Too-Early 2021 NBA Mock Draft: Will Cade Cunningham go No. 1?

James Bouknight, a sophomore guard from UConn, could be one of the elder statesmen selected in the lottery portion of the 2021 NBA Draft.

Bouknight is a slashing guard who excels in finishing at the rim as well as attacking the offensive glass. He has solid handles and a quick first step, and is certainly not a pass-first player. During his freshman season, Bouknight was second on the Huskies in scoring with a 13 point average, which bounced up to over 15 per game when he was in the starting lineup. He shot 35 percent from beyond the arc on 2.6 attempts per game.

The knock on Bouknight will be his wiry frame. He is 6’5″ and listed at 190 pounds, though that weight is probably including his sneakers and everything in his pockets. He will certainly need to bulk up if he wants to survive in the NBA.

The Orlando Magic, forever meddling in mediocrity in the Eastern Conference, would benefit greatly from having a lottery selection in 2021. If they go in to a full-on rebuild this offseason, they could be a prime candidate for a mid-lottery spot.

One player who could be a steal for one of the late lottery teams is Caleb Love, who is a freshman at North Carolina.

Love is an attack-first point guard. He has power and quickness in getting to the hoop, and his downhill style of play and ability to finish through contact make him a frequent visitor to the free throw line. He is a streaky shooter who needs work on his perimeter percentages, but they are good enough to keep defenses honest. Love is not yet a solid defender, but he has the size and frame to be able to develop in to one.

Love’s NBA comparison would be somewhere along the lines of a Monte Ellis.

The Phoenix Suns have been desperate for a point guard for some time now. There is a likelihood that they address the need in the 2020 Draft rather than wait until next year, but if they are still searching come 2021, there could be some eyes on Caleb Love.