Kevin O'Connor with a new mock draft up on Yahoo
https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/Top 4 seems pretty set: Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Edgecombe. The only variance that I have seen is whether Edgecombe or Bailey go 3/4.
Ace Bailey comps: Rudy Gay, MPJ
VJ Edgecombe comps: Oladipo, Mathurin, Braun
I actually think if CHA ends up at #3, that they would take Edgecombe over Bailey, especially since their new mgmt seems to have some idea of what they want to do
Interesting note on Zion\NO team fit:
Zion Williamson was looking more and more like his prime self before a low back bone contusion sidelined him for the remainder of the season. But no matter how much his injury history is lingering in the back of everyone’s minds, he still remains the cornerstone of the Pelicans. Pairing him with players who can space the floor is paramount, especially if those players also offer similar explosive talents like Edgecombe does as a high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks. The Baylor freshman pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown spot-up jumper and fearless slashing. Though he needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator, he’d be entering a ball-sharing offense in New Orleans.
#5\PHI - Maluach, somewhat surprised, but if PHI does keep their pick, bringing in a big (Maluach or Queen) as insurance\replacement for injury riddled Embid is not a bad move.
#6\BRK - Queen. Sure looks like both bigs are going top 10, which for POR picking later and not really needing a big, might be a good thing.
#7\TOR - Jakucionis. Comps: Dragic, Dinwiddie, Micic
Seems like a weird fit, given they have Quickley & Barrett signed to long term deals (Quickley thru 28/29, Barrett thru 26/27). They also have Shead who has looked good as a b\u this year and they just drafted Walter. Trading for a resigning Ingram sure appears to be a move to go for it now. I wonder if their pick could be available via trade, although Masai has been known to be unreasonable to deal with (just like Cronin). The other aspect is that Barrett has been mentioned as possibly available via trade.
Jakučionis is a slick shot-creator with a creative passing gene and a fearless scoring ability, carving up defenses with crafty finishes, step-back jumpers, and jaw-dropping passes. And the Raptors need a point guard of the future who can thrive with and without the ball. That’s why KJ makes sense. But he’s not a sure thing. As a freshman, Jakučionis would follow up his highlights with turnover brain-farts that derailed the hype train. But he’s shown enough highs to warrant a top-10 selection.
So is the plan to offload Barrett, utilize undersized Quickley @ SG, then pair him with a bigger PG like Jakucionis? Maybe?
#8\SA - Johnson. Comps: Herro, Sprewell, Young
I could see this, a guy who can shoot lights out, to put alongside Wemy & Fox, could be lethal.
The fact that SA, a better team than POR with 1/2 legit all star talents is picking BEFORE POR is criminal, and only possible since Cronin allowed the season to play out this way.
Both OKC & HOU could pick ahead of POR as well if POR passes PHX and PHI does not land in the top 6. That is 3 teams, all better than POR, all young, who all will be picking ahead of this team. Unbelievable.The Spurs badly need to surround Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox with shooting. Johnson seems perfect as a clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease. Developing his point guard skills are a bit less important for the Spurs, since he’d be paired with players who can run the show. But in time, perhaps those talents will manifest after he showed flashes during his freshman year at Texas.
#9\POR - Knueppel. Comps: Cam Johnson, Bogdanovic
I'd be fine with this pick, but I remain unconvinced POR would take him, since they don't really value shooting and they clearly have repeatedly targeted long, athletic wing types, whether they can shoot is optional.
Scoot Henderson has made some progress this season, but it’s still not clear if he’s capable of being the point guard of Portland’s future. Knueppel makes sense as a selection in this regard since he brings more than just a sharpshooter’s stroke thanks to his brainy pick-and-roll playmaking and crafty scoring feel. While he’s not a primary creator, he can be one of the team’s creators alongside Deni Avdija on the wing, Donovan Clingan from the high post, and Scoot in ball screens.
#10\CHI - Murray Boyles. Comps: Green, Millsap, Randle
#11\MIA - Jeremiah Fears. Comps: Jamal Murray, Poole
#12\HOU (via PHX) - Richardson. Comps: White, Hamilton
If POR keeps trying to make the play in like they are this is where they are liable to end up, picking 12th (or worse). That means no Knueppel most likely. I don't think any of these 3 guys make sense, but Nique Clifford\Carter Bryant\Noa Essengue\Asa Newell could all be potential pciks
#13\ATL - Nique Clifford. Comps: Middleton, Hart, Bane
Clifford nearly led Colorado State to the Sweet 16, slinging a bullseye pass from the low post to a 3-point shooter, before Maryland hit a buzzer-beater to rip their hearts out. But the play was emblematic of Clifford’s game as a do-it-all wing who can pass when he needs to, which would make him a perfect fit with the Hawks alongside Trae Young. Clifford defends multiple positions, crashes the boards, and scores from everywhere. But as a super senior with only Mountain West pedigree, he lacks experience against high-level competition despite his age; his NCAA tournament success began to minimize that concern though.
Would fit nice next to Scoot\Simons as well I would imagine....
#14\DAL -Nolan Traore. Comps: Dejounte Murray, Scoot
I could see DAL picking up a young PG to be mentored by Irving and eventually replace him when Irving moves on
#15\SA - Noa Essengue. Comps: Batum, Aminu
Two ex-Blazer comps. Seems like a high risk\reward, like Salaun was LY
Another French guy in San Antonio. And why not? Essengue is a toolsy forward with a fluid handle, dynamic finishing package, and highly versatile defense. But his long-term upside hinges on the jumper clicking. The Spurs are developing a strong track record of helping shooters. And if it doesn’t, his finishing and versatile defense are enough to make him a great French fit next to Wemby.
