Mock Draft 2.0: The Lottery Picks

After months of speculation, trade talks, and crazy rumors, it’s finally draft day. After the latest flurry of deals, the lottery portion of this draft could play out a little differently.

This NBA off-season has been more exciting than the playoffs were. A lot has happened since my first mock draft a month ago. We’ve already had multiple big trades, draft pick jostling, and plenty of Ball family drama. Barring another trade in the next eight hours, here’s how tonight could shake out. Who am I kidding though? There’s going to be more trades. There always is.

(Previous Pick: Fultz to Boston)

Is anyone tired of the Philadelphia 76ers picking first overall yet? After the trade heard round the Celtics world, the 76ers are again on the clock first. It’s no secret who they’re taking either. Fultz is still expected to be the first name called Thursday night.

With Fultz in the mix, the 76ers have a young formidable trio of star-caliber players to build around for the next several years. Philadelphia had said they planned on using Ben Simmons at the point, but it’d be best for this team to have him play on the wing and maximize his offensive abilities. Fultz should step right in and flourish next to Simmons and Joel Embiid right away.

(Previous Pick: Ball)

New broke on Tuesday that the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to deal D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to Brooklyn for Brook Lopez and the #27 pick in Thursday’s draft. If there was any doubt that the Lakers weren’t going to take a point guard, that has been erased now.

After brief doubt, it looks like Ball will end up in Los Angeles after all. The Lakers already have a couple solid wing players and big men, but now they lack a point guard with Russell heading to Brooklyn.

We have all seen, heard, or read about Ball’s funky jump shot and his lack of offensive upside, but if the Lakers surround him with players like Paul George, he won’t need to score. The best scenario for Ball is to just be a facilitator because his passing abilities are off the charts.

(Previous Pick: Josh Jackson)

Let’s all put down the pitchforks for a second. I, like many Celtics fans, was upset when the deal with Philadelphia went down this weekend. However, we don’t know what will happen next, or even if the Celtics will keep this pick. Let’s assume they keep the pick. Their trade with Philadelphia signals that they’re not looking for a new point guard at this time, so the attention turns to the two best wing players available this year.

It all boils down to Tatum and Jackson. Both players are very talented but one comes with some baggage. Jackson has yet to work out for Boston and had some legal trouble while at Kansas. He’s also a little raw offensively without a ton of offensive upside. Long-term Tatum looks like the better scorer and that’s something the Celtics need.

(Previous Pick: Jayson Tatum)

It’s looking like it will be either Jackson or Tatum going to the Celtics at three. Whichever player Boston passes on shouldn’t have to wait more than another few minutes to hear his names called by Commissioner Adam Silver.

Everything I said about Jackso above shouldn’t hurt his stock too much. Phoenix has a bunch of guards, so adding an athletic forward to the mix seems like a great fit. Jackson will be able to work on his offensive game while Phoenix relies on Devin Booker to provide the scoring punch.

(Previous Pick: Fox)

It’s possible that Fox could go as high as #2 to the Lakers, but the more likely scenario has Ball heading to Hollywood. After Los Angeles, the next two teams are set at the guard positions, so it’s unlikely Fox heads to Phoenix or Boston. With every point guard on the roster hitting free agency this summer, Sacramento will surely be looking for a new floor general to run the offense.

Fox is an incredibly talented and athletic point guard that would be able to step right in as Sacramento’s starter. If I was Magic Johnson, I’d take Fox second over Ball. He’s the type of point guard you can build a roster around.

(Previous Pick: Monk)

This pick just makes too much sense. Orlando ranked 29th in the NBA in three-point percentage last season. Quick reminder, there’s only 30 teams in the league. Monk should still be available at the 6th pick and the Magic would be more than happy to add a shooter like Monk to their roster.

Out of all the players in this draft, Monk might have the highest offensive upside. There are a lot of good athletes in Orlando, but not a lot of plus scoring options. The opportunity to add a potentially dynamic scorer should be too much for the Magic to pass up.

