Complex Mock Draft v2
With less than three weeks until the Pistons are on the clock and the combine behind us, the draft is rapidly approaching. Speaking of the Pistons being on the clock, will they be picking first on draft night? ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has already reported that the Pistons are gauging trade interest from teams around the league. Cleveland, Houston, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City have reportedly engaged the Pistons on what it might take to move up to the No. 1 spot to presumably take Cade Cunningham.
1. Pistons - Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State
Cade Cunningham finally puts the Pistons back on the NBA map in a big way. With two picks from last year’s draft that made the All-NBA Rookie Team this season and Jerami Grant emerging as a legitimate NBA scorer, the cupboard is not completely bare in Detroit. How the Pistons are able to bring along Killian Hayes next to Cunningham will be interesting in the upcoming years, as Hayes does not project to have great spot up shooting next to a guy who is going to have the ball in his hands a lot.
Cunningham is another big wing with the mind of a point guard. His 6’8” frame and 7’ wingspan allow for him to see over the defense in transition and pick and roll to make passes that many of his peers cannot. The one concern going into his freshman season was his outside shooting, and then he proceeded to make 40 percent of his 155 attempts, 60 percent of which came unassisted. He turned the ball over a little more than you’d like and his overall FG% of 43 is not perfect, but he was the Cowboys’ entire offense and was forced to take shots he shouldn’t have to in the NBA. He is also a very stout defender who may be able to even play some small ball 4 to get as many shooters on the court as possible.
2. Rockets - Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite
This selection is feeling more and more probable with each passing day. Between IG Live comments from Kevin Porter Jr. on Jalen Greens’ stream and the lack of rumors connecting Houston and any other player, Green is the betting favorite to hear his name second on draft night. Between Porter, Jae’Sean Tate, and Christian Wood there is little to dissuade Houston from taking any player or position, so Jalen Green should slot right into a heavy workload from the start.
Jalen Green is one of the best pure two guards to come into the league in the last handful of drafts. He has excellent size, athleticism, and shot making ability. He has an advanced skill set for getting to the spots he feels most comfortable in. Playing in the G League, under NBA veteran Brian Shaw, he is more prepared for the Association than most teenagers. Green was able to take the reins of the Ignite team and lead them in scoring, 3-point attempts, and steals. Coach Shaw gushed about his ability, character, and focus during the G League bubble, even calling him an “inevitable star.”
3. Cavaliers - Evan Mobley, C, USC
Cleveland finally catches a break in the lottery after dropping back in the last three drafts. While none of their draft picks have bombed, the roster in Cleveland continues to be a work in progress. The result is a lopsided roster that still contains too many front court players and too few shooters or playmakers. The fact of the matter is that none of the players on the roster will dictate what general manager Koby Altman does on draft night, and Evan Mobley may be too unique for him to pass up on.
How will Evan Mobley fit in with the rest of the Cavs’ roster? Jarrett Allen figures to be back after Cleveland spent a first-round pick to acquire the impending restricted free agent. Losing Allen for nothing or trading him at a loss will not be as attractive to GM Koby Altman. There are a few schools of thought when it comes to what role Mobley might play on a Cavs team that features Allen at center and incumbent power forward Kevin Love. Could Mobley come off the bench to start his career, playing both front-court positions? This would allow for the team to bring him along more slowly while also pairing him with intriguing options such as Allen, Love, or Larry Nance Jr. This would allow for Mobley to hone his wide array of skills on both ends of the floor without being too duplicative. Mobley will continue to hang his hat on his elite rim protection and ability to switch on the perimeter while providing a high floor on offense. If Mobley can turn into a shooter or more assertive scorer, the Cavs won’t have to worry about finding him a spot in the starting rotation.
4. Raptors - Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga
Is there a better fit in the draft between team and player? Kyle Lowry is most likely going to be leaving the Raptors this summer and they could not be more fortunate to hand the keys over to Jalen Suggs. By plugging in Suggs, a mature lead guard that is used to deferring and doing whatever the team needs to win, Toronto should be back contending for a playoff spot next season.
Jalen Suggs starred for the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and did not disappoint, even if his team did in the national championship game. While it has become cliché to mention, Suggs is a former four-star quarterback recruit with offers from Ohio State and Georgia. It is easy to how Suggs can translate skills from one sport to the other, whether it’s getting downhill with the ball or fitting passes in between defenders. Gonzaga’s team did not ask him to shoulder all the scoring load, but when their team’s back was up against the wall, Suggs would more than not have the ball and would deliver. The wide-open NBA game will make it even easier for Suggs to get to the rim and punish teams for switching bigs or smaller guards onto him. There are some aspects of his game that he could clean up, including his 3-point shot, turnovers, and off ball discipline, but Toronto should have one of the better environments for him to succeed in.
5. Magic - Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite
Orlando hit the reset button this season by sending their best player to Chicago and their second-best player to Denver. The organization maxed out what they could do with Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, so they collected more draft picks and guys still on their rookie deals as lottery tickets. Magic GM John Hammond came from Milwaukee and you can see how that has influenced his drafting in Orlando. The only problem, they haven’t picked their Giannis yet, so the rest of the pieces have not fell into place.
Jonathan Kuminga is somewhat of an enigma in this class. Once thought to have a chance to go No. 1 overall, Kuminga enjoyed up-and-down season during his short stint on the G League Ignite. Kuminga has a strong, thick, and developed body that will allow him to survive on both ends in the NBA right away. His role on the Ignite team afforded him the opportunity to play with the ball in his hands and make the types of decisions he would not have been able to do on most college teams. The results were mixed, as his shooting percentages were below average from most areas of the court, but his flashes reminded everyone why he was so highly touted in the first place. Will this experience allow for him to grow more quickly as a big wing creator? On a team like the Magic, he will get every opportunity to grow in a low-pressure situation.
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