NSL Mock Draft 2021 1.0

 

The lottery is complete, the Conference Finals are underway and so while 4 teams are focused squarely on the top prize, a few others are pondering what could have been having just been eliminated and the majority are now deep in the research band wagon as they know where they are picking after suffering through some tough times this year, and making trades to land the big one. Here�s a look at the draft, mock style.

*I�ve chosen to look at team NSL teams needs in corporation with best available. Picks are listed as the currently owning team and don�t take into account possible agreed upon trades. Hope you enjoy!

 

Pick 1 � LA Lakers

Cade Cunningham

Let�s not be mistaken, Cade is the consensus #1 guy on the board for Justin and the Lakers and they will literally be drafting their franchise guy to build around. The Lakers needed this, and they got it. Anyone wanting Cade needs to hold this #1 pick, cause he ain�t getting past here. Will the inevitable lure of trade be too great by the time draft rolls round though?

 

Pick 2 � Atlanta Hawks

Jalen Green

The Hawks, like the Lakers, need some help though they have a prettier looking spread and no fewer than six 1^st round picks this year! They are reportedly looking to move down, probably to take Suggs and pick up an extra guy, but if they hold on to this pick they take Jalen Green I believe as the top thing they lack in their swathe of youth is a play making guard and Green�s combo style would seem to fit well with the Hunter/Reddish wing combo.

 

Pick 3 � Milwaukee Bucks

Evan Mobley

The Bucks would be stoked with Mobley still on the board here, despite it being the �likely� option after the first two picks. Mobley figures to fit perfectly with the Bucks line up that already features Shai and Zion, and if Diallo stays the course with Hayes also coming on in his 2^nd year, that�s a really nice young starting core. He�s the best big in the draft and the Bucks are screaming for a big!

 

Pick 4 � Orlando Magic

Scottie Barnes

This one is a tough choice for Orlando, but they won�t be begrudging it after moving up from projected 9^th! Instead of having to catch, they get to lead now. It�s a little bit of �so close� with Mobley projected off the board here as he would also have fit perfectly with a Trae/Donte/Hayward/Washington/______ line up, with Love filling that C spot for now and they really need a big man. For that reason, you�d think Kuminga would make the most sense, but I feel that Barnes will be the big mover and show out in Summer League also, which will ultimately mean he�s the best available and command to be drafted here.

 

Pick 5 � Minnesota Timberwolves

Jonathan Kuminga

This has got to sting a little for Minnesota who were equal chance of landing that #1 pick, but ended up at 5 and see their obvious targets go begging. That said, they have a couple of picks and an already nice young core, so pick 5 will only bolster that. There�s a fair chance they�d try adding a star using pieces below this pick and with decent depth already, they can take best available here, that isn�t a PG because of Ball. That to me, and I think Ethan, will be Kuminga.

 

Pick 6 � Utah Jazz

Jalen Suggs

Utah could really have used that top pick, but they moved down. However, with the way the teams above are falling and filling their needs, that may not have been as devastating as it could have been as they likely still get to choose from the PGs they most probably would have liked to target anyway and Suggs at 6 is a blessing when they have only Jevon Carter and Jordan Poole manning the spot otherwise.

 

Pick 7 � Boston Celtics

Davion Mitchell

The Celtics copped a blow moving down to 7 and it probably means they aggressively try to move up/to the top, or they settle and take best available who I believe at this point is Mitchell with franchise PG potential. They don�t technically need the PG, but Garland can move and there�s many young pieces that can make way in Boston with his stellar asset laden roster.

 

Pick 8 � Cleveland Cavaliers

James Bouknight

The Cavs have the big man department locked up, and are solid on the wing, too, so I think they address their glaring need right now which is someone who wants to put the ball in the hoop. Bouknight is a scoring guard and they have a gaping hole at SG (and PG) so he makes sense now that Mitchell is gone, as I think Mitchell would have been the choice otherwise. Maybe, just maybe, Josh Giddey comes into the picture here though as a smokey outsider.

