Welcome to the 2021 NBA Draft. Pistons around the clock. After winning the NBA lottery draw on Tuesday night, Detroit is in a position to stand a chance of changing the franchise with the No. 1 overall pick. But the Pistons aren’t the only team whose fortunes may have shifted with some ping pong balls. The Rockets, Cavaliers, Raptors and more could end up picking key pieces from their roster on July 29. This year’s draft class features some massive talent at the top, and a few of these young players are expected to contribute once they enter the league with just over a month left for the selections to begin to emerge, here’s Sporting News’ best attempt at a mock draft. NBA DRAFT BIG BOARD: Ranking the top 60 odds in 2021 (Getty Images) https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sporting_news/d6/9e/cade-cunningham-getty-062121-ftrjpg_uxodet9mgm9a10cl3ia3y0obr.jpg? t = 818313978 & w = 500 & quality = 80 NBA Mock Draft 2021, post-lottery edition1. Pistons – Cady Cunningham, GE, Oklahoma State (19) Cunningham is seen as the agreed top pick because he has the size and skill all NBA teams aspire to. He averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game, shooting 40 percent in 155 3-point attempts in his only season with the Cowboys. Turning numbers weren’t great (4.0 per game), but it should be noted that Cunningham had a fairly limited roster. Rockets – Evan Mobley, C, USC (19) Mobley is the kind of big guy who is built to excel in the modern NBA. It can protect the edge (2.9 cubes per game) but moves smoothly enough to stick to guards in a pick-and-roll game. It also has the ability to grow as an offensive peripheral threat. The key to his development is adding muscle to his body (7-0, 215 lbs).3. Cavaliers – Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite (19) It wouldn’t be surprising to see Green emerge as the pure leading scorer of this category, averaging 17.9 points for 46.1% shots in 15 G League games. He is an outstanding athlete who is able to finish the race on the edge, even when he has to fight through friction. He needs to improve his gameplay and be more active defensively, but Green undoubtedly has a massive upside. Raptors – Jalen Suggs, J., Gonzaga (19) One of the biggest stars in college basketball last season, Suggs showed himself as a great captain capable of serving as the team’s primary offensive builder. While Suggs isn’t a long-range sniper (33.7% on three-pointers), he should be able to evolve into a more consistent shooter, and is a clever off-the-ball cutter and computer. Magic – Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite (18) Much like Green, Kuminga is one of the top athletes from this range of possibilities. His size, strength, and weight may allow him to eventually become a legitimate bi-directional wing, but he will need time to develop. Kuminga can be a ball stopper offensively and does not always bring the required intensity defensively. His shooting splits weren’t entirely inspiring (38.7/24.6/62.5 on field goals, three-pointers and free throws), although it wouldn’t be fair to say his shot was just as smashing. 6. Thunder – Scotty Barnes, FL, FL (19 years old) There is a future in which Barnes will make several All-Defensive teams. Florida State threw it at just about every type of player, from lead ballers to the big guys in the basket. He has shown that he can be a good facilitator, but his shot has to improve in order to earn respect from opposing defenders (27.5 percent from outside the arc, 62.1 percent on free throws).7. Warriors (via Timberwolves) – Davion Mitchell, J., Baylor, 22 Mitchell made a real impression during a Baylor Championship race, choking any player in front of him. While he is known as a tenacious defender, Mitchell’s most notable improvements came on the other end of the floor. He became an excellent playmaker (5.5 assists per game) and saw a huge jump in his 3-point shot (32.4% in 2019-20, 44.7% in 2020-21). Magic (via Bulls) – Keon Johnson, Gee, TN, 19 Probably the best word to describe Johnson is explosive. When this guy leads the aisle and takes off toward the basket, good luck trying to stop him. He also makes good use of that speed and athleticism on the defensive end to create problems for opposing guards. Johnson’s primary focus should be on extending his range, shooting only 13 of 38 off-arc in Tennessee. 9. KINGS – Franz Wagner, Michigan (19 years old) Wagner demonstrated ingenuity on both ends of the earth while in Michigan. He is a smart defender of the team and can play with the front yard players, but he fends off smaller goalkeepers. He can also affect the game aggressively without eating property, acting as an attached passer, ranger, or shooter. He may not have the ceiling of players in front of him, but he can play in the league for a long time. Pelican – Corey Kispert, IF, Gonzaga (22) One of the best shooters in this class (44 percent in 6.5 3-point attempts per game last season), Kispert’s accuracy and quick trigger should allow him to make an immediate impact at the next level. He is not an exceptional athlete, but he fights on the defensive side. He must continue to develop his dribbling skills so that he can punish opponents who get too close to the three-point line. 11. HORNETS – Alperin Sengon, C, Besiktas (18) Old-school big man, Sengun has dominated the Turkish Super League, averaging 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 64.6 per cent From the Turkish Super League. field. He has a great touch around the edge and showed a willingness to hit the open man. There are questions about his lack of shooting and defensive limitations. Spurs – Jalen Johnson, F, Duke, 19 Johnson played just 13 games for Duke, leaving the team in February in order to focus on preparing for the NBA draft. His baffling talent was on full display at times, especially his ability to create for himself and others on the open floor. Will those flashes of brilliance outweigh potential concerns about his maturity? Pacers – Josh Jedi, J., Adelaide (18) The Jedi won the NBL Rookie of the Year after averaging 10.9 points, 7.5 assists and 7.4 rebounds per game. He understands how to handle defenses and create passageways. He’s not a lightsaber shooter (29.3 on 3 throws) or an out-of-this-world athlete, but there’s reason to believe he’d develop into a beautiful piece of the NBA rotation. Warriors – James Bucknight, J.L., Connecticut (20) Bucknight gets buckets. A natural scorer (18.7 points per game), the UConn star can find his way to the basket and hit contested jump shots from dribbling, an important skill for NBA guards. He will have to work on his passes and offer a more consistent resistance on the defensive side, but he should provide a lot of offensive firepower.
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