NBA – Full 30 Team Round One Mock Draft
1. Detroit Pistons- Cade Cunningham
Not much thought needs to go into this pick. Detroit will take Cunningham, the consensus top prospect in the class. They’ll have a franchise cornerstone for years to come. The only hiccup they might face is how to proceed with second-year first-rounder, Killian Hayes. With Cade at their fingertips, not taking him would be a colossal mistake. It’s possible Cunningham and Hayes can co-exist. Again, Hayes won’t play a factor in the selection.
2. Houston Rockets- Evan Mobley
Houston has Christian Wood. Houston also has Kevin Porter Jr. Essentially, they can take either Jalen Green or Mobley and be set. Houston takes Mobley because he’s a generational big man. An excellent defender and scorer, he’s the perfect complement to Wood (who’s suffered numerous injury setbacks). This will allow the Rockets to feature a very versatile lineup.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers- Jalen Green
Don’t overthink this, Cavs. Green is the best pure scorer in this draft. Take him and call it a night. Colin Sexton might be on the block. Let’s assume though that all the Cavs key pieces stay. Green gives Cleveland the most dangerous small-ball lineup in the league. Garland, Sexton, Green, Okoro, Allen/Love/Nance and that’s a nasty lineup for any team to go against.
4. Toronto Raptors- Jalen Suggs
Pretty obvious who Toronto goes with. Kyle Lowry will be gone from Toronto in the near future. They need a replacement. Pair up Suggs with last year’s 1sr round pick, Malachai Flynn, and move FVV back to his 6th man role. Toronto is once again a dangerous and exciting roster.
5. Orlando Magic- Scottie Barnes
Johnathan Kuminga is the guy who will bring excitement to Orlando. Barnes is the guy who will bring the wins. Barnes is a jack-of-all-trades and a solid defender. Orlando needs someone who can guard the best players, and contribute in the counting stats. Cole Anthony, Makrkele Fultz, RJ Hampton will all have big roles as scorers, Barnes can help with the nitty and gritty parts of the game.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder- Johnathan Kuminga
The most electric player in the draft class. OKC has an exciting collection of talent. Kuminga can play next to Lou Dort and either Issiah Roby or Poku as the frontcourt starters. He’s not the most polished of players. With the Thunder really trying to develop and acquire players, this gives Kuminga time to sharpen his skills and not be thrown into the fire as the main option right away. Growing pains will be expected, but nobody will pressure him to adjust to the NBA.
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7. Golden State Warriors (from Minnesota)- Jalen Johnson
Golden State wants to be in the NBA Finals next year. Assuming they don’t trade this pick, Jalen Johnson is the most pro-ready big man they can get. With James Wiseman a huge question mark and the Splash Bros returning, a big man is once again the missing piece. By no means is Johnson a complete player. He’s just the only guy who fits GSW’s plan of getting to the playoffs.
8. Orlando Magic (from Chicago)-Kai Jones
I’m not thrilled with Jones as a prospect. Orlando has some really intriguing pieces. With Barnes already drafted, and a great collection of guards, Jones is the next logical player to take. Orlando has Johnathan Issac, Mo Bamba, and Wendell Carter Jr. (assuming the latter two stay with the Magic) and all have question marks about their long-term future. Jones won’t help right away. Orlando does need to address the big man spot. Jones is a good bet to be a serviceable player. Orlando is going to play it safe and take him over Alperen Sengun.
9. Sacramento Kings- Alperen Sengun
Speaking of Sengun, Sacramento isn’t going to mess around. Monte McNair is going to do his best Vlade Divac impression and take the European mystery. If all goes right, he will look like a genius. Sengun has been compared to Nikola Jokic. The Kings aren’t going to make the playoffs. They are the Jekyll and Hyde of the NBA. Sengun will be given time to get minutes. He’s not the safe pick, but Sacramento needs to be aggressive to find the best talent.
10. New Orleans Pelicans- Moses Moody
New Orleans needs a 3-and-D guard in the worst way. Moody is the best of those guys in the draft. Is he the best option here? No. However, he fills a big need for the Pels, who need to find a way to build the best possible roster around Zion Williamson.
11. Charlotte Hornets- Usman Garuba
Charlotte needs a big man. Unfortunately, they won’t have a lot of options here. Garuba is 6-8 and can play the PF. He’s raw and not the perfect fit for the Hornets. However, unless they trade the pick, he’s the only guy who makes sense for a roster that has most of its needs filled outside of a frontcourt option to play the paint.
12. San Antonio Spurs- Josh Giddey
It’s the Spurs. It’s an Australian prospect. Greg Popovich loves Patty Mills. Giddey could learn a lot from his fellow countryman. Giddey is a prospect who has extremely high upside (the 5th best player on my board). This has San Antonio written all over it.
13. Indiana Pacers- Davion Mitchell-
Indiana needs a guard who can step right in and play a role. Mitchell is that player. He’s a great defender and will contribute across the board. He’s not a superstar but will drive the Pacers to wins. I see a lot of Malcolm Brogdon-like potential here.
