Official 2021 NBA Draft Thread

[MagicFan101]

Isaac’s injuries are really worrying me.

We all love Chuma but he isn’t a star to draft around.

If we don’t have the option to take one of the 3 guards I agree with others that Mobley would be a great selection ... if available. He very well could be the #2 pick.

Even Kuminga at #5 is not a pick to feel bad about. I would much rather have him than trading back for more picks. This isn’t the NFL.

[Creativetran]

I go back and forth on whether I take Green or Mobley at 3. I have a feeling one of the teams take Mobley in the top 2 tho.

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This is easy for me, if we are in the position to grab either of those guys its GREEN all day. We need some dynamic wing talent, its been years since we had that.

[billy5783]

Isaac’s injuries are really worrying me.

We all love Chuma but he isn’t a star to draft around.

If we don’t have the option to take one of the 3 guards I agree with others that Mobley would be a great selection ... if available. He very well could be the #2 pick.

Even Kuminga at #5 is not a pick to feel bad about. I would much rather have him than trading back for more picks. This isn’t the NFL.

I was mostly afraid of Mobley because of how Bamba has turned out so far until I actually watched Mobley. For me if Cade and Green are gone I have no problems drafting Mobley. He isn't just some lanky kid who you can envision being a good basketball player. He is a really good basketball player who is lanky and has a pretty reachable All-Star upside if he adds some weight

[thelead]

Mobley is the best big prospect since Embiid IMO but he's far from Embiid for many reasons. I take Green all day and just hope for the best.

[sChOlaRlY_Magi]

Who do yall think are players outside the expected top 10 that’ll be all-stars?

For context: 2017 All-Stars: 3 (B. Adebayo, D. Mitchell and J. Tatum) – 2 out of 3 taken outside the top 10

2016 All-Stars: 5 (J. Brown, B. Ingram, D. Sabonis, P. Siakam and B. Simmons) – 2 out of 5 taken outside the top 10

2015 All-Stars: 4 (D. Booker, K. Porziņģis, D. Russell and K. Towns) – 1 out of 4 taken outside the top 10

2014 All-Stars: 4 (J. Embiid, N. Jokić, Z. LaVine and J. Randle) – 2 out of 4 taken outside the top 10

2013 All-Stars: 3 (G. Antetokounmpo, R. Gobert and V. Oladipo) – 2 out of 3 taken outside the top 10

2012 All-Stars: 6 (B. Beal, A. Davis, A. Drummond, D. Green, D. Lillard and K. Middleton) – 2 out of 6 taken outside the top 10

2011 All-Stars: 7 (J. Butler, K. Irving, K. Leonard, I. Thomas, K. Thompson, N. Vučević and K. Walker) – 5 out of 7 taken outside the top 10

I'm not sure, but thanks for posting this. Gives some great context

[Def Swami]

I go back and forth on whether I take Green or Mobley at 3. I have a feeling one of the teams take Mobley in the top 2 tho.

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I'd still take Green. I think Green has as good an argument to go #1 as anyone else. The top 4 prospects of this draft could all go #1. The more of Green I watch, the more favorably I view his time in the G League. He's such a naturally gifted scorer. Suggs and Cunningham are better facilitators, but Green has a killer scoring mentality paired with being the best athlete among the top 4.

My top 3 are really fluid between Cunningham, Suggs, and Green. And then Mobley is squarely 4th. But if the Magic took him top 3, I wouldn't bat an eye. The Magic just need to get the best talent available. And if they feel good about Mobley becoming Anthony Davis, then I'm all for it. I'm not committed enough to Carter Jr. or Bamba to rule out Mobley. And I'm not committed enough to Fultz, Anthony, Hampton to rule out the other 3 guards. All of it is on the table for me.

Isaac and Okeke are the only two players I feel generally good about. With the Magic committing to Isaac long term, anyone in that mold is a little tougher for me to draft with our higher pick given the fit issues. I'd be concerned about them being able to develop here. Maybe with the Bulls pick I'd be more apt to experimenting and developing someone like Scottie Barnes.

[zaymon]

I go back and forth on whether I take Green or Mobley at 3. I have a feeling one of the teams take Mobley in the top 2 tho.

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I'd still take Green. I think Green has as good an argument to go #1 as anyone else. The top 4 prospects of this draft could all go #1. The more of Green I watch, the more favorably I view his time in the G League. He's such a naturally gifted scorer. Suggs and Cunningham are better facilitators, but Green has a killer scoring mentality paired with being the best athlete among the top 4.

My top 3 are really fluid between Cunningham, Suggs, and Green. And then Mobley is squarely 4th. But if the Magic took him top 3, I wouldn't bat an eye. The Magic just need to get the best talent available. And if they feel good about Mobley becoming Anthony Davis, then I'm all for it. I'm not committed enough to Carter Jr. or Bamba to rule out Mobley. And I'm not committed enough to Fultz, Anthony, Hampton to rule out the other 3 guards. All of it is on the table for me.

