MOCK DRAFT 1.0

The term 'generational' shouldn't be thrown around lightly, but for Wembanyama, the term couldn't be more appropriate. Wembanyama has a combination of size and skill never before seen in the NBA. If Kristaps Porzinigis was considered a unicorn, then Wembanyama is an alien and there is no better landing spot for this alien than San Antonio, a franchise lauded for their ability to develop and foster growth. Wembanyama has mountains of hype around his name, and with that hype comes pressure and expectation. With the Spurs, Wembanyama will have the right structure and support to rise above pressure that will try to crush him.

The Spurs already boast valuable, young pieces such as Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan. Both the aforementioned Sochan and the blossoming Zach Collins should be able to assist Wembanyama on the defensive end, especially early on in his career, as he adjusts to playing against the world’s best competition. On the Spurs, Wembanyama will have the space to grow and flourish into the transcendent player he was meant to be, on both ends of the floor.

In most drafts, Scoot would be considered the top prize with his unique mix of length, strength, athleticism, basketball IQ and competitiveness. Scoot is in the upper echelon of guard prospects I’ve had the pleasure of evaluating and is a truly elite prospect. These factors should fuel the Charlotte Hornets to forgo the cleaner fit in Brandon Miller and take a prospect I have a tier above everybody not named Victor Wembanyama.

Scoot’s fit next to LaMelo is something analysts are bound to question in the leadup to the NBA draft, however outside of both liking to control the ball at times, I believe LaMelo and Scoot can complement each other much like Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham have in their limited playing time together in Detroit. The prospect of Scoot and LaMelo slashing and dishing to each other for years to come should have fans marching down to Spectrum centre in droves and tuning in via broadcast or league pass, which for a hornets franchise that has lacked intrigue could be just as beneficial as Scoots likely immense on court impact.

Portland has not been shy about wanting to move this pick to obtain a high-end win-now piece. Ironically, Miller's skillset and play style would allow him to make an impact from opening day as a scorer, floor spacer, and match-up nightmare on the wing. Regardless of who holds this draft slot come draft day, Miller boasts a high-floor because of his ability to stroke it from three. Beyond that floor lies a tantalizing combination of 3-level scoring potential and advanced handles all packed into a lengthy 6'9" frame.

If Miller can improve his finishing in the paint and show he can withstand the physicality of the NBA, then he could blossom into a consistent 25+ ppg scorer at the next level. The same tools that make him an offensive threat should help him grow into - at the least - a serviceable defender with the potential to become a potent two-way threat with proper development. Plus, the thought of Dame handing the keys to Shaedon Sharpe and Miller in the coming years is one that I want to will into reality.

Amen is one of the most polarising prospects in recent memory, with many citing the weak competition at Overtime Elite and his lack of touch outside of “Ben Simmons Range”, while others tout his elite athleticism, quick twitch ability and elite playmaking with the ball in his hands. For Houston, a franchise desperately in need of what Amen provides in both playmaking and defensive upside, the decision to form one of the most athletic backcourts in the NBA, and possibly NBA history, is an easy one to make.

Amen’s playmaking and ability to get paint touches and kick out may help unlock last year's third overall pick Jabari Smith Jr, who lacked a real creator last season with KPJ and Jalen Green in the backcourt. Similarly it may allow Jalen to focus on his more natural ability scoring the ball while Amen adeptly sets the table for the likes of Sengun and Jabari, as well as Jalen himself.

On paper, there are cleaner fits available here for the Pistons. Both Taylor Hendricks and Jarace Walker could slot in seamlessly beside Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham, and Jaden Ivey by becoming the floor-spacing, defensive-focused glue guy of a budding, young core. Detroit has, however, shown that they are willing to roll the dice on upside, as seen by them taking on the James Wiseman restoration project. Whitmore has the potential to be an alpha scorer in the NBA, boasting an NBA-ready physique, elite athleticism, and a deep scoring bag.

His ability to create for himself and to knock down open threes will draw the attention of opposing defenses and should help spread the floor with or without the ball, allowing Cade and Ivey to dissect opposing defenses with their downhill driving pressure. Whitmore's physical tools and athleticism should translate into positive perimeter defense as well, which is another area of need for this young Piston squad.

The Magic front office took the full clock with this pick and ultimately Taylor’s clean shooting stroke and 40% from 3 at UCF pushed him over the top of Ausar Thompson and Jarace Walker who were in consideration here.

Hendricks slots into a lineup already featuring tall lengthy wings in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and trotting out a lineup featuring all 3 could be a nightmare for opposing offences as they use their elite wingspans to shut down passing lanes and contest shots at the rim. Hendricks would be a huge puzzle piece in allowing the Magic to realise the tall, skilled and versatile lineup they’ve been building towards.

