The third edition of the Def Pen NBA mock draft is here, with 17 changed picks from Mock Draft 2.0. Now that the season is over, we know which teams will be in the lottery, and which teams won’t. Multiple players have declared for the draft this past week and others who have returned to school.
All trades involving picks are included.
Our draft order will just go by current standings in reverse order.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves- Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, Kentucky- (Previous: Same)
Towns or Okafor, Okafor or Towns? Towns is better than Okafor right now and can play either the 4 or 5. With Towns, the Wolves can than hold on to Nikola Pekovic and play the two big men together at the same time, plus he can learn from Kevin Garnett.
2. New York Knicks- Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke- (Previous: Same)
The Knicks need a big man, badly. The Andrea Bargnani, Cole Aldridge, or whoever else they put out there this year combination was laughable, just watch the Knicks One Shining Moment Video. The Knicks need a lot of help, and they do have options with this pick. They could maybe draft D’Angelo Russell, but good big men are hard to find these days compared to guards. So If they have a chance at either Towns or Okafor, they need to select one of them.
3. Philadelphia 76ers- Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China (Previous: D’Angelo Russell)
The Sixers need everything. The post positions maybe set, but now they need someone to get them the ball. I originally had D’ Angelo Russell here, which is still a possibility, but right now in my opinion Emmanuel Mudiay maybe better.
4. Los Angeles Lakers- D’ Angelo Russell PG/SG, Ohio State (Previous: D’Angelo Russell)
Kobe is set to retire after next season and it looks like Rajon Rondo will most likely be a Laker next year. Russell can play either guard position so he’ll be able to come off the bench next year and learn from one of the best guards to ever play, again if they get Rondo. If they don’t get Rondo, then they insert him as the starting point guard from day one and build the team around him.
5. Orlando Magic- Justice Winslow SG/SF, Duke (Previous: Stanley Johnson)
I originally had Stanley Johnson here but after a poor NCAA tournament, his stock is falling for some weird reason. The Magic will most likely lose Tobias Harris to free agency. They have a nice core nucleus already with Nik Vucevic, Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, and drafted Aaron Gordon last year. Winslow who had a very strong NCAA tournament can play either shooting guard or small forward can step right in and complete that young but talented starting lineup, making the team more comfortable too with letting Harris walk, who will attract interest from many teams.
6. Sacramento Kings- Kristpaps Porzingiz, PF, Latvia (Previous: Trey Lyles)
DeMarcus Cousins needs some help down low in the post. A lot of scouts say that Porzingiz maybe the best overall player in the draft, we just don’t know as much on him compared to some of the other prospects. He possibly has the best offesnive game out of any post player in the draft. One thing he does need to improve his rebounding and toughness at he is 7″0 but a slim 220lb.
7. Denver Nuggets- Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona (Previous: Justice Winslow)
They have Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried and thats pretty much it. Jusuf Nurkic looks like he can be a solid center in the league and get more minutes next season. Stanley Johnson is a big 6’8 small forward who can shoot and slash. He improved his shooting more and more as the season went on. What teams will be attracted to most is his defense. He has great size, skills, and can anticipate where the ball is going.
8. Detroit Pistons- Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky (Previous: Kristpaps Porzingiz)
It looks more and more obvious that Greg Monroe is on his way out. Lyles played out of position this year but has tremendous upside. A complete post player who can score anywhere on the floor and is long, Lyles can step in a take over for Monore and have a nice tandem down low for the Pistons with him and Andre Drummond.
9. Charlotte Hornets- Mario Heznoja, SG/SF, Croatia. (Previous: Same)
Other than Kemba Walker, the Hornets don’t really have much talent. Yes they have Al Jefferson, but he’s getting up there in age and hasn’t been healthy this season. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is still only 21 but so far hasn’t lived up to the hype since coming out of Kentucky and the whole Lance Stephenson signing has been a disaster. Charlotte can go many different ways with this pick. I think they need to find a way to trade Stephenson, get something back for him and draft a shooting guard like Heznoja.
