It’s Draft Day and the Draftnik (me) is continuing his annual tradition of a last minute writeup about this year’s class. I am going to do things a bit differently than previous years due to the nature of this group. You may have heard the top of the draft is quite weak and I would agree. There are only so many years in a row where the NBA can keep adding alien level talent to the league. I will say, however, that the first few picks might just be a little raw, meaning that in a year or two from now, those players many prognosticators are low on today could end up with the ceiling we would typically have from the very top of a draft. This shouldn’t be too surprising either since the sport is becoming more European where it takes a bit longer to see development. Also, we have to remember these kids are mostly 18 and 19 after all. Interestingly, the American players available are actually quite polished. I envision many becoming elite level role players. Instead of the usual big board you may be accustomed to, I will put my GM hat on and explain what I would do at each spot if I were drafting for every team in the first round so let’s begin.
- Atlanta Hawks
The pick: Zaccharie Risacher
I won’t lie. This is a tough one. Because there is no consensus one in the class, my first instinct was to pick the safest player, especially if you’re Atlanta having a pick you lucked into having. To me, that player is Donovan Clingan. After thinking about it some more, I changed course. Like the championship Boston Celtics have shown, it is no secret that having two-way wings is the name of the game these days. For goodness sake, the New York Knicks have dealt 8 (!) first round picks to acquire OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges in trades to stop Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The Clippers have spent an insane amount of money on Paul George and Kawhi. One of the breakout stars of the season this year was Jalen Johnson. That is who the Hawks will be building around and with, so pairing him with a wing who actually plays a lot like him in Risacher is the move here. In an ideal world, would you trade down a few spots and pick Zaccharie? Yes, but that is not Landry Fields’ reality. Atlanta has been unable to get Alex Sarr to even work out for them, after all. The hope here is that this bet on the Frenchman turns out like Orlando’s decision to take Paolo Banchero, who is teamed up with another incredible wing in Franz Wagner. The Hawks would be turned if the duo of Johnson and Risacher turned into that.
- Washington Wizards
The pick: Alex Sarr
Another franchise on the crossroads, Washington has another breakout wing of their own in Deni Avdija but not much else. Sarr is the one player in this draft that visibly looks like your typical number one overall pick. Also French and needing to put on a lot of weight himself, Sarr’s calling card will be a lot like Risacher’s early on in their careers. Primarily earning minutes on defense and running with the ball on fastbreaks up the court. Nothing flashy but impressive skill sets from teenagers. One thing I have gotten a feel for from him as opposed to Risacher is a desire to become a superstar and mentality to be the alpha on a team, potentially explaining why he wants to be a Wizard. Although it is weird to say for the two top picks on this exercise, I would not expect much right away from them and their teams and fans should not either. But they can be worth the wait and are safer players than you’d expect due to their motors, profiling as a 3 and D wing and versatile big man. They will become comps for future players one day.
- Houston Rockets
The pick: Reed Sheppard
It is no secret that the Rockets prefer not having this pick, having already assembled an incredible amount of young talent. Sadly, because of the perception of this draft, there aren’t too many teams willing to trade a star or more proven commodity for this pick. And that’s a shame because Reed Sheppard is a really good player. He seems to be an even better person and teammate from his interviews. That is why I think he would fit seamlessly with the culture Ime Udoka and his staff are building in Houston. Most top three picks would probably not be enthused about being a backup to Fred VanVleet and actually have to earn their minutes on such a deep roster but Sheppard is happy to take the challenge and learn from FVV. He is undersized and not a true point guard but his playmaking got better as the season went on and he can shoot the lights out. He and Amen Thompson would be a delight to watch develop off the bench into well above average starters as they always play hard and have two of the highest basketball IQs.
