2027 Draft Stuff

[babyjax13]

Added teams for fun. Still a low information mock, especially this early in the season. Coleman has really, really impressed me.

1. SAC: Tyran Stokes (shades of Lamar Odom, Zion Williamson)
Really good ball handler and distributor for a 6-7 player built like a tank. He has nice touch near the rim and on his passes, but poor touch on his shot. Given that he has touch in other areas, my hope is that the jumper can come around. EDIT: development on the jumper in college already looks promising.

2. HOU (BRK): Quentin Coleman
Probably the most entertaining freshman to watch. Shotmaking is very high level, makes really good reads on offense and is always aggressive.

3. CHI: Caleb Holt
Has a reputation as a really good shooter, but I think there are some things to clean up with his footwork on his shot to be more consistent. Moves well off-ball and can get free cutting to the rim or from three. Defensively seems to have good anticipation at jumping passing lanes. Not an elite athlete, doesn't have an elite handle, kind of slow. EDIT: not shooting well so far in college but was legitimately decent off ball as a shooter for team USA, I think it comes around.

4. OKC (LAC): Bruce Branch (shades of Mikal Bridges)
Lacks strength and handle is loose (but improving, if the exhibition is anything to go by). Jumper should develop, moves reasonably well off-ball. Decent vision as a passer. Defensively he is disruptive on and off ball with his length.

5. NOP (MIL): Stefan Joksimović (shades of Franz Wagner)
The handle is really good for someone who is 6-8, but bad for someone who is a point guard. Shows good vision, sometimes has the ability to control the pace of the game. Vertically explosive, certainly wants to finish over people. Physically has a bit of a narrow frame and so he can get pushed out of position or thrown off by contact but he goes to the rim hard enough that his rim pressure is an advantage. I am kind of skeptical about the shot - he has somewhat of an inconsistent form even if it is going in. I think he will fill a similar role to a Franz Wagner/Brandon Ingram/Gordon Hayward as a jumbo pseudo-point guard in a lot of sets - this role would also maximize his off-ball movement.

6. MEM (UTA): Jordan Smith (shades of Marcus Smart, Jrue Holiday, Eric Bledsoe)
Relentless competitor. Defensively has great anticipation and lateral speed. Strong for his height. Offensively he can put pressure on the rim and his jumper has developed, but it still isn't great. Can move the ball and create opportunities, but not an elite distributor. Feels like he will fill that Jalen Suggs role on a team.

7. ATL (NOP): Motiejus Krivas
Soft hands, really skilled offensively. Makes the right (simple) reads with his passing, has nice footwork inside, can finish through contact and is fairly fluid. I think he will have a three point shot that matters at the pro level. Defensively can be a bit slow footed, but that is the worst I can really say. Again, really fluid and coordinated, and just massive. EDIT: I really want to move him into the top-5.

8. HOU (PHX): Jaxon Richardson
I think he is pretty underrated. The jumper looks pretty decent, the athleticism pops (think well above average, but maybe not elite). I think he even might have a decent handle. Defensively he has good anticipation and physicality. If someone randomly rises into the top-8, it may be Richardson.

<Obinna Ekezie Jr. somewhere around here, maybe?>

9. GSW: Dame Sarr
Looks to be much improved this season in the exhibition against Tennessee. Much more aggressive on offense, improved handle, looks like a different player - the player people hoped he might become if they had watched him in international competitions.

10. CHA: Hugo Yimga Moukouri
Ugly shot, decent athlete with a good motor, developing handle. Reminds me a lot of early career Jerami Grant (which, a lot of players do). Moves like an NBA player and if the touch improves he will be good.

11. ORL: Billy Richmond
His shot has developed and he hits wide open threes. I think the form is going to continue getting cleaned up. Good cutter who puts pressure on the rim, can attack a bent defense. Defensive menace, good anticipation with elite length and vertical + lateral athleticism. I think there is a good chance he returns top-5 value in this draft just by being an excellent 4th starter on a team (think Robert Covington/Derrick Jones Jr. in terms of impact).

12. CHA (DAL): Alijah Arenas
Big, with an advanced handle for his size, the ability to penetrate to the rim, and good defensive potential. The shot needs to improve, if it does, he could go in the upper half of the lottery.

13. WAS: Jason Crowe Jr.
Can score in a myriad of ways, creative handle, deadly stepback, beautiful shot. Reminds me a bit of Keyonte George.

