As the college basketball season goes along. Many top college basketball have stood out from the rest of the pack, but there is still room for improvement and opportunities to improve their draft stock. For most, the rest of college basketball season will be huge. For other their NBA combine performance will be enormous.
A lot can change before June, but me and fellow writer Andrew Tineo have done our best to give you what we think would happen if the NBA draft was today.
1.Cleveland Cavaliers- Zion Williamson F Duke
Who else would you go with at this spot? Williamson’s unique combination of strength, agility, and athleticism makes him look like a generational talent, that could help turn around a horrid Cleveland franchise.
2.New York Knicks- R.J. Barrett G Duke
Let me get this out of the way, I am predicting this mock draft based on predictions, not what I would do. So I am going to come out and say that if I was an NBA GM no way I’d pick R.J. Barrett top 10 in this draft. Unfortunately I’m not an NBA GM and currently the Knicks are desperate looking for a glimmer of hope for their franchise. They will take Barrett because of his scoring numbers, athleticism, large frame, and potential to be a good defender but will not worry about his shooting percentages or selfish tendencies.
3. Chicago Bulls – Ja Morant PG Murray State
Morant’s draft stock has skyrocketed since the start of the year from being a nobody to one of the bigger names in college basketball. It’s hard not to ignore his weak competition and wether he can become a reliable outside shooter, but for the Bulls this would be an outstanding pick for a young team who is going to be looking to move starting point guard Kris Dunn who is already 24 years old.
4. Pheonix Suns- Daruis Garland PG Vanderbilt
Garland tore his meniscus in his 5th college game leaving NBA scouts to wonder where Garland could go. He has a very good offensive skill set with great pull up shooting and the ability to run the pick and roll. The questions in his game include, his lack of explosiveness and size standing at only 6’2”. For the Suns this makes perfect sense as with Morant off the board Phoenix will be looking for a future franchise point guard in Garland.
5. Atlanta Hawks- Cameron Reddish G Duke
Reddish has the perfect build to be a successful wing in the NBA with a 7’1″ wingspan, a great shooting stroke, and an excellent defense. While their are many questions in his game, as Reddish has struggled at times this season at Duke. Reddish being the third option on offense and sometimes failing to make an impact could raise question for NBA teams. The Hawks could get a steal having Reddish fall this far, as he will come in being a great 3 and D guy and can only get better as his career progresses.
6. Memphis Grizzlies- Nassir Little F North Carolina
Little has had an up and down season for North Carolina, but his coming off his best game of the season against No.12 Virginia Tech scoring 23 points on 7-12 shooting. Little has a ton upside for whatever NBA team picks him, with a 7’1″ wingspan, 220 pound frame, and a great motor. For the Grizzlies another player with potential to help build a young core with Jaren Jackson Jr.
7. Orlando Magic- Romeo Langford SG Indiana
Langford is a excellent scorer inside the paint, which should translate to the NBA game, scoring 18 points a game. Langford has very good potential sporting a 6’11” wingspan and big frame that can turn him into a very good defender. The one problem that has scouts worried about Langford is his 22% shooting from the three point line. For the Magic this could be a great pick and if Langford improves his three point shot he could be the first option for the Magic for years to come.
8.Washington Wizards- Bol Bol C Oregon
Bol could definitely be the best player coming out of this draft class. At 7’3″ with a 7’8″ wingspan he is a great three point shooter, shooting it at a 53% clip and was also one of the best shot blockers in the country ranking top-15 in the country. The problem with Bol is his durability as he is still very skinny and is sidelined for the rest of the season with a foot injury. If Bol pans out he could be a franchise player for the Wizards in years going down the road.
9.Atlanta Hawks -De’Andre Hunter F Virginia
Hunter is a very fundamentally sound player and has gotten better since his freshman year at Virginia. Hunter is averaging 14 points a game and 44% from the three point line. Hunter has the potential to be a great defender and has a 7’2″ wingspan. The problem with Hunter is how much is he going to get better at the offensive end with already being 21 years old. For the Hawks this could be a really good pick and if Hunter can prove he can shoot at the NBA level. He could be one of the most effective players coming straight out of the draft.
