2021 NBA Mock Draft (V3)

NORMAN, OK - FEBRUARY 27: Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Cade Cunningham (2) brings the ball up court during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners on February 27th, 2021 at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman Oklahoma. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After flirting with the idea of moving down for a king’s ransom, Detroit looks to be locked into Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick. Cunningham will fit in nicely with the rest of the young core that Troy Weaver has put together, but last year’s top 10 pick, Killian Hayes, will need to refine his shooting stroke to maximize the roster’s ability moving forward.

Cunningham is another big wing won’t have a problem playing a multitude of spots and roles. His 6’8” frame and 7’ wingspan allow for him to see over the defense in transition and pick and roll to make passes that many of his peers cannot. The one concern going into his freshman season was his outside shooting, and then he proceeded to make 40 percent of his 155 attempts, 60 percent of which came unassisted. He turned the ball over a little more than you’d like and his overall FG% of 43.8 is not perfect, but he was the Cowboys’ entire offense and was forced to take shots he shouldn’t have to in the NBA. He is also a very stout defender who may be able to even play some small ball 4 to get as many shooters on the court as possible. He should be able to see time at four different spots depending on who the Pistons surround him with at any given time.

Most of the noise out of Houston points to the Rockets selecting the first player from the G League Ignite developmental program. The experiment paid off for Green, as he was able to focus on becoming a professional while other players in his class were still in college. His success against other NBA players played a big part in vaulting him to this second spot in the draft. 

Jalen Green is one of the best pure two guards to come into the league in the last handful of drafts. He has excellent size, athleticism, and shot making ability. He has an advanced skill set for getting to the spots he feels most comfortable in. Playing in the G League, under NBA veteran Brian Shaw, he is more prepared for the Association than most teenagers. Green was able to take the reins of the Ignite team and lead them in scoring, 3-point attempts, and steals. Coach Shaw gushed about his ability, character, and focus during the G League bubble, even calling him an “inevitable star.”

​​​​​The first big shake up in the top 5 comes with Scottie Barnes crashing the party in Orlando. Barnes checks every box for the type of prospect Orlando covets, but there could be a logjam at the power forward position where Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke play the best. Barnes could provide some versatility with his playmaking and ballhandling ability, but the lack of shooting or scoring will limit his ability to play on the perimeter fulltime. 

Barnes projects as a long, athletic forward that has unique passing and ball handling skills for a guy that stands 6’9 with a 7’2.5” wingspan. There are limitations to his game that may be the difference between a super role guy and a starter, and they start with shooting the ball. Barnes only shot 40 3-point shots this year and connected on 12 of them for 27.5 percent. Even in the mid-range, Barnes had trouble connecting, often going to a long floater shot. Rebounding more and getting to the line at a higher rate will help bring more value to what he can do on the floor. Even in the mid-range Barnes had trouble connecting, often going to a long floater shot. Rebounding more and getting to the line at a higher rate will help bring more value to what he can do on the floor. 

Oklahoma City traded for Kemba Walker this off season already, but he may not end up suiting up with the team as they continue to explore trades to bring in more assets. The roster depends too much on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doing most of the heavy lifting on the ball. While he has turned into an All-Star caliber player entering his fourth season, the clock could be ticking on finding him a co-star to fight for a playoff spot with. Aleksej Pokusevski provided entertainment during his rookie season, but he can’t be counted on for that type of role yet. Continuing to build on a roster that values length, skill, and upside will prove important for OKC moving forward.

With a unit that ranked dead last in the NBA in offensive rating, adding James Bouknight would let the Thunder spread more of the scoring responsibility evenly across the roster. Bouknight is a true shooting guard with surprising bounce and array of pro ready moves. While Bouknight’s three point percentage was not up to par this season, he shot 34.7 percent the year prior while sporting a career 80.0 percent mark from the free throw line. With a 6’8” wingspan, he should be able to concentrate more of his game on the defensive end as his scoring responsibilities will be shared with Gilgeous-Alexander.

This pick (and the 14th pick) has been open for business for most of the summer, but up to this point, nothing has materialized in the market. There have been rumors involving both Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, but neither player has firmly expressed their desires to be moved yet. Pascal Siakam’s name has also been referenced in regards to the Warriors as they continue to aggressively look for ways to add another star to their roster.

Moses Moody is an extremely young and long 3-&-D prospect out of Arkansas. Moody, who just turned 19 in May, boasts a 7’ wingspan to go along with a silky jumper that should translate immediately. While he is getting pigeonholed as a lower upside prospect because of his lack of passing or athleticism, his upside will come from the rate at which he gets to the line and rebounds the ball on the offensive end. Sticking him into the Warriors’ rotation where he can learn from the best shooters of this era, along with providing length to defend the wing, Moody can reach his potential while fitting into a smaller role early.

