2-MINUTE DRILL

NBA MOCK DRAFT

Adi Joseph of USA Today Sports projects Thursday night’s draft: 1. Philadelphia 76ers: PG Markelle Fultz, Washington There was only one player the 76ers would have traded up to No. 1 to get. Fultz projects to be a lead scoring guard in the mold of James Harden or Brandon Roy. He and future teammate Ben Simmons could launch a stirring competition for the rookie of the year award. 2. Los Angeles Lakers: PG Lonzo Ball, UCLA The unceremonious trade of D’Angelo Russell to the Nets in a salary cap-saving move stunned many around the NBA. It also put the writing on the wall: The Lakers were drafting the hometown kid, and the first wave of Magic Johnson’s executive career would be staked on a big pass-first point guard. 3. Boston Celtics: SF Jayson Tatum, Duke Danny Ainge explained that his pick at No. 1 would still be available. At No. 3, Tatum makes the math pretty simple here. 4. Phoenix Suns: PG De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky The Suns have been trying to get Fox in for a workout, but he so far has resisted. 5. Sacramento Kings: SF Josh Jackson, Kansas It was hard to imagine Jackson slipping this far, and the Kings would be thrilled to land him at No. 5. 6. Orlando Magic: PF Jonathan Isaac, Florida State The theory that the Magic would draft a point guard at any cost disappeared when they hired Jeff Weltman and John Hammond, two of the NBA’s best and most risk-taking executives. 7. Minnesota Timberwolves: G Frank Ntilikina, France Ntilikina has been rising as fewer teams view him as a project. 8. New York Knicks: SG Malik Monk, Kentucky Monk told The Vertical in a video interview that he would be headed to a team that wears orange. 9. Dallas Mavericks: PF Lauri Markkanen, Arizona The Mavericks have a lot of options here thanks to some roster instability. Markkanen is the most intriguing, though, because he plays like a poor man’s Dirk Nowitzki. 10. Sacramento Kings: PG Dennis Smith Jr., North Carolina State This couldn’t work out much better for the Kings, who could have considered Smith at No. 5 at one point. 11. Charlotte Hornets: SG Luke Kennard, Duke Kennard fits the franchise’s drafting preferences as a strong college performer, and he might be the best shooter in the draft. 12. Detroit Pistons: G Donovan Mitchell, Louisville Mitchell has some new interest even among top-10 teams because of his toughness, athleticism and versatility. 13. Denver Nuggets: F OG Anunoby, Indiana The Nuggets need defense. This pick should be easy. 14. Miami Heat: C Zach Collins, Gonzaga Collins’ shooting ability means he probably could slot into power forward when necessary. 15. Portland Trail Blazers: F/C John Collins, Wake Forest The Blazers probably aren’t going to keep all three of their first-round picks. But Collins might be a keeper. 16. Chicago Bulls: SF Justin Jackson, North Carolina Jackson makes sense for a lot of teams, especially those looking for someone ready to play now or soon. The Bulls tend to prefer proven prospects and have a massive need for wings. 17. Milwaukee Bucks: C Jarrett Allen, Texas The Bucks’ front-office makeover took some surprising turns. What new general manager Jon Horst plans to do after taking over a week before the draft is up in the air. Allen would be a traditional choice. With no ideal point guard available, taking another ridiculously long, athletic big man could fit with the already existing plan in Milwaukee. 18. Indiana Pacers: F/C Harry Giles, Duke Giles has massive upside as a formerly presumed top pick whose history of knee surgeries will cause him to drop. 19. Atlanta Hawks: C Bam Adebayo, Kentucky Adebayo’s stock is rising because teams love his ability to switch on defense. 20. Portland Trail Blazers: C Anzejs Pasecniks, Latvia Pasecniks needs to add strength but has a massive frame and serious potential. 21. Okla. City Thunder: SG Terrance Ferguson, Adelaide Ferguson has the potential to become an elite 3-and-D player. On that talent alone, he’d be a lottery pick. But questions about his pro year in Australia still linger. 22. Brooklyn Nets: C Justin Patton, Creighton There are questions about Patton’s limitations, but showed the early signs of having three-point range in the future. 23. Toronto Raptors: F Semi Ojeleye, SMU The Raptors’ future is unclear with Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka hitting free agency, but Ojeleye can help them either way.

24. Utah Jazz: PF T.J. Leaf, UCLA Leaf would be a tremendous value here.

25. Orlando Magic: PG Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State Evans is underrated a bit, a step down from the four point guards in the top 10 but still an excellent playmaker. 26. Portland Trail Blazers: SG Josh Hart, Villanova Hart is a ready-made contributor. He’s an incredibly smart and efficient player. 27. New Jersey Nets: C Ike Anigbogu, UCLA The Lakers have reportedly acquired this pick. Anigbogu only played 377 minutes in college and scored just 137 points. But he showed remarkable potential as a defensive force. 28. Los Angeles Lakers: PF D.J. Wilson, Michigan NBA scouts hadn’t even bothered considering Wilson until January, and it wasn’t until his stunning run in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments that he emerged as a potential early-entry candidate. 29. San Antonio Spurs: PF Jordan Bell, Oregon Bell is an intense competitor who has the capacity to defend all five positions if necessary. 30. Utah Jazz (via Warriors): G Frank Jackson, Duke Jackson may never be a starter, but he could be a solid sixth man.