Sporting News MOCK DRAFT
Sporting News' Sean Deveney releases his latest NBA Mock Draft as of Monday, June 22.
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C Kentucky - Minnesota Timberwolves
We’ve held out as long as we could with Jahlil Okafor as the top overall pick, and there are still scouts who insist Minnesota would make a mistake to pass on his polished, deft offensive game. But Towns’ athleticism and potential makes him worthy of the No. 1 spot, too, and either way, the Timberwolves figure to have an impressive young big man to go along with Gorgui Dieng.
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C Duke - Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers will consider Kristaps Porzingis and D’Angelo Russell with the No. 2 pick, but it is unlikely that they could pass on the consensus top-two pick. Okafor has a smooth interior game that should help bolster the Lakers’ rebuilding quickly.
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PF Sevilla - Philadelphia 76ers
We put Porzingis into this spot at the beginning of the month, and while D'Angelo Russell was busy putting down rumors about him not wanting to play for the Sixers, that might not matter — Philadelphia is enamored of the diversity of Porzingis’ skills.
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G Ohio State - New York Knicks
This would be the dream scenario for the Knicks and the one that would make them think twice about dealing away this pick — they’re big on Russell, and with his size (6-5) and playmaking ability, he’d be very tough to pass up.
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SF Barcelona - Orlando Magic
Some say Hezonja already is penciled into the Magic’s draft slot, though rumors about just how coachable Hezonja will be persist. The Magic need shooting, and if there is one thing Hezonja can surely do, it is shoot.
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PG - Sacramento Kings
The Kings have been hopeful that there would be enough of a shakeup at the top of the draft to allow Mudiay to slip. It’s possible that Russell could slip to them, too, which would create a happy dilemma for new honcho Vlade Divac.
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SF Duke - Denver Nuggets
Teams appear to have cooled on Winslow, whose strong second half and performance in the NCAA tournament pushed him into the Top 5 for some executives. But several wings have impressed in workouts, and Winslow could be shuffled out of the Top 10. Still, he has talent and fits Denver’s need nicely.
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SF Arizona - Detroit Pistons
The Pistons appear to like Johnson’s inside-outside ability, and with a gaping hole at small forward, he would fill a need. Even with the acquisition of Ersan Ilyasova from Milwaukee, Detroit is eagerly seeking perimeter shooting.
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SG Kentucky - Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have been taking long looks at polished collegians who can shoot, and the reason is obvious—they made a league-worst 31.8 percent of their 3s last season. That means the likes of Sam Dekker, Frank Kaminsky and Kelly Oubre, Jr. But Booker has big upside as a shooter, though there has been talk of the Hornets trading down from here.
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SF Wisconsin - Miami Heat
Scouts are very split on Dekker, but he appears to have secured a spot in the lottery. He has joined the ranks of Stanley Johnson, Devin Booker and Kelly Oubre as mid-to-low lottery picks and probably won’t get past Utah at No. 12.
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C Wisconsin - Indiana Pacers
Kaminsky’s meeting with the Knicks last week was intriguing, and there is a chance he would go to New York, even with the No. 4 pick. Detroit and Miami have interest in Kaminsky, too, but he won’t slip past the Suns at No. 13. The Pacers remain the most likely destination — Kaminsky had a good workout with Indiana, which needs to add some youth to the frontcourt.
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C Kentucky - Utah Jazz
How much will chatter about Cauley-Stein’s stress fracture hurt his stock? Probably not enough to knock him out of the lottery. But he does become more risky, and in a deep draft, teams might find it easier to pass on him than if there was not much alternative talent available. The Jazz don't need a center, but they are stocked with young players at every position and can afford to take a risk on the most talented guy left.
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KELLY OUBRE, JR
SF Kansas - Phoenix Suns
Oubre has put up some excellent workouts, and with his length and defensive potential, should be locked into the middle of the first round. He could go as high as Charlotte at No. 9, especially if the Hornets are impressed with his improved shooting. But the lower end of the lottery is more likely.
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PG Murray St - Oklahoma City Thunder
Payne has worked out for teams in the Top 10, but his name has long been linked to the Thunder. There is no doubt that the Thunder like him — they like R.J. Hunter, as well — and are in the market for a backup point guard. If he is here, he is definitely on OKC’s list.
