Barstool NBA Two Round Mock Draft: We Have A Trade for No. 1
1. Philadelphia 76ers – Markelle Fultz (Washington)
It’s a perfect for the Sixers. While we are still waiting to hear the exact details of this rumored trade, I love it for the Sixers. They get the clear No. 1 prospect in this draft, especially with a couple of weak guard drafts coming up. They will have a core of Simmons-Embiid-Covington (a top-100 player)-Fultz. That’s not too shabby. Again, Fultz can play both on or off the ball and will step in and contribute right off the bat.
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Lonzo Ball (UCLA)
Take LaVar out of the equation here. He’s not part of Lonzo’s ability on the court and we’ve seen what he’s capable of. Sure, you can be worried about his ability to score in the midrange or his defense, but there’s no doubting he makes a team better from the point guard spot. Again, Magic has been pretty enamored with Lonzo for quite some time and it’s hard to imagine him passing on him at this spot.
3. Boston Celtics – Jayson Tatum (Duke)
Going to go Big J here for a second and have had more than one source tell me if Boston stays at No. 3 it will be Jayson Tatum and not Josh Jackson going. That’s the right decision. Tatum is easily the more rounded offensive player and is a stronger rebounder than people realize. Tatum can step in and help with scoring right off the bat as he can score at all three levels.
4. Phoenix Suns – Josh Jackson (Kansas)
The Suns have a couple of ball-dominant guards in Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker. They need help on the wing and they’ll take Jackson over Isaac here. Personally I like Isaac a little bit better, but Jackson fits the Suns better due to his ability to move without the ball. After taking front court help last year, the Suns need to focus on the wing.
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5. Sacramento Kings – De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky)
At this point, the Kings will have to decide between Fox or Isaac if they are both on the board. This team will be better off playing a faster tempo, which is what Fox brings to the table. He’s one of the quickest guys off the bounce from end line to end line and giving guys like Hield and Cauley-Stein the ability to run makes them better. In a guard dominant league, take the guard.
6. Orlando Magic -Dennis Smith Jr (NC State)
The Magic need someone who can give them scoring. More importantly they need someone who can go get their own buckets and Dennis Smith can do just that. He’s excellent in the pick-and-roll set, which you can run with Aaron Gordon letting Smith attack off of that while Gordon dives to the rim. The Elfrid Payton era isn’t working out and it’s time to get a guy who can be a multiple All-Star in Smith.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves – Jonathan Isaac (Florida State)
The Wolves need help either at the shooting guard spot or at the stretch four spot. That’s where they go with this pick with Malik Monk off the board. You slide Karl-Anthony Towns to the center spot and assuming LaVine comes back healthy you roll out a five of Rubio-LaVine-Wiggins-Isaac-Towns, which is pretty long, athletic and can defend. Isaac was a strong weakside rim protector this past season at Florida State and throw him in Thibs scheme, you may see this team lead the league in blocks.
8. New York Knicks – Malik Monk (Kentucky)
With Dennis Smith off the board the Knicks will have to decide between Monk or Ntilikina. The fact is the Knicks should take Monk here and then take a point guard like a Monte Morris in the second round with one of their two picks. Or as I discussed with Sam Vecenie on his podcast this week, make an offer for someone like George Hill and run Hill-Monk-Melo-Lee-Kristaps as your five.
9. Dallas Mavericks – Frank Ntilikina (France)
The Mavs will have a bunch of options here at this spot and I’m switching from my original pick of Lauri here. They should lock up Nerlens and then get the young point guard here and let them run the pick-and-roll and be a solid defense duo for the next couple of years. The Mavs need a lot of help, so it’s hard to see them going wrong here.
10. Sacramento Kings – Lauri Markkanen (Arizona)
This would be an ideal draft for the Kings as I mentioned earlier they will need some wing help, especially if Rudy Gay leaves. While Markkanen is 7’0? he’s a wing, especially with the way he shoots the ball. He will have some rim protection with Cauley-Stein behind him and be able to still get up and down the court. Also, taking Markkanen helps keep the lane open for Fox to drive with Lauri and Buddy shooting.
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11. Charlotte Hornets – Zach Collins (Gonzaga)
The Hornets simply were not a good rebounding team last year. Zach Collins can step in and fix that almost right away. Collins is skilled enough to step away from the basket and play both the four or five spot, while protecting the rim. He’s an excellent shot blocker that can provide helpside defense and give Kemba Walker another scoring option to play with.