14. Golden State Warriors- Keon Johnson
GSW got their big man. Now they go for one of the most promising players of the class. The Tennessee product has shown flashes of elite potential. He doesn’t need to be a key piece to the roster. Playing behind Steph and Klay, Johnson will look to stay consistent and develop some winning habits from two of the greatest scorers of our time.
15. Washington Wizards- Corey Kispert
Wizards could afford to use some extra shooting. Kispert is very similar to Kyle Korver. He’s not only a shooter, he’s a glue guy who’s key to a title run. The Wizards future is unknown. Adding a deadly shooter doesn’t hurt anyone.
16. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Boston) Ziaire Williams
Once again, OKC can take the best player available and just let nature take its toll. Williams was a top-5 prospect coming into the year. He slipped a bit during the collegiate season. He will fall because of it. The risk far outweighs the reward. Williams is still a top-5 guy if he reaches that potential. Thunder could get him at 16. Pretty good value.
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17. Memphis Grizzlies- Ayo Dosonmu
The best player in college basketball last year. Dosonmu will probably be a backup to Ja Morant. That’s not a downgrade for him at all. Memphis is a fast-paced team. Ayo will thrive as the lead playmaker of the second unit. And lord help us if the Grizzlies run a Ja, Ayo, Desmond Bane/Dillion Brooks lineup.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami) Isaiah Jackson
Here are go again. Thunder once again take the best available. They could afford to deepen their frontcourt with Roby and Poku as their main guys. Jackson can block shots. He’s a developing offensive threat. Take the high upside player, and like Williams and Kuminga, high risk-high reward.
19. New York Knicks- Day’Ron Sharpe
Knicks have two picks in the first. Coach Thibs doesn’t like to play rookies. New York needs a big man to play alongside Julius Randle. I don’t believe in Obi Toppin, so I’m going to project them taking Day’Ron Sharpe. He’s the most effective passing big in the class. The scoring is a bit of a concern. He’s not going to play much this year. The shooting can be fine-tuned.
20. Atlanta Hawks- Ariel Hukporti
Atlanta is going the draft and stash route. They’ve got talent at every position. Ariel Hukporti is a center with a high upside that could prove to be a very effective NBA player. At the very least, he’s a trade chip for the Hawks. I do think Atlanta will look to deal this pick.
21. New York Knicks (from Dallas) James Bouknight
Let me start off by saying, Bouknight is a top-10 player. I get the feeling some teams are shying away because he’s not a very effective shooter, rather a much better slasher. His scoring upside is through the roof even as a slasher. The Knicks need any type of scoring they can get. A lot of teams are going for the home runs or safe picks. Bouknight falls more on the latter, but teams are going to pass. Knicks get a steal.
22. Los Angeles Lakers- Cameron Thomas
Thomas is a top-3 scorer in the class. He doesn’t do much else. As a freshman, he’s got room to develop that. Lakers need a prime scorer for the roster. Thomas can step in and provide some punch right away. Probably the only guy who can do that instantly this late.
23. Houston Rockets (from Portland) Diashen Nix
Nix is the best passing guard in the class. He was overshadowed by Green and Kuminga on the G-League Ignite roster, but not outplayed. At some point, Houston is going to need a future at PG that’s not John Wall. That’s Nix.
24. Houston Rockets (from Milwaukee)- Isaiah Todd
Another G-League Ignite member, Todd has just enough potential to crack the 1st round. He’s raw but talented. Todd will sit for a while, maybe even back on a G-League roster. If this pans out, he’s a solid starter for Houston in due time.
25. LA Clippers – Sharife Cooper
Whatever his height is, Cooper is a stud. He might be too short (although the combined measurements say otherwise), but Cooper is a sparkplug. The Clippers need to inject some life into their roster. Cooper doesn’t get a lot of love. LA needs the scoring punch.
26. Denver Nuggets – Nah’Son Hyland
Hyland is a phenomenal defensive PG. He’s not a stud offensive prospect. He can run an offense and not kill you on defense. With Jamal Murray in the mix, Hyland is the perfect backup for him.
27. Brooklyn Nets – Jaden Springer
I don’t like Springer. I see him falling. He’s a freak athlete, not a polished player. Brooklyn is going to be hard-pressed to find talent with their big-3. Why not take a freak athlete to fill out the roster?
28. Philadelphia 76ers – J.T. Thor
You might be thinking Philly needs a PG with Simmons getting dealt. Nope, that’s Tyrese Maxey’s job to lose. Thor is a top-5 prospect in the 2022 Draft. He’s slipping here because he needs development. Can’t fault Philly for taking him.
29. Phoenix Suns – Miles McBride
Need a CP3 replacement? Here’s your guy. McBride is a battle-tested guard who can be a starting PG very quickly. There’s a lot of projection left in his game. If Paul leaves (or stays) he’s the perfect player to fill the gap and provide some stability. Given his defensive chops, he’s going to be a mainstay on the court too.
30. Utah Jazz – Franz Wagner
Woah! What a steal for Utah. Wagner is a top-10 guy according to most. In all transparency, he’s probably going higher. I feel he’s a very safe player. Not a star, a solid role guy. And like Bouknight, he’s going to slide as teams try and hit the home run.
Image Source: Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
