Sporting Sota NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Minnesota Makes a Buddy
As the NBA Draft is just three weeks away, we have put together the first edition of our NBA Mock Draft.
First off let’s say that the upcoming draft is going to be one of the most important ones in recent memory. Maybe even more important that last year’s draft, as the Minnesota Timberwolves look to round out their roster.
With only one pick in both rounds, the Timberwolves will need to hit on the pick. There will be a few prospects in which the Timberwolves will have to choose from. They have been linked to Hield, Murry, Dunn, Ellenson, Bender, and as of recent Chriss. This pick will be the first big move by the new front office. This mock reflects what I would do if I were running the Timberwolves franchise.
Here is the Sporting Sota NBA Mock Draft 1.0
1. Philadelphia 76ers
player. 93. As we come closer to the draft, the consencous seems that Simmons will be the pick. Adding another big through the draft, as they have for the last three season, means that one of the previous bigs will be moved. Simmons brings a talent that no others have, and the upside to be a superstar in this league. He will become a point forward and has the size to guard multiple positions in this league.. SF. LSU. Ben Simmons . 1
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Duke. Brandon Ingram . 2. player. 20. Ingram will fit nicely in Los Angeles. Will Kobe’s departure, the Lakers are finally able to rebuild. Ingram’s size and skill is a reminder of Kevin Durant when he came out of Texas. He has the length to be a great defender and the first step to be great in the isolation game.. SF
3. Boston Celtics
18. Bender is said to be the player with the most upside in this draft, yet the lowest floor. That seems to be the story when it comes to Euro prospects. Bender is known to have a nice stroke and has the upside to be a great defender. Boston could easily trade this pick with all the assets they have if they are looking for a more proven star.. PF. Israel. Dragan Bender . 3. player
4. Phoenix Suns
player. 66. Brown will be a great fit here. He might be the most athletic prospect in the draft. There are prospects ranked higher than Brown, but most of them are guards. Phoenix has a log jam at guard and will not take another one and there is not a front court prospect worthy of taking with the number 4 pick.. SG. California. Jaylen Brown . 4
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
5. player. 86. The Timberwolves ranked almost last in all statistics from beyond the arc last season. With the 3 being such a huge facet of the modern NBA game, the Wolves can grab the most NBA ready prospect in the draft with a great stroke. Hield could add some fire power to the second unit.. SG. Oklahoma. Buddy Hield
6. New Orleans Pelicans
6. player. 69. The Pelicans have been an injury prone team for the last couple years. With Jrue Holiday injured last season, and Eric Gordon a free agent this summer, they could look to pair Dunn with Anthony Davis for years to come.. PG. Providence. Kris Dunn
7. Denver Nuggets
73. The Denver Nuggets are a team with few holes. They just need to let their young players grow. Pairing a sharp shooter like Murray with last year’s first round pick Emmanuel Mudiay would be a smart move.. SG. Kentucky. Jamal Murray . 7. player
8. Sacramento Kings
player. 67. Recently Chriss has shot up the draft boards of a lot of analysts. He is athletic and jumps out of the gym. A late bloomer who could end up being an amazing fit next to Cousins. This draft will be very important for this team if they are going to make a push for the playoffs and convince Cousins to stay around.. PF. Washington. Marquese Chriss . 8
9. Toronto Raptors
9. player. 81. Ellenson is big with a nice perimeter shot who could end up going earlier if a team wants to take a chance on him. He would be a nice fit for the Raptors who could loose Biyombo in free agency.. PF-C. Marquette. Henry Ellenson
10. Milwaukee Bucks
89. Poeltl had a great season at Utah and gets a lot of pro comparisons to a former Bucks first rounder Andrew Bogut. He has a great stroke and he is as athletic and skilled as any big man in the draft.. PF. Utah. Jakob Poeltl . 10. player
11. Orlando Magic
11. player. 38. Once considered a top 3 pick, Labissiere had a tough year at Kentucky. He still remains a prospect with huge upside and great size and perimeter shooting. If he works out, he could easily pay off for big for the Magic.. PF. Kentucky. Skal Labissiere
12. Utah Jazz
118. Utah is a team that is on the verge of being a great team. They have done well drafting in the last few years. They can continue this by drafting Valentine, the senior who has put up great numbers and improved his game year by year.. SG. Michigan State. Denzel Valentine . 12. player
