NBA Draft Mock: Los Angeles Lakers find Dennis Schroder’s replacement
2021 NBA Draft Mock Toronto Raptors select Jalen Suggs, PG, Gonzaga
Just one year removed from a deep playoff run, the Toronto Raptors are ecstatic to be in a position to land a member of this draft class’ “big four.”
With Lowry likely leaving in free agency, Suggs is good enough to start right away and form a potent back-court pairing with incumbent Fred VanVleet.
He’ll need to improve his long-range shooting and clean up the careless turnovers, but Toronto is the perfect landing spot for Suggs to succeed long-term.
2021 NBA Draft Mock: Orlando Magic select Jonathan Kuminga, SF/PF, G-League
While the Orlando front office might privately be lamenting yet slide in the lottery, Jonathan Kuminga is a fantastic consolation prize.
In recent mocks, Kuminga has often been sliding in favor of Scottie Barnes, so it wouldn’t be a complete shock for Barnes to pick. However, I think that Orlando likes Kuminga due to his very high ceiling.
A gifted athlete, Kuminga was given plenty of opportunities to handle the ball against the tough competition of the G-League, with mixed results.
However, he flashed enough encouraging signs to remind everyone why he was once considered a potential #1 overall pick.
2021 NBA Draft Mock: Oklahoma City Thunder select Scottie Barnes, SF/PF, Florida State
With their war-chest of draft capital in the upcoming years and their roster still years from contention, the Thunder can afford to take a high-upside prospect that needs some development.
Scottie Barnes will enter the NBA as an elite defender, a surprisingly adept playmaker, but a limited offensive player. However, the idea of finding the next Draymond Green will be too compelling to pass up.
2021 NBA Draft Mock: Golden State Warriors select Josh Giddey, PG, Adelaide 36ers (Australia)
The first pick of this mock that’s from left-field sees the Warriors select Australian Josh Giddey.
As an 18-year-old, Giddey led the NBL (the top league in Australia) in assists, a feat not even LaMelo Ball managed to do in his time Down Under.
While Giddey isn’t the athlete that Ball is, his court vision is exceptional and would allow him to quickly become a key cog in the Warriors’ ball-movement-centric offense.
2021 NBA Draft Mock: Orlando Magic select Moses Moody, SG, Arkansas
Using a pick they acquired in the Nikola Vucevic trade, the Orlando Magic select the best 3-and-D prospect in the draft in Moses Moody.
Moody has a 7-foot wingspan, and a jump shot that is better than his 36% from three would indicate. While his ball-handling leaves a lot to be desired, the bevy of PGs on the roster will allow the Magic to maximize Moody’s strengths.