The second edition of the Def Pen NBA mock draft is here, with changes. 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, who weren’t involved in last weeks mock draft.
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: Jahlil Okafor)
Last week the Timberwolves were projected to have the second pick, but thanks to the Knicks win against the Hawks, they have a 25% chance at landing the top pick. Towns is better than Okafor right now and can play either the 4 or 5. His footwork in the post is incredible for someone his age, something Okafor will need to work on at the next level. 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: Karl-Anthony Towns)
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- D’Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Ohio State- (Previous: Same)
Sixers fans might cringe when drafting another combo guard from Ohio State. Back in 2009, the team drafted Evan Turner with the second overall pick and that didn’t work out too well. None the less, Russell is an incredible talent who can play either guard position. The Sixers are set in the post with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, who the team took third overall in last years draft. The Sixers traded Michael Carter-Williams to the Bucks at the trade deadline and need guard help.
4. Los Angeles Lakers- Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China (Previous: Same)
Originally committed to play for Larry Brown at SMU, Mudiay played this year overseas in China. Mudiay was the second best point guard recruit coming out of high school a year ago according to ESPN and fifth best player in the country. Jeremy Lin is not the future in LA and the Lakers need a point guard.
5. Orlando Magic- Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona (Previous: Same)
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. Johnson who is like Harris, is 6″8 245 lbs can play both forward positions. He also can shoot from the perimeter and has great athleticism.
6. Sacramento Kings- Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky (Previous: Same)
DeMarcus Cousins needs some help down low in the post, so enter another Kentucky Wildcat Trey Lyles. Lyles played out of position this season with the loaded talent on Kentucky’ roster but has shown his talent down near the basket. Him and Boogie would make a nice one-two punch down low.
7. Denver Nuggets- Justice Winslow, SF/SG, Duke (Previous: Same)
The Nuggets need some help so with their pick they just need to take the best player available, which is Winslow. Winslow is comparable to a former Nugget Arron Aflalo, who the team traded to Portland. While Winslow has about 20 lbs on him, they both are swing men who can score in different ways including getting to the basket, but can also shoot from the perimeter.
8. Detroit Pistons- Kristpaps Porzingiz, PF, Latvia (Previous: Kelly Oubre)
It looks more and more obvious that Greg Monroe is on his way out. Porzingiz is a 7’0 power forward who can shoot from outside. Many NBA executives are very high on him because of his offensive prowess and his stock seems to be rising fast.
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 Sam Dekker)
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: Kristpaps Porzingiz)
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 Montrezl Harrell)
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- Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas (Previous Devin Booker)
The Thunder were DEVASTATED by injuries this season and lacked depth. This pick is just based on best available and Portis is a great talent. A 6’10 big man who averaged a double double, led Arkansas to a second place finish in the SEC, right behind Kentucky.
15. Atlanta Hawks (from Nets) Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin. (Previous Kevon Looney)
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- RJ Hunter, SG, Georgia State (Previous: Same)
Maybe I’m still hyped up on the performance he put on in the NCAA tournament, and maybe 15 might be a little to early for Hunter but the guy showed he can score. Last year the team drafted James Young, who along with Evan Turner and Avery Bradley are the current Celtic shooting guards. That trio is ok, but they’re not guys who can get hot at any second, something Hunter can do. The future is bright in Boston, who have an absurd amount of first rounders in the coming years. With one of those picks they need to find a shooter who can score, which is why I like Hunter in this situation. Also If this means anything, Hunter is originally from Indianapolis, a city Celtics head coach Brad Stevens is very familiar with while at Butler so they have that going for them
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Myles Turner, C, Texas (Previous: Willie Cauley-Stein)
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)- Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame (Previous: Same)
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. Grant is a perfect pick who can help set guys like James Harden and Dwight up. Grant is also very strong at 6″4 205lb. Drive and kick to James Harden would be ideal for the Rockets as Grant has a great first step at getting to the basket. Whether it’s Grant or not, Houston needs a point guard, badly.
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: Jarrell Martin)
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- Tyus Jones, PG, Duke (Previous Cliff Alexander)
Rajon Rondo is a free agent so who knows if he’s coming back. Him and Rick Carlisle had problems getting along and there’s just so much uncertainty about who will be the Mavs point guard next season.
22. Chicago Bulls- Delon Wright, PG/SG, Utah (Previous: Tyus Jones)
Derrick Rose seems to be always hurt. It’s sad to say the former MVP may not be the player he once was so the Bulls need some insurance. Wright maybe the best player you never heard of after leading Utah to the sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament this year before losing to the champion Duke Blue Devils. He can play either guard positions and provide quality insurance to the Bulls biggest asset.
23. Portland Trailblazers- Kevon Looney, SF/PF, UCLA (Previous Christian Wood)
Looney is a tweener when it comes to what position he’ll play in the NBA. It’s either boom or bust for him. He can be great or a flop. He’s a hustle player and gives great effort, while he’s still developing his skills. At 6’9 he’s a tenacious rebounder and a scrappy player. Some like to compare to an Al-Faruiq Aminu, I say he’s like an Andrei Kirilenko. He’ll give you a 110% effort, dive for lose balls, throws is body out there for the team, that kind of thing. He’s still developing his skills, but playing with a point guard like Damien Lillard, will only make him better.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona (previous: Myles Turner)
Hollis-Jefferson is a great slasher and even better defender. He held D’ Angelo Russel to 3-19 shooting when Arizona played Ohio State. Oh and he’d back up LeBron James and learn from him. Hollis-Jefferson might have been talked about being a top ten pick with his potential and skill if he didn’t have to play with Stanley Johnson . The Cavs are getting a steal here, as RHJ will most likely be available with this pick. The Cavs don’t have much depth so this pick is just about getting the best player available.
25. San Antonio Spurs- Cliff Alexander, PF, Kansas (Previous Chris McCullough)
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- Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma
Who is the Grizzlies shooting guard? They need a shooting guard who can actually shoot. Buddy boy is deadly from the outside, as he averaged almost 18 points a game this year and can fill a void in Memphis that is needed.
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- Kris Dunn, PG, Providence (Previous: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson)
Dunn is a New Englander. Grew up in Connecticut, played at Providence, plus the Celtics would be a perfect fit. Dunn was this year’s Co-Big East Player of the Year, as well as the Co-Defensive player of the year. Dunn would be a nice compliment to Marcus Smart coming off the bench. Smart and Dunn have a lot of the same qualities and would make the rising Celtics a force in the already weak Eastern Conference. Dunn is projected to be a mid to late first rounder this year with his stock rapidly rising.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks)- Aleksandar Vezenkov, SF, Bulgaria (Previous Kris Dunn)
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- Jarrell Martin, PF, LSU (Previous: Buddy Hield)
Get this team some size! Size is just something that this team lacks badly. Martin is a versatile athlete who some believe can play either forward position, although he’s best at the four. He’s a long, fluid athlete who’s very good in the open floor with tremendous speed. He has the ability to play with his back to the basket, or facing up. Basically a 6″10 version of Draymond Green.
