A LOOK AT FIRST ROUND
With five days before the Pistons (probably) will be on the clock to select Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham (presumably), the speculation circulating around the league has seemed more about teams making moves than who they will select.
That could come. Teams tend to lock in on favorites and intel becomes stronger in the week before the draft. For now, more chatter seems to be about the potential of teams making deals to either move up or out.
Some of the speculation has been unchanged. The Warriors are thought to be more than open to offering a pick, either the Timberwolves’ seventh selection they hold or their own at No. 14, to get a veteran better prepared to help a win-now team. Sacramento, after landing one of the top rookies in last season’s draft, Tyrese Haliburton, and long absent from the playoffs, could also be open for business.
Others could be preparing a bid to move up. Oklahoma City’s deep stockpile of draft assets, including three picks in this season’s first round, would be a team to watch with potential to tempt teams with top picks, even the Pistons if they have not already stitched “Cunningham” into the back of uniforms. The Magic, sitting just outside the top four, would have reason to make a deal.
Rockets general manager Rafael Stone was careful on Wednesday to say he is not locked into any option, from the player he would choose with the second pick, or even whether he will keep his pick.
He also said that is a matter of policy, rather than ambivalence about the players expected to be available. Stone said it is always better to keep options open so he would. But it is also widely expected, and he admitted the likelihood, that the Rockets will make the second selection on Thursday.
There is also a chance that in the next week, when the Rockets come up with players they would be willing to move up from their picks at 23 and 24 to grab sooner, that he could be working the phones, too. With a week to go before the commissioner takes the stage in Barclays Center, there will be a lot of that going around.
1. Detroit | Cade Cunningham, 6-7, G, Oklahoma State
The Pistons have shown every sign that they will take Cunningham, as would nearly any team holding the first pick. That could drive up the price for an offer they can’t refuse. But a team coming off a strong draft a year ago and with one of the league’s most improved players, Jerami Grant, might not feel the need to collect extra draft assets by passing on a player they seem to consider the best prospect in the draft.
2. Rockets | Jalen Green, 6-5, G, G League Ignite
As much as has been said about the relative strength at the top of the draft, there is a great deal of uncertainty — though for very different reasons — about each of the top prospects. Green is coming off an abbreviated season in the first year of the G League’s select prospects program. But that did give him a chance to showcase some offensive polish and enormous potential to go with his celebrated athleticism. Even if the Rockets prefer Cunningham, they would have to weigh whether the potential benefits of pursuing one top prospect over another would be enough to merit loading up an offer.
3. Cleveland | Evan Mobley, 6-11, C, USC
The Cavs’ rebuild could go in a variety of directions, but Mobley would fit well, providing he is given time to grow into the role. His potential is obvious with size, agility and skill. But he also will need to develop and likely to fill out. Projecting that offers a reminder of why the draft is, for all the research and evaluations, still about guesswork. But the Cavaliers, having moved up from the fifth pick, would have reason to celebrate on draft night if Mobley is still on the board.
4. Toronto | Jalen Suggs,
6-4, G, Gonzaga
Though it is rare to get even four picks into the draft without a surprise, any effort to downgrade Suggs from a top four prospect seems to be overthinking unnecessarily. He did join an ideal situation with Gonzaga but he lived up to his reputation. It should not be viewed as a bad thing to have a great season even if it is more difficult to daydream about an elite-level ceiling than with less established fellow one-and-dones. Besides, he just fits the Raptors’ style and culture so well.
5. Orlando | Scottie Barnes, 6-9, F, Florida State
John Hammond has a long history of choosing players with great physical tools and counting on development. Though it would be unfair to project Barnes or Jonathan Kuminga or perhaps Keon Johnson to become Giannis Antetokounmpo, whom Hammond took for Milwaukee with a 15th pick, Barnes has the length and athletic versatility that fits the Orlando style in the draft — unless the Magic find a way to move up.
6. Oklahoma City | Jonathan Kuminga, 6-9, F, G League Ignite
Sam Presti spent a ton of time in the G League bubble evaluating the Ignite prospects. With three first round picks and a chance at the time to move into position to select Green, that does not necessarily indicate he would grab Kuminga. There has been increased talk that Kuminga could slip just a few spots, but the Thunder have been known to select the outstanding athlete, and he has upside that would be worth adding to the rebuild.
