Alex Sarr
C
France
• 7’1″
/ 217 lbs
Projected Team
Atlanta
|
PROSPECT RNK
1st
|
POSITION RNK
1st
|
PPG
9.4
|
RPG
4.3
|
APG
0.9
|
BPG
1.3
|
To be clear, if I’m the Hawks, I’m looking to be very active on the trade market. They mortgaged their future to pair Trae Young with Dejounte Murray, are about to be in the luxury tax and were ten games below .500. Everything should be on the table, from star players to top picks. But whether they make this pick or someone else, Sarr is the favorite. He’s a mobile 7-footer with an elastic build, clear defensive versatility and upside, but the offense and rebounding both need to keep evolving.
|
Connecticut
• Soph
• 7’2″
/ 280 lbs
Projected Team
Washington
|
PROSPECT RNK
7th
|
POSITION RNK
2nd
|
PPG
13
|
RPG
7.4
|
APG
1.5
|
3P%
25%
|
The Wizards won 15 games this year and neither one of their two leading scorers, Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole, are likely part of their long-term plans. Deni Avdija made a nice jump last year, Corey Kispert looks like a true pro and they’re invested in Bilal Coulibaly after taking him in last year’s lottery. The biggest hole is up front and, if Sarr goes at No. 1, Clingan could be a fit. This seems high for him, but given his defensive dominance and untapped offensive potential, letting him grow as part of that young group is a plausible scenario.
|
Nikola Topic
PG
Serbia
• 6’6″
/ 201 lbs
Projected Team
Houston
|
PROSPECT RNK
3rd
|
POSITION RNK
2nd
|
PPG
15.1
|
RPG
3.4
|
APG
5.7
|
3P%
30.6%
|
The last thing the Rockets need is another young wing. Both Sarr and Clingan would likely be in play here if they’re available, providing a defensive oriented young big to complement Alperen Sengun and provide an insurance policy if he and Jalen Green can’t figure out how to be at their best together. The other thing they could use is a point guard to develop behind 30-year-old Fred VanVleet. Topic provides that as a big lead guard and alleged pick-and-roll playmaker, albeit one who needs to become a more reliable shooter to compensate for his lack of explosiveness.
|
Zaccharie Risacher
SF
France
• 6’9″
/ 204 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
|
PROSPECT RNK
5th
|
POSITION RNK
1st
|
PPG
10.6
|
RPG
3.6
|
APG
1.0
|
3P%
38.8%
|
The Spurs have their star for the next generation in Victor Wembanyama. Now, it’s about building out the supporting cast and that begins with increased shooting and floor spacing. Risacher, although he’s had bouts of being streaky, is a big 3-and-D style wing who should be capable of doing just that. The fact that he is also from France, certainly doesn’t hurt either.
|
Matas Buzelis
SF
G League Ignite
• 6’8″
/ 209 lbs
Projected Team
Detroit
|
PROSPECT RNK
6th
|
POSITION RNK
1st
|
PPG
14.3
|
RPG
6.9
|
APG
1.9
|
3P%
27.3%
|
I hate to subscribe to mock draft groupthink, but Buzelis makes some sense here. Ironically, I’m less optimistic than most about his shooting potential, after making just 27% of his 3-pointers this season, but have always thought his best upside as a playmaking four – which is a void that Detroit currently has amidst their young pieces, thus allowing him to maximize his mismatch potential.
|
Ron Holland
SF
G League Ignite
• 6’6″
/ 204 lbs
Projected Team
Charlotte
|
PROSPECT RNK
9th
|
POSITION RNK
2nd
|
PPG
20.6
|
RPG
6.6
|
APG
3.2
|
3P%
24.0%
|
I am higher on Holland than most and have him even higher on my personal board than this. He’s competitive, with solid wing size and improved shooting. I also think pairing him with Brandon Miller, although counterintuitive at first, could work as Holland’s motor, physicality and defensive oriented pedigree could be a nice complement for last year’s No. 2 overall pick.
|
Kentucky
• Fr
• 6’3″
/ 187 lbs
Projected Team
Portland
|
PROSPECT RNK
8th
|
POSITION RNK
1st
|
PPG
12.5
|
RPG
4.1
|
APG
4.5
|
3P%
52.1%
|
The big question in Portland is whether or not the trio of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe is the backcourt of the future. Sheppard provides both an insurance policy if the answer is no and even a valuable complement if the answer is yes, because he has on/off ball versatility, defensive playmaking, ridiculous shooting splits (albeit not in high school) and elite intangibles.
|
Kentucky
• Fr
• 6’3″
/ 176 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
|
PROSPECT RNK
4th
|
POSITION RNK
3rd
|
PPG
15.2
|
RPG
2.9
|
APG
3.9
|
3P%
44.4%
|
Dillingham is admittedly not the first guy I would associate with the perception of Spurs culture, but he’s as dynamic and skilled a shot-maker as there is in this class. If he buys in, it could unlock some high upside outcomes. An incoming duo of Dillingham and Risacher would immediately improve San Antonio’s spacing around Wemby.