#16\ORL Liam McNeeley. Comps: Keegan Murray, Kispert
This would be funny since ORL took Da Silva LY (& Jett Howard the year before). Can't figure their front office out, they should look to trade one of their picks for a shooting vet (Simons comes to mind, but there are many others out there), however their history has clearly been to build from within and add via FA, not trade. It will be curious to see if they change their strategy this offseason.
#17\BRK - Egor Demin. Comps: Giddey, Black
If Demin ended up somewhere in between Giddey & Black that would be a pretty good player
Demin has a rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes. But he’s also struggled to shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, making him more of a love-him or hate-him prospect than a sure thing. The Nets can afford to be patient, and with D’Angelo Russell, De’Anthony Melton, and Cam Thomas all entering free agency, point guard will be a position of need for the present and the future.
Wonder whether POR loves him or not? He certainly fits the type of profile that they tend to like. Long, athletic, good IQ, switchability...
#18\MIN - Carter Bryant. Comps: Jeff Green, Trevor Ariza
MIN getting Bryant would be a potential steal for them IMO, also if Bryant hits could be the eventual replacement for McDaniels.
Bryant is a rangy, athletic forward who projects as a highly versatile defender. He’s raw on offense though, as shown by his up-and-down performances with Arizona throughout the tournament and all season long. Beyond his cutting, he needs to improve as a shooter to earn minutes in high-leverage games. But with a pricy frontcourt, the Timberwolves should be making an upside investment at the forward spot.
#19\OKC - Joan Beringer. Comps: Capela, Noel
It would be just like OKC to have Philly fall to #7 or lower and then p\u a high upside guy like Beringer with their 2nd pick. I don't know much about him other than the little I have seen, but he is certainly moving up boards and seems likely he will be selected in the 1st round. How high could he climb though?
#20\UTA - Tahaad Pettiford. Comps Conley, Jennings
Talk about riding the NCAA tourney performance wave into the draft\1st round. He has not even really been mentioned in most mocks I have seen. He certainly could declare\stay in though if he got the right feedback or a promise and that seems to happen most years.
Jazz fans, are you totally certain that one of Isaiah Collier or Keyonte George is the franchise’s point guard of the future? I like both, but I’m not. Adding another point guard into the mix like Pettiford might be a wise move, especially if the Jazz are fortunate enough to land Flagg with the first pick. Pettiford comes off the bench for Auburn and has helped lead the team to the Final Four, showing his skill as a combo guard with a sniper’s touch. Pettiford rains 3s and lethal floaters while flashing playmaking savvy and a bulldog mentality on both ends. But his smaller size means he’ll need to clean up his shot selection and decision-making to max out his game at the next level.
#21\WAS - Danny Wolf. Comps: Olynyk, Kaminsky
If the Wizards don’t end up with Flagg, perhaps they look for a frontcourt fit next to Alex Sarr with this second first-round pick. Wolf is a 7-footer who helped lead Michigan to the Sweet 16 by playing a slick style with risky passes and step-back jumpers that made him a highlight factory. But he’s also a turnover machine and his shooting numbers are shaky, making him more of a raw bet who needs time to prove he can match his flash with substance.
#22\IND - Asa Newell. Comps: Brandon Clarke, Jonathan Isaac
I like Newell more than where he has been ranked in mocks, not sure I agree with these comps either. Curious to see what he ends up as a pro
The Pacers have been one of the league’s best teams for a few months now, posting the seventh-best net rating ever since the NBA Cup. But looking ahead, Myles Turner will be a free agent this summer, which means finding another big man could be a priority. Newell has springs in his legs, regularly slamming lobs and swatting shots. Tyrese Haliburton would find him more than anyone ever has. Even though his discipline reflects his youth, his energetic style suggests he'll someday become a highly versatile defender that could help fortify this Pacers defense.
#23\MIA - Will Riley. Comps: Reddish, Agbaji
Riley could be another darkhorse POR pick as he fits their type of archetype for a player
Riley has dynamic driving ability and playmaking instincts that scream upside as a jumbo-sized, shot-creating wing. Selecting him would follow the same philosophy that the Heat took with Kel’el Ware, betting that their culture and developmental success could maximize Riley’s talents. But his jumper is streaky, and his defense is unreliable since he is so lean physically and lacks fundamentals.
#24\ATL - Thomas Sorber. Comps: Valanciunas, Nurkic
#25\ORL - Walter Clayton Jr. Comps: ben Gordon, Jordan Clarkson
#26\BRK - Hugo Gonzalez. Comps: Josh Green
#27\BRK - ben Saraf. Comps: D'Angelo Russell, Satoransky
Saraf was one a lottery pick (back end) now seeing him more towards back end of the 1st round
#28\BOS - Maxime Raynaud. Comps: Brook Lopez, Rasheed Wallace
What a fit he could end up with for a BOS team that loves to shoot 3's. I like Raynaud\Condon\Ivisic\Kalkbrenner, would be smart for POR to try and get a late 1st\early 2nd to select a young b\u big, b\c I don't think any of Ayton, Williams or Reath are long for this eam
#29\PHX - Ryan Kalkbrenner. Comps: Poetl, Kessler
#30\LAC - Rasheer Fleming. Comps: nace Jr, Brandon Bass
Fleming is a hustler who drains spot-up jumpers and brings energy on defense, swatting shots and snagging boards. But he has some real warts as a ball-handler with a lack of experience against high-level competition, so teams will have to feel real confident his role player skill-set will translate. With Kawhi Leonard and James Harden handling the rock in Los Angeles, Fleming’s positive qualities could allow him to slot in right away.
