| Round 1 | |||||
| 1 |  | Boston | Markelle Fultz | PG | Washington |
| It seems like Fultz is on the move to Philadelphia where he will join the super talented core of Embiid, Simmons, and Saric. This trade will benefit both the Celtics and 76ers. The 76ers had acquired many draft picks so it made sense for them to consolidate and grab an elite talent like Fultz. While Boston could have obviously used a talent like Fultz, they already have a capable group of guards. By moving down, the Celtics have added an additonal asset which could be a future top 5 pick to go along with the 3rd pick this year and the Nets pick next year, which most likely will be a high selection. | |||||
| 2 |  | Los Angeles Lakers | Lonzo Ball | PG | UCLA |
| Ball is a great fit for any team due to his unselfish play and extraordinary basketball IQ. Ball can definitely play alongside D'Angelo Russell in a dual PG offense and their skill sets actually complement each other quite well. Russell is better with the ball in his hands while Ball is a great spot up shooter. This backcourt pairing has defensive concerns, but it is worth the risk to add a smart and talented player like Lonzo Ball who will speed up the rebuilding process. Josh Jackson and De'Aaron Fox could also be in play for this pick, but with the rumors that Paul George wants to join the Lakers it does not make sense for LA to draft these non-shooters next to George. George needs the ball in his hands and Lonzo's spot up shooting makes him a perfect fit next to George. | |||||
| 3 |  | Philadelphia | Jayson Tatum | SF | Duke |
| Boston should have the 3rd pick after trading with the 76ers. Tatum makes the most sense for the Celtics because he will give them an additonal wing scorer. Their offense often looked disjointed when Isaiah Thomas was out of the game and Tatum will add another player who can create his own shot. Tatum is considered to have the highest floor of any player in the draft other than Fultz. His size and versatility should allow him to play the small ball four. Josh Jackson is another option, but his potential lack of shooting and similarities to Jaylen Brown could turn off the Celtics if they consider Brown to be a long term building block. Jonathan Isaac is also a potential fit, but has had very little connection to Celtics and is seen as an inferior prospect to Jackson and Tatum by many. If the Celtics do not draft Tatum, it would be hard to see him slip past the 6th pick. | |||||
| 4 |  | Phoenix | De'Aaron Fox | PG | Kentucky |
| Phoenix should be thrilled to get either Fox or Josh Jackson at 4. The Suns should go with Fox and try to move Eric Bledsoe as pairing Devin Booker and De'Aaron Fox would create the most promising young backcourt in the league. Fox is a great athlete who makes up for his poor shooting with an ability to get to the rim. Playing next to Booker would make him even more effective and would give him more space on offense. Jackson would also be a great fit since the Suns also need an athletic wing defender, but acquiring the PG of the future should take precedent. | |||||
| 5 |  | Sacramento | Josh Jackson | SF | Kansas |
| Sacramento would love to get De'Aaron Fox with the 5th pick, but if he is off the board Josh Jackson is an unbelievable consolation prize. Jackson is a elite competitor who will bring toughness and defense to the Kings. The Kings need a wing with Rudy Gay entering free agency and Jackson's skill set would compliment Buddy Hield's quite well. This is Jackson's floor as there is no way the Kings would pass on a prospect of his caliber at a position of need. If Jackson and Fox are both off the board, the Kings will look at Jayson Tatum, but could also conceivablely reach for Smith or Ntilikina. | |||||
| 6 |  | Orlando | Dennis Smith | PG | North Carolina State |
| Orlando should draft Dennis Smith if they are convinced that Elfrid Payton is not their future starting PG. Smith has elite athleticism and quickness for the position and has all-star upside, which is something Orlando desperately needs. While Smith is not a great shooter right now, he projects to be a better shooter than Payton. Smith should not fall past the 9th pick if Orlando choose to go in a different direction. Most mock drafts have Jon Isaac at 6, but he is a questionable fit since Aaron Gordon is their PF of the future and both players would be best utilized at that position. Isaac is certainly talented enough to be drafted here especially if a team like Denver tries to move up. Malik Monk has an outside chance of going 6th as well. | |||||