|
Connecticut
• Fr
• 6’6″
/ 215 lbs
Projected Team
Memphis
|
PROSPECT RNK
2nd
|
POSITION RNK
1st
|
PPG
11.1
|
RPG
4.7
|
APG
2.9
|
3P%
26.7%
|
The Grizzlies need a center who is capable of making an immediate impact. Clingan may be the only player who fits that description. If he’s on the board, they shouldn’t hesitate. If not, thay may shop the pick. Otherwise, Castle gives them two-way versatility, one of the better defenders in the class and potential upside if the on-ball creation or shooting ever pops.
|
Tennessee
• Sr
• 6’6″
/ 213 lbs
Projected Team
Utah
|
PROSPECT RNK
11th
|
POSITION RNK
2nd
|
PPG
21.7
|
RPG
4.9
|
APG
1.8
|
3P%
39.7%
|
Holland and Castle are atop my “Danny Ainge type of guys” list. A backcourt of Knecht and Keyonte George concerns me on the defensive end, but Knecht is one of the most NBA-ready perimeter scorers in this draft and so if the aforementioned two are off the board, his talent might be too much to pass up.
|
Tidjane Salaun
SF
France
• 6’9″
/ 212 lbs
Projected Team
Chicago
|
PROSPECT RNK
14th
|
POSITION RNK
2nd
|
PPG
9.5
|
RPG
3.8
|
APG
0.9
|
3P%
31.8%
|
Even with uncertainty around the future of Lonzo Ball, Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan, Chicago has found some long-term pieces on the perimeter with the ascension of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. Salaun gives them size, athleticism, energy and upside at a position where they lack a clear long-term option.
|
Colorado
• Fr
• 6’8″
/ 190 lbs
PPG
11.9
|
RPG
3
|
APG
1.6
|
3P%
41.5%
|
Big brother Jalen Williams is on the verge of being an all-star in just his second season in the league. The narrative on Cody has always been that he is more naturally talented and farther along at a similar stage. It’s hard to envision OKC passing on a chance to see if he ascends at a similar rate here.
|
Duke
• Fr
• 6’3″
/ 197 lbs
Projected Team
Sacramento
|
PROSPECT RNK
13th
|
POSITION RNK
5th
|
PPG
14.3
|
RPG
5
|
APG
1.9
|
3P%
41.4%
|
If they lose Malik Monk in free agency, there could be a notable hole in the backcourt and McCain is the best equipped to attempt to fill those minutes. His shooting, energy and increasing on/off ball versatility make him intriguing in what would be a homecoming of sorts.
|
Duke
• Soph
• 7’0″
/ 248 lbs
Projected Team
Portland
|
PROSPECT RNK
12th
|
POSITION RNK
3rd
|
PPG
16.4
|
RPG
8.3
|
APG
2.8
|
3P%
34.8%
|
Filipowski is a highly skilled big who would give them both a contingency plan behind DeAndre Ayton and a change-up, who could potentially provide some inverted playmaking to highlight their young and developing perimeter scorers.
|
USC
• Fr
• 6’5″
/ 210 lbs
Projected Team
Miami
|
PROSPECT RNK
10th
|
POSITION RNK
4th
|
PPG
16.3
|
RPG
2.9
|
APG
4.3
|
3P%
33.8%
|
Collier is a big and physical lead guard who creates tempo, sees the floor and can thrive in pick-and-roll. The shooting remains a question mark and while he underachieved defensively this year, he has the tools to be effective on that end, especially in Miami’s culture.
|
Baylor
• Fr
• 6’5″
/ 195 lbs
Projected Team
Philadelphia
|
PROSPECT RNK
15th
|
POSITION RNK
3rd
|
PPG
14.5
|
RPG
4.4
|
APG
1.4
|
3P%
34.1%
|
Walter has both shooting and defensive potential that could make him a valuable 3-and-D style secondary piece around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, assuming that he’s able to keep progressing in both of those areas.
|
Providence
• Jr
• 6’3″
/ 195 lbs
Projected Team
L.A. Lakers
|
PROSPECT RNK
21st
|
POSITION RNK
6th
|
PPG
19.7
|
RPG
8.7
|
APG
3.6
|
3P%
37.7%
|
Carter may be the most competitive player in this year’s draft. He’s not going to back down from the challenge of helping LeBron and company and if the shooting holds up, he may be able to do it right away.
|
Kansas
• Fr
• 6’9″
/ 202 lbs
Projected Team
Orlando
|
PROSPECT RNK
20th
|
POSITION RNK
6th
|
PPG
9
|
RPG
4.9
|
APG
1
|
3P%
35.2%
|
They’d love to get a shooter like Knecht or McCain here, but if they’re both off the board, Furphy could make sense. He’s still so young and going to require a lot of patience, but has shown an accelerated learning curve.
