OK, here goes! Bear in mind that this isn't how I think the draft will go, but how I think it should go. I've taken the time, now that we have the draft order, to look at every team and see whose a restricted or unrestricted free agent. I also tried to take into account each teams style of play, and who I think would be the best fit, based on position, and talent. This is much easier in the first round, but in the 2nd round, many times there are multiple players playing the same position with fairly equal talent.
If I've omitted a player, it's because I think that player is going back to school. In some cases, if I thought it was a 50/50 scenario, I left the player in to be drafted, or not! That could change between now and the draft. So, without further ado, here's my very opinionated mock draft.
1. Pelicans: Zion Williamson, 6'6", 272 Lb's, SF/PF. Easy choice. Best player in the draft, until someone proves otherwise. Literally a freak of nature.
2. Grizzleys: Ja Morant, 6'3", 170 Lb's, PG. Considered the best PG in the draft. Needs to keep looking over his shoulder for Garland.
3. Knicks: R J Barrett, 6'7", 208 Lb's, SF. Very talented player who can shoot it, drive it, and pass it. 4 years from now, maybe he's the best player in this draft.
4. Lakers: Darius Garland, 6'3", 173 Lb's, PG. This is who the Lakers should take, but they'll probably screw it up. This kid was terrific until injured.
5. Cav's: DeAndre Hunter, 6'8", 222 Lb's, SF. Terrific defensive player who has a lot more than he's shown.
6. Sun's: Jarrett Culver, 6'7", 195 Lb's, SF/SG. Good all around player who can bring the ball up. He's sort of a Swiss army knife type player.
7. Bulls: Cam Reddish, 6'9", 205 Lb's, SF. Supremely talented player. Could be an all star if he has the desire.
8. Hawks: Sekou Doumbouya, 6'9", 210 Lb's, SF/PF. Sekou has been having a breakout year. Great athlete with tremendous potential.
9. Wizards: Coby White, 6'5", 191 Lb's, PG/SG. Insurance in case they want to trade Beal. White can play either position.
10. Hawks: Jaxon Hayes, 7'0", 220 Lb's, Center. Hawks get a young center to pair in the front court with John Collins.
11. Timberwolves: P J Washington, 6'8", 223 Lb's, SF/PF. Washington can score inside and out, he rebounds, and he's a very good defender.
12. Hornets: Bol Bol, 7'2", 222 Lb's, Center. Your not going to win anything with Zeller at center. Bol can put the ball in the basket and stretch the floor. Yeah, he's a risk!
13. Heat: Kevin Porter, 6'6", 217 Lb's, SF/SG. He's a bit of a head case, but Miami is good with those type of players. Porter is loaded with star potential.
14. Celtics: Brandon Clarke, 6'8", 210 Lb's, PF. Great defender and shot blocker. Could be special if he can develop a consistent 3 pt shot.
15. Pistons: Nassir Little, 6'6", 215 Lb's, SF/SG. Little is a player that will be a better NBA player than he was a college player. Loads of potential.
16. Magic: Tyler Herro, 6'5", 193 Lb's, SG. Gives them another shooter and ball handler, and insurance against Fournier leaving after next season.
17. Net's: Rui Hachimura, 6'9", 234 Lb's, PF/SF. DeMarre Carroll will be an unrestricted free agent, and will be 33 years old. Rui can play two positions.
18. Pacers: Goga Bitadze, 6'11", 251 Lb's, Center. Turner and Sabonis are better suited for the PF position. Bitadze fit's as a center who can pass and shoot the three.
19. Spur's: Cameron Johnson, 6'9", 210 Lb's, PF/SF. Johnson was likely born in a Spur's jersey. Terrific shooter with great BBIQ.
20. Celtics: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 6'6", 200 Lb's, PG/SG. Gives Boston something they don't need, another young player to develop. Insurance at the PG position.
21. Thunder: Keldon Johnson, 6'6", 210 Lb's, SF/SG. Gives the Thunder another player that can score from the perimeter and defend.
22. Celtics: Matisse Thybulle, 6'6", 201 Lb's, SG. Gives Boston insurance against losing Smart. Thybulle is considered the best defender in college.
23. Jazz: Mfiondu Kabengele, 6'10", 256 Lb's, PF/C. Gives the Jazz insurance against losing Favors. I love this kid and think he'll be a star.
24. 76'ers: Romeo Langford, 6'6", 202 Lb's, SG. He had an up and down season, but, with Redick probably gone, he's great insurance for the future.
25. Blazers: Talen Horton-Tucker, 6'4", 239 Lb's, SG/SF. Unique player with a huge wingspan who can play and defend multiple positions.
26. Cav's: Grant Williams, 6'7", 241 Lb's, SF/PF. Williams would have gone higher if he was a bit more athletic. He brings a lot of intangibles, and is a winner.
27. Net's: K Z Okpala, 6'9", 210 Lb's, SF. Had a solid but not spectacular season at Stanford. I think he'll be a better pro than a college player.
28. Warriors: Lugentz Dort, 6'5", 224 Lb's, SG. He came on strong toward the end of the season. Needs developing, but the Warriors are good at developing players.