The Magic have an interesting decision to make with the 8th pick if Kuminga falls past Golden State. Many had Kuminga going fifth to the Magic with their first selection, but they could end up getting their top two targets after all. Adding another athletic forward to this group could feel duplicitous, but Kuminga has a perimeter game that should allow him to play the three as his shot selection and shot making continue to mature. 

Jonathan Kuminga is somewhat of an enigma in this class. Once thought to have a chance to go No. 1 overall, Kuminga enjoyed up-and-down season during his short stint on the G League Ignite. Kuminga has a strong, thick, and developed body that will allow him to survive on both ends in the NBA right away. His role on the Ignite team afforded him the opportunity to play with the ball in his hands and make the types of decisions he would not have been able to do on most college teams. The results were mixed, as his shooting percentages were below average from most areas of the court, but his flashes reminded everyone why he was so highly touted in the first place. Could falling out of the top 5 light a fire in Kuminga? At the very least, there could be less pressure on him to come into the league and put a franchise on his back.

The Kings have also been included in a multitude of trade rumors this off season, mostly focused on former top 10 picks Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III. This selection also is reportedly available for a veteran contributor, as the Kings continue to attempt to get into the playoffs with De’Aaron Fox for the first time. Franz Wagner would be a strong addition on the perimeter to help improve a Kings defense that gave up 117.4 points per game.

Franz Wagner is a big wing that hangs his hat on the defensive end and pairs it with good decision making on offense with shooting upside. Wagner can guard both wings and guards with his strong frame and sound technique. He’s able to stay in front of his guy with quick feet and then either poke the ball loose or contest with his long frame. He shoots it with a low release point that has had varying degrees of success throughout his career. His 83.5 percent free throw percentage points toward the skill eventually developing, but he will need to be more consistent after his month to month 3-point percentage buoyed wildly.

Josh Giddey is the third guard we’ve seen come from the Australian League in the last two drafts, but this Australian born player is unique in his own right. Standing at 6’8” and reportedly up to 220 pounds, Giddey is a terrific passer that has a wonderful eye not only in transition but also in the half court. His ability to skip the ball to the other wing or corner to open shooters is uncanny. His 7.4 rebounds a game to go along with his 7.5 assists a game show a well-rounded skill set that would fit in nicely with San Antonio system. As one of the youngest players in his class, Giddey will need to continue to develop his shooting stroke, agility to stay in front of quicker players, and ability to get to the rim more.

Charlotte finally was able to hit on the next face of their franchise last draft by taking LaMelo Ball at No. 3. This injected excitement and optimism into a franchise that badly needed it after losing Kemba Walker to Boston a few years ago. Getting the best player in the draft was a franchise-altering stroke of fortune that sets the Hornets up nicely going into next season. The team has an interesting compliment of guards and forwards that can score, shoot, and get up and down the floor in transition. The last piece for the team going forward could be a center to do the dirty work and finish off plays from Ball and company.

Jalen Johnson only played 13 games for Duke after suffering a foot injury and losing minutes upon his return. There will be questions about why he left a program like Duke in the middle of the year, but Coach K publicly supported his decision and didn’t seem to hold it against him. Johnson is an intriguing combination of size and athleticism with a full court game. He was extremely productive on the boards and provides passing in the open court and from the post. The main questions surrounding his game are how well he’ll be able to shoot it, but his versatile offensive game and defensive effort will form an interesting combination to match with Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, and Jalen McDaniels. 

The Spurs have missed the playoffs for the last two seasons after a decade plus of playoff basketball prior. It feels like something will have to give here soon, as Gregg Popovich is not getting any younger and is not used to this type of consistent losing. The Spurs have some interesting pieces in Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Lonnie Walker, but they don’t project to have a No. 1 type of guy that will lead them back to the playoffs. They will also most likely lose DeMar DeRozan to another team this year in free agency, although a sign and trade opportunity could bring back assets or an interesting young player.

Alperen Şengün is one of the most accomplished teenagers in the history of the Turkish League. His per 36 splits of 24.4/11.9/3.2 on 64.6/19.0/81.2 percent were as dominant as they look. Blessed with terrific footwork, touch, rebounding, and finishing ability, the floor for Şengün looks incredibly high on the offensive end. He will need to be able to spread the floor if he is going to play minutes at power forward, but his peripheral shooting numbers, paired with a smooth looking stroke, shows that there is still upside to be tapped into. The work that will need to be done will be on the defensive end where he does not project to be a great rim protector or a guy with quick enough feet to stay with NBA level athletes on the perimeter. However, he does still average over a steal and a half a game and two blocks per 36 minutes, showing that he does give effort on this end. His ability in the pick and role should immediately provide offense for De’Aaron Fox or Haliburton.

