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[Archive]: 2021 Mock Draft Comparisons
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We spend a lot of time following all of the top NBA Draft analysts for months as they post and tweet about intel and update their big boards and mock drafts leading up to draft day. But once that day comes and goes, it’s easy to shift focus to how the rookies will fit on their new rosters, summer league, and the next draft, so I thought it might be nice to compile all of the final versions of these mock drafts and compare them to the actual 2021 draft picks for easy reference in the future.
After all the hard work this year, even the mock draft accuracy from the top shelf analysts was obliterated early in the 1st round with the trifecta of Toronto choosing Scottie Barnes over Jalen Suggs at #4, OKC going with Josh Giddey at #6 instead of James Bouknight or Jonathan Kuminga, and (the grand finale) the Spurs pick of Josh Primo at #12, who was projected to go in the 25-40 range. All of that, plus a Russell Westbrook trade to the Lakers made for a wild night of twists and turns that surpassed what we have come to expect.
Here is the actual 2021 NBA Draft from July 29th versus the final mock drafts from Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, ESPN’s Mike Schmitz and Jonathan Givony, NBA Big Board’s Chad Ford, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, and The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, and Tankathon.com:
Pick/Team | Draft Trades | ACTUAL DRAFT ORDER | B/R (7/29) | NBA Big Board (7/29) | The Ringer (7/29) | ESPN (7/29) | SI (7/29) | The Athletic (7/29) | Tankathon (7/25) |
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1. DET | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham |
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2. HOU | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green |
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3. CLE | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley |
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4. TOR | Scottie Barnes | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs |
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5. ORL | Jalen Suggs | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes |
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6. OKC | Josh Giddey | James Bouknight | James Bouknight | James Bouknight | Jonathan Kuminga | James Bouknight | James Bouknight | Jonathan Kuminga |
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7. GSW | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Franz Wagner | Franz Wagner | James Bouknight | Jonathan Kuminga | Franz Wagner | James Bouknight |
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8. ORL | Franz Wagner | Franz Wagner | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Moses Moody | Franz Wagner | Jonathan Kuminga | Franz Wagner |
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9. SAC | Davion Mitchell | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun | Franz Wagner | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun |
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10. MEM | MEM to NOP | Ziaire Williams | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey |
11. CHA | James Bouknight | Moses Moody | Corey Kispert | Moses Moody | Corey Kispert | Kai Jones | Moses Moody | Moses Moody |
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12. SAN | Joshua Primo | Kai Jones | Trey Murphy | Corey Kispert | Alperen Sengun | Moses Moody | Corey Kispert | Keon Johnson |
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13. IND | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | Davion Mitchell | Chris Duarte | Davion Mitchell | Davion Mitchell | Davion Mitchell |
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14. GSW | Moses Moody | Davion Mitchell | Davion Mitchell | Chris Duarte | Davion Mitchell | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | Jalen Johnson |
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15. WAS | Corey Kispert | Trey Murphy | Moses Moody | Usman Garuba | Trey Murphy | Corey Kispert | Trey Murphy | Corey Kispert |
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16. OKC | BOS to OKC OKC to HOU | Alperen Şengun | Jalen Johnson | Ziaire Williams | Jalen Johnson | Keon Johnson | Ziaire Williams | Ziaire Williams | Usman Garuba |
17. NOP | NOP to MEM | Trey Murphy | Corey Kispert | Cameron Thomas | Cameron Thomas | Ziaire Williams | Trey Murphy | Jared Butler | Chris Duarte |
18. OKC | Tre Mann | Jared Butler | Isaiah Jackson | Keon Johnson | Jalen Johnson | Day'Ron Sharpe | Kai Jones | Jaden Springer |
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19. NYK | NYK to CHA | Kai Jones | Ziaire Williams | Usman Garuba | Trey Murphy | Kai Jones | Isaiah Jackson | Usman Garuba | Isaiah Jackson |
20. ATL | Jalen Johnson | Cameron Thomas | Keon Johnson | Day'Ron Sharpe | Cameron Thomas | Josh Primo | Keon Johnson | Trey Murphy |
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21. NYK | NYK to LAC | Keon Johnson | Nah'shon Hyland | Jaden Springer | Kai Jones | Nah'shon Hyland | Keon Johnson | Jaden Springer | Ziaire Williams |
22. LAL | LAL to WAS WAS to IND | Isaiah Jackson | Keon Johnson | Kai Jones | Ziaire Williams | Usman Garuba | Usman Garuba | Sharife Cooper | Sharife Cooper |
23. HOU | Usman Garuba | Isaiah Jackson | Sharife Cooper | Sharife Cooper | Sharife Cooper | Brandon Boston | Isaiah Jackson | Kai Jones |
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24. HOU | Josh Christopher | Sharife Cooper | Isaiah Todd | Isaiah Jackson | Isaiah Jackson | Jalen Johnson | Jalen Johnson | Jared Butler |
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25. LAC | LAC to NYK | Quentin Grimes | Usman Garuba | Josh Christopher | Jared Butler | Jared Butler | Nah'shon Hyland | Miles McBride | Day'Ron Sharpe |
26. DEN | Bones Hyland | Josh Primo | Josh Primo | Isaiah Todd | Quentin Grimes | Cameron Thomas | Josh Primo | Cameron Thomas |
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27. BKN | Cameron Thomas | Day'Ron Sharpe | Day'Ron Sharpe | Jaden Springer | Day'Ron Sharpe | Miles McBride | Cameron Thomas | Ayo Dosunmu |
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28. PHI | Jaden Springer | Jaden Springer | Brandon Boston | Josh Primo | Josh Primo | JT Thor | Nah'shon Hyland | Quentin Grimes |
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29. PHX | PHX to BKN | Day'Ron Sharpe | Ayo Dosonmu | Miles McBride | Miles McBride | Tre Mann | Kessler Edwards | Joel Ayayi | Joel Ayayi |
30. UTA | UTA to MEM | Santi Aldama | Miles McBride | Ayo Dosunmu | Tre Mann | Miles McBride | Quentin Grimes | Ayo Dosonmu | Tre Mann |
31. MIL | MIL to IND | Isaiah Todd | JT Thor | Quentin Grimes | Ayo Dosunmu | Jaden Springer | Ayo Dosunmu | Herbert Jones | Rokas Jokubaitis |
32. NYK | NYK to OKC | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Quentin Grimes | Jalen Johnson | Jason Preston | Ayo Dosonmu | Sharife Cooper | Quentin Grimes | Jason Preston |
33. ORL | ORL to LAC | Jason Preston | Josh Christopher | JT Thor | Rokas Jokubaitis | JT Thor | Jaden Springer | Tre Mann | Josh Christopher |
34. OKC | OKC to NYK | Rokas Jokubaitis | Tre Mann | Brandon Boston | Nah'shon Hyland | Josh Christopher | Jared Butler | Day'Ron Sharpe | Brandon Boston |
35. NOP | Herbert Jones | Isaiah Todd | Tre Mann | Josh Christopher | Isaiah Todd | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Joe Wieskamp | Nah'shon Hyland |
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36. OKC | OKC to NYK | Miles McBride | Brandon Boston | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Brandon Boston | Joel Ayayi | Joel Ayayi | JT Thor | Filip Petrusev |
37. DET | DET to CHA | JT Thor | Joel Ayayi | Greg Brown | Charles Bassey | Brandon Boston | Tre Mann | Austin Reaves | Josh Primo |
38. CHI | Ayo Dosunmu | Charles Bassey | Nah'shon Hyland | Joel Ayayi | Kessler Edwards | Jason Preston | Brandon Boston | Juhann Begarin |
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39. SAC | Neemias Queta | Herbert Jones | Herbert Jones | Austin Reaves | Charles Bassey | Isaiah Todd | Rokas Jokubaitis | Herbert Jones |
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40. MEM | MEM to UTA | Jared Butler | Joe Wieskamp | Rokas Jokubaitis | JT Thor | Juhann Begarin | Josh Christopher | Santi Aldama | JT Thor |
41. SAN | Joe Wieskamp | Kessler Edwards | Neemias Queta | Juhann Begarin | David Johnson | Rokas Jokubaitis | Isaiah Todd | Neemias Queta |
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42. DET | Isaiah Livers | Jason Preston | Jason Preston | Quentin Grimes | Filip Petrusev | Juhann Begarin | Josh Christopher | Greg Brown |
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43. NOP | NOP to POR | Greg Brown | Juhann Begarin | Joe Wieskamp | Aaron Henry | Jason Preston | Joe Wieskamp | Filip Petrusev | Miles McBride |
44. BKN | Kessler Edwards | Aaron Henry | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Herbert Jones | Rokas Jokubaitis | Charles Bassey | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Isaiah Livers |
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45. BOS | Juhann Begarin | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Aaron Henry | David Johnson | Austin Reaves | Austin Reaves | Jason Preston | Daishen Nix |
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46. TOR | Dalano Banton | Filip Petrusev | Raiquan Gray | Joe Wieskamp | Herbert Jones | Aaron Wiggins | Juhann Begarin | Kessler Edwards |
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47. TOR | David Johnson | David Johnson | Charles Bassey | Greg Brown | Aaron Wiggins | Herbert Jones | Isaiah Livers | Aaron Wiggins |
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48. ATL | Sharife Cooper | Rokas Jokubaitis | Juhann Begarin | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Jericho Sims | David Johnson | Greg Brown | Isaiah Todd |
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49. BKN | Marcus Zegarowski | Jericho Sims | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Kessler Edwards | Joe Wieskamp | AJ Lawson | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl |
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50. PHI | Filip Petrusev | Austin Reaves | Filip Petrusev | Sam Hauser | Aaron Henry | Aaron Henry | David Johnson | Vrenz Bleijenbergh |
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51. NOP | NOP to LAC | Brandon Boston | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Amar Sylla | Luka Garza | Isaiah Livers | Duane Washington | Kessler Edwards | Joe Wieskamp |
52. DET | Luka Garza | Isaiah Livers | Jericho Sims | Aaron Wiggins | Daishen Nix | RaiQuan Gray | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Aaron Henry |
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53. PHI | Charles Bassey | Aaron Wiggins | Santi Aldama | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Greg Brown | Jericho Sims | Aaron Henry | Luka Garza |
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54. IND | IND to MIL | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Greg Brown | Luka Garza | Isaiah Livers | Luka Garza | Amar Sylla | Charles Bassey | Raiquan Gray |
55. OKC | Aaron Wiggins | Santi Aldama | David Johnson | Filip Petrusev | Santi Aldama | Santi Aldama | Neemias Queta | McKinley Wright |
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56. CHA | Scottie Lewis | Luka Garza | Isaiah Livers | McKinley Wright | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Filip Petrusev | Justin Champagnie | Charles Bassey |
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57. CHA | CHA to DET | Balša Koprivica | Neemias Queta | Joel Ayayi | Sandro Mamukelashvili | McKinley Wright | Greg Brown | Jericho Sims | Matthew Hurt |
58. NYK | Jericho Sims | McKinley Wright | Justin Champagnie | Daishen Nix | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Neemias Queta | Luka Garza | Jay Huff |
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59. BKN | RaiQuan Gray | Sam Hauser | Daishen Nix | Neemias Queta | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Moses Wright | David Johnson |
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60. IND | IND to MIL | Georgios Kalaitzakis | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Chris Smith | Santi Aldama | Neemias Queta | Sam Hauser | Matthew Hurt | Austin Reaves |
Summary of all transactions leading up to and during the Draft:
References:
ESPN/Draft Express [Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz]
The Ringer [Kevin O’Connor]
Bleacher Report [Jonathan Wasserman]
The Athletic [Sam Vecenie]
Sport Illustrated [Jeremy Woo]
NBA Big Board [Chad Ford]
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After a few weeks of digesting college and international games we have a fresh batch of mock drafts to compare, including The Athletic, Bleacher Report, ESPN, and Tankathon, Still lots of disagreement across the lottery with some injuries and underwhelming play from top prospects.
