The NBA Draft Lottery went Tuesday night and the No. 1 overall pick was awarded to the Detroit Pistons.
Additionally, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors moved up to the Nos. 3 and 4 spots after coming into the lottery with the fifth- and seventh-best odds, respectively.
Now that we know how the lottery teams have shaken out, here’s a quick mock draft looking specifically at the 14 lottery teams.
1. Detroit Pistons – Cade Cunningham, PG, Oklahoma State
The consensus No. 1 overall pick, Cunningham has garnered this kind of hype not only because of the strong season he had at OSU, but because six-foot-eight point guards who can shoot it and defend multiple positions don’t come around too often.
The Pistons will have a foundational building block when they take Cunningham No. 1 overall on July 29.
2. Houston Rockets – Evan Mobley, C, USC
A seven-foot monster of a prospect blessed with incredible natural shot-blocking instincts and uncommonly quick feet that allowed him to stay with some guards in college, Mobley is a game-changer on the defensive end of the floor. Offensively, he has a versatile skill package and excellent form on his shot that could make him a deadly threat as a stretch five down the line.
The Rockets do have a similar player on their team in Christian Wood, but Mobley is definitely the second-best player in this draft and could end up as the best player from it when we look back at it 5-10 years from now. They should take the best available player and figure out how to fit the pieces together later.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers – Jalen Suggs, PG/SG, Gonzaga
Probably the best-known name on this list because of his legendary shot against UCLA during the NCAA Tournament, Suggs will instantly provide a rebuilding Cavaliers team some much-needed toughness, winning pedigree and maybe even some leadership stepping in as a rookie.
Like the Rockets with Woods, there is some positional overlap if Cleveland takes Suggs with Colin Sexton and Darius Garland already featured in their backcourt, but as talented as those players may be, they don’t exactly scream locker room leader the way Suggs does.
4. Toronto Raptors – Jalen Green, SG, G League Ignite
An explosive athlete and, perhaps, this draft’s best pure scorer, on a good Raptors team with players who love to share the ball and are, at times, too unselfish, adding a gunner like Green would probably be to the team’s overall benefit.
Of course, you can’t discount the fact the Raptors might be looking to use this pick as a trade chip to possibly move up in the draft. Of all the prospects, Mobley probably fits the Raptors best, but a “consolation prize” of Green certainly wouldn’t be bad, either.
5. Orlando Magic – Jonathan Kuminga, SF/PF, G League Ignite
Kuminga is a big, versatile wing who can defend multiple positions and, while on offence, his combination of strength, athleticism and quickness will enable him to hunt mismatches all over the floor.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder – Scottie Barnes, SF/PF, Florida State
A beastly combo forward with a high motor, a strong work ethic and good playmaking skills, Barnes has earned some Draymond Green comparisons for his jack-of-all-trades skillset.
He has a long way to go on his jumper, but it’s not like the Thunder are in any rush right now to compete so he should get plenty of opportunities to develop into a respectable shooter.
7. Golden State Warriors – Davion Mitchell, PG, Baylor
The best defender in the draft at any position, Mitchell is a good decision-maker, a big-time shot-maker and comes with a championship pedigree having helped lead Baylor to the 2021 national title.
Green’s brilliance on defence this past season masked a lot of errors and as good as he is he still needs help on that end of the floor, something that Mitchell could step in immediately and help out with, particularly because he’s one of the draft’s oldest prospects at 22 years old. He’ll be ready to step in immediately and contribute.
8. Orlando Magic – Keon Johnson, SG/SF, Tennessee
The Magic are starting from square one again after their fire sale at the trade deadline, and to help expedite the rebuilding process they need to find stars.
Johnson is one of the most raw prospects in the draft, but his ceiling is huge thanks to his freakish athleticism, quickness, intensity and desire he’s already shown on defence. He isn’t an NBA player yet as his jumper, putting it lightly, is wonky but Orlando needs to find a star and taking a flyer on Johnson’s potential seems like a good idea to try to land one.
9. Sacramento Kings – Franz Wagner, SF, Michigan
A good all-around offensive player who can shoot the ball well — particularly in catch-and-shoot situations — will make good decisions passing the ball and can put it on the deck when he gets run off the line.
Wagner isn’t exactly flashy, but he looks like he’ll turn into a reliable role player who will enjoy a 10-plus year NBA career. Given the general volatility that seems to follow Sacramento every season, going with a safe, boring pick may not be a bad idea.
10. New Orleans Pelicans – Moses Moody, SG, Arkansas
The Pelicans could be in turmoil and the reason for it is because, despite some attractive top-end talent in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram on the roster, this is a team that still has some glaring holes, particularly on defence and with its outside shooting.
For that reason, Moody is an attractive option for the Pelicans as a prototypical 3-and-D wing with some streakiness in his game. If he gets hot he can bury teams from outside.
11. Charlotte Hornets – Jalen Johnson, SF/PF, Duke
Another combo forward who, at six-foot-nine, features a package of guard skills and some upside as a playmaker and versatility on the defensive end.
Besides just his natural talent, the Hornets might be interested in selecting Johnson because while at Duke he featured as a small-ball five at times. Charlotte was already playing small during the season, sometimes going with three guards and P.J. Washington at centre. The addition of Johnson could give the Hornets another small-ball five option.
12. San Antonio Spurs – James Bouknight, SG, Connecticut
Bouknight is a dynamic, three-level scorer who can get his shot off against just about anybody from anywhere on the floor.
Outside of DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio is lacking a true scoring threat, something Bouknight would instantly correct.
[radioclip id=5158537]13. Indiana Pacers – Josh Giddey, PG, Adelaide 36ers (NBL – Australia)
Another six-foot-eight point guard prospect, Giddey doesn’t feature the kind of natural athleticism, defensive upside, quickness and strength that Cunningham does, but he’s an elite passer, can shoot the ball and just has a great feel for the game.
Still only 18, Giddey is something of a project, but playing professionally in a good pro league in Australia should have him seasoned him enough to step in immediately and play serviceable backup minutes to Malcolm Brogdon.
14. Golden State Warriors – Corey Kispert, SG/SF, Gonzaga
The senior sharpshooter Kispert will get drafted in the lottery for one reason and one reason only: He can shoot the living hell out of the ball.
His three-point prowess being added to a Warriors team that will hopefully have a completely healthy Klay Thompson reunited with Steph Curry could mean a third Splash Brother might be on his way to the Bay Area.
