Skin wrote:Tarheel wrote:Putting my initial mock draft here (not accounting for hypothetical trades) up until our pick because I'm bored.
1. Pels - Zion Williamson
2. Grizz - Ja Morant
3. Knicks - RJ Barrett
4. Lakers - Jaxson Hayes
5. Cavs - DeAndre Hunter
6. Suns - Darius Garland
7. Bulls - Coby White
8. Hawks - Jarrett Culver
9. Wiz - Cam Reddish
10. Hawks - Bol Bol
11. Wolves - Sekou Doumbouya
12. Hornets - Rui Hachimura
13. Heat - Brandon Clarke
14. Celtics - PJ Washington
15. Pistons - Romeo Langford
Gives us the choice of Kevin Porter, NAW, Nassir Little and Tyler Herro. It's a tough call between NAW and Nassir Little for me, but in the end I take NAW I think.
I take Little personally. He's no where near a finished product but at the same time, his floor is actually pretty low. Scary prospect to support, but I like his length, athleticism, explosion, smooth mechanics, versatility, dawg mentality, willing to guard other team's best player, and hustle. Needs good coaching and a lot of repetition. Question his BBIQ and ISO ball handling, but at 16, we can't expect perfection. There's a reason he's available... at the same time, he could be long gone.
I think NAW is the easy pick for us.
Little used his size to his advantage at the collegiate level, but he won't be able to do that in the NBA. He is well built. I'd say he is something comparable to Justise Winslow. If he were a couple inches taller, I'd really like him. His body just doesn't seem to fit his game. I see the same in Brandon Clarke. A great screen-and-roll man with really good defensive instincts, but he is trapped in a wing's body.
Herro is a terrific shooter and a decent athlete. He doesn't seem to have a great feel for the game though and his lack of length is going to limit his defensive upside.
I don't really like Porter at all. He just doesn't put out much effort unless he has the ball in his hands and his shooting numbers on the easy stuff were really concerning. Most players are far better on catch-and-shoots and from the free throw line, but Porter was just the opposite.
There just aren't any glaring deficiencies in NAW's game and he improved substantially on-the-ball this past season, which is a really good sign. He looks a bit slight, but his measurements are actually pretty good. He is an adequate athlete. He should be good away from the ball and he can create a bit with his dribble. He is always switched on, moves his feet well, and has good anticipation. He understands the game and makes quick and accurate reads.
Okpala is interesting. He has an awkward coordination. He gets himself into bad spots, but shows enough coordination to make plays despite this. He looks like the lanky kid growing up that took a bit longer to figure it out. His improvement this past season was impressive; especially regarding his shooting. His finishing at the rim was terrible given his size. There is some obvious upside, but it's going to take some time to get there.
I'd take Doumbouya if he is there. He is really raw, but his combination of size, frame, athleticism, and energy is going to result in an impactful player of some sort.
I don't really see what makes Keldon Johnson an appealing prospect.
Langford should be gone before we pick. He has an easy athleticism, great body control, and really impressive touch around the basket. His balance is terrific on his step backs. He might need to tweak his shot, but he is going to be able to score at the next level. You'd like to see him work harder on defense, but his physical tools are undeniable.