(Previous Pick: Isaac)

I keep trying to slot Isaac higher but the first six selections just make too much sense. So he stays at pick seven heading to Minnesota. The Timberwolves don’t have any glaring hole, but Isaac would give them a solid rebounding power forward to pair with stud center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Isaac is a solid player all-around. He can score from anywhere on the court and his high motor will fit in with Minnesota’s current roster. There’s a chance Isaac could be picked a little higher than this, but I cannot see him falling past Minnesota here at pick seven.

(Previous Pick: Dennis Smith Jr.)

There’s growing speculation that the New York Knicks might move on from Kristaps Porzingis. If they do, expect them to find a big man to replace him. There are not many high upside big men in this draft, but the cream of the crop is Arizona Center, Lauri Markkanen.

A lot of the areas Porzingis is strong is, Markkanen is too. He can rebound, run the floor, and shoot efficiently from the mid-range and behind the arc. If the Knicks trade Porzingis, New Yorkers are going to boo this pick hard. But there’s some definite long-term upside here.

(Previous Pick: Frank Ntilikana)

The Dallas Mavericks need a lot of things, with point guard ranking near the top of the list. There’s been a lot of speculation that French point guard, Frank Ntilikana) will go here, but Smith seems like the safer choice with more upside.

There’s a lot to like about Smith. He’s explosive of the offensive end and could turn into a 20+ PPG scorer sooner rather than later. If you’re looking for an NBA comparison, think Kemba Walker.

(Previous Pick: Lauri Markkanen)

After filling their point guard need, Sacramento can turn its sights to getting a wing or a big man. Gonzaga isn’t your stereotypical school for one and done players, but Collins is the arguably the best talent to ever pass through campus.

Collins is a big seven-footer that is agile and can shoot some from the perimeter. Seriously, does any big man nowadays not shoot some from outside? Sacramento seems to have one of the few that don’t in Willy Cauley-Stein. Adding a player like Collins would give the Kings a solid front court duo.

(Previous Pick: Justin Jackson)

After trading for Dwight Howard Wednesday, expect Houston to go with a wing player here. Originally I had Justin Jackson in this spot, but Mitchell has been gaining momentum in the last couple of weeks.

Mitchell is strong, quick, and is a solid offensive player. He’s not really a point guard and is undersized as a shooting guard, but the upside is certainly there. Mitchell and Kemba Walker would be a dynamic backcourt for Charlotte.

(Previous Pick: Zach Collins)

Out of all the draft prospects this year, the biggest risk/reward player has to be OG Anunoby. He’s extremely athletic and could turn into one of the best players in this draft when it’s all said and done. The red flag here is the torn ACL he suffered that could keep him out of most, if not all, of next season.

Some team in the lottery is going to take a gamble on him. There’s no doubt in my mind. The Pistons look like they might trade Andre Drummond and go into full rebuild mode, so Anunoby would make a lot of sense here.

(Previous Pick: Donovan Mitchell)

After an impressive pro day, Luke Kennard has shot up draft boards into the lottery. The Nuggets could surely use a wing that can shoot and Kennard certainly fits the bill. After a less than stellar Freshman season at Duke, Kennard really improved his overall game last season and became an offensive threat for the Blue Devils.

There’s not a ton of upside here but Kennard should turn into a solid starter or key bench piece for any team that drafts him.

(Previous Pick: Jarrett Allen)

The fall of Ntilikana ends here. The Heat have a log jam at guard, but none of the current bunch are true point guards. Ntilikana is. Now he’s still raw and has a lot to learn, but all the tools are there for him to become a very good point guard in this league.

Next: Could Jonathan Isaac be the Pick at #3?

If the Knicks don’t take Markkanen, there’s a chance Ntilikana could go at #8. If he does slide, Miami will be happy to scoop him up and make him their point guard of the future. Ntilikana is a taller point guard at 6’5 and that could be a huge asset for him moving forward.