1- Atlanta Hawks: Alexander Sarr
19: 7’ 225 Big Perth Wildcats (France). Comp= Evan Mobley lite
Sarr will make a great addition to the hawks. Forming a monster defensive front court to pair with the dynamic offensive back court. Sarr is the best prospect in the class.
2- Washington Wizards: Zaccharie Risacher
19: 6’8 210 Forward JL Bourg. Comp= Nick Batum
While I personally am a bit lower on Risacher the potential is there. He’s not going to have much self creation juice and won’t create a ton for others but he’s also just not going to make a ton of mistakes. Hes an inconsistent “good” shooter. If he becomes more consistent watch out!
3- Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard
19: 6’3 180 Guard Kentucky. Comp= Mike Conley jr
Look, I get it. Reed is just not a sexy name. He doesn’t have a killer handle, he isn’t a giant. He isn’t an otherworldly passer, HOWEVER, Reed has the highest floor in the class. Hes solid at a lot of things. He’s a smart defender and with Houston needing a guard defender so they can just move Amen to guarding the opponents best player regardless of position Reed fits like a glove. His shooting is marvelous and that is something Houston desperately needs. Not the Sexy pick, but definitely the right pick.
4- San Antonio Spurs: Robert Dillingham
19: 6’2 165 Guard Kentucky. Comp= Lou Williams
The spurs and Rob are tightly linked. Many think it’s at 8. I think Rob could go to Detroit. The Spurs don’t risk it here and take him early. A good fit who needs to let his body develop if he wants to hit his full potential.
5- Detroit Pistons: Stephon Castle
19: 6’7 210 Guaed UCONN. Comp= Smaller, less explosive Paul George
Castle thinks he’s a PG but he isn’t. Cade thinks he’s a PG but he isn’t. Ivey thinks he’s a PG but he isn’t. Maybe if we just tell them all they are the PG and have them split the duties it will work.
6- Charlotte Hornets: Matas Buzelis
19: 6’10 200 Point Forward Ignite (Lithuania). Comp= worse Lamar Odom
Matas has the highest potential in the draft. He’s struggled with the size jump from High School to the G-League and especially with the big jump in moving the line back but there is hope that he can be the kind of shooter he was in high school. If he can look for Matas to be the best player from this draft.
7- Portland Trailblazers: Ron Holland
19: 6’8 200 Forward Ignite. Comp= Tari Eason
Topic and Clingan are the best picks available but they are horrible fits in Portland. They try here to get a connecting forward here who on paper helps their team more than anyone else.
8- San Antonio Spurs: Nikola Topic
19: 6’7 210 Point Forward Red Star (Serbia). Comp= Josh Giddey
The Spurs are also linked to Topic. They end up really happy he falls to them here. If Topic can ever learn to shoot he’s poor man’s Manu.
9- Memphis Grizzlies: Donavan Clingan
20: 7’3 280 Pivot UCONN. Comp= Ivica Zubac
The grizzlies took a major risk trading Adams however it works out here getting a younger version with more defensive potential.
10- Utah Jazz: Carlton Carrington
19: 6’5 200 Wing Pitt. Comp= Jordan Clarkson
Utah gets someone who can shoot. I know the numbers don’t totally back that up yet but this kid is a shooter.
11- Chicago Bulls: Devin Carter
21: 6’3 190 Point Providence. Comp= Mookie Blaylock
The bulls love perimeter defenders. Carter is one of the best in the class. He’s sometimes wild on offense and that will need to be reigned in.
12- Oklahoma City Thunder: Dalton Knecht
21: 6’6 210 Wing Tennessee. Comp= Joe Harris
The Thunder’s need for real shooters was heavily exposed in the playoffs. Here they take one. Knecht can also score in a variety of ways that should also help to diversify the lazy OKC offensive scheme.
13- Sacramento Kings: Kel’El Ware
20: 7’1 230 Pivot Indiana. Comp= Chris Boucher
Yes, I am aware this is high for Ware, no I do not care. Ware is the perfect big to bring rim protection but also the ability to play with Sabonis at times.
14- Portland Trailblazers: Cody Williams
19: 6’8 180 Forward Colorado. Comp= Kyle Anderson
Portland goes with another connecting forward. If one (or both) pan out then they have a very balanced roster.
15- Miami Heat: Isaiah Collier
19: 6’4 205 Point USC. Comp= Poor mans Baron Davis
The heat could really use a point guard. Collier was considered one of the guys before USC. Everything fell apart at every level there. I think it means that maybe he could be a guy if given a stable situation.