The Magic have long valued prospects with length and perimeter touch and a propensity for blocking shots, and in Hendricks they’ve found their next in the long line, and a pretty direct replacement for the oft injured Jonothan Issac whose skillset the organisation valued immensely.

Like Shaedon Sharpe last year, both of the Thompson twins are shrouded in mystery, and like Sharpe before him, I have Ausar going 7th in this year's draft. Ausar is a marginally better shooter than his brother, but he is far from consistent from three, however if reports are true, Ausar has recently made meaningful strides with his shooting. What Ausar does have though, are physical tools and athleticism that are nearly unrivaled at the next level.

Combine those tools with a natural feel for the game and an insane work ethic, and you've got a promising young prospect who just needs an environment to grow. Enter the Pacers, whose timeline and core will do wonders for Ausar going forward. He slots in seamlessly alongside Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin, providing them with insane length on the wings and giving them elite switchability. In Indiana, Ausar can also function as a secondary playmaker and connector from the wing, with these on-ball reps being crucial for his development

Conversely to the Magic, the Wizards ring in this pick right away after having Anthony Black fall to them. Black fills a lot of holes for this Wizards team, placing a relentless and talented defender and wiley, methodical playmaker next to their franchise cornerstone Bradley Beal.

Black should create open looks for Beal, Kuzma and Porzingis from the second he steps onto an NBA floor, bolstering the wizards lacklustre offence (22nd in OFFRTG last season) while simultaneously providing a big spark to their equally mediocre defence (21st in DEFRTG last season).

Black’s readiness to help the Wizards immediately does not take away from his long term upside though, should the Wizards ever decide to move on from Beal. Black could provide a building block for them if he continues to refine his ball handling and adds more self creation to his bag, as well as some more touch from the perimeter. Primarily, what Black brings in defensive tenacity and playmaking ability beyond his years is more than sufficient for this to be a home run pick for the Wiz at 8.

Cason Wallace is a talented, hard-nosed defender in the mold of Jrue Holiday and Avery Bradley who will fit in perfectly with the Utah Jazz, who sorely need a lead guard that lines up with their young core's timeline. Wallace should be able to navigate a dangerous pick and roll game with either of the Jazz' talented young big men in Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler. Wallace and Kessler will also form a formidable defensive duo for years to come.

While Wallace's defensive aptitude has drawn the praise of scouts, he also boasts incredible athleticism and shooting upside, making him much more than just a defensive specialist. Wallace is regarded as a safe pick by many analysts, but don't let that trick you into thinking he doesn’t boast intriguing upside as a high-level playmaker and perennial all-defensive team candidate.

The Dallas Mavericks are stoked to find Walker still on the board at 10 and happily bring him into the fold. A defensive juggernaut at 6’8, 240 with a 7’2 wingspan and feet quick enough to handle most guards, Walker can help a Dallas team that struggled immensely on that end of the floor last season, ranking 25th in DEFRTG. Dallas lacked a forward they could trust defensively after dealing Finney-Smith to Brooklyn at the deadline and Walker would provide them with exactly that.

Walker projects to be that and more defensively while also boasting a versatile, connective offensive game that should mesh well with Luka Doncic and, if they manage to retain him in FA, Kyrie Irving. Walker is an adept facilitator, especially out of the high post or in pinch post action which could open up Dallas' playbook and allow them to run Luka and Kyrie off screens, or cut backdoor while Walker facilitates much like the Warriors do with Draymond Green. Walker also projects as a serviceable shooter, a vital skill when playing next to a ball dominant star like Luka, and these factors should culminate in a sizable jump in the standings for the Mavs next season, Kyrie or not.

With their first pick, we had the Magic adding Taylor Hendricks. With this pick, we have them adding another sharpshooter in Gradey Dick. The Magic have a plethora of playmakers and high upside defenders, who should help cover Dick's weaknesses as he adjusts to the next level. Like Hendricks, Dick will open up the floor for Orlando's talented ballhandlers: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Markelle Fultz, who should all be able to thrive with the extra space and gravity both Hendricks and Dick provide.

Dick offers much more than just shooting though, possessing prototypical size for the guard position alongside great vision. Gradey should be able to serve as a connector and tertiary playmaker, which are values that the Magic have loved in recent years. If Dick is able to improve his lateral quickness or learn how to use his length to corral quicker guards, he could also grow into a formidable defender and an impactful NBA player for the next decade.