- San Antonio Spurs
The pick: Donovan Clingan
The elite role player draft continues here with Clingan, who would be the ideal frontcourt mate to Victor Wembanyama. It seems like every team in the top five is interested in him but maybe not sold for whatever reason. Perhaps this is because they don’t believe his ceiling to be so high but this is not the case. Donovan will not bust and is a defensive stopper who has elite size in the paint. He has gotten into better shape at UConn and played in a Dan Hurley system that forced him to. The combo of him and Wemby can block a billion shots a game and deflect everything. He has a very underrated offensive game and the ability to stretch out if needed that he did not get to showcase in college due to his role as a back to the basket center. Another great kid, he is resilient and mature beyond his years due to the losses he has had in his personal life. He will put his head down and go to work like Al Horford has done, a great fit for the Spurs and Coach Pop.
- Detroit Pistons
The pick: Matas Buzelis
The first real risk of the draft, Buzelis may very well be worth it. New team president Trajan Langdon has not been shy about his intentions to pick the highest upside talent left on the board and that is exactly what this choice could resemble. In fact, he may have the highest upside of anyone picked so far. The strides Matas has made athletically in just the past few years has been something to witness and is most unusual. He is among the highest fliers in the class and hits the court motivated to catch someone off guard with his game each day, as he is one of the most competitive personalities in the lottery and oozes with confidence in even a workout setting. His shot needs to get more consistent but the lefty form is there and has touch. His biggest problem is he tries to play through contact despite not being suited for it just yet and he is sometimes too aggressive as a ball handler with passes. The G-League Ignite prepared him to play with grown men and he often held his own, especially defensively. Positionally, he is our first jumbo guard.
- Charlotte Hornets
The pick: Dalton Knecht
Unlike Buzelis, Knecht is a small 3 but has a shot to shock the world and win rookie of the year. At 23 years of age, no one expected Dalton to be here or make it from JUCO to Northern Colorado to Tennessee. One of my favorite players in the draft, Knecht is a born scorer and a treat to watch. He is a potential bucket everytime he has the ball, putting defenses on their toes.
Although he is among the oldest players in the draft, he comes with lots of polish as a result. He makes the right reads in pick and roll and his preference is to take his defender off the dribble and get exactly the space he needs to shoot. What happens to his career is going to be dependent on the players around him and there are few places better than Charlotte for him. Playing with LaMelo Ball would make his life much easier, with the threat of offense from Brandon Miller. He is not afraid to take it to the rim either and moves well off the ball to get open. There are defensive shortcomings here but the ability on offense is special and he is a willing passer too.
- Portland Trail Blazers
The pick: Cody Williams
The younger brother of Thunder superstar Jalen Williams, Cody is a natural on the court as well. There was a lot of buzz of his draft prospects early on in the college season but died down after he suffered an injury to his ankle shortly after the new year. He started his season on fire and looked like he might go even higher than here. Unfortunately, a lot that talk has died down since but he is still a high quality player and defender. Like others before him, he needs to get stronger and grow into his big frame. He can go end to end on the court in what seems like a few strides and mostly relies on this kind of athleticism. Luckily, his 3 ball looks quite good mechanically and he is going to gain more confidence in it than he currently has, despite his good percentages. He may be more of a midrange artist at the next level and is not going to outjump you. Overall, I would like him to play less stiff and more loose overall, which is Portland’s brand of basketball. Cody could have a nice template to follow in Jerami Grant if or when he becomes a Trail Blazer.
8.. San Antonio Spurs
The pick: Stephon Castle
The Huskies are reunited again, with Clingan at 4 and Castle here at 8. Stephon did not wow with his stats in college this year but was the engine that ran the back to back national champs. Much like Donovan, Stephon is a winning player who puts his team’s success before himself. His feel of the game is easy to observe as he is a smooth playmaker who plays at his own tempo. This makes it hard for opposing defenses since he gives them so many different looks as a player. The comp going around for him in draft circles is Dejounte Murray and I think it is a good one. His on-ball defense is superb and he enjoys and takes pride in playing on both ends of the floor. Nothing too flashy in his game but he’s consistent in his effort and energy. He won’t hurt you at the line and is continuing to get better there, is ambidextrous with his finishing and crashes the glass for rebounds. He does not have much range as a shooter but can hit floaters at a good clip. A jack of all trades, he doesn’t have one elite skill but instead is well-rounded in everything and swears he has a whole new bag of tricks to show that he didn’t get to display for Connecticut.
