Mock NBA Draft 5.0: Post-combine shake-up clarifies the league
By Corey Rausch
Back on the board, the OKC Thunder add Keon Johnson to the previously drafted Scottie Barnes. He broke the vertical leap record at the combine, the most recent example of his explosive athleticism. He is a lockdown defender and with time should be able to develop his offensive repertoire. If nothing else, he will be a walking highlight reel during plenty of losses.
Trey Murphy has been skyrocketing up draft boards following impressive workouts. He profiles as a bouncy athlete who can also stretch the floor. As the Memphis Grizzlies look to make a repeat appearance in the postseason next year, adding more athletic shooters to the fold is not a bad idea.
With their final bite at the apple, the Thunder take one more swing at Ziaire Williams. He never seems to stop growing and has so much potential to be a star. He had a disjointed season at Stanford but entering into a situation made for growth is perfect for his (and their) development. The gym is bound to be his best friend. Luckily the other two rookies seem to love that side of development so the pairing works well.
With two picks nearly back-to-back, the New York Knicks remain a possibility to move up in the draft. Should they stay where they are, James Bouknight is a solid addition. He is the type of bench scorer that the Knicks thrived with when Derrick Rose came off the bench. He is a walking bucket that would pair well with Immanuel Quickley to man the second unit for the Knicks. They need to do everything they can to stop with the Elfrid Payton minutes.
Playing with house money, the Atlanta Hawks have shown that they are good at finding gems in the NBA draft. Jaden Springer could be the next in line He would bring much of the defensive intensity that the Hawks brought Kris Dunn in for but also possess some upside as a scorer. As their bench becomes more expensive, adding a cheap option with upside is a good idea.