12. Detroit Pistons –Luke Kennard (Duke)
The Pistons need help shooting the ball and that’s where Luke Kennard can come into play. He’s a 6’6″ combo guard that can play on the ball if you need him to. On top of that he’s an excellent passer and can score from nearly all over the court. Yes, there are questions about his ability to finish with contact or at the rim, but he can shoot the ball. The Pistons need that.
13. Denver Nuggets – OG Anunoby (Indiana)
The Nuggets need help with defense and if he comes back healthy, there may not be a better defender in this class. On top of that the Nuggets can move Jamal Murray to the point guard spot permanently and get creative with their lineups, especially with someone like Anunoby.
14. Miami Heat – Donovan Mitchell (Louisville)
Do you trust Dion Waiters for an entire season? That’s why the Heat take Donovan Mitchell here. He’s a guy who showed this year he’s a capable shooter and has always been a terrific defender. You can slide him in next to Dragic or Johnson and let him run off the ball. He’s an elite athlete with a 6’10” wingspan that will fit it nicely with Spo’s system.
15. Portland Trail Blazers – John Collins (Wake Forest)
The Blazers are obviously set in the backcourt and need help with the frontcourt and wing spots. John Collins is a guy who was the ultimate breakout star as a sophomore in college basketball. He made a legit push for ACC Player of the Year and most notably just shot 16-of-25 from three in a workout. If that shot comes true, he’ll easily be a top-10 player in this draft. He’s not strong defensively, but he’ll crash the offensive glass and finish at the rim, giving Lillard and McCollum space to work.
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16. Chicago Bulls – Justin Jackson (UNC)
What’s that? An upperclassmen who had a great year and a strong NCAA Tournament going to the Bulls? That’s something they’d never do. It’s too much of a Bulls pick to take Justin Jackson here, but it’s not the worst thing they’ve done. Jackson can be that 3-and-D type player as he made 105 threes this last season and did show flashes of defensive strengths using his length.
17. Milwaukee Bucks – Ike Anigbogu (UCLA)
With Jabari Parker battling another injury, look for the Bucks to go with a big here. Anigbogu fits what the Bucks like. Long, tall and a bunch of upside. It’s how they typically draft guys. They do need a little bit of help in the frontcourt and that’s where a ‘project’ like Anigobgu can come into play. He graded out with a ridiculous 7’6? wingspan at the combine and averaged 12.4 rebounds per-40 minutes while at UCLA. He also put up 3.7 blocks per-40.
18. Indiana Pacers – Jarrett Allen (Texas)
Allen played out of position at Texas and was still fairly dominant as a freshman. Luckily for him Shaka Smart isn’t the head coach of the Pacers to play him almost exclusively at the power forward spot. Allen is someone who can protect the rim and is starting to develop more of an offensive game, but does need to expand his shooting touch. The Pacers could run a couple Texas bigs next year with Allen and Turner.
19. Atlanta Hawks – Bam Adebayo (Kentucky)
There’s a chance the Hawks may only have seven guys under contract once free agency starts, including losing Paul Millsap. People say he also resembles Dwight Howard with his broad shoulders, so why not put him in Atlanta? In all seriousness, Adebayo is a super athletic big that has strong lateral quickness and can defend. You hope he continues to learn how to protect the rim and gets a softer touch around the rim with his hook, but he’s full of potential.
20. Portland Trail Blazers – Harry Giles (Duke)
Someone could get the steal of the draft in Harry Giles, but that’s completely dependent on his health. He was regarded as the best prospect in this class just a few years ago and Portland, with three first round picks, can take the risk on Giles. If they hit with him it’s an added bonus.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder – Terrence Ferguson (Australia)
The Thunder need help scoring the ball. Andre Roberson is a good defender, but we saw what happens when teams dare him to beat them. It didn’t work out too hot. Ferguson is a 3 and D type guy, who can be an excellent shooter after spending a year in Australia. He’s already an excellent athlete and his defense should translate to the NBA.
22. Brooklyn Nets – DJ Wilson (Michigan)
The Nets aren’t going to be good. That’s a line that will be said for the next couple of years, so take some guys who might be seen as ‘reaches’ to help you here. Wilson has a ton of upside and was one of the best players in the country over the last month of the season. He has good size and can take defenders off the bounce as well as stretch the floor.
23. Toronto Raptors – Justin Patton (Creighton)
The Raptors need a different look in the post. That’s where Patton can come into play. He can help protect the rim as he averaged 1.4 blocks per game last year at Creighton and won’t just sit in the post offensively. He’s not going to kill you at the 3-point line but he wants to be moving to the rim and constantly cutting.