9. Memphis Grizzlies
The pick: Devin Carter
Devin is the son of former NBA player Anthony Carter and has flown up draft boards as much as any player in his class these last few weeks. Dad is currently an assistant coach with the Grizzlies and no one would know more about his son than him, which is solid information for Memphis. Carter is a dog who goes after it on defense, stifling opposing players he’s matched up against with a near seven foot wingspan. He averages a ridiculous amount of rebounds for a point guard his size, showing his motor but also his ability to read balls off the rim. He plays like his hair is on fire and that’s contagious. With the Grizz, he is behind Marcus Smart on the depth chart but can contribute on day one. His jumper is far from aesthetically pleasing but it goes in, which is what matters. He makes highlight worthy passes, is selfless, has quite the layup package and is acrobatic. Devin knows what he is as a player and what to improve on as an avid film watcher. This all points to someone who will make the most out of his potential just as Jalen Brunson did.
10. Utah Jazz
The pick: Bub Carrington
Rounding out my top ten and the owner of the coolest name in the draft, Bub is another really young and impressive man – the youngest in this class. Turn on his tape and you will see a guard who has every move in the book offensively, making him unguardable at best and a matchup nightmare at worst. There are guys who say they want to be great and then those who really do. Bub fits in the latter because you don’t make the kind of shots he does without living in the lab. He thrives in the mid range and his subpar shooting numbers can be attributed to shot selection. He scores in so many different ways that he almost doesn’t drive or use the paint like he can. When I saw him for the first time, I was immediately reminded of Carmelo Anthony. I had no idea that Anthony has been training his fellow Baltimore product this whole time and it shows. He wears Melo’s #7 and is a splitting image of him, armed with his step backs and fadeaways. Utah has the chance to cement their backcourt of the future with him and Keyonte George, who’s playing styles compliment each other. Also on the roster is Jordan Clarkson, a creative player he can steal another move or two from. Carrington is the total package and would have been discussed as one of the best players in the draft if he played for Kentucky and not Pittsburgh.
11. Chicago Bulls
The pick: Ron Holland
Speaking of a player who is not spoken about nearly enough, I was waiting all draft season for Ron to catapult rankings and be discussed as one of the preeminent talents in this year’s class. He deserves such recognition due to his potential to be a two way star. Holland can do whatever he wants at or above the rim and hasn’t scratched the surface of all the moves available to him there. There would be no better mentor for him than DeMar DeRozan who could teach him the world and art of drawing fouls more than he already does. This is a high upside play for Chicago and he can pick up where LaVine leaves off. Like the prospects at the top of the class, he takes pride in playing defense at a young age, which is not something seen in players who can also be scorers. He does give up on plays and chases players down to gain blocks and steals. He has no trouble switching and is ridiculously young like Carrington. If he can get his shot down some more and become even a serviceable catch and shoot guy, that would open up so much more of his game.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
The pick: Zach Edey
The wait is over for the undisputed best player in college basketball this year. It’s no secret that Edey struggles on defense but I think many are taking all the good that he can do for granted. He’s a complete monster physically and would immediately become one of the biggest players in the NBA. He is as dominant as you would expect, overpowering anyone on him for the bucket. He has no problem doing the dirty stuff like rebounding and setting screens, with his height and weight making it tough for everyone to get their hands on the ball when he has it in the post. He is methodical and ruthless in the paint, with no chance of being pushed around and never misses games. He is developing a three point shot and it looks like Nikola Jokic’s in terms of the release. Zach knows the criticisms and doubts in his game and is as motivated as anyone to stop the talk. He would make history, being a big man from Canada and of Chinese descent, a la Yao Ming. OKC is the best possible fit as Chet can mask a lot of Edey’s defensive issues and let him shine and he would give the Thunder a completely different dynamic with their need in the front court.
