The NBA Draft Lottery has happened and we know the order in which the fourteen lottery teams will be selecting in. The Minnesota Timberwolves have the number one overall pick. This is followed by the Golden State Warriors in second and the Charlotte Hornets in third. The entire list is below.
Draft selections happen on the basis of positional needs and talent. Certain teams may not need to reinforce a position, but draft a talented player for that due to their ceiling. We saw this last season with the New Orleans Pelicans selecting Zion Williamson despite still having Julius Randle and Anthony Davis in that position. Both players were later moved to accommodate Zion.
This year’s draft will change the future of a lot of teams. But how will the 14 teams in the lottery pick their players?
NBA Draft: Mock Lottery Selections
14. Boston Celtics: Isiah Stewart (Center)
Boston has a number of young centers in the pipeline, but Isaiah Stewart may be a worthy risk considering their depth in other positions. It’s bold to predict him jumping to the lottery, but his solid production is what a contending Boston team needs.
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Precious Achiuwa (PF)
The Pelicans could use an uber-athletic backup to the oft-injured Zion Williamson in the form of Precious Achiuwa. He was the only college freshman to average a double-double (15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds).
12. Sacramento Kings: Aaron Nesmith (SF/SG)
Aaron Nesmith is a 6’6 player with great shooting ability, which means he will fit in perfectly alongside the fast-paced and free-shooting Knicks. There are certain physical aspects he lacks, but his on-court play has room to improve.
11. San Antonio Spurs: Saddiq Bey (SF)
With the lack of three-point shot in DeMar DeRozan, Saddiq Bey has the potential of being a flamethrower rookie off the bench for the Spurs. He shot 45% from three in his college season and has the athleticism required to play the three in the NBA.
10. Phoenix Suns: R.J. Hampton (SG/PG)
R.J. Hampton was one of the more heralded high-school prospects that chose to play overseas instead of in college. His play in the NBL showed he can compete at the professional level, but he could still improve as a shooter at the NBA level.
9. Washington Wizards: Cole Anthony (PG)
This may be a high placement for Anthony, who may fall further due to uncertainties with a knee injury. However, Cole Anthony was projected to be a top-5 pick before his injury. His killer mentality and ability to hit tough shots would make him the perfect PG next to Bradley Beal until John Wall returns.
8. New York Knicks: Tyrese Haliburton (PG/SG)
The Knicks have been hard done by the draft in the last two years, but Tyrese Haliburton may be the unheralded pick they needed. He shot over 50% from the field and 40% from three in college, and this Knicks team could use a shooter like Haliburton besides R.J. Barrett.
7. Detroit Pistons: Isaac Okoro (SF)
Isaac Okoro is one of the best defensive players in the draft and has a visible upside to his offensive game. The Pistons would be hard-pressed to find a better selection for their current needs, so taking a risk on Okoro for the long-term may be a smart move.
6. Atlanta Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu (Center/PF)
The rebuild in Atlanta is adding another top pick to its name, and it should be Onyeka Okongwu. He is an undersized big who has the versatility to move across positions. He is a super-efficient scorer, shooting 61.1% from the field in college.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Deni Avdija (SF/PF)
While comparisons to Luka Doncic may be overblown, Deni Avdija is a 6’9 forward with a European pedigree. With the small back-court that Cleveland has, Deni would be a valuable size addition that can also meet the demands of the modern NBA’s small forward.
4. Chicago Bulls: Obi Toppin (PF)
The College Player of the Year, the Chicago Bulls would be silly to pass up on Obi Toppin if he’s on the board after the top three. An explosive 22-year old that can score from the three just as easily as he can at the rim? The Bulls shouldn’t pass up on him and try to make it work with him and Lauri Markannen in that position.
3. Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball (PG/SG)
The Hornets have been given a gift with the opportunity to draft LaMelo Ball. There are many other requirements they could fill, but Ball has the potential to be one of the best products of this draft class. His offense is the opposite of his brother Lonzo, as LaMelo is a skilled scorer that has the size to defend both guard positions. With Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham there, Ball may be a valuable addition to that rotation.
2. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman (Center)
The pick we’ve known is coming since Steph Curry went down to injury. James Wiseman‘s destiny of becoming a Warrior is close to becoming a reality. The Warriors have one positional issue and that is at center. Wiseman is the perfect pick for them, as he has both offensive and defensive tools that can help the Warriors become contenders again.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (SG)
While many thought LaMelo Ball would have this spot, Minnesota getting the first pick means that Anthony Edwards may be the move. While he is a wildly inefficient scorer, he takes on offensive challenges like few other players. His explosive pace and athleticism, along with room to grow defensively make him the perfect pick to complete a backcourt with D’Angelo Russell. Edwards won’t command the ball like LaMelo, so could be a better fit next to Russell, as the Wolves look to contend for the first time in years again.
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