2021 Mock Draft by Max Trueblood

2021 Mock Draft by Max Trueblood

1. DETROIT-CADE CUNNINGHAM-1/2G/OKLAHOMA STATE

The consensus #1 pick. The Pistons can go a few ways here. Cunningham most likely starts at the 2 spot next to last year's pick, Killian Hayes. But if Hayes struggles again, Cade could move back to his more natural lead guard spot.

2. HOUSTON-EVAN MOBLEY-C/USC

Good pick here. Jalen Green is tempting but Mobley fits a need as he is the prototypical new school big man. Moves his feet, can hedge out on perimeter shooters and blocks everything in sight.

3. CLEVELAND-SCOTTIE BARNES-SF/PF/FLORIDA STATE

Barnes crashes the party. There has been a consensus top 5 for pretty much the last couple months but Barnes' versatility is too much for Cleveland to pass up. Can play the 4 spot nicely on the front line between Okoro at the 3 and Allen at the 5.

4. TORONTO-JALEN GREEN-2G/G LEAGUE IGNITE

They would love for Mobley to drop but Green is a nice consolation prize. If Gary Trent Jr. is really asking for $20 million per season, Green may not only be the best pick but also the financially feasible option for the North squad.

5. ORLANDO-JONATHON KUMINGA-SF/PF/G LEAGUE IGNITE

Good pick for the Magic. They need wing players so they go with the best available here to cover the 3 spot then will go with a 2 with their later lotto pick.

6. OKLAHOMA CITY-JALEN SUGGS-PG/GONZAGA

Big break for OKC as Suggs makes a mini fall to 6. I realize that they have Kemba Walker but I really don't see him long term, if at all this coming season, for the Thunder. OKC gets the best player and fits a need in one fell swoop.

7. GOLDEN STATE-DAVION MITCHELL-PG/BAYLOR

National champ plays some tough D. Warriors need a backup lead guard and with the payroll getting way out of hand, they won't have much money to spend in the free agent period.

8. ORLANDO-JAMES BOUKNIGHT-2G/UCONN

Great athlete and overall scorer. A Fultz, Bouknight, Kuminga, Isaac and Bamba lineup gives the Magic one of the most athletic starting 5's in the league.

9. SACRAMENTO-JALEN JOHNSON-SF/PF/DUKE

Tough call here. JJ may be the most talented player available. Strength of this team is in the backcourt with Fox, Hield and Haliburton so the Kings go with a frontcourt player who could start right away.

10. NEW ORLEANS-COREY KISPERT-2G/SF/GONZAGA

Pelicans have their starting 5 set and have backups under contract in the backcourt and in the pivot. Kispert will give the team depth behind Ingram at the 3 spot.

11. CHARLOTTE-KEON JOHNSON-2G/SF/TENNESSEE

The Hornets will be a fun, athletic team with KJ joining Lamelo Ball and Miles Bridges on a seemingly never ending fast break for the Bees.

12. SAN ANTONIO-ALPEREN SENGUN-C/PF/TURKEY

Spurs have history with turning foreign players into stars. This team needs frontline depth so Sengun fits the bill.

13. INDIANA-FRANZ WAGNER-SF/PF/MICHIGAN

Versatile offensive player and underrated defender gives the Pacers frontline depth. Team already has a ton of backcourt players under contract so they go with a frontcourt player here.

14. GOLDEN STATE-ZAIRE WILLIAMS-SF/STANFORD

Might be a bit of a reach here but with the starting 5 most likely intact next year, the Warriors can afford to gamble a bit here. Dissapointing season at Stanford but the ceiling is still very high for Williams. If Oubre leaves via free agency, a backup SF will be needed anyways.

15. WASHINGTON-MOSES MOODY-2G/ARKANSAS

Best available and Wiz have no backup for the oft injured Brad Beal.

16. OKLAHOMA CITY-KAI JONES-C/TEXAS

After getting a floor leader at 6, Sam Presti goes down the road to nab a big man here..

