The NBA Draft lottery took place Monday night in Chicago and the result was stunning. The Dallas Mavericks, who had just a 1.8 percent chance of winning, won the lottery and was awarded the No. 1 pick.
The Mavericks’ decision no what to do with that pick will be a lot less stunning. Unless they trade the pick away — and as we all know, it would not be out of character for the Mavericks to make a shocking trade – they are going to use that pick to select Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg. The 6-foot-9 freshman forward has been earmarked as a top pick ever since he was a sophomore in high school. Regardless of what happens between now and June 25 regarding trades and other transactions, Flagg will be the first player to hear his name called.
The order from there is a little less certain and will become even more unpredictable as the night goes on. There will be a lot of reshuffling as a result of this week’s NBA Draft Combine, which will wrap up on Thursday in Chicago. Here, then, is the latest version of Hoops HQ’s mock draft with the top of the draft now set in its proper order.
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, 6-foot-9 freshman forward, Duke
Dallas gives Flagg the best of both worlds — talent to play off of and enough opportunities to handle the ball in a top-option role. More offense should run through the rookie early while Kyrie Irving misses time recovering from a torn ACL. The offensive versatility and defense impact of a Flagg-Anthony Davis frontcourt will be formidable indeed.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, 6-foot-6 freshman guard, Rutgers
Harper is the consensus No. 2 prospect in the draft, and despite some questions about a fit with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, the Spurs can’t pass on the best player available. Harper and Fox would provide extreme rim pressure together. Keep an eye on San Antonio looking to shop No. 2 for the right star.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Baylor
Edgecombe’s speed, explosion, defensive quickness and decision-making could give him an edge over Ace Bailey. He’d be able to give the lineup a needed jolt of athleticism at both ends, though Edgecombe has also made encouraging strides with his shotmaking.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey, 6-foot-10 freshman forward, Rutgers
The Hornets won’t have to think twice. They can target Bailey’s scoring potential. Charlotte should be drawn to the idea of having two big shotmaking wings with Bailey and Brandon Miller.
5. Utah Jazz: Jeremiah Fears, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Oklahoma
Fears is generating steam in draft circles because of his explosiveness, creativity, shotmaking potential and youth that hints at upside. Keyonte George has done some promising things in Utah, but the Jazz won’t hesitate if they feel that Fears can be a star-caliber ballhandler.
6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, 6-foot-6 freshman guard, Texas
The Wizards have to continue stockpiling talent and assets without worrying about fit. Johnson falls in the best-player-available discussion at No. 6 after he averaged 19.9 points on some highly polished self-creation and shotmaking versatility.
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Khaman Maluach, 7-foot-2 freshman center, Duke
Maluach figures to rise for certain teams during workouts, where he’ll be able to show more shotmaking touch than he could at Duke. The Pelicans can double up on rim running, play-finishing, rim-protecting bigs by taking Maluach to pair with Yves Missi.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Derik Queen, 6-foot-10 freshman center, Maryland
Queen could give Brooklyn a go-to option to feed in the half court with how advanced his footwork, post game and passing are. He should also have freedom in Brooklyn to continue working on his shooting, which he clearly has confidence in, despite the results at Maryland.
9. Toronto Raptors: Noa Essengue, 6-foot-9 forward, Ratiopharm Ulm (France)
Though not the cleanest fit for Toronto, Essengue has flashed the type of upside that could sway the Raptors to think long term. A rim runner and finisher who defends all over the floor, the second-youngest prospect in the draft is also showing clear improvement to his off-the-dribble game and shotmaking.
10. Houston Rockets: Kon Knueppel, 6-foot-7 freshman forward, Duke
The Rockets don’t have much room in their rotation for a rookie, which could motivate them to shop No. 10 for a veteran. It also can’t hurt to add more shooting with Knueppel, an elite shotmaker and useful pick-and-roll playmaker.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Kasparas Jakucionis, 6-foot-6 freshman guard, Illinois
The Spurs have a pair of ball handlers in Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons, but Jakucionis can play with either due to his size, playmaking feel and shooting versatility.
12. Chicago Bulls: Asa Newell, 6-foot-11 freshman forward, Georgia
Newell could be a future replacement for Nikola Vucevic or an instant energy big who’ll bring play-finishing, defensive versatility and budding shooting skills.
13. Atlanta Hawks (via Kings): Collin Murray-Boyles, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, South Carolina
Murray-Boyles would give Atlanta needed frontcourt depth with his signature one-two punch of power and finesse.
