Mock Draft

[ballsohard]

 1 Lakers Nikola Jokic
Looks like a reach here with Wiggins being the best player, but the Lakers have a chance to do a rare thing; Build a team of very unique players that's impossible to plan against. Sure the Lakers have a logjam at Center, but Jokic is that unique and none of those guys are fixtures in L.A. As a Center, Jokic is a one of a kind like Giannis with his unique ability to handle the ball and shoot the J. What's better? Jokic still does all the great things of the Centers of yesteryear with inside scoring, defense, and rebounding.

 2 Hornets Andrew Wiggins
The Hornets can really use anything but a point guard. Jokic is the best pick for them, but he's already gone to the Lakers. Embiid is the better pairing, but im willing to bet GM Nick Malone falls in love with wiggins all around game. With Lillard already on board, adding Wiggins makes a strong scoring punch from the 1/3 spots with pretty strong defense. Nick can take this year off to tanking and get a 3rd player and then add defensive pieces next to them and he's got a contender.. Assuming he doesn't make one of his patented Nick trades.

 3 Knicks Joel Embiid
I think the Knicks covet Wiggins, and if they're in this spot and the draft goes like this, i could see a trade happening here. While they could reach a bit and get Parker here and fill more of a need, im thinking the Knicks GM goes with talent and uses Vuc as a trade chip. Embiid gives the Knicks a solid big man for years to come and what they get is a guy who can score whcih is rare for the 5 spot in our league.

 4 Timberwolves Jabari Parker
Initially i thought Gary Harris here, but i started thinking. Why not grab a guy who can play both the 3/4 and keep the flexibility that the Wolbves have. Right now they have Dipo/Porter/Gobert. Gobert is a fixture in the middle as a defensive and rebounding savant; but Dipo and Porter have a lot of potential for versitility. You throw Parker in there who can score inside and outside and is average at defending both inside and outside and you have a matchup nightmare. His rebound is weak, but who cares with Porter and gobert bookending him?

 5 Knicks Gary Harris
Again, Knick are lickely to move this pick, but i think if they're forced to take a guy, it's Harris here. The Knicks made a strong move by grabbing Lin from the Hawks this trade season, and Lin has the versitility to play both the 1/2. So if you have a guy who's great on the board who can play the 2, you grab him. While i think the Knicks are happy with Bazamore, they'd be more than willing to use him as a chip and have Harris fill out their lineup.

 6 Bulls Jusuf Nurkic
This is the first real reach. The Bulls went ahead and made the playoffs this year after being agressive in the trade market. Milsaps is expiring and they frankly need a replacement for him as he's getting up in years. If i were the Bulls, i move this pick for an established 4 and some depth, but if i'm forced to pick, I take Nurkic. With Saric who has a unique skillset and Randle with pretty ok all arounds still there it's hard to pass on Nurk as he's the guy who can get rebounds and play defense. The Bulls already have Harden/ Sessions/ Gallo filling up the basket.. why not have a guy who can get his own on the glass.

 7 Magic Dario Saric
It's hard to figure out what the Magic are doing with their team. They have two paths to take. Surround their talent or trade their talent. So far theyve refused to do either which has landed them the 7 pick. I think they take a guy like Saric here and try and fill a need. I have no further analysis because i have no clue what they're doing.

 8 Pistons Rodney Hood
I think finding an Aldridge replacement is what they need to do here, but there's not one this far down in the draft so i think they attack their lack of talent at the wing with numbers. Hood is a solid player with good size. He's listed as a 2 right now, but can definately slide to the 3. His lack of athleticism is concerning, but we're at pick 8 and you're not getting a star here without some TC lovins.

 9 Lakers Jordan Clarkson
So you've got a 3 who can pass / score/ rebound/ defend; and a big who can handle the ball/score/defend/rebound. Drafting a 1 way player makes a lot of sense and why you take Jokic first. Clarkson allows you to play whatever offense you want and can force some turvnovers with great instincs to steal on the defensive end. With this pick, the Lakers are in a great spot.

 10 Grizzlies Zach Lavine
Lavine is a guy without position here, but i think from this pick on down, youre getting a lot of guys who are talented but need the right fit. The Grizz really need a guy to take the reigns from Devin Harris and with the new training sytem, Lavine could be that guy. Lavine has elite quickness and a nice outside game. Some points into passing and defense and he's the Grizz pg of the future.

 11 Pistons Julius Randle
I think the Pistons take a shot at replacing Aldridge here. Randle, while not great at anything is good at everything. The Pistons can easily have Davis play the 5 and use Randles elite quickness for a 4 to run a run and gun type of offense. If he doesn't pan out? Who cares.

 12 76ers Elfrid Peyton
76ers are a mess, but if there's one positon they need it's the point. This pick is clearly between Smart and Peyton, but i think Peyton's better passing ability gets him picked over Smart's combo guard type build.

 13 Heat TJ Warren
Heat just take the best player. With Knight and Jennings already on the Heat Warren is the guy. they SHOULD trade this for points, but we've seen this GM be erratic in decision making in the past.

 14 Spurs Jaymichael Green
Initially i thought Marcus Smart, who if i had to bet my points bank i'd say that's who he'd take. But with Scroeder already on the roster, i think Green is a great fit. He can shoot the 3, he can rebound and he can play down low. He's a low usage guy. With the franchise seemingly ready to completely hand over the reigns to Westbrook, i think this is the right move..



Hope you guys enjoyed... let me know what you think!

[NickMalone77]

Thank you for your media contribution, Scott. Here's +5 for your article unless you have reached your point cap total already.