17. MEMPHIS-HERBERT JONES-SF/ALABAMA

A bit of a reach here but hard working, defensive type who played college ball nearby fits the Grit and Grind culture.

18. OKLAHOMA CITY-CHRIS DUARTE-1/2G/OREGON

Assuming they go big with Jones at 16, they get an underrated backcourt mate for Jalen Suggs here. A very cerebral player who will fit well next to the athletic Suggs.

19. NEW YORK-LUKA GARZA-C/IOWA

Alright, bash away. Really tough to gauge what the Knicks will do here given how much cap space they have. Not sure if they will aim for a big time free agent or if they'll spend money on bringing back their own solid list of free agents. Knowing that, I have the Knicks going with the college player of the year with the high revving motor. Will feed off the Garden energy.

20. ATLANTA-JOSH GIDDEY-PG/AUSTRALIA

Giddey does a bit of a free fall. Hawks will be up against the luxury tax if they give John Collins the max so they save some money by getting depth behind Trey Young in the draft.

21. NEW YORK-JOEL AYAYI-2G/GONZAGA

Another underrated backcourt player. Garden faithful will love this high energy type.

22. LA LAKERS-TREY MURPHY-SF/VIRGINIA

Lakers go with a backup for Lebron. Rising up the charts.

23. HOUSTON-UZMAN GARUBA-PF/C/SPAIN

Houston went overboard with small ball the past couple years so they continue to return to a more conventional lineup with another big man here.

24. HOUSTON-JARED BUTLER-1/2G/BAYLOR

After drafting a couple bigs and a two guard, Houston goes with the best lead guard left.

25. LA CLIPPERS-SHARIFE COOPER-PG/AUBURN

Really tough to say what the Clips will do here. Seems like they have everything but Rondo is old, Beverly isn't a true point guard and nobody else at the lead guard position is under contract. Cooper is a sleeper who could surprise.

26. DENVER-DJ STEWART-2G/SF/MISSISSIPPI STATE

Nuggets had a ton of small guards and not a lot of depth at the 3 spot which may be needed given the injuries that have taken a toll on this team. Stewart checks a lot of boxes as he is big for a guard at 6'6" and can swing to the 3 spot as well.

27. BROOKLYN-MILES MCBRIDE-PG/WEST VIRGINIA

If there's anything we learned about Brooklyn's all star backcourt this post season is that they are a bit fragile. Can never have too many heady ball handlers.

28. PHILADELPHIA-ISAIAH JACKSON-PF/C/KENTUCKY

Philly can afford to swing for the fences. Kill 2 birds with one stone as Jackson does the free fall but has high upside. Team has plenty of backcourt depth but not much in the front court. Win win all around.

29. PHOENIX-JOSH CHRISTOPHER-2G/ARIZONA STATE

Another talented free faller who will spell Booker with spot minutes early on.

30. UTAH-JADEN SPRINGER-1/2G/TENNESSEE

Jazz didn't really have a true lead guard off the bench last year. With Mike Conley's status up in the air, Utah goes with a position of need.

Wow- nice one Trueblood. That's very comprehensive. Repped!

Hopefully the Clippers can draft a player with potential overlooked by other teams (instead of the other way around).

Thanks David!

I think OKC has the Boston pick at #16 from the Kemba/Horford deal. I may have to make a switch when/if I confirm that.

Confirmed. OKC has Boston's pick so I made some switches. Giddey goes from 16 to 20, Jones blasts up from 28 to 16, Butler falls from 20 to 25 and McBride goes from 25 to 28.

Nice post.. Good stuff. I'm certain we're either getting a pg or a big in the draft

Nice post.. Good stuff. I'm certain we're either getting a pg or a big in the draft

Thanks Clemenza. Looks like OKC has another pick that I didn't realize they had. Because the lottery pick that was supposed to go to Houston was top 4 protected, the Thunder will wind up with the 18 pick as well in exchange for putting protection on the pick and having it go to Houston. I think Duarte is a good pick for either team so I'll keep him there for the Thunder.

