Paura vs. Buck NBA Mock Draft

 

 

Our NBA Analysts Clifford “CJ” Buck Jr. and Justin Paura go back and forth making the decision for each team!  See what they do on the clock, selecting the whole first round.  The NBA Draft is live in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday June 21st. Tune in for more Tailgate analysis ahead of the date.

 

 

 

1st – Phoenix Suns: PG/SG Luka Doncic

Paura: I’m going to take a bold guess and say you didn’t expect anyone either than DeAndre Ayton to go first. But hear me out, there is no better fit for the Suns than Doncic. He’s a 6’8” guard that has the experience of playing with (and dominating) grown athletes and makes his teammates better. Pairing him with a rising star in Devin Booker and Josh Jackson gives a strong foundation to a team that doesn’t have much direction. Sure, Phoenix needs a better front court. But when a young stud in Clint Capela is hitting the free agent market, why not take the chance on the 19-year-old? Also, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Suns just hired Igor Kokoskov as their new head coach. Kokoskov coached Doncic and Slovenia to a championship at 2017 Eurobasket, calling Doncic the “most talented” player in the draft. Ayton may be emerging as the clear-cut favor, but don’t be surprised to see Doncic’s name called first.

 

2nd – Sacramento Kings: C DeAndre Ayton

Buck: After Justin surprisingly took Luka Doncic, I had no choice but to select the player viewed as most likely to go first overall. Ayton is 7’1’’, 250 lbs and has the ability to step outside and shoot a three pointer. The NBA has been trending towards big man who can shoot, so he is the perfect big for that role. Having averaged 20 points and 11.6 rebounds in college as a freshman, he should be ready to make significant contributions on offense immediately. His defense is more of a question mark, but joining a young team in the Kings and having his rare combination of size and athleticism should allow him to develop that part of his game.

 

3rd – Atlanta Hawks: PF/C Marvin Bagley III

Paura: The players with the highest ceilings are officially off the board, so it only seems natural to take the next best athlete that has proven his dominance. Bagley wasn’t even supposed to play for Duke this past season after graduating high school a year early. Despite being one of the youngest players in the NCAA, Bagley was head-and-shoulders the best player in college basketball’s best conference. He averaged a double-double with 21 points and 11.1 boards per game in route to winning ACC Player of the Year. There are a lot of question marks surrounding his defensive play, but Atlanta ranked 25th in the NBA in terms of scoring this season. Bagley will be able to start right away and be the focal point of the Hawks’ rebuild.

 

4th – Memphis Grizzlies: PF/C Jaren Jackson Jr.

Buck: The Grizzlies are in an unusual position for a team drafting so high in the lottery. Their core is aging with Mike Conley and Marc Gasol both under contract until 2020, and the fan base still believes they can compete with their current roster. Injuries plagued them last year leading them to the lottery, where they can take the best fit available for their team in Jaren Jackson. Standing 6’11’’ with a 7’4’’ wingspan, he was fifth in the NCAA in blocked shots at 18 years, old and shot 40% from three-point range. He should be able to contribute on defensive immediately, while having time to grow his offensive game alongside Gasol.

 

 

5th – Dallas Mavericks: C Mohamed Bamba

Paura: Bamba is a defensive terror. He stands at a long 7’0” tall and has a wingspan of 7’10”. He led the Big 12 in blocks as a freshman averaging nearly four per game and corralled over 10 rebounds per contest. Bamba is a freakish athlete and will immediately wreak havoc on anyone who tries to score on him in the paint. The main concern with him is his build. He is skinny for 7’0”, weighing only 220 pounds. He is going to have to get stronger and polish up his offensive game if he wants to be a great all-around star, but there’s no reason to believe he won’t do just that. If Dallas doesn’t take him here, I don’t think it’s because he falls further on this list. It’s going to be because a certain team from Massachusetts trades up to this pick to add him to their process.