Here’s our second big board comparison for 2024 . We have new picks from Jonathan Givony/ESPN, Keandre/Hoop Intellect and Tankathon with the college basketball and the G League season starting up this week.
As the NBA season gets rolling we have a new batch of mock drafts to compare from The Athletic, Bleacher Report, ESPN, Hoop Intellect, Tankathon, and yours truly, Hoops Distillery. Lots of disagreement in the lottery to soak in!
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7/29 update: Re-updated with new mocks drafts from Jonathan Givony at ESPN, Kevin O’Connor at The Ringer, Chad Ford at NBA Big Board, and Jonathan Wasserman at B/R! Updated this morning with new picks from Jonathan Givony at ESPN. Keep checking back for updates throughout the day. And as Mike Schmitz, said in his tweet below, LET’S GO!! Draft Day has finally arrived!
7/28 update: Updated again with new mock drafts from Jonathan Givony at ESPN and Jeremy Woo at SI. Added updated mock draft from Jonathan Wasserman at B/R, and 2nd round picks for Kevin O’Connor at The Ringer.
7/27 update: Added updated mock drafts from John Hollinger at The Athletic, Sam Vecenie at The Athletic, and Kevin O’Connor at The Ringer.
7/26 update: Re-updated, post Grizzlies-Pelicans trade, with updated mock drafts from ESPN, Chad Ford, and Jeremy Woo. Added updated mock drafts from Jeremy Woo at Sport Illustrated and Chad Ford from NBABigBoard.com.
7/25 update: added new mock drafts from Jonathan Givony at ESPN and Tankathon.
7/23 update: added Kevin O’Connor‘s updated 1st round mock draft from The Ringer‘s NBA Draft Guide.
7/21 update: added updated mock drafts from Sam Vecenie at The Athletic and Jonathan Wasserman at B/R.
7/20 update: added updated mock draft from Jeremy Woo at SI.
Late posting this one as work, family, and travel made it tough to keep up with all the updates being posted since the Draft Combine, withdrawal deadline, and with team workouts happening. Chad Ford posted his mock draft 3.0 on NBABigBoard.com (which is having a big $40 annual sale for subscribers btw–well worth it!), Jonathan Wasserman from Bleacher Report putting in lots of high-quality work as always, and our friends at Tankathon. Scottie Barnes is firmly in the top 5, and it sounds like James Bouknight has wowed team execs to solidify his spot in the top 10. Jared Butler got great news yesterday, as he was cleared by NBA health protocols, and Jaden Springer, now injury-free, has made quite an impression during team workouts. There will be many more mock drafts posted this week, so make sure to check back for updates leading up to the big day on July 29th–and follow me at @hoopsdistillery on Twitter for update notifications. Also, if I’m missing a mock draft from any Draft Analysts you feel belong with these All-NBA level Draft Analysts I currently include, feel free to DM me on Twitter.
B/R (7/29) | NBA Big Board (7/29) | The Ringer (7/29) | ESPN (7/29) | SI (7/28) | The Athletic (7/27) | John Hollinger (7/27) | Tankathon (7/25) |
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1. DET | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham |
2. HOU | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green |
3. CLE | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley |
4. TOR | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs |
5. ORL | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes |
6. OKC | James Bouknight | James Bouknight | James Bouknight | James Bouknight | James Bouknight | James Bouknight | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga |
7. GSW | Jonathan Kuminga | Franz Wagner | Franz Wagner | Franz Wagner | Josh Giddey | Jonathan Kuminga | James Bouknight | James Bouknight |
8. ORL | Franz Wagner | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Moses Moody | Moses Moody | Franz Wagner |
9. SAC | Moses Moody | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun | Franz Wagner | Franz Wagner | Alperen Sengun |
10. MEM | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Franz Wagner | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey |
11. CHA | Kai Jones | Corey Kispert | Moses Moody | Corey Kispert | Kai Jones | Corey Kispert | Kai Jones | Moses Moody |
12. SAN | Alperen Sengun | Trey Murphy | Corey Kispert | Moses Moody | Moses Moody | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun | Keon Johnson |
13. IND | Davion Mitchell | Chris Duarte | Davion Mitchell | Davion Mitchell | Corey Kispert | Davion Mitchell | Corey Kispert | Davion Mitchell |
14. GSW | Chris Duarte | Davion Mitchell | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | Davion Mitchell | Chris Duarte | Davion Mitchell | Jalen Johnson |
15. WAS | Trey Murphy | Moses Moody | Usman Garuba | Trey Murphy | Chris Duarte | Trey Murphy | Keon Johnson | Corey Kispert |
16. OKC | Jalen Johnson | Ziaire Williams | Jalen Johnson | Keon Johnson | Ziaire Williams | Kai Jones | Usman Garuba | Usman Garuba |
17. NOP | Corey Kispert | Cameron Thomas | Cameron Thomas | Ziaire Williams | Trey Murphy | Jared Butler | Trey Murphy | Chris Duarte |
18. OKC | Jared Butler | Isaiah Jackson | Keon Johnson | Jalen Johnson | Jared Butler | Ziaire Williams | Jalen Johnson | Jaden Springer |
19. NYK | Ziaire Williams | Usman Garuba | Trey Murphy | Kai Jones | Keon Johnson | Usman Garuba | Chris Duarte | Isaiah Jackson |
20. ATL | Cameron Thomas | Keon Johnson | Day'Ron Sharpe | Cameron Thomas | Cameron Thomas | Keon Johnson | Ziaire Williams | Trey Murphy |
21. NYK | Nah'shon Hyland | Jaden Springer | Kai Jones | Nah'shon Hyland | Isaiah Jackson | Jaden Springer | Isaiah Jackson | Ziaire Williams |
22. LAL | Ayo Dosonmu | Kai Jones | Ziaire Williams | Usman Garuba | Jalen Johnson | Tre Mann | Jared Butler | Sharife Cooper |
23. HOU | Isaiah Jackson | Jalen Johnson | Sharife Cooper | Sharife Cooper | Usman Garuba | Isaiah Jackson | Miles McBride | Kai Jones |
24. HOU | Sharife Cooper | Sharife Cooper | Isaiah Jackson | Isaiah Jackson | Josh Primo | Jalen Johnson | Jaden Springer | Jared Butler |
25. LAC | Usman Garuba | Jared Butler | Jared Butler | Jared Butler | Day'Ron Sharpe | Rokas Jokubaitis | Ayo Dosonmu | Day'Ron Sharpe |
26. DEN | Josh Primo | Josh Primo | Isaiah Todd | Quentin Grimes | Tre Mann | Josh Primo | Rokas Jokubaitis | Cameron Thomas |
27. BKN | Day'Ron Sharpe | Day'Ron Sharpe | Jaden Springer | Day'Ron Sharpe | Miles McBride | Cameron Thomas | Cameron Thomas | Ayo Dosunmu |
28. PHI | Miles McBride | Isaiah Todd | Josh Primo | Josh Primo | Nah'shon Hyland | Miles McBride | Sharife Cooper | Quentin Grimes |
29. PHX | Keon Johnson | Miles McBride | Miles McBride | Tre Mann | Quentin Grimes | Sharife Cooper | Day'Ron Sharpe | Joel Ayayi |
30. UTA | Tre Mann | Ayo Dosunmu | Tre Mann | Miles McBride | Jaden Springer | Ayo Dosonmu | Quentin Grimes | Tre Mann |
31. MIL | JT Thor | Quentin Grimes | Ayo Dosunmu | Jaden Springer | Ayo Dosunmu | Day'Ron Sharpe | Rokas Jokubaitis |
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32. NYK | Quentin Grimes | Josh Christopher | Jason Preston | Ayo Dosonmu | Sharife Cooper | Quentin Grimes | Jason Preston |
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33. ORL | Josh Christopher | JT Thor | Rokas Jokubaitis | JT Thor | JT Thor | Nah'shon Hyland | Josh Christopher |
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34. OKC | Sharife Cooper | Brandon Boston | Nah'shon Hyland | Josh Christopher | Josh Christopher | Herbert Jones | Brandon Boston |
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35. NOP | Isaiah Todd | Tre Mann | Josh Christopher | Isaiah Todd | Isaiah Todd | Joe Wieskamp | Nah'shon Hyland |
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36. OKC | Brandon Boston | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Brandon Boston | Joel Ayayi | Kessler Edwards | JT Thor | Filip Petrusev |
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37. DET | Joel Ayayi | Greg Brown | Charles Bassey | Brandon Boston | Joel Ayayi | Brandon Boston | Josh Primo |
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38. CHI | Charles Bassey | Nah'shon Hyland | Joel Ayayi | Kessler Edwards | Jason Preston | Austin Reaves | Juhann Begarin |
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39. SAC | Joe Wieskamp | Herbert Jones | Austin Reaves | Charles Bassey | Charles Bassey | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Herbert Jones |
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40. MEM | Herbert Jones | Rokas Jokubaitis | JT Thor | Juhann Begarin | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Santi Aldama | JT Thor |
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41. SAN | Kessler Edwards | Neemias Queta | Juhann Begarin | David Johnson | Juhann Begarin | Isaiah Todd | Neemias Queta |
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42. DET | Jason Preston | Jason Preston | Quentin Grimes | Filip Petrusev | Brandon Boston | Josh Christopher | Greg Brown |
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43. NOP | Juhann Begarin | Joe Wieskamp | Aaron Henry | Jason Preston | Joe Wieskamp | Filip Petrusev | Miles McBride |
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44. BKN | Aaron Henry | Charles Bassey | Herbert Jones | Rokas Jokubaitis | Rokas Jokubaitis | Joel Ayayi | Isaiah Livers |
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45. BOS | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Juhann Begarin | David Johnson | Austin Reaves | Austin Reaves | Jason Preston | Daishen Nix |
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46. TOR | Filip Petrusev | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Joe Wieskamp | Herbert Jones | David Johnson | Juhann Begarin | Kessler Edwards |
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47. TOR | David Johnson | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Greg Brown | Aaron Wiggins | Neemias Queta | Isaiah Livers | Aaron Wiggins |
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48. ATL | Rokas Jokubaitis | Aaron Henry | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Jericho Sims | AJ Lawson | Greg Brown | Isaiah Todd |
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49. BKN | Jericho Sims | Raiquan Gray | Kessler Edwards | Joe Wieskamp | Herbert Jones | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl |
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50. PHI | Austin Reaves | Filip Petrusev | Sam Hauser | Aaron Henry | Aaron Henry | David Johnson | Vrenz Bleijenbergh |
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51. NOP | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Amar Sylla | Luka Garza | Isaiah Livers | Filip Petrusev | Kessler Edwards | Joe Wieskamp |
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52. DET | Isaiah Livers | Jericho Sims | Aaron Wiggins | Daishen Nix | Greg Brown | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Aaron Henry |
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53. PHI | Aaron Wiggins | Santi Aldama | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Greg Brown | Amar Sylla | Aaron Henry | Luka Garza |
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54. IND | Greg Brown | Luka Garza | Isaiah Livers | Luka Garza | Jericho Sims | Charles Bassey | Raiquan Gray |
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55. OKC | Santi Aldama | David Johnson | Filip Petrusev | Santi Aldama | Santi Aldama | Neemias Queta | McKinley Wright |
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56. CHA | Luka Garza | Isaiah Livers | McKinley Wright | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Duane Washington | Justin Champagnie | Charles Bassey |
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57. CHA | Neemias Queta | Joel Ayayi | Sandro Mamukelashvili | McKinley Wright | Dalano Banton | Jericho Sims | Matthew Hurt |
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58. NYK | McKinley Wright | Justin Champagnie | Daishen Nix | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Daishen Nix | Luka Garza | Jay Huff |
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59. BKN | Sam Hauser | Daishen Nix | Neemias Queta | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Moses Wright | David Johnson |
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60. IND | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Chris Smith | Santi Aldama | Neemias Queta | Sam Hauser | Matthew Hurt | Austin Reaves |
References:
The Athletic [John Hollinger]
ESPN/Draft Express [Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz]
The Ringer [Kevin O’Connor]
Bleacher Report [Jonathan Wasserman]
The Athletic [Sam Vecenie] – live updating mock draft
Sports Illustrated [Jeremy Woo]
NBA Big Board [Chad Ford]
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An archive of all 2023 big board comparisons for easy reference.
