This mock draft is a little different, because I play the role of GM for every team and decide who the team should take.
This is what every team should do to earn an A from me when I grade the draft.
Every year I produce roughly 10 versions of my Big Board and mock draft as a way of reporting how NBA scouts and GMs rank various players in the draft and what each individual team is thinking about doing with its draft picks. Both are reported pieces that examine what NBA teams think and what they're likely to do. This is different.
Last year my final "
Before digging in, here are the ground rules:
1. At each slot, I make a pick in the best interest of only the team with the pick. I won't pass on a player at No. 4 just because I like the team fit better at No. 5.
2. No trades unless they're already completed.
3. Team needs are taken into account, but value can and often will supersede need. If there's clearly a best player available on the board, I won't pass on him just to fill a need.
4. I'm not reporting or predicting who will go where. This is my opinion about what should happen -- not what will happen.
After the team-by-team breakdown, you can get the full first round below.
Philadelphia 76ers
Top needs: PG, SG, shooting
No. 1: Ben Simmons, F, LSU
No. 24: Patrick McCaw, G/F, UNLV
No. 26: Malik Beasley, G, FSU
Simmons may not be a perfect fit in Philadelphia if you project him as a power forward, but if you think of him as a point guard then he's great. The Sixers desperately need playmakers on this team and Simmons is the best in the draft at that -- he just happens to be 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds. They also need a star and there isn't a player in this draft with a higher ceiling. The Sixers can take care of their guard needs later.
McCaw is another terrific playmaker whose versatility is appealing. His shot is still streaky, but if it can go in regularly he's a great get here. Beasley is the shooter that the Sixers desperately need. He's a great athlete and has a terrific motor as well, which should make up a bit for his lack of height (6-foot-5).
Los Angeles Lakers
Top needs: SF, C, shooting
No. 2: Brandon Ingram, F, Duke
Ingram is a perfect fit for the Lakers. They desperately need a small forward who can stretch the floor and guard multiple positions. While he's super thin, he's built wiry and tough and I think that will allow him to excel, even if he never gains much weight.
While Marquese Chriss is a very intriguing option here, I think Ingram has a similar ceiling with a much higher floor.
Boston Celtics
Needs: PF, shooting
No. 3: Jamal Murray, PG, Kentucky
No. 16: Deyonta Davis, PF, Michigan State
No. 23: Ivica Zubac, C, Bosnia
I'm not sure the Celtics need three rookies, but GM Danny Ainge looks at everything as an asset and all three of these players bring something special to the table.
Murray may be the best pure scorer in the draft. His playmaking ability gives him versatility. He's not a great defender but he's tough and competitive.
You could make the argument for Chriss or Jaylen Brown here, too. Their upside is higher than Murray's, but Chriss doesn't really fit the Celtics' timetable and Brown's lack of shooting has me leaning Murray. I think Chriss might end up being the better player in time, and Brown has similar upside, though I'm not sure he'd get there in Boston.
Davis gives the Celtics a player who has similar athletic abilities to Chriss without the offensive versatility. Zubac is another upside pick who should be able to carve out a career in the NBA for the next decade. He's a skilled low post player -- something that's very hard to find these days.
Phoenix Suns
Needs: PF, depth
No. 4: Marquese Chriss, PF, Washington
No. 13: Wade Baldwin IV, PG, Vanderbilt
No. 28: Juan Hernangomez, PF, Spain
If Chriss is going to become a star, I like his chances best in Phoenix.
Playing with two point guards should help accelerate his development, and given where the Suns are right now as a team, he should be able to come in and earn immediate minutes.
I'm not convinced that Baldwin is a point guard, but in the modern NBA I'm not sure what that means anymore -- especially on a team like the Suns. He is long and athletic, gets to the rim and has a really nice jump shot. He doesn't necessarily make anyone around him better. Still, he has a skill set that I think will translate.
Hernangomez has great size, can really stroke the 3 and has already started to establish himself in Spain. Kevin Pelton has him ranked No. 8 on his analytics Big Board. After watching him play in the ACB, you could make the case for him as a top-20 player.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Needs: Shooting, PF
No. 5: Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia
The Wolves would have a tough choice between Kris Dunn and Bender here. Dunn is the superior defender and athlete while Bender fits more of a need as stretch-4 who can play in between Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. I think Bender's upside and fit make him very attractive.
However, if I'm a betting man, I think new head coach Tom Thibodeau dangles this pick in an effort to land a young veteran like Jimmy Butler. The Wolves have plenty of young talent. What they need now are a few veterans to help them start winning.
New Orleans Pelicans
Needs: SG, SF, C
No. 6: Kris Dunn, PG, Providence
Anthony Davis needs a real playmaker to help him get to the next level, and Dunn has the tools to be great on both ends of the floor. He can still be wild with the ball and his shooting is a work in progress, but overall I think he might be an upgrade over Jrue Holiday eventually.
Buddy Hield is another attractive option here because he could replace Eric Gordon from day one. But it's hard to pass on Dunn's superior upside.
Denver Nuggets
Needs: Depth
No. 7: Jaylen Brown, SF, Cal
No. 15: Ante Zizic, C, Croatia
No. 19: Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky
Brown has the athletic ability and body of a top-five pick, but wings who can't shoot concern me given the way the league is going. However, his workouts have been stellar and teams seem convinced he'll pick up the shooting and evolve into an elite player. I even wonder if he could play the 4 in Denver in certain small-ball lineups. In short, the upside is too much to pass on here.
Ulis is the perfect backup point guard for a player like Emmanuel Mudiay. His feel for the game is amazing and given Mudiay's size, I think they can play on the floor together at times. Zizic doesn't fill a need, but he's a talent and a terrific addition at this point in the draft. His rebounding ability and motor are off the charts and a nice contrast to Nikola Jokic.