| 7 |  | Minnesota | Jonathan Isaac | SF | Florida State |
If the Wolves are able to pick Isaac with the 7th pick, then they have built a extremely promising frontcourt with Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng alongside Isaac. Isaac is a 6-11 forward who will be best utilized as a versatile PF who can stretch the defense. Isaac is a low usage player who does not need isolation possesions to be effective, which is important when playing with ball dominant guys like Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach Lavine. Isaac's potential to be an elite role player should be really appealing to a rebuilding team with plenty of scorers. Minnesota could look to move down in the draft and add some veterans in exchange for this high pick. Lauri Markkennen is another option and while he is an elite shooter, he does not have the defensive ability or potential of Isaac. Dennis Smith and Malik Monk could also get looks with the 7th pick. | |||||
| 8 |  | New York | Malik Monk | SG | Kentucky |
| With Dennis Smith off the board, the Knicks should grab the talented shooter Malik Monk. Monk's shooting ability would pair nicely with Porzingis and Anthony's scoring abilities. Monk has the potential to be a 18-20 ppg scorer which would make him tough to pass on if you are the Knicks. Monk could go as high as 6, but is more likely to go 8th or 9th with the Pistons at 12 being his floor. The Knicks will also consider Frank Ntilikina for this pick. | |||||
| 9 |  | Dallas | Frank Ntilikina | PG | International |
| Dallas is in a position to grab the best player available and will hope that someone unexpectedly falls to the 9th pick. Ntilikina is a long and high upside guard who is an excellent defender and has improved his jump shot. If Ntilikina can continue to improve his jump shot, he could be a good starting PG, which Dallas desperately needs. Dallas could use another frontcourt player with Dirk Nowitzki's retirement coming soon, so Lauri Markanen could also be an option, but PG is the bigger need. The Mavs have also hired Ntilikina's coach to coach their summer league team, which suggests they are all in on the French PG. Zach Collins could be in play at 9 too, especially if Nerlens Noel goes elsewhere in free agency. Collins has a high upside, but is a risky pick with the options still on the board. There is a possibility for one of Dennis Smith or Malik Monk to fall here and Dallas would scoop them up in a heartbeat too. | |||||
| 10 | | Sacramento | Lauri Markkanen | PF | Arizona |
| Lauri Markkanen is the best player on the board and would add some much needed shooting to Sacramento's frontcourt. He is a very versatile shooter who can even shoot coming off screens despite being a 7 footer. Markkanen's weakness is his defensive ability, but he is a great value at the tenth pick. Adding Jackson with the 5th pick and Markkenen with the 10th would be a home run draft for the Kings. Zach Collins could be an option if the Kings think he can play the PF spot. They have used two recent lottery picks on centers, Willie Cauley-Stein and Georgios Papagiannis. Any of the top ten players who fall to the tenth should be selected by Sacramento. | |||||
| 11 |  | Charlotte | Donovan Mitchell | SG | Louisville |
| The draft opens up at this point as teams can choose to go in many different directions and the players have more noticable flaws when compared to the top ten prospects. Charlotte can add another strong defender to their core with Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is a 6-3 SG with a 6-10 wingspan and is known as a physical and athletic defender with an improving jumper. Any player that falls out of the top ten would also be in play for Charlotte. Ntilikina or Monk could fall, but that seems unlikely. | |||||
| 12 |  | Detroit | Luke Kennard | SG | Duke |