An archive of all 2023 mock draft comparisons for easy reference.
2024 big boards are here! And just in time for G League Ignite’s first games which happen to be vs. Alex Sarr and the Perth Wildcats. Check out these boards from The Ringer, Tankathon, B/R, and NBA Big Board.
Note: If the table is not loading correctly on your mobile device via Twitter, then copy and paste this link in your browser and view the post on my site at https://hoopsdistillery.com/?p=2414
7/22 update: added Sam Vecenie‘s top 60 from his updated big board as part of his 2021 NBA Draft Guide for The Athletic.
7/19 update: added Kevin O’Connor‘s top 50 big board that was updated as part of The Ringer‘s NBA Draft Guide.
With the draft less than two weeks away and the NCAA withdrawal deadline passed, there have been quite a few recent updates to share, as intel has been flowing in from the Combine and team workouts. Lots of movement in the rankings = perfect timing for another Big Board comparison featuring John Hollinger from The Athletic who released his Top 70, a very interesting update to Jonathan Wasserman’s board from Bleacher Report with Cam Thomas moving up to #10, Chad Ford from NBABigBoard.com, Jeremy Woo from Sports Illustrated, and Draft Dummies, who have been doing a hell of a job on their LockedOn NBA Draft Podcast and Twitter. As big boards are posted or updated before July 29th, I’ll be adding them to this post, so make sure to check back and follow me on Twitter (@hoopsdistillery) to watch for updates.
The Athletic Vecenie (7/22) | Ringer (7/19) | B/R (7/15) | The Athletic Hollinger (7/14) | NBA Big Board (7/1) | SI (7/8) | Draft Dummies (7/16) |
|
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1 | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham |
2 | Jalen Suggs | Evan Mobley | Jalen Green | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Jalen Green |
3 | Evan Mobley | Jalen Green | Evan Mobley | Scottie Barnes | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Suggs |
4 | Jalen Green | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Alperen Sengun | Scottie Barnes | Jalen Suggs | Evan Mobley |
5 | Jonathan Kuminga | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Jalen Green | Jalen Suggs | Scottie Barnes | Josh Giddey |
6 | Scottie Barnes | Jonathan Kuminga | Jalen Johnson | Jalen Suggs | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Moses Moody |
7 | Moses Moody | James Bouknight | Jonathan Kuminga | Franz Wagner | Davion Mitchell | James Bouknight | Sharife Cooper |
8 | Alperen Sengun | Davion Mitchell | Franz Wagner | Jonathan Kuminga | Keon Johnson | Josh Giddey | Scottie Barnes |
9 | James Bouknight | Cameron Thomas | Josh Giddey | Jalen Johnson | Franz Wagner | Keon Johnson | Jalen Johnson |
10 | Davion Mitchell | Alperen Sengun | Jaden Springer | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Franz Wagner | JT Thor |
11 | Usman Garuba | Josh Giddey | Sharife Cooper | Jared Butler | James Bouknight | Alperen Sengun | Roko Prkacin |
12 | Josh Giddey | Usman Garuba | Cameron Thomas | Corey Kispert | Jalen Johnson | Jalen Johnson | Isaiah Jackson |
13 | Chris Duarte | Franz Wagner | James Bouknight | James Bouknight | Alperen Sengun | Corey Kispert | Franz Wagner |
14 | Franz Wagner | Trey Murphy | Moses Moody | Moses Moody | Corey Kispert | Kai Jones | Tre Mann |
15 | Ziaire Williams | Moses Moody | Keon Johnson | Usman Garuba | Moses Moody | Usman Garuba | Alperen Sengun |
16 | Trey Murphy | Keon Johnson | Davion Mitchell | Davion Mitchell | Isaiah Jackson | Davion Mitchell | Jaden Springer |
17 | Jared Butler | Corey Kispert | Alperen Sengun | Miles McBride | Ziaire Williams | Moses Moody | Usman Garuba |
18 | Corey Kispert | Kai Jones | Corey Kispert | Keon Johnson | Usman Garuba | Jared Butler | Jonathan Kuminga |
19 | Kai Jones | Sharife Cooper | Kai Jones | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | James Bouknight |
20 | Jaden Springer | Jaden Springer | Aaron Henry | Jaden Springer | Sharife Cooper | Trey Murphy | Keon Johnson |
21 | Keon Johnson | Isaiah Todd | Isaiah Jackson | Roko Prkacin | Miles McBride | Josh Primo | Kai Jones |
22 | Miles McBride | Josh Primo | Jared Butler | Neemias Queta | Trey Murphy | Ziaire Williams | Miles McBride |
23 | Ayo Dosonmu | Chris Duarte | Trey Murphy | Herbert Jones | Kai Jones | Tre Mann | Ziaire Williams |
24 | Sharife Cooper | Tre Mann | Tre Mann | Jason Preston | Jared Butler | Day'Ron Sharpe | Trey Murphy |
25 | Jalen Johnson | Ziaire Williams | Day'Ron Sharpe | Aaron Henry | Josh Primo | Joel Ayayi | Chris Duarte |
26 | Isaiah Jackson | Jalen Johnson | Miles McBride | Josh Christopher | Jaden Springer | Jaden Springer | Davion Mitchell |
27 | Cam Thomas | Jared Butler | Josh Christopher | Santi Aldama | Isaiah Todd | Isaiah Jackson | Jared Butler |
28 | Herbert Jones | Isaiah Jackson | Chris Duarte | Isaiah Jackson | Josh Christopher | Cameron Thomas | Brandon Boston |
29 | Rokas Jokubaitis | Roko Prkacin | Usman Garuba | Sharife Cooper | Tre Mann | Jason Preston | Cameron Thomas |
30 | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | JT Thor | Quentin Grimes | Ziaire Williams | Nah'shon Hyland | Quentin Grimes | Corey Kispert |
31 | Nah'Shon Hyland | Nah'shon Hyland | Ziaire Williams | JT Thor | JT Thor | Sharife Cooper | Nah'shon Hyland |
32 | Austin Reaves | Miles McBride | Roko Prkacin | Kai Jones | Cameron Thomas | JT Thor | Quentin Grimes |
33 | Tre Mann | Josh Christopher | Nah'shon Hyland | Cameron Thomas | Ayo Dosonmu | Miles McBride | Josh Christopher |
34 | Josh Primo | Ayo Dosonmu | Kessler Edwards | Nah'shon Hyland | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Nah'shon Hyland | Kessler Edwards |
35 | Joe Wieskamp | Austin Reaves | Josh Primo | Trey Murphy | Day'Ron Sharpe | Ayo Dosonmu | Austin Reaves |
36 | Santi Aldama | Charles Bassey | JT Thor | Joe Wieskamp | Greg Brown | Josh Christopher | Herbert Jones |
37 | Kessler Edwards | Day'Ron Sharpe | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Rokas Jokubaitis | Brandon Boston | Roko Prkacin | Josh Primo |
38 | Quentin Grimes | Brandon Boston | Charles Bassey | Raiquan Gray | Chris Smith | David Johnson | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl |
39 | David Johnson | Jason Preston | Joe Wieskamp | Ayo Dosonmu | Quentin Grimes | Juhann Begarin | Aaron Henry |
40 | Day'Ron Sharpe | Joe Wieskamp | Brandon Boston | Tre Mann | Neemias Queta | Isaiah Todd | Aaron Wiggins |
41 | Brandon Boston | Quentin Grimes | Joel Ayayi | Aamir Simms | Herbert Jones | Aaron Henry | Day'Ron Sharpe |
42 | Josh Christopher | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Ayo Dosonmu | Josh Primo | Joe Wieskamp | Brandon Boston | Jericho Sims |
43 | JT Thor | David Johnson | Isaiah Todd | Greg Brown | Rokas Jokubaitis | Joe Wieskamp | Vrenz Bleijenbergh |
44 | Greg Brown | Herbert Jones | Herbert Jones | Isaiah Todd | David Johnson | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Justin Champagnie |
45 | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Filip Petrusev | Filip Petrusev | Brandon Boston | Roko Prkacin | Charles Bassey | Sam Hauser |
46 | Jericho Sims | Daishen Nix | David Johnson | Jericho Sims | Raiquan Gray | Herbert Jones | Ayo Dosonmu |
47 | Justin Champagnie | Greg Brown | Rokas Jokubaitis | Filip Petrusev | Joel Ayayi | Austin Reaves | David Johnson |
48 | Jason Preston | Neemias Queta | Isaiah Livers | Moses Wright | Charles Bassey | Neemias Queta | Joel Ayayi |
49 | Moses Wright | Juhann Begarin | Jericho Sims | Day'Ron Sharpe | Ibou Dianko Badji | Jose Alvarado | Joe Wieskamp |
50 | McKinley Wright | Rokas Jokubaitis | Luka Garza | Luka Garza | Kessler Edwards | Justin Champagnie | Isaiah Todd |
51 | Joel Ayayi | Greg Brown | AJ Lawson | Filip Petrusev | Kessler Edwards | Isaiah Livers |
|
52 | Isaiah Livers | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Justin Champagnie | Juhann Begarin | Ariel Hukporti | Jason Preston |
|
53 | Isaiah Todd | Austin Reaves | David Johnson | Aaron Henry | Filip Petrusev | EJ Onu |
|
54 | Juhann Begarin | Jason Preston | Quentin Grimes | Jason Preston | Isaiah Livers | Greg Brown |
|
55 | Neemias Queta | Aaron Wiggins | Joel Ayayi | Daishen Nix | AJ Lawson | Juhann Begarin |
|
56 | Aaron Henry | Sandro Mamukelashvili | Chris Smith | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Dalano Banton | Charles Bassey |
|
57 | Luka Garza | Matthew Hurt | Yoan Makoundou | Jericho Sims | Rokas Jokubaitis | Aamir Simms |
|
58 | Filip Petrusev | Raiquan Gray | Juhann Begarin | Luka Garza | Greg Brown | Rokas Jokubaitis |
|
59 | Charles Bassey | McKinley Wright | Ariel Hukporti | Santi Aldama | Daishen Nix | Dejon Jerreau |
|
60 | Matthew Hurt | Sam Hauser | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Isaiah Livers | Jericho Sims | McKinley Wright |
References:
The Athletic [Sam Vecenie]
The Ringer [Kevin O’Connor]
The Athletic [John Hollinger]
Bleacher Report [Jonathan Wasserman]
NBA Big Board [Chad Ford]
Sports Illustrated [Jeremy Woo]
Draft Dummies [Sam Ferris]
********************************************************************
Fresh update of all 2024 mock drafts from The Athletic, B/R, ESPN, Tankathon, USA Today and SB Nation.