16- Philadelphia 76er: Jared McCain
19: 6’3 200 Point Duke. Comp= Craig Ehlo
McCain is a weird prospect. He makes a lot of big plays but feels like he’s not that guy to me. I don’t think he’s going to be amazing but I do think he’s a good role player.
17- New Orleans Pelicans: Tristan De Silva
22: 6’10 220 Forward Colorado (Germany). Comp= Sam Dekker.
If the Pelicans move off Ingram De Silva fits a role there. He also fits better with Zion than BI even if he isn’t near as talented.
18- Orlando Magic: Ja’Kobe Walter
19: 6’6 200 Guard Baylor. Comp= Tyler Herro
Orlando needs shooting and Walter is definitely a good shooter. In Orlando he can tap into his playmaking without the pressure of being the lead guard.
19- Toronto Raptors: Ryan Dunn
21: 6’7 215 Forward Virginia. Comp= Herb Jones minus
If Dunn was taller he would be a lotto pick. But he’s a defense only wing. Those guys are hard to work with.
20- Cleveland Cavilers: Kyshawn George
20: 6’8 210 Forward Miami. Comp= Joe Ingles
The Cavs could use another wing. George is the best available and also a good playmaker for others.
21- New Orleans Pelicans: Tyler Smith
19: 6’10 225 Big G League Ignite. Comp= Al Harrington
One pairing we have waited to see with Zion is a stretch big. Smith is that however he struggles on defense way more than he should. Hopefully he can hit that end’s potential.
22- Phoenix Suns: Zach Edey
22: 7’5 300 Pivot Purdue (Canada). Comp= Boban Marjanovic
I am confident that Edey will be better than Eubanks. That’s about all PHX can hope for at this point in the draft.
23- Milwaukee Bucks: Johnny Furphy
19: 6’9 202 Forward Kansas (Australia). Comp= Chandler Parsons
The bucks take a wing/forward who could really help if he pans out. If he hits his potential a scoring wing off the bench would be great.
24- New York Knicks: Kevin McCullar
23: 6’6 205 Wing Kansas. Comp= Aaron Afflalo
The Knicks take a defensive guard to pair with McBride off the bench. He’s going to make a difference there and will definitely be a Thibs guy.
25- New York Knicks: Tidjane Salaun
19: 6’8 212 Forward Cholet (France.) Comp= Trevor Ariza
While many will have Salaun higher I’m not sure I buy the shot. I do think he makes big plays on defense but I think he’s a few years away. If I was NY I would stash him for a year.
26- Washington Wizards: Kyle Filipowski
20: 6’11 230 Big Duke. Comp= Shorter Vlade Divac w/ trash hips
Flip is Marvin Bagley III without the athletic ability. He’s a 5 stuck in a 4s body with a 3s arms. If he could unlock the jumper it might work though.
27- Minnesota Timberwolves: Tyler Kolek
22: 6’2 200 Guard Marquette. Comp= Goran Dragic lite
The Wolves take a great offensive backup who could really, really benefit from Conley being a mentor then eventually take over that role.
28- Denver Nuggets: Yves Missi
19: 6’11 230 Big Baylor (Belgium). Comp= Clint Capela
The Nuggets have to get a backup for Jokic. If Kamagate still isn’t coming over this year then Missi will be a likely target.
29- Utah Jazz: Nikola Durisic
20: 6’8 210 Point Forward KK Mega Leaks (Belgium/Serbia). Comp= Kostas Papanikolaou
I will be honest I’m a Durisic guy. I like him, a lot. I think he could be a vital bench piece for a playoff team.
30- Boston Celtics: Izan Almansa
19: 6’10 220 Big Ignite (Spain). Comp= Pre Achilles Tear Dwight Powell.
This pick is betting a lot on his international team film. The Ignite was kinda a disaster but so was everyone on that roster.
31- Toronto Raptors: Ajay Mitchell- 22: 6’4 200 Wing UCSB (Belgium). Comp= Poor mans Kevon Martin.
32- Utah Jazz: Terrence Shannon Jr- 22: 6’7 220 Wing Illinois. Comp= Kelly Oubre
33- Milwaukee Bucks: Jalen Bridges- 22: 6’8 215 Forward Baylor. Comp= Poor Man’s Jae Crowder.
34- Portland Trailblazers: Enrique Freeman- 23: 6’7 205 Forward Akron. Comp= DeAndre Hunter lite.
