1. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke- (Previous: Same)
It’s been reported that the team likes Okafor over Towns, which is why I have Okafor here.
2. Los Angeles Lakers- Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, Kentucky- (Previous: Same)
The Lakers don’t have a true center or a good one. Pair Towns with another former Kentucky Wildcat Julius Randle down low and the Lakers have a nice front court that can be the corner stone of the team for the next ten years. If the Wolves select Towns then LA will take Okafor. Rumors are out there saying that they may take somebody else, but they won’t.
3. Philadelphia 76ers- D’Angelo Russell PG/SG, Ohio State (Previous: Same)
Reports are out there that the Sixers want Russell. Unless the Wolves or Lakers try to pull a shocker and draft him, he’ll be there at three for the Sixers who need help everywhere except down low.
4. New York Knicks- Emmanuel Mudiay PG, China (Previous: Same)
Jose Calderon is nice, but Mudiay is better. Some say Justice Winslow can go with this pick or even Willie Cauley-Stein but Mudiay is too good to pass on. A future star point guard to compliment Melo, why pass that up? Then again they are the Knicks.
5. Orlando Magic- Justice Winslow SG/SF, Duke (Previous: Same)
Tobais Harris is most likely on his way out via free agency. The Magic all ready have a young solid squad with Elfird Payton, Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Vucevic. Enter Justice Winlow, or even possibly Stanley Johnson to the open small forward position, and this could be a team to watch out for in the future.
6. Sacramento Kings- Kristpaps Porzingiz, PF, Latvia (Previous: same)
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 offensive game out of any post player in the draft. He can score from anywhere on the floor whether its inside or out. One thing he does need to improve his rebounding and toughness as he is 7″0 but a slim 220lb.
7. Denver Nuggets- Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kentucky (Previous: Mario Hezonja)
6’7 Kenneth Faired was starting at center for majority of the year. The Nuggets need lots of help all around, but also size.
8. Detroit Pistons- Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona (Previous: Same)
Greg Monroe is most likely leaving via free agency so the Pistons will want to fill that void at power forward. With Johnson dropping this far though you have to take him. Besides, it’s not like the Pistions have a great small forward situation with last years starer being Caron Butler. Johnson can shoot from anywhere on the floor but the best part of his game is his defense. He was inconsistent at times this season at Arizona but he is one of the most talented players in the draft. At 6’7 245lb the Pistons could also play small and slide Johnson to the 4 at times.
9. Charlotte Hornets- Mario Hezonja SG, Kentucky (Previous: Devin Booker)
The Hornets need a shooting guard badly. The Lance Stephenson signing hasn’t worked out and the team has young talent at all the other position but shooting guard.
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 change 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. Indiana Pacers- Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State (Previous: Willie Cauley-Stein)
Payne you maybe haven’t heard of because where he played but don’t let that fool you. Think of Elfrid Payton from a year ago because Payne can ball. He is a do it all guard. He can score from anywhere, has a great court awareness and IQ. He needs to improve his strength and he is a lanky guard and weighs about 180lbs. Other than that he’s a huge sleeper who will have a very good career at the next level and gives the Pacers a solid option at a spot they haven’t been strong at in recent years.
12. Utah Jazz- Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky. (Previous: Same)
The Jazz have a solid young core of players with Trey Burke, Dante Exum, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. Lyles played out of position at UK this season but has the potential to have a solid career. He comes into Utah and backs up Derrick Favors which would give him time to develop, plus it gives Utah depth down low, something they lacked a year ago.
13. Phoenix Suns- Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas (Previous: Same)
The Suns need help at power forward and shooting guard considering they really don’t have a player that plays that position. They play the two point guard system and two small forwards around a center. At this point they have to take the best available at either shooting guard or power forward and that’s Portis. He’s a great face up player who is incredibly tough to guard. He’s got a great mid-range game and is expanding his range to include the three ball . Defensively, he is active which leads to his fair share of deflections and steals. Portis also won SEC Player of the year beating out guys like Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of Kentucky’s roster.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder- Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky (Previous: RJ Hunter)
The Thunder were DEVASTATED by injuries this season and lacked depth. They also lack a true shooting guard. Booker is a HUGE upgrade from current starting shooting guard Andre Roberson. Booker can shoot especially from downtown and would be a nice addition next to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
15. Atlanta Hawks (from Nets) Frank Kaminsky, PF/C, Wisconsin. (Previous: Myles Turner)
Paul Millsap is also a free agent this summer, and there are questions to whether or not he’ll return. Frank the Tank can play either position down low, and like Millsap can step out side the arc and shoot the three ball.
