Friday morning (AEST) will be exciting for basketball fans, as the latest crop of future stars are selected in the NBA Draft.
Our very own Ben Simmons will begin his journey in the NBA and there hasn’t been such hype surrounding a player in many years.
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Below I have compiled a mock draft for the first 15 picks from the lottery.
1. Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons (position – small forward)
Potentially the biggest superstar out of the draft in years, Simmons has already been called the next LeBron James or Magic Johnson.
Coming off a staggering college season, where he averaged 19.2 points per game, 11 rebounds and 4.8 assists, Simmons could be the man to turn the 76ers around long term.
Already having a connection with head coach Brett Brown, it appears he will be pick No.1. There is a logjam in the front court, with Joel Embiid set to make his debut this season which, combined with a solid first year for Jahlil Okafor and shot blocker Nerlens Noel, means there is a fight for positions.
The 76ers should trade one of their bigs to clear room and allow Simmons to prosper with a solid point guard such as Jeff Teague, who is rumored to be linking with the 76ers.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram (position – small forward)
At just 18 years old, Ingram has star written all over him with a well-rounded offensive arsenal.
The Lakers, in their post-Kobe Bryant era will be looking for a star to build around and Ingram is the only man who can challenge Simmons for the no. 1 spot. The Kevin Durant comparisons have already started for the small forward from Duke.
D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Ingram would provide the Lakers with some nice prospects for the future. With a ton of cap room this off-season it will be interesting to see who they could add.
Personally, they must throw a lot at Hassan Whiteside.
3. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn Nets): Jamal Murray (position – Shooting guard, point guard)
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is looking to add a star and will be on the phones to enquire about Kevin Love or Jimmy Butler which any deal would surely include this pick.
Besides that he will look for the player with the most upside and potential. Jamal Murray or Jaylen Brown are the two both being freshmen.
Murray scored the most points ever by a freshman at Kentucky last season which is a staggering feat considering who has worn the wildcats’ jersey. There are some knocks about his athleticism and defence but he averaged 20 points per game, shooting 40 per cent from deep last season. He finished with 113 3’s – the second most ever in NCAA history only behind Stephen Curry who had 122 in 2007.
The Celtics already have a plethora of guards but a trade or two will be needed and the pick will make sense.
4. Phoenix Suns: Jaylen Brown (position – small forward)
The Suns have an overflow in the backcourt with three quality guards and a star in Devin Booker.
Jaylen Brown would be a perfect fit on the wing. He can be a lock-down defender and a menace on the fast break with some highlight finishes last season for California.
Marquese Chris could be a good fit for the suns but that’s a bit of a reach at #4 in the draft. Imagine a Suns closing small ball line-up of Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker, Tyson Chandler or Alex Len and Brown.
That would be entertaining to say the least.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kris Dunn (position – point guard)
Tom Thibodeau is the head coach and president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves and he loves defence so the perfect fit is surely Kris Dunn.
Not only is he NBA ready and a big PG but he can get to the hoop and would combine well with Karl Anthony Towns on the pick and roll, not to mention Wiggins and LaVine in the same line up!
He has comparisons to John Wall and he’s probably the best point guard in the draft. You might be thinking What about Ricky Rubio, but long term Dunn will run the show.
6. New Orleans Pelicans: Buddy Hield (position – shooting guard)
Buddy went on a Steph Curry-like run last season for Oklahoma, single-handedly carrying them throughout the season with huge performances winnig him the John R. Wooden Award for the best college basketball player.
He averaged 25 points, 5.7 rebounds, two assists per game and led the nation in three-point shots, shooting a crazy 46 per cent attempting eight a game.
The Pelicans will likely not re-sign Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson will be offered huge money from teams needing a shooter with plenty of money to spend thanks to the new cap so the pelicans could use buddy’s shooting.
Buddy, as a 22-year-old senior makes sense to go to the 504 to help Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday to get the Pelicans back in the playoffs.
7. Denver Nuggets (from New York Knicks): Dragen Bender (position – power forward)
Bender was talked about as a lock for top five in the draft but he should slide to seven and Denver will take him. With a young PG and core being established it’s a good fit.
