PistonPowered NBA mock draft 1.0
PistonPowered debuts its first NBA mock draft of the season with all 30 teams finally locked into their draft positions.
Welcome to PistonPowered’s mock draft version 1.0. Before we jump in here is the ground rules:
The mock draft will only go 18 spots deep. This is a Detroit Pistons blog and who really cares how the draft plays out after 18 if we aren’t doing a mock for the second round?
Secondly, picks are not made in a way that favors the Pistons. The idea here is to try to get a realistic sense of who’s going to be on the board by the time the team picks.
Finally, there will be no projected trades. While it seems likely that a few teams could look to move out of their current positions (Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz), there’s no point in trying to predict what’s going to happen on draft night this far out.
1. Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons . 1. player. 93. Easy pick. Simmons is the best player in the draft and he does almost everything exceptionally well already.. SF. LSU
2. Los Angeles Lakers
SF. Duke. Brandon Ingram . 2. player. 20. Getting the second pick in the draft made things easy for the Lakers. They take either Ingram or Simmons and can’t be faulted because they didn’t have a choice. In this case the Lakers get the better shooter to pair on the wing with Jordan Clarkson and D’angelo Russell
3. Boston Celtics
Dragan Bender . 3. player. 18. The Celtics could go in a number of different directions. I think they go with high-upside Bender here to eventually replace Jared Sullinger.. PF. Israel
4. Phoenix Suns
66. If the draft plays out this way the Suns will have to go plan B (plan A would have been Bender). Plan B isn’t so bad as Ellenson is my top rated power forward.. PF-C. Marquette. Henry Ellenson . 4. player
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
5. player. 86. The Timberwolves would like to find Karl-Anthony Towns a running mate down low, but with Ellenson and Bender off the board they select one of the best scorers in the draft with good upside. The T-Wolves could also go point guard here depending on what they plan on doing with Ricky Rubio moving forward. Chad Ford, in his latest mock draft thinks Minnesota will go Kris Dunn with defensive minded Tom Thibodeau running the front-office.. SG. Kentucky. Jamal Murray
6. New Orleans Pelicans
Oklahoma. Buddy Hield . 6. player. 69. Another easy pick. With Murray off the board, the Pelicans’ consulation prize is the next best shooter/scorer in the draft in Hield to help out on the wing.. SG
7. Denver Nuggets
7. player. 73. Great fit and all-star potential. Mike Malone will get the most out of Chriss.. PF. Washington. Marquese Chriss
8. Sacramento Kings
Providence. Kris Dunn . 8. player. 67. Might as well start grooming the point guard of the future with the uncertainty surrounding Rajon Rondo.. PG
9. Toronto Raptors
Skal Labissiere . 9. player. 81. This likely seems a little high for Labissiere for some of you, but I would wager that he continues to rise throughout the draft process. When picking in the top 10 it’s wise to go with a player who has upside. Labissiere has that and could be a great fit next to Jonas Valanciunas.. PF. Kentucky
10. Milwaukee Bucks
PF. Utah. Jakob Poeltl . 10. player. 89. Greg Monroe was a cute signing, but the Bucks likely realize now that he is not a fit. I’m not all that confident in this mock for the Bucks, but this pick makes a lot of sense if they plan on trading Monroe.
11. Orlando Magic
player. 38. The Magic have a lot of nice pieces, but there isn’t a clear-cut answer at point guard. This may feel like a reach for Luwawu, but his size and skill set should appeal to G.M.s.. PG. France. Timothe Luwawu . 11
12. Utah Jazz
California. Jaylen Brown . 12. player. 118. Not a real need for Brown with their current nucleus, but he’s got decent upside and the Jazz can afford to be patient with him as he develops.. SG
13. Phoenix Suns
Denzel Valentine . 13. player. 66. Great draft for Phoenix so far. First they address their need at power forward and then they get one of the most well-rounded players in the draft in Valentine.. SG. Michigan State
14. Chicago Bulls
Michigan State. Deyonta Davis . 14. player. 24. Chicago needs to address their front court with Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah likely out the door. Davis is a raw player, but can defend the rim, block shots, and extend the floor a bit with an improving jump shot.. PF
15. Denver Nuggets
player. 73. Mudiay needs a running mate and the Nuggets addressed their front court need already in Chriss. Korkmaz could be a good fit here.. SG. Turkey. Furkan Korkmaz . 15
16. Boston Celtics
Croatia. Ante Zizic . 16. player. 18. Boston doubles down on their front court with two moblie big-men that gives them match-up versatility.. C
17. Memphis Grizzlies
What’s going to happen with Mike Conley? The Grizzlies need a backup plan if he leaves and Jackson can be just that. I could also see Sabonis or Baldwin IV here.. PG. Notre Dame. Demetrius Jackson . 17. player. 211
18. Detroit Pistons
Domantas Sabonis . 18. player. 64. Free agency will weigh heavily in this pick. I like Baldwin IV more than Sabonis–and the Pistons might too–but what dollar amount is it going to take in free agency to upgrade the power forward spot behind Tobias Harris? That’s what ultimately tips the scale for Sabonis here. Also don’t be surprised if Thon Maker comes into play. The Pistons expressed a willingness to draft high upside players and Maker certainly fits that description.. PF. Gonzaga