Balkmania Mock Draft (Bender #2 +a few comments)

[balkmania]

Aside from Dragen Bender I am not as familiar with the International prospects this year so I might have missed a few.

1 Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons
2 Los Angeles Lakers: Dragen Bender - Last year the Lakers passed on Porzingis. I can see the Lakers taking the big gamble.
3 Boston Celtics: Brandon Ingram
4 Phoenix Suns: Jaylen Brown - I feel this is too early for Brown but he fills a positional need and has a high ceiling.
5 Minnesota Timberwolves: Jamal Murray
6 New Orleans Pelicans: Kris Dunn
7 Denver Nuggets: Buddy Hield
8 Sacramento Kings: Denzel Valentine -If not for the first round loss I think he'd be getting more hype as a top 10 talent.
9 Toronto Raptors: Deyonta Davis- Its possible another team overpays big time for Biyombo. Deyonta would be insurance.
10 Milwaukee Bucks: Damontas Sabonis - I am high on Sabonis and see him as an eventual upgrade over Greg Monroe.
11 Orlando Magic: Jakob Poetl
12 Utah Jazz: Taurean Prince
13 Phoenix Suns: Marquise Chriss
14 Chicago Bulls: Wade Baldwin IV
15 Denver Nuggets: Henry Ellenson
16 Boston Celtics: Skal Labissiere - If they land Ingram I think the Celtics will draft multiple project bigs (see Diallo below).
17 Memphis Grizzlies: Tyler Ullis - Skeptics point to his size, but Ullis is a strong defender and can lead a team.
18 Detroit Pistons: Demitrius Jackson - Pistons need another ball handler outside Reggie Jackson.
19 Denver Nuggets: Furkan Korkmaz
20 Indiana Pacers: DeJuante Murray - Larry Bird has said he wants to play faster. Murray's streetball skill set can help this cause.
21 Atlanta Hawks: Malachi Richardson - Last year they traded for Tim Hardaway Jr who stinks. Malachi would be an upgrade.
22 Charlotte Hornets: Brice Johnson - Mainly because of the UNC connections I'd be surprised if the Hornets passed on Brice.
23 Boston Celtics: Cheick Diallo
24 Philadelphia 76ers: Timothe Luwalu
25 Los Angeles Clippers: Malik Beasley
26 Philadelphia 76ers: Cat Barber - Incredibly productive in college. Fun Fact: from the same hometown as Allen Iverson
27 Toronto Raptors: Thon Maker
28 Phoenix Suns: Zhou Qi
29 San Antonio Spurs: Diamond Stone
30 Golden State Warriors: Kay Felder - #4 in PPG, #1 in APG in D1. Defense a concern but can be a matchup nightmare with GS.

[MessiahUjiri]

This reminds me one of those sites that push up a player for click bait.

Cmon man. You don't actually think Ingram will fall to 3. Admit that you did this for the lulz and clicks.

[Slava]

There's a better chance Lakers pick Bender over Simmons. There's really no way they pass on Ingram.

[MrMiyagi]

Celtics fan?

[ATLHawks130]

In regards to Atlanta's pick, I wouldn't mind picking Richardson, especially with Bazemore's FA status. However, I disagree with the notion that Hardaway was terrible, especially in the 2nd half of the season, where he would score ~10 points a night off the bench. He was a decent backup SG for us.


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[Spens1]

would balk (yes i got that pun in) if we draft Bender over Simmons or Ingram

[balkmania]

would balk (yes i got that pun in) if we draft Bender over Simmons or Ingram

Haha I hear you. With regards to the previous comment about Bender over Ingram being "click bait" I don't recall seeing any mocks that had the Lakers not taking Okafor. The Lakers passed on a safe top prospect from Duke last year, I wouldn't be shocked if they do that again.

[Spens1]

would balk (yes i got that pun in) if we draft Bender over Simmons or Ingram

Haha I hear you. With regards to the previous comment about Bender over Ingram being "click bait" I don't recall seeing any mocks that had the Lakers not taking Okafor. The Lakers passed on a safe top prospect from Duke last year, I wouldn't be shocked if they do that again.

that is true but i think last year it was more to do with fit and the fact that we needed a back court member. We were all agonising as to whether Okafor and Randle would be a good fit and also, the gap between the top 3 or 4 was pretty close at the end. This year unless things drastically change, its still a 2 person draft.

Also Ingram fills about 3 needs for us, 3pt shooter, wing defender and S.F starter, not to mention Bender right now is a P.F who would be contending arguably with Randle (unless they play together, which wouldn't be terrible)

if we liked Bender that much i think we would trade down to be honest. We'd trade with boston and get someone else with or maybe the 16th pick