10.Detriot Pistions – Jarrett Culver SG Texas Tech
Culver’s draft stock has sky rocketed this season becoming a fringe first rounder to a lottery pick. As a 6’6′ guard who is only getting bigger, Culver is averaging 18 points a game and has a huge role in the #1 defense in the country. The problem with picking Culver this high is he does not have franchise player upside like some of these other guys. If the Pistons are looking to win now a player like Culver can help immediately.
11.New Orleans Pelicans- Kevin Porter Jr. SG USC
With franchise star Anthony Davis recently requesting a trade, which also most likely means that second best player Jrue Holiday will also be gone. This means the Pelicans are going to have to take a risk on a player with a high upside, who could be a cornerstone on their rebuild. That player could be Kevin Porter. Porter can be a very good player on offense with very flashy plays, but lacks explosiveness to get the basket. It’s safe to say Porter is a risk but a risk New Orleans will have to take.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves- Nickeil Alexander-Walker G Virginia Tech
The Timberwolves must be in win now mode, paying their young players in Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns super max contracts. That’s why the perfect pick here would be Alexander-Walker. As his great three point shooting and his ability on the defensive end should make him a perfect 3 and D player with potential to grow.
13. Boston Celtics- Tre Jones PG Duke
With the Celtics in win now mode with a bevy of young talent and an superstar in Kyrie Irving, Jones would be the perfect pick. As the younger Jones brother is a smart player and does not make many mistakes. While his outside shooting is a concern the Celtics should be able to fix that.
14. Los Angeles Lakers- KZ Okpala F Stanford
With Lebron running the show in L.A. , the Lakers need to more outside shooting to compliment him. He’s shooting 45% from three point land and has a low turnover number while increasing his usage rate. If the Lakers want to find someone who compliments Lebron’s game, Okpala is the perfect guy.
15. Charlotte Hortnets- Keldon Johnson SG Kentucky
Johnson is a very well rounded prospect who has some potential. He needs to improve on his perimeter shot, shooting only 39% and turns the ball over a lot. This is just a safe pick for a Hornets team who is looking to improve and build around Kemba Walker.
#16 Miami Heat- Bruno Fernando C Maryland
It was apparant for a while that Hasaan Whiteside has not been happy with the Heat. And his backup is 38 year old Udonis Haslem. Fernando is one of the best Centers in CBB and is averaging a double-double with 15 PPG on 66% from the field and a solid 76% from the free throw line. If Whiteside does decide to part ways, you better believe Bruno Fernando will be in the Heat’s plans to select if he is still on the board.
#17 Brooklyn Nets- Sekou Doumbouya SF Limoges CSP
Brooklyn has to feel good about what damage they could make in the off-season. With having to re-sign D’Angelo Russell, that’s the only true problem they have (which he’ll ask for 20+ mill.). Doumbouya is one of the best players from across the sea and could be a solid bench role player in absence of DeMarre Carroll if they decide to part way.
#18 Boston Celtics- Charles Bassey C Western Kentucky
One of the top prospects in the 2018 recruiting class made the shocking decision to go to Western Kentucky. Al Horford has a brutal contract for 2 years, with paying 28 million this year and 30 million next year. I wouldn’t be too surprised if he becomes part of a packaged trade. Bassey is a monster being 6-11, 245 lbs. Out of all of these players in the 2nd half, Bassey by far has the highest ceiling and a chance to start If they do something with Horford in the off-season.
#19 Utah Jazz- Jaxson Hayes PF Texas
Jaxson Hayes is another one of those “Went to Texas, lottery pick, big man”. First it was Jarrett Allen, Then Mo Bamba. And now it’s Hayes. Hayes is an excellent big man scorer at 74% from around the rim. He averages 10 PPG and 5 Rebounds as he has came on strong during conference play. Jae Crowder’s contract is expiring and they don’t have a ton of depth at PF.
