It’s that tine again! Draft season is here and it continues to be one of the best times of the year for NBA fans because you have guys that will get to have their life long dream of making it to the NBA become a realization.
Last year we saw the 2021 draft class get instant impact from lots of guys all over the draft and this year’s class will hope to do the same. To most, this class doesn’t have as much star power but there are still some potential stars and plenty of value all over the draft board.
Getting to the right place is key for a lot of these prospects though. Going to a franchise that has a lot of stability can go a long way for your career. Look at a guy like Josh Giddey. A lot thought the Thunder reached for him but he we to a franchise that has had a lot of stability and gave him a lot of opportunity to figure out his game and he had a lot of success.
Take a couple of guys that didn’t really get as much opportunity as other guys at the top of the draft are Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Yes, they would have loved to get a lot more playing time than they did but they got to be mentored by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala while being coached by Steve Kerr. Oh, and becoming 2 of the youngest guys to ever win a championship. Those things are valuable because they’re learning how to be champs and pros from guys who have been in their shoes before and know what it takes.
Now, there will also be guys that don’t exactly go to the right fit for them and that’s ok because that doesn’t mean they won’t have success. It’s alway important to remember that these are 18-22 year old kids and development isn’t linear. There have been lots of guys that have started their career off slow but came on and had great careers.
This draft class, in my opinion, is filled with lots of guys that can bring value to lots of teams. There are some NBA ready guys but more raw prospects that will likely need a little time to grow into the player they will want to become. And that’s ok.
There are also going to potentially a lot of trades on draft night which will shake things up a lot and that just adds to the excitement.
With that being said, let’s get into the mock draft.
My mock draft isn’t one that goes with all of the other consensus mocks. It’s more of me saying where I think everyone should go and how I rank them. It will likely be the wrong order but it won’t be too far off. Some guys will be fit guys and some guys will be taken because they’re the best player available and teams just can’t pass on them.
Here it is.
1. Orlando Magic – Jabari Smith Jr. (Auburn)
Position: F/C
Height and Weight: 6’10” 210 lbs
Strengths: Defense, guard multiple positions, athleticism, can stretch the floor, good rim protector, off ball scoring, can score in different ways, lob threat.
Weaknesses: Streaky shooter, scoring off the dribble, sometimes dribbling led to turnovers.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder – Paolo Banchero (Duke)
Position: F/C
Height and weight: 6’10” 250 lbs
Strengths: Skillset, scoring ability from all over the floor, size, can stretch the floor, good off of the ball, passing and play making, can handle the ball.
Weaknesses: Defensive activity, sometimes lacked aggression, 3 point shooting could be better.
3. Houston Rockets – Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga)
Position: F/C
Height and weight: 7’0″ 195 lbs
Strengths: Defense, shot blocking, shooting, motor, can handle the ball, decent scorer, rebounding, decent play maker, lob threat, ability to recover on defense.
Weaknesses: Strength, slow feet, free throw shooting, can sometimes succumb to pressure, could be a little more aggressive.
4. Sacramento Kings – Jaden Ivey (Purdue)
Position: G
Height and weight: 6’4″ 195 lbs
Strengths: Scoring, shooting, great off the ball, play making, defense, athleticism, slashing.
Weaknesses: Free throw shooting needs improvement, shot selection sometimes, loses focus on defense at time.
5. Detroit Pistons – Benn Mathurin (Arizona)
Position: G/F
Height and weight: 6’7″ 210 lbs
Strengths: Scoring, confidence, shooting, good off the ball, decent defender, athleticism, can score in big spurts.
Weaknesses: Streaky, shot selection, play making can be better, can sometimes force things.
6. Indian Pacers – Shaedon Sharpe (HS/Kentucky)
Position: G/F
Height and weight: 6’6″ 200 lbs
Strengths: Scoring, playmaking, athleticism, off ball scoring, decent defender.
Weaknesses: The unknown after not playing in college, shooting, free throw shooting, discipline on both ends of the floor
7. Portland Trail Blazers – Keegan Murray (Iowa)
Position: F
Height and weight: 6’8″ 220 lbs
Strengths: Scoring off the dribble, decent shooter, rebounding, decent defender, decent playmaker, motor, being decent at just about everything.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent on both ends, didn’t take many 3s, sometimes careless, shot selection at times.
8. New Orleans Pelicans – Dyson Daniels (G League Ignite)
Position: G/F
Height and weight: 6’6″ 195 lbs
Strengths: Passing, play making, decent post game, good off the ball, decent defender, rebounding.
Weaknesses: Shooting, aggression, inconsistent on both ends at times, strength.
9. San Antonio Spurs – Jalen Duren (Memphis)
Position: C
Height and weight: 6’10” 240 lbs
Strengths: Defense, shot blocking, lob threat, athleticism, decent play maker, low post scoring, strength.
Weaknesses: Free throw shooting, limited post moves, aggression on offense, finishing could be better.
10. Washington Wizards – AJ Griffin (Duke)
Position: G/F
Height and weight: 6’6″ 222 lbs
Strengths: Shooting, decent off the dribble, rebounding, defense, good off the ball, rebounding.
Weaknesses: Ball handling, scoring in traffic, a little slow (could gain his speed back bc it was due to injury), needs to regain athleticism.
11. New York Knicks – Johnny Davis (Wisconsin)
Position: G
Height and weight: 6’5″ 195 lbs
Strengths: Scoring, mid range shooting, play making, rebounding, decent defender, good off the ball.
Weaknesses: 3 point shooting, a little slow footed on defense, athleticism could be better.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Jeremy Sochan (Baylor)
Position: F
Height and weight: 6’9″ 230 lbs
Strengths: Defense, play making, athleticism, motor, rebounding, inside scoring.
Weaknesses: 3 point shooting, free throw shooting, inconsistent on both ends at times, ball handling could be better.
13. Charlotte Hornets – Mark Williams (Duke)
Position: C
Height and weight: 7’0″ 242 lbs
Strengths: Defense, shot blocking, great rim protector, lob threat, inside scoring, rebounding, athleticism, motor, runs the floor well, great screen setter.
Weaknesses: Can’t stretch the floor, free throw shooting, offensive skillset, perimeter defending.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers – Malaki Branham (Ohio State)
Position: G
Height and weight: 6’5″ 180 lbs
Strengths: shooting, decent off the dribble, play making, rebounding, athleticism.
Weaknesses: 3 point shooting, aggression, defense could be better, ball handling.