Latest Insider mock draft. Has us picking Knox and Trae falling to 12 to the Clips. Bulls take Porter, likely imo since they were the only team he shared his medicals with and all his workouts were centered out of CHI, Insider says his workouts went well including the one last Fri that was originally cancelled. Orlando picks Carter despite their need for a PG and Shai is the first guard going in the draft to the Cavs, Cavs did hold a workout with Trae this past Saturday but he's not the 2 way player that fits the defensive minded Cavs.
1. Phoenix Suns
Deandre Ayton
Arizona
Age: 19.9
C
Height: 7-foot |
Weight: 243
The Suns appear to be locked into Ayton with the top spot, which makes sense considering the way he dominated the Pac-12 while playing at Arizona. Physically, he's one of the most gifted prospects we've seen in the draft in the past few years, and he has an impressive skill level to boot.
Phoenix, the worst defensive team in the NBA, will be right to question his impact on that end of the floor, but his sheer productivity and overall talent level make it difficult to not slot him at the top of this class.
Starting salary: $8,251,477
2. Sacramento Kings
Marvin Bagley III
Duke
Age: 19.2
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 |
Weight: 234
Editor's Picks
The Kings showed progress this season and appear to have some strong building blocks in place, particularly in the backcourt.
Word around the NBA is they are not very high on Luka Doncic and have their sights set firmly on Bagley. The strength of this draft is in the frontcourt, and the Kings are reportedly looking to take advantage of that due to the lack of progress shown by Willie Cauley-Stein.
While Bagley has some positional concerns defensively, his athleticism, motor, rebounding, finishing ability and overall productivity are reportedly very attractive to the Kings. Bagley has terrific scoring and rebounding instincts and likely brings better shot-making potential than he showed in college with more spacing around him at the NBA level.
Starting salary: $7,382,837
3. Atlanta Hawks
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Michigan State
Age: 18.7
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 |
Weight: 240
The Hawks will be in best-player-available mode, but it helps to be able to complement their existing roster with a building block that fits with the surrounding talent. Jackson would be the ideal big man to pair with promising rookie
John Collins.
The youngest player projected to be drafted, Jackson might have the highest ceiling in terms of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. He has enviable physical tools, including a 7-foot-4 wingspan and tremendous mobility. Jackson's ability to space the floor (40 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the line), block shots (5.7 per 40 minutes), switch on every screen and, increasingly, put the ball on the floor from the perimeter makes him an ideal fit for the modern NBA.
Trae Young would reportedly get looks from the Hawks if they decided to trade down.
Starting salary: $6,629,778
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Luka Doncic
Real Madrid
Age: 19.3
PG
Height: 6-foot-8 |
Weight: 228
Doncic hit a bit of a wall after playing 18 straight months without a break for Real Madrid and the Slovenian national team, souring some scouts with a handful of underwhelming performances in March and April. He still found a way to help Real Madrid win the Euroleague Final Four and was awarded MVP honors for his effort.
Considering their aging core and financial woes, the Grizzlies will likely be looking to return to playoff contention as quickly as possible. Doncic would be a dream selection for the Grizzlies because he has the size, skill and versatility to fit in well alongside all their existing talent while also possessing star potential in his own right. It's somewhat of a surprising outcome to see Doncic fall to No. 4, but that seems to be the way things are shaking out for now.
Starting salary: $5,977,870
5. Dallas Mavericks
Mohamed Bamba
Texas
Age: 20.1
C
Height: 7-foot |
Weight: 207
With Nerlens Noel unlikely to be in Dallas' long-term plans and Dirk Nowitzki now 40, the Mavs will be looking for a frontcourt player to build around.
Bamba's rare combination of length, shot-blocking instincts and offensive promise gives him
one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in this draft. Every team in the NBA is looking for a big man like him who can anchor a defense.
Starting salary: $5,412,922
6. Orlando Magic
Wendell Carter Jr.