 

6th – Orlando Magic: PG Trae Young

Buck: The Magic traded Elfrid Payton last season for a second round draft pick, ultimately handing their offense over to 30-year-old veteran backup D.J. Augustin. With Aaron Gordon entering restricted free agency this summer and the Magic selecting in the lottery for a sixth straight year, they need this selection to help them win now. The biggest need is obviously point guard and who better to fill that void than Trae Young of Oklahoma. Young became the first freshman ever to lead the NCAA in scoring and assists per game, having averaged 27.4 points and 8.8 assists respectively. He should be ready to run the offense immediately alongside other potential starters Evan Fournier, Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Vucevic.

 

7th – Chicago Bulls: SF Michael Porter Jr.

Paura: The Bulls had a really tough year. They gave away a franchise player in Jimmy Butler and plummeted down five spots in the Eastern Conference to finish 13th. But if you have to look at one thing is a positive light, it can be the guy they got in the Butler trade and the guy they’re going to get thanks to a poor season. Lauri Markkanen was recently named to the prestigious All-Rookie first team alongside Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum and Kyle Kuzma after leading Chicago in points and rebounds. Kris Dunn came over from Minnesota and set the bar with six assists and two steals per game. Then with their pick this year, they’ll take the player who was a shoe-in for the number one pick before he sat out his first and only college season. The future is starting to shape up in the Windy City.

 

8th – Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets): SF/SG Mikal Bridges

Buck: This selection is all about helping the team win now, if LeBron stays, but also helping fill the void left if he leaves this summer. Cleveland probably won’t know of James intentions going into the draft so they’ll need to plan for both situations as best as possible. Mikal Bridges is one of the older prospects projected for the lottery, but he certainly deserves to be selected early on draft day, having won two national championships during his three years at Villanova. Known more as a defensive stopper as a freshman, he has developed an offensive game to go alongside his defensive skills. He has improved his three-point percentage every season, ultimately shooting 43.5% this past year, and he has always averaged over 50% shooting from the field. He should be ready to contribute offensively and defensively as soon as he enters the league.

 

9th – New York Knicks: SF/PF Miles Bridges

Paura: The Knicks are salivating to take either Trae Young or Mikal Bridges. Orlando scooping Young avoids what would have been a huge mistake and the Cavs taking Bridges really creates an interesting situation with the number nine pick. Kristaps Porzingis is the focal point of the team, but Miles Bridges can come in and be the face of New York. He was a star for two years at Michigan State and is a physical beast. He didn’t have a stat-jumping season this past winter but was in a poor situation as Jaren Jackson and Nick Ward manned the front court, forcing Bridges in a different. New head coach David Fitzdale says he doesn’t want “any cupcakes” playing for his team and after going through two years of Tom Izzo, it’s safe to say Bridges will fit in just fine.

 

 

10th – Philadephia 76ers (via Lakers): PF/C Wendell Carter

Buck: Having made the playoffs as the third seed in the Eastern Conference, the 76ers have the luxury of taking the best player sill available. Wendell Carter from Duke has tremendous upside for a tenth overall pick. Standing 6’10’’ with a 7’4.5’’ wingspan, he shot 56% from the field as a freshman, while also showing potential as a three-point shooter, having shot 41.3% on 46 attempts. Carter has also shown the ability to play alongside another big man, playing with lottery big man Marvin Bagley all season long. He can immediately play a key role as the third big man, next to Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, for a team hoping to compete for an NBA Championship.

 

11th – Charlotte Hornets: SG Lonnie Walker IV

Paura: Walker is one of those “do it all” shooting guards that any team would love to have. He can play both sides of the ball, being able to shoot and drive with finesse while also being an aggressive and pesky defender. Alongside Kamba Walker, the former Miami Hurricane will be able to thrive as a wing scorer, proving he’s capable after averaging 11.5 points per game on 35% shooting beyond the arc. Athleticism is something you can’t teach and Walker has a ton of it. He’ll need to be coached properly in order for him to really fill his full potential, but he has a nice starting spot in Charlotte to help him grow.

 

12th – Los Angeles Clippers (via Pistons): SF/PF Kevin Knox

Buck: For the Clippers first selection of their back-to-back picks, I chose Kevin Knox because he has the most upside of any player remaining in the draft.  At 18 years old he led Kentucky in scoring as a freshman this past season. Standing 6’9’’ with a 7’ wingspan he will be able to play either forward position in the NBA. He should also be able to help spread the floor, having shot 34% from three-point range on 167 attempts. He will take some time to develop but the upside is too apparent for the Clippers to pass on him.

