With the culmination of March Madness, it is the perfect time to do an update to the Mock NBA Draft. Mock Draft 2.0 will focus on the updates from the end of the college basketball season, taking into account the players whose stock has skyrocketed and others who may be unfairly weighed down by a less than stellar performance.
Just like Mock Draft 1.0, the draft order will be based on the standings as of today. There is no simulating the results for the time being. Essentially this will be a big board based on the best players available. There will be rare exceptions where fit trumps talent but that will mostly happen towards the end of the first round.
Mock NBA Draft 2.0 is the first check-in after the college basketball season ends, updating the draft ranking after a special NCAA Tournament.
With the draft lottery just over two months away this will likely be the last mock draft before lottery day. The draft combine will likely change the rankings even more but part of the fun of the NCAA tournament is capturing the trends as they are unfolding. Johnny Juzang, Davion Mitchell and Chris Duarte are just a few of the names who are skyrocketing up draft boards.
Even the top five picks in the draft have been shaken up after runs to the Elite Eight and to the title shined a brighter light than ever on two of the nation’s best. However, again we start with a player who went home earlier.
It did not matter how early the Oklahoma State Cowboys went out in the NCAA Tournament. Cade Cunningham is the clear number one prospect in the draft and will be even better with decent players around him to space the floor. He can get to the rim with ease and will set up his teammates with ease. There is nothing Cunningham should not be expected to do in time. Do not overthink it. Cade Cunningham is the choice.
As clear-cut as the top pick in the draft has become, Evan Mobley is also close to cementing himself as the number two selection after a masterful end to the season. Mobley helped push the USC Trojans to the Elite Eight and is the perfect center for the modern NBA. He has potential as a floor spacer, is dominant on the interior and profiles as an elite defensive prospect. As of today, there is only one person challenging his spot.
The title game was a nightmare but the legend of Jalen Suggs has been cemented. He has already shown an ability to fit in with better players earlier in the season and the potential is through the roof. He would be the most confident scorer on the roster who can thrive on- or off-ball. The run through the tournament (before the championship) cemented his status as special for anyone with doubts.
If not for a masterful run through the NCAA tournament by Gonzaga, Jalen Green would have been off the board for me before Jalen Suggs. Green will be an elite scorer at the next level and could develop his game more in the right situation. Being able to play off Markelle Fultz may be exactly what he needs.
This is rough for the Washington Wizards. Jonathan Kuminga is a tier ahead of anyone outside of the top five in this draft. The Wizards have something of a glut of forwards, taking Deni Avdija and Rui Hachimura in consecutive seasons. That being said, the Wizards should still take the best player available and Kuminga has the potential to be the best of the three forwards.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are slowly building an elite defensive unit and Keon Johnson would fit right in. He is an elite defender with the profile of a player that would fit as a championship-level role player anywhere. If he can ever fix his shot they may just be building something.
The Oklahoma City Thunder own an entire round’s worth of picks in the future and therefore can afford to take a swing on the player with the highest potential available. Scottie Barnes was not good for Florida State during the tournament, but he has the raw tools to be an All-Star in the future. The Thunder are showing night in and night out that they can get the most out of players so the fit should be seamless.
The Toronto Raptors are regularly drawn to players with raw potential that needs developing as long as they are willing to lock in on the defensive end of the floor. Kai Jones is perfect for the team, as a strong rim runner who would fit in with an already established collection of offensive weapons.
With their second top 10 pick after trading Nikola Vucevic, the Orlando Magic play things slightly safer by taking a swing on Moses Moody. Like Barnes, Moody was disappointing during March Madness but still has the floor to be a solid wing defender with length that everyone in the world knows the Magic love, complimenting the potential of Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac on that end. If he can replicate from the longer 3-point line what he did in college this will be a steal.
Zaire Williams remains one of the more polarizing prospects in the draft, so it only makes sense to pair him with one of the more polarizing franchises. Williams could end up as an elite defensive wing, the type of player every playoff team wants. If he is able to hit his potential, he is perfect for the Sacramento Kings.
Corey Kispert was one of the best players on the best team for much of the season and until the title game would have been a top 10 pick. A slight dip is to his and the New Orleans Pelicans’ benefit. He would provide much-needed floor spacing for a team jam-packed into the paint. He is a solid defensive role player and would improve the Pelicans immediately.
The highest riser of the March Madness process, Davion Mitchell showed that he is just a star. The Indiana Pacers likely need someone who can compete immediately and Mitchell showed he is ready. All the superlatives that are placed on a prospect coming out of a championship run fit Mitchell. He would be a great Pacer.