Duke
Age: 19.1
C
Height: 6-foot-10 |
Weight: 263
Carter's feel and versatility are promising in a number of ways. He is a physically mature big man with a 263-pound frame and 7-3 wingspan, which will allow him to play center in the NBA with ease.
He is a polished player with excellent hands and touch around the basket and has demonstrated a nice blend of passing, shot-blocking and perimeter shooting, despite being overshadowed at times by Bagley at Duke.
Starting salary: $4,916,346
7. Chicago Bulls
Michael Porter Jr.
Missouri
Age: 19.9
SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-10 |
Weight: 214
Porter's draft stock appears to be on the upswing after
positive medical evaluations and a strong showing at his pro day last week.
Porter came into the season with hopes of making a run at being the No. 1 pick in the draft. However, he wasn't able to build his case because of a back injury. Porter's size, skill and scoring instincts nevertheless make him a coveted prospect. He is a playmaker on both ends of the floor and is just starting to figure out how to put his talent to full use.
Starting salary: $4,488,019
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Kentucky
Age: 19.9
PG/SG
Height: 6-foot-6 |
Weight: 171
One of the draft's most interesting storylines will be seeing when the first point guard comes off the board. Gilgeous-Alexander is quietly picking up steam as potentially being that guy, which is somewhat unexpected after being projected behind Trae Young and Collin Sexton for most of the year.
He hasn't worked out for the Cavs -- we're hearing he's angling to be picked by the Hornets or the Clippers -- but that might not matter much, as Cleveland's front office appears to be enamored with him. The Cavs are in dire need of a young ball handler, whether LeBron James returns or not. Although not a big-time scorer, Gilgeous-Alexander is talented enough to take the keys as the PG of the future if LeBron bolts, yet versatile enough to coexist with James and add value with his length, feel, skill and instincts if he stays.
On Saturday, the Cavs quietly held a workout for Trae Young, another potential target.
Starting salary: $4,111,429
9. New York Knicks
Kevin Knox
Kentucky
Age: 18.7
SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-9 |
Weight: 205
While we've had Knox sliding to the Nos. 12-15 range the past few months after an up-and-down freshman season, NBA teams drafting in that range say they don't anticipate him being there, as there seems to be a significant market for his services in the Nos. 7-11 range.
Knox had an underwhelming showing at his pro day in Miami, according to multiple scouts in attendance, but he has been very good otherwise in workouts. There's a significant market in the NBA for combo forwards in his mold who can make an open shot, defend multiple positions and offer some offensive versatility. He's one of the youngest players in this draft, so he still has plenty of room to continue to grow.
Starting salary: $3,779,482
10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers)
Mikal Bridges
Villanova
Age: 21.7
SF
Height: 6-foot-7 |
Weight: 200
The 76ers have gotten great production out of
JJ Redick and
Marco Belinelli, but with both players approaching free agency -- and their mid-30s -- it makes sense to think about drafting a wing who can complement Philadelphia's building blocks of
Joel Embiid,
Ben Simmons and
Markelle Fultz.
Bridges is an easy player to slot on almost any NBA roster, thanks to his multipositional defensive versatility, 3-point shooting and role-player potential. He isn't as gifted a shot creator as you'd like from a top-10 pick, but on this roster, he won't need to be.
Starting salary: $3,590,268
11. Charlotte Hornets
Collin Sexton
Alabama
Age: 19.3
PG
Height: 6-foot-2 |
Weight: 183
Kemba Walker has one more year on his contract and might not be in Charlotte's long-term plans. The Hornets are operating under a new coaching staff and front office, and they could be in line for a rebuild.
Sexton brings tremendous aggressiveness driving the lane, taking off-the-dribble jumpers and putting defensive pressure on opposing guards. NBA teams have some concerns about Sexton's on-court decision-making and reckless style of play. Fiercely competitive, Sexton has shown enough flashes in the right areas to be comfortably projected as a starting-caliber point guard, with plenty of upside.