 

 

13th – Los Angeles Clippers: PG Collin Sexton

Paura: The Clippers showed the association that they are in full rebuild mode after trading away Blake Griffin mid-season. They used the Pistons’ pick to take Knox and now they need the complimentary guard to set the foundation for the next decade. Collin Sexton, outside of the beginning Trae Young’s season, had the most exciting stretches of basketball during the college year towards the end of the season. He can drive, he can pull-up, he can pass, but most importantly he has hustle. Remember when Alabama had most of their team foul out or get ejected and three players outscored five in the last 10 minutes? Yeah, that’s because Sexton dropped 40 and refused to quit. He reminds me of a young Russell Westbrook and I think he’ll take Austin Rivers’ starting job by the end of the season unless Rivers cries to his daddy.

 

14th – Denver Nuggets: PF/C Robert Williams

Buck: The Nuggets have had one of the best offenses in the league since Nikola Jokic became a starter. They’ve also had one of the worst defenses; this is where Robert Williams comes in. Williams stands 6’9’’ with a 7’5’’ wingspan and weighs 240 lbs. He’s a freak athlete for a player his size with a 40’’ vertical. At Texas A&M his role was simply rebounding and rim protection, which is exactly what the Nuggets need with this selection. He should be able to play alongside Jokic, since Nikola can spread the floor and also play the high-post with his incredible passing talent.

 

15th – Washington Wizards: PG/SG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Paura: There’s no reason anyone should doubt players that go to Kentucky. John Calipari has proved time and time again that he gets his players more NBA-ready than any other coach in the country. He already has Knox going with 12th pick, and now Washington gets another Wildcat point guard in Gilgeous-Alexander. The freshman averaged 14.4 points and over five assists per game for Kentucky while shooting 48.5% from the field and 40% from three. He plays wise beyond his years by constantly making the right decisions and acting as a leader on the court. There’s no better player for him to be mentored by than former Wildcat John Wall and he’ll be another dynamic point guard to have when one of their star guards needs a rest.

 

16th – Phoenix Suns (via Heat): C Mitchell Robinson

Buck: I wanted to continue Justin’s trend of the Suns taking calculated risks in this draft. After taking a playmaker in Luka Doncic first overall, they’ll fill they’re other need here by selecting a center. Robinson is an unknown commodity with huge upside, but a very low floor as well. He skipped his only year of college and didn’t participate in the NBA combine, so there is not much info to help scout him. A five-star high school prospect and a 2017 McDonald’s All-American, he has been measured at 7’0’’ with a 7’4’’ wingspan and weighed in at 233-pounds. As a senior in high school he shot 59% from the free throw line, so he won’t be able to stretch the floor. He should be able to make an impact as a rim protector immediately, however, as he had 11 games with double-digit blocks and one game with 20 blocks in high school.

 

17th – Milwaukee Bucks: SG Jerome Robinson

Paura: The Bucks put together its best season in a long time thanks to the rising stardom of Giannis Antekounmpo. The Greek Freak lead Milwaukee in points, rebounds, assists and steals, acting as a LeBron James-esc floor general. Despite his efforts, he needs to get more help around him on the offensive end. The Bucks ranked 25th in the league in three-point percentage and were in the bottom third in three-pointers made. Jerome Robinson burst upon the scene as a junior this season by posting over 20 points per game on over 48% shooting from the field and over 40% from deep. He has gotten progressively better each year in college and will be a great recipient around the arc for Giannis’ passes to hit some shots.

 

 

18th – San Antonio Spurs: SG/SF Zhaire Smith

Buck: This is the earliest the Spurs have drafted since selecting Kawhi Leonard in 2011. With this pick they’ll take another young defensive player with athleticism and untapped potential. Smith has a vertical of 41.5’’ and was a key contributor on a Texas Tech team that made the Elite Eight. He was very efficient in his only college season, shooting 55.6% from the field and 45% from three-point range, albeit on 40 attempts. At just 19 years old, he showed poise and natural instinct to make the right play even in high-pressure situations during the NCAA tournament, something the Spurs are always looking for. If Smith can fall to the Spurs here in the draft he would be a perfect fill in for when Leonard needs to rest. He could also be looked at as a long-term replacement if the Spurs and Leonard decide to part ways.

