Updated 7/29/21
Top 5 focus:
1 – Cade Cunningham – PG/SF – Oklahoma State – Quick Take: Cade has been no.1 in our mock for 2+ years. He’s dominated every level of competition he’s faced and has looked like the best player on the floor every time out. The gap between Cade and the next two players isn’t as wide as it seemed 6 months ago but he is still holding on to the top spot. His versatility is obvious but his scoring ability was somewhat hindered in college with defenses focusing their attention on him and his assists numbers would have been higher playing with better shot-makers. Cade will benefit as much as anyone from playing with NBA spacing and NBA talent. He’ll never be an elite speedster and his lack of blow-by speed is his one clear weakness but his handles, body control, balance are special and he’s got an elite skill level.
2 – Jalen Green – SG – G League Ignite – Quick Take: Green is the most explosive scorer in the draft with wiry, freaky athleticism and a lethal step back jumper. He has an elite first step and explodes to the rim like a young Kobe. Green has the type of talent to go no.1 overall in many draft classes and there’s a slight chance he jumps over Cade for the top spot this year. He’ll be a high scorer from game one and will surprise with his passing and feel for the game. He’s the real deal.
3 – Evan Mobley – C – USC – Quick Take: Mobley has elite upside and is one of the more polished center prospects to come along in years. He’s an elite offensive talent with a great feel for the game, perimeter skills and post moves. He’s versatile on defense and can really protect the rim. He’s not far behind Cade and Jalen Green on this list but there are a few question marks that drop him to no.3, most notably his slight frame and a few small questions about his intensity. I’d hesitate to draft him no.1 but if he falls to 3 or 4 he’d be a great value. Mobley would be a decent fit in Houston paired with Christian Wood but his best fit in this range would be with the Cavs.
4 – Scottie Barnes – PG/SF/PF – Florida State – Quick Take: In early March I put Scottie into the top 5 of the mock draft, which was a tough move because the reality is there are 6 players who deserve to be in the top 5. The things that separate Scottie are his truly special defensive ability, his passion and leadership and his elite play-making ability. Add in a 7-3 wingspan and a rock solid 6-8 frame and it’s near impossible to keep him out of the top 5. His obvious weakness is shooting the ball from outside but his shot isn’t broken and I’m a believer that he’ll develop into at least an average NBA 3pt shooter over the coming seasons. Even without a polished jumper he’s a special talent who will open a lot of eyes his rookie season. The Raptors love big, versatile wings and might be willing to move Pascal and fill that spot with Scottie Barnes. Another ideal landing spot for Barnes would be in Orlando, while his draft floor is probably no.6 to the Thunder.
5 – Jalen Suggs – PG/SG – Gonzaga – Quick Take: OK, this one hurts a bit. I really want to have Suggs top 4 and can even see the case for him to be top 3 in this class. But someone has to fall and for me it can’t be Cade, Green, Mobley or Scottie. Suggs is a certified winner, leader and warrior on the court. He can take over the game offensively and plays like an All Pro safety on defense. There is little doubt about his game translating to the league but there are some questions about his 3pt shooting (will he be great or just average from downtown?) and will he be able to impose his will as effectively as he did in college? Suggs would be a great fit in Toronto, if they decide to go with a guard at no.4, or he could fall to the Magic at 5 or the Thunder at 6. I especially like the combo of SGA and Suggs in OKC. Both are versatile players who can play on or off the ball and they’d form a potentially dominant backcourt going forward.
Here’s the full top 70 big board:
- Cade Cunningham – PG – Oklahoma State
- Jalen Green – SG – G League Ignite
- Evan Mobley – PF/C – USC
- Scottie Barnes – PG/SF/PF – Florida State
- Jalen Suggs – PG/SG – Gonzaga
- Jonathan Kuminga – SF – G League Ignite
- Josh Giddey – PG – Australia
- Moses Moody – SG – Arkansas
- Alperen Sengun – PF/C – Turkey
- Keon Johnson – SG – Tennessee
- James Bouknight – SG – UConn
- Kai Jones – PF – Texas
- Franz Wagner – SF – Michigan
- Usman Garuba – PF/C – Spain
- Davion Mitchell – PG – Baylor
- Jalen Johnson – SF – Duke
- Jared Butler – PG/SG – Baylor
- Jaden Springer – SG – Tennessee
- Day’Ron Sharpe – C – North Carolina
- Cam Thomas – SG – LSU
- Chris Duarte – SG – Oregon
- Nah’Shon Hyland – PG – VCU
- Trey Murphy III – SG-SF – Virginia
- Isaiah Jackson – PF/C – Kentucky
- Corey Kispert – SG/SF – Gonzaga
- Tre Mann – SG – Florida
- Sharife Cooper – PG – Auburn
- Isaiah Todd – PF – G League Ignite
- J.T. Thor – PF – Auburn
- Ziaire Williams – SF – Stanford
- Joe Wieskamp – SG – Iowa
- Myles McBride – PG – West Virginia
- Ayo Dosunmu – PG/SG – Illinois
- Josh Primo – SG – Alabama
- Vrenz Bleijenbergh – SF – Belgium
- Josh Christopher – SG – Arizona State
- Jeremiah Robinson-Earl – SF/PF – Villanova
- Herb Jones – SF – Alabama
- Quentin Grimes – SG – Houston
- Aaron Henry – SG/SF – Michigan State
- Kessler Edwards – SF – Pepperdine
- Rokas Jokubaitis – SG – Lithuania
- Brandon Boston Jr. – SG – Kentucky
- Neemias Queta – C – Utah State
- Filip Petrusev – C – Serbia
- Sandro Mamukelashvili – PF/C – Seton Hall (Tbilisi, Geogia)
- Joel Ayayi – SG – Gonzaga
- Dalano Banton – SF – Nebraska
- Charles Bassey – C – Western Kentucky
- Amar Sylla – PF – Senegal
- Feron Hunt – PF – SMU
- Austin Reaves – SG – Oklahoma
- Jericho Sims – C – Texas
- D.J. Stewart – SG – Mississippi State
- David Johnson – PG – Louisville
- RaiQuan Gray – PF – Florida State
- Santi Aldama – PF – Loyola (MD)
- Duane Washington Jr. – PG – Ohio State
- EJ Onu – C – Shawnee State
- David Duke – SG – Providence
- Luka Garza – C – Iowa
- Paul Scruggs – SG – Xavier
- Jason Preston – PG – Ohio
- Greg Brown – PF – Texas
- Isaiah Livers – SF – Michigan
- JaQuori McLaughlin – SG – UC Santa Barbara
- Daishen Nix – PG – G League Ignite
- Eugene Omoruyi – SF – Oregon
- D.J. Steward – PG – Duke
- In memory of Terrence Clarke
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