24. Utah Jazz – Derrick White (Colorado)
Derrick White was one of four guys from major conferences to put up 18/4/4 per game this past season. The other three? Fultz, Dennis Smith and Frank Mason. Not bad company. He’s been flying up draft charts and with the Jazz possibly losing Gordon Hayward, it make sense to take someone who can play on the wing.
25. Orlando Magic – TJ Leaf (UCLA)
Leaf is a guy that can step in and immediately contribute on the offensive side of the ball. He’s an excellent stretch player, especially in the small ball era. He does need some help defensively, but if your team isn’t going to contend let him learn that through a season of playing. He has the ability to stretch the floor and can let you get creative with some of your lineups.
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26. Portland Trail Blazers – Semi Ojeleye (SMU)
The third first round pick for the Blazers, they take a guy who could step in as a 3-and-D type player. Ojeleye has good size, but more importantly during his transfer year and one season at SMU became consistent with his shot. The Blazers do need frontcourt help, but take two traditional bigs in the first round and take one of these ‘no position’ guys here.
27. Brooklyn Nets – Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State)
Again, the Nets need to just take talent and hope for the best. Evans is a guy that could go higher, but there are a stretch of teams where he’s not a great fit (again this mock doesn’t take into account make believe trades). Yes there are size questions and his ability to finish in the paint without his floater, but he’s absolutely dynamic in the pick and roll set.
28. Los Angeles Lakers – Isaiah Hartenstein (Zalgris – Lithuania)
The Lakers can take Hartenstein and decide what they want to do with him as he does need to improve offensively in the halfcourt. If they do play him this year, he’s a guy that will come in and rebound right away and does have decent size. You can play him alongside Julius Randle and try to dominate the glass between those two. If he can get up and down the court, pairing him with Lonzo Ball and Randle passing the ball, you can have some success.
29. San Antonio Spurs – Frank Jackson (Duke)
The Spurs have no problem taking guys, letting them develop in the D-League as a two-way player and then eventually help out to continue to be a contender. With Tony Parker getting up there in age, Patty Mills being around for some time, the Spurs will take best player available here. Honestly, they’ll probably go with an international guy just because they are the Spurs, but it’s fun to go against the grain.
30. Utah Jazz – Jordan Bell (Oregon)
Jordan Bell was perhaps the biggest winner at the combine Chicago. Couple that with what he did in the NCAA Tournament and he’s someone people are starting to get more interested in. He was in my eyes the best defensive player in the country last season and is an excellent rebounder. He’s the exact type of big you want to come off the bench and can provide rim protection when Gobert needs a breather.
Second Round
31. Atlanta Hawks – Tyler Lydon (Syracuse)
32. Phoenix Suns – Ivan Rabb (Cal)
33. Orlando Magic – Josh Hart (Villanova)
34. Sacramento Kings – Anzejs Pasecniks (Latvia)
35. Orlando Magic – Tony Bradley (UNC)
36. Philadelphia 76ers – Caleb Swanigan (Purdue)
37. Boston Celtics – Johnathan Motley (Baylor)
38. Chicago Bulls – Alec Peters (Valpo)
39. Philadelphia 76ers – Mathias Lessort (France)
40. New Orleans Pelicans – Edmond Sumner (Xavier)
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41. Charlotte Hornets – Kyle Kuzma (Utah)
42. Utah Jazz – Thomas Bryant (Indiana)
43. Houston Rockets – Tyler Dorsey (Oregon)
44. New York Knicks – Monte Morris (Iowa State)
45. Houston Rockets – Cam Oliver (Nevada)
46. Philadelphia 76ers – Wesley Iwundu (Kansas State)
47. Indiana Pacers – PJ Dozier (South Carolina)
48. Milwaukee Bucks – Dwayne Bacon (Florida State)
49. Denver Nuggets – Jonah Bolden (UCLA/Australia)
50. Philadelphia 76ers – Alberto Abalde (Spain)
51. Denver Nuggets – Frank Mason (Kansas)
52. Washington Wizards – Dillon Brooks (Oregon)
53. Boston Celtics – Sindarius Thornwell (South Carolina)
54. Phoenix Suns – Devin Robinson (Florida)
55. Utah Jazz – L.J. Peak (Georgetown)
56. Boston Celtics – Vlatko Cancar (Slovenia)
57. Brooklyn Nets – Jaron Blossomgame (Clemson)
58. New York Knicks – Nigel Williams-Goss (Gonzaga)
59. San Antonio Spurs – Sterling Brown (SMU)
60. Atlanta Hawks – Luke Kornet (Vanderbilt)