29. Spurs: Luka Samanic, 6'11", 227 Lb's, PF. Perfect fit on the Spurs who love international players.
30. Bucks: Ty Jerome, 6'5", 200 Lb's, PG/SG. Tough hard nosed competitor that can play on or off the ball. Good passer and defender. Good BBIQ...
Round 2 following:
If I've omitted a player, it's because I think that player is going back to school. In some cases, if I thought it was a 50/50 scenario, I left the player in to be drafted, or not! That could change between now and the draft. So, without further ado, here's my very opinionated mock draft.
1. Pelicans: Zion Williamson, 6'6", 272 Lb's, SF/PF. Easy choice. Best player in the draft, until someone proves otherwise. Literally a freak of nature.
2. Grizzleys: Ja Morant, 6'3", 170 Lb's, PG. Considered the best PG in the draft. Needs to keep looking over his shoulder for Garland.
3. Knicks: R J Barrett, 6'7", 208 Lb's, SF. Very talented player who can shoot it, drive it, and pass it. 4 years from now, maybe he's the best player in this draft.
4. Lakers: Darius Garland, 6'3", 173 Lb's, PG. This is who the Lakers should take, but they'll probably screw it up. This kid was terrific until injured.
5. Cav's: DeAndre Hunter, 6'8", 222 Lb's, SF. Terrific defensive player who has a lot more than he's shown.
6. Sun's: Jarrett Culver, 6'7", 195 Lb's, SF/SG. Good all around player who can bring the ball up. He's sort of a Swiss army knife type player.
7. Bulls: Cam Reddish, 6'9", 205 Lb's, SF. Supremely talented player. Could be an all star if he has the desire.
8. Hawks: Sekou Doumbouya, 6'9", 210 Lb's, SF/PF. Sekou has been having a breakout year. Great athlete with tremendous potential.
9. Wizards: Coby White, 6'5", 191 Lb's, PG/SG. Insurance in case they want to trade Beal. White can play either position.
10. Hawks: Jaxon Hayes, 7'0", 220 Lb's, Center. Hawks get a young center to pair in the front court with John Collins.
11. Timberwolves: P J Washington, 6'8", 223 Lb's, SF/PF. Washington can score inside and out, he rebounds, and he's a very good defender.
12. Hornets: Bol Bol, 7'2", 222 Lb's, Center. Your not going to win anything with Zeller at center. Bol can put the ball in the basket and stretch the floor. Yeah, he's a risk!
13. Heat: Kevin Porter, 6'6", 217 Lb's, SF/SG. He's a bit of a head case, but Miami is good with those type of players. Porter is loaded with star potential.
14. Celtics: Brandon Clarke, 6'8", 210 Lb's, PF. Great defender and shot blocker. Could be special if he can develop a consistent 3 pt shot.
15. Pistons: Nassir Little, 6'6", 215 Lb's, SF/SG. Little is a player that will be a better NBA player than he was a college player. Loads of potential.
16. Magic: Tyler Herro, 6'5", 193 Lb's, SG. Gives them another shooter and ball handler, and insurance against Fournier leaving after next season.
17. Net's: Rui Hachimura, 6'9", 234 Lb's, PF/SF. DeMarre Carroll will be an unrestricted free agent, and will be 33 years old. Rui can play two positions.
18. Pacers: Goga Bitadze, 6'11", 251 Lb's, Center. Turner and Sabonis are better suited for the PF position. Bitadze fit's as a center who can pass and shoot the three.
19. Spur's: Cameron Johnson, 6'9", 210 Lb's, PF/SF. Johnson was likely born in a Spur's jersey. Terrific shooter with great BBIQ.
20. Celtics: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 6'6", 200 Lb's, PG/SG. Gives Boston something they don't need, another young player to develop. Insurance at the PG position.
21. Thunder: Keldon Johnson, 6'6", 210 Lb's, SF/SG. Gives the Thunder another player that can score from the perimeter and defend.
22. Celtics: Matisse Thybulle, 6'6", 201 Lb's, SG. Gives Boston insurance against losing Smart. Thybulle is considered the best defender in college.
23. Jazz: Mfiondu Kabengele, 6'10", 256 Lb's, PF/C. Gives the Jazz insurance against losing Favors. I love this kid and think he'll be a star.
24. 76'ers: Romeo Langford, 6'6", 202 Lb's, SG. He had an up and down season, but, with Redick probably gone, he's great insurance for the future.
25. Blazers: Talen Horton-Tucker, 6'4", 239 Lb's, SG/SF. Unique player with a huge wingspan who can play and defend multiple positions.
26. Cav's: Grant Williams, 6'7", 241 Lb's, SF/PF. Williams would have gone higher if he was a bit more athletic. He brings a lot of intangibles, and is a winner.
27. Net's: K Z Okpala, 6'9", 210 Lb's, SF. Had a solid but not spectacular season at Stanford. I think he'll be a better pro than a college player.
28. Warriors: Lugentz Dort, 6'5", 224 Lb's, SG. He came on strong toward the end of the season. Needs developing, but the Warriors are good at developing players.
29. Spurs: Luka Samanic, 6'11", 227 Lb's, PF. Perfect fit on the Spurs who love international players.
30. Bucks: Ty Jerome, 6'5", 200 Lb's, PG/SG. Tough hard nosed competitor that can play on or off the ball. Good passer and defender. Good BBIQ...
Round 2 following:
