With the NBA draft coming up tomorrow, there are a lot of things we know for sure but there’s just as much uncertainty and predictions to be made. The draft will bring us some crazy and unpredictable moves along with a lot of interesting land spots for the top prospects. Here’s how I think the lottery picks will shake up on draft night.
1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama
Position: C/PF
Team: Metropolitans 92 (France LNB Pro A)
Age: 19
Victor Wembanyama has been the consensus number 1 pick for over a year now. Wembanyama is a truly generational talent and one of the most complete prospects of all time. Wemby is coming off an outstanding season with Mets 92 in the French LNB Pro A including leading his team to the finals and winning the league MVP award. Wembanyama is a physical anomaly at 7’4 with an 8-foot wingspan. We have never seen a player with this kind of size move as fluidly as Wembanyama. With elite shot blocking, athleticism, and size Wemby projects to be of the best defenders in the league upon arrival. Wemby is also an elite interior scorer with great shot-creating skills, a smooth handle, and the ability to space the floor. Wemby is truly the complete package and we’ve never seen anything like him before. The Spurs are perfectly positioned to build around Wemby and set up another era of San Antonio dominance. The defensive pairing of Wemby and Jermey Sochan is particularly interesting to me along with the wing duo of Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell. I can’t wait to see what else San Antonio does to build around Wemby!
2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller
Position: SF/PF
College: Alabama
Age: 20
Charlotte has a lot of options at two between Miller, Henderson, or a possible trade. After a private workout with Miller and Henderson it’s been reported that the Hornets have settled on taking Miller well this could be a smoke screen or a trade could still be a possibility Miller to the Hornets feels like the most likely outcome. Miller has a three-level scorer with great size and defensive abilities. This is the ideal archetype for the increasingly important wing position in the modern game. Miller fills the Hornets major need for a wing and is a great fit next to Lamelo Ball. Miller will give Lamelo a natural scorer to complement his playmaking abilities. For Miller, having a playmaker like Lamelo will help his transition to the NBA.
3. Portland Blazers: Scoot Henderson
Position: PG
Team: G-League Ignite
Age: 19
If Miller ends up going 2 this creates an incredibly interesting selection for the Blazers. Scoot being available at 3 will likely cause another move for Portland whether it be trading the pick for immediate help around Dame, trading Simons, or flat-out trading Dame. Regardless Scoot is easily the best player available here and if he’s available at three that’s gotta be the pick personally I think Scoot’s the 2nd best player in the draft. Scoot is an elite athlete and finisher who attacks the rim with incredible force. All well having good playmaking, court vision, and defensive abilities. Scoot checks all the boxes as an exceptionally hard worker and a player who will continuously improve. Scoot strikes me as a player who thrives in any situation and will make a strong impact on day one.
4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson
Position: PG/SG
Team: City Reapers (Overtime Elite)
Age: 20
The Rockets have put a heavy emphasis on athleticism during their rebuild and Amen Thompson is one of the best athletes in the draft. Thompson perfectly fills the Rockets need for a point guard and a playmaker. Thompson is a bigger guard at 6’7 which adds to his upside and versatility. Thompson is a high-impact defender with great size, athleticism, instincts, and versatility. Thompson and Jalen Green are both incredible athletes and pairing them in the backcourt would create an incredibly explosive and exciting backcourt. The two young guards have games that would complement each other nicely with Thompson’s playmaking and defense being perfect next to Green’s heavy shot-creation and shooting ability. To get the most out of Amen, the Rockets would have to be patient and allow him to develop his game, especially considering the lack of competition in the Overtime elite league.
5. Detroit Pistons: Cam Whitmore
Position: SF/SG
College: Villanova
Age: 18
The Pistons have their future backcourt with Cade Cunnigham and Jaden Ivey. Whitmore would fit perfectly as a scoring wing next to those two and gives the Pistons a much-needed athletic wing. Whitmore is an athletic finisher and has a muscular frame with solid size at 6 ‘6. His game is some combination of Jaylen Brown and Miles Bridges, as a creator Whitmore uses his athleticism to attack the rim with force, off-ball Whitmore is a great cutter and rebounder. He is also an active defender with a ton of effort and versatility. Whitmore definitely needs to tighten up his ball-handling and playmaking, pairing him with Cade and Ivey will help this process.
6. Orlando Magic: Ausar Thompson
Position: SG/PG
Team: City Reapers (Overtime Elite)
Age: 20
The Magic have been building around the size and versatility, Ausar Thompson perfectly fits this mold. Drafting Thompson would maximize Orlando’s style of jumbo ball and create a ton of intriguing lineups. Like his twin brother, Asuar is a bigger guard with great athleticism, defense, versatility, and playmaking abilities. Ausar is also a slightly better defender and shooter than Amen. This skill set would be perfect with Orlando’s core, especially Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The Magic have the perfect surrounding team for Ausar to develop his game on, this landing spot would help him reach his full potential and develop properly.