Isaac and Okeke are the only two players I feel generally good about. With the Magic committing to Isaac long term, anyone in that mold is a little tougher for me to draft with our higher pick given the fit issues. I'd be concerned about them being able to develop here. Maybe with the Bulls pick I'd be more apt to experimenting and developing someone like Scottie Barnes.

Davis was 6'10, 220 in college while Mobley is 7'0, 210. I think their frame is vastly different and their defensive potential is also vastly different.
Unless you believe Mobley will be a lead ball handler, which i dont, i cant bring myself to entartain the idea of drafting him that high.
Jalen Green cant read the game at high level right now, and propably never will. Best case scenario seems somebody like Lavine, good but not a ceiling raiser. With our roster starved of passing and decision making i would take Cade and Suggs without blink of an eye.

[Xatticus]

Mobley is my favorite big man prospect since Porzingis. He is squarely #4 on my board. I'd have no quarrels with the Magic selecting him.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=HoopIntellect

It comes down to defensive versatility. We have an abundance of frontcourt prospects at present. I put Isaac, Bamba, WCJ, and Okeke ahead of any of our guard prospects. I've been fairly dismissive of him thus far, but it is less about him and more about our need to find some playmaking and there are a couple high-ceiling playmakers in this draft that I'm not passing on to draft Mobley.

If Mobley can defend in space, then I think there is a place for him on this roster. If he is a five, then I don't really see the point in drafting him. His advanced numbers are really good. His rebound rate is pretty low for a five, but he will obviously be able to protect the rim. If he can share the floor with a conventional five, his value overall increases substantially. I just think there are some teams that are going to value Mobley more than we would. I love rim protection though, and an Isaac/Mobley pairing would be pretty exciting in that regard.

[Def Swami]

I go back and forth on whether I take Green or Mobley at 3. I have a feeling one of the teams take Mobley in the top 2 tho.

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I'd still take Green. I think Green has as good an argument to go #1 as anyone else. The top 4 prospects of this draft could all go #1. The more of Green I watch, the more favorably I view his time in the G League. He's such a naturally gifted scorer. Suggs and Cunningham are better facilitators, but Green has a killer scoring mentality paired with being the best athlete among the top 4.

My top 3 are really fluid between Cunningham, Suggs, and Green. And then Mobley is squarely 4th. But if the Magic took him top 3, I wouldn't bat an eye. The Magic just need to get the best talent available. And if they feel good about Mobley becoming Anthony Davis, then I'm all for it. I'm not committed enough to Carter Jr. or Bamba to rule out Mobley. And I'm not committed enough to Fultz, Anthony, Hampton to rule out the other 3 guards. All of it is on the table for me.

Isaac and Okeke are the only two players I feel generally good about. With the Magic committing to Isaac long term, anyone in that mold is a little tougher for me to draft with our higher pick given the fit issues. I'd be concerned about them being able to develop here. Maybe with the Bulls pick I'd be more apt to experimenting and developing someone like Scottie Barnes.

Davis was 6'10, 220 in college while Mobley is 7'0, 210. I think their frame is vastly different and their defensive potential is also vastly different.
Unless you believe Mobley will be a lead ball handler, which i dont, i cant bring myself to entartain the idea of drafting him that high.
Jalen Green cant read the game at high level right now, and propably never will. Best case scenario seems somebody like Lavine, good but not a ceiling raiser. With our roster starved of passing and decision making i would take Cade and Suggs without blink of an eye.

With regard to Mobley's physical comparison to Davis, Mobley is 2 inches taller than Davis and his wingspan is 1 inch shorter. Mobley is listed at 215 lbs. 2 inches, 1 inch, and 5 lbs are really minuscule differences. And it's all probably moot given that Davis added 30 lbs since entering the NBA. They both are really fluid athletes. They move like guards. They both have great second jumps and good defensive instincts. They anchored among the better defensive teams in their respective college seasons.

Obviously, Davis is an all-time defender. That's a lot for Mobley to live up to. But he's probably doing the best rendition of Davis since 2011. We haven't seen a lot of Jackson Jr. yet, but perhaps Jackson is a better comparison. Mobley's size makes him a more appealing prospect than Jackson Jr.


Regarding drafting a lead ball handler, there's only 1, 2, or 3 of those players every draft. Those guys are rare. I don't disagree, I'd probably prioritize Cunningham and Suggs. But, like every draft, after that, you have to plan for the next best players. If the Magic are drafting 3 or 4, we could be staring right at Green and Mobley.