14. MEM: Braylon Mullins
There is a good chance that he will be the best shooter in the draft (Trey McKinney is the other guy that jumps out right now as a shooter). Has some secondary ball handling potential and won't be a complete liability on defense. A bit of a narrow frame, might not be able to defend up a position very well. A team with a big point guard would be ideal.

15. IND: Patrick Ngongba II
Good passer for a center (not outlier), I believe in the shot. A bit short but I think the wingspan makes up for it. Not as athletic as someone like Okongwu, but I think he is somewhat comparable to him or WCJ, or Kevon Looney as a bit of a secondary playmaker who can step out to hit a three. I liked him quite a bit when he was a backup to Maluach.

16. MIA: Ivan Kharchenkov
6-8 and can shoot, dribble, and pass. That is an NBA player - don't overthink it.

17. BRK (NYK): JJ Andrews
Andrews is a very good athlete with good size as a wing. His jumper is a work in progress but doesn't look terrible, moves well off-ball, extremely high energy. He is a guy who, if his offense develops, will have a chance to rise a lot by the time the draft comes. I think his works case scenario is kind of a bigger Isaac Okoro.

18. SAS (ATL): Miikka Muurinen (shades of John Collins)
Can shoot, attack the rim, and gets some weakside blocks. Makes some really bad passes, can bet beaten laterally on defense, and I am not sure how much strength his frame can add. Reminds me a bit of John Collins.

19. UTA (CLE): Tomislav Ivisic (shades of Jusuf Nurkic)
I'll be mocking Tomislav to Utah all year because he is such a perfect fit for what we ask for in a center. He is big, he can rebound, and he is a fantastic passer on handoffs, in the high post, and facilitating actions at the top of the lane. He could be a better rim protector; reminds me a lot of Nurkic - but Nurkic has been revitalized in Utah. There just is no better player-team fit than Tomislav and Utah.

20. MEM (LAL): Daniel Jacobson
7-4 and looks mobile for the size. Has some touch inside.

21. OKC (DEN): Baba Oladotun
Really, really raw, but interesting frame and hypothetical skillset.

22. PHX (MIN): Deron Rippey Jr. (shades of Tony Parker, Eric Bledsoe, Marcus Banks)
A bit small, but his physicality gives him an advantage over someone small and skinny like Tanner. Aggressive, can finish through contact, really athletic for his size. I think he will be a solid shooter and passer based on the early returns, and a better defender than his height suggests. He should (and probably has) watch a lot of Tony Parker tape.

23. POR: Thomas Haugh
I'll admit to thinking Haugh is overrated. At the end of the first he is fine, but I don't see anything but a high energy roleplayer who probably isn't a starting-caliber guy.

24. MEM (CLE): Rueben Chinyelu
I think Chinyelu's physicality is going to translate to the league. There should be a big run on centers in this draft, too, because there is a huge shortage of rotation quality guys at the position.

25. LAC (TOR): Trey McKenney
Can shoot the leather off the ball. Physical, can finish because of that physicality but not an above-the-rim player. Not going to be a pure point guard or primary ball-handler. Right place, right time player. Competes defensively but doesn't generate steals. There is a decent chance he is a 4-year player unless he really moves up boards in what looks like a weak draft.

26. TOR (OKC): Matas Vokietaitis
I think Matas is phyiscally ready for the league now. He should be low usage, and rebound the ball at an extremely high rate. I think he will be a solid but foul-prone defender. Most teams could use a guy like him in their rotation.

27. BOS: Tyler Tanner
Tanner is just so small, I don't know if he can make it despite the talent - but a team should take a shot on him in the first round because if he does make it he probably outperforms his draft position.

28. PHI: Milan Momcilovic
Momcilovic will shoot and have low usage. A playoff team will want him on their bench.

29. DET: Nikolas Khamenia
6-8 and can shoot, dribble, and pass. Not a good athlete, but I think this is an NBA player.

30. SAC (SAS): David Mirkovic
I think Mirkovic is just a heady player who will figure out how to be effective in the NBA and could outperform his draft position if he can defend up to center. He can shoot, dribble, and pass, and he has outlier basketball IQ.