7. Golden State (from Minnesota) | James Bouknight, 6-5, G, Connecticut
There has been some speculation about Bouknight’s rise making him an option for the Thunder. If he is on the board, he is not a sure thing for the Warriors. Davion Mitchell would also be a good option. Bouknight, however, seems to have potential to develop ability to move without the ball with offensive skills already clear in his shooting stroke and ballhandling.
8. Orlando (from Chicago) | Keon Johnson, 6-5, F, Tennessee
Opinions on Johnson vary greatly, and the Magic might not even make two top 10 picks. But it would make sense for a team that already added a top prospect to gamble on developing Johnson’s game around his elite athleticism. If one of the presumed top prospects slip just a bit, the pick could be in play.
9. Sacramento | Franz Wagner, 6-9, F, Michigan
After nailing his first draft with last season’s selection of Tyrese Haliburton, former Rockets executive Monte McNair might be moved to just keep trading out of the first round, as the Rockets had in his final five seasons in Houston and keep his batting average perfect. He does not seem inclined to draft for fit, giving his first draft and years with the Rockets. But there are some interesting big men that could help fill a need with Wagner more ready defensively.
10. New Orleans | Moses Moody, 6-8, G, Arkansas
The Pelicans could be one of the lottery teams that could be growing impatient and open to moving the pick for more immediate help. If they stay put, the Pels would be an interesting swing team with a variety of players worth the 10th pick. Davion Mitchell, who could go several picks sooner, would merit a long look, but Moody has seemed to be on the rise and though one of the youngest players in the draft, could have the shot to fit quickly on a team with young stars in place.
11. Charlotte | Kai Jones, 6-10, C, Texas
This is perhaps more of a positional fit selection than will play out when the Hornets consider options. But Jones’ upside would not be a reach with the 11th pick and he would seem to have outstanding potential to work next to LaMelo Ball in pick-and-roll. It is not clear if the Hornets will opt for a player that will need time to grow into the role, especially with a few players closer to contributing on the board. But Jones’ potential and fit could be tough to pass up.
12. San Antonio | Josh Giddey, 6-8, G, Adelaide
There was a reason so much of the league made it to Las Vegas to check out the Australian national team. Giddey not only seems to have moved solidly into the lottery, he has the sort of heady, ball-movement game the Spurs have been known to seek. They can give him some time but have enough young scorers in the backcourt and small forward to make a point forward a nice addition.
13. Indiana | Corey Kispert, 6-7, F, Gonzaga
By now, Davion Mitchell, who could go in the top 10, would be considered to be falling and would certainly be a good value pick. The Pacers, however, might look toward the catchand-shoot abilities that Kispert could quickly add. A team expecting to make only a one-year stop in the lottery, the Pacers are considered among the teams open to trades, either to add a veteran ready to help more quickly or even to take advantage of their unexpected stop in the top half of the first round to move up.
14. Golden State | Davion Mitchell, 6-2, G, Baylor
While on the subject of oneyear stops in the lottery, the Warriors do not expect to be back and might not add two rookies to the one, James Wiseman, they picked up last season. Having Mitchell still on the board could entice them to keep the pick, with Mitchell bringing a defensive mindset and a more polished offensive game to fit with a veteran, win-now team.
15. Washington | Jalen Johnson, 6-8, F, Duke
Johnson could generate as wide a range of opinions as any prospect still on the board. But the Wizards, who would look for more immediate help than the draft would bring, could be a team willing to gamble on potential after a disappointing freshman year in which Johnson left Duke early. The Wizards will give a new coaching staff time for a project, and Wes Unseld Jr. comes from a Denver team that did very well developing projects.
16. Oklahoma City (from
Boston) | Usman Garuba, 6-9, F, Real Madrid
The Thunder could go a wide variety of directions with their picks at 16 and 18, from taking the big man they like most, to choosing upside to finding a way to move up. It seems they might be done trading to get more future picks, but that too might be possible. Garuba’s outstanding defensive potential and motor could interest many teams in the middle of the first round, having been on display at a young age with Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. It would work well with the young talent on hand and the Thunder tastes over the years.
17. Memphis | Alperen Sengun, 6-10, F/C, Besiktas
There’s some old school to Sengun’s game, making him more attractive to some teams than others. The Grizzlies, even with the slashing and driving talents of Ja Morant, have not been averse to having a low-post scorer with Sengun unusually productive inside in the Turkish league at a young age.
18. Oklahoma City (from Miami) | Ziaire Williams, 6-8, F, Stanford
The Thunder have no reason not to gamble on upside though this would seem one of those picks that could bring a surprise. Williams would not surprise given his length and flashes of offensive skills. A rocky freshman season should not scare off a team with three first-round picks.