13. Sacramento Kings
The pick: Rob Dilllingham
I am aware this pick is likely to be traded for a quality NBA player but Dillingham is as tempting a reason for the Kings not to deal #13 as any, and not just because he’s another Kentucky guard. You can never have enough shot makers but calling Dillingham just that does him a disservice. He is one of the shiftiest guards you will ever see, armed with a deadly and explosive first step. Rob is even a catch and shoot monster, with the biggest criticism of his game being his frame. Sheppard is similarly built but can go ten to fifteen spots higher, which doesn’t make sense to me. If Rob is available here or even does not go in the lottery, some team should run to go get him. His slide is due in part to injury as he’s been unable to work out for teams as much as he’d like.
14. Portland Trail Blazers
The pick: Tidjane Salaun
In some ways, Salaun would be the opposite of the Cody Williams pick at 7 but on brand for Portland all at the same time. Few teams like their athletes to be athletic as the Blazers and that is exactly what Tidjane is. He often looks like a world class athlete trying to play basketball but he absolutely has lottery type talent. I’d actually be shocked if he fell this far as the Spurs could take him at 8 to make him a part of their future, as he shares the same agent as Victor Wembanyama. As a rule of thumb, I prefer sure bets in the top ten but this is the perfect range to take Salaun. With time, he can wreak havoc defensively and is yet another player who starts with his defense first and then goes to offense. Many have not been shy about comparing him, or really any super raw beast of a man, to Giannis Antetokuonmpo but let’s not put that pressure on him. There is nothing wrong with him turning into an Aaron Gordon instead. You take that outcome and run. Adding him to Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson might be so appealing they do it at pick 7.
15. Miami Heat
The pick: Nikola Topic
Nikola Topic has no shortage of admirers and for good reason. A few months ago, it would have been unthinkable to see him go this low but a partial ACL tear is what could make this happen. Miami would be more than happy to take a falling player off the board like they often like to do. Topic’s game revolves around his finishing ability which would be the best in many draft classes. How the ACL tear changes any of this is anyone’s guess but he has so much finesse to him that I think he will be fine regardless. He goes to the rim for layups and likes to also kick the ball out. He has one of the signature moves and playing styles in this class, one that is uniquely his, and is a great free throw shooter. The latter bodes well for his development as an overall shooter, where he looks scared to shoot. The Heat are a dream destination for him, I am sure, because that is where his idol Goran Dragic played and because there are few developmental programs better in the NBA. The main concern has to do with his durability and already lengthy injury history. He plays a rugged and tough kind of basketball where it is fair to question whether he can hold up. At 15, this is a risk more than worth taking, especially for an older Heat team. Jovic meet Topic.
16. Philadelphia 76ers
The pick: Jared McCain
The Sixers will probably continue to look for shooters and guys who can play defense, and Jared does both pretty well and screams future Sixer. McCain is obviously a really good offensive player, due mostly in part to him knowing his spots on the court even more than most players do. As a Dukie, he is clearly intelligent and has been well coached. The best way to describe him is to call him a pest and thorn in your side. He’s the kind of player who is not going to be loved by opposing fans as he is quite annoying on the defensive side too, not afraid to get in your face. At times, he can make players even more uncomfortable than they are watching his TikTok videos (just kidding!) He is the rare rookie who can find his niche on a playoff team in year one which is why he is likely going to be pretty popular with every team in the back half of the first round.
17. Los Angeles Lakers
The pick: Kel’el Ware
This is simply a best player available pick here and it helps that Ware’s inside/outside game has more than a passing resemblance to Anthony Davis’. This is not to say that is what Ware develops into but to simply state they are more or less stylistically similar in how they play. Ware’s career would undoubtedly be helped by practicing regularly with and against AD. Ware has insanely long arms that make it fairly simple for him to block shots and almost by accident. He is bouncy for a seven footer and well coordinated. His range can extend to the NBA 3 point line and he has more than a few tools up his sleeve, whether they be hook shots or even a floater. The Lakers can use the depth up front and he has as high a ceiling as anyone if all goes right. For that to happen, he needs to be more engaged than he was at Indiana where he got by on talent. Ware also tends to hold the ball too much, although this likely won’t be the case at the next level. As with most of the prospects so far, he too needs to get bigger to be at his best while screening.