Franz Wagner did not look good in the NCAA Tournament and has slid in the mind of many scouts but his talents are undeniable and for a team like the Golden State Warriors he is the right choice. He plays his role well and would fit into the team defense concepts that the team has been built upon. Adding another 3-point threat next to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson does not hurt either.
This slide for James Bouknight may seem harsh but his outing in the tournament was that negative. He would benefit from the shooting coaches with the San Antonio Spurs and would immediately appear to be the most capable score of the young group. Adding another athletic wing to the mix would help replace the potential departures from DeMar DeRozan and Patty Mills.
The New York Knicks are always in the market for a shiny new point guard prospect. As good as Immanuel Quickley has been this season chances are he is a microwave scorer off the bench. Josh Giddey could be that point guard, standing at 6’8”. He is a smart passer and the type of defender that coach Tom Thibodeau loves.
There are plenty of personality concerns for Jalen Johnson but betting on one of the best high school prospects to figure things out in a situation where there is already a system in place. He is an elite perimeter defender, at least in theory, which is exactly what the Boston Celtics have been looking for all season.
Isaiah Jackson could be the perfect big man prospect to pair with LaMelo Ball. He blocked 2.6 shots per game in just 20.7 minutes. There is already plenty of scoring with the Charlotte Hornets. Adding a defensive anchor down low to a team relying far too much on Bismack Biyombo could be huge.
Another late riser, Chris Duarte is the exact type of player that the Memphis Grizzlies have prioritized. He is a little older than the lottery consensus (finishing his senior season) and does so many winning things. He would step into the team as the best shooter on the team and would fit the hardworking mentality to a tee.
Slowly but surely the Atlanta Hawks are committing to both sides of the basketball and Jaden Springer is further doing so. He is an energetic defender and driver who could learn from the collection of shooters on the roster how to make sure his shot translates.
Alperen Sengun has the talent of a lottery pick but plays the position of a mid-first-round selection in a draft littered with strong wing prospects. His potential is clear and, with work, could make teams regret passing on him. Given that this is the Thunder’s second selection in the draft it is worth taking the chance.
Having a University of Kentucky prospect go off the board before the New York Knicks hurts the sensibilities of Leon Rose, but recovering and taking Day’Ron Sharpe is a good plan. With questions surrounding Mitchell Robinson and the New York Knicks reportedly looking elsewhere Sharpe would give them a strong rebounder with impressive potential as a rim protector.
Tre Mann and the Florida Gators went home earlier than they hoped in March but he is still a solid prospect. He is an elite shooter from long range and rebounds well for a guard, pairing well with John Wall for however long he remains a Rocket. His playmaking needs some work but he will be given time during the rebuild.
The Los Angeles Lakers need an infusion of young talent that is ready to compete immediately, and Ayo Dosunmu checks both boxes. He would fit their defensive mindset perfectly and has improved every year as a shooter. He is a smart passer than the Lakers have been missing since Rajon Rondo left. Because Illinois went out of the tournament so early the Lakers get their guy.
This is higher than many on BJ Boston at this point but sticking with the theme of betting on top high school talent figuring things out in a better situation than they had in college makes the fit with the Denver Nugget tantalizing. The Nuggets have a track record of getting the most out of former star recruits and Boston could be a great scoring guard off the bench if nurtured appropriately.
The Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament, Jared Butler may be even higher by the time the draft happens. He opened many eyes on the way to Baylor’s first national championship. He is the exact playmaker the LA Clippers have been chasing, most recently taking a shot on Rajon Rondo. Butler is a smart passer, a great shooter and can score at all levels.
Daishen Nix was not great in the G-League bubble, playing his best in the one playoff game the Ignite team played. Despite the concerns about his efficiency, he is a good playmaker and rebounder for a guard. Since the Rockets will be making their third first-round selection, betting on a highly routed prep talent is the call here.
The highest riser from the NCAA Tournament, many were not sure if Johnny Juzang would even be a second-round selection in the NBA draft. He put the UCLA Bruins on his back and was a scoring force who was surprisingly efficient. The Sixers could use a player with his passion coming off their bench.
The Brooklyn Nets seem committed to taking as many chances on big men to hang down low. Greg Brown could be the best bet to get the next chance. He is a great defensive rebounder and would not have to do much on offense (good for him early on). Brown has the potential to hit from distance at the next level, a bonus at this point in the NBA draft.
The final Ignite player to come off the board, Isaiah Todd is a strong shooting big man who would likely provide everything the Suns thought they were going to get out of Jalen Smith last year. He still has a way to go but there is no one better to learn from than Chris Paul.
Cam Thomas is a strong scorer who would provide a sparkplug off the bench, in addition to Jordan Clarkson. Much in the way Clarkson plays as an offense separate from the rest of the team, Thomas is not quite ready to create for others at this point but he can get his own shot at will.