AP/Sue Ogrocki
The Detroit Pistons won the NBA Draft Lottery last night after having the second-best odds behind the Houston Rockets. It is the 3rd time in the Franchise’s history that they have had the 1st overall pick.
We take a look at how I see the draft shaking out in the first round:
- Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, F/G – Oklahoma State
The easiest pick in the draft as Cunningham has transcendent talent. The 6-8 Forward/Point Guard dominated the college circuit averaging a little over 20 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 40% from three. He can do it all and it gives the Pistons their biggest superstar out of the draft since Grant Hill. - Houston Rockets: Evan Mobley, F/C – USC
In terms of fit, this make a ton of sense for the Rockets. With Christian Wood, he and Mobley would make a really formidable duo in the front-court for years to come. Mobley is extremely talented with Bam Adebayo-like talent, but can be more consistent with his perimeter game which makes him more intriguing as a prospect. Houston can go with Suggs here too and be just as satisfied. - Cleveland Cavaliers: Jalen Green, G/F – G-League Ignite
If the Cavs didn’t have Sexton and Garland onboard, they would have gone with Suggs here. Instead, they go with Jalen Green who is a super-athletic prospect who can shoot the three and score with ease in multiple ways. Sexton and Green are bucket-getters and would bring some buzz to Cleveland that is much needed. - Toronto Raptors: Jalen Suggs, G – Gonzaga
If you told Masai Ujiri before the season that Kyle Lowry’s replacement would be Jalen Suggs, he would’ve thought you were on crack.
Here we are.
The Raptors luck out here getting the 4th pick and getting Jalen Suggs. He had a very nice year for Gonzaga and showed out during March Madness leading the Zags to the title game. Suggs is a Guard who can play the 1 or 2 and fits very nicely with Fred VanVleet. - Orlando Magic: Jonathan Kuminga, F – G-League Ignite
Magic with a lack of magic here in the lottery last night as they fell to the 5th pick and miss out on the top 4 prospects. Kuminga is a nice prospect with a ton of upside, but did not fare well playing for the G-League team this year. He is still super young as he reclassified and moved up a class and still showed some elite defense, athleticism, and rebounding. Passing on a guy like this is no bueno for Orlando here. - Oklahoma City Thunder: Scottie Barnes, F – Florida State
Barnes is your typical Wing from Florida State who is a monster on defense and has some good athleticism. OKC loves their high upside wings and Barnes fits that mold perfectly. He and Lou Dort will terrorize opponents on defense and make it very hard on them. He has work to do on the offensive end, but it is very fixable since he’s very strong and athletic. - Golden State Warriors (via Minnesota): Corey Kispert, F – Gonzaga
This is pretty high for a player like Kispert who is what he is which is a deadeye shooter and formidable defender. Luckily for him, he fits perfectly with the Warriors who love players like Kispert and would not have to wait and develop him. He won’t be All-NBA or even an All-Star, but he can be a very crucial piece to a Championship team. - Orlando Magic (via Chicago): Davion Mitchell, PG – Baylor
Mitchell is coming off leading Baylor to a National Championship with his tenacious defense and ability on offense as a passer and shooter. With Fultz coming off an injury, Cole Anthony with a nice rookie year, and Gary Harris thriving after being traded from Denver, the Magic can have a really nice future in their backcourt for years to come. - Sacramento Kings: Alperen Sengun, C – Turkey
Sengun has shot up draft boards with his pro experience in Turkey and Pau Gasol-like skills on offense. His defense can use some work, but he is worth taking here at 9 for the Kings. Richaun Holmes will command a big payday in free agency and Hassan Whiteside is also a free agent. Sengun is still very young as he turns 19 next month and won’t be asked to do much right away. - New Orleans Pelicans: Moses Moody, G – Arkansas
Pelicans need to make a lot of space for Zion and Ingram to be able to operate on offense. Moody is coming off a really nice Freshman year at Arkansas and showed a lot of promise as a shooter. That’s all the Pelicans need to surround Zion and Ingram. - Charlotte Hornets: Isaiah Jackson, C – Kentucky
It seems like the Hornets have needed a big man for years now and with Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo both entering free agency, the Hornets have a chance to find one for the future. Jackson ended the year on a tear with his rim-running and rebounding, fitting perfectly with Lamelo Ball and Terry Rozier. - San Antonio Spurs: Josh Giddey, PG – Australia
Giving Popovich a player like Giddey should be illegal but here we are. Giddey is a wizard with the ball and with their primary ball-handler in DeRozan gone, the Spurs get Giddey (no pun intended) to run their offense. The Spurs were a top-5 three-point shooting team this past season so getting a better passer in Giddey should open things up even more. - Indiana Pacers: Franz Wagner, F – Michigan
Wagner is arguably one of the best defenders in this draft and can guard 1-4 with ease. He has some issues with consistency on offense, but on defense there are no qualms with him on that end. He is a pro-ready prospect with the ability to contribute to a team right away. - Golden State Warriors: Keon Johnson, G – Tennessee
You can never have enough defenders and that is what Johnson provides. His on-ball defense was spectacular at Tennessee and even though his perimeter game is lacking on offense but that won’t matter much on a team like the Warriors who can shoot the lights out. - Washington Wizards: Tre Mann, G – Florida
- Oklahoma City Thunder (via Boston): Kai Jones, C – Texas
- Memphis Grizzlies: James Bouknight, G – UConn
- Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami): Jalen Johnson, F – Duke
- New York Knicks: Cam Thomas, G – LSU
- Atlanta Hawks: Chris Duarte, G – Oregon
- New York Knicks (via Dallas): Usman Garuba, F/C – Spain
- Los Angeles Lakers: Ayo Dosunmu, G – Illinois
- Houston Rockets (via Portland): Ziaire Williams, F – Stanford
- Houston Rockets (via Milwaukee): Sharife Cooper, PG – Auburn
- Los Angeles Clippers: Miles McBride, G – West Virginia
- Denver Nuggets: Josh Christopher, G – Arizona State
- Brooklyn Nets: Greg Brown, F – Texas
- Philadelphia 76ers: Jaden Springer, PG – Tennessee
- Phoenix Suns: Aaron Henry, G – Michigan State
- Utah Jazz: Trey Murphy lll, F – Virginia
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