16. Boston Celtics- Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin (Previous: Same)
With all the picks the Celtics have in the next few years they will have tons of depth and talent. Evan Turner is their small forward right now, and while he had a good year leading the team to the playoffs, Sam Dekker can be the future. A 6’9 swing man who can shoot from the outside, Dekker can also get to the basket and finish at the rim. Maybe even Larry Legend 2.0? (Please don’t take that too seriously)
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Myles Turner, PF/C, Texas (Previous: Frank Kaminsky)
The Bucks need to find someone to replace Larry Sanders. While Zaza Pachulia is ok, he’s not a starter. Myles Turner is someone who can step in with the Bucks from Day one and give them that post presence that they lack.
18. Houston Rockets (from Pelicans)- Tyus Jones, PG, Duke (Previous: same)
How many true point guards to the Rockets have on their roster. Yeah If you count Pat Beverly, who is a free agent this summer, 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, with Jones not having much competition for a starting job.
19. Washington Wizards- Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville. (Previous: Same)
Nene is old, it’s simple as that. The team drafts his replacement with this pick. The Brad Beal and John Wall future looks bright in a more uptempo system, as we saw Paul Pierce get a lot of action at the 4 this post season. Harrell is 6’9 240 but very athletic and can run the floor. Scouts say if he can develop a better jumper that he could even be a small forward at the next level. If Washington decides to move to a faster tempo in years to come, Harrell would be a perfect fit at a position that they need.
20. Toronto Raptors- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson SF, Arizona (Previous: Same)
This pick is solely based off defense, as RHJ might be the best defender in the draft. The Raptors didn’t play much defense is the playoffs, and the Terrence Ross experiment doesn’t seem to be working out.
21. Dallas Mavericks- Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame (Previous: Cameron Payne)
Rajon Rondo is out so the Mavs are drafting their point guard of the future.
22. Chicago Bulls- Delon Wright, PG/SG, Utah (Previous: Jerian Grant)
Insurance for Derrick Rose, simple as that.
23. Portland Trailblazers- Christian Wood, PF, UNLV (Previous: Same)
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, SF/PF, UCLA (Previous: same)
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 and can shoot a consistent jumper. Looney is a tweener which is why he still raises some question marks. He’s simply is a boom or a bust, (Much like a former Cavs Anthony Bennet who had the same issue as Looney) They already had the bust in Bennett, maybe now they have the boom with Looney. Plus the Cavs have that LeBron guy, who makes everybody better.
25. Memphis Grizzlies- Justin Anderson, SG/SF, Virginia (Previous: same)
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 a spot up 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 as a jump shooter. He’s also very good playing perimeter defense and will only get better at that playong with Tony Allen.
26. San Antonio Spurs- Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas (Previous: Same)
The eventual replacement to Tim Duncan. 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.
27. Los Angeles Lakers (from Rockets)- RJ Hunter, SG, Georgia State (Previous: Rashad Vaughn)
The Lakers need to find a replacement for Kobe who’s retiring after the season. They address that need with this pick.
28. Boston Celtics- Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV (Previous: Jarrell Martin)
Avery Bradley and James Young are really the only true shooting guards on the team. Rashad Vaughn is a big guard who can shoot the lights out while addressing Boston’s need at the position.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks)- Terry Roizer, PG, Louisville (Previous: Delon Wright)
Whoever the Nets pick here is needs to a guard. Joe Johnson and Deron Williams are way past their primes.
30. Golden State Warriors- Jarrell Martin, PF, LSU (Previous: Robert Upshaw)
Get this team some size! Size is just something that this team lacks badly. Martin is a 6’10 version of Draymond Green. A big man who plays tough defensive and can shoot from the outside. Drafting Martin would give the team possibly two Draymond Greens, assuming the team resigns him this off season.
