With the lottery happening in the coming weeks, I thought now would be as good a time as any to release a mock draft. However, until the lottery happens, it can be a bit of fruitless exercise because some things will change because of the lottery. So I decided to simulate the lottery using tankathon.com. I ran one simulation and then went through projecting players to teams in the lottery and the Sixers late first round picks. This is more of a projection than what I would do if I was in charge of these teams. For example, I would have Timothe Luwawu rated very highly, but I do not think NBA teams will value Luwawu quite as much as I do. After running the simulation, I got the following draft order: Pelicans, Sixers, Nuggets, Sixers (via Lakers), Celtics (via Nets), Suns, Wolves, Raptors (via Knicks), Kings, Bucks, Magic, Jazz, Suns (via the Wizards) and the Bulls. The Sixers will also pick at number 24 and 26 overall. So, without further ado, here goes the mock draft.
1. New Orleans Pelicans- Ben Simmons (PF, LSU)
Ben Simmons is an amazing fit on the Pelicans. Playing with Anthony Davis would be a godsend for the talented forward. Davis is one of the few centers in the NBA who can space the floor and protect the rim. Davis will be able to help Simmons on offense as a floor spacer and pick and roll partner while using his defensive abilities to make up for some of the deficiencies of Simmons on defense. Simmons probably has a higher ceiling than Ingram and this is a perfect fit for New Orleans so despite Ingram being number one on my big board, I think Simmons to the Pelicans makes a lot of sense.
2. Philadelphia 76ers- Brandon Ingram (SF, Duke)
Ingram has been the number one player on my Sixers-centric big board for months now. He is just a perfect fit for Philadelphia. They need a lot of help on the wing and Ingram can provide support as a shooter, a defender and a creator. Ingram has the potential to be a superstar player and I think he is a surefire NBA player. Ingram would slide right into Philadelphia’s starting lineup as an impact player for a long time. This is a two player draft, and the lottery allowed the Sixers to get one of those two guys, something that should make Sixers fans very happy.
3. Denver Nuggets- Jaylen Brown (SF, Cal)
I am not the biggest Jaylen Brown fan. He has the tools, but some of his actual basketball skills are severely lacking. Still, those tools are tantalizing and Denver has a huge hole on the wing. It might be smart for Denver to bet on Brown’s athleticism and ability to play in transition in Denver’s high altitude. I think Brown would be a great transition partner for dynamic point guard Emmanuel Mudiay. I think Bender could be an interesting fit for Denver, as they have a propensity for international players, but they have solid big men already and the hole on the wing is just too much to overlook if you are Denver. If Brown develops well, he could be a core piece of a really dynamic Nuggets team for years to come.
4. Philadelphia 76ers- Dragan Bender (PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv)
The Sixers have a couple options here. They could use this pick on talented guard like Kris Dunn or Jamal Murray. They could also use this pick on international athlete Timothe Luwawu, who I love as a prospect. Still, with all that being said, I think Bender is the pick here. He is the best player available by far. He is not the same level of prospect as Ingram or Simmons, but I think he is the best prospect on the board and I’m not sure it is very close. Sixers fans may balk at the idea of selecting another big man this high in the draft, but Bender is different. He is incredibly versatile and can fit with any of the Sixers centers. He someday may also be able to play center. That kind of versatility is really key for a team that is so unsure of its future. Bender is a great player and the Sixers would be incredibly lucky to get him at number 4.
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5. Boston Celtics- Jakob Poeltl (C, Utah)
The Celtics front court got exposed in their playoff series against the Hawks. The Celtics guards and wings were able to compete with Atlanta, but their bigs did not fare nearly as well. The Celtics would be really smart to upgrade their frontline and I think Poeltl helps them do that. The big man from Utah could provide some scoring and defense. Poeltl is a really good low post scorer with soft touch and a big body that he uses to get position. On defense, Poeltl is a rim protector who is also fluid enough to guard the pick and roll. That kind of well-rounded defensive ability is key in today’s NBA. The Celtics could really improve their team on both ends of the floor by selecting Poeltl at number 5.
6. Phoenix Suns- Buddy Hield (SG, Oklahoma)
I’m not the biggest Buddy Hield fan. I’m not sure that any part of his game translates to the NBA outside of his shooting ability. He is an average athlete who also does not have great length. Still, I think the Suns are kind of stuck here. The best players on the board are lead guards or combo guards. The Suns already have Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, so I think they will be hesitant to pick a small guard who needs the ball to succeed. The Suns could play Hield offball at either wing position and hope that he really is an outlier who grows into a superstar. I don’t know that I would take Hield this high, but I think the Suns certainly could.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jamal Murray (SG, Kentucky)
Jamal Murray and the Wolves have been paired together in a ton of mock drafts. It makes sense. Murray could help the Wolves by providing some spacing and ballhandling ability. He would fit really well next to Rubio as a secondary creator and floor spacer. Rubio’s defensive prowess could also help cover up some of Murray’s issues on that end of the floor. Murray could be effective as a starter or off the bench. I think a 3 guard rotation of Rubio, Lavine and Murray would be really good. There are a lot of different skillsets and combinations with those three. That would give the Wolves a ton of versatility, which is always a good thing.
