3. Portland Trail Blazers
Brandon Miller | 6-9 forward | 20 years old | Alabama
The Blazers will look to trade this pick. That much was made clear in April when Damian Lillard said in his exit interview that he “wasn’t interested” in adding more youth to the roster. “That’s not a secret,’’ Lillard told reporters. “I want a chance to go for it. And if the route is to (draft youth), then that’s not my route.’’ Now, for the sake of this exercise, and if the Blazers can’t find a suitable haul for the third pick, they would be well served to pick Miller, who is not only the best player remaining but has the size and skill set to help immediately. —Jason Quick
4. Houston Rockets
Cam Whitmore | 6-7 wing | 18 years old | Villanova
We might not see anything happen until they’re actually on the clock, but I fully expect the Rockets to trade this pick when it’s all said and done. But in the event that they don’t and opt for the best player available, I can easily see the Rockets’ brass falling in love with Whitmore. If there’s one thing this team lacks, it’s dynamic, high-upside scoring wings.
Whitmore’s offensive game and its potential jump off the page — with high-level shot creation, power and smoothness to his game. Whitmore’s overall feel for the game and his defensive acumen need fine-tuning but he strikes a poised, confident figure that can step in and contribute from Day 1. —Kelly Iko
5. Detroit Pistons
Amen Thompson | 6-7 guard | 20 years old | Overtime Elite
Given that Detroit, the league’s worst team this past season, got the short end of the stick, I think the organization goes with the highest-upside player – assuming the Pistons keep the pick – and that’s Thompson. He’s athletically gifted, processes the game well and has interesting defensive chops. His shooting has a way to go, but if that clicks, we could be looking at someone who could be in the top-three in a redraft five years from now.
Thompson projects as a lead ballhandler, and with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, things could get weird. However, Thompson has great upside and the Pistons could hit a home run, even at No. 5, if all breaks right in development. —James Edwards III
6. Orlando Magic
Anthony Black | 6-7 guard | 19 years old | Arkansas
The Magic front office values positional size, and Black has plenty of size for a point guard. He can defend at the point of attack. But the quality the Magic front office really values is smarts, and Black has that all-important quality, too. Don’t take this choice as reflecting on Markelle Fultz’s long-term fit in Orlando (or even Jalen Suggs’ or Cole Anthony’s fits). Consider it taking a swing for a high-upside player. —Josh Robbins
7. Indiana Pacers
Jarace Walker | 6-8 forward | 19 years old | Houston
The Pacers are not at the point where they can draft to a specific need, but Walker, the University of Houston power forward, fits the bill as the best player available at No. 7 and as a player who fills the team’s greatest need. Indiana tried to make-do at power forward with undersized Aaron Nesmith and, later in the season, new arrival Jordan Nwora, but still lacked rebounding and defense. Walker helps in both areas. Don’t be surprised if the Pacers, who have three first-round picks, attempt to move up, possibly with Portland, an organization that wants to put Damian Lillard in more of a win-now mode. If they remain in place, Walker is a solid choice. —Bob Kravitz
8. Washington Wizards
Taylor Hendricks | 6-9 forward | 19 years old | UCF
A combo forward with positional size who can be a solid 3-and-D player right off the bat — and has outstanding upside? I think the Wizards would sign up on the spot. Would there be overlap with Deni Avdija? Yes. But Washington should take the best (and highest-upside) player available. —Josh Robbins
9. Utah Jazz
Ausar Thompson | 6-7 wing | 20 years old | Overtime Elite
Ausar is the less celebrated of the Thompson twins, mainly because he’s played off the ball for most of his career. But Ausar has the same kind of elite athleticism, the same playmaking chops and defensive chops as Amen. He just hasn’t been a point guard to this point of his career. Without his brother, I believe his upside as a playmaker and primary ballhandler gives him a shot at leading a team at some point in his career. As is, he’s a point forward who can help a team in a number of ways. But the upside here is real. He could end up being a star for the Jazz. —Tony Jones
10. Dallas Mavericks
Bilal Coulibaly | 6-7 wing | 18 years old | Metropolitans 92
Hear me out: The Mavericks are exceptionally unlikely to keep the No. 10 pick. They’re in a very tricky spot as they prepare for this coming season for two reasons: 1) They’re expecting to re-sign Kyrie Irving to a backcourt of Luka Dončić and promising young combo guard Jaden Hardy, and 2) they want to win now. Not unexpectedly, the draft’s best wing prospects went in the three-to-nine range, which leaves Dallas with the options of high-ceiling developmental wings who need time or yet another combo guard who wouldn’t have many minutes to play.
But the Mavericks desperately need defenders, and Coulibaly has been the league’s fastest-rising prospect over the past few weeks. He projects as a potential NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate — at least optimistically— even if he needs plenty of time for that potential to be realized, but if Dallas were to keep this pick, they might target him as an option. It’s very possible he isn’t drafted anywhere near this high. But if Dallas keeps this pick, it might be the best available option for a franchise that has long had a proclivity for European-born players. —Tim Cato
11. Orlando Magic (via Chicago Bulls)
Gradey Dick | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Kansas
This freshman wing can really shoot from long range, and the Magic need long-range shooting to complement Paolo Banchero, Markelle Fultz and others. Can shooting be taught at the NBA level? Yes. But Orlando wouldn’t have to do much teaching on that critical skill. The Magic coaching staff could then focus on improving his defense. —Josh Robbins
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Kobe Bufkin | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Michigan
Bufkin is the most complete player left on the board. He can shoot, pass, handle and defend. He measured a bit taller than expected this week at the combine, which could allow for more versatility on defense. The Thunder are building one of the most versatile teams in the league, and decision-making is one of the traits that all of their lottery picks possess thus far. Bufkin fits that mold. He would be a bench player from the start, and could bring some much-needed scoring punch as a reserve. The Thunder will need to address their need for more size in the frontcourt at some point, but the ability to add another versatile guard to the mix gives OKC even more upside moving forward. —Andrew Schlecht
13. Toronto Raptors
Cason Wallace | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Kentucky
It was awfully tempting to go with Canadian Leonard Miller here, but he was a bit too much of a project for me to pull the trigger on, especially given he has a similar frame and vague skill set as Scottie Barnes. The Raptors should not “draft for need” here, but that’s fine, since they need a lot. After they acquired Jakob Poeltl last year, the Raptors’ biggest remaining hole defensively was at the point of attack. Unless it was O.G. Anunoby as the primary defender, they were getting exploited. It’s foolish to expect any rookie to fix that, but Wallace at least profiles as someone who will be able to do that eventually.
His back injury is worrying, so obviously this pick is dependent on a clean enough physical. However, the Raptors have no sure things at guard behind likely unrestricted free agent Fred VanVleet. He is a good enough standstill shooter with the potential to improve, and he has good touch in floater range. —Screech Powers
*INGRAM*ALLSTARSEASON* JaKobe Starter