 

Pick 9 � Minnesota Timberwolves

Keon Johnson

Back to Minnesota and after taking the �big� at pick 5, I think they follow this up with an uber athletic wing like Johnson as he fits the squad nicely positionally and has some nice upside alongside the big playmaking Ball. I don�t think reaching down a bit further (ESPN ranks) is the way he would go here, but if the NBA draft shows some tricky results then all bets are off.

 

Pick 10 � Atlanta Hawks

Josh Giddey

Now at 10, after having snagged their combo guard at 2, I think they either go big or PG here. So, why not both? Giddey is this years LaMelo Ball on paper and would be the perfect distributor for a team that has young bigs, young wings and no real lead handler, so I think this works. Failing this, I have a feeling Kai Jones falls around this spot in the NBA draft and might be the other option for Atlanta despite already boasting Bagley and Hayes.

 

Pick 11 � Boston Celtics

Kai Jones

Back to Boston and I think this becomes a comparative no brainer once the NBA draft results are known and in the shake down. Jones has some polarising projections which doesn�t scare Toby at all and I think he fits right there with Wiseman allowing the wings to do the bulk of the offensive work. In short, I think Toby �skips a few� and goes big, so possibly Isaiah Jackson is in the picture too.

 

Pick 12 � Denver Nuggets

Corey Kispert

What does the team that boasts the actual Splash Brothers, now healthy, need to put with them? How about they double down and go Super Splash Brothers and take Kispert to replace Doug McDermott�s spot? How much 3 point shooting does one team need? That�s right, there is never enough. I can see Jalen Johnson also being highly coveted here though as a role playing 2 way wing also perfectly fitting the Turner/Porter/Klay/Curry line up.

 

Pick 13 � LA Clippers

Jalen Johnson

It�s really hard to pick a positional need for the Clippers despite their struggles once they reach the playoffs. They have guards, they have Giannis, they have Sabonis, they have Barrett. Maybe they go the combo forward who can guard any position you ask him to, to fill a versatile role and play anywhere he�s asked? I think that makes sense. Side note would be Isaiah Jackson as he�s the antithesis to Sabonis and would really help the interior defense.

 

Pick 14 � Golden State Warriors

Usman Garuba

The Warriors are nicely built at present and it�s hard to pin point a direct need, but maybe literally some size and grit? Garuba is a solid PF who can handle and play a little in the Draymond mould minus the Draymond IQ and he brings defensive toughness to all over the court which I think works nicely with an Ayton/Wiggins/Brooks/LaVine spread.

 

Pick 15 � Toronto Raptors

Moses Moody

By this point in the draft, Moody might yet look like a massive steal as he�s currently mocking much higher, so drat day might make this impossible, but for this mock, Moody makes perfect sense given the struggles the Raptors had on the wing having to rely on Bridges who simply isn�t quite there yet. Moody presents a better fit on the wing next to the George/Brogdon combo and can probably even match up at SF.

 

Pick 16 � Minnesota Timberwolves

Franz Wagner

Another guy who is likely to have his name called higher on NBA draft night, but I couldn�t see him fitting right until now. Even now, I don�t think it�s perfect but the Wolves have already addressed holes down the roster and Wagner presents a nice role playing game which can�t hurt. Or, maybe Ethan swings for the fences on Sengun despite his below the rim style and being solid down low already.

 

Pick 17 � Toronto Raptors

Sharife Cooper

After going the wing at 15, I think the Raptors look to a PG here as possibly their biggest positional need as a reserve. Cooper presents as a nice ball dominant option in the pick and roll, which is great with the rest of this Raptors line up and could be a starter down the road. Jared Butler in consideration here too, but I think Cooper has more upside myself.

 

Pick 18 � Memphis Grizzlies

Alperen Sengun

I think by this point the draft is taking that dip and Sengun is likely to be the clear �best available� guy if this were the way the NSL draft went when compared to the NBA draft. The Grizz don�t need him, per-say, but he�s the best talent and the likes of a need like Jared Butler don�t quite tick the �lets replace Mike Conley� mould if indeed Mike doesn�t come back.

 

Pick 19 � Chicago Bulls

Trey Murphy

Beal. Wall. Davis. You just need to fill the gaps around these guys after that and how nice does a 6�8 3 and D wing look to space the floor and play a role defending in this beast of a system? Securing that means one less worry for the Bulls in the offseason as half the roster tests free agency.