Sacramento Kings
Needs: SG, PG, SF
No. 8: Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma
The Kings are in playoff-or-bust mode and need a player who can come in and immediately make an impact. They are also badly in need of an upgrade at the 2. Hield's character and work ethic are also much needed on the most dysfunctional team in the league.
This is a great fit if Hield slides down to No. 8.
Toronto Raptors (via Knicks)
Needs: PF, shooting
No. 9: Henry Ellenson, PF/C, Marquette
No. 27: Cheick Diallo, PF, Kansas
The Raptors have a pretty large hole at the power forward position and Ellenson and Diallo do a good job of filling it.
Ellenson is an elite offensive player who can stretch the floor and score in the midrange game. Diallo is an elite defensive player who rebounds, blocks shots and plays with a terrific motor. He's a steal at No. 27.
Milwaukee Bucks
Needs: Shooting, C, PG
No. 10: Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey
The Bucks really need shooting. Badly. And Korkmaz could be the answer.
He shot better than 40 percent from 3 in Turkey this year. He's got a great feel for the game and at 18 he's one of the youngest players in the draft. I also think he's one of the most underrated.
Orlando Magic
Needs: PF, shooting
No. 11: Skal Labissiere, PF, Kentucky
Who knows whether Labissiere will ever make it in the NBA. He has all the physical tools and he has two elite basketball skills -- shooting and shot-blocking. But his poor performance at Kentucky, along with questions about his basketball feel and toughness, make you wonder whether it will ever translate.
In this draft, I think it's safe to take that bet outside the top 10 and the Magic have a big need for his entire skill set.
Frank Vogel should be a terrific coach for him.
Utah Jazz
Needs: Depth, backup PG, shooting
No. 12: Dejounte Murray, PG, Washington
Some teams believe if Murray had played at Duke or Kentucky, he'd be a sure-fire top-five pick. His size, quickness and toughness are all elite for a point guard prospect. He's not a great shooter and he can sometimes play out of control, but with the Jazz looking to be a playoff team for the next decade, they ought to take one more swing at getting a young star in the draft.
You'll have to be patient with Murray, but his long-term upside is off the charts and he and Dante Exum could be a lethal combo down the road.
Chicago Bulls
Needs: C, backup PG, shooting
No. 14: Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah
Poeltl is probably underrated. The center position is changing. More and more teams want to go small and that has devalued bigs who do what Poeltl does. But I think he'll have a long career in the league.
He's a good rebounder with great hands and mobility. He needs to get stronger, but on a team like Chicago he's a really good backup.
Memphis Grizzlies
Needs: PG, SF, SG, PF
No. 17: Domantas Sabonis, PF, Gonzaga
Sabonis is a beast. He is strong, rebounds and plays very efficiently in the post. He has shown off a nice perimeter game in workouts and has looked more explosive.
If he can show that in game settings in the NBA, we have him too low. Nevertheless, he's a nice fit in Memphis.
Detroit Pistons
Needs: PF, backup PG
No. 18: Thon Maker, PF/C, Australia
The Pistons traded for Tobias Harris at the trade deadline to be the team's stretch-4. Marcus Morris is there, too, so that gives them the luxury to swing for the fences with Maker.
They have time to develop him, and if he hits in a couple of years, they just landed the perfect frontcourt mate to Andre Drummond.
Taking calculated risks at this point in the draft is what really good teams do.
Indiana Pacers
Needs: PF, SG, PG
No. 20: Malachi Richardson, SG, Syracuse
The Pacers brought in Monta Ellis to get them buckets, but age has diminished his skills and his lack of size (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) runs counter to the way the Pacers really want to play.
Richardson is huge for a 2-guard (6-foot-6, 200 pounds), with a freaky 7-foot wingspan. He has a quick first step, can finish at the rim and has a good, albeit streaky jump shot. He has lottery talent and feels like a nice fit with Paul George and Myles Turner.
Atlanta Hawks
Needs: C, SF, SG
No. 21: DeAndre Bembry, G/F, St. Joseph's
Bembry might be the second-best passer in the draft, behind Simmons. With Kent Bazemore heading into free agency, he could be a really nice fit in Atlanta.
He instantly would become the best passer on the team.
Charlotte Hornets
Needs: Shooting, backup PG
No. 22: Denzel Valentine, G/F, Michigan State
This is pretty low for Valentine given the remarkable season that he had. He's an excellent shooter and playmaker. It's just his lack of size and athleticism for his position -- along with some concern about past injuries -- that hinders his upside a bit.
On a veteran team like the Hornets, he should be a valuable addition from the start.
Los Angeles Clippers
Needs: SF, backup PG
No. 25: Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame
Jackson is a great addition as a backup PG on a Clippers squad that desperately needs more backcourt depth. He is athletic, defends, shoots well and doesn't make a lot of mistakes.
He should be able to come in and contribute right away or he could be a terrific draft-and-stash option for the Clippers.
San Antonio Spurs
Needs: C, PF
No. 29: Chinanu Onuaku, C, Louisville
The Spurs got killed in the paint against Oklahoma City in the playoffs and could address that with Onuaku. Offensively he doesn't give you much, but he's a terrific rebounder and energy guy who plays hard and tough all the time.
A heart condition discovered at the combine hurt his draft stock a bit, making him a great value here.
Golden State Warriors
Needs: C, PF
No. 30: Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt
Jones is one of the best athletes in the draft, has a nice perimeter game, and, when he gets dialed in, has a chance to be dominant. He was just very inconsistent at times in college.
Still, his ability to run the floor and shoot should make him a great fit on a Warriors team that's going to need to add some depth up front this summer.
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