| Detroit is stuck in the dreaded late lottery position where they are too good to get high lottery talent, but not good enough to make the playoffs. Detroit could use an upgrade at PG, but there are not many PG options at the 12th pick. Luke Kennard would be a good pick for Detroit. He would add a scoring punch off the bench and add insurance if they cannot retain Kentavious Caldwell Pope. Kennard also has some PG skills and could play the position in a pinch. | |||||
| 13 |  | Denver | Zack Collins | C | Gonzaga |
| Denver is committed to building around their star center Nikola Jokic, but could grab Collins here as he is the best player available. Collins is a 7-0 center who has the coveted ability to shoot threes and block shots. Drafting Collins would allow Denver to let Mason Plumlee leave as a free agent, which will save them significant cap space to pursue a veteran wing or resign Gallinari. Denver could also look to move up in the draft by packaging this pick and a veteran player. | |||||
| 14 |  | Miami | TJ Leaf | PF | UCLA |
| Miami should go with TJ Leaf to compliment Hassan Whiteside in the frontcourt. The PF position is wide open for Miami after Chris Bosh was not medically cleared to play. Leaf has potential to be a good floor spacer and will bring athleticism to the frontcourt immediately. Leaf is a good rebounder who can push the ball up the court himself, which will allow Miami to play fast and best utilize their athletic perimeter players. Defense is a concern with Leaf, but he is worth the risk with the 14th pick. | |||||
| 15 |  | Portland | Harry Giles | PF | Duke |
| Portland owns three first round picks and will likely move at least one of them. Giles would be a good pick at 15 to add frontcourt depth and a high upside player. Giles is the ultimate risk reward, if he regains his explosiveness and athleticism from high school then this is a home run for Portland. If he looks like he did at Duke, then Portland will have wasted a valuable mid 1st round pick. The Blazers have enough talent on their roster that they can afford to gamble because players in this range probably cannot play meaningful minutes right away. The Blazers would be wise to develop him behind Jusuf Nurkic who flourished after being traded from Denver. | |||||
| 16 |  | Chicago | John Collins | PF | Wake Forest |
| Collins would be a great fit in Chicago and essentially would be a replacement for Taj Gibson. Collins is very skilled offensively and showed flashes of being able to space the floor at the combine. Collins struggles defensively, but is a great rebounder and was extremely young for a sophomore. | |||||
| 17 |  | Milwaukee | Edrice Adebayo | PF | Kentucky |
| The Bucks were notorious for drafting young, high upside players with long wingspans in recent years. It will be interesting to see if that trend continues with a new GM. Assuming it continues, Adebayo would be a perfect fit in Milwaukee. Adebayo's stock seemed to slip during the season, but has made a resurgence recently, mostly due to his potential to switch in pick and roll. He is super athletic and has unbelievable physical tools. Adebayo also compliments Thon Maker skill wise, which is another benefit to this pick. | |||||
| 18 |  | Indiana | Justin Jackson | SF | North Carolina |
| The Pacers need to take the best non-center available since their only long term piece is Myles Turner. Paul George has said that he wants out of Indiana so the Pacers need to think about rebuilding their team. Jackson is more of a safe pick, but he is a 3 and D candidate who would fit well with ball dominant guards like Jeff Teague, Lance Stephenson and Monta Ellis. It would not be a surprise to see the Pacers go with a more boom or bust player in this spot either. | |||||
| 19 |  | Atlanta | Justin Patton | C | Creighton |
| Patton is a high upside center who has shown flashes of long range shooting. Patton's greatest skill is his ability to catch and finish lobs out of the pick and roll, which would make him a good fit with Dennis Schroeder. Patton lacks strength at this point and often gets outmuscled by opposing bigs inside. If he can add strength, he could be a really interesting piece for Atlanta's future. | |||||
| 20 | | Portland | DJ Wilson | PF | Michigan |
