2021 NBA Draft Big Board

Updated 7/29/21

Top 5 focus:

1 – Cade Cunningham – PG/SF – Oklahoma StateQuick 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 IgniteQuick 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 – USCQuick 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 StateQuick 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:

  1. Cade Cunningham – PG – Oklahoma State
  2. Jalen Green – SG – G League Ignite
  3. Evan Mobley – PF/C – USC
  4. Scottie Barnes – PG/SF/PF – Florida State
  5. Jalen Suggs – PG/SG – Gonzaga
  6. Jonathan Kuminga – SF – G League Ignite
  7. Josh Giddey – PG – Australia
  8. Moses Moody – SG – Arkansas
  9. Alperen Sengun – PF/C – Turkey
  10. Keon Johnson – SG – Tennessee
  11. James Bouknight – SG – UConn
  12. Kai Jones – PF – Texas
  13. Franz Wagner – SF – Michigan
  14. Usman Garuba – PF/C – Spain
  15. Davion Mitchell – PG – Baylor
  16. Jalen Johnson – SF – Duke
  17. Jared Butler – PG/SG – Baylor
  18. Jaden Springer – SG – Tennessee
  19. Day’Ron Sharpe – C – North Carolina
  20. Cam Thomas – SG – LSU
  21. Chris Duarte – SG – Oregon
  22. Nah’Shon Hyland – PG – VCU
  23. Trey Murphy III – SG-SF – Virginia
  24. Isaiah Jackson – PF/C – Kentucky
  25. Corey Kispert – SG/SF – Gonzaga
  26. Tre Mann – SG – Florida
  27. Sharife Cooper – PG – Auburn
  28. Isaiah Todd – PF – G League Ignite
  29. J.T. Thor – PF – Auburn
  30. Ziaire Williams – SF – Stanford
  31. Joe Wieskamp – SG – Iowa
  32. Myles McBride – PG – West Virginia
  33. Ayo Dosunmu – PG/SG – Illinois
  34. Josh Primo – SG – Alabama
  35. Vrenz Bleijenbergh – SF – Belgium
  36. Josh Christopher – SG – Arizona State
  37. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl – SF/PF – Villanova
  38. Herb Jones – SF – Alabama
  39. Quentin Grimes – SG – Houston
  40. Aaron Henry – SG/SF – Michigan State
  41. Kessler Edwards – SF – Pepperdine
  42. Rokas Jokubaitis – SG – Lithuania
  43. Brandon Boston Jr. – SG – Kentucky
  44. Neemias Queta – C – Utah State
  45. Filip Petrusev – C – Serbia
  46. Sandro Mamukelashvili – PF/C – Seton Hall (Tbilisi, Geogia)
  47. Joel Ayayi – SG – Gonzaga
  48. Dalano Banton – SF – Nebraska
  49. Charles Bassey – C – Western Kentucky
  50. Amar Sylla – PF – Senegal
  51. Feron Hunt – PF – SMU
  52. Austin Reaves – SG – Oklahoma
  53. Jericho Sims – C – Texas
  54. D.J. Stewart – SG – Mississippi State
  55. David Johnson – PG – Louisville
  56. RaiQuan Gray – PF – Florida State
  57. Santi Aldama – PF – Loyola (MD)
  58. Duane Washington Jr. – PG – Ohio State
  59. EJ Onu – C – Shawnee State
  60. David Duke – SG – Providence
  61. Luka Garza – C – Iowa
  62. Paul Scruggs – SG – Xavier
  63. Jason Preston – PG – Ohio
  64. Greg Brown – PF – Texas
  65. Isaiah Livers – SF – Michigan
  66. JaQuori McLaughlin – SG – UC Santa Barbara
  67. Daishen Nix – PG – G League Ignite
  68. Eugene Omoruyi – SF – Oregon
  69. D.J. Steward – PG – Duke
  70. In memory of Terrence Clarke

2021 NBA Mock Draft

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