A comparison of the final 2022 mock drafts from the top NBA Draft analysts compared to the actual 2022 draft order.
All final big boards right here to compare and analyze, including John Hollinger/The Athletic, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo/ESPN, and Tankathon.
The global holiday that is our beloved NBA Draft day is coming up quick, so here’s an updated 1st round mock draft with a couple of big surprises along the way as food for thought. By now, most mock drafts have a lot of similar picks with most draft analysts agreeing (in general) on the tiers where players lie. But as you’ll see in this mock draft, one pick that comes out of left field can throw a monkey wrench into the 1st round, which then creates a ripple effect of semi-unexpected picks.
The biggest theme I see in this year’s draft is that most teams want to win (as we saw with so many teams competing to make the play-in tournament last season) and would prefer to have someone who can step into their rotation right away to give them a boost. This is an especially big help for the older prospects like Corey Kispert, Davion Mitchell and Chris Duarte–all considered elderly in draft terms at the ages of 23 and 24. Although this draft is considered top heavy, with a lot of top tier talent in the first five picks, the top 40 picks should have multiple players who will play for years in the league and be important rotation players, if not all stars, for some players who can get a handle on the all-important swing skill of shooting.
As opposed to some mock drafts that are aiming to be as accurate as possible with the picks that teams will make on July 29th via the intel they have from GM’s, scouts, and agents, this mock draft is fully based on my opinion of who each team should take based on my research, which includes a huge amount of time reading, watching, and listening to draft coverage in order to distill the best content possible. I avoid deep dives into player strengths and weaknesses, as I’m not a scout or an analytics guy, but instead, look closely at roster construction and how certain picks might fit into team’s current and future plans. Thanks to our friends Fanspo, as always, for their Mock Draft Simulator.
1. DET—Cade Cunningham: An almost no-brainer pick here as the Pistons need to win games but maybe more pressing in the near term is to be relevant and sell tickets. Cunningham gives them a leader on the floor and an identity off of it. He’ll control the pace and open up the floor for others to make plays. Can he coexist with Killian Hayes? There’s no reason to believe he can’t. He is a team first guy that loves to set other players up for easy looks, and will take the pressure off of Hayes to be the primary creator for the time being. If both can continue to gain experience, fine tune their ball handling and pick and roll playmaking, the Pistons will have a very versatile lineup moving forward that will be dangerously big and strong with Jeremi Grant and Saddiq Bey lurking on the perimeter.
Proposed starting lineup: Cunningham-Hayes-Bey-Grant-Plumlee
2. HOU—Jalen Green: Fertitta is desperate to have a new Rockets poster boy—and very excited to have a low-cost team with no expectations but lots of highlight reels. Green has tons of talent and athleticism, and should provide exactly that. And with the rebuild just beginning, he’ll have plenty of time to fine tune his game and be an offensive force for years in the league. Seems like there’s a very good chance Eric Gordon will be traded and certainly John Wall is not in their future plans, so their 2021 picks will be important to start filling holes with high-ceiling guys that they can develop, along with Kevin Porter Jr., KJ Martin, and Jae’Sean Tate. Christian Wood and John Wall will spar and side-eye each other, trying to be the go-to-guy for this squad, but when the smoke clears there’s a good chance that neither will be on the roster for long.
Proposed starting lineup: Wall-Green-Gordon-Tate-Wood
3. CLE—Evan Mobley: some of the most experienced draft analysts think Mobley is the best prospect in this draft, so the Cavs may be lucking out with a franchise player here that is also a positional fit, assuming he can play the 4, and more 5 too, as he adds strength. Colin Sexton may be shipped out to avoid overpaying him, and Jarret Allen’s contract is up which will most likely cost the Cavs between $18-20m per year on a multi-year contract. Both players may not be in the future plans of the organization, but they are both skilled and should be retained to avoid losing them as assets (in Allen’s case) and/or signed and traded (in either case). Mobley should quickly emerge as the new face of the franchise.
Proposed starting lineup: Sexton-Garland-Okoro-Mobley-Allen
4. TOR—Jalen Suggs: No need to overthink this one. Barnes is tempting at this spot but Suggs has too high of a floor and will fit in perfectly with Raps culture. Whether Lowry leaves or not this offseason, he’ll be gone eventually and Suggs can play on or off the ball with VanVleet and provide the same competitive fire of Lowry. It can be hard for teams to replace leadership, but Suggs may be able to do that, even as a young player. He isn’t used to losing and doesn’t accept it, which Toronto fans will love. The Raptors will need some added depth to strengthen their bench next season, but by bringing back Gary Trent Jr. and having even average luck with team health (as opposed to last year’s disaster), they’ll already have a rotation that should put them back as one of the East’s elite teams.
Proposed starting lineup: Suggs-VanVleet-Anunoby-Siakam-Birch
5. ORL—Scottie Barnes: Barnes has one of the highest ceilings in this draft and from day one will be a glue guy who is super versatile and will be a terror on D paired with Isaac. Once his shot develops a bit more, he’ll be able to leverage that to be an even better playmaker. And, he could set up the Magic to have lineups, similar to the championship Warriors teams, where 4-5 guys can shoot, rebound, push the ball up the court, and make smart decisions.
Proposed starting lineup: Fultz-Bouknight-Isaac-Barnes-Carter
6. OKC—Ziaire Williams: ***……Record scratch…..***. The Thunder shock everyone by taking Williams with their first of multiple first round picks, with the plan to swing for the fences on a big, talented wing who could eventually provide positional versatility and the ability to shoot over anyone like Michael Porter, Jason Tatum, or KD. Chad Ford reported that his trainer, Joe Abunassar, at Impact Basketball, has been raving about him as a truly elite prospect—so what if that’s not smoke? What if he actually did underachieve due to circumstances last season? He already grew to 6’10” and his floor could be Cam Johnson on the Suns this season. It seems like a risky choice by Sam Presti, but with a super young roster, dozens of draft picks at his disposal, and Kemba Walker primed and ready for another flea market flip, they’ll take the best player available, and Presti always loves guys who are big, long, and athletic.
Proposed starting lineup: SGA-Kemba-Poku-Bazley-Bradley
7. GSW—Franz Wagner: Most mocks have the Warriors taking Davion Mitchell or James Bouknight to provide immediate help for a championship run next season, but I think they’ll opt for Wagner who also happens to provide immediate help on D, along with high IQ (which they strongly value), and is only 19, but with a lot of experience between playing pro in Germany and University of Michigan. If his shooting becomes more consistent, he could really help them as part of small-ball closing lineups, which the Warriors would love to get back to if they can piece together the right personnel.
Proposed starting lineup: Curry-Thompson-Wiggins-Green-Wiseman
8. ORL—James Bouknight: Easy pick here, as Bouknight has a very high ceiling offensively in the mold of Zach Lavine or Devin Booker, which is exactly the scoring punch that the Magic need with Fultz and Barnes still developing consistent offensive games. With Bouknight in the fold, Magic could also send out Terrence Ross for more assets sooner than later. They’ll need to make sure there are some vets on the roster to guide the young guys, but they should already be proud of how quickly they have been able to rebuild the roster after sending out Vucevic, Gordon, and Fournier.
Potential closing lineup: Fultz-Bouknight-Isaac-Barnes-Okeke
9. SAC—Jonathan Kuminga: After mock drafts had him as a top 5 pick for months, the tide has turned after players like Barnes and Bouknight have risen up the charts post-combine, interviews, and team workouts. Kuminga has a lot of work to do to make his skill level match his physical talents, but Jarrett Jack on the Ryen Russillo pod, mentioned that with a couple adjustments to his jumper, he could be a strong 3-D player for years, which would suit the Kings just fine—and the sooner the development the better, with the trade winds blowing hard on Bagley and Hield. A player like Kuminga will be much needed to try to slow down big wings like LeBron and Kawhi in the west.