Bender has loads of potential but will be a project player as the Croatian is only 18 and has barely seen the court in recent times for his team in Isreal. Bender is a stretch four who can put the ball on the floor and is gifted with skills for a seven foot one forward.
At only 216 pounds, he will have to hit the weight room but he has the potential to be a star in the league if given the time to develop.
8. Sacramento Kings: Marquese Chris (position – power forward)
The Washington product has been getting a lot of praise in recent times, moving up the mock draft with claims he could be top five pick after initially not even being discussed as a lottery pick.
From reports, he has had some great workouts showing off his nice touch with his shooting and remarkable athleticism. He’s a stretch four that many teams could use.
His athleticism is Blake Griffin like but he will take a bit of time to develop his game more. He only turns 19 next month but once he does develop he could potentially be a star.
9. Toronto Raptors (from Denver Nuggets via New York Knicks): Skal Labissiere (position – power forward, centre)
The Raptors need a big with Bismack Biyumbo on his way to getting handsomely paid by another team this offseason after a huge series against the Cavaliers.
Even though Skal isn’t going to provide quality help straight away he is the right pick who could pay huge dividends down the line.
He has all the physical tools to impact the league including shot blocking and a jumper that’s developing. Despite a disappointing college season at Kentucky the seven-footer can protect the rim and move tremendously for a big man.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Jakob Poetl (position – centre)
With Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker and Khris Middleton all locked up as the young core of the team, centre or point guard is where the Bucks will look.
Monroe didn’t seem to fit too well last season and Henson is on the books but the Bucks could turn to Poetl as he has been regarded by many as the best centre in the draft after a stellar year with Utah.
11. Orlando Magic: Deytona Davis (position – power forward, centre)
The Magic have plenty of depth in the backcourt and despite having the underrated Nikola Vucevic, a big seems the right fit.
Davis didn’t light the box score up in college last season but the 19 year old’s potential was there for all to see. He runs the floor with ease and throws down thunderous dunks. Much has also been made about his ability to crash the boards with his NBA frame and athleticism.
12. Utah Jazz: Wade Baldwin (position – point guard, shooting guard)
The Vanderbilt product has seen a stock rise recently.
6 foot 4 with the ability to shoot the three (40 per cent last season ) and good size for a point guard means there is a bright future for Baldwin. The Jazz have Dante Exum returning this season and an option on Mack but they have no way settled on their one guard to take them forward.
Exum and Baldwin are both combo guards so there is no question of fit for Baldwin on the Jazz roster.
13. Phoenix Suns (from Washington Wizards): Henry Ellenson (position – power forward)
The suns are overflowing with talent in the backcourt. Alex Len really improved last season and with Tyson Chandler on the books a stretch four is what they should be looking for.
Some experts have Ellenson going top ten with his 6 foot 11 frame and 7 foot 2 wingspan but I think Ellenson who averaged a booming 17 points and 9.9 rebounds a game will slide down to 13.
14. Chicago Bulls: Denzel Valentine (position – shooting guard, small forward)
A report came out last week that a medical on Valentine showed he had cartilage problems in both knees which will see him fall on draft day.
Last season at Michigan State was so impressive though, that he still falls in the lottery. He averaged a staggering 19.2 points, 44 per cent from deep, 7.8 assists and 7.5 rebounds a game. He fits in well with the Bulls structure as well.
15. Denver Nuggets (from Houston Rockets): Timothe Luwawau (position – shooting guard)
The 21-year-old Frenchman would add some much-needed wing depth to the Nuggets.
He had a great year in Croatia until he was injured and many have said he will be a ‘3 and D’ player in the NBA that so many teams crave for in the modern era.
A prime example is DeMarre Carroll and his contract with Toronto shows just how much value those type of players carry. Emmanuel Mudiay, Garry Harris and Luwawau could be a nice young core for the Nuggets in the future along with Dragen Bender who I have the nNggets selecting at seven.
Roarers, what do you think? How will the draft play out?
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