14. San Antonio Spurs: Nique Clifford, 6-foot-6 senior forward, Colorado State
At 23 years old, Clifford could give the Spurs an immediate contributor with his offensive versatility. While he’ll likely play more of a Swiss Army Knife role, he also made huge strides with his ball-handling and pull-up shooting.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jase Richarson, 6-foot-3 freshman guard, Michigan State
Richardson measured under 6’1” barefoot, which could allow the Thunder to grab him outside the lottery. His shooting, decision-making and elite finishing have convinced scouts to mostly ignore the lack of size and playmaking.
16. Orlando Magic: Carter Bryant, 6-foot-8 freshman forward, Arizona
Orlando needs shooting, and Bryant could give them a three-and-D wing with athleticism the rotation lacks.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Nolan Traore, 6-foot-3 guard, Saint-Quentin (France)
Traore has turned a corner in France, showing more confidence with his shooting and finishing. Still, the Wolves would value his passing IQ most for a team that now has established go-to scorers.
18. Washington Wizards (via Grizzlies): Egor Demin, 6-foot-9 freshman guard, BYU
Bub Carrington had a promising rookie year, but Demin’s playmaking will look too appealing at No. 18, particularly after he measured 6-foot-8 without shoes.
19. Brooklyn Nets (via Bucks): Liam McNeeley, 6-foot-7 freshman forward, Connecticut
The Nets could get themselves a starting forward in McNeeley, an efficient transition and off-ball scorer who also showed he can make the right reads in ball-screen situations.
20. Miami Heat: Ben Saraf, 6-foot-5 guard, Ratiopharm Ulm (Israel)
Saraf could fill in at point guard in Miami, where the Heat would value his creativity and passing next to Tyler Herro.
21. Utah Jazz (via Timberwolves):: Thomas Sorber, 6-foot-10 freshman center, Georgetown
If the Jazz add a guard at No. 5, Sorber figures to be a target at No. 21. He measured an enormous 7-foot-6 wingspan at the combine, and while Walker Kessler remains a key piece, Sorber’s post skills and passing are far superior.
22. Atlanta Hawks (via Lakers): Danny Wolf, 7-foot senior forward, Michigan
The Hawks can add more frontcourt depth with Wolf, one of the draft’s most skilled offensive bigs who flew up boards thanks to his ball-handling and playmaking at 7-feet tall.
23. Indiana Pacers: Joan Beringer, 6-foot-11 center, Cedevita (France)
Beringer has become an interesting name entering the draft process with his shot-blocking rate for a teenger overseas. The Pacers could develop him as Myles Turner’s backup, potentially giving them another defensive disruptor.
24. OKC Thunder (via Clippers): Walter Clayton Jr., 6-foot-2 senior guard, Florida
Rookies will have trouble finding playing time in OKC, but the Thunder could see Clayton as an NBA-ready shotmaker if they need a scoring spark off the bench,
25. Orlando Magic (via Nuggets): Will Riley, 6-foot-7 freshman forward, Illinois
The Magic should be targeting shooting, and Riley demonstrated the type of shotmaking to emerge as a three-level NBA scoring wing.
26. Brooklyn Nets (via Knicks): Rasheer Fleming, 6-foot-9 junior forward, Saint Joseph’s
We’ll see how many picks Brooklyn uses in the draft, though they could continue adding rotation players in the 20s. Rasheer Fleming would give them a classic stretch four with excellent physical tools for finishing and defending.
27. Brooklyn Nets (via Rockets): Kam Jones, 6-foot-5 senior guard, Marquette
Brooklyn could add to its frontcourt early and then target Kam Jones late. Jones has always been a productive shotmaker and finisher, but the improvement he’s made to his playmaking this year puts him in the first-round mix.
28. Boston Celtics: Yaxel Lendeborg, 6-foot-9 senior forward, UAB
Lendeborg consistently filled up box scores at both ends, and now he’ll be auditioning for a jack-of-all-trades role that values two-way versatility.
29. Phoenix Suns (via Cavaliers): Maxime Raynaud, 7-foot-1 senior center, Stanford
Phoenix could use some extra firepower at center, and Raynaud, who measured 7-foot-1, turned into a dangerous shooter and high-level post scorer.
30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Thunder): Noah Penda, 6-foot-8 forward, Le Mans (France)
Penda’s versatility has become a big draw due to his versatile talents that include finishing, shooting, passing and defensive playmaking.
