MEYER MCCAULSKY
Special to The Leader
*Based on Teams’ Records on April 17
1. Houston Rockets select: Cade Cunningham, 6’8” 220 lbs Point Guard, Oklahoma State
Analysis: Cunningham may not be an ideal fit next to John Wall, but when you’re in a rebuilding situation as the Houston Rockets are right now, you draft the best player available and figure the rest out later.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves select: Evan Mobley, 7’0” 215 lbs Center, USC
Analysis: Not only would Minnesota get the best player left on the board, but Mobley’s skill set would be a great complement to that of Karl-Anthony Towns’. The shooting ability of both Towns and Mobley makes them interchangeable at the 4 and 5 positions. The only question about this pick is, who would play the 4 and who would play the 5 between the two?
3. Detroit Pistons select: Jalen Green, 6’6” 186 lbs Shooting Guard, G-League
Analysis: The Pistons have a logjam at the Wing and just drafted Killian Hayes to be their point guard of the future, plus you don’t want to reach for a center with Mobley off the board. Therefore, Jalen Green is the best option for the Pistons at 3. Green gives the Pistons even more athleticism, plus the ability to create his own shot at all three levels.
4. Orlando Magic select: Jonathan Kuminga, 6’8” 220 lbs Wing, G-League
Analysis: Jalen Suggs is a tempting pick at 5 but the Magic have a logjam at guard and they’re all tweeners between the 1 and the 2 (Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton). Jonathan Kuminga makes more sense and he fits the direction of the Magic. If Kuminga applies himself on the defensive end at the next level, he and Jonathan Isaac could potentially cause problems along with Wendell Carter and perhaps Mohamed Bamba as their big men.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder select: Jalen Suggs, 6’4” 205 lbs Combo Guard, Gonzaga
Analysis: The Thunder are in a situation where their best strategy is to draft the best available prospect and figure the rest out. In this case, Jalen Suggs falls right into the lap of the Oklahoma City Thunder. This pick would give the Thunder an interchangeable backcourt of Suggs along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is also a combo guard. Ideally, Suggs would play the 1 and Gilgeous-Alexander would slide over to the 2, catering more to his strengths in this scenario.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jalen Johnson, 6’9” 220 lbs Hybrid Wing, Duke
Analysis: Although the Cavaliers drafted Isaac Okoro with the fifth overall pick last year, it doesn’t hurt to draft a complementary wing next to him to play either one of them at the 4 (preferably Johnson). Jalen Johnson wasn’t known for his shooting ability in high school, but shot 44 percent from the three-point range. Don’t let that fool you. Johnson only attempted 18 three-point shots during his 13 games at Duke. Besides that, he would give the Cavaliers a versatile wing who can complement the backcourt of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton.
7. Sacramento Kings select: Scottie Barnes, 6’9” 227 lbs Point Forward, Florida State
Analysis: The Kings have lacked at the wing for years and especially on the defensive end. With Barnes, the Kings get someone who could potentially be able to guard all 5 positions while also being a secondary or tertiary ball-handler next to De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton.
8. Toronto Raptors select: Davion Mitchell, 6’2” 205 lbs Combo Guard, Baylor
Analysis: With Kyle Lowry perhaps on his way out of Toronto, Davion Mitchell makes a lot of sense for the Toronto Raptors. Mitchell next to Fred Vanvleet would create a small, but interchangeable backcourt. Mitchell would also give the Raptors a mature rookie (22 years old, will turn 23 at the start of the season) who could help the Raptors make a playoff push for next season.
9. Washington Wizards select: Corey Kispert, 6’7 225 lbs Wing, Gonzaga
Analysis: When making this pick, the Wizards need to think about Russell Westbrook and what his teams have lacked around him, assuming that the Wizards keep him. Westbrook’s teams have lacked consistent three-point shooting and drafting Corey Kispert would give Westbrook a reliable target for him to kick the ball to. Although this would be the third year in a row that Washington has drafted a wing (Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdija), Kispert serves as the safest option rather than reaching for a big man.
10. Orlando Magic select (via Chicago Bulls): Franz Wagner, 6’9” 220 lbs Wing, Michigan
Analysis: Now that the Magic have selected Kuminga and Wagner (hypothetically), they’re now redundant across all positions, which can be a good problem to have for a young team that is trying to figure out their direction. Wagner is a versatile wing that can score from all three levels and shows some promise on the defensive end. The challenge for the Magic will be figuring out who “their guys” are for the future at each position.
11. New Orleans Pelicans select: Moses Moody, 6’6” 205 lbs Wing, Arkansas
Analysis: The New Orleans Pelicans are toward the bottom of the league when it comes to every statistical category that has to do with three-point shooting. As their roster is constructed, the Pelicans lack a consistent knockdown shooter. Moses Moody is more of a bucket getter than a pure shooter at this stage of his career but he shot 35 percent from three-point range and 81 percent from the free throw line, which looks to be an encouraging sign for the Pelicans. Moody would also give the Pelicans another wing who can create his own offense.
12. Indiana Pacers select: Keon Johnson, 6’5” 186 lbs Wing, Tennessee
Analysis: The Indiana Pacers are lacking athleticism on the wing. Keon Johnson is arguably the best athlete in the entire draft and has the most upside left on the board at this point. Not only that, he uses that athleticism to his advantage, particularly on the defensive end as he was a regular on the SportsCenter Top 10. However, Johnson will have to improve his three-point shooting if he wants to have a long career in the NBA.
13. San Antonio Spurs select: Kai Jones, 6’10” 218 lbs Stretch Big, Texas
Analysis: The San Antonio Spurs have a logjam at the guard and wing positions. However, they could use some help at the 4 or 5 positions after the departure and retirement of LaMarcus Aldridge. Therefore, Kai Jones makes the most sense in this scenario. At this stage, Jones is considered a project. Luckily for him, Jones fits the direction that the Spurs seem to be headed. The Spurs are usually known for making the safe pick but this one would be a swing for the fences. Fans will have to wait a few years on Jones’ development in order to see the full extent of his potential, but time will tell.
14. Golden State Warriors select: Cameron Thomas, 6’4″ 210 lbs Shooting Guard, LSU
Analysis: The Golden State Warriors pretty much have their starting lineup established. However, they could use an irrational confidence scorer off the bench and Cameron Thomas fits that description. Thomas is arguably the best pure scorer in the entire draft and is capable of scoring at all three levels. However, Thomas will have to improve his playmaking and decision making which would help broaden his horizons as far as his role on an NBA roster. At the very least, Thomas’ role would be as a microwave scorer off the bench.