Yes, the Clips would be wise to grab a big. Jackson is a possibility and of course Kai Jones. I just don't see Jones falling to 25.

Any of Shariffe Cooper, Jared Butler, Miles McBride, Tre Mann or Jaden Springer would look good in Inglewood if they take a lead guard.

Thanks. I hope you do the 2nd round too, sometime before the draft.

I have Sengun going a little higher. He does seem more of a finisher / quick move guy, than someone with can create something with a lot of dribbles.

I heard yesterday that there's a lot of defensive players at the top of this draft.

Do you think their defense will translate?

I don't know if Sacramento will have 2 Duke PFs on their roster (Bagley III, Jalen Johnson).

Maybe Bagley will be traded, but if so, the most likely scenario would be in a package with draft picks, so then they wouldn't be able to draft Jalen Johnson.

Is there a player who you think will have the best ability to get steals, in this draft?

Who are one or two players from non major programs that you think will be good? Maybe those will be your 2nd rounders?

But usually there's a few that go in the first round too.

I was tempted to put Sengun on Sacramento or Charlotte. He could very well wind up on one of them.

Barnes, Mobley and Davion Mitchell are standout defenders who will be strong on the next level. Franz Wagner is an underrated defender who is better on D than his brother.

I just see Bagley as a Center in this day and age. I don't know why they've been pigeonholing him as a PF. Bad teams like Sacramento should take the best player available and then figure it out later. If JJ is the best on the board then all the more reason to move Bagley to C if they haven't dealt him already.

I like Barnes and the rest of the long armed defenders as guys who can get steals. Kuminga is another one as well as the quick guards like Cooper, who I have going to the Clips.

I'll get around to the 2nd round soon.

Not sure why small school guys haven't been getting noticed. Charles Bassey from Western Kentucky has been a name that the league has had it's eye on for the past 2 years. Not sure if WK is considered a small school but not your typical major program.

Thanks.

I was tempted to put Sengun on Sacramento or Charlotte. He could very well wind up on one of them.

Hmm, has Charlotte ever taken an international player?

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHA/draft.html

Ok, LaMelo from Australia, but he's not foreign born.

Their 2018 2nd round pick played in Sicily.

In 2008 Ajinca from France.

1996 Kobe from Italy, but he would be traded.

So overall, they never have really taken a first rounder who was foreign born and played internationally.

Johnny Juzang pulled out of the draft. I'm guessing he couldn't get a first round guarantee.

Kai Jones is a big man and he's been rumored to be moving up the list and Charlotte and Sacramento are possible landing spots according to the nba.com consensus mock. Those teams seem to be thinking along the lines of a big man.

What do you think of Kai Jones?

What about Biyombo.... or does he not count cause there were technically some Draft day trades that landed him in Charlotte?

What do you think of Kai Jones?

I like him. If Charlotte or Sacramento take him then I'm starting to think it's a good pick. I don't see him lasting to 16 anymore.

FWIW, I have the Lakers taking Trey Murphy now that Juzang is out of the draft.

What about Biyombo.... or does he not count cause there were technically some Draft day trades that landed him in Charlotte?

Good find!

Yes, Biyombo counts, since it was a draft day trade.

https://nesn.com/2011/06/tune-in-thursday-at-7-pm-for-nesncoms-nba-draft-live-blog/

Damn, out of curiosity, how many draft picks does OKC have in the near future?

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/how-many-first-round-picks-do-thunder-have/182wpn3aql48z152zqp0glfy8b#:~:text=How%20many%20draft%20picks%20do%20the%20Thunder%20have%20over%20the,picks%20as%20of%20this%20writing.

17 first rounders over the next 7 years and 21 second rounders.