13. Phoenix Suns
66. With the second of their three first round picks, Phoenix goes with Davis who is raw, but worth the gamble. His size gives him the potential to be a defensive anchor on an NBA squad for years.. PF. Michigan State. Deyonta Davis . 13. player
14. Chicago Bulls
Sabonis had a great college career, and skipped the combine. Some think this was due to a franchise making a promise to him that if he was there, he would be their pick. With Noah on his way out, Sabonis could fit right in.. PF. Gonzaga. Domantas Sabonis . 14. player. 24
15. Denver Nuggets
Wade Baldwin IV . 15. player. 73. Baldwin is a great defender. 6’4″ with a 6’11” wingspan. He shot 42% from three over the last 2 years at Vanderbilt. He is a player who could go a lot higher if a team really likes him.. SG. Vanderbilt
16. Boston Celtics
18. Luwawu has been a YouTube sensation and a highlight reel player. 6’7″ with a 6’11” wingspan, he has the potential to be a great defender and he has a nice perimeter shot.. SG. France. Timothe Luwawu . 16. player
17. Memphis Grizzlies
With Memphis potentially losing Mike Conley this summer, they go for a point guard to groom. Ulis is undersized, yet he was a great floor general for Kentucky last season. He has a nice outside shot also.. PG. Kentucky. Tyler Ulis . 17. player. 211
18. Detroit Pistons
64. 19 year old prospect who has a killer pull up three. Also a dunk contest winner. Could end up staying overseas this season to come over in 2017.. SG. Turkey. Furkan Korkmaz . 18. player
19. Denver Nuggets
PF. Vanderbilt. Damian Jones . 19. player. 73. Has the potential to be a starting center in the NBA. 6’11” with a 7’3″ reach, he comes out very raw but has the size you can not teach.
20. Indiana Pacers
player. 100. Beasley has a good three point shot and would be a nice addition to the Pacers backcourt. Was a nice surprise this season as a young two guard.. SG. Florida State. Malik Beasley . 20
21. Atlanta Hawks
PG. Notre Dame. Demetrius Jackson . 21. player. 125. Had a great season with the Fighting Irish, and could end up being a nice pick if Jeff Teague ends up getting traded away.
22. Charlotte Hornets
SF. Baylor. Taurean Prince . 22. player. 170. Prince has great size for a small forward. Has an NBA ready body to become a three and D wing player right away.
23. Boston Celtics
Cheick Diallo . 23. player. 18. Diallo plays with high energy. Will be a great shot blocker and rebounder at the next level. Boston continues to stack assets.. C. Kansas
24. Philadelphia 76ers
Dejounte Murray . 24. player. 93. Murray has a huge upside. He had no problem getting to the rim this season. He insane measureables and reach that could help him develop into a great defender at the next level.. PG. Washington
25. Los Angeles Clippers
PF. North Carolina. Brice Johnson . 25. player. 77. Johnson averaged a double double this season along his route to help the Tar Heels reach the NCAA Championship game. Being a great rebounder and shot blocker is a skill that will help him in this league.
26. Philadelphia 76ers
DeAndre Bembry . 26. player. 93. Bembry is this year’s player who boosted his stock supremely at the combine, showing that he has great floor vision and can guard multiple positions.. SF. St. Joes
27. Toronto Raptors
81. Richardson saw his stock rise as he had a great March Madness and played and measured well at the combine last month.. SG. Syracuse. Malachi Richardson . 27. player
28. Phoenix Suns
28. player. 66. Zizic is a rangy and athletic big who plays with a high motor. He will be a good player around the basket.. C. Croatia. Ante Zizic
29. San Antonio Spurs
player. 29. The Spurs are a team that can take a chance on a draft and stash prospect. If you have done any reasearch on Qi, he moves like a player who is 6’5″ in a body of a player who is 7’2″ with a 7’7″ wingspan. He will need to add some weight.. C. China. Zhou Qi . 29
30. Golden State Warriors
41. The Warriors are another team that can take a chance on a player who projects well for the future. Enter Thon Maker, who found a loop hole to get into the NBA draft without college. Huge upside.. C. Australia. Thon Maker . 30. player
In conclusion, the Timberwolves select Buddy Hield and take the most NBA ready prospect to fill their biggest need in outside shooting. They could go in a few different ways, but my hope is that it ends up like this. With the Timberwolves working out so many late first round/second round prospects, do be surprised if Thibodeau has Glen Taylor buy a second round pick from somebody. I will admit it though, I am on the Buddy hype train and I hope the next stop is Minneapolis.