*The Mock Draft order used is based on the standings at the time of writing it.
1. New York Knicks - Zion Williamson, F, Duke - Whoever lands the top pick in this year’s draft will be calling Zion’s name. Although now I believe that Ja Morant is closer than ever before. Zion has lived up to the hype behind him entering his college career. Williamson will not be an all-time great in the league, but he’s going to be very good for a long time. He’s ready to make the Knicks his team, strive in the New York media market and put the Knicks back on the map.
Previous Pick: Zion Williamson, F, Duke
2. Phoenix Suns - Ja Morant, PG, Murray State - Ja Morant has solidified himself as the second best player in this draft. He’s electrifying. He does it all. Not only is he averaging 24.5 points per game, he’s also dishing 10 assists. He has the vision and the basketball IQ to be an all-star level point guard for many years to come. The Suns have lacked a floor general since the trade that sent team and league legend Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers. A trio around Morant, Booker and Ayton can be great for years to come.
Previous Pick: Ja Morant, PG, Murray State
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - R.J. Barrett, SG, Duke - Barrett is a 6-foot-7 guard who has a pure shooter’s stroke. He’s arguably the purest NBA scorer in this draft and the Cavaliers would be happy to land his services with the third pick. With Williamson grabbing all of the Duke and NCAA headlines, some may have realised how good Barrett actually is. His consistency is something that people like to point towards in terms of weakness, but his pure talent and shooting ability can’t be denied.
Previous Pick: R.J. Barrett, SG, Duke
4. Chicago Bulls - Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt - Garland is today’s NBA point guard. He has unlimited range and can score the basketball from anywhere on the court. Although he’s been out for the majority of the college season with a knee injury, I still think he’s a top five player, especially for a team in desperate need of a franchise point guard. The Bulls could go Coby White here, but his vision and play making ability is far behind that of Garland. Garland is much like a Trae Young, just not as talented. Imagine a lineup with Garland, Zach Lavine, Otto Porter, Wendell Carter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. The Bulls are looking up.
Previous Pick: Cam Reddish, SF, Duke
5. Atlanta Hawks - De'Andre Hunter, F, Virginia - Hunter has blossomed into a star during his second year at Virginia. He’s averaging just shy of fifteen points per game while leading the Virginia Cavaliers to the National Championship. He also is shooting an impressive 40-percent from three as well on the season. The Hawks have a need on the wing where Hunter would slot perfectly into. He also plays great defense.
Previous pick: Jarrett Culver, SG, Texas Tech
6. Atlanta Hawks via Dallas Mavericks - Jarrett Culver, SG, Texas Tech - After adding De'Andre Hunter just a pick prior, the glaring Hawks’ weakness is its front court. However, with very few options this early in the draft, they’ll look to add the best player available. Culver is simply a scorer. He averages just shy of 19 points-per-game and lead Texas Tech to the program’s first ever Final Four appearance. Although his three-point-percentage has dipped below 33-percent he still has one of the highest efficiency ratings in college basketball.
Previous Pick: Rui Hachimura, PF, Gonzaga
7. Memphis Grizzlies - Cam Reddish, SF, Duke - Reddish is a spot up shooter who too is an elite defender. Reddish’s play is streaky and he ended the season shooting just over 33% from three after once being projected as a top three selection. The Grizzlies have many holes to start filling, and adding the talent of Reddish at seven is a great way to start it’s rebuild.
Previous Pick: Nassir Little, F, North Carolina
8. Washington Wizards - Coby White, SG, North Carolina - Coby White is a player currently flying up draft boards. He’s a slasher. He’s extremely quick and gets to the rim with ease. He also has the ability to spot up shoot from beyond the arc. The Wizards’ roster is a mess. They have just a handful of healthy players on its roster and glaring weaknesses in its front court. However, with so many holes, going best player available is wise for the Wizards as they look to reboot its franchise.
Previous Pick: Romeo Langford, G, Indiana
9. New Orleans Pelicans - Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas - Assuming Anthony Davis won’t be on the Pelicans roster next year, the Pelicans need to address its front court. They have the chance to select the top rim protector and top center in the draft at nine in Hayes. Hayes has done well this season filling in for Mo Bamba, who was taken sixth overall a season ago. Hayes averages 10 points per game for the Longhorns but adds in over two blocks per game. He’s far from an Anthony Davis but he’s a great piece for the future Pelicans.