Starting salary: $3,410,963
12. LA Clippers (via Pistons)
Trae Young
Oklahoma
Age: 19.6
PG
Height: 6-foot-2 |
Weight: 176
Should the Magic decide not to take a point guard at No. 6, it's looking likely that one of at least three lottery-bound college playmakers will find himself in this slot. With the Cavs favoring Gilgeous-Alexander and the Hornets preferring Sexton, the Clippers are likely to take Young if he falls here, which
could be considered a major coup.
Young plays a huge position of need for this squad, which cycled through multiple guard options over the course of last season.
Starting salary: $3,240,463
13. LA Clippers
Jerome Robinson
Boston College
Age: 21.2
PG
Height: 6-foot-5 |
Weight: 181
A smooth, high-IQ combo guard, Robinson offers shooting and creativity and has the versatility to play either on or off the ball.
He had one of the most productive campaigns in ACC history for Boston College.
Starting salary: $3,078,404
14. Denver Nuggets
Miles Bridges
Michigan State
Age: 20.1
SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-6 |
Weight: 226
The Nuggets have been cycling through options at small forward all season and could very well look to address that position in the draft and/or free agency this summer.
Bridges is a freakish athlete who struggled at times to make the full-time transition to small forward, but he undoubtedly has potential as a two-way forward who can guard all over the floor and give you enough shooting, ballhandling and passing to get by at one of the most important positions in today's NBA.
Starting salary: $2,924,539
15. Washington Wizards
Lonnie Walker IV
Miami
Age: 19.4
SG
Height: 6-foot-4 |
Weight: 206
Walker didn't have a consistent or efficient freshman season, but his talent, combined with the lack of depth at his position, is keeping him in this range.
His youth, strong frame, 6-foot-10? wingspan and ability to shoot with his feet set or off the dribble make him a candidate to rise as teams search for upside and diamonds in the rough.
Starting salary: $2,778,134
16. Phoenix Suns (via Heat)
Aaron Holiday
UCLA
Age: 21.6
PG
Height: 6-foot-1 |
Weight: 187
Holiday had an outstanding junior season and he would bring a number of attractive traits to the Suns with his microwave scoring ability, long wingspan and toughness.
He's a pitbull defender who should be able to earn minutes early on for his abilities on that end.
Starting salary: $2,639,313
17. Milwaukee Bucks
Zhaire Smith
Texas Tech
Age: 18.9
SF
Height: 6-foot-5 |
Weight: 195
Originally expected to be more of a 2019 draft candidate, Smith accelerated that timeline by helping Texas Tech reach the Elite Eight.
Smith needs to continue to develop his ballhandling and perimeter shooting, but he's one of the best athletes in this draft, and his trajectory as a prospect suggests he has considerable upside.
Starting salary: $2,507,345
18. San Antonio Spurs
Robert Williams
Texas A&M
Age: 20.6
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-10 |
Weight: 237
Williams reminded everyone why he was such a highly touted prospect entering the season with an impressive run to finish the year, helping Texas A&M reach the Sweet 16.
Despite playing out of position all season, he has shown that his game is tailor-made for the NBA as a rim-running, pick-and-roll-finishing, shot-blocker/offensive rebounder in the
Clint Capela mold.
Starting salary: $2,381,975
19. Atlanta Hawks (via Wolves)
Kevin Huerter
Maryland
Age: 19.7
SG
Height: 6-foot-7 |
Weight: 182
The 6-7 wing elevated his draft stock considerably with a strong showing at the combine.
Huerter's size, feel and upside could be intriguing at this stage of the draft -- he's younger than some of the freshmen projected to be drafted. Huerter
recently underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right hand and is expected to miss two months.
Starting salary: $2,274,709
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Thunder)
Donte DiVincenzo
Villanova
Age: 21.3
PG
Height: 6-foot-5 |
Weight: 200
Minnesota desperately needs to add depth to its guard and wing rotations, preferably someone who can also bring 3-point shooting and defense.