P.S. As a Kansas fan, this is my dream spot for Gradey. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk.

The Thunder have a type and GG isn’t it, however with their treasure trove of picks the Thunder are in a unique position to take risks and gamble on high upside. With that in mind they deviate from their usual draft strategy a little in order to select a tall, skilled bucket getter in GG Jackson. One of the youngest players in the draft, GG has elicited concerns around his maturity, but the Thunder bet on their already forming culture of hard workers and high character guys to help straighten out an 18 year old kid with immense scoring talent, as well as banking on their development staff to teach him how to play 5 on 5 basketball.

If it goes well, the Thunder will have themselves a steal, as GG’s nimble ball handling for his size and tough shot making, attached to his 6’9 frame could make him one of the leagues very best scorers for the foreseeable future, giving the Thunder another go to bucket getter alongside Shai.

The Raptors are in a weird spot with a talented but poorly constructed roster. With some tweaking, the Raptors could pivot right back into the playoffs the big question is, how far would they get? Can a Pascal Siakam-led team make noise? I'm not sure, and neither are they, as there has been plenty of smoke surrounding the Raptors shopping Siakam, Fred Van Vleet, and OG Anunoby for picks and prospects. Regardless, one thing is for sure: Scottie Barnes is a franchise cornerstone, but even franchise cornerstones need a running mate.

Enter Kobe Bufkin, whose game perfectly complements and accentuates Barnes'. If Bufkin can prove that his hot shooting to end the season was not a fluke, he has the potential to be a deadeye from beyond the arc. Additionally, his ability to lead an offense or play off-ball will ensure that Barnes gets plenty of playmaking reps, where he shines the most.

Nick Smith’s draft stock is a little muddied right now coming off a season where he was in and out of the lineup with injury and performed poorly when he was on the court for the most part. People are all over the place on their assessments of him, however as a projected top 5 pick to start the year, there’s clear upside to be tapped into, utilising his sweet perimeter stroke off catch and shoot jumpers and deft ball handling as a basis.

There is hope that some of the rim finishing and self creation he showed in high school returns as he continues to recover from injury. Sliding Smith into a lineup that already features talented creators like Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum should allow him plenty of open space and looks off of the gravity his teammates create.

The Pelicans are loaded with talent, which allows them to take some risks when drafting and Smith is certainly that, but the rewards also project to be immense should the Pelicans unlock the scoring potential Smith demonstrated in high school, and hopefully refine his ability to create for others along the way.

For years, people have speculated that the Hawks could potentially move on from one - if not both - of Clint Capela and John Collins. With both guard spots locked in for the foreseeable future and question marks about the future of their front court rotation, the Hawks could look to Leonard Miller, the talented and skilled G-league big man. As a teenager, Miller averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds against GROWN men, which is an achievement that should not be overlooked.

What is even more impressive, however, is the speed in which Miller blossomed, flashing perimeter skills such as ball handling and vision as the season drew on. Even if those skills never fully ripen, Miller's tenacity on both ends of the floor will help him thrive alongside Atlanta's talented guard duo. He sprints up and down the court to finish fast breaks or chase rebounds. That alone makes him a picture perfect fit to play alongside Ice Trae.

One year removed from being the #1 high school recruit, Dariq finds himself slipping out of the lottery but the Jazz won’t allow him to slip any further. Ainge has a fondness for drafting 2 way wings, having drafted Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Boston. While its unlikely Dariq reaches the heights either J has, at 6’6, 190 with a 6’9 wingspan he has the physical tools to be a plus team defender, and if he regains some of the athleticism that fueled his #1 high school recruit status, maybe more.

Dariq’s season, much like Smith Jr’s, was marred by injury, causing yet another projected top 5 pick to plummet. Dariq struggled to create much for himself at Duke but he was a plus shooter and in a league that values the 3 ball as much as the NBA does, Dariq should at the very least be able to leverage his shooting and defensive versatility as a 6’6 wing to be a solid rotation player and have a long, productive career. If the Jazz can rehabilitate him and we see his former athleticism return, he carries the kind of upside that could make him a massive steal at 16.

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently operating on two timelines. The LeBron timeline is a pressing and ever present concern as the generational star ages, but recently Pelinka and the Lakers have been making it a priority to add pieces that don’t just fit now, but give the organisation a direction after LeBron moves on. Keyonte George would fit both timelines perfectly, as the Lakers current roster needs what he can provide.

George could bring perimeter creation and another pick and roll operator who can find their own shot, as well as make plays for others. George also has latent upside attached to his tantalising dribble displays and shot making if the Lakers can unlock more of the 6’4 guards offensive game. With a heavy emphasis on defence and playmaking, the Lakers may find themselves with a building block in the post LeBron era.