Kevin Durant

Russell Westbrook

James Harden

Serge Ibaka

Reggie Jackson

Steve Adams

Cameron Payne

Eric Bledsoe

Yeah, Presti has an eye for talent. Troy Weaver played a role in some of those picks but he's in Detroit as the main GM now but still, Presti has assembled a good front office so they'll get some steals.

As much small ball as we like to play, he'd be a perfect fit for us.

With that ungodly amount of draft picks they could also screw it all up and become uncertain and confused in which direction to take. Trade some picks for star players or draft and develop? They have so many picks I'm not even sure SGA, Bazley, Dort, or Poku is guaranteed to be apart of their core into the future.

With that ungodly amount of draft picks they could also screw it all up and become uncertain and confused in which direction to take. Trade some picks for star players or draft and develop? They have so many picks I'm not even sure SGA, Bazley, Dort, or Poku is guaranteed to be apart of their core into the future.

I'm thinking that SGA is part of the future regardless but yeah, the other 3 aren't guaranteed anything. I assume they'll hold on to Dort as long as he's under a very team friendly contract but all bets are off come free agency time. Right off the bat, assuming they take Barnes or Kuminga in the draft, they'll have to send either Bazley or Dort to the bench and that's just this year. They've got 6 more years of trying to figure out the mixes after that.

Highly unlikely. Presti has always proven to be good at drafting. Where he fails is in retaining the players. He is so confident about the draft that he lets players go. That can bite you in the ass because drafting success is like 50-50.

I think Presti is starting to realize the limitations of being in OKC. He's from the Spurs front office tree and sees the success they had building around 3 foreign born players so you're starting to see it with the Thunder. 2 Canadians, a Serb, a French point guard and the rights to Vasilije Mijic, a Serbian point guard. He realizes that American players want to be in large, glamour type markets but that foreign players see advantages of being in small market where there's less pressure. A Kuminga, Alperin and Duarte trio of foreign draft picks isn't completely out of the question this year.

I think Presti is starting to realize the limitations of being in OKC. He's from the Spurs front office tree and sees the success they had building around 3 foreign born players so you're starting to see it with the Thunder. 2 Canadians, a Serb, a French point guard and the rights to Vasilije Mijic, a Serbian point guard. He realizes that American players want to be in large, glamour type markets but that foreign players see advantages of being in small market where there's less pressure. A Kuminga, Alperin and Duarte trio of foreign draft picks isn't completely out of the question this year.

There's only less pressure when there isn't winning.

When there is expectations of winning, then there's pressure again.

Utah wants to win their first title.

Milwaukee wants to end the 50 year drought.

Etc.

OKC went through a long playoffs streak, but only had 1 Finals appearance.

Detroit hasn't won a playoffs game since 2008.

Some of these teams only get 1 or 2 shots at it, so they want to make them count.

OKC fans shouldn't be happy just to make the playoffs and lose in the first or 2nd round.

When some of these teams have 20, 30, or 40 year streaks of some sort of playoffs non-winning, then they want to end it.

That's the thing, they inherited a team with KD and Westbook then a year or two later added Harden and Ibaka. That city hit the ground running with their new franchise and just now has finally hit a reset-start over period. This is where the true test comes in at for a team and its fanbase. Those first 5-6 years were easy street for them. Lets see if they can rebuild it back up again.

I see what you mean.

Ok, agree.

IMO, this is what they could have done instead.

They had a roster with Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka at the end of 2012.

Instead of letting Harden go, let Ibaka go instead.

They had Cole Aldrich, who was cheaper and better.

Then, in the 2013 draft, see if they could have still gotten Steven Adams.

An Aldrich / Adams frontline would have been better and cheaper than keeping an expensive Ibaka, who was also due for an extension soon, and who they would trade away anyways because they would realize Adams was better.

However, in the Ibaka trade, they would get Sabonis back. Not sure if Sabonis would ever have thrived, without getting a chance to develop on his own later on in Indiana, anyways.