19. New York | Sharife Cooper, 6-3, G, Auburn
The Knicks have been among the teams generating conjecture that they are open to dealing, in their case to pair their picks to move up. After several years trying to shore up the point guard position through the draft, the Knicks could get an unusually skilled and creative playmaker in Cooper though he will need to develop his shooting touch.
20. Atlanta | Jared Butler, 6-3, G, Baylor
For a team with depth filled with veterans and coming off a breakthrough season, there are already young prospects in place in Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter. That could lead the Hawks to go with a more longterm project but Butler would seem to bring potential to help relatively quickly with ballhandling to play when Trae Young sits and an ability to mesh with top players. Travis Schlenk has generally not drafted for need but he has not drafted this late or to a team this established before, either.
21. New York (from Dallas) | Trey Murphy III, 6-8, F, Virginia
Murphy could be among the players to watch in the last third of the first round. His stock has seemed on the rise through the predraft process, potentially moving him into late lottery. But players that generate so much talk about moving up often land close to where they started. His shooting touch and solid physical tools would seem a good fit for strong teams not necessarily looking to gamble on unpredictable upside.
22. L.A. Lakers | Chris Duarte, 6-6, G, Oregon
Duarte also has been said to be moving up and could go sooner, depending on how things shake out with the playoff teams. He is also among the shooters that could go to teams such as the Grizzlies with a history of choosing more veteran college prospects. The Lakers might opt for a player more likely to create his own shot but Duarte would seem able to play off stars relatively quickly.
23. Rockets (from Portland)
| Tre Mann, 6-5, G, Florida
As determined as general manager Rafael Stone has been to not show his hand, he did say on Wednesday that he would make his picks without regard to need or fit. Mann improved greatly in his second season and showed he can be a versatile enough scorer to work with the guards already on the roster or potentially added early in the first round. There could be a variety of guards on the board when the Rockets are on the clock, including Jaden Springer, Cameron Thomas, Nah’Shon Hyland and Joshua Primo.
24. Rockets (from Milwaukee) | Isaiah Jackson, 6-10, C, Kentucky
The Rockets could seek to use their multiple picks to move up or to move out to get an extra pick in a future draft. If they do use both late first-round picks, they would find a variety of players that would have to make their way into an already crowded backcourt, testing Stone’s determination to choose talent rather than fit. Jackson would not seem in line with the Rockets’ preference for range shooting and a five-out offense, far from Jackson’s skillset. But his strengths could be good value in this range and even in the smallball season, the Rockets sought a rim-running option. They could go a very different direction such as Isaiah Todd or just take another scoring guard.
25. L.A. Clippers | Cameron Thomas, 6-4, G, LSU
The Clippers would not necessarily pick for need but could use backcourt depth and the draft class has loads of options late in the first round. Thomas is shoot-first oriented to the extreme, but the Clippers could use more scoring punch and did well harnessing that with Reggie Jackson, who is a free agent.
26. Denver | Jaden Springer, 6-3, G, Tennessee
The Nuggets could just look at the guards left and pick their favorite, rather than seek someone to catch-and-shoot working off Nikola Jokic. Springer could offer the defensive toughness and determination to play relatively soon for a contender with enough offensive game to help.
27. Brooklyn | Day’Ron Sharpe, 6-11, C, North Carolina
The Nets have made a habit of trading out of the first round, which would make even more sense in the super team era, especially if they can pick up a pick for one of the seasons their pick will be headed to the Rockets. Sharpe has generated attention as a potential first rounder, one of the few centers that a team would not have to wait to add size and plays hard enough to eventually be an option against some of the full-sized centers.
28. Philadelphia | Miles McBride, 6-1, G, West Virginia
Daryl Morey has not drafted in the first round since picking Sam Dekker in 2015. He still seems likely to deal. But
McBride could bring a defensive toughness and shooting range that could work for a contender. A local guard, Nah’Shon Hyland from Wilmington, Del., could be tempting, too.
29. Phoenix | Nah’Shon Hyland, 6-2, G, VCU
Hyland’s play in Chicago and meetings with teams since have seemed to move him into the first round. The Suns have done well with other creative scorers with Cameron Payne flourishing off the bench but a free agent.
30. Utah | Quentin Grimes, 6-5, G, Houston
Grimes will likely be considered by several teams picking sooner and would be a good value with the final selection of the first round. He would seem able to work in the Jazz system, with the shooting range and an ability to work off the ball necessary for a rookie joining a contender.