10. Miami Heat- Kelly Oubre SF, Kansas (Previous: Same)
Miami has options with this pick. At the beginning of the year most would probably say they would take a center. The emergence of Hassan Whiteside may chance that though process. Oubre is a great athlete who can also shoot from both midrange and beyond the arc. His defense is in question and there are some red flags about his attitude. But the talent is there and, why nobody is going to replace LeBron James, the Heat need a reliable small forward.
11. Utah Jazz- Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky. (Previous: Same)
The Jazz have a solid young core of players with Trey Burke, Dante Exum, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. While Gobert looks like he has the potential to be a solid starting center, Cauley-Stein is just too good of a player to pass up. The Jazz have so much size with Exum, Hayward, Favors, and Gobert. Add Cauley-Stein to that mix, this could be a dangerous team in the future.
12. Indiana Pacers- Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State (Previous: Same)
All those Pacers teams that challenged the Lebron James led Heat the past four seasons lacked the same position every year, point guard. After Russell and Mudiay, Payne is the next point guard available for the Pacers to take. He played at Murrary State, so he didn’t get the “national coverage per say, but wait until June until he shoots up draft boards like Elfrid Payton last year. Payne can knock down a jumper with very little room and great at setting his teammates up. He does need to get bigger and stronger, but that is really his only weakness.
13. Phoenix Suns- Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky (Previous: Same)
The Suns have only one “true shooitng guard” on the team, another former Kentucky Wildcat Archie Goodwin. This pick is just based off of team needs.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder- RJ Hunter, SG, Georgia State (Previous: Bobby Portis)
The Thunder were DEVASTATED by injuries this season and lacked depth. They also lack a true shooting guard. 14 maybe early for Hunter but he’s an upgrade from Andre Roberson. Hunter can score, create his own shot, and would be a nice addition next to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
15. Atlanta Hawks (from Nets) Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin. (Previous: Same)
The Hawks are the one seed in the East and basically get a lottery pick, nice. DeMare Carroll is a free agent at the end of the year. With such a high pick the Hawks maybe able to replace him with a cheaper option in Dekker, who maybe better than Carroll. Can you imagine a Hawks team with Dekker and Kyle Korver just sitting at the three point line ready to catch and shoot, scary.
16. Boston Celtics- Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame (Previous: RJ Hunter)
With all the pick the Celtics have in the next few years they will have tons of depth and talent. Jerian Grant’s stock continues to soar. He’s a natural point guard but can play the two every now and then. He can also play on the court with Marcus Smart. The Celtics have many options with this pick, but one thing is certain, their future is bright.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Myles Turner, C, Texas (Previous: Same)
Milwaukee still needs to find a center after Larry Sanders left the team. Myles Turner is projected to be somewhere drafted in the middle part of the first round, so here you go Bucks.
18. Houston Rockets (from Pelicans)- Tyus Jones, PG, Duke (Previous: Jerian Grant)
How many true point guards to the Rockets have on their roster. Yeah If you count Pat Beverly and Pablo Prigioni I guess two. Still those aren’t reliable guys who can start on a constant basis. Jones was the Most outstanding player of the Final Four. He’s a do it all player. He can Drive and kick to James Harden, feed Dwight Howard down low, and his a deadly shooter. The Rockets love to play fast, which is how Jones led Duke to the National Title this year, so Jones to the Rockets is really a perfect fit for both sides.
19. Washington Wizards- Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin. (Previous: Same)
Nene is old, it’s simple as that. The team drafts his replacement with this pick and what’s not to love about Frank the Tank. His offensive game is superb, his footwork is better than some big men currently in the league and is a pretty good defender. His only downside is athleticism, as Frank isn’t the worlds greatest athlete, but he can score from anywhere on the floor, Inside, outside, mid-range, anywhere. He thrived running the pick and roll in college, now imagine doing that…..with John Wall.
20. Toronto Raptors- Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville (Previous: Same)
Amir Johnson is an undersized 4 and Toronto really doesn’t have anyone behind him. Patrick Patterson does come off the bench but his bread and butter in on the perimeter. Harrell may also be considered an “undersized 4” but has great length and athleticism. He’s showed vast improvement this season and his stock continues to rise. His offensive game has steadily improved, showing more touch on the perimeter, while he continues to be an absolute beast on the boards.
