THE POST’S NBA MOCK DRAFT
Odds of a Donovan Mitchell trade are low. The Mavericks seem intent on keeping Jalen Brunson. Needing to make a backcourt splash, Leon Rose bites the bullet and trades one of his best young assets, understanding it is the only way to get to the desired No. 4 spot in the draft.
The Knicks own draft night, as a result, moving up from No. 11 to No. 4 for Purdue stud Jaden Ivey. It costs a lot — this year’s first pick, Obi Toppin and multiple second-rounders go to the Kings.
It is the story of the first round.
This is how The Post’s Zach Braziller sees it all unfolding at Barclays Center a week from Thursday:
1 MAGIC
Jabari Smith, F, Auburn:
He’s the archetype for the modern NBA forward — long, skilled and defensively versatile. Smith is every bit in the mold of Cavaliers instant-impact rookie Evan Mobley — except he is a superior shooter — and the lone question mark scouts have is his handle.
THUNDER 2
Chet Holmgren, F, Gonzaga: It’s easy to see the Minnesotan making an immediate impact with his rim-protecting, 3-point shooting, ball-handling skill set. You can also envision Holmgren struggling against much stronger players with similar athletic attributes. The first college player in 28 years to make over 40 3-pointers and block over 100 shots in one season is very much boom-or-bust.
ROCKETS 3
Paolo Banchero,
F, Duke: The Rockets get a No. 1-caliber pick at No. 3, a robust forward prospect who has already thrived under the bright lights that was his lone year at Duke in Mike Krzyzewski’s final season. Banchero won’t even have to be THE GUY in Houston — last year’s top pick, Jalen Green, has that covered — which may fit his all-around game better.
KNICKS (FROM KINGS) 4
Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue:
Knicks fans will be chanting “Ivey, Iv-ey, Iv-ey” deep into the Brooklyn night, believing they finally have the point guard their franchise has lacked for decades. The Purdue star is the impact player the Knicks need next to RJ Barrett, a top-shelf athlete who took a major leap across the board in his third NBA season.
PISTONS 5
Keegan Murray, G/F, Iowa: Underrated defensively, the nation’s fourth-leading scorer a year ago is a natural fit for the shooting-needy Pistons next to playmaking forward Cade Cunningham, last year’s No. 1 overall pick.
PACERS
6
Dyson Daniels, G, G-League Ignite: After finishing
28th in the league in defensive rating, the rebuilding Pacers have to address that end of the floor this offseason, and they start here with the defensiveminded Daniels. With his long frame, the on-the-rise Australian can defend guards and wings, and could form a strong 1-2 backcourt punch for the future with Tyrese Haliburton.
TRAIL BLAZERS
7
Bennedict Mathurin, G, Arizona: At worst, the Pac-12 Player of the Year is a 3-and-D contributor who can help the Trail Blazers on the defensive end right away. But some scouts see an All-Star in the Canadian import, citing his ability to defend several positions, his smooth jumper and ceiling to expand his offensive game as a playmaking guard.
PELICANS
8
Shaedon Sharpe, G, Kentucky: If Holmgren is the most talked-about prospect in this draft, Sharpe is the biggest question mark. He was a big-time high school prospect — 247Sports.com ranked him third nationally — who didn’t play in college last year after enrolling at Kentucky in January. Essentially, he’s going straight from high school to the NBA, making this pick a gamble.
SPURS 9
Jeremy Sochan, F, Baylor:
The Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year thinks defense first — he believes he’s the best defensive player in the draft. That attitude will endear him to Gregg Popovich and the Spurs, who are in desperate need of a difference-maker up front.
10 WIZARDS
Malaki Branham, G, Ohio State: Efficient, young and ultra-skilled, the one-and-done star offers the Wizards shotmaking depth in the backcourt from the jump with ample room for growth in the years to come.
11
(FROM KNICKS)
KINGS
AJ Griffin, G, Duke: Injuries to each knee coupled with an inconsistent one year at Duke have led to doubts about the White Plains native. His raw talent, though, remains unquestioned as a lights-out 3-point shooter who nearly hit 50 percent from distance and a 7-foot wingspan that could make him a highcaliber perimeter defender.
12 THUNDER
Ousmane Dieng, G/F,
New Zealand Breakers: Nobody is more patient than Sam Presti, who seems to be working on a 10-year plan. Dieng is the perfect pick: a high-ceiling prospect who needs time, but could be worth the wait years down the line.
13 HORNETS
Mark Williams, C, Duke:
The ACC Defensive Player of the
Year fills a major need for the Hornets as a rim-protecting, lob-catching finisher to pair with maestro LaMelo Ball. With his 7-foot-8 wingspan and relentless motor, the 20-year-old Williams could in time be a two-way paint force.
14 CAVALIERS
Johnny Davis, G, Wisconsin:
The arrow is pointing up for the Cavs after last year’s breakthrough 44-win season, and the Big Ten Player of the Year is another talented young player who strengthens the core. Cleveland has a need for more shooting and scoring on the wing, and Davis can provide that instantly. 15 HORNETS
Jalen Williams, G, Santa Clara: The mid-major star opened eyes at the combine with his sweet stroke from distance, impressive measurables and raw athleticism. The absurdly long-armed Williams — he has a 7-foot-21/2 wingspan — also can do it when the lights are on, averaging 18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists this past season while shooting a shade under 40 percent from deep.
16 HAWKS
Ochai Agbaji, G, Kansas:
His upside may not be as high as others selected ahead of him, but the 22-year-old Agbaji can step in right away and produce at both ends of the floor as a court-spacing shotmaker and wing defender. The Hawks will look smart by taking the sure thing here.
17 ROCKETS
Tari Eason, F, LSU: The Rockets have their dynamic scoring duo for the future in Banchero and Green, and now they take a lunchpail complement to them in Eason. The gritty, defense-first wing will do the dirty work and has made strides offensively as a perimeter threat.
18 BULLS
Jalen Duren, C, Memphis:
Similar to Williams, Duren doesn’t space the floor on the offensive end, but his freakish athleticism and robust rim-protection still make him an attractive fit at the next level.
19 TIMBERWOLVES
TyTy Washington Jr., G, Kentucky: Washington didn’t get to show his entire repertoire in college, spending a good portion of his one year in Lexington off the ball. Still, he shot well (35 percent from deep), had a better than two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio and showed enough promise that he can be a lead guard at the next level.
20 SPURS
Walker Kessler, C,
Auburn: His defense alone makes him appealing, as a shot-blocking demon who rejected 4.6 shots per game last year. If his offense comes around, and there is promise in his perimeter jump shot, the Spurs will have a steal.
21 NUGGETS
Blake Wesley, G, Notre Dame: An explosive athlete who struggled with his shot his lone year in college, Wesley will find the spaced-out NBA game more to his liking.
22 GRIZZLIES
Kennedy Chandler, G, Tennessee: The Grizzlies could be in the market for a point guard with