|
Virginia
• Soph
• 6’8″
/ 216 lbs
Projected Team
Toronto
|
PROSPECT RNK
25th
|
POSITION RNK
4th
|
PPG
8.1
|
RPG
6.9
|
APG
0.8
|
3P%
20%
|
The Raptors have prioritized long athletes in the middle of their lineup for years and yet, suddenly find themselves without many right now. Dunn fits that mold and is one of the truly elite defenders in the draft.
|
Baylor
• Fr
• 7’0″
/ 235 lbs
Projected Team
Cleveland
|
PROSPECT RNK
24th
|
POSITION RNK
4th
|
PPG
10.7
|
RPG
5.6
|
APG
0.4
|
BPG
1.5
|
If Cleveland ever elects to break up their twin towers of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, this would give them a rim-running, shot-blocking, lob threat waiting in the wings to develop.
|
Marquette
• Sr
• 6’3″
/ 195 lbs
Projected Team
New Orleans
|
PROSPECT RNK
29th
|
POSITION RNK
7th
|
PPG
15.3
|
RPG
4.9
|
APG
7.7
|
3P%
38.8%
|
Kolek is a maestro in the pick-and-roll and was actually a knockdown shooter in high school. He also has elite intangibles and floor vision, which fit nicely with this Pelicans roster.
|
Pittsburgh
• Fr
• 6’5″
/ 190 lbs
Projected Team
Phoenix
|
PROSPECT RNK
31st
|
POSITION RNK
8th
|
PPG
13.8
|
RPG
5.2
|
APG
4.1
|
3P%
32.2%
|
The temptation will be to find someone capable of playing immediate minutes, but if they elect to take a swing given their lack of first-rounders in the future, Carrington has high-upside outcomes down the road that make him intriguing.
|
Colorado
• Sr
• 6’9″
/ 220 lbs
Projected Team
Milwaukee
|
PROSPECT RNK
23rd
|
POSITION RNK
4th
|
PPG
16
|
RPG
5.1
|
APG
2.4
|
3P%
39.5%
|
A well-rounded role player who can space the floor, move the ball and be a scoring threat without much volume, da Silva could be a nice plug-and-play option here.
|
Kansas
• Sr
• 6’7″
/ 212 lbs
Projected Team
New York
|
PROSPECT RNK
39th
|
POSITION RNK
11th
|
PPG
18.3
|
RPG
6
|
APG
4.1
|
3P%
33.3%
|
Tom Thibodeau loves defense and McCullar is as good as anyone here. The overall culture of the current Knicks should be a fit, too, as they could add another versatile, multi-positional guy in the middle of the lineup.
|
Purdue
• Sr
• 7’4″
/ 300 lbs
Projected Team
New York
|
PROSPECT RNK
28th
|
POSITION RNK
5th
|
PPG
25.2
|
RPG
12.2
|
APG
2
|
3P%
50%
|
The Knicks have a two-headed monster at the center position right now, but if they lose Isaiah Hartenstein to free agency, the two-time college basketball player of the year would be a definite option to be their back-up big.
|
Tyler Smith
PF
G League Ignite
• 6’11”
/ 224 lbs
Projected Team
Washington
|
PROSPECT RNK
27th
|
POSITION RNK
5th
|
PPG
13.4
|
RPG
5
|
APG
1.2
|
3P%
36.4%
|
Smith is a legitimate floor-spacing southpaw and an underrated athlete on top of that. With Clingan and Smith, Washington walks away with two quality long-term assets up front.
|
Kentucky
• Fr
• 6’8″
/ 203 lbs
Projected Team
Minnesota
|
PROSPECT RNK
32nd
|
POSITION RNK
5th
|
PPG
8.8
|
RPG
3.4
|
APG
0.9
|
3P%
36.5%
|
Edwards didn’t live up to expectations at Kentucky this year, but showed flashes of what made him a five-star prospect in high school. There are plenty of people who haven’t given up on the big lefty wing yet.
|
Dayton
• Jr
• 6’10”
/ 235 lbs
Projected Team
Denver
|
PROSPECT RNK
17th
|
POSITION RNK
3rd
|
PPG
20.4
|
RPG
8.5
|
APG
2.6
|
3P%
38.6%
|
An athletic big who made notable strides with his shooting this year, Holmes could provide a back-up for Nikola Jokic and maybe even slide over to the four at times.
|
Indiana
• Soph
• 7’0″
/ 242 lbs
Projected Team
Utah
|
PROSPECT RNK
40th
|
POSITION RNK
6th
|
PPG
15.9
|
RPG
9.9
|
APG
1.5
|
3P%
42.5%
|
Ware’s inside-out talent has been glaring since high school and after showing significant growth this year, he may be worth the risk for a Utah team that has a surplus of draft picks in the coming years.
|
Sweden
• Fr
• 6’10”
/ 225 lbs
Projected Team
Boston
|
PROSPECT RNK
30th
|
POSITION RNK
6th
|
PPG
10.2
|
RPG
4.7
|
APG
0.9
|
3P%
33.7%
|
He’s the type of versatile plug-and-play two-way player that can fit a lot of holes and provide roster flexibility for a Boston team that could use some added depth and versatility in their second unit.
|