I want to preface this mock draft by saying this is probably the most difficult mock draft I've ever done. Once you get past the first 10 or 11 picks, it becomes a total crapshoot! There are players that I have going in the thirties that could go in the twenties, and vice versa. Regardless of whether the Kings draft your favorite player or mine, they should get a good player. Bear in mind, that I have players going where I think they'll go, not where I might draft that player. In simple terms, my big board is quite a bit different than this mock draft. The heights listed are based on the typical shoe worn by NBA players adds about an inch and a half in height. So, without further ado:
1. Spurs: Victor Wembayama: C/PF/SF, 7'5", 229 Lbs, 7'8" wingspan, Metropolitans
32.1 mpg - 21.6 ppg - 47.0% fgp - 27.5% 3pp - 82.8% ftp - 10.4 rpg - 2.4 apg - 3.0 blk's
Wembayama is the obvious choice so there's not much to say other than he needs to get stronger, and improve his 3 pt shot. He shoots off balance a lot of the time and I think that's partly responsible for his poor percentage. If he stays healthy, he's likely a future HOF player.
2. Hornets: Brandon Miller: SF, 6'9", 200 Lb's, Wingspan NA, Freshman, Alabama
32.6 mpg - 18.8 ppg - 43.0% fgp - 38.4% 3pp - 85.9% ftp - 8.2 rpg - 2.1 apg - 0.9 blk's
Personally, I think the Hornets should take Henderson, but all the rumors point to taking Miller, who no doubt is a better fit. Time will tell whether they made the right choice. Miller is the total package! A three level scorer who defends and rebounds!
3. Portland: Scoot Henderson: PG, 6'3", 195 Lb's, Wingspan NA, G-League Ignite
30.7 mpg - 16.5 ppg - 42.9% fgp - 27.5% 3pp - 76.4% ftp - 5.4 rpg - 6.5 apg - 1.1 stl's
I think there's a high possibility that Portland trades this pick for an established player, or trades down. Perhaps with Houston who would love to acquire Henderson. Should be interesting! Scoot is an exciting player to watch and is impossible to stop when going downhill with a head of steam. Needs to improve his outside shot.
4. Rockets: Amen Thompson: SF/SG/PG, 6'7", 214 Lb's, 6'11" wingspan, Overtime Elite
27.2 mpg - 16.3 ppg - 56.8% fgp - 23.3% 3pp - 64.6% ftp - 6.5 rpg - 6.2 apg - 2.4 stl's - 0.8 blk's
I'm not as high on the Thompson twins as a lot of people are. Neither of them can shoot, and they played in a league with very poor competition going up against the equivalent of highschool teams. The Rockets need a player that can bring some on court discipline, and Amen should help in that area. He's one of the best athlete's in the draft and has an explosive first step off the dribble. He has the potential to be a lock down defender.
5. Pistons: Jarace Walker: PF, 6'8", 240 Lb's, 7'2.5" Wingspan, Freshman, Houston
27.6 mpg - 11.2 ppg - 46.5% fgp - 34.8% 3pp - 66.3% ftp - 6.8 rpg - 1.8 apg - 1.0 stl's - 1.3 blk's
Jarace is one of my favorite players in the draft. He's one of the best defenders as well, and a very good rebounder. I fail to understand how he was used at Houston, but I feel the didn't get a chance to really showcase his entire tool box. He's a terrific athlete who can make an immediate impact defensively on any team that drafts him.
6. Magic: Cam Whitemore: SF, 6'7", 232 Lb's, Wingspan NA, Freshman, Villanova
27.3 mpg - 12.5 ppg - 47.8% fgp - 34.3% - 70.3% ftp - 5.3 rpg - 0.7 apg - 1.4 stl's
Whitemore is a deceptive athlete. At first glance he doesn't look like an elite athlete, and then he blows right by you. He'a a good finisher and uses his big body to bully his way to the basket on post up's. I think he's a better shooter than his stats indicate. My main criticism would be that needs improve his passing and his ability to create for others.
7. Pacers: Taylor Hendricks: PF, 6'9.75", 213 Lb's, 7'0.5" wingspan, Freshman, UCF
34.7 mpg - 15.1 ppg - 47.8% fgp - 39.4% 3pp - 78.2% ftp - 7.0 rpg - 1.4 apg - 0.9 blk's - 1.7 blk's
Hendricks is one of the surprise players this season, and when they do a redraft a couple of years from now, he may end up being the best player out of this draft. He has tremendous upside, and he's darned good right now.Hendricks and Haliburten is a dream pairing and should be fun to watch.
8. Wizards: Cason Wallace: PG/SG, 6'4", 193 Lb's, 6'8.5" Wingspan, Freshman, Kentucky
32.2 mpg - 11.7 ppg - 44.6% fgp - 34.6% 3pp - 75.7% ftp - 3.7 rpg - 4.3 apg - 2.0 stl's
Cason is one of the best defensive players in the draft. He can play on or off the ball. Very smart player who is a master of the floater. The first third of the season he was shooting over 40% from three, and then he suffered an in game back injury, but decided to keep playing through the rest of the season. However it affected his shot, and his ability to finish at the basket, one of his pre injury strengths. He's a very smart player who knows how to play the game. Plus, he has that dog in him!