Previous Pick: De’Andre Hunter, F, Virginia
10. Minnesota Timberwolves - Romeo Langford, G, Indiana - The Timberwolves find themselves back in the lottery after a one season stent in the Playoffs. Langford is a scorer. However, he did not show the killer instinct that many expected him to show during his time at Indiana. He can still get buckets. He gets it done both driving to the rim and has a quality jumper. He’s a far from polished prospect but has the potential to be a quality guard who can score the next level.
Previous Pick: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Virginia Tech
11. Los Angeles Lakers - Bruno Fernando, PF, Maryland - There’s no getting around the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers need some front court help. With Jaxson Hayes off the board, the Lakers could look to bring in Fernando. Fernando is part of the Maryland team that was one of top rebounding teams in the country. He averaged nearly 11 boards per game this season and added in two blocks while, averaging over 13 points. He’d be a welcome addition to the Lakers.
Previous Pick: Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas
12. Charlotte Hornets - Rui Hachimura, F, Gonzaga - This pick depends on if the Hornets are able to re-sign Kemba Walker in the off-season. Assuming Kemba comes back on a mega-max, they’ll look to go best player available. Hachimura is a top 10 talent and the Hornets would be loving life if they can grab him at twelve. He has the tools to be today’s power forward. He’s extremely athletic, plays above the rim and can spread the floor. He player stellar defense for the Bulldogs and is very light on his feet. He’ll make a good NBA player.
Previous Pick: KZ Okpala, F, Stanford
13. Miami Heat - Sekou Doumbouya, F, Guinea - Doumbouya is one of the more raw talents in the draft as he’ll be just 18 come draft time. He’s also one of the purest athletes in this draft. Although his play has come in flashes, he’s shown that he has the skill set to be an NBA player. He is very good in the half-court offense and has the three ball in his locker.
Previous Pick: Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
14. Boston Celtics via Sacramento Kings - Bol Bol, C, Oregon - This pick just makes too much sense to me. With three first round selections, the Celtics are a team that can select Bol Bol and wait on him. The 7-foot-3 bigman is fresh off of foot surgery and injuries are an obvious concern moving forward. In taking the risk, much like the 76ers selecting Joel Embiid, the Celtics could sit on and eventually have an extremely talented big man for many years to come.
Previous Pick: Bol Bol, C, Oregon
15. Orlando Magic - Keldon Johnson, G, Kentucky - The Magic need to add some scoring. Johnson possesses a pure pull-up jumpshot but has the slashing ability to get to the rim as well. He averaged nearly 14-points-per-game this year and shot 38-percent from three. He also has the length to be a quality defensive NBA guard.
Previous Pick: Sekou Doumbouya, F, Guinea
16. Brooklyn Nets - Nassir Little, F, North Carolina - Little has fallen quite hard. Coming into the season he was one of the most talked about prospects. He was the MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game. The talent and physical tools are there but after an underwhelming freshman year at North Carolina he’s slid out of the lotto. The Nets have done extremely well drafting in the past few years. They’ve constantly been able to take raw talent and develop them into quality NBA players. They could do the same with Little and if they can get the talent out of him, we could be talking about this being a great pick for years to come.
Previous Pick: P.J. Washington, F, Kentucky
17. Detroit Pistons - Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Virginia Tech - I’m high on Alexander-Walker. He’s 6-foot-6 with the measurables to guard the 1-3 positions at the NBA level. He also possess spot-up shooting ability and fits ideally in the Pistons system surrounded by players such as Reggie Jackson, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond.
Previous Pick: Keldon Johnson, SF, Kentucky
18. San Antonio Spurs - Goga Bitadze, C, Rep. of Georgia - The Spurs need to start a rebuild of its frontcourt. Pau Gasol was waived in season and LaMarcus Aldridge will be on the final year of his deal. The Spurs have a proven track record with foreign players and could look to bring in Bitadze, who is 19-years-old. He’s a high intensity player who swarms to the basket and seems to be one to buy into a system. He seems to be a perfect fit for the Spurs.
Previous Pick: Jontay Porter, C, Missouri
19. Oklahoma City Thunder - KZ Okpala, F, Stanford - Okpala averaged nearly 17 points during his sophomore campaign at Stanford. He has good length and athleticism to get buckets at the next level although his skill set of ball-handling and play making is limited. He’ll fit in well with the pure athletes of the Thunder.