DiVincenzo put himself firmly on the NBA map with a memorable performance in the NCAA tournament championship game and continued his strong play at the NBA combine. He's a versatile guard who brings toughness and aggressiveness on both ends of the floor as well as deep range from beyond the arc. The fact that he doesn't need the ball in his hands to be successful is attractive alongside the likes of
Jimmy Butler and
Karl-Anthony Towns.
Starting salary: $2,183,588
21. Utah Jazz
Troy Brown
Oregon
Age: 18.8
SG
Height: 6-foot-7 |
Weight: 210
Brown's size, multipositional defense and upside could be intriguing at this stage of the draft.
He's one of the youngest players in this class and consistently described as an outstanding teammate and worker. Helping him become a better shooter will be a major key for whichever team drafts him.
Starting salary: $2,096,260
22. Chicago Bulls (via Pelicans)
Elie Okobo
Pau-Orthez
Age: 20.5
PG
Height: 6-foot-3 |
Weight: 180
Okobo has rocketed up draft boards with a very strong end to the season in France, leading his team to the playoffs and then having a memorable 44-point game once there.
The smooth guard has good physical tools with the ability to pass out of pick-and-roll sets and make shots with range pulling up off the dribble. His size and length should allow him to play alongside another point guard in the same backcourt, which is attractive in today's NBA.
Starting salary: $2,012,478
23. Indiana Pacers
De'Anthony Melton
USC
Age: 20.0
PG/SG
Height: 6-foot-3 |
Weight: 195
With incumbent point guards
Darren Collison and
Cory Joseph both entering the final seasons of their contracts, the Pacers could certainly begin to think about drafting someone they can groom at this position long term.
Melton looked to be on the verge of a breakout season for USC before the FBI's investigation into recruiting shut him down indefinitely. His basketball IQ, ability to guard multiple positions, toughness and intangibles make him a prospect worth investing in.
Starting salary: $1,931,999
24. Portland Trail Blazers
Josh Okogie
Georgia Tech
Age: 19.7
SG
Height: 6-foot-4 |
Weight: 195
Okogie has length, toughness and defensive versatility, and he's put himself firmly in the first-round mix with a strong pre-draft process, including an excellent showing at the combine.
He was the primary shot-creator on an underwhelming Georgia Tech team, which played a big part in his inefficiencies offensively.
Starting salary: $1,854,821
25. Los Angeles Lakers (via Cavs)
Grayson Allen
Duke
Age: 22.5
SG
Height: 6-foot-4 |
Weight: 185
Even with
Lonzo Ball in place, the Lakers should be looking to solidify their backcourt rotation and add more shooting, ballhandling and defensive versatility. Ball's size gives him the ability to operate alongside another combo guard.
Allen is a big-time shot-maker who should be ready to contribute fairly soon as one of the few NCAA seniors projected to be picked in the first round.
Starting salary: $1,780,457
26. Philadelphia 76ers
Dzanan Musa
Cedevita
Age: 19.0
SF
Height: 6-foot-9 |
Weight: 195
Musa's size, scoring instincts and aggressiveness could be intriguing at this stage of the draft.
He's one of the youngest players in this class, but he already is productive in Europe, playing at a fairly high level. However, his shot-selection and decision making could stand to improve.
Starting salary: $1,721,504
27. Boston Celtics
Keita Bates-Diop
Ohio State
Age: 22.3
PF
Height: 6-foot-7 |
Weight: 235
Bates-Diop increased his stock dramatically with a breakout season, moving among all of the frontcourt positions for an overachieving Ohio State team and looking like an ideal fit for the modern NBA -- if he can find a way to rev his motor into higher gear at the professional level.
Starting salary: $1,671,968
28. Golden State Warriors
Moritz Wagner
Michigan
Age: 21.1
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 |
Weight: 231
The Warriors are way over the luxury tax and will want to find contributors on cheap rookie contracts.
Wagner brings floor spacing and a high-energy style of play. He was one of the breakout players of March, leading Michigan to a Big Ten title and a surprise run to the NCAA championship game.