 

Pick 20 � Denver Nuggets

Day�Ron Sharpe

The Nuggets already grabbed a shooter in the draft and here I think they might look for a big man given the talent is likely all very similar. Sharpe presents some nice size and upside and will help in the front court behind Turner/Porter and Powell off the bench with RoLo likely on the way out.

 

Pick 21 � Atlanta Hawks

Zaire Williams

The Hawks have been on the clock a couple times already and arguably the next need is a big, but with more picks to come and none on the board in this range, I think they go for best available and that here to me is Zaire Williams. He�s a 6�8 wing that can create shots and is ready to help right now which makes for some interesting prospects. This would be a black hole of similar guys in Atlanta though so the trade market will be running wild!

 

Pick 22 � LA Clippers

Tre Mann

The Clippers are back on the clock and I think they�re primed here to take a PG, with 2 very nice options on the board for the spot. Butler and Mann have great resumes but I think Mann is just a step above, but could you toss a coin? With Rubio aging and only Dennis Smith likely to be around longer term otherwise, I think they take the seasoned kid in Mann here but could just as easily do well with Butler.

 

Pick 23 � Utah Jazz

Joshua Primo

This team needs work, everything is on the table, so probably just go for the best thing they can get. What is that now? Subjective, but with Suggs in the war chest, maybe they look to a true �prospect� and go with Primo who is one of the best shooters in college and the youngest player in the draft. Upside swing for sure here in the kid, but he has some nice tools.

 

Pick 24 � Dallas Mavericks

Cameron Thomas

The Mavs are going to go the kid route on reports, so Duarte being 24 won�t be the guy, despite probably being the best guy still on the board. I think in that event Cam Thomas gets a look for Javi here with his upside and shot making. He might have talent above this spot, too, but his personality comes into question which knocks him down a few pegs.

 

Pick 25 � New Orleans Pelicans

Chris Duarte

The Pels are young, as we all know and for that reason I think it matters less trying to develop a true kid and instead going for the very talented and ready right now guy who can come on in and get on the court tomorrow. He�s 24, but that shouldn�t matter when everyone else here is 24 and the shooting and grittiness is just what everyone likes.

 

Pick 26 � Atlanta Hawks

Jared Butler

The Hawks are back! And, I think they have to take the obvious PG and top talent left here which is solid anyway behind the already selected Josh Giddey. Butler projects as a Jalen Brunson type if you ask me which means he�s going to be rock solid as a reserve and capable as a pinch starter and that is a solid get.

 

Pick 27 � Atlanta Hawks

JT Thor

The Hawks are going to break the Heat�s hearts here. Thor I think will be well and truly on the board for Pistolpk given his penchant for length and athleticism, but the Hawks have the picks and they have covered enough needs and such to take a swing at a big man to cover the big man spots in the event Hayes goes to jail or Bagley goes down again.

 

Pick 28 � Miami Heat

Quentin Grimes

The Heat have the guard spots covered IMO and I think someone like Grimes on the wing with his immense shooting ability makes a lot of sense to what Pete likes, with the likes of Nwora and Matt Thomas on the roster. That being said, maybe Pete doesn�t show for the draft again and gets best available. Everyone likes an auto pick before them right?

 

Pick 29 � San Antonio Spurs

Jaden Springer

I have a feeling this pick is owed somewhere�but even if it�s not, I think Springer makes for a solid pick for either the team I think it could be owed to, or to the highly touted and nicely deep Spurs. He has great upside, is one of the youngest players in the draft so can sit in the wings and develop for the Spurs, or, if it�s the other team I have pegged as the owner, he has so much young talent above him there too that he can wait in the wings also!

 

Pick 30 � New York Knicks

Isaiah Todd

The Knicks round out the 1^st round and they are�well, they�re loaded. Do they keep the pick or go get a right now PF help? If they keep, I think they go big, regardless, and I think Todd might be worth a swing on the 1^st round cusp. Any number of guys could go here though of course! Todd was a 5 star recruit and would bring a big strong body to develop.