Indiana endured a tough season due to multiple injuries up and down their roster. They did well turning Victor Oladipo into Caris LeVert, but LeVert was not available for the play-in rounds due to injury. Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner, Jeremy Lamb, and TJ Warren all missed at least 10 games throughout the season, leading to below average results and their first-year head coach Nate Bjorkgren not making it to year two.

Davion Mitchell was a late bloomer after transferring from Auburn to Baylor a few years ago. Mitchell will be able to take the responsibility of guarding the opponent’s point guard and give them fits up and down the court. His ability to stay in front of his man laterally is unmatched in this class. Mitchell has also turned himself into a knock down 3-point shooter at 44.7 percent this season on 141 attempts. He is a long way from the freshman who only shot 28.8 percent as a freshman in 2018. His driving ability also opens the pass for him to find shooters and bigs under the rim for easy baskets. The defensive ability between Mitchel and Brogdon would form one of the better defensive backcourts in the NBA.

Golden State swings from one of the youngest wings in the draft to the oldest player projected to go in the first round this year. Duarte played his last season at Oregon at 23 years old, but he is a coveted wing that continues to rise during the draft process. He provides a high level of shooting, scoring, and defense at a high level on the wing. Standing at 6’6”, he also provides line up versatility with a Warriors roster that could see him getting minutes at both wing spots. The hope is that Duarte will be able to secure a rotation spot immediately for the Warriors. 

The Wizards pulled off one of the more surprising runs to the Eastern Conference playoffs in recent memory. Even with Bradley Beal dealing with injury, Russell Westbrook and the rest of the team did enough to make it out of the play-in tournament and into the first-round of the playoffs. The Wizards did a good job of finding a diamond in the rough with Daniel Gafford at center to serve as a lob threat for their guards, but the team needs to find firepower to surround them with. Davis Bertans has not lived up to his contract thus far and last year’s first round pick, Deni Avdija, does not project as a high-level three point shooter at this time either.

Tre Mann is a combo guard that burst onto the scene last season after a disappointing freshman campaign. Mann was able to take the reins at Florida to lead their team past the first-round of the NCAA Tournament. Blessed with an advanced pull up game, Mann is terror in the pick and roll where he can score from anywhere on the court. Injecting this type of on ball shot making, spot up shooting, and secondary playmaking to this roster would be a great fit.

With their second pick in the first round, OKC will need to address the big hole in the middle of their defense after sending Al Horford and Moses Brown to Boston. Isaiah Jackson projects as a guy that won’t need touches or the ball to impact the game for the young Thunder roster. Jackson is an athletic, rangy big man prospect that measured over 6’10” with a 7’2.5” wingspan at Kentucky’s pro day last fall. While he’s going to be a force on the boards and spend most of his time on both sides in the pain, Jackson does come with some upside where he could become a more dynamic defender on switches and expand his face up game.

Pelicans’ Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin has a big off season ahead of him in retooling the roster around Zion Williamson. Adding more shooting on the perimeter has to be near the top of his list of needs, and he is no stranger to adding shooting specialists. After drafting, signing, or trading for shooting specialists like Joe Harris, JJ Redick, and Kyle Korver, could Corey Kispert be next on his list?

Kispert is one of the safest players in this entire draft, with elite level shooting from all over the court. At 6’7” he posses the size to shoot over smaller players and even give their line up some versatility at the three and four spots. While Kispert is known for his shooting prowess, he is a stocky 220 pounds that can body up guys down low and provide some toughness around the rim. His career two-point percentage of 58.5 percent is a testament to his touch, shot selection, and effectiveness in the open court.

OKC doubles up on big men here after the lotter, but Kia Jones has a very different skillset than Jackson. Still new to the game after picking up the sport in his teenage years, Jones brings an incredibly long, athletic frame to the table, standing over 6’11 with a 7-foot wingspan. He can challenge shots, catch lobs, and get out and run in transition. Where he really becomes an intriguing player is with the jump shot. He shot 38.2 percent last year from three on a small sample size, but these perimeter skills could be too hard to pass up at this point in the draft. 

There’s plenty of optimism in New York after they had a successful run into the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-2013 season. Tom Thibodeau turned the Knicks roster into a defensive machine for much of the regular season, while Julius Randle developed into a player capable of being the best player on a playoff team. The roster has a mix of young up and coming talent in RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Mitchell Robinson, and Obi Toppin, and they will be relied upon more with free agent decisions looming on multiple rotation players.