35- San Antonio Spurs: Hunter Sallis- 21: 6’5 180 Guard Wake Forrest. Comp= Markelle Fultz
36- Indiana Pacers: Oso Ighodaro- 21: 6’11 225 Pivot Marquette (Nigeria). Comp= Taller Brandon Clarke
37- Minnesota Timberwolves: Baylor Scheierman- 23: 6’7 200 Wing Creighton. Comp= Luke Walton + Shooting.
38- New York Knicks: Adem Bona- 20: 6’9 240 Big UCLA (Nigeria/Turkey). Comp= Clint Capela.
39- Memphis Grizzlies: Trentyn Flowers- 18: 6’8 205 Forward Adalade 36ers. Comp= Saddiq Bey
40- Portland Trailblazers: PJ Hall- 21: 6’10 240 Big Clemson. Comp= Channing Fry
41- Philadelphia 76ers: DaRon Holmes II- 21: 6’10 240 Big Dayton. Comp= Amir Johnson
42- Charlotte Hornets: Keshad Johnson- 22: 6’7 225 Forward Arizona. Comp= Keldon Johnson minus.
43- Miami Heat: Jaylon Tyson- 21: 6’7 220 Wing California Comp= Rickey Ledo
44- Houston Rockets: Juan Nunez- 20: 6’3 180 Point Real Madrid (Spain). Comp= Poor man’s Rubio
45- Sacramento Kings: Alex Karaban- 21: 6’8 220 Forward Uconn. Comp= Sam Dekker
46- Los Angeles Clippers: AJ Johnson- 19: 6’5 160 Guard Illawarra Hawks. Comp= Gerald Green
47- Orlando Magic: Pacome Dadiet- 18: 6’7 190 Forward Ratiopharm Ulm (France). Comp= Poor Man’s Aaron Gordon
48- San Antonio Spurs: Harrison Ingram- 22: 6’7 230 Point Forward Stanford. Comp= Anthony Mason
49- Indiana Pacers: Melvin Ajinca- 19: 6’8 210 Forward Saint Quinten (France). Comp= Taller Reggie Bullock.
50- Indiana Pacers: Bobi Klintman- 21: 6’10 215 wing NBL (Sweden). Comp= Nick Batum
51- Washington Wizards: Trevon Brazile- 21: 6’10 215 Big Arkansas. Comp= Larry Nance Jr.
52- New York Knicks: KJ Simpson- 21: 6’1 190 Guard Colorado. Comp= Fred Van Vleet
53- Detroit Pistons: Tyon Grant-Foster- 24: 6’6 215 Wing GCU. Comp= Bruce Bowen lite
54- Boston Celtics: Bronny James Jr.- 19: 6’3 210 Guard USC. Comp= Avery Bradley.
55- Los Angeles Lakers: Jonathan Mogbo- 21: 6’8 225 Point Forward San Francisco. Comp= DeMarre Carroll with Point guard skills
56- Denver Nuggets: Justin Edwards- 20: 6’7 210 Wing Kentucky. Comp= Poor mans Glen Rice
57- Memphis Grizzlies: Coleman Hawkins- 22: 6’10 200 Forward Illinois. Comp= Royce White ish
58- Dallas Mavericks: Nique Clifford- 22: 6’5 180 Wing Colorado St. Comp= Keon Ellis
The Sixers and the Suns had picks taken away because they Cheated and should feel bad. They took away someone’s dream because they were selfish and can’t follow rules.
UDFA Top Targets
Ulrich Chomche- 18: 6’11 234 Big NBA Africa Academy (Cameron). Comp= Super poor man’s Jackson jr.
Eric Gaines- 23: 6’2 170 Point UAB. Comp= Mookie Blaylock
Jaylen Wells- 21: 6’8 205 Forward Washington St. Comp= Jae Crowder
Garwey Dual- 19: 6’5 Wing Providence. Comp= Lance Stephenson
JT Toppin- 19: 6’9 210 Big New Mexico. Comp= Isaiah Jackson but shorter
Judah Mintz- 20: 6’3 165 Guard Syracuse. Comp= Brandon Knight ish
Pelle Larsson- 23: 6’6 215 Guard Arizona (Sweden). Comp= Evan Fornier
N’Faly Dante- 22: 6’11 260 Pivot Oregon (Mali). Comp= Chemeze Metu
Tre White- 20: 6’6 190 Wing Louisville. Comp= Hedo Turkoglu lite.
Isaiah Crawford- 23: 6’6 220 Wing Louisiana Tech. Comp= Tim Hardaway jr
"If Dunn was taller he would be a lotto pick. But he’s a defense only wing. Those guys are hard to work with."
Also, if Ryan Dunn's shooting indicators weren't so frightening, right...?