Cheap @ss owner didn’t want to go to luxury tax and let Harden go. They could have kept all four and just pay the luxury tax. They get what they deserve

To clarify, I'm talking about from an overall life standpoint. The public often talks about how the New York media devours some athletes. That creates a certain amount of pressure. Same with other larger markets. You don't have to worry about that in OKC.

Same with the general social standpoint. There are less distractions to deal with in places like OKC that often exist in larger, glamour markets.

The Spurs had the best of both worlds. They DID win and were able to do it with relative peace of mind. Some American players don't care about the benefits of the small market. They like the large glamour markets and are willing to put up with the big market nonsense if need be. Part of the reason that the Spurs found so much success is because they had a team built around foreign players who weren't looking to bolt but rather lay down roots and see it through.

And of course, as we just saw, the Bucks were able to get things done in a small market. I realize that the majority of the team is American born but they were built around a foreign born player who was willing to see things through. That was the basic premise of my post. Presti may feel as though he has a better shot at building around foreign born players after getting burned by KD.

@TrueBlood, how about doing the 2nd round?

NBA TV mock draft got the clippers drafting Zaire Williams… anybody watched him

Ok, here's my final thoughts on a few players. I am not a draft expert at all, I just watch some videos, do some reading, and form opinions. I could be wrong about a few of these, but they are just opinions.

Scottie Barnes: He's more of a project. He could be a skilled player in a few years, or maybe not.

Jonathan Kuminga: More of a project. His consistency isn't there yet.

Moses Moody: Good shooter, but I don't see much versatility. Not really my type of player.

Jalen Johnson: It's hard to tell because his team was too good. I don't think he was challenged enough. There's a chance that when faced with NBA caliber competition, he won't look as good.

Franz Wagner: I like him. Makes simple but effective plays, and can play both ends

Alperen Sengun: Nice player with a few skills already.

Jalen Green: Has star potential.

Evan Mobley: Should be pretty good.

I don't know if they will be in the Clippers range, but I also liked Sharpe and Preston.

After the Clippers draft whoever they do, I'll watch videos of that person then.

NBA TV mock draft got the clippers drafting Zaire Williams… anybody watched him

He's basically a young PG at Fresno type of player. He can D up 1-5, shoot, get to the basket, handle the ball at 6'8 n' change, and he rise up off the floor.

Ziaire is my favorite draft prospect this year. NO WAY we're getting him. Too good to be true for me, unlesssssssss.... maybe Ty Lue has an idea?

We bring in another wing to play the 2, like Derozan. PG moves to the Point. Ziaire is similar enough to be a future PG and works under him.

I don't love it from a basketball perspective, only from the angle of being a total homer for SoCal athletes in professional sports.

Who knows. As of now, the team is not constructed in a way that makes Ziaire a great fit. I think a C is on the way.

I wonder why the thunder soured on SGA.., he’s been rumored to be dangled for the number 1 pick or the number 3 pick

I feel like the Clippers will draft some obscure/someone under the radar. Possibly someone not even in the draft board or top 60.

But whatever happens, I just hope they don't draft an undersized/immobile/defensively challenged center.

I wonder why the thunder soured on SGA.., he’s been rumored to be dangled for the number 1 pick or the number 3 pick

I don't think it's that, It seems more that they just don't think SGA fits their timeline.

I wonder why the thunder soured on SGA.., he’s been rumored to be dangled for the number 1 pick or the number 3 pick

He's due for a max contract or at least close to it. Its not good to have a guy making $30 million a year during a rebuild. And like I said in another thread, they have so many first rounders they'll be confused in which direction to take over the next couple of years. I had a feeling SGA might not be in their future. They should've just asked for another first rounder from us and let us keep SGA in the PG deal. He's in a bad position over there.

Not sure how to take that. I mean he’s producing at all star levels on a rookie contract. Do you mean that they don’t want to pay him down the road?

Clemenza said it pretty well, but just to clarify, I'm assuming they think they will still be in rebuild mode while SGA is in his peak, meaning it would be a waste for both sides.