I know there's some hesitancy to draft a big man in the lottery. I don't think it's as black and white as people make it out to be. Talented big men are still extremely valuable in the NBA. Jokic, Embiid, Davis, Adebayo, even Giannis who is basically a big man prove this every night. Sabonis, Vucevic, Gobert, Towns are really good players. And like many of those players, they would probably go much higher in redrafts in their respective drafts over a lot of bad to mediocre guards who profiled as "lead ball handlers."

I agree, I'd prefer someone who can be a lead ball-handler. But, there's probably only 2 or 3 of those players every draft. In 2017, you could argue Tatum, Mitchell, and Fox are the only players that have materialized as those kind of players. And then you get a lot of fluff and a lot of teams miss out on a guy like Bam Adebayo. I wouldn't draft Keon Johnson over Evan Mobley simply because Johnson can profile as a "lead ball handler." I'll take my chances with Mobley.

[Def Swami]

Mobley is my favorite big man prospect since Porzingis. He is squarely #4 on my board. I'd have no quarrels with the Magic selecting him.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=HoopIntellect

It comes down to defensive versatility. We have an abundance of frontcourt prospects at present. I put Isaac, Bamba, WCJ, and Okeke ahead of any of our guard prospects. I've been fairly dismissive of him thus far, but it is less about him and more about our need to find some playmaking and there are a couple high-ceiling playmakers in this draft that I'm not passing on to draft Mobley.

If Mobley can defend in space, then I think there is a place for him on this roster. If he is a five, then I don't really see the point in drafting him. His advanced numbers are really good. His rebound rate is pretty low for a five, but he will obviously be able to protect the rim. If he can share the floor with a conventional five, his value overall increases substantially. I just think there are some teams that are going to value Mobley more than we would. I love rim protection though, and an Isaac/Mobley pairing would be pretty exciting in that regard.

I completely agree with that sentiment. And I agree that our front court prospects are more appealing than our back court ones. I'm just not convinced those players are there in the mold that we're looking for after Suggs and Cunningham.

[Xatticus]

I go back and forth on whether I take Green or Mobley at 3. I have a feeling one of the teams take Mobley in the top 2 tho.

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I'd still take Green. I think Green has as good an argument to go #1 as anyone else. The top 4 prospects of this draft could all go #1. The more of Green I watch, the more favorably I view his time in the G League. He's such a naturally gifted scorer. Suggs and Cunningham are better facilitators, but Green has a killer scoring mentality paired with being the best athlete among the top 4.

My top 3 are really fluid between Cunningham, Suggs, and Green. And then Mobley is squarely 4th. But if the Magic took him top 3, I wouldn't bat an eye. The Magic just need to get the best talent available. And if they feel good about Mobley becoming Anthony Davis, then I'm all for it. I'm not committed enough to Carter Jr. or Bamba to rule out Mobley. And I'm not committed enough to Fultz, Anthony, Hampton to rule out the other 3 guards. All of it is on the table for me.

Isaac and Okeke are the only two players I feel generally good about. With the Magic committing to Isaac long term, anyone in that mold is a little tougher for me to draft with our higher pick given the fit issues. I'd be concerned about them being able to develop here. Maybe with the Bulls pick I'd be more apt to experimenting and developing someone like Scottie Barnes.

This is right where I am as well, though I'm probably higher on WCJ than you are. I've been really impressed with the rapport he has already built with MCW and Okeke. I believe he would look so much better if we got a legitimate pick-and-roll initiator. If he continues to evolve as a short-roll distributor and extends his range beyond the three-point line, I think he can be a rock-solid big for a long time to come.

I have Cunningham and Suggs ahead of Green because I think their chances of being empty stats guys is a lot lower. Green is going to score, but his offensive game isn't as robust as his highlights would suggest. He needs to improve as a movement shooter, his free throw rate is really low, he must improve as a facilitator, and his defense is sketchy. His ceiling is sky high, but he could also be the next Zach LaVine, which is not appealing to me.

If we took Mobley over Green, I really wouldn't be bothered.

[Skin]

Mobley is my favorite big man prospect since Porzingis. He is squarely #4 on my board. I'd have no quarrels with the Magic selecting him.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=HoopIntellect

It comes down to defensive versatility. We have an abundance of frontcourt prospects at present. I put Isaac, Bamba, WCJ, and Okeke ahead of any of our guard prospects. I've been fairly dismissive of him thus far, but it is less about him and more about our need to find some playmaking and there are a couple high-ceiling playmakers in this draft that I'm not passing on to draft Mobley.

If Mobley can defend in space, then I think there is a place for him on this roster. If he is a five, then I don't really see the point in drafting him. His advanced numbers are really good. His rebound rate is pretty low for a five, but he will obviously be able to protect the rim. If he can share the floor with a conventional five, his value overall increases substantially. I just think there are some teams that are going to value Mobley more than we would. I love rim protection though, and an Isaac/Mobley pairing would be pretty exciting in that regard.

