MIN (from MEM) – AJ Johnson

Illawarra Hawks (Australia), 19, PG, 6’4.25, 167 lbs., 6’8.5 Wing

Previous:  Undrafted

One to Watch

Johnson was one of the biggest risers at the Combine, as he had got to showcase his strengths and had stretches of playing well.  That said, he is still raw, and he had multiple times that he demonstrated that as well.

38:  New York Knicks (from UTA) – KJ Simpson

Colorado, Jr, 21, PG, 6’0.25, 187 lbs., 6’4.5 Wing

Previous:  39

39:  Memphis Grizzlies (from BRK) – Melvin Ajinca

LBN Pro A (France), 19, SF, 6’7

Previous:  35

40:  Portland Trail Blazers (from ATL) – Adem Bona

UCLA, So, 21, PF, 6’8.25, 243.2 lbs., 7’3.75 Wing

Previous:  51

One to Watch

I’m not sure how Bona has risen so dramatically in the draft, especially since the biggest thing I heard about his Combine performance was his fouling.  There is still upside, which he showed at points.

41:  Philadelphia 76ers (from CHI) – Ulrich Chomche

APR (Africa – Rwanda), 18, C, 6’20.25, 232.4 lbs., 7’4 Wing

Previous:  36

One to Watch

Opinions of Chomche are all over the place given how raw he is.  While some think he is an interesting prospect, most anticipated he’d declare next year.  He could still withdraw at the international deadline.

42:  CHO (from HOU) – Nikola Djurisic

Mega Basket (Serbia), 20, SG, 6’7, 208.8 lbs., 6’8 Wing

Previous:  Undrafted

One to Watch

After Djurisic was looking like a possible second round pick who could sneak in when teams wanted to select draft and stash players, he went to the Combine and shot the lights out of it.  I think it’s safe to predict that he will get drafted, and I think mid-second round is now his floor.

43:  Miami Heat – Harrison Ingram

North Carolina, Jr, 21, SG, 6’5.25, 233.6 lbs., 7’0.25 Wing

Previous:  38

44:  HOU (from GSW) – Cam Christie

Minnesota, Fr, 18, SG, 6’4.5, 190.4 lbs., 6’8 Wing

Previous:  Undrafted

One to Watch

Christie was such a big riser that I couldn’t remember if I had him on my list of potential draft picks prior to the Combine (I did, but he wasn’t high).  He had an awesome combine and, while raw, has interesting potential.

45:  Sacramento Kings – Juan Nunez

Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany), 20, PG, 6’3, 190 lbs.

Previous:  48

46:  Los Angeles Clippers (from IND) – Ajay Mitchell

Santa Barbara, Jr, 21, SG, 6’3.25, 197 lbs., 6’6.5 Wing

Previous:  47

47:  Orlando Magic – Oso Ighodaro

Marquette, RS Jr, 21, PF, 6’9.5, 222 lbs., 6’11 Wing

Previous:  43

48:  San Antonio Spurs (from LAL) – PJ Hall

Clemson, Sr, 22, PF, 6’8.25, 239.6 lbs., 7’1.5 Wing

Previous:  46

49:  Indiana Pacers (from CLE) – Jonathan Mogbo

San Francisco, RS Jr, 22, SF, 6’6.25, 217.2 lbs., 7’2 Wing

Vitals

Previous:  Undrafted

One to watch

Mogbo had an impressive Combine, which has resulted in him rising on draft boards.  It’s possible displaying athleticism and versatility in workouts can help him rise a little more, though I’d be surprised if he ends up sneaking much higher than the low-40’s at this time.

50:  Indiana Pacers (from NOP) – Keshad Johnson

Arizona, RS Sr, 23, PF/C, 6’6.25, 224 lbs., 6’10.25 Wing

Previous:  50

51:  Washington Wizards (from PHO) – Izan Almansa

G-League Ignite, 19, PF, 6’9.25, 219.6 lbs., 7’1 Wing

Previous:  40

One to watch

Almansa had a tough year with the G-League Ignite and appears to be pretty raw, which is why he could go undrafted.  Still, all it takes is one team; will that team come?