#20 San Antonio Spurs- Kris Wilkes SF UCLA
You look at this team and there is only one true SF and that’s Quincy Pondexter. Rudy Gay is considered the starter, but his contract expires at the end of the year. Wilkes is a scoring threat, averaging nearly 18 PPG and pulls down 5 rebounds a contest. He’s not going to shoot a bunch from 3, so expect him to put on some weight and attack the rim.
#21 Houston Rockets- Ashton Hagans PG Kentucky
It’s simple: Chris Paul is 33 and they need a back up plan in 2-3 years when he starts regressing and old age catches up to him. Hagans is a true project as his stats are pretty ugly. He shoots just 21% from 3 and averages a mere 7.6 PPG, but is an effective driver and finds ways to score in the paint. Paul’s got a few years left, so if they pick Hagans, there’s no need to rush a young 19 year old.
#22 Portland Trail Blazers- Ty Jerome PG Virginia
I know what you’re saying. But hear me out on this one. Portland actually has some solid young pieces at the forward and center positions in Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan. They might trade Evan Turner to get his ridiculous 18 million dollar contract off the books. To save cap space, they go out and draft a 41% 3 point shooter that shot 90% from the charity stripe a year ago. Jerome is also a bigger guard in 6-5, that can be really good defensively with his long wingspan.
#23 Oklahoma City Thunder- Moses Brown UCLA C
Steven Adams has turned into one of the best rebounding Centers in the game (especially on the offensive end). The Nerlens Noel experiment has just about run his course as he’s been on 3 teams in 4 seasons and might be let go during the offseason. The Freshman sensation from UCLA has averaged 9 rebounds per contest and shoots 64% from the field. When Steven Adams heads to the bench, Brown could come in and carry the load on the glass.
#24 Boston Celtics- Chuma Okeke SF Auburn
Jayson Tatum is referred to some as the best bench player in the NBA. But outside of him, what other true SF is there. Hayward is used now more as a 4 to give Boston more shooters on the floor. Okeke is not a 3 point shooter by any means, but has a solid mid-range and can attack the basket with his 6-8, 230 lbs. frame that he has.
#25 Philadelphia 76ers- Coby White SG North Carolina
J.J. Reddick is still doing it. But for how long is the real question? Coby White is one of those “one and done” players and has made a mark in the ACC with averaging 15 PPG on 4 assists a contest. Reddick has an expiring contract, but more than likely will re-sign on another one year deal. White is extra protection and brings youth to the bench.
#26 Indiana Pacers- Carsen Edwards PG Purdue
I in particular love this pick and love this player. Carsen Edwards is among the best PG’s in all of College Basketball and is a guy that stayed for all 4 years. He’s a floor general and reminds me of DSJ with his explosiveness at times. Cory Joseph and Darren Collison are getting up their in age and both have expiring contracts in 2019. This would be a great move by Indiana to get a groomed, experienced Guard in the Draft.
#27 Brooklyn Nets- Jalen Smith PF Maryland
Similar to Caroll, Jared Dudley is also on a rather high contract and he more than likely could be leaving Brooklyn. Brooklyn has their Guard situation fit to a tea and has a ton of potential there. And Jarrett Allen is one of the best young shot blockers in the league. Jalen Smith will be able to get good minutes off the bench during his rookie season (and in some situations, potentially start).
#28 Golden State Warriors- Jaylen Hoard SF Wake Forest
I mean, unless an injury happens, no one GS drafts is going to start. But Andre Igoudala is on his contract year and just in case he doesn’t resign, this might be GS’s plan. Jaylen Hoard can spread the floor with his length.
#29 San Antonio Spurs- Naz Reid C LSU
Pau Gasol is 37 years old and San Antonio doesn’t have a true center that they are developing. Reid’s playing style doesn’t quite fit Poppovich’s playing style, but Reid is a good talent.
#30 Milwaukee Bucks- Eric Paschall SF Villanova
Khris Middleton could be shipped off during the offseason for a big time player to pair with Giannis. Even if that isn’t the case, the Bucks need a little bit of help on their bench and Paschall has a championship pedigree and could pay dividends for the Bucks.
Images via: Sports Illustrated