| This may seem a little high for Wilson, but Wilson's skills would perfectly compliment Jusuf Nurkic's skills. Nurkic would provide the toughness, rebounding, and interior scoring while Wilson adds perimeter shooting, shot blocking, and the ability to switch in pick and roll. Wilson's 6-10 and 7-3 wingspan measurements indicate that he could even play center in smaller lineups. This pick could also be traded since Portland has three first rounders. | |||||
| 21 |  | Oklahoma City | Ike Anigbogu | C | UCLA |
| OKC does not need another center, but Anigbogu has such a high upside that it makes sense to gamble on him and allow him to develop in the G-League. OG Anunoby could be an option here if OKC decides to let Roberson and/or Jerami Grant walk in free agency. There is also a good chance that the Thunder move this pick or a veteran for future pick/s. | |||||
| 22 |  | Brooklyn | Jarrett Allen | C | Texas |
| Brooklyn desperately needs assets after the devasting Paul Pierce-Kevin Garnett trade. They have rolled the dice on perimeter players the past few years with Isaiah Whitehead, Caris LeVert, and Rondae Hollis Jefferson so now it is time to roll the dice on a post player. Jarrett Allen has great measurements at 6-11 and 7-5 wingspan and is very mobile, but he is often inconsistent especially with his motor. There is a good chance that Allen falls because there are so many centers to choose from so it makes less sense to risk picking the one that might not love playing basketball. However, there is no reason for the Nets to not take this chance to swing for the fences. | |||||
| 23 |  | Toronto | OG Anunoby | SF | Indiana |
| This would be considered a fall for Anunoby who was seen as a lottery pick for over a year. Concerns over his offensive potential and knee injury have led to him not even being invited to the green room. This indicates that most GM's have their doubts on OG, but that could be the Raptors gain. Toronto should swoop in and grab the best player available, which in this case is Anunoby. | |||||
| 24 |  | Utah | Terrance Ferguson | SG | International |
| Utah has many talented players, but they will not be able to afford to sign them all in the future. Ferguson would be a good pick for Utah since he can get playing time in the G League while the Jazz wait for him to develop. Ferguson is a good shooter with good size, but struggled overseas. Utah should take a chance on the high upside Ferguson at 24. | |||||
| 25 | | Orlando | Jordan Bell | PF | Oregon |
| Orlando needs to continue to accumulate talent as they desperately try to get back to the playoffs. Bell is someone who could theortically play rotation minutes immediately as a defensive presence. Bell is more mobile/fluid than Biyombo and would be a more natural fit next to Vucevic. | |||||
| 26 | | Portland | Semi Ojeleye | SF | SMU |
| Portland owns three first round picks and will likely move at least one of them. If they keep 26, Ojeleye would be a good choice due to his versatile game and positional versatility. Ojeleye can play both the 3 and the 4 and would give them the flexibility to move Harkless or Aminu for the right price. | |||||
| 27 | | Brooklyn | Jawun Evans | PG | Oklahoma State |
| Evans would be a great value pick at 27 and would give the Nets a different type of guard than they currently have. Evans is a diminutive guard who can score and facilitate, making him a good future backup PG. | |||||
| 28 | | Los Angeles Lakers | Derrick White | PG | Colorado |
| If the Lakers want to move Jordan Clarkson then they could draft a similar style player in Derrick White. White is not a great athlete, but he is a smart player who can handle the ball and shoot from distance. White has potential to play both guard spots as a reserve which would be useful if Clarkson departs. | |||||
| 29 |  | San Antonio | Jonah Bolden | PF | International |
| The Spurs love stashing international players and they need to get more athletic in their frontcourt. Bolden checks both of these boxes. Bolden is a super versatile defender and a very good athlete. He fits the new NBA PF mold perfectly since he can also shoot from distance. | |||||
| 30 | | Utah | Isaiah Hartenstein | PF | International |
| Utah could look to stash here since they will need cap space to sign both Hayward (hopefully) and George Hill. Hartenstein is a mobile big man who could develop into a stretch player in time. | |||||
