NBA DRAFT REWIND
1 PISTONS
Cade Cunningham, G/F, Oklahoma State: In his one year at Oklahoma State, the ubertalented 6-foot-8 playmaker turned the Cowboys into an NCAA Tournament team. That’s nothing compared to his new job in Detroit: Reversing the losing culture that has inhabited the Pistons, who last won a playoff series in 2008. 2 ROCKETS
Jalen Green, SG, G-League Ignite: That sound you hear is NBA and G-League executives celebrating the success of their poster boy. Green, considered the best offensive prospect in this draft, became the first prospect to take the G-League’s money, a decision that has clearly paid off for him. 3 CAVALIERS
Evan Mobley, PF, USC: Most years, this athletic 7-foot marvel is the No. 1 pick, illustrating how loaded the draft is at the top. Mobley, the first player to be named the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, is the archetype of the modern big man. 4 RAPTORS
Scottie Barnes, SF, Florida State: Maybe it wasn’t a big four, after all. In the first big surprise of the draft, the Raptors opted for the one-and-done wing who one scout told me is the best passer in the draft. Most experts thought Toronto, which could be in the point-guard market if freeagent-to-be Kyle Lowry doesn’t return, would take Gonzaga phenom Jalen Suggs. 5 MAGIC
Jalen Suggs, PG, Gonzaga: Suggs said teams that passed on him would regret it, and that was before he fell to the fifth pick. The Magic are getting an ultracompetitive and athletically gifted point guard with a massive chip on his shoulder. 6 THUNDER
Josh Giddey, G/F, Adelaide (NBL): If Barnes was a surprise, this was a stunner. The playmaking Australian forward went from a borderline lottery pick at one point to going in the top six. At 6-8, he can distribute and defend, and at just 18 years old, there is plenty of room for growth. 7 WARRIORS
Jonathan Kuminga, SF, G-League Ignite: He’s a physical specimen who should be able to contribute immediately as a rebounder, finisher and defender. The jumper is a question mark, but who better to learn from than the Splash Brothers? 8 MAGIC
Franz Wagner, SF, Michigan: One of the most well-rounded players in the draft. The Magic are creating a stellar perimeter core in the versatile and defensively stout Wagner, Suggs and last year’s first-round pick, Cole Anthony.
9 KINGS
Davion Mitchell, PG, Baylor: The defense-averse Kings needed an upgrade on that end of the floor, and Mitchell is the premier on-ball defender in this draft. But Sacramento’s backcourt is now more jammed than the BQE at rush hour. Someone has to be on the move. 10 GRIZZLIES
Ziaire Williams, SF, Stanford: Another unpredictable pick — Williams was projected to go closer to 20 than here. He didn’t live up to the expectations in his one year at Stanford, shooting just 29 percent from deep. But clearly Memphis weighed potential over production in the raw 6-9 wing. 11 HORNETS
James Bouknight, SG, UConn: The Hornets may have their backcourt for the next decade in Bouknight and LaMelo Ball. The Brooklyn native’s jumper can use some work — he shot 29 percent last season — but his ability to get by guys will only be enhanced in the court-spaced NBA.
12 SPURS
Joshua Primo, SG, Alabama: The Spurs were clearly one of the teams impressed by Primo at the NBA combine, where he showcased ball-handling and shotmaking that weren’t evident at Alabama. An expected late first-round pick, this selection will be questioned, like many others in the first half of the opening round. 13 PACERS
Chris Duarte, SF, Oregon: This was the rare case of production being valued over potential. Duarte is 24, but he’s an efficient offensive player with a sweet 3-point stroke who will help the Pacers from the jump. 14 WARRIORS
Moses Moody, SF, Arkansas: The Warriors land one of the best 3-and-D prospects in the draft, a selection that should complement the physical Kuminga well. With a 7-1 wingspan, Moody projects as a strong defender capable of guarding several positions.
15 WIZARDS
Corey Kispert, SF, Gonzaga: Kispert is considered the best shooter in this draft, and there is always a spot for a player with an elite skill. But there are questions about the All-American after he struggled in the NCAA Tournament against the caliber of athlete he will face at the next level.
ROCKETS (VIA THUNDER) 16
Alperen Sengun, PF, Besiktas (Turkish Super League): The 19-year-old MVP of the Turkish Super League has a polished low-post game, giving Houston a potentially potent 1-2 inside-out punch with Green, the second-overall selection. 17 PELICANS
Trey Murphy III, SF, Virginia: Zion Williamson gets a much-needed courtspacing weapon in Murphy, a capable wing defender who is long and shot 43.3 percent from distance last year. 18 THUNDER
Tre Mann, PG, Florida: A 40 percent 3-point shooter who has improved his playmaking skills, Mann is either the future at the point for the Thunder if they move Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as has been rumored or he can learn from the impressive young star.
HORNETS (VIA KNICKS) 19
Kai Jones, PF/C, Texas: Loads of potential, plenty of inconsistency. Jones has shown promise as a rim-running, shot-blocking force with shooting range. But it’s mostly projectable ability for now. 20 HAWKS
Jalen Johnson, SF, Duke: He had the talent to be thought of as a top-five pick before the season, but also a bad enough year to fall all the way into the 20s. Duke, after all, played better after Johnson opted out of the season in February.
21 CLIPPERS (VIA KNICKS)
Keon Johnson, G/F, Tennessee: A monster of a defender with a vertical leap of 41.5 inches, Johnson would’ve fit in well with Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks. Instead of drafting the Tennessee oneand-done star, though, they sent the pick to the Clippers, giving their already stout perimeter defense another capable defender.
22 PACERS (VIA WIZARDS
VIA LAKERS)
Isaiah Jackson, PF, Kentucky: This pick belonged to the Lakers at the start of the day, before switching hands twice and ending up with the Pacers, who went with production with their first pick (Duarte) and potential with their second choice in the raw yet developing Jackson. 23 ROCKETS
Usman Garuba, PF, Real Madrid: The 6-8 forward
profiles as an elite defender who is long, strong and adept at guarding multiple positions. 24 ROCKETS
Josh Christopher, SG, Arizona State: The Rockets took a big swing here their last of four first-round picks on the high-upside Christopher, an enticing shotmaker who didn’t produce as expected in his one year in college at Arizona State. 25 KNICKS (VIA CLIPPERS)
Quentin Grimes, SG, Houston: Just ask Rutgers fans about Grimes, who shot them out of the NCAA Tournament. He wowed the Knicks at a workout this month as someone they believe can contribute quickly as a defender and shooter. 26 NUGGETS
Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland, SG, VCU: Jamal Murray’s uncertain injury status creates a need for added backcourt scoring punch, and Hyland should be able to step in as a microwave scorer off the bench. 27 NETS
Cam Thomas, SG, LSU: One of the most offensiveready prospects in the draft, Thomas has work to do on the defensive end and his shot from the perimeter is a work in progress, but he can at least provide scoring depth off the Nets’ bench. 28 76ERS
Jaden Springer, PG/SG, Tennessee: The 76ers found good value with the 21st pick last year with Tyrese Maxey, and they hope to replicate that result with Springer, another combo guard who is a dedicated defender and shot 43.5 percent from 3 in his one year at Tennessee. 29 NETS (VIA SUNS)
Day’Ron Sharpe, PF, North Carolina: Beyond Nic Claxton, the Nets lack size on the interior, and they like the 6-11, 265-pound big man’s mobility for his size. 30 GRIZZLIES (VIA JAZZ)
Santi Aldama, PF, Loyola (Md.): A small-school star, the 6-11 forward averaged a doubledouble last year, and has playmaking and shooting-range skills teams covet in big men.