Jared Butler feels like a quintessential Tom Thibodeau type player at either guard spot. Butler is solid across the board with adequate size at 6’3” with solid shooting splits across the board. He is also a good individual and team defender, which will be required to get minutes on this team. There may even be more creation upside in Butler as he moves away from sharing the ball with Davion Mitchell the past two seasons.

The Hawks continue to be on the rise after a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals. After an aggressive offseason last summer saw them spend big on veterans to pair with their young core, Atlanta boasts one of the deeper and more exciting groups in the league. The biggest hole in their roster looks to be at the back up point guard spot, which Lou Williams manned for half the season after being acquired from the Clippers. Williams is a free agent this summer, so a replacement will need to be found.

Sharife Cooper, who grew up only 20 miles from Atlanta, is one of the best live ball distributors in this class and would allow for the Hawks to play a similar style of basketball with Young on the bench. Cooper also gets to the line at an incredible rate, attempting over 8.5 free throws a game. While he converts those shots at an 82.5 percent clip, his outside shooting during his 12-game campaign was not good. Only connecting on 22.8 percent of his threes, Cooper has a long way to go before he is a complete player like the starting point guard in Atlanta.

Trey Murphy III is another plug and play wing that should be able to contribute immediately for the Knicks, especially with uncertainty around soon-to-be free agents Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks. He measured in at just over 6’9” with a 7’ wingspan and the ability to play either forward position. Finishing his only season at Virginia in the 50/40/90 club, Murphy III is a low maintenance player that should be able to defend and make shots as a rookie.

The Lakers will either be looking for a player that can add to the rotation as a rookie or provide value in a trade. With championship aspirations every year LeBron is on the roster, the team may not be willing to attempt to develop another young player. Between Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schröder, and Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers did not get enough production from their role players. Adding playmaking and scoring to their bench will be a priority, especially with Alex Caruso entering restricted free agency. 

Ayo Dosunmu tested the waters last year but came back to Illinois and became a First-Team All-American. Dosunmu stuffed the stat sheet every night, averaging 20.1/6.3/5.3, and enjoying multiple triple-doubles before a disappointing second round exist in the tournament. The junior lead guard has great size for either guard spot at 6’5” with a 6’10” wingspan that should help him become a more rounded player as his ball handling responsibilities will shrink on a championship-focused team. He will need to prove that his 39.0 percent shooting from three was not an aberration after a 29.6 percent shooting season his sophomore year. He should be able to provide on ball and off ball scoring and playmaking for a team in need of it.

Houston gets to continue to add lottery tickets to their roster with the jumbo-sized wing Ziaire Williams. Williams has a rare combination of size at close to 6’10” with a mix of perimeter skills that could have him picked way before this. Williams endured a tough campaign his freshman season at Stanford due to complications with the pandemic and his percentages hurt because of it. His talent was evident at times, including a triple-double at one point against Washington. His pull up jump shot passes the eye test, even if he shot 29.1 percent this year. Add in his incredible 39.5 inch vertical and emerging playmaking ability, it is well worth the risk for the Rockets to take Williams here. 

The Rockets find themselves in the position to finally take a big man to their liking with their last pick in the first round. Usman Garuba is an intriguing defensive talent from Real Madrid. One of the most versatile and tested defenders in the draft, Garuba has an advanced understanding defending the pick and roll that you typically do not see from a teenager. Using his long frame and quick feet, Garuba can play any style of defensive you could look for in ball screens. Pair this with his shot blocking ability, and you have a small-ball 5 that should be able to do all the dirty work you need. On the offensive end, he is primarily a finisher right now, but there have been glimpses of corner threes and short roll passing that gives Garuba an opportunity to grow into even more of a force. Either way, the Nets will not be looking for Garuba to do anything outside of his current skillset.

Coming up short of the Finals, the Clippers will be looking to reload to make another run at a championship. Kawhi Leonard can opt out and become a free agent this summer, but most reports see him returning to LA. Players like Terrance Mann and Marcus Morris Sr. stepped up in the playoffs to provide more scoring, but they could use a dynamic guard who can score from all three levels next to their stars. There are also some decisions to be made on the roster, as starting point guard Reggie Jackson, who was acquired on the buyout market, will leave a large hole on the roster if he is not retained.

Cam Thomas had one of the most productive scoring seasons for a freshman in the SEC’s history. With adequate size for a two guard in the NBA at 6’4”, Thomas’ best ability is putting the ball in the basket. With over seven free throw attempts per game, Thomas was able to get to the line at will. While his shooting percentages are not where they need to be, you can see why the difficulty of his attempts affected how those final numbers shook out. With a smaller role, Thomas should be able to become a more efficient scorer for a team with big expectations. 