I'm the same way about Mobley as a C prospect. He's rail thin and it showed against Timme when they faced Gonzaga. If that's what he is, then I'm more interested in others.

However, the super intriguing thought that keeps me interested is if we have Isaac at the 3, Mobley at the 4 and Bamba at the 5. I say Bamba at the 5 because he's a floor spacer, and that would allow more room in the interior for Mobley...and Isaac too. That trio would cause some major fits for opponents and it's a salivating thought. You know WeHam's craving for wingspan would make this a real possibility.

That said, I can't see Isaac as a full time 3. I don't think his knees could handle the movement and wiggle that is more demanding out of the SF position. Luckily we have Chuma. Our depth issues would be settled in the front court. Truth be told, we are thin there since the loss of Gordon, Birch, Aminu and Isaac.

Isaac / Chuma / Ross
Mobley / Isaac / Chuma
Bamba / Carter / Mobley

This kind of line up could be revolutionary because it's unlike anything else other teams in the NBA can do. Size, Shooting, Defense. Check, Check, Check. Now.... if we could ever fix our infamous backcourt.

Let's send the CHI pick and Cole Anthony to Miami for Tyler Herro, since they benched him for Oladipo anyways.

[thelead]

I go back and forth on whether I take Green or Mobley at 3. I have a feeling one of the teams take Mobley in the top 2 tho.

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I'd still take Green. I think Green has as good an argument to go #1 as anyone else. The top 4 prospects of this draft could all go #1. The more of Green I watch, the more favorably I view his time in the G League. He's such a naturally gifted scorer. Suggs and Cunningham are better facilitators, but Green has a killer scoring mentality paired with being the best athlete among the top 4.

My top 3 are really fluid between Cunningham, Suggs, and Green. And then Mobley is squarely 4th. But if the Magic took him top 3, I wouldn't bat an eye. The Magic just need to get the best talent available. And if they feel good about Mobley becoming Anthony Davis, then I'm all for it. I'm not committed enough to Carter Jr. or Bamba to rule out Mobley. And I'm not committed enough to Fultz, Anthony, Hampton to rule out the other 3 guards. All of it is on the table for me.

Isaac and Okeke are the only two players I feel generally good about. With the Magic committing to Isaac long term, anyone in that mold is a little tougher for me to draft with our higher pick given the fit issues. I'd be concerned about them being able to develop here. Maybe with the Bulls pick I'd be more apt to experimenting and developing someone like Scottie Barnes.

This is right where I am as well, though I'm probably higher on WCJ than you are. I've been really impressed with the rapport he has already built with MCW and Okeke. I believe he would look so much better if we got a legitimate pick-and-roll initiator. If he continues to evolve as a short-roll distributor and extends his range beyond the three-point line, I think he can be a rock-solid big for a long time to come.

I have Cunningham and Suggs ahead of Green because I think their chances of being empty stats guys is a lot lower. Green is going to score, but his offensive game isn't as robust as his highlights would suggest. He needs to improve as a movement shooter, his free throw rate is really low, he must improve as a facilitator, and his defense is sketchy. His ceiling is sky high, but he could also be the next Zach LaVine, which is not appealing to me.

If we took Mobley over Green, I really wouldn't be bothered.

I'll have to watch more Green videos to see if he excessively avoids contact like LaVine. I was unaware of his poor free throw rate... but it makes sense because I do recall a lot of fading away and acrobatic moves around the rim that could be just to avoid contact.

[cedric76]

We need to grab Cade big time

[Nyce_1]

I'm growing BIG love for Mobley (*after Cade*)

[Creativetran]

My top 3 are really fluid between Cunningham, Suggs, and Green. And then Mobley is squarely 4th.

So this looks like a 4 player draft right? Well I bet we are drafting 5th, who wants to take this wager on? FML

[Def Swami]

My top 3 are really fluid between Cunningham, Suggs, and Green. And then Mobley is squarely 4th.

So this looks like a 4 player draft right? Well I bet we are drafting 5th, who wants to take this wager on? FML

I think there's a pretty big drop after 4. We're going to need every bit of luck just to find ourselves in the top 4.

[RookieStar]

So Kuminga isn't part of the big 4 for you guys? Yeah I always wondered that to myself what he brings to the table to make this into a 5player draft..

[MagicFan101]

Thinking back on this last draft ...

Anthony Edwards was my #1 guy as a super athletic, all around scorer. He was a labeled a bit raw but his game is coming along well and he is performing well. It’s hard to think of many teams who wouldn’t want him.

If you like Edwards, then Jalen Green brings a similar scouting report but with higher grades.


Size and weight and such will differ but their style, skills, athleticism and gameplay are of the same mold.

[PrimeThyme]

Mobley would be the absolute nightmare scenario for me (if we get a top 5 pick). I could probably talk myself into Kuminga before I could Mobley.