Previous Pick: Luka Samanic, PF, Croatia
20. Indiana Pacers - P.J. Washington, PF, Kentucky - It’s hard to gauge the needs of the Pacers with a handful of players entering free agency. Washington is a big man who can stretch the floor. In shooting just over two three-point attempts per game, he made about 42-percent of them. He’s long, athletic and can get to the rim. He averaged just over 15-points-per game during his Sophomore year at Kentucky.
Previous Pick: Grant Williams, SF, Tennessee
21. Boston Celtics via Los Angeles Clippers - Tyler Herro, G, Kentucky - After taking Bol Bol with their first of three first round selections, the Celtics would look to add another guard. Herro is the ideal bench piece that the Celtics are lacking. He can come in, shoot the three at a high efficiency. He also averaged over 90-percent from the freethrow line this season as well. He’s a pure scorer with decent height and length as well.
Previous Pick: Kevin Porter, G, USC
22. Boston Celtics - Grant Williams, F, Tennessee - It’s hard to predict what the Celtics will do with three first round selections but after already going front court and guard, they could look to add a player such as Williams. Williams poured in nearly 19-points-per-game during his Junior year at Tennessee. He has the height and length to bounce between the three-and-four at the next level.
Previous Pick: Coby White, G, North Carolina
23. Utah Jazz - Tre Jones, PG, Duke - Ricky Rubio is set to become a free agent this off-season. The Jazz don’t have a player currently on its roster to take over the point guard position. With that being said, they could look to bring in Jones, who is one of the best distributors in the entire country. As well as stellar passing ability and a high basketball IQ, he plays great defense.
Previous Pick: Brandon Clarke, F, Gonzaga
24. Philadelphia 76ers - Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky - Bassey is a very interesting player. He blocked nearly 2.5 shots per game during his Freshman year at Western Kentucky. Bassey also averaged nearly 15-points-per-game and grabbed 10 boards. He’s a talented two-way player that the 76ers could use when Embiid isn’t on the floor.
Previous Pick: Philadelphia 76ers - Tre Jones, PG, Duke
25. Portland Trailblazers - Cameron Johnson, F, North Carolina - Johnson is a fifth year senior and is both older and more experienced than the rest of the players available in this place in the draft. For a team such as the Trailblazers continuing to be a top the West, a player such as Johnson can come in, already developed, it could be a great addition. Johnson averaged 17 points-per-game during this past season.
Previous Pick: Talen Horton-Tucker, SF, Iowa State
26. Cleveland Cavaliers via Houston Rockets - Daniel Gafford, C/PF, Arkansas - Kevin Love is aging and Tristan Thompson is Tristan Thompson. The Cavaliers selected R.J. Barrett with the third overall pick in this draft so they’ll look to bolster their front court with their second first round selection in the draft. Gafford has averaged over two-blocks-per game during his two years at Arkansas. At 6-foot-11 he has both the height and athleticism to play both front court positions.
Previous Pick: Daniel Gafford, C, Arkansas
27. Brooklyn Nets via Denver Nuggets - Kevin Porter, SG/SF, USC - Porter has top 10 talent but for some reason could not get along with the coaching staff at USC. If there is a team in the league who can take him in, settle him down and develop him to his true potential, that would be the Brooklyn Nets.
Previous Pick: Admiral Schofield, F, Tennessee
28. Golden State Warriors - Carsen Edwards, G, Purdue - Edwards has boosted his stock into the first round after a record breaking NCAA Tournament. Imagine taking this buy to play with and learn from Steph Curry. He’s simply a scorer who has unlimited range. I personally want to see Edwards go to Golden State to learn from Steph.
Previous Pick: Eric Paschall, F, Villanova
29. San Antonio Spurs via Toronto Raptors - Ty Jerome, G, Virgina - Jerome seems to be a player to fit the Spurs mold. He’s a high intensity guard who can shoot the three ball well. The Spurs don’t really need guard depth but I feel like the fit of Jerome is too much for them to pass up.
Previous Pick: Ayo Dosunmu, PG, Illinois
30. Milwaukee Bucks - Admiral Schofield, G/F, Tennessee - Schofield shot nearly 42-percent from three during his senior year at Tennessee while taking four attempts per game. He’s an aggressive player who can shoot the three from the wing and play great defense.
Previous Pick: Goga Bitadze, C, Georgia