Starting salary: $1,661,574
29. Brooklyn Nets (via Raptors)
Chandler Hutchison
Boise State
Age: 22.0
SG/SF
Height: 6-foot-7 |
Weight: 193
The Nets are still figuring out what their long-term wing rotation will look like and could very well take a flier on a player like Hutchison at the end of the first round. His size, athleticism and ability to create his own shot are intriguing in a league that is starved for players at his position.
Hutchison made significant strides with his game as a senior. He has outstanding physical tools and is a much-improved ball handler and perimeter shooter. Hutchison is reported to have a promise after skipping the NBA combine and canceling all his workouts, and teams are increasingly beginning to point to Brooklyn as the team that guaranteed him.
Starting salary: $1,649,464
30. Atlanta Hawks (via Rockets)
Jalen Brunson
Villanova
Age: 21.7
PG
Height: 6-foot-2 |
Weight: 200
If they keep all three first-rounders, the Hawks should just be in best-player-available mode here.
Brunson is an extremely efficient offensive player, with a strong frame and reliable catch-and-shoot jumper. He rarely plays outside of his role and abilities.
Starting salary: $1,637,600
Second round
31. Suns
Melvin Frazier | SF | Age: 21.7 | Tulane
32. Grizzlies
Bruce Brown | SG | Age: 21.8 | Miami FL
33. Mavericks
Devonte' Graham | PG | Age: 23.3 | Kansas
34. Hawks
Rodions Kurucs | SF/PF | Age: 20.3 | Barcelona
35. Magic
Landry Shamet | PG | Age: 21.2 | Wichita St
36. Knicks (from Bulls)
Khyri Thomas | SG | Age: 22.0 | Creighton
37. Kings
Jevon Carter | PG | Age: 22.7 | West Virginia
38. 76ers (from Nets)
Jacob Evans | SG/SF | Age: 21.0 | Cincinnati
39. 76ers (from Knicks)
Mitchell Robinson | C | Age: 20.2 |
40. Nets (from Lakers)
Hamidou Diallo | SG | Age: 19.8 | Kentucky
41. Magic (from Hornets)
Anfernee Simons | SG | Age: 19.0 |IMG Academy
42. Pistons
Issuf Sanon | PG/SG | Age: 18.6 | Olimpija Ljubljana
43. Nuggets (from Clippers)
Gary Trent Jr. | SG | Age: 19.4 | Duke
44. Wizards
Rawle Alkins | SG | Age: 20.6 | Arizona
45. Nets (from Bucks)
Omari Spellman | PF | Age: 20.8 | Villanova
46. Rockets (from Heat)
Jarred Vanderbilt | SF | Age: 19.1 | Kentucky
47. Lakers (from Nuggets)
Malik Newman | PG/SG | Age: 21.3 | Kansas
48. Wolves
Shake Milton | PG/SG | Age: 21.7 | SMU
49. Spurs
Justin Jackson | SF/PF | Age: 21.3 | Maryland
50. Pacers
Isaac Bonga | SF | Age: 18.5 | Frankfurt
51. Pelicans
Trevon Duval | PG | Age: 19.8 | Duke
52. Jazz
Chimezie Metu | PF/C | Age: 21.2 | USC
53. Thunder
Kenrich Williams | PF | Age: 23.5 | TCU
54. Mavericks (from Blazers)
Kevin Hervey | SF | Age: 21.9 | Texas Arlington
55. Hornets (from Cavaliers)
Ray Spalding | PF | Age: 21.2 | Louisville
56. 76ers
Gary Clark | PF | Age: 23.5 | Cincinnati
57. Thunder (from Celtics)
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk | SG | Age: 21.0 | Kansas
58. Nuggets (from Warriors)
Kostas Antetokounmpo | SF | Age: 20.5 | Dayton
59. Suns (from Raptors)
Arnoldas Kulboka | SF | Age: 20.4 | Capo D'Orlando
60. 76ers (from Rockets)
Tryggvi Hlinason | C | Age: 20.6 | Valencia