The Nuggets boast one of the strongest rosters from top to bottom in the entire NBA. Lead by league MVP, Nikola Jokić, Denver has a strong mix of young athletic, skilled forwards, along with a collection of guards that can get their own bucket. Unfortunately, Jamal Murray’s season was cut short and limited how much they were able to accomplish in the playoffs. Adding another ballhandler that can play both guard spots, defend multiple positions, and fit into a readymade roster.

It’s easy to see the type of role Jaden Springer could fill for the Nuggets with his size, toughness, spot up shooting, and secondary playmaking. Springer won’t wow you with his athletic gifts, but he is a smart and heady defender that uses his quick feet, 6’7” wingspan, and great technique to bother guards. He can also use this size on offense to bully smaller guards to either get to his mid-range game or find open shooters. There could be untapped upside with Springer after he dealt with a lower leg injury that affected his explosiveness throughout his freshman season.

The Nets will be hoping for some injury luck this season after losing Kyrie Irving and James Harden at different points in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The team boasts an intriguing blend of role players to support Kevin Durant, Irving, and Harden, but they could add more size to the roster. While the league has been moving towards smaller line ups, a more traditional center may be able to help keep some of the wear and tear off their stars. 

Day’Ron Sharpe is a throwback type of center who can go to work on the block and crash the boards with effort, but what sets him apart from this year’s class of centers is his passing ability. While his 3 assists per 40 minutes won’t wow anyone, his AST% of 15.4 is even higher than Evan Mobley. He has shown that he is working on his body this summer, hoping to add even more defensive versatility to his repertoire. 

After losing to the Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs, the 76ers have some big decisions to make with their roster. Daryl Morey is not known to be very patient and may look to move Simmons in the off season, even as early as the first round on Thursday to provide more shooting and scoring to their roster. There will be plenty of suitors for the versatile 24-year-old point guard, but it will take a lot to get a deal done. The 76ers may not have many glaring needs on their roster, but Morey will always value shooting and size on the wing.

Joshua Primo is the youngest player in the draft this year and will be a teenager throughout his entire rookie season. A strong shooter in his one year at Alabama, teams at the end of the first round may see this as an opportunity to draft Primo a year before he may have been a lottery pick in 2022. With great size and length at 6’5” in shoes and a 6’9.25’’ wingspan, Primo could develop at the very least into a 3 and D prospect with the upside to become a well-rounded offensive weapon.

After coming up short of a championship this season, the Suns have an interesting offseason ahead of them. Could Chris Paul opt out of his contract to play for his third team in three years? The Suns could present his best shot at the championship he hasn’t been able to attain yet, but there will be plenty of suitors after his successful 16th season. Point guard could be a target for the Suns with or without Paul on the roster after Cameron Payne’s resurgence may lead to a contract offer in free agency that’s too expensive for Phoenix.

Miles McBride may not be a pure point guard, but he should be able to log minutes as a lead guard with the Suns bench group. McBride is 6’2” with a 6’9” wingspan, which should add more length and defense to the young core of the Suns. He is also a more than capable mid-range and three point shooter, connecting on 41.4 percent of his attempts from deep. He looks to be the type of aggressive player that won’t be afraid to be thrown right into the rotation from the start of his rookie season.

Rumors persist that the Jazz may be open to trading this selection, along with rotation players such as Joe Ingles and Bojan Bogdanović. If they do make this selection, they will be adding to a strong roster. Donovan Mitchell has turned himself into a legitimate superstar player, capable of taking over any game he plays. Rudy Gobert also won his third Defensive Player of the Year Award in the last four seasons, anchoring Utah’s defense. Quinn Snyder’s system has taken the NBA’s 3-point revolution to the next level, while also maintaining a top four defensive rating this season. The Jazz could go a multitude of different ways with this pick, but they may need to look towards a point guard if the aren’t able to retain Mike Conley.

Jason Preston surprised some in the NBA Draft media by forgoing his last year of eligibility at Ohio University after a strong showing at the NBA combine. Could Preston have received a first-round promise to stay in the draft? The Jazz could make sense as they look for more size, shooting, and playmaking at the back up guard spots. Standing 6’4” with a 6’8” wingspan, Preston can pair with any of the guards the Jazz currently have on the roster. The last two seasons in Athens, Preston put up 16.3 points a game, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while making 39.9 percent of his threes. Questions about his strength and ability to get to the rim could be softened by guys like Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanović, and Mike Conley if he is re-signed.