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8. Toronto Raptors- Henry Ellenson (PF, Marquette)
The Raptors have needed a stretch power forward for a few years now. Patrick Patterson is good, but this is still one spot where Toronto could really upgrade. Ellenson coming to Toronto would help solve this problem. He has an elite ability to stretch the floor from the power forward spot which could really help to open up the offense. Guys like Kyle Lowry, Demar Derozan and Jonas Valancuinas would thrive offensively with that kind of spacing. I think Ellenson solves an immediate need for a team that is already having some success in the playoffs.
9. Sacramento Kings- Kris Dunn (PG, Providence)
Dunn is a guy that most do not expect to slide this far. He is a really talented lead guard who has a great attitude. Still, most of these lottery teams are well set at the point guard position, so in this iteration, we can see why Dunn might fall. The Kings could definitely use a point guard with Rajon Rondo being a free agent this offseason. Dunn at 9 would be great value for Sacramento and would be really tough to pass on.
10. Milwaukee Bucks- Timothe Luwawu (SG, Mega Leks)
Luwawu fits the Bucks modus operandi. He is a really great athlete with good length. Luwawu could immediately help Milwaukee on the defensive end of the floor. I think his immediate offensive impact will be less, but he could really help long term as he continues to improve as a shooter and overall player. Teams can always use more athletes on the wing and the Bucks can afford to take some gambles considering all the young talent they have.
11. Orlando Magic- Denzel Valentine (SG, Michigan State)
I love Denzel Valentine and the Orlando Magic should be too. He is an incredible offensive talent. Valentine is a really good shooter and a great facilitator from the wing. He can immediately help the Magic out on that end of the floor by providing spacing and playmaking. He also is a good defender despite just decent length and athleticism. Valentine is a good insurance policy for Evan Fournier’s upcoming free agency.
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12. Utah Jazz- Skal Labissiere (PF, Kentucky)
Skal had a really rough first year at Kentucky. He really struggled with his ability to rebound. He’s rail thin and lacks the toughness to make up for that. Still, Labissiere is incredibly talented and hasn’t being playing basketball for that long. He has really good natural touch to go along with solid athletic tools. The Jazz can afford to take a risk here because they have so much young talent, especially in the frontcourt. Labissiere, if he develops well, is a perfect fit next to either Gobert or Favors. This is a high risk, high reward pick that the Jazz can afford to gamble on.
13. Phoenix Suns- Deyonta Davis (PF, Michigan State)
Here, the Suns will be betting on Davis’ upside. At Michigan State, Davis was quite productive in limited minutes while showing defensive ability and the beginnings of fluid jumper. Davis needs to add weight and fill out the rest of his game, but his upside is great and the Suns could use this extra pick to add some young frontcourt depth.
14. Chicago Bulls- Demetrius Jackson (PG, Notre Dame)
The Bulls need to add some point guard depth because Derrick Rose is in the final year of his contract. They have some options with Jackson, Wade Baldwin and Tyler Ulis. Ulis is a steady hand a hometown kid, but I think Jackson is the pick here. He could help space the floor with also being an explosive offensive player next to Jimmy Butler. Chicago would do well to add a dynamic point guard at this point in the lottery.
24. Philadelphia 76ers- Deandre Bembry (SF, Saint Joe’s)
This pick isn’t just because Bembry is a local kid. He can really play. He is an incredibly versatile wing. Bembry is a fluid athlete who has an elite feel for the game. Bembry is a great passer from the small forward spot who can score off of cuts. He also has good length which allows him to be a pretty solid defender. Bembry needs to develop an outside jump shot to be a great role player, but it’s hard to bet against a kid who improved every year at Hawk Hill. The Sixers would do well to grab Bembry at this spot to add depth.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- Isiah Cordinier (SG, France)
There are a lot of guys the Sixers could probably add at this spot. There are guys like Dejounte Murray, Patrick McCaw or Malik Beasley who the Sixers could look at, but I like Cordinier. He is a really explosive athlete who shot really well from three this year. He needs to add weight and there are some concerns with his level of competition, but he could develop into a really nice role player in the future. The Sixers could draft and stash the Frenchmen while he develops. This would be good for a team who has limited spots on its roster for next year.
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