NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Blazers, Grizzlies land elite prospects, Spurs add top PG. More!

NBA Mock Draft: Selections 8-6

8. San Antonio Spurs: Matas Buzelis, forward, G-League Ignite 

Thanks to the generosity of the Toronto Raptors and a bit of luck, San Antonio finds themselves with a second-to-ten selection. Unfortunately for the league, San Antonio continues to add more size to their roster with 6'11 Matas Buzelis. Buzelis struggled early on for the Ignite, with the physicality being too much for him to handle at first. 

As the season has progressed, Buzelis has improved and become more confident. His smooth shot has become more utilized while he has continued to be comfortable in the flow of games, making the right passes. 

Buzelis is a long-term project in my eyes, as it'll take a bit for him to adjust to the NBA's physicality, causing problems on both sides of the floor. There wouldn't be as much pressure on him in San Antonio to start his career, with multiple forwards playing ahead of him and the spotlight on Wemby. 

7. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn) : Reed Sheppard, Guard, Kentucky 

Another draft darling, Reed Sheppard, went from a second-round prospect to a lottery-level guy very quickly. At Kentucky, Sheppard has been the ultimate utility player, doing everything asked of him and more. 

Despite lacking size, Sheppard is all over the court, determined to make an impact in any aspect of the game. Sheppard is wildly efficient, leading the SEC and NCAA in true shooting at 70.6%. The Kentucky native is a shooting specialist, one of the most translatable NBA skills that usually indicates a long career. 

Sheppard's hard-nosed play style irks defenders, resulting in turnovers and stoppages. It isn't often players of Sheppard's height succeed in today's NBA, raising red flags. Size is not an issue in Houston due to the team's surplus of wing talent. Sheppard can also sit behind another short guard, Fred VanVleet, and learn how to navigate the NBA. 

6. Memphis Grizzlies: Cody Williams, Wing, Colorado 

Does the appeal for Cody Williams stem from his older brother Jalen Williams all-star-level play? While some scouts may believe so, Cody Williams has been a standout prospect on his own when healthy, rising as the season has progressed. 

Williams is everything a team would look for in a raw wing prospect: a prospect with an NBA frame and immense two-way potential. The former five-star is a crafty finisher and uses a variety of pump and ball fakes to score around the basket. 

Even though there isn't a large sample size, his mechanics and overall shot should pass on the next level. His length will help him as a team defender, clogging passing lanes. Similar to his brother, he isn't the greatest athlete and is much slimmer than his brother. 

In addition, he has a loose handle but on a Memphis team with Ja Morant, Williams would be able to develop off-ball and would be able to take his time developing on a team that looks to be competitive next season.