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PF Kentucky - Atlanta Hawks
Lyles is a smooth big man who has the potential to develop a pretty good perimeter game for a 6-10 forward. He runs the floor and, with a 7-4 wingspan, can protect the paint. Lyles would be disappointed to fall out of the lottery, but many teams higher up are looking for wing players and could pass on him.
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C Texas - Boston Celtics
There has been talk that the Celtics were trying to trade up to get Turner, but there is also a decent chance that, as teams chase wing players, Turner could fall to No. 16. He needs development, but Turner could be a nice score in the middle of the first round.
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PF Arkansas - Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are in the market for more shooting, and Portis has the potential to develop into a very good stretch-4. Milwaukee traded away Ersan Ilyasova, and Portis could become a cheaper version of him. The Bucks need guards, too, but those are more readily available on the free agent market.
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PG Duke - Houston Rockets
Jones has been linked to the Rockets for a while, and unless something drastic happens — Cauley-Stein falling to 18, for example — Jones could well be their man. Patrick Beverley is a free agent this summer, and even if they keep him, they will want depth at this position.
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PF UCLA - Washington Wizards
Looney had a very good workout for the Wizards, and in many years, he’d be off the board by No. 19. He is a tweener, and the hope is that he develops into a small forward or stretch-4 at the NBA level. That might take time, but he has the raw skill to make the transition.
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SF Arizona - Toronto Raptors
Hollis-Jefferson is a top-notch defensive player who can probably do more than he let on in college, where he took a back seat first to Aaron Gordon, then to Stanley Johnson. But Hollis-Jefferson was not one to complain and instead found ways to do little things to help the Wildcats win.
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PG/SG Georgia St - Dallas Mavericks
Hunter has interest from teams all over the draft board, from the lower lottery (Utah, Oklahoma City) all the way to the 20s. The Mavs are hoping to bolster their point guard spot with a new starter and would do well to develop a backup point guard they get in this draft.
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PG Notre Dame - Chicago Bulls
At 6-4, Grant is a big point guard who operates well in the pick-and-roll. That will make his NBA transition a little easier, though he will ultimately have to prove he can hit perimeter jumpers in order to earn playing time with an NBA team.
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SF Virginia - Portland Trail Blazers
Anderson is an excellent defender who has also shown the ability to knock down 3-pointers. Considering Wesley Matthews and Arron Afflalo are free agents this summer, Anderson could be a valuable addition.
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PF Louisville - Cleveland Cavaliers
This is nothing against Harrell — he is a very good interior defender and has shown some development in his offense. He will garner interest from teams well before Cleveland picks, but because of team needs and a handful of players with higher upside, Harrell could sink a bit. He could go in the mid-teens, but he could slip.
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PG/SG UNLV - Memphis Grizzlies
Vaughn could wind up being a sleeper in this draft, a very young (still 18) point guard with a high skill level and a knack for scoring. The Grizzlies are believed to be seeking help on the wing, and though Vaughn needs development time, he is very talented.
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big PG/SG Kentucky - San Antonio Spurs
Harrison had a good workout with the Spurs and has landed on the radar for the Lakers and Celtics as he makes a bid to maintain his spot in the first round. Harrison is big (6-6), and has shown himself to be adept with his point guard skills in workouts.
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SG/PG Louisville - Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers could move this pick, and there are teams interested in adding players late in the draft. But Rozier made a strong impression at the Chicago predraft camp, and has firmed up his position as a first-rounder since then. He leans more toward scoring than passing but would be a great offensive weapon off the bench.
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PF Kansas - Boston Celtics
Celtics president Danny Ainge has a history of swinging for the fences with later picks, and Alexander is a home run/strikeout type. His career got sidetracked by NCAA entanglements, but he is a sure NBA-caliber athlete who just needs to get back on the floor.
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Utah - Brooklyn Nets
A lot of teams like Wright, and he could well go before this spot — Washington, Toronto, Dallas, Chicago and Portland will have interest. He is an accomplished scorer, but at age 23, will be a tough sell in terms of upside.
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PF UNLV - Golden State Warriors
Considering the luxury tax bill the Warriors will be facing, this is a pick that could easily be moved — the Warriors don’t need to add more guaranteed salary, and could include this pick in a deal to move David Lee. Wood is only 19 and qualifies as a long-term project.
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