52:  Golden State Warriors (from MIL) – Trey Alexander

Creighton, Junior, 21, PG, 6’3.25, 187 lbs., 6’10.5 Wing

Previous:  45

One to watch

Alexander is the type of player who would drop at this time, as he is not naturally an elite athlete, so he wouldn’t impress in many athletic skills at the Combine.  That said, I think he could rise again due to his basketball IQ.

53:  Detroit Pistons (from NYK) – Jamal Shead

Houston, Sr, 21, PG, 6’0.25, 200.8 lbs., 6’3 Wing

Previous:  Undrafted

54:  Boston Celtics (from DAL) – Pelle Larsson

Arizona, Sr, 22, SG, 6’5.25, 212.4 lbs., 6’7.5 Wing

Previous:  58

55:  Los Angeles Lakers (from LAC) – Trentyn Flowers

Adelaide 36ers (Australia), 19, SF, 6’6.5, 201.4 lbs., 6’8.25 Wing

Previous:  57

56:  Denver Nuggets (from MIN) – Tristen Newton

UConn, RS Sr, 23, PG, 6’3.25, 191.8 lbs., 6’6.75 Wing

Previous:  52

57:  Memphis Grizzlies (from OKC) – Antonio Reeves

Kentucky, RS Sr, 23, SG, 6’4.25, 186.6lbs., 6’10 Wing

Previous:  53

58:  Dallas Mavericks (from BOS) – Jalen Bridges

Baylor, RS Sr, 23, SF, 6’6.75, 213.4 lbs., 6’10 Wing

Previous:  Undrafted

 

 

 

Fell Out

·        Hunter Sallis (33, withdrew from draft)

·        Alex Karaban (42, withdrew from draft)

·        Trevon Brazile (49, withdrew from draft)

·        Cam Spencer (54)

·        Payton Sandford (55, withdrew from draft)

·        Jaxson Robinson (56, withdrew from draft)

 

Next 10

1.      Cam Spencer, UConn, RS Sr, 24, SG, 6’3, 201.8 lbs., 6’5 Wing

2.      Bronny James, USC, Fr, 19, 6’1.5, 210.4 lbs., 6’7.25 Wing

3.      Jaylen Wells, Washington State, Jr, 20, SF, 6’6.5, 206.2 lbs., 6’7.25 Wing

4.      Enrique Freeman, Akron, RS Sr, 23, PF, 6’7.25, 212 lbs., 7’2 Wing

5.      Isaac Jones, Washington State, RS Sr, 23, PF/C, 6’7.25, 235 lbs., 7’3 Wing

6.      Ariel Hukporti, Riesen Ludwigsburg (Germany), 22, C, 6’10.75, 246.2 lbs., 7’2.5 Wing

7.      N’Faly Dante, Oregon, RS Sr, 22, C, 6’10, 260.2 lbs., 7’6 Wing

8.      Reece Beekman, Virginia, Sr, 22, PG, 6’1.25, 196.4 lbs., 6’6.5 Wing

9.      Isaiah Crawford, Louisiana Tech, RS Sr, 22, SF, 6’6, 220 lbs., 7’0.5 Wing

10.   Mantas Rubstavicius, New Zealand Breakers (Australia), 22, SG, 6’6, 220 lbs.

 

Biggest Risers

Calculated by % difference, minimum 5 spots changed

1.      Reed Sheppard (8 to 3, 62.5%)

2.      Baylor Scheierman (44 to 33, 25%)

3.      Adem Bona (51 to 40, 21.57%)

4.      Carlton Carrington (28 to 23, 17.86%)

5.      Pacome Dadiet (41 to 34, 17.07%)

 

Biggest Fallers

Calculated by % difference, minimum 5 spots changed

1.      Rob Dillingham (5 to 10, -100%)

2.      Kevin McCullar (24 to 31, -29.17%)

3.      Izan Almansa (40 to 51, -27.5%)

4.      Trey Alexander (45 to 52, -15.56%)

5.      Ulrich Chomche (36 to 41, -13.89%)

 

 

Who are some of your favorite picks in this draft?  Any picks you would like to see?  Let me know in the comments!