NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Half-Way point check-in
By Corey Rausch
NBA draft picks 21-25
Day’Ron Sharpe has played less than 20 minutes per game at school, but he still averaged 7.8 rebounds per game. With the San Antonio Spurs moving on from LaMarcus Aldridge taking an elite rebounding center to come in behind Jakob Poeltl fills the biggest hole on the roster. Give Gregg Popovich a chance to realize his great potential.
Josh Christopher has been limited to just 15 games due to a leg injury but if the medical side rights itself he would be a great get for the Denver Nuggets. He is an elite athlete and with the potential to be a microwave scorer for them off the bench. Efficiency needs to improve but he would be able to feast on some of the best passes in the league from Nikola Jokic.
After taking a freshman star earlier in the draft, the Houston Rockets come back around to take Ayo Dosunmu. He has blossomed in his junior year as a 20.9 point per game scorer while shooting 40.0 percent from 3-point range. Even if the shooting stroke does not translate in the pros, he is a solid rebounder and defender. If this progression is real, he will fit in nicely.
Sharife Cooper is one of the headiest playmakers in the draft and would create offense for a team in the Milwaukee Bucks that are perpetually looking for more of that. His ankle injury limited his late season impact, but Cooper could be a star if he falls in the right situation. The Bucks are that situation.
The LA Clippers need playmaking in the starting lineup, off the bench and wherever else they can find it. Davion Mitchell will be 23 years old and is ready for the NBA. He may not have as high a ceiling as some of the players already off the board, but he is a winning player. Mitchell is hyper-efficient, defends well and takes care of the ball.