| Round 2 | |||||
| 31 | | Atlanta | Kyle Kuzma | PF | Utah |
| Kuzma has worked out twice for Atlanta and is a high upside PF. Kuzma can shoot from three and can put the ball on the floor, but lacks consistency. | |||||
| 32 | | Phoenix | Anzejs Pasecniks | C | International |
| Pasecniks is a skilled 7 footer who projects as a stretch five. Pasecniks is mobile, but not a great rebounder or shot blocker for his size. The Suns could stash him and he is great value at 32 since he could easily break into the 1st round. | |||||
| 33 | | Orlando | Frank Jackson | PG | Duke |
| Jackson is rumored to have a first round promise, but it seems more likely that he would be a second rounder. Orlando could use another guard to develop even if they pick Smith at 6 so Jackson would be a logical choice at 33. | |||||
| 34 | | Sacramento | Monte Morris | PG | Iowa State |
| While Monte Morris will not solve the Kings PG woes, he can be a good backup PG who is steady and can shoot from distance. A no-brainer pick at 34. | |||||
| 35 | | Orlando | Tyler Lydon | PF | Syracuse |
| Orlando could use some frontcourt shooting and Lydon could definitely provide that since he projects to be a stretch four. Lydon is a better shot blocker than he is given credit for and could get late first round looks. | |||||
| 36 | | Philadelphia | Ivan Rabb | PF | California |
| The 76ers should still take the best player available. They would be very fortunate to have Rabb fall to 36, but it is a real possibility given the depth at center and PF. Rabb could have been a lottery pick last year, but fell after not adding any new skills to his repertoire. Rabb does not really stretch the floor nor does he have the size to play center which puts him in a weird position. However, he is still good enough to help an NBA team and would be a steal at 36. | |||||
| 37 | | Boston | Caleb Swanigan | PF | Purdue |
| Swanigan would be another huge steal if he went 37th. The Celtics could really use his combination of rebounding and three point shooting. Swanigan feels like a first rounder, but there is no logical fit in the late first round. Swanigan is too good and too talented to fail and should be a rotation piece in the future. | |||||
| 38 | | Chicago | Josh Hart | SG | Villanova |
| Hart is a tough and physical wing who won many games at Villanova. If Hart improves his perimeter shooting then he will be a great 3 and D candidate and should fit with Chicago. | |||||
| 39 | | Philadelphia | Jaron Blossomgame | SF | Clemson |
| Blossomgame is an athletic wing who has three and D potential if he can regain his shooting stroke from last year. He should have a chance to make the roster. | |||||
| 40 |  | New Orleans | Frank Mason | PG | Kansas |
| Mason is a tough, undersized scoring guard who like Swanigan, is just too good to fail. Mason should make a roster and at worst is a third PG. | |||||
| 41 | | Charlotte | Tony Bradley | C | North Carolina |
| Bradley would be a great value pick at 41 since he would be a first rounder in a draft that didn't have so many post players. Bradley plays with great energy and teams could do worse at the backup center position. His length and motor are his main attributes and make him a relatively high upside player. | |||||
| 42 | | Utah | Mathias Lessort | PF | International |
| Lessort supposedly impressed during his workout with the Jazz and his defensive skills make him quite appealing. He could be a good option as a backup center for smaller lineups when Gobert is on the bench. | |||||
| 43 |  | Houston | Johnathan Motely | PF | Baylor |
| Motley is 6-9 with an incredible 7-4 wingspan, but is also stuck between positions. Despite having a decent jumper, Motley is not a three point shooter and he lacks the physicality to play center. He is still a talented player and would be solid value at 43. | |||||
| 44 | | New York | Wesley Iwundu | SF | Kansas State |
| Iwundu is a 6-7 wing with a 7-1 wingspan, but his PG skills are his best attributes. Iwundu can play pick and roll, but is more of a secondary ball handler. If he can develop into a full time PG then the sky is the limit for Iwundu, but he should be a solid 3 and D wing at the very least. | |||||
| 45 | | Houston | Sindarius Thornwell | SG | South Carolina |