9. Jazz: Grady Dick: SF, 6'8", 205 Lb's, 6'8.75" Wingspan, Freshman, Kansas
32.7 mpg - 14.1 ppg - 44.2% fgp - 40.3% 3pp - 85.4% ftp - 5.1 rpg - 1.7 apg - 1.4 stl's
Dick is one of the better shooters in the draft, and certainly helps the Jazz rebuild. Can he defend at the NBA level? He needs to get stronger, but in the meantime, he's a deadly catch and shoot player who I think can become a three level scorer in the league.
10. Mav's: Anthony Black: SF/SG/PG, 6'7.25", 210 Lb's, 6'7.5" Wingspan, Freshman, Arkansas
34.9 mpg - 12.8 ppg - 45.3% fgp - 30.1% 3pp - 70.5% ftp - 5.1 rpg - 3.9 apg - 2.1 stl's - 0.6 blk's
It's possible that Black goes higher, or lower. He's an excellent defender with great anticipation. Terrific passer who can create for others. His only major flaw is his outside shot, which doesn't look broken to me. I think with time he can become a respectable shooter. He has all the tools. He can guard four positions, depending on the matchup. I also think there's the possibility that the Mav's trade this pick for an established player.
11. Magic: Ausur Thompson: SF, 6'7", 207 Lb's, 6'11" Wingspan, Overtime Elite
27.1 mpg - 14.7 ppg - 50.4% fgp - 21.7% 3pp - 64.1% ftp - 8.2 rpg - 3.0 apg - 1.7 stl's - 2.2 blk's
Ausur is very much like his brother. Neither can shoot the ball and neither are good freethrow shooters. I Ausur's shooting form looks better than Amen's, but his results are nearly the same. Like his brother he has the tools to be a lock down defender. A good passer, but not as skilled as his brother in that area. In some ways I like Ausur better than Amen. On a personal level when judging players, I have a problem with players that can't shoot the ball. But, Lebron couldn't shoot when he came into the league either, and he's been pretty good!
12. Thunder: Bibil Coulibaly: SF/SG, 6'6", 230 Lb's, 7'2" Wingspan, 18 yr's old, Levailois
19.7 mpg - 5.9 ppg - 53.6% fgp - 37.5% 3pp - 60.7% ftp - 3.3 rpg - 0.9 apg - 0.9 stl's
Coulibaly is a fast riser and the rumor is that the Thunder is lusting after him. Take his stat's with a grain of salt because, as with a lot of European players, they play in more than one league in a given season. In Coulibaly's case, he played in three different leagues, and I believe these are the stats from the under 19 league and it contained his best 3 pt percentages. However, he barely took more than one a game, so take that for what's its worth. He's a very good fluid athlete, who always seems to be on balance. Very good defender with a huge wingspan. I think his shot is a bit suspect, but he's very young with plenty of time to figure things out. This high, he's a swing for the fences pick, but the reward could be great!
13, Raptors: Dereck Lively: Center, 7'1", 230 Lb's, 7'8" Wingspan, Freshman, Duke
20.6 mpg - 5.2 ppg - 65.8% fgp - 15.4% 3pp - 60.0% ftp - 5.4 rpg - 1.1 apg - 2.4 blk's - 0.5 stl's
The Raptors suffered last season because they didn't have a real center on their team. While they made a trade to get Poeltl, he's a unrestricted freeagent, so Lively would give them some insurance. I'm not buying stock in Lively's 3 pt shot just yet, and he's a bit suspect defending away from the basket, but he'll certainly help they're overall defense.
14. Pelicans: Jalen Hood-Schifino: PG/SG, 6'5.75", 216 Lb's, 6'10.25", Freshman, Indiana
33.1 mpg - 13.5 ppg - 41.7% fgp - 33.3% 3pp - 77.6% ftp - 4.1 rpg - 3.7 apg - 0.8 stl's
I think Schifino is a good fit on the Pelicans. He's more of a combo guard than a true PG, and he has the size to play both spots, and he can probably guard up to SF. I think he's capable of being a better 3pt shooter than his stats indicate. He was one of the reasons that Indiana was such a good team this past season. I know some mocks have him going lower than this, but I really like him and his versatility.
15. Hawks: Leonard Miller: PF/SF, 6'10.75", 7'2" Wingspan, G-League Ignite
30.6 mpg - 17.9 ppg - 55.6% fgp - 32.7% 3pp - 79.2% ftp - 10.9 rpg - 1.5 apg - 0.9 stl's
The Hawks need front court help and Miller a player they can't pass up at this point. Miller is the most improved player from last year in my opinion. He went from a player that looked like he didn't have a clue, to a potential lottery pick. He was outstanding the last third of the season. He defended extremely well and was one of the best rebounders in that league. He has good handles and started to show off some passing skills. He has great upside!