Proposed starting lineup: Fox-Haliburton-Kuminga-Barnes-Holmes
10. NOP—Moses Moody: Pelicans have been rumored to be looking for veteran help and desperately need to unload Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams—both puzzling moves from David Griffin last summer. With Moody left on the board, they should keep the pick instead of using it as trade sweetener, as he will fit in immediately with his shooting and length on D. As Moody continues to develop his game (and confidence), there may actually be quite a bit of hidden upside that could emerge, but for the time being they only need him to play hard and play smart, leaving all the heavy lifting to Zion and Ingram. I’m also for the Pels resigning Ball so they don’t lose him as an asset. The only worry I have with this pick is that Ball, Ingram and Moody seem to all have very laid-back on-court personalities. That is a good thing in some ways, but may force the team to eventually add a Jimmy Butler/Chris Paul-style player to add the needed leadership and intensity come playoff time that to balances them out.
Potential closing lineup: Ball-NAW-Moody-Ingram-Zion
11. CHA—Keon Johnson: Hornets still have a lot of holes, so there are many picks that make sense here. Additionally, they have some tough choices to make roster-wise in terms of resigning Graham and Rozier, which speaks to the bigger question of whether to fast-track their way to the playoffs with vets or to be patient and develop over time. Although tempting to take the outside shooting of Kispert or the inside presence of Sengun, the better pick here is Keon Johnson, who will look much better with age, skill development, and the LaMelo effect. He’ll also provide insurance for Graham and/or Rozier leaving and help their D from day one.
Proposed starting lineup: Ball-Rozier-Hayward-Washington-? (FA center or trade)
12. SAN—Alperen Sengun: There are lots of interesting options on the board here including Jalen Johnson, Corey Kispert and Josh Giddey. The Spurs, whose veteran trio of DeMar DeRozan, Patty Mills, and Rudy Gay are free agents leaving the roster at a bit of a crossroads. There are a various moves that they need to consider making to balance out the younger group on the roster, which is very guard-heavy for the time being. Not knowing exactly what their plans are, or even if Popovich will be back to coach next season, the best pick is Sengun, who can play some 4 and 5, and gives them a young big with a ton of upside. He can work with Chip Engalland to fine tune his jumper and will eventually be able to help stretch the floor. For the time being, he can score inside, rebound and give them more of an inside presence (if there’s such a thing anymore) and should have no issue fitting into the Spurs culture which thrives on having a diverse group of players from around the world.
Proposed starting lineup: White-Murray-Vassell-Johnson-Poeltl
13. IND—Davion Mitchell: Mock drafts have the Pacers taking Josh Giddey but I’m not so sure that makes sense unless they plan to eigher trade Brogdon or not resign McConnell. Jalen Johnson is another popular pick here which could make sense but not sure how he fits with Myles Turner and Sabonis. That being said, this roster could change quite a bit in the next couple months. The best pick, in my view, is Mitchell who can help Brogdon with ball-handling responsibilities but also is very good playing off the ball. It goes without saying the boost of energy he’ll give them on D, matching up against the Curry’s and Lillard’s of the world.
Proposed starting lineup: Brogdon-LaVert-Warren-Sabonis-Turner
14. GSW—Chris Duarte: Lots of debate as to whether the Warriors should trade these lottery picks for veteran, win-now help, and that makes a ton of sense, but if they do send out Wiseman, Wiggins and both picks for a max player like a Siakam, I don’t see how they’ll have enough quality depth to get through a full season + multiple playoff series—and overplaying Klay or Steph is not a good option. If the Warriors can sign a couple of ‘ring chaser’ vets and pick Duarte they may have a better shot at making a deep run. Duarte should be able to step in from day one and be solid on both ends of the floor, and as some have mentioned, based on the Warriors huge payroll and luxury tax issues, its well worth taking someone like Duarte, who may not have as a high a ceiling but is a cost controlled 3-D wing for years to come while they try to maximize what ever is left of being light years ahead.
Potential small-ball closing lineup: Curry-Thompson-Duarte-Wiggins-Green
15. WAS—Corey Kispert: The Wizards, as with some of these other teams in the late lottery have the option of choosing a high-ceiling prospect to develop over time or going for someone who can help right away. The front office will want to maximize what could be a short window of time with Beal and Westbrook, so makes more sense to pick someone who can be in the rotation right away. Garuba and and Giddey are interesting options here, but Garuba overlaps a bit too much with Hachimura and Giddey with Avdija, so the Wiz go with the plug-and-play 3-and-D game of Kispert who will provide much needed outside shooting threat to spread the floor. Adding Kispert to the roster definitely does not improve the defensive outlook, but they can look to fill out the roster with some defensive-minded vets that may at least make them passable.
Proposed starting lineup: Westbrook-Beal-Kispert-Hachimura-Bryant
16. OKC—Josh Giddey: The Thunder come in with a boat load of draft picks which gives them many options to trade up or trade for another young player, if the right one is offered up. But assuming they don’t trade up based on the high quality of guys who are still left on the board, Giddey seems like a great choice here, dropping a bit from where most mock drafts have him. As SGA does with his size and ball handling, Giddey will provide lots of positional versatility with lineups that may combine him with Maledon/Kemba, SGA, and Poku. Who actually brings the ball up the court doesn’t matter so much, as long as they all can shoot and create for others. Giddey is young and has plenty of upside which he’ll have a good chance to maximize with the OKC player development staff.
Multi-ball-handler lineup: Maledon, SGA, Giddey, Z. Williams, Poku
17. MEM—Jalen Johnson: Everyone raves about the depth of the Grizzlies, but in order to make playoff run in the West, they still need to upgrade their talent via the draft or trade along with continued player development. With Johnson, the Grizzlies add a versatile wing who has some similarities to Kyle Anderson, who happens to be in the last year of his contract. Both provide some ball-handling, solid vision, and solid 3-point shooting. Johnson will need to work on his game and gain a lot more experience, but he can learn the ropes from Anderson and not have pressure to produce in the near term. Eventually, if Johnson’s shooting consistency and maturity improves, the Grizzlies could utilize him as their starting SF, as he’ll provide much needed athleticism and speed to their lineup.
Proposed starting lineup: Morant-Brooks-Anderson-JJJ-Valanciunas
18. OKC—Usman Garuba: With their 3rd pick in the 1st round, the Thunder go with another international player with lots of upside and pro experience in Garuba who will provide positional versatility at the 4 or 5. Without a good center option on the roster after sending Al Horford and Moses Brown to Boston, Isaiah Jackson and even Day’Ron Sharpe are interesting options, but what Garuba has that those two don’t, is unicorn stopper ability that will certainly come in handy vs. the LeBron, Kawhi, KD, and Giannis’s of the world. Not to mention, Garuba is a great team defender who can protect the rim immediately. OKC player development staff will have their hands full working with Williams, Giddey, and Garuba on their shooting, but if they’re able to turn them into 35-40% three-point shooters, than look out.
Future super-sized wing lineup: SGA, Giddey, Z. Williams, Poku, Garuba
19. NYK—Miles McBride: Rumors are swirling that the Knicks will trade their two picks to move up, and it’s possible that the Hornets or Wizards might take them up on the offer, with both teams needing more depth (and home run swings). That being said, I don’t think the Knicks have much quality depth either and unless they are in love with a specific player, they’d be best off, making both picks. McBride is a perfect fit with Thibs style, providing tough-nosed defense, speed/athleticism, and a good shooting stroke. He won’t give them much playmaking which is why many think (and hope) the Knicks will select Sharife Cooper here, but his lack of prowess on D, plus poor shooting does not seem like a great match. Once the Rose era ends, some combination of Quickley, Vildoza and McBride can be the Knicks future guard rotation, moving Barrett to the 3.
Proposed starting lineup: Rose-Vildoza-Barrett-Randle-Robinson
20. ATL—Jared Butler: The Hawks lineup is stacked, but maybe not for long, as Hawks owner Tony Ressler honestly admitted to the media after the playoffs. Although Cam Thomas, Jaden Springer, and even JT Thor are interesting here, the developmental curve of those players may bit a bit too long to take advantage of the awesome depth that the Hawks have which could (and almost did) propel them on a championship run before they have to pick and choose who to resign and consider consolidating the roster. Butler can play some backup PG as well as playing off the ball with Trae Young or Bogdanovic. He’s an excellent ball handler, defender, and is experience playing in big games–and he’s only 20 years old. He will be attractive to other teams in trade packages while at the same time providing insurance if they do opt to trade (or not resign) Huerter, Lou Will, or Reddish.
Proposed starting lineup: Young-Bogdanovic-Hunter-Collins-Capela
21. NYK—Isaiah Jackson: Logically, Jackson has been rumored to be going to the Knicks in many mock drafts with the current roster uncertainty of resigning Mitchell Robinson and/or Nerlens Noel. Makes sense that they won’t bring both of them back. And again, the Knicks coaching staff and front office are overly well-connected with the Kentucky staff and will have better intel than most teams on what Jackson is capable of. As happens with many Kentucky players during the Calipari era, there may be a hidden offensive upside for Jackson which would could eventually allow him to pick and pop and/or space the floor when Randle or Barrett post up. For the time being, he’ll provide a poor man’s version of the rim protection and rim running alley-oop dunks that Noel gave them last season.
Future starting lineup: Quickley-Vildoza-Barrett-Randle-Robinson
22. LAL—Sharife Cooper: This may not actually make sense as the Lakers pick, as LeBron may get grumpy if he’s not surrounded by shooters, but the Basketball Gods may need to make this happen to bring a bit more of the Showtime-style back to the Lakers. With uncertainty surrounding Schroeder, Caruso, THT, and KCP, this seems to make sense from a basketball standpoint too. The Lakers thrive in the bubble with lineups that combined the elite playmaking and high basketball IQ of Rajon Rondo with LeBron and AD and Sharife could eventually do the same.
Proposed starting lineup: Schroder-KCP-James-Davis-Drummond
23. HOU—Jaden Springer: (see below)
24. HOU—Isaiah Todd: With back-to-back picks in the 20’s and lots of rebuilding to do, the Rockets can swing for the fences with two versatile, high upside guys. Springer can play the 1 or 2 and will fit nicely with Kevin Porter Jr and John Wall in the near term. And Todd, who showed flashes of solid D on the Ignite, has an intriguing game that has shades of Tatum/Durant/MPJ thanks to his athleticism, size and footwork. Combining these two with Jalen Green and Christian Wood would be very entertaining and eventually lead to winning. Fertitta isn’t the same as Donald Sterling, but for some reason, I get the feeling he’ll be more than happy fielding a young, exciting, and inexpensive team for years to come, while he collects his checks and watches the team value grown exponentially.