18. Orlando Magic
The pick: Ja’Kobe Walter
Along with Ware, if there is another non-lottery pick that vastly excedes his draft position, it could be Walter. He too has lottery level talent and is a three level scorer at present. He is clutch and made important shots for Baylor all season as a freshman. He has so many ways to get a bucket in his arsenal and is continuing to add more. Ja’Kobe passes the eye test with ease and reminded me a lot of Donovan Mitchell as a prospect at Louisville. His upper body is strong and he finishes even with contact. Ja’Kobe’s handles are worth pointing out as well as is the fact that he impacts winning in different ways, with both his offense and defense. Ja’Kobe is something of an energizer bunny as well and passionate while he is hooping. He rarely takes plays off and is almost always engaged. I would like to see him working on passing and getting others involved but he is exactly the type of guard Orlando needs and can use effectively next to their elite wings. .
19. Toronto Raptors
The pick: Bobi Klintman
Bobi is another player with Ware and Walter who I wish was talked about more. He has a fascinating background, growing up in Sweden and then moving to the States to attend Wake Forest last year. He then decided to declare for the draft but was not selected and then went overseas to play professionally in Australia. At 21, he’s not quite as young as some others but I believe he is a late bloomer and am higher on him than most. There is a chance he goes in the second but I think that is a mistake after seeing his personality. You can tell he loves basketball with the joy he exhibits on the court and with his teammates. He has flashed special passing ability for someone his size and is not a bad shooter at all for how big he is. His shot has improved leaps and bounds as well in just the time he’s had to work on it in the pre draft process. He reminds me somewhat of Michael Porter Jr., who has more talent, but he can perform at a similar level and take on a role like MPJ has in Denver. He also can captain a defense one day. Toronto has developed international players like him and seeing him paired with Scottie Barnes and the other positionless or multiple position players on that roster definitely intrigues me here.
20. Cleveland Cavaliers
The pick: Tristan Da Silva
Da Silva is one of the older prospects left and compares favorably to Dalton Knecht, who went well before this. The best word to describe him as a player is smooth. His ability to catch and shoot translates right away and makes him dangerous and like Knecht, he has a lot of moves in his bag. His passing is not given enough credit and neither is his effort and impact on defense. This is a prospect with few flaws and someone who should be able to carve out a long NBA career. Like Bobi, he is international but from Germany and improved every year in four college years. He should be starting in short order for the Cavs and he will be open for both Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to throw it to. He won’t wow you athletically but there is no doubt he is NBA ready. If there is an area for him to improve, it would probably be grabbing more rebounds. Tristan makes the most out of his defensive tools as well and is a solid team defender.
21. New Orleans Pelicans
The pick: Terrence Shannon, Jr.
With Brandon Ingram firmly on the trade block, the best replacement you can draft is Shannon Jr. He was recently acquitted in a criminal case and was probably the second best player in college basketball last year after Edey. He made headlines for all the wrong reasons and that overshadowed the considerable talent he possesses. He is always on the attack offensively, driving to the rim every chance he gets. Shannon Jr. cuts and goes straight to the basket more often than any player in this draft and is a hard cover because of it. If everything else was clean off the court, this is a top ten talent going more than ten picks later he probably should in mocks. Ron Holland and Shannon Jr. have very similar games, both tenacious offensively and defensively, but Shannon is also considerably older but one of the best value picks in the draft.