7. Indiana Pacers: Taylor Hendricks
Position: SF/PF
College: UCF
Age: 19
If the Pacers don’t trade this pick for a high-quality wing Hendricks is a perfect pick at number 7. Hendricks can fill the Pacers need for a two-way wing and make a strong impact from the jump. Hendricks is one of the most versatile players in the draft; he guards just about any position and has incredible technique on defense. Hendricks would be an ideal fit next to Myles Turner creating one of the more athletic and versatile defensive duos. Offensively Hendricks is a great athlete who uses his bounce to finish above the rim as well as having one of the best jumpers in the draft. Hendricks shot 39% from three on 5 attempts per game; he’s a threat both to spot-up and pull-up. Putting a wing-like Hendricks next to Halliburton is a match made in heaven and would evaluate both of their games.
8. Washington Wizards: Anthony Black
Position: PG/SG
College: Arkansas
Age: 19
Anthony Black is hands down one of my favorite prospects in the draft. At 6’6, Black is a big point guard with great IQ, and playmaking paired with high-impact defense. With Black’s combination of size, IQ, playmaking, versatility, and defense he will always find a way to impact the game in a positive way. The versatility and all-around skillset perfectly suits Black for the modern game. Already a capable finisher and creator if Black can develop as a shooter he could become a true star. With the Wizards entering a rebuild this could be the perfect opportunity for Black to develop and unlock his full potential.
9. Utah Jazz: Jarace Walker
Position: PF
College: Houston
Age: 19
Walker could easily go as high as number 5 but things always shake up on draft night regardless Walker at 9 is great value for Utah. Walker is a bulky 6’7 forward with great versatility, rebounding, and interior scoring abilities. Walker will use his strength and athleticism to be an interior presence immediately, blocking shots, getting boards, and scoring down low at will. This sets up a super intriguing frontcourt for Utah with Walker, Lauri Markkenan, and Walker Kessler. Walker Kessler and Jarace Walker can dominate the inside, forming an elite defensive duo allowing Lauri to be the primary creator and play from the perimeter. With the 16th pick, Utah can target a much-needed point guard to pair with this frontcourt trio.
10. Dallas Mavericks: Dereck Lively
Position: C
College: Duke
Age: 19
Trading the number 10 pick is certainly on the table for Dallas but if they keep the pick Lively is a solid choice. The Mavs desperately need size and defense next to Luka and Kyrie. Outside of Wemby, Lively is the best big man in the draft and he’d be a great fit for the Mavs. Lively has great size at 7’1 with a 7’7 wingspan giving him a strong defensive presence. Lively can block shots, rim run, catch lobs, set screens, and finish at the rim. That skill set is exactly what Dallas is looking for. Lively is the perfect role-playing center in the mold of Clint Capela or Mitchell Robinson.
11. Orlando Magic: Gradey Dick
Position: SG/SF
College: Kansas
Age: 19
The Magic desperately need shooting and Gradey Dick is one of the best shooters in the draft. Dick’s knockdown shooting ability makes him one of the safer lottery picks. Dick is an elite shooter both spotting up and off the dribble. This skill set fills a huge need for Orlando and is vital in modern basketball. Standing at 6’8 Dick’s size also makes him a good fit in Orlando, Dick has a high IQ and makes winning plays on both ends of the court. With two lottery picks, I like the idea of Orlando taking a high-upside player in Ausar Thompson and a safer pick who fits the team’s main need with Gradey Dick.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Bilal Coulibaly
Position: SF
Team: Metropolitans 92 (France LNB Pro A)
Age: 18
Coulibaly established himself as one of the fastest risers leading up to the draft and I wouldn’t be surprised if he cracks the top ten. Coulibaly was Wembanyama’s teammate on Mets 92 and continuously got better as the season progressed. Coulibaly is a high-upside player with great physical tools and athleticism he will immediately be a positive impact defensive player. Defensively he’s a great insect and is a classic disrupter who can guard multiple positions. On offense Coulibaly is unselfish and can play on or off the ball, he is a great finisher already with signs of an improving jump shot. Coulibaly seems to fit the mold of what OKC has built around and he can fit perfectly with their already-loaded core.
13. Toronto Raptors: Cason Wallace
Position: PG/SG
College: Kentucky
Age: 19
If the Raptors lose Vanvleet in the off-season Wallace would be an awesome replacement. Wallace is a no-fail prospect in my mind. Wallace is a hard-nosed defender with great defensive positioning with the ability to make life hell for opposing guards. Wallace also plays the passing lines incredibly well forcing a ton of turnovers. On offense, Wallace is a smart playmaker who rarely makes mistakes. Wallace can catch and shoot nicely and attack the rim as well. Wallace has been compared to Jrue Holiday by just about everyone and that comparison makes a ton of sense. Regardless of what direction Toronto goes in the off-season, Wallace is an ideal fit. Also, Kentucky guards have an amazing track record in the NBA. I would bet on Wallace to continue the trend.
14. New Orleans Pelicans: Kobe Bufkin
Position: PG/SG
College: Michigan
Age: 19
If the Pelicans are unable to trade up, Bufkin is an amazing consolation prize and has great value at 14. Many reports suggest Bufkin could go higher and crack the top 10. Bufkin gives the Pelicans a much-needed point guard who has a lot of versatility at the position. Bufkin is comfortable playing with or without the ball and could adapt to playing next to the likes of Ingram, Zion, and Mccoullum. Bufkin is effective at finishing at the rim, and pulling up from deep. Bufkin can create shots for himself and others. Making him one of the most intriguing guards in the class and a seamless fit in New Orleans regardless of what direction they go in the off-season.