Starting lineup once they find a way to trade Wall and Gordon: Porter Jr.-Green-Tate-Martin Jr.-Wood
25. LAC—Cameron Thomas: Everyone talks about the Warriors being in win-now mode, but the Clippers also have a very limited championship window to take advantage of with the Kawhi/PG pairing. On the positive side, Reggie Jackson and Terrence Mann showed that they are truly 16-game players in this year’s playoffs. On the negative side, there’s Ibaka and Kawhi’s injuries and unknown recovery time—and Kawhi’s lack of communication/trust with team management and medical staff. Although Luke Kennard played well at times in the playoffs, the Clips are sorely missing a microwave scorer off the bench like they had with Lou Williams, and that’s where Thomas comes in. Although a bit undersized for a SG at 6’3” (reportedly), he can score from all three levels and at his age there’s a lot of room for growth.
Proposed starting lineup: Jackson-Mann-PG-Leonard-Ibaka
26. DEN—Brandon Boston: Murray’s injury was a huge stroke of bad luck for the Nuggets who were riding an MVP season from Nikola Jokic and could have made a deep playoff run had they fielded a healthy squad. With Will Barton opting out, Murray recovering, Gary Harris and RJ Hampton on the Magic, they are in major need of depth at the guard position, but because based on their current roster, they’d be best off filling some of these holes in free agency with players that can step in right away and contribute. In the end, the Nuggets will stick with what’s worked for them the past few years—swing for the fences on the guy that has undeniable talent and high ceiling but dropped out of favor for whatever reason. And this year, that player is Brandon Boston. While Josh Christopher or Bones Hyland would also be solid options, the Nuggets will bank on Boston being the next Kentucky guard to show a more diversified skill set than they flashed in college. Plus, Boston is 6’7” which should help on the defensive side of the ball from day one. Becoming a solid 3-D wing will go a long way in helping the Nuggets get to the next level, but if he can eventually regain his confidence and shot creation ability, he’ll provide a scary perimeter trio with MPJ and Murray, which Jokic will take full advantage of.
Proposed starting lineup: Murray-Morris-MPJ-Gordon-Jokic
27. BKN—Bones Hyland: Rumor has it that the Nets made a promise to Day’Ron Sharpe here, but I’m not so sure that makes sense. The Nets already have Jordan (who KD and Kyrie won’t allow to be traded) and the up-and-coming Nicolas Claxton—plus KD, Blake Griffin or Jeff Green for small-ball lineups, so why would they take another center—a position that is relatively easy to find inexpensively via free agency or the buyout market? With Spencer Dinwiddie heading out via free agency and Mike James questionable to return, plus the fragility of Kyrie Irving, the Nets take Hyland who can run backup PG and also play off the ball in some lineups with Harden, as he is a very confident scorer and most likely better than D on day one, than Landry Shamet. KD can even teach him how to survive and thrive in the league as an ultra-skinny but highly skilled player.
Proposed starting lineup: Irving-Harden-Brown-KD-Griffin
28. PHI—Kai Jones: Lots of questions this offseason for the Sixers, as a Ben Simmons trade may happen. If this is the case, this pick could be part of the outgoing package in a two or three team deal. But assuming the trade doesn’t happen till the deadline or Daryl Morey doesn’t feel like he’s getting enough value, Jones would be a solid pick here based on his athleticism and upside. Dwight Howard may not be resigned, so Jones could play a bit of backup center for Joel Embiid while also getting a few minutes at the 4. With a strong lineup built to make a championship run in the next couple of years, Jones wouldn’t have any pressure to produce in the near term, but if he ever comes close to reaching his very high ceiling, he could end up being the Sixers starting PF if Simmons gets traded and they use a more traditional PG.
Proposed starting lineup: Simmons-Curry-Thybulle-Harris-Embiid
29. PHX—Day’Ron Sharpe: After all the Nets rumors, it was the Suns who made the promise to Sharpe, and boy could they have used him during the Finals. Ayton did well to protect the rim and battle with Brook Lopez and Giannis, but he had to play 36-40 minutes per game which is exhausting after such a long season—and very hard to stay out of foul trouble. One of the flaws of the Suns roster was the lack of a backup big man that could provide some muscle against the bigger centers like Embiid and Jokic. The Suns tried Damian James earlier in the season but eventually waived him and Dario Saric was their backup center. Sharpe, who is in great shape, has a high motor, untapped potential as an outside shooter, and is a skilled passer for his size. He’ll provide lineup versatility for the Suns next season while Saric recovers and Jalen Smith continues to develop.
Proposed starting lineup: CP3-Booker-Bridges-Crowder-Ayton
30. UTA—JT Thor: After passing on Jaden McDaniels in the 2020 draft in the oft-told tale of front office in-fighting, the Jazz have an interesting choice here. As with most perennial playoff teams who want to make a championship run, Assuming Mike Conley is back next year and the Jazz aren’t looking for guard-help, they could really use an injection of youth and athleticism. That’s where JT Thor could really help. He may not provide instant production, but just for Quinn Snyder to have the option of playing him in a faster lineup as a small-ball 5 or to guard the long, athletic, skilled PFs of the league like Tatum and KD, could give them quite a boost. As his three-point shot continues develop, he’ll fit right in with the Jazz offense.
Proposed starting lineup: Conley-Mitchell-Bogdanovic-O’Neale-Gobert
6/30 update: Chad Ford just posted an update for his NBA Big Board site which has Scottie Barnes moving to #4, and McBride, Hyland and Trey Murphy moving into the 20’s. Check back next week as he will be posting 31-80 on his board, at which time I’ll update this post.
I’ve also included John Hollinger’s Top 20 board from his June 22nd article at The Athletic, which does not include three sleepers he mentions: Roko Prkacin, Herb Jones, and Neemias Queta.
June big boards are coming out as the deadline to declare for the NBA Draft passed on May 30. There’s been lots of movement since last month across the different boards, so lets compare boards by Chad Ford at NBA Big Board (updated with the 2nd half of his big board on 6/10), Jonathan Wasserman at Bleacher Report, and Sam Vecenie at The Athletic. As more big boards are updated, I’ll be adding them to this page, so make sure to check back for updates throughout the month.
The Athletic (6/22) | NBA Big Board (7/1) | NBA Big Board (6/3) | B/R (5/27) | Athletic (6/3) |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham |
2 | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Jalen Green | Jalen Suggs |
3 | Scottie Barnes | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley |
4 | Alperen Sengun | Scottie Barnes | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Green |
5 | Jalen Green | Jalen Suggs | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga |
6 | Jalen Suggs | Jonathan Kuminga | Scottie Barnes | Jalen Johnson | Scottie Barnes |
7 | Franz Wagner | Davion Mitchell | Davion Mitchell | Keon Johnson | Davion Mitchell |
8 | Jonathan Kuminga | Keon Johnson | Keon Johnson | Scottie Barnes | Alperen Sengun |
9 | Jalen Johnson | Franz Wagner | Franz Wagner | Franz Wagner | James Bouknight |
10 | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey |
11 | Jared Butler | James Bouknight | Jalen Johnson | Moses Moody | Moses Moody |
12 | Corey Kispert | Jalen Johnson | Alperen Sengun | Isaiah Jackson | Franz Wagner |
13 | James Bouknight | Alperen Sengun | Moses Moody | Alperen Sengun | Kai Jones |
14 | Moses Moody | Corey Kispert | Usman Garuba | Tre Mann | Chris Duarte |
15 | Usman Garuba | Moses Moody | Corey Kispert | James Bouknight | Corey Kispert |
16 | Davion Mitchell | Isaiah Jackson | Jared Butler | Aaron Henry | Ziaire Williams |
17 | Miles McBride | Ziaire Williams | Kai Jones | Davion Mitchell | Keon Johnson |
18 | Keon Johnson | Usman Garuba | James Bouknight | Miles McBride | Ayo Donunmu |
19 | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | Ziaire Williams | Jared Butler | Usman Garuba |
20 | Jaden Springer | Sharife Cooper | Sharife Cooper | Jaden Springer | Jalen Johnson |
21 | Miles McBride | Isaiah Jackson | Corey Kispert | Isaiah Jackson |
|
22 | Trey Murphy | Chris Duarte | Kai Jones | Jaden Springer |
|
23 | Kai Jones | Tre Mann | Usman Garuba | Sharife Cooper |
|
24 | Jared Butler | Cameron Thomas | Chris Duarte | Kessler Edwards |
|
25 | Josh Primo | Greg Brown | Day'Ron Sharpe | Roko Prkacin |
|
26 | Jaden Springer | Jaden Springer | Sharife Cooper | Trey Murphy |
|
27 | Isaiah Todd | Trey Murphy | Josh Christopher | Greg Brown |
|
28 | Josh Christopher | Johnny Juzang | Kessler Edwards | Cam Thomas |
|
29 | Tre Mann | Ayo Donunmu | Cameron Thomas | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl |
|
30 | Nah'Shon Hyland | Rokas Jokubaitis | Roko Prkacin | Day'Ron Sharpe |
|
31 | Max Abmas | Ziaire Williams | Jared Butler |
||
32 | Chris Smith | Joel Ayayi | Miles McBride |
||
33 | Josh Christopher | Brandon Boston | Nah'Shon Hyland |
||
34 | Day'Ron Sharpe | Trey Murphy | Herbert Jones |
||
35 | Marcus Bagley | Rokas Jokubaitis | Tre Mann |
||
36 | Josh Primo | Charles Bassey | Josh Primo |
||
37 | Joel Ayayi | Terrence Shannon | Marcus Bagley |
||
38 | Matthew Mayer | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Rokas Jokubaitis |
||
39 | Brandon Boston | Greg Brown | Brandon Boston |
||
40 | Isaiah Todd | Herbert Jones | Josh Christopher |
||
41 | Raiquan Gray | Ayo Dosunmu | Austin Reaves |
||
42 | Neemias Queta | Santi Aldama | Santi Aldama |
||
43 | Nah'Shon Hyland | Nah'Shon Hyland | David Johnson |
||
44 | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Isaiah Todd | Aaron Henry |
||
45 | Terrence Shannon | Josh Primo | Isaiah Todd |
||
46 | Roko Prkacin | JT Thor | Terrence Shannon |
||
47 | Aaron Henry | Isaiah Livers | Joel Ayayi |
||
48 | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | Austin Reaves | Matthew Hurt |
||
49 | Miles McBride | Julian Champagnie | Quentin Grimes |
||
50 | Charles Bassey | RaiQuan Gray | Marcus Garrett |
||
51 | Santi Aldama | ||||
52 | Filip Petrusev | ||||
53 | Herbert Jones | ||||
54 | Juhann Begarin | ||||
55 | David Johnson | ||||
56 | Daishen Nix | ||||
57 | Ariel Hukporti | ||||
58 | Quentin Grimes | ||||
59 | Gabriele Procida | ||||
60 | Luka Garza |
References:
The Athletic [John Hollinger]
Bleacher Report [Jonathan Wasserman]
NBA Big Board [Chad Ford]
The Athletic [Sam Vecenie]
********************************************************************
With draft day approaching quickly, we’ll be locked in all month with updated mock drafts and links to the best draft content to make sure you’re prepared. As always, we’ll be looking at picks from The Athletic, The Ringer, Bleacher Report, ESPN, Tankathon, and SB Nation, along with my own picks.