22. Phoenix Suns
The pick: Tyler Kolek
This marriage needs to happen. Kolek is exactly what the Suns need as a pass first point guard. This is not to discount his ability as an offensive player. He is super crafty and hard to predict. To a tee, this is a copy of TJ McConnell. Those kinds of players are absolutely vital and valuable for teams like the Suns and even the Knicks. He is fearless and is an underrated pull up shooter too. He can go a long way in unlocking the Suns roster with KD, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The passes are breathtaking, when he threads the needle and drops them with perfect accuracy. Defensively, he holds his own and has a knack for being in the right places at the right time. He has a beautiful left handed shot and is definitely not afraid to shoot if he is given enough space.
23. Milwaukee Bucks
The pick: Kyle Filipowski
Kyle Filipowski is a ready made piece for a playoff team, like his Duke teammate Jared McCain. The difference, of course, is that he is 6’11. He had a sensational sophomore campaign and opened up lots of eyes in the process. The Bucks have been spoiled in recent years with their front court depth and he could develop into a more than competent replacement for players like Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, should they leave. He makes quick reads on offense and is thus entrusted with a lot of playmaking you would not expect from someone playing his position. He is comfortable making plays happen in the post when he gets the ball, not for himself, but others. Kyle can step out from three if left open and does all the little things you want from a big man. His touch around the basket is good and his defensive production saw an uptick this season too.
24 and 25. New York Knicks
The picks: Yves Missi and Daron Holmes II
New York traded all its picks to Brooklyn yesterday but still kept this year’s pick – for now. It’s comical the Nets acquired more than half a dozen firsts then and still don’t have one this year. The impact of the Bridges deal and new CBA rules with the first and second apron will make it almost impossible to keep Isiah Hartenstein and maybe even Mitchell Robinson. This is the reason I would keep these picks if I’m the Knicks and draft two players ready to play right now. Missi is the prototypical high flier and shot blocker. Watching him, I could have sworn I was watching DeAndre Jordan when he was with the Clippers, making Missi a serious lob threat. Like centers, he struggles with foul trouble and free throw shooting but his defensive impact is unquestionable and something the Knicks need if they are going to trade Mitchell Robinson. Daron Holmes II put up insane numbers for Dayton but has largely flew under the radar. I view him as more of a stretch 4 that can block shots or small ball center but there are similarities here with Pascal Siakam when Spicy P was in New Mexico State. Hyper productive, Holmes has a legit three ball and is ready to receive the ball from teammates at all times when he is inside. I am not sure why there is talk of him in the second round, aside from the competition he faced.
26. Washington Wizards
The pick: KJ Simpson
I promise I’m not a Colorado fan. I just like their players. There’s been almost radio silence on KJ which is not all that shocking considering he’s small even for a point guard at just 6 feet tall. The Wizards could use Simpson and turn him into a starter. He is absolute dynamite offensively and has steadily improved from three point range to a place where that is a lynchpin of his game. He is a totally different player and much improved from just a year ago. He gets his shot off fast.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves
The pick: Johnny Furphy
The Timberwolves could use some more guards and shooters, and luckily Furphy is both. I’m not sure if there is a player in this draft who moves better off the ball than him. Johnny gets open and is a knockdown shooter. Working on his handle more is the next step for the Kansas freshman.
28. Denver Nuggets
The pick: Jaylon Tyson
The last time Cal produced a player with the kind of scoring ability Jaylon Tyson has, it was Jaylen Brown. That alone should peak interest, and it certainly does mine. He loves to post up guards and he’s always active on the court. He can be a guard, a forward, a wing, you name it.
29. Utah Jazz
The pick: Pacome Dadiet
Dadiet hasn’t received nearly the same amount of attention as other prospects from France but may be as talented as any of them. He has a crazy pull up game where he ready to launch from wherever. Utah can develop him in a small market or keep him in Europe if they so choose.
30. Boston Celtics
The pick: Baylor Scheierman
Baylor could be a guy we all can’t believe Boston stole in the draft. He plays a lot like Bogdan Bogdanovic and can be that kind of microwave scorer as a lefty. Boston’s system will enable him to do what he does best, which is shoot, and cover for him when he is having to move laterally.
The Draftnik 