George should pair well with Anthony Davis as well, if he remains with the organisation post LeBron, adding to his value for the franchise. Both George and Davis have a preference to operate out of the high pick and roll, George’s gravity as a shooter off screens should manufacture plenty of easy looks for AD on the roll, allowing AD to be the dominant paint presence he is when healthy. Even if AD is not part of the Lakers future, George is a valuable combo guard, whose aggressive shot creating ability would make any team feel lucky to have him fall to them outside of the lottery.

Heat culture has been on full display this postseason with their notorious ability to find impactful players seemingly out of thin air. These players, such as Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent showing out on the biggest stage, cement the prowess of Miami's developmental staff and ability to get players to buy-in. If any team can help iron out the creases in Brice Sensabaugh's game, it'll be the Heat.

Brice's biggest weakness, his defense, is hard to ignore. He has at times looked lost, slow-footed, and generally unaware of rotations. Nuances like these are crucial in ensuring players can thrive at the next level. Despite this glaring weakness, Brice excels at the most important skill in basketball: making shots. Brice is a bucket getter in the purest form, and he is legitimately elite as a shooting prospect able to create for himself and knock down movement 3s at a high, efficient clip.

I'm a firm believer that much of Brice's limitations on the defensive end can be coached out of him, and that his struggles collegiately could also be due to having to carry a heavy offensive load on a disjointed team.

Stephen Curry is amazing. He's spoiled us for so long, and the load that he has been able to carry despite age and injuries has been nothing short of awe inspiring. For that to continue, however, the Warriors need to invest in players that can help carry the load.

Hood-Schifino is a big playmaker whose shooting woes can be easily masked with the Warriors. His vision will not only help him find easy looks for his teammates, but will also ensure that the Warriors' offense doesn't fall off a cliff and become iso-heavy without Steph on the court. His skill set should translate smoothly into the NBA, which is something the win-now Warriors will value.

The Houston Rockets are accumulating talent in droves and adding Dereck Lively to a mix including Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr, Kevin Porter Jr, and Tari Eason, helps shore up the young core’s weakest area in rim protection. At 7’1, 230lbs Dereck used his hulking frame to turn around a lackadaisical start to his season at Duke by transforming himself into exactly the type of rim protector and interior defensive presence the Rockets have lacked in recent years.

His lack of touch is a concern, but at pick 20 the Rockets are stoked to find the complimentary piece they need next to starting big man Alperen Sengun, and happily bring Lively into the fold.

Sidy Cissoko is eerily reminiscent of one of my favorite prospects from last year's draft: Jeremy Sochan, albeit a guard version. Like Sochan, Cissoko has legitimate playmaking chops and could function as a team's secondary playmaker despite some shooting woes. If Cissoko didn't struggle so heavily as a shooter, I'd have no problem arguing that he should be a lottery prospect. Even with those struggles, don’t be shocked if he ends up as a top-20 prospect come draft day.

We've seen defensive aces with shooting woes often be relegated to specialists with limited playtime however Cissoko's playmaking upside should help him avoid being put into that box. For the Nets', who are looking to reload and develop their identity after the end of the Kyrie and KD-era, Cissoko's tough-nosed and selfless approach to the game should help grow the culture that Mikal Bridges and company have established since the trade deadline.

With the second of their back to back picks the Nets bet on Jett Howard’s 6’8 frame and sweet shooting stroke to translate into being a solid NBA player for a long time. Some may be surprised to see Jett still on the board here at 22 but I believe this is a great range for Jett, who despite shining as a shooter and scorer at Michigan State, lacked serious polish to his all around game.

Despite that lack of polish, Howard carries significant upside should he iron out his flaws and develop into a well rounded NBA player. He has the required tools and in Brooklyn I believe he will find a situation well suited to extracting the best out of him. His high floor and still reasonably high ceiling would have his new organisation excited about the future.

It seems the Blazers' approach this off-season is acquiring win-now players to surround Dame and company. As a result, they could make a similar move as the Sixers did last year when they traded their late first to move Danny Green and acquire De'Anthony Melton.

However, if the Blazers choose to stay put, they couldn't ask for a better player to fall into their lap with their second 1st round pick than Jordan Hawkins, the smart sharpshooter out of UConn. Hawkins' ability to affect the game with his gravity and make shots off a variety of screens and spot-ups should help him thrive in a Lillard led offense. His maturity and skillset should make him a day one contributor.