 

19th – Atlanta Hawks (via Timberwolves): PG/SG Elie Okobo

Paura: I have Atlanta going with the big man with the third overall pick. Now at 19, the Hawks need to add a guard to aid the rebuild and Elie Okobo is the best one available. There isn’t much footage of Okobo after he spent last season with the professional French club “Pau-Lacq-Orthez”, but what you need to know is that he has shown the ability to improve. He is playing in the best league in France with grown adults and averaged career highs in points (12.9 ppg) and assists (4.8 apg) while shooting at an impressive 39% from three with a further three-point line than the NCAA. Okobo is thought to be one of the steals of the draft and the Hawks could be in really good shape with him and Bagley leading the future.

 

20th – Minnesota Timberwolves (via Thunder): SF/PF Keita Bates-Diop

Buck: The Timberwolves need shooting and defense, hopefully Keita Bates-Diop can help supply both. Standing 6’8’’ with a 7’3’’ wingspan he has the physical capabilities to play both forward positions in the NBA.  As Ohio State’s go-to scorer this past season, he averaged 19.8 points per game while shooting 36% from three-point range on 184 attempts. At 22 years old he would be one of the oldest players selected in the first round, but the Timberwolves are looking to win now so a more physically developed player would be a good thing. He could be a solid role player right away and long-term he could develop into a starting power forward playing alongside Karl Anthony-Towns.

 

 

21st – Utah Jazz: PF Moritz Wagner

Paura: Quin Synder is either the best or second best coach (behind Brad Stevens) in terms of getting the most out of his players. The Jazz lost their leading scorer and only all-star in Gordon Hayward during the offseason, but there was no complaining in Salt Lake City. Utah still grinded out a terrific season that led to fifth place in the Western Conference and a playoff series win over the Thunder. When you talk about the grit of the NBA season you look at Utah, but when you talk about the grit of the NCAA season, you look at Moritz Wagner. Wagner was the heart of John Beilein’s Michigan squad that got all the way to the National Championship this past March, not to mention he averaged 14.6 points per game on 53% shooting. I don’t see a better fit in this first round than Wagner and Synder.

 

22nd – Chicago Bulls (via Pelicans): C Brandon McCoy

Buck: Justin addressed the Bulls need for a scoring wing with his selection of Michael Porter Jr. seventh overall, so with this pick they’ll look to add a center to play alongside Lauri Markkanen. McCoy had one of the most impressive games of the college season this past year, scoring 33 points on 13-of-17 shooting against consensus top two pick, DeAndre Ayton. McCoy finished his lone college season averaging 16.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, making him of the best rebounders coming into the draft. At 7’1’’ and 250 pounds he should make his presence felt immediately in the NBA and can help the Bulls eventually end their rebuild.

 

23rd – Indiana Pacers: PG Aaron Holiday

Paura: The story of the NBA Draft in recent years has been about all the freshmen that go in the first round. However, two of my last three picks just wrapped up their junior seasons and the other plays overseas. My trend is going to continue as the Pacers take Aaron Holiday, another player who adapted the game in college to make himself better without having all of the physical tools that others may have. Holiday took over the starting point guard role at UCLA after Lonzo Ball left and suddenly everything came together. His averaged eight points and over one assist better per game in 2018 than he was in 2017 and showed his leadership as the replacement for probably the most famous college athlete we’ve seen in a long time. The Pacers are one of the Eastern Conference’s scary young teams on the rise and Holiday paired alongside Victor Oladipo could cause a problem sooner rather than later.

 

 

24th – Portland Trail Blazers: SF/SG Troy Brown Jr.

Buck: At 18 years old, Brown is one of the youngest players entering the draft. With the Trail Blazers having a lot of young talent on their roster it will be hard to find playing time for another young draft pick, so selecting a player with high upside seems like the right call with this selection. Brown has all the intangibles to be a solid wing player in today’s NBA. Having excellent court vision and playmaking ability should help him develop more quickly, but the knock on him is his three-point shooting. He shot 29.1% from three on 110 attempts at Oregon, so he’ll need to work on his jumper if he wants to earn minutes for the floor spacing Trail Blazers.

