At the turn of the calendar March Madness is at the forefront of everyone’s mind but it is the performances in March that can make or break draft stock. Below is our pre-tournament mock draft for the first round.
Cade Cunningham (PG) Oklahoma St.
Cunningham has been a star all season and in their current situation the Timberwolves need the best player available. If Minnesota receives the first pick for the second year in a row, their should be no hesitation in selecting Cunningham even though they currently have a full backcourt.
#2. Detroit Pistons
Evan Mobley (C) USC
Mobley can do it all. Even though he has to work on his face up game Detroit, like Minnesota, should only be focusing on the best player available. Expect Mobley to come off the board and become the next cornerstone piece in the Motor City.
#3. Houston Rockets
Jalen Green (SG) G-League Ignite
In a world where the Rockets continue to struggle and don’t turn it around when Christian Wood reenters the lineup they should look to address their shooting guard situation. After Oladipo turned down a two year max, the Rockets should look to move him at the deadline and retool with the ultra-bouncy Green.
#4. Orlando Magic
Jalen Suggs (PG) Gonzaga
Flipping Green and Suggs was a toss up and it feels like the 3,4,5, slot can go a variety of different ways but Suggs to Orlando would be the right move. A better shooter than Markelle Fultz and a better decision maker than Cole Anthony, Suggs is exactly what you want in a franchise guard. The Magic will need to address the inevitable hole Fournier is going to leave but Suggs is too good to pass up.
#5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Jonathan Kuminga (SF/PF) G-League Ignite
The top 5 seems to be set in stone it just depends on the order they will be drafted. Kuminga is already NBA ready, as shown by his play in the G-League and will have no problem at the next level. Last year, the Cavaliers seemingly reached for Isaac Okoro and have a chance to increase their forward depth with Kuminga. Expect him to be the next Ignite member off the board in the first round, an expected starter for opening night next season.
#6. Sacramento Kings
Scottie Barnes (SF/PF) Florida State
With solid depth at the guard position and a draft position too high to select any of the other Centers on the board the Kings bet on the upside of Scottie Barnes. Barnes will have the opportunity to come off the bench in Sacramento because the organization is still tied to Harrison Barnes for another two years. The ability to develop Scottie Barnes behind a veteran and allow him to earn development minutes with Tyrese Haliburton in the second unit makes sense.
#7. Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Johnson (PF) Duke
If the Kings do elect for the upside of Barnes, Johnson should be the next off the board. Addressing an older and underperforming backcourt should be the first objective in the new era of Oklahoma City basketball. Johnson opted out of the rest of the NCAA season but that shouldn’t hurt his draft stock. His NBA ready body and ability to do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor during his time at Duke immediately address a major team need.
#8. Washington Wizards
James Bouknight (PG/SG) UConn
The Westbrook experiment to this point has began to turn around but the need at guard is still there. Bouknight is a certified bucket that will immediately become a net positive off the bench. Westbrook can help mentor Bouknight to be the eventual starter and the Wizards get Beal additional help.
#9. New Orleans Pelicans
Moses Moody (SG) Arkansas
In a redraft two years from now Moses Moody could be the guy that should have gone higher. He can score at all three levels has size and length for his position and shoots the three at an elite rate. If he can add to his frame he will help replace the aging JJ Redick in NOLA.
#10. Atlanta Hawks
Ziaire Williams (SF) Stanford
Williams stock also relies heavily on his upside. During the season he has shown flashes of greatness and if he can capitalize on that at the next level he could be a great piece for the Hawks moving forward. With John Collins possibly departing and Solomon Hill as their back up four, expect to see more Gallinari at PF leaving the opportunity for Williams to slot in behind Reddish at the three.
#11. Indiana Pacers
Jaden Springer (PG/SG) Tennessee
Both Justin and Aaron Holiday have been consistent contributors for the Pacers but it is time to get serious about their backcourt. Springer should come in and immediately compete with both McConnell and A. Holiday for a spot in the rotation. As he develops, Springer has a chance to overtake Justin as the starter.
#12. Charlotte Hornets
Greg Brown (PF) Texas
This pick may seem like a bit of a reach considering the possibility of more enticing international players on the board but since 2000, the Hornets have only selected four international players including Lamelo Ball this past draft. Brown would act as complimentary depth as a stretch four and allow the team to continue to build a strong second unit allowing Bridges to play his natural small forward position.
#13. Memphis Grizzlies
Corey Kispert (SF) Gonzaga
Memphis elects for additional floor spacing and Kispert is the perfect option. Three point shooting would be the theme the second year in a row after the team selected Desmond Bane last year. Kispert has drawn comps to both Joe Harris and Kyle Korver and if he can continue to shoot the ball like he has been he may not even be on the board at 13. The league craves floor spacing and Kispert has seemed to be the answer.
#14. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
Terrence Shannon Jr. (SG) Texas Tech
The play of Quickley this season should not overshadow the lack of back court depth the Knicks are dealing with. Shannon Jr. has shown he can be a reliable bench scorer at the next level and with Springer off the board the Knicks will reach a bit with the “next best option”. The team has the ability to take a chance on Shannon Jr. because of their immense draft capital in future years.
#15. Chicago Bulls
Franz Wagner (SF) Michigan
Wagner is essentially an insurance policy in the event Porter Jr. departs, or should we say when, this offseason. Patrick Williams will continue to thrive in the starting role but Wagner should be able to carve out development minutes in the upper tier of the rotation.