| Thornwell had the best shooting season of his career as a senior and is an excellent defender. There is concern if the physical advantages he had in college will translate to the NBA given his average athleticism. Still a solid pick at 45. | |||||
| 46 | | Philadelphia | PJ Dozier | PG | South Carolina |
| Dozier is a 6-6 PG who could be an excellent multi-positional defender in the future. Dozier is not a good shooter and is not a pure PG, but at the very least he will be valuable on the defensive end. | |||||
| 47 | | Indiana | Edmond Sumner | SG | Xavier |
| Indiana should roll the dice for a high upside prospect at 47 especially since a rebuild could be in their future. Sumner is currently injured and has a history of injuries, but his athleticism and size at the PG position make him an attractive pick. | |||||
| 48 | | Milwaukee | Tyler Dorsey | SG | Oregon |
| Milwaukee could use a wing shooter and Dorsey could easily push Rashad Vaughn for reserve minutes. | |||||
| 49 | | Denver | Thomas Bryant | C | Indiana |
| Denver does not need another center, but Bryant would be tough to pass on at 49. Bryant is a victim of the depth at PF and center in this draft, but he could still carve out a role in the NBA. There is a strong chance that Denver moves one of their two second picks as well. | |||||
| 50 | | Philadelphia | Damyean Dotson | SG | Houston |
| Dotson was the MVP of the Portsmouth Invational and is the prototypical 3 and D wing. He is a solid player and should be a mid-late second round pick. | |||||
| 51 | | Denver | Alpha Kaba | PF | International |
| Kaba has been on draft boards for the past two years, but has decided to withdraw in both instances. If he stays in the draft, Kaba would be a great draft and stash candidate and could make a roster in the future as a stretch four. | |||||
| 52 |  | Washington | Alec Peters | SF | Valparaiso |
| Peters is currently injured, but could be a great pick and pop threat for Washington's second unit. | |||||
| 53 | | Boston | Cameron Oliver | PF | Nevada |
| Oliver is an athletic PF who is plagued by inconsistency, but owns a great deal of potential. Oliver owns a good perimeter jump shot which makes him even more appealing. He would be a great candidate for a two way contract. | |||||
| 54 | | Phoenix | Dillon Brooks | SF | Oregon |
| Brooks has worked out twice for Phoenix and he makes a great deal of sense for a late draft flier. Brooks was a great collegiate scorer, but needs to become a more consistent shooter and defender. His rebounding dropped significantly as a junior, which may prevent him from being a small ball 4. | |||||
| 55 | | Utah | Dwayne Bacon | SF | Florida State |
| Bacon is a wing with good size and who can create offense. He will need to become a more consistent shooter, but would be great value at 55. | |||||
| 56 | | Boston | Vlatko Cancar | PF | International |
| Cancar would be a good stash candidate for Boston since they probably do not want to use all three of their second round picks. Cancar is a stretch 4 with a similar game to Bulls SF Paul Zipser. | |||||
| 57 | | Brooklyn | LJ Peak | SG | Georgetown |
| Brooklyn should take a chance on Peak who is an athletic combo guard. Peak will need to improve his shooting, but he can make an impact defensively. | |||||
| 58 | | New York | George de Paula | PG | International |
| George de Paula was a hot name leading up to the 2015 draft due to his amazing 6-6 size and 7-0 wingspan for a PG. He ultimately pulled out of the last two drafts, but could find a home late in the second round. | |||||
| 59 | | San Antonio | Devin Robinson | SF | Florida |
| The Spurs should take a flier on Robinson who is an elite athlete and can play both forward positons. If his jumper improves he could be a 3 and D specialist. | |||||
| 60 | | Atlanta | Alberto Abalde | SF | International |
| Abalde would be a good stash candidate for Atlanta because they probably don't want to add three rookies for next season. Also considered: Luke Kornet, Peter Jok, Kadeem Allen, Wesley da Silva, Ognjen Jaramaz, Kobi Simmons, Chris Boucher, Jamel Artis, Nigel Williams-Goss, Nigel Hayes, Aleksander Vezenkov, Davon Reed, Sterling Brown, VJ Beachem, Moses Kingsley, Erik Mika, Derrick Walton, Marko Guduric. | |||||
| Harry Giles |