 

25th – Los Angeles Lakers (via Cavaliers): SG Donte Divencenzo

Paura: If you asked any NBA scout in February about Donte Divencenzo, you wouldn’t have anyone saying he’s a first-round pick. In fact, most people would say he should stay at Villanova and some could argue he won’t make the NBA. But then March came along and Divencenzo’s legend emerged. The junior averaged 15 points per game during the Wildcats’ championship run, including a whopping 31 points in the title game against Michigan. He tested out great at the combine with the best standing vertical (34.5 inches) and tied for the best max vertical leap (42 inches) and had multiple scouts finally calling his name, so he stayed in the draft. The Lakers have been doing very well in the draft over the past few years and they’ll once again make a good pick in drafting another athletic guard.

 

 

26th – Philadelphia 76ers: SG Grayson Allen

Buck: Grayson Allen is one of the most explosive prospects in the draft. He turned heads at the NBA combine, posting the fifth-best mark in NBA combine history with a 10.31 second lane agility time. He also had the second-best shuttle run time and his vertical leap of 40.5’’ was good for the fourth highest at the combine. He may have had one of the most controversial college careers in recent memory, but his 38% three-point shooting over four seasons has proven he can be a reliable shooter. He also had a workout in LA in front of about 100 NBA execs and knocked down 20 of 25 three-pointers, further proving himself to be potential sharpshooter. With the 76ers selecting Wendell Carter tenth overall they’ll use this pick to address they’re other need, a floor spacing wing.

 

27th – Boston Celtics: PF Omari Spellman

Paura: The Celtics do not need more much help in order to compete for an NBA title. Boston is the fifth youngest team in the league and pushed Cleveland to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals without all-stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. But if they have to address any one position, it has to be at power forward. Omari Spellman was a perfect piece on Jay Wright’s championship team, working as a double-double threat that could run the floor and stroke it from deep. He’s also one of the youngest high-level players still available this late in the draft. Again, who knows if Boston will have this pick by the time the draft rolls around, but if they do I have no doubts Spellman can provide solid minutes off the bench as a role player.

 

28th – Golden State Warriors: SF Dzanan Musa

Buck: The Warriors don’t have many needs at this point in their roster construction. They currently have four all-stars and a group of young developing big men in Jordan Bell, Kevon Looney, and Damian Jones. With recent G-league revelation Quinn Cook looking like the long-term backup for Stephen Curry, the Warriors should be looking to add wing depth. With this selection they’ll add a 6’9’’ Musa from Bosnia. He has been talked about in scouting circles since earning MVP honors of the U16 European Championship in 2015 while averaging 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists per game and leading his small country to its first FIBA championship win. Musa should add scoring depth to an already stacked Golden State team.

 

29th – Brooklyn Nets (via Raptors): SG/SF Chandler Hutchinson

Paura: Wow do the Nets have the worst situation in the NBA. Still without any top draft picks or stars, Brooklyn does its best to stay competitive and make do with what it has. Hutchinson isn’t a familiar name to most people, mainly because he played for Boise State for four years, but he should be. He averaged 20 points a game as senior and has shot 52% in each of his last three seasons. To me, he is the best player available and right now, that’s what the Nets need the most.

 

 

30th – Atlanta Hawks (via Houston Rockets): PG Jalen Brunson

Buck: Jalen Brunson is a two-time NCAA national champion and he has proven he has the playmaking abilities to make the right pass or create his own shot off the dribble. With Dennis Schroder’s future with the Hawks in flux, the Hawks will look for a reliable option to help run their young offense. Brunson would already be older than last year’s first round pick, John Collins, and this year’s other selected players, Marvin Bagley and Elie Okobo. He would also be more physically ready to run a NBA offense, giving Okobo time to develop as a point guard and allowing him to play off the ball as well. If current rumors of Schroder wanting out of Atlanta are true, Brunson could be a great replacement for a currently rebuilding Hawks team.

 

 

Written by Clifford Buck Jr. and Justin Paura