#16. Boston Celtics
Usman Garuba (C) Spain
The first international prospect off the board is Usman Garuba of Spain. Garuba may be little known to the American basketball circuit but the eighteen year old has an NBA ready body and a motor that should make him an immediate impact player off the bench. He allows the Celtics to start addressing their big man issue and could become a franchise 4/5 if given the time.
#17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat)
Cameron Thomas (PG) LSU
Cam Thomas will be an immediate impact player on the Thunder. Getting SGA help in the backcourt should be another priority for the team. Even though he is their ball dominant guard he can’t do everything 100% of the time. Selecting another prominent scoring guard to help carry they load will be essential as the team continues to rebuild.
#18. Toronto Raptors
Keon Johnson (SG) Tennessee
Since Lowry is expected to be moved prior to the deadline the Raptors will need guard depth. Instead of selecting the undersized Sharife Cooper, they instead go with the high upside project in Keon Johnson. One of the members directly linked to the success of Tennessee this year, Johnson will have the abiltiy to learn under VanVleet. If the franchise chooses to run VanVleet at PG, in the case they move on from Lowry, Johnson could see substantial action in his rookie year at the two.
#19. New York Knicks
Sharife Cooper (PG) Auburn
A big name and added depth? The Knicks will be all in at nineteen if Cooper is still on the board. Being able to solidify a back up backcourt in one round will put the franchise in a position to move Quickley to the starting two guard while continuing to produce bench points. Cooper’s also a Newark, NJ native and will stir up a media frenzy returning to the area.
#20. Denver Nuggets
Alperen Sengun (C) Turkey
Another international player with tremendous upside the eighteen year old Sengun has taken the Turkish league by storm. He seems to have the game figured out at the international level and should make the jump to the NBA in the upcoming draft. With a mentor like Jokic, Sengun would add additional depth to the front court. While their is hope for Bol Bol as the back up center Sengun only stands at 6-9 and could find minutes at the four.
#21. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Warriors)
Roko Prkacin (PF) Croatia
The third and final international player taken in the first round is Roko Prkacin. Prkacin allows the Thunder to again address their issues in the front court and truly bolster their roster as Al Horford continues to age. Prkacin may be in the same situation as Aleksej Pokuševski, finding G-League minutes his first season to help him gain necessary time on the floor. Prkacin may have a better chance to crack the rotation because of his skillset, but a development player nonetheless.
#22. Houston Rockets (via Portland)
Day’Ron Sharpe (C) UNC
Sharp is one of the remaining first round big men on the board and Houston has a new philosophy on basketball. Another player that will not be asked to do too much his first season Sharpe should enjoy rotation minutes at the NBA level behind Christian Wood. Even though he can not space the floor he is a double double threat every night.
23. San Antonio Spurs
Kai Jones (PF/C) Texas
Jones is someone who could have gone much higher on the board but usually one player falls down the draft. Jones would be a perfect Spur and could help move their minor rebuild forward as Aldridge continues to age. He also would be able to add additional floor spacing as he can shoot the ball from the perimeter.
#24. Milwaukee Bucks
Jared Butler (PG/SG) Baylor
The Bucks need any bench help they can get and it will start in the back court. Jared Butler, even though he is a bit older than other guard prospects in the draft, has been the recipient of major buzz. His ability to shoot the ball and be a primary driver on both ends of the floor should make him a late round guard the team can pick up and expect production from game one.
#25. Brooklyn Nets
Daishen Nix (PG) G-League Ignite
Nix will be the third benefactor of the G-League experiment and will have the ability to learn from two of the best guards in the league. While Bruce Brown has been impressive on the occasional night, he is not the answer as their back up point guard. Landry Shamet is one dimensional and this would allow Nix to get minutes on a winning team. A win win for a late first round pick.
#26. Philadelphia 76ers
Davion Mitchell (PG) Baylor
The end of the first round has been about solidifying the back court and the 76ers are no exception. After Tyrese Maxey fell into their lap last season, the team should look to add an additional guard to bolster bench scoring. As Danny Green’s contract expires expect him to come off the bench if he returns next season and Shake Milton to start. This would allow Mitchell to slot in next to Maxey with his hard nosed defense and ability to space the floor.
27. Phoenix Suns
Ayo Dosunmu (PG/SG) Illinois
Chris Paul is aging but he still continues to elevate the team around him. Put an experience college combo guard behind him and you may be able to continue a producing from both guard positions long after he is gone. Dosunmu has already shown his ability to score, rebound and assist but adding the guidance of Paul and Booker to his game would make him worth the first round pick.
#28. Los Angeles Clippers
Josh Christopher (SG) Arizona State
Christopher has underperformed overall at Arizona State. If he came out of highschool and immediately entered the draft he would have been considered a lottery pick. As the Clippers look to move Lou Williams Christopher would be an upside pick for the team looking to cash in on the potential of a player that hasn’t lived up to his hype.
#29. Los Angeles Lakers
BJ Boston (SG) Kentucky
The Lakers and the Clippers take the same path this draft with LAL deciding to take a chance on BJ Boston. Boston was a high lottery pick before the college season and even found himself in a top five discussion. After a lack luster season from the team and Boston himself he is currently struggling to stay in the first round. The Lakers are built to take the risk and if Boston can find his groove again it would be highway robbery for the distant future.
#30. Utah Jazz
Isaiah Jackson (PF/C) Kentucky
Rounding out the first round is Isaiah Jackson. Even though the Jazz have Gobert and Favors, it does not seem that Georges Niang will be the answer at power forward. With a chance to develop, Jackson can continue to work on his skills while being mentored by tenured NBA big men. A spark plug off the bench, don’t be surprised to see him come off the board to close out the first round.