31. Malachi Moreno
32. Anthony Thompson
33. Jasper Johnson
34. Jalen Haralson
35. Tounde Yessoufou
36. Luigi Suigo
37. Massamba Diop
38. Christian Collins
39. Silas Demary
40. Johann Grunloh
41. Andrej Stojakovic
42. JT Toppin
43. Neoklis Avdalas
44. Matt Able
45. Jeremy Fears Jr.
46. Moustapha Thiam
47. Jojo Tugler
48. Eric Reibe
49. Dash Daniels
50. Shon Abaev
51. John Blackwell
52. Myles Byrd
53. Amari Allen
54. Coen Carr
55. Pryce Sandfort
56. Karter Knox
57. Zvonimir Ivisic
58. Juke Harris
59. Donnie Freeman
60. Alex Condon

Bubble: Boogie Fland

Also interested in: Arafane Diane, Colben Landrew, Caleb Gaskins, Jacob Furphy, Talis Soulhac (2nd), Darius Adams, Cayden Boozer (2nd), Darren Harris, Declan Duru (2nd), Flory Bidunga (2nd), Kanon Catchings (2nd), Magoon Gwath (2nd), Kwame Evans (2nd), Cole Rosario (2nd), Taylor Bol Bowen (2nd), Eric Dailey (2nd), (2nd), Tahaad Pettiford (2nd), Aden Holloway (2nd), Joson Sanon (2nd), PJ Haggerty (2nd), Mackenzie Mgbako (2nd), Robert Wright (2nd), Caleb Foster (2nd), Baye Ndongo (2nd), Blake Harper (2nd), Adrian Wooley (2nd), Jarin Stevenson (2nd), Aaron Bradshaw (2nd), Ognjen Srzentic (2nd), Michael Ruzic (2nd), Mouhamed Faye (2nd), Pavle Backo (2nd), Derek Dixon (2nd)

Guessing 2028: Brandon McCoy, Obinna Ekezie Jr., Quinn Costello, Cameron Williams, Dylan Mingo, Abdou Toure, Omer Mayer, Mario Saint-Suprey, Tajh Ariza, Ikenna Alozie, Daniel Jacobsen, Quron Elliott, Adam Atamna, Fallou Mbow, Ian Jackson, Isiah Harwell

[babyjax13]

Big Board (plausible high-end upside)

Tier 1 (future MVP candidate):
None

Tier 2 (all NBA + multi-time all star):
Tyran Stokes

Tier 3 (multi-time all-star):
Quentin Coleman
Stefan Joksimović

Tier 4 (maybe an all-star, probably a good starter):
Jordan Smith
Bruce Branch
Caleb Holt
Motiejus Krivas

Tier 5 (solid starter):
Billy Richmond
Braylon Mullins

[Chuck Everett]

Big Board (plausible high-end upside)

Tier 1 (future MVP candidate):
None

Tier 2 (all NBA + multi-time all star):
None

Tier 3 (multi-time all-star):
Tyran Stokes

Tier 4 (maybe an all-star, probably a good starter):
Jordan Smith
Bruce Branch
Caleb Holt

Tier 5 (solid starter):
Motiejus Krivas
Billy Richmond
Braylon Mullins

Richmond's a backup. Quality backup, but if he's a starter for anyone it's because he's next to a superstar or we are terrible. I look at him like Desmond Mason or Fred Jones (though he is taller than both) I love the guy as an athlete and think he'll find a role but I don't think I would want him starting.

[babyjax13]

Big Board (plausible high-end upside)

Tier 1 (future MVP candidate):
None

Tier 2 (all NBA + multi-time all star):
None

Tier 3 (multi-time all-star):
Tyran Stokes

Tier 4 (maybe an all-star, probably a good starter):
Jordan Smith
Bruce Branch
Caleb Holt

Tier 5 (solid starter):
Motiejus Krivas
Billy Richmond
Braylon Mullins

Richmond's a backup. Quality backup, but if he's a starter for anyone it's because he's next to a superstar or we are terrible. I look at him like Desmond Mason or Fred Jones (though he is taller than both) I love the guy as an athlete and think he'll find a role but I don't think I would want him starting.

I think there is more there. I think the shot is going to come around, and he has some basic ability to attack the basket with his handle. Defensively he should be a monster. I am not saying he will be Paul George, but could he be kind of in that Robert Covington/Derrick Jones Jr. tier of useful starters? I think so.

[Cammo101]

Richmond will need to raise his offensive output to be this level or prospect. Not saying it can't happen for him, but given what we have seen so far this is a bit rich for him. I do like him though, in a glue guy sort of way.

[babyjax13]

Preseason overreaction: I have Coleman at #2. He is such a fun player.