It’s official, the Spurs have won the Draft Lottery. So, what will happen next? Compare the updated mock drafts from Jonathan Givony + Jeremy Woo/ESPN, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, and Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today plus new picks from Hoops Distillery!
It’s Draft Lottery Day and everyone is at the Combine, so no better time to dig into the updated big boards from this week, including Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo/ESPN, and Tankathon.
6/29 Update: ESPN/Draft Express posted an updated mock draft post-Draft Combine and Pro Days. Jalen Green moves up from #3 to #2, Scottie Barnes from #9 to #5, and James Bouknight #19 to #8.
After months of anticipation, the 2021 Draft Lottery is complete and the Pistons came out as the big winners….or so it seems at this moment [see future story: Cade Cunningham switches to Klutch Sports and warns Pistons he’ll sit out the year if they pick him]. Rockets breathed a huge sigh of relief. sticking in the top 4 and narrowly avoiding sending their pick to OKC. And the Cavs and Raptors luck out and move up into the top 4. As always, all of the top draft analysts released new mock drafts last night, so this mock draft comp is the richest yet, especially since everyone is now on an ‘equal playing field’ knowing the order of picks and having studied tape, talked to many agents, scouts, and front office folks. As more mock drafts are posted, I’ll be adding them to this post, so make sure to check back for updates throughout the month. or follow me at @hoopsdistillery.
ESPN (6/29) | ESPN (6/22) | Ringer (6/22) | NBA Big Board (6/22) | B/R (6/22) | SI (6/22) | Athletic Vecenie (6/22) | Tankathon (6/22) | Athletic NBA beat writers (6/22) |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. DET | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham |
2. HOU | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Jalen Green |
3. CLE | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Evan Mobley |
4. TOR | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Scottie Barnes | Jalen Green | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Scottie Barnes |
5. ORL | Scottie Barnes | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Jalen Suggs | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Jalen Suggs |
6. OKC | Jonathan Kuminga | Scottie Barnes | Keon Johnson | Jonathan Kuminga | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Scottie Barnes | Jonathan Kuminga |
7. GSW | Davion Mitchell | Davion Mitchell | Davion Mitchell | Davion Mitchell | Franz Wagner | Davion Mitchell | James Bouknight | Keon Johnson | Franz Wagner |
8. ORL | James Bouknight | Keon Johnson | Franz Wagner | Keon Johnson | Davion Mitchell | James Bouknight | Josh Giddey | Franz Wagner | Alperen Sengun |
9. SAC | Keon Johnson | Franz Wagner | Scottie Barnes | Franz Wagner | Jalen Johnson | Franz Wagner | Keon Johnson | Jalen Johnson | Davion Mitchell |
10. NOP | Josh Giddey | Corey Kispert | Corey Kispert | Josh Giddey | Keon Johnson | Keon Johnson | Franz Wagner | Davion Mitchell | Corey Kispert |
11. CHA | Franz Wagner | Isaiah Jackson | Jalen Johnson | Alperen Sengun | Moses Moody | Corey Kispert | Moses Moody | Alperen Sengun | Jalen Johnson |
12. SAN | Jalen Johnson | Jalen Johnson | Alperen Sengun | Jalen Johnson | Josh Giddey | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun | Moses Moody | Kai Jones |
13. IND | Corey Kispert | Josh Giddey | Josh Giddey | Moses Moody | James Bouknight | Josh Giddey | Davion Mitchell | Corey Kispert | Josh Giddey |
14. GSW | Kai Jones | James Bouknight | Chris Duarte | Corey Kispert | Corey Kispert | Jalen Johnson | Usman Garuba | Kai Jones | Chris Duarte |
15. WAS | Isaiah Jackson | Usman Garuba | Moses Moody | Usman Garuba | Isaiah Jackson | Usman Garuba | Corey Kispert | Josh Giddey | |
16. OKC | Alperen Sengun | Alperen Sengun | Kai Jones | Ziaire Williams | Kai Jones | Moses Moody | Kai Jones | James Bouknight | |
17. MEM | Usman Garuba | Kai Jones | Ziaire Williams | James Bouknight | Tre Mann | Chris Duarte | Ziaire Williams | Usman Garuba | |
18. OKC | Moses Moody | Moses Moody | Usman Garuba | Isaiah Jackson | Alperen Sengun | Kai Jones | Cameron Thomas | Jared Butler | |
19. NYK | Sharife Cooper | Jared Butler | James Bouknight | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | Isaiah Jackson | Isaiah Jackson | Ziaire Williams | |
20. ATL | Jared Butler | Tre Mann | Jaden Springer | Jaden Springer | Jared Butler | Ziaire Williams | Sharife Cooper | Jaden Springer | |
21. NYK | Trey Murphy | Sharife Cooper | Cameron Thomas | Sharife Cooper | Usman Garuba | Tre Mann | Jalen Johnson | Sharife Cooper | |
22. LAL | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | Sharife Cooper | Kai Jones | Cameron Thomas | Cameron Thomas | Chris Duarte | Chris Duarte | |
23. HOU | Tre Mann | Ziaire Williams | Isaiah Jackson | Jared Butler | Sharife Cooper | Jaden Springer | Trey Murphy | Ayo Dosunmu | |
24. HOU | Ziaire Williams | Cameron Thomas | Tre Mann | Greg Brown | Ziaire Williams | Ayo Dosunmu | Tre Mann | Cameron Thomas | |
25. LAC | Cameron Thomas | Trey Murphy | Greg Brown | Josh Christopher | Jaden Springer | Joel Ayayi | Jaden Springer | Day'Ron Sharpe | |
26. DEN | Josh Primo | Ayo Dosunmu | Rokas Jokubaitis | Miles McBride | Ayo Dosunmu | Miles McBride | Greg Brown | Isaiah Jackson | |
27. BKN | JT Thor | Charles Bassey | Jared Butler | Isaiah Todd | Miles McBride | Day'Ron Sharpe | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Greg Brown | |
28. PHI | Quentin Grimes | Max Abmas | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Josh Primo | Josh Christopher | Jared Butler | Miles McBride | Tre Mann | |
29. PHX | Jaden Springer | Jaden Springer | Day'Ron Sharpe | Cameron Thomas | JT Thor | Sharife Cooper | Day'Ron Sharpe | Terrence Shannon | |
30. UTA | Nay'Shon Hyland | Miles McBride | Ayo Dosunmu | Trey Murphy | Aaron Henry | Terrence Shannon | Ayo Dosunmu | Joel Ayayi |
References:
The Ringer [Kevin O’Connor]
ESPN/Draft Express [Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz] – 6/22
ESPN/Draft Express [Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz] – 6/29
Bleacher Report [Jonathan Wasserman]
The Athletic [various NBA beat writers]
NBA Big Board [Chad Ford]
Sports Illustrated [Jeremy Woo]
****************************************************************
The pre-draft process has officially begun and we have three new big boards to compare Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, and Tankathon.
Pre-draft season is here along with updated mock drafts from Jonathan Givony + Jeremy Woo/ESPN-Draft Express, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Tankathon,, and new picks from Hoops Distillery!
With March Madness on the horizon we have a new batch of big boards to compare including picks from Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, and the best available from Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express. Will Brandon Miller overtake Scoot for the #2 spot?
The much anticipated Draft Lottery took place this week and the Detroit Pistons moved up a spot to grab the #1 pick in the #FadeforCade sweepstakes. And with that, it’s time for an updated mock draft via the Fanspo (formerly TradeNBA) Mock Draft Simulator using the official NBA Draft order. Buzz seems to be growing for Scottie Barnes moving into the top 5 picks and pushing Jonathan Kuminga out, but I’m not so sure Orlando will opt for that based on their lack of offense firepower. Cleveland is also in a bit of an odd position where they may need to pick Jalen Green based on upside which may force their hand in trading Colin Sexton. Warriors are also rumored to be considering trading out of the draft for a proven veteran, but I have them taking Bouknight and Kispert which would (in theory) shift them back to an elite and diverse offense team. As for OKC’s retool, they go with an hyper-athletic trio of Barnes, Ziaire Williams and Day’Ron Sharpe, while the Knicks revamp their backcourt with Sharife Cooper and Chris Duarte.
6/5 Update: Added picks by Kevin O’Connor who posted his mock draft as part of the The Ringer’s 2021 NBA Draft Guide.
5/25 Update: As promised, updated picks have been added for Chad Ford, Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz, and Tankathon, with the tiebreakers that were decided this afternoon.
The first mock drafts have been released for the month of May and once again, we’re here to capture those and let you compare picks. Unlike last month, we now have mocks from Sam Vecenie at the Athletic and Chad Ford from NBA Big Board, Tankathon, Jonathan Wasserman from Bleacher Report, and I just added the mock from ESPN’s, Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz. As more mock drafts are posted, I’ll be adding them to this page, so make sure to check back for updates throughout the month.
