2021 NBA Mock Draft 2.0
An updated 2021 NBA mock draft with one week to go before the big day!
In version 1.0 of the mock, I covered only the lottery. With just a week remaining before the 2021 NBA Draft, here is my current mock for all 30 picks of Round 1.
1 - Pistons - Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
The most recent reports have Detroit sticking here and making this pick.
2 - Rockets - Jalen Green, G League Ignite
It sounds like this is more a battle of the Jalens than Green vs. Mobley, but I expect the alpha scorer to win out.
3 - Cavaliers - Evan Mobley, USC
Would be a great fit for Cleveland with or without Colin Sexton. Certainly not ruling out Suggs just yet.
4 - Raptors - Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
Scottie Barnes is creeping, but the top four still seem like a solid tier at this juncture.
5 - Magic - Scottie Barnes, Florida State
The buzz on Barnes is extremely strong that he will be off the board in the top five next Thursday.
6 - Thunder - James Bouknight, UConn
Tremendous riser throughout the draft process. Three-level scorer to put next to SGA.
7 - Warriors - Moses Moody, Arkansas
Though Kuminga is still available, Golden State appears to be in love with Moody as a three-and-d wing. They could pass on the higher ceiling to help their win-now window.
8 - Magic - Jonathan Kuminga, G League Ignite
Magic are ecstatic to get two highly switchable wings in the top-10. If Kuminga and Bouknight are both gone, I like Sengun.
9 - Kings - Alperen Sengun, Besiktas
Turkish-league MVP at 18 years-old. Sengun worked out for Sacramento, who needs a starting center.
10 - Pelicans - Franz Wagner, Michigan
Everything the Pelicans do should be helping to space the floor for Zion. Recent reports say the front office wants Kira Lewis and NAW to be their guards, so they space the floor with Wagner.
11 - Hornets - Kai Jones, Texas
Huge draft range, and tremendous upside on Jones. A nice fit with LaMelo Ball in Charlotte.
12 - Spurs - Josh Giddey, Adelaide
International prospect de jour for San Antonio. Giddey would be a tremendous facilitator for their young talent.
13 - Pacers - Davion Mitchell, Baylor
Small, older guard, but draws rave reviews for defensive intensity. Fits Indiana’s typical MO of trying to compete.
14 - Warriors - Chris Duarte, Oregon
The links to Duarte and the Warriors have been strong. This is now his expected draft range.
15 - Wizards - Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Wizards need shooting in the worst way. Duarte and Trey Murphy are other options.
16 - Thunder - Jalen Johnson, Duke
Slide stops here for Johnson as the Thunder continue to acquire young talent at a discount.
17 - Grizzlies - Trey Murphy, Virginia
50/40/90 guy at Virginia, allows Memphis to space the floor for Ja Morant.
18 - Thunder - Isaiah Jackson, Kentucky
Word is Oklahoma City wants to leave the draft with a big, with most reports leading to Jackson.
19 - Knicks - Usman Garuba, Real Madrid
The Knick draft board under this regime typically goes 1) Anyone from Kentucky and 2) Anyone represented by CAA. Garuba falls under the latter category, and gives them a nice defensive presence in the middle.
20 - Hawks - Ziaire Williams, Stanford
One of the deepest teams in basketball, gives Williams a chance to get back to his high school form with little pressure.
21 - Knicks - Cameron Thomas, LSU
Certified bucket that New York desperately needs.
22 - Lakers - Tre Mann, Florida
Not a lot of buzz on Mann, but some that connects him to the Lakers.
23 - Rockets - Keon Johnson, Tennessee
Big draft day slider as Johnson offers littler right now aside from defense and athleticism. Rockets are the perfect team to take a stab and try and make it work.
24 - Rockets - Day’Ron Sharpe, UNC
Riser who teams think can step out and shoot more than he did in college.
25 - Clippers - Sharife Cooper, Auburn
Elite play-maker with poor shooting success in college. Great second-unit igniter.
26 - Nuggets - Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Given the injury to Jamal Murray, Denver will need some help at guard, and have been connected to natural leader Dosunmu.
27 - Nets - Jaden Springer, Tennessee
Defensive-minded creator who showed better bounce with a healthy ankle. Brooklyn needs someone to help shoulder the ball-handling load off the bench.
28 - 76ers - Miles McBride, West Virginia
McBride seems like he will stick in the first round due to shooting ability and defensive intensity.
29 - Suns - Josh Primo, Alabama
Youngest player in the draft, probably a 2022 lottery pick if he stays at Alabama. That makes him a good bet for contending teams who are unlikely to select in the lottery going forward.
30 - Jazz - Jared Butler, Baylor
Health questions have his draft range all over the place, but on talent alone, Butler belongs at least 10 spots higher than this.
Anthony, I really value your opinion on these mocks. Your ones on the nfl were honestly really informative. I wanted to get your thought on a couple things:
- #9 Pick/Sacramento: A lot of the top recent mocks have put Franz Wagner here and I believe it was Jonathan Wasserman that stated there are rumors Franz has a promise in the top 10. James Ham, who covers the Kings, I believe has stated multiple times the priority for that pick would be an athletic wing that can really defend and also shoot. So to me, everything seems to be pointing to Franz going to Sacramento at #9 if they keep the pick. Im curious what youve seen to put Sengun there. I think the Franz as a Top 10 pick prop is solid (Jeremy Woo at SI also thinks he is solidified in the back half of top 10) but I feel like it could be Sacramento or bust for him.
- Garuba / Knicks: I love that CAA connection note, but is there anything else connecting Garuba to the Knicks? I don't know if I have seen him going there in any mock drafts. I think they very well could be a team that trades up, but I've constantly read that they are looking for a creator on offense as well as more shooting. Garuba apparently is the total opposite of that type of a player.
- #20 Pick / Ziaire Williams: Every mock I have seen has Atlanta taking a guard to be the back up to Trey Young or a guy that can adding scoring with Lou Williams potentially gone. Again, I don't think Ive seen Ziaire linked to them in any mocks so im curious what you have seen to put him there.
- Josh Primo: I just cannot imagine he kept his name in the draft without having some promise from a team in the 1st round. That just would not make any sense. He seems like the perfect type of player to go back to school to solidify himself as a lottery pick next year if he was going to be a 2nd round pick. The line for his draft position at DK is 31.5 and the under is at +100. That seems like an extremely good under to take, but just curious to get your thoughts on that prop.
- DK released a bunch of new "player draft position" props these last few days. Are there any lines for guys not expected to go in the 1st round that you like? I got Weiskamp at u45.5, I think that line might still be good at 42.5. The Day'ron Sharpe line is still at 33.5 which could be one of the worst lines theyve put out for this draft. Im curious if any others stick out to you?