20 picks later than they selected his identical twin brother in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Kings select Kris Murray. His addition to this team is just as beneficial to the Kings roster as it is picturesque for the Murray twins, who played together for the Iowa Seahawks just a season ago. The Kings are in need of more size and shooting on the wings and Keegan was a huge positive for a team that finished 3rd in the Western conference. Adding a Keegan lite in Kris should solidify this Kings rotation as Harrison Barnes and Trey Lyles age.

6’8, 215 with a 6’11 wingspan, Kris has the tools and talent to be an immediate contributor on the wing as the Kings look to build on their first playoff appearance in 16 years.

Bobi Klintman's meteoric rise up draft boards has been fun to watch. He's a mystery man who can be found near, or sometimes within, the lottery of some mock drafts and big boards. Some of that is attributed to the lack of notable big men in this year's draft beyond the four expected to go in the lottery. Some of that can also be chalked up to the combination of skills that Bobi has flashed during his limited minutes. After all, modern big men with the ability to stretch the floor will always be highly sought after.

To me, he's too much of an unknown currently to surpass the likes of Leonard Miller and Derrick Lively. Here, though, at pick 25, I'd run to the podium if I were the Grizzlies. In the playoffs, their lack of depth in the front court was exposed. Klintman should help them shore up that weak point while also giving them a high upside big body that could complement Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant for the foreseeable future.

With 3 first round picks, the Indiana Pacers are in position to swing for the fences and do just that, selecting the 6’7 forward out of Pepperdine.

Maxwell served as Pepperdine’s number 1 option, dazzling NBA scouts with his mix of athleticism, shooting stroke and ball handling skills for a wing en route to a strong first half of the season that saw his stock peak in the lottery. As College coaches and defenders figured out the flaws to Maxwell's game however, he saw his averages and effectiveness drop, along with his draft stock.

Indiana has the time and patience to bet on Maxwell’s tools and framework as a high level creating wing and hope with reps and development they’ve nabbed themselves a steal at 26.

At this point in the draft, can you really let Bilal Coulibaly slide? In fact, on draft night, I wouldn't blink twice if he was selected 10 or more picks earlier. His upside is legitimate, even if there are worries about him being a long-term project. While he could be 2 years away from being 2 years away, he boasts a combination of size, defensive potential, and shooting upside that teams would love to develop. While the Hornets should be right back to fighting for a playoff spot next year, they would jump all over the chance to grow this promising wing.

The depth of this draft class rears its head again, allowing the Jazz to select a unique and intriguing project here at 28. Clowney possesses the type of physical tools that scouts salivate over. 6’10, 210 lbs with a 7’2 wingspan and decently quick choppy feet on the perimeter, Clowney is every bit the modern archetype big so coveted by NBA scouts. Clowney is quite raw and will need a lot of development if he is to realise his potential as a versatile defender with a sweet outside stroke.

The percentages weren’t on his side at Alabama, however his mechanics are fluid and repeatable and he has a knack for finding himself in the right spot for a kick out. His self-creation upside is limited, but at 28, if a team nets themselves a versatile defensive force, who rebounds the skin off the rock and is a threat from deep, they’ll be stoked and that's exactly what the Jazz might have here.

A faller in my most recent big board, Rupert's defensive upside is still crazy enticing. His size at 6'8" with a 7'3" wingspan makes him extremely switchable, with the potential to guard 1-4 in the future. What has scared me away, however, is how raw he is. A team drafting him must not only give him a long leash to learn, but they must also expect a lot of bumps in the roads over the coming years.

What better place for Rupert to grow, though, than the Pacers, whose timeline will ensure that Rupert has the leeway to make mistakes. If Rupert hits, the Pacers will boast an ability to have a crazy switchable positionless lineup featuring Haliburton, Mathurin, Ausar Thompson (taken at 7 in this mock) and Rupert.

With the last pick of the first round and this mock draft, The Clippers select Brandin Podziemski’s sweet shooting stroke and ball handling, netting themselves a guy who can provide solid rotation minutes as a shooter and creator for a Clippers team facing some interesting decisions moving forward.

At 6’5, 200lbs, Brandin has intriguing size for someone who could see plenty of reps as a lead guard at the next level, and his 43% shooting stroke on almost 6 attempts per game gives him an NBA skill to fall back on day 1.

Podziemski has better athleticism than meets the eye, and concerns around his ability to play 1 on 1 defense might be unfair, stemming from Santa Clara’s decision to play primarily zone. Brandin’s defensive aptitude in the combine scrimmages boosted his stock considerably and the Clippers may have some teams regretting their selections should he put it all together at the next level.