Ringer (6/2) | ESPN (5/25) | NBA Big Board (5/25) | Tankathon (5/25) | Athletic (5/6) | B/R (5/11) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. HOU | Cade Cunningham | 1. HOU | Cade Cunningham | 1. HOU | Cade Cunningham | 1. HOU | Cade Cunningham | 1. HOU | Cade Cunningham | 1. OKC | Cade Cunningham |
2. DET | Evan Mobley | 2. DET | Evan Mobley | 2. DET | Jalen Green | 2. DET | Evan Mobley | 2. MIN | Jalen Suggs | 2. TOR | Evan Mobley |
3. ORL | Jalen Green | 3. ORL | Jalen Green | 3. ORL | Evan Mobley | 3. ORL | Jalen Suggs | 3. DET | Evan Mobley | 3. SAC | Jalen Green |
4. OKC | Jalen Suggs | 4. OKC | Jalen Suggs | 4. OKC | Jonathan Kuminga | 4. OKC | Jalen Green | 4. ORL | Jalen Green | 4. IND | Jalen Suggs |
5. CLE | Jonathan Kuminga | 5. CLE | Jonathan Kuminga | 5. CLE | Jalen Suggs | 5. CLE | Jonathan Kuminga | 5. CLE | Jonathan Kuminga | 5. OKC | Jonathan Kuminga |
6. GSW | Davion Mitchell | 6. GSW | Keon Johnson | 6. GSW | Scottie Barnes | 6. GSW | Scottie Barnes | 6. OKC | Scottie Barnes | 6. DET | Keon Johnson |
7. TOR | Keon Johnson | 7. TOR | Davion Mitchell | 7. TOR | Davion Mitchell | 7. TOR | Jalen Johnson | 7. SAC | Keon Johnson | 7. GSW | Franz Wagner |
8. ORL | Jalen Johnson | 8. ORL | Jalen Johnson | 8. ORL | Keon Johnson | 8. ORL | Keon Johnson | 8. ORL | Moses Moody | 8. CLE | Jalen Johnson |
9. SAC | Franz Wagner | 9. SAC | Scottie Barnes | 9. SAC | Franz Wagner | 9. SAC | Corey Kispert | 9. TOR | Davion Mitchell | 9. ORL | Scottie Barnes |
10. NOP | Corey Kispert | 10. NOP | Franz Wagner | 10. NOP | Josh Giddey | 10. NOP | Davion Mitchell | 10. NOP | Josh Giddey | 10. ORL | Davion Mitchell |
11. CHA | Scottie Barnes | 11. CHA | Corey Kispert | 11. CHA | Alperen Sengun | 11. CHA | Alperen Sengun | 11. IND | Franz Wagner | 11. NOP | Moses Moody |
12. SAN | Alperen Sengun | 12. SAN | Isaiah Jackson | 12. SAN | Jalen Johnson | 12. SAN | Moses Moody | 12. WAS | Kai Jones | 12. WAS | Corey Kispert |
13. IND | Cameron Thomas | 13. IND | Josh Giddey | 13. IND | Moses Moody | 13. IND | James Bouknight | 13. GSW | James Bouknight | 13. SAN | Josh Giddey |
14. GSW | Ziaire Williams | 14. GSW | Alperen Sengun | 14. GSW | Jared Butler | 14. GSW | Franz Wagner | 14. SAN | Alperen Sengun | 14. MEM | Usman Garuba |
15. WAS | Moses Moody | 15. WAS | Usman Garuba | 15. WAS | Corey Kispert | 15. WAS | Josh Giddey | 15. CHA | Usman Garuba | 15. CHA | Isaiah Jackson |
16. BOS | Josh Giddey | 16. BOS | Cameron Thomas | 16. BOS | Usman Garuba | 16. BOS | Isaiah Jackson | 16. MEM | Jaden Springer | 16. BOS | Kai Jones |
17. MEM | Kai Jones | 17. MEM | Kai Jones | 17. MEM | Kai Jones | 17. MEM | Ziaire Williams | 17. OKC | Ziaire Williams | 17. GSW | Jared Butler |
18. OKC | Isaiah Jackson | 18. OKC | Moses Moody | 18. OKC | James Bouknight | 18. OKC | Usman Garuba | 18. BOS | Jalen Johnson | 18. ATL | James Bouknight |
19. NYK | Sharife Cooper | 19. NYK | James Bouknight | 19. NYK | Sharife Cooper | 19. NYK | Jared Butler | 19. ATL | Cameron Thomas | 19. HOU | Ziaire Williams |
20. ATL | Tre Mann | 20. ATL | Tre Mann | 20. ATL | Tre Mann | 20. ATL | Chris Duarte | 20. HOU | Corey Kispert | 20. NYK | Tre Mann |
21. NYK | James Bouknight | 21. NYK | Ziaire Williams | 21. NYK | Isaiah Jackson | 21. NYK | Kai Jones | 21. NYK | Isaiah Jackson | 21. LAL | Jaden Springer |
22. LAL | Chris Duarte | 22. LAL | Ayo Dosunmu | 22. LAL | Chris Duarte | 22. LAL | Jaden Springer | 22. NYK | Chris Duarte | 22. HOU | Cameron Thomas |
23. HOU | Jaden Springer | 23. HOU | Sharife Cooper | 23. HOU | Ziaire Williams | 23. HOU | Day'Ron Sharpe | 23. LAL | Ayo Dosunmu | 23. NYK | Brandon Boston |
24. HOU | Usman Garuba | 24. HOU | Jared Butler | 24. HOU | Jaden Springer | 24. HOU | Greg Brown | 24. HOU | Sharife Cooper | 24. HOU | Alperen Sengun |
25. LAC | Ayo Dosunmu | 25. LAC | Charles Bassey | 25. LAC | Johnny Juzang | 25. LAC | Sharife Cooper | 25. PHI | Jared Butler | 25. DEN | Ayo Dosunmu |
26. DEN | Greg Brown | 26. DEN | Chris Duarte | 26. DEN | Greg Brown | 26. DEN | Filip Petrusev | 26. DEN | Roko Prkacin | 26. BKN | Aaron Henry |
27. BKN | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | 27. BKN | Marcus Bagley | 27. BKN | Isaiah Todd | 27. BKN | Neemias Queta | 27. LAC | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | 27. LAC | Sharife Cooper |
28. PHI | Jared Butler | 28. PHI | Max Abmas | 28. PHI | Matthew Mayer | 28. PHI | Josh Christopher | 28. BKN | Day'Ron Sharpe | 28. PHI | Chris Duarte |
29. PHX | Rokas Jokubaitis | 29. PHX | Jaden Springer | 29. PHX | Cameron Thomas | 29. PHX | Ayo Dosunmu | 29. PHX | Tre Mann | 29. PHX | Josh Christopher |
30. UTA | Day'Ron Sharpe | 30. UTA | Greg Brown | 30. UTA | Chris Smith | 30. UTA | Trey Murphy | 30. UTA | Aaron Henry | 30. UTA | Roko Prkacin |
Traded draft picks:
• The Knicks own the Mavs’ pick.
• The Warriors own the Wolves’ pick if it falls between 4 and 30.
• The Magic own the Bulls’ pick if it falls between 5 and 30.
• The Pelicans get the Lakers’ pick if it falls between 1 and 7.
• The Rockets own the Blazers’ pick if it falls between 15 and 30.
• The Rockets own the Bucks’ pick if it falls between 10 and 30.
• The Rockets get the Pistons’ pick if it falls between 17 and 30.
• The Thunder own the Warriors’ pick if it falls between 21 and 30.
• The Grizzlies own the Jazz’s pick if it falls between 8 and 14.
• The Knicks can swap picks with the Clippers.
• OKC will get the best two of their own pick, the Rockets’ (top 4 protected) and Miami’s first-round pick.
References:
The Ringer [Kevin O’Connor]
ESPN/Draft Express [Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz]
Bleacher Report [Jonathan Wasserman]
NBA Big Board [Chad Ford]
****************************************************************
March has arrived with updated mock drafts from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Tankathon, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation. Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic….and an updated mock from Hoops Distillery.
New mock drafts for February are here–including two updates from Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Tankathon–and fresh picks from Hoops Distillery. Jarace Walker and Gradey DIck moving up in this recent batch.
We now have five mock drafts to compare, including Kevin O’Connor/The Ringer, Ricky O’Donnell/SB Nation, Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Jeremy Woo/Sports Illustrated, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Bryan Kalbrosky/USA Today Tankathon, and the first Hoops Distillery mock draft of 2023!
With this week’s 2021 NBA Draft Guide update by Kevin O’Connor at The Ringer, lets take a look at how his Top 30 board compares to recent updates from Jeremy Woo at Sports Illustrated and Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz at ESPN/Draft Express (who don’t post an update date on their best players available page, as I’m sure many of you have noticed). Alperen Sengun has been moving up the boards as analysts have dug into the more tape. O’Connor has him at #9, similar to John Hollinger from The Athletic who has him at #7, according to his recent visit with Chad Ford on this week’s NBA Big Board pod. As more big boards are updated, I’ll be adding them to this page, so make sure to check back for updates throughout the month.
Ringer (5/6) | ESPN (5/?) | SI (4/28) |
|
---|---|---|---|
1 | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham | Cade Cunningham |
2 | Evan Mobley | Evan Mobley | Jalen Suggs |
3 | Jalen Suggs | Jalen Suggs | Evan Mobley |
4 | Jalen Green | Jalen Green | Jalen Green |
5 | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga | Jonathan Kuminga |
6 | Keon Johnson | Keon Johnson | Keon Johnson |
7 | Davion Mitchell | Jalen Johnson | James Bouknight |
8 | Franz Wagner | Davion Mitchell | Jalen Johnson |
9 | Alperen Sengun | Franz Wagner | Scottie Barnes |
10 | Kai Jones | Scottie Barnes | Kai Jones |
11 | Scottie Barnes | Isaiah Jackson | Josh Giddey |
12 | Jalen Johnson | Corey Kispert | Corey Kispert |
13 | Corey Kispert | Josh Giddey | Franz Wagner |
14 | Josh Giddey | Alperen Sengun | Moses Moody |
15 | Tre Mann | Usman Garuba | Usman Garuba |
16 | Moses Moody | Cameron Thomas | Davion Mitchell |
17 | Ziaire Williams | Kai Jones | Alperen Sengun |
18 | Cameron Thomas | Tre Mann | Jared Butler |
19 | Sharife Cooper | Sharife Cooper | Tre Mann |
20 | Chris Duarte | James Bouknight | Joel Ayayi |
21 | James Bouknight | Moses Moody | Chris Duarte |
22 | Jaden Springer | Ayo Dosunmu | Ziaire Williams |
23 | Jared Butler | Jared Butler | Jaden Springer |
24 | Isaiah Jackson | Ziaire Williams | Day'Ron Sharpe |
25 | Ayo Dosunmu | Chris Duarte | Roko Prkacin |
26 | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | Charles Bassey | Isaiah Jackson |
27 | Usman Garuba | Marcus Bagley | Cameron Thomas |
28 | Greg Brown | Jaden Springer | Greg Brown |
29 | Day'Ron Sharpe | Greg Brown | Marcus Bagley |
30 | Rokas Jokubaitis | Max Abmas | Sharife Cooper |
References:
The Ringer [Kevin O’Connor]
Sports Illustrated [Jeremy Woo]
ESPN/Draft Express [Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz]
The Athletic [John Hollinger] – international scouting article with great intel on Sengun, Garuba, Giddey and others
********************************************************************
We finally have a few 2023 big boards to stack up against each other. So, here’s our first #bigboardcomp of the year featuring boards from Sam Vecenie/The Athletic, Jonathan Wasserman/Bleacher Report, Jonathan Givony/ESPN-Draft Express and Tankathon.
An archive of all 2022 big board comparisons for easy reference.
An archive of all 2021 big board comparisons for easy reference.