21. Dallas Mavericks- Delon Wright PG/SG, Utah (Previous: Tyus Jones)
Rajon Rondo is done is Dallas. The team biggest need right now is point guard.
22. Chicago Bulls- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson SF, Arizona (Previous: Delon Wright)
Hollis-Jefferson strongest trait is his defense. Tom Thibodeau teams are known for their defense, something that was “lacking” this year. Thibodeau seems to be on the hot seat in Chicago and he may not be back next year. Regardless, the three spot is also uncertain with the Bulls. Mike Dunleavy starts their now and his a great three point shooter, but plays no defense. Same thing for last years first round pick Doug McDermott. RHJ can add a defensive presence to a position on that team that lacks it badly.
23. Portland Trailblazers- Christian Wood, PF, UNLV (Previous: Kevon Looney)
LaMarcus Aldridge is a free agent and there are reports that he may leave Portland. The Blazers don’t have much depth up front already so no matter who is on the team, this pick needs to be used to add depth to the front court.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers- Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA (Previous: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson)
The Cavs are another team that lacks depth up front. Looney is a project who is still raw but has tremendous upside. He’s not the greatest athlete but is an animal on the boards. Plus the Cavs have that LeBron guy, who makes everybody better.
25. San Antonio Spurs- Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas (Previous: Same)
The eventual replacement to Tim Duncan maybe? At the beginning of the season, Alexander was projected to be a top 5 pick. After an ok season at Kansas, in which he sat out the remaining eight games due to an NCAA investigation, Alexander decided to declare for the draft. There was a reason there was so much hype on Alexander when he left high school, he can play. Having him learn under Pop and Tim Duncan can only make him play to his true potential.
26. Memphis Grizzlies- Justin Anderson, SG/SF, Virginia (Previous: Buddy Hield)
Who is the Grizzlies shooting guard? They need a shooting guard who can actually shoot the ball (Tony Allen.) Anderson can play guard or small forward but is jump shooter. He needs to improve getting to the basket, but in Virginia’s pro style half court offense, Anderson was the Cavs leading scorer strictly from shooting jumpers.
27. Los Angeles Lakers (from Rockets)- Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky (Previous Delon Wright)
Robert Sacre? Ed Davis? Tarik Black? Carlos Boozer? Pair Johnson with his former Kentucky teammate Julius Randle down low to have a respectable duo in the paint.
28. Boston Celtics- Jarrell Martin PF, LSU (Previous: Kris Dunn)
Again the Celtics and all their picks are just drafting best available at this point to round out the team. I like to compare Martin to a 6″10 version of Draymond Green. A big guy who can shoot from the perimeter but bang down low in the post. He has great size for a NBA power forward at 6″10 240 and just adds to the Celtics young talent.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks)- Aleksandar Vezenkov, SF, Bulgaria (Previous: Same)
Oh do the Nets need a lot of help, and could have had a high pick, but they traded it to the Hawks. The Nets are locked in to guards Deron Williams and Joe Johnson for next season. Markel Brown has proved that he may be able to be a consistent starter for this team in the future but a position they haven’t had in a while is a true small forward. Vezenkov averaged 16.8 points on 55.2% from the field and shot a ridiculous 48.4% from three point range while grabbing 8.6 rebounds. His main weapon is his spot up jump shot, but the lefty forward can get into the pain and draws a lot of fouls. He needs to work on his right hand, as the lefty rarely ever goes right and isn’t a great defender.
30. Golden State Warriors- Robert Upshaw, C, Washington (Previous: Jarrell Martin)
Get this team some size! Size is just something that this team lacks badly. Upshaw was dismissed from the Washington basketball team in January which will cause teams to pass on him. If Upshaw played a full season, he may have been a lottery pick as the guy is extremely talented. He averaged 11 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes a game. Again the Warriors lack an interior presence, and can get a steal at 30 with Upshaw, who will most likely be available.
