NBA Mock Draft 10.0: Will A Giannis Trade Shake Up Tuesday's Draft? Our Latest Projections For Every Pick

With at some point till the 2026 NBA Draft, the complete league continues to be ready for the Milwaukee Bucks to make a decision on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Other trades on the desk are being held up and the draft order will change relying on which deal Milwaukee takes.

The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat stay the favorites to land Antetokounmpo, although I might guess on the Celtics to finally land the two-time MVP. Why? Milwaukee’s goal in a post-Giannis world. League sources say the Bucks need to stay aggressive subsequent season. They do not outright personal any of their firsts till 2031, and even when they did, the flattened draft odds do not incentivize groups to backside out. And the most effective participant on the desk is, by far, Jaylen Brown.

With Jayson Tatum in a swimsuit for most of final season, Brown averaged 29/7/5, completed sixth in MVP voting, and led the Celtics to the 2 seed. Hand him the keys in Milwaukee and the Bucks have a play-in staff ground with a top-six seed ceiling.

The Miami supply options a larger pile of particular person belongings, and it’d give Milwaukee a second lottery pick. Miami is providing the thirteenth pick, Jaime Jaquez, Kel’el Ware, and Tyler Herro, which has been broadly reported at this level. The Bucks need future firsts too, per league sources, and Miami can transfer as many as three firsts and three swaps on draft day.

(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

But a stack of future firsts does not get the Bucks again within the playoff race. Brown may. Plus, Brown has three years left on his contract, so there’d all the time be time for the Bucks to flip him into components in the event that they needed — and presumably at an excellent greater worth if he takes one other leap subsequent season.

League sources say the Bucks and Celtics have haggled over what items could be hooked up to Brown: the twenty seventh pick? How many future firsts? Hugo Gonzalez? Payton Pritchard? The Celtics have been reluctant to provide up that rather more than Brown. To land Giannis, although, they may need to.

Bucks common supervisor Jon Horst’s profession might be outlined by which deal he takes. That’s why he is making an attempt to extract as a lot as he can in return for a franchise legend. Every different GM is simply ready for him to get it over with.

Keeping in thoughts that the order may change relying on the place Giannis goes, here is my full two-round mock draft with evaluation for every selection based mostly on all of the latest intel.

A.J. Dybantsa, 6-9, BYU freshman ahead

Dybantsa may change into one of many NBA’s most unstoppable shot creators. At 6-9, he has a particular mix of athletic instruments with the best way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his fingers. He will get to the rim at will, cooks within the midrange, attracts fouls at a excessive fee, and shows point-forward potential. In Washington, the strain might be alleviated on him early in his profession, now that he is teammates with veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis. In the long run, Dybantsa matches: Alex Sarr already seems to be like an efficient two-way massive, whereas guards and wings like Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Bilal Coulibaly have all proven flashes. But none of them mission to be a celebrity like Dybantsa, whose upside might be decided by whether or not he can change into a knockdown 3-point shooter, in addition to a extra impactful defender to take full benefit of his bodily instruments. But even with these areas for enchancment, Dybantsa has an MVP ceiling.

At 6-8 and 253 kilos, Boozer is probably the most polished participant within the class. He scores from the publish with each footwork and energy, hits 40% of his 3s on excessive quantity, and has sufficient deal with to run offense as a level ahead. He shifts between these modes based mostly on what the protection provides him, and that adaptability led to a 35-win season at Duke and the Naismith Player of the Year award. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen are each extra perimeter-based gamers, so Boozer can play inside with them. Walker Kessler, who may very well be re-signed, is an inside participant, so Boozer can create. The Jazz could be large throughout positions, particularly since this group may even transfer Ace Bailey to taking pictures guard. Jackson and Kessler may each assist Boozer on protection, assuaging considerations about his explosiveness and dimension to guard the rim full-time and his lateral quickness to modify onto guards. With the bloodline of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer, the staff that drafts him is betting that talent, adaptability, and a monitor report of profitable at every degree all result in superstardom. And the Jazz have the fitting items to make that future a actuality for Boozer.

Darryn Peterson, 6-5, Kansas freshman guard

Peterson is a buttery clean scorer with a mix of fluid physique management and positional dimension that offers him the substances to change into an elite NBA participant. At the highschool degree, he was a dynamic playmaker who used his burst to get into the tooth of defenses and generate buckets for himself and his teammates, whereas additionally exhibiting off the form of shot-making that attracts comparisons to Hall of Famers. At Kansas, he thrived in an off-ball position, stroking jumpers out of motion actions and exhibiting he can scale up or down relying on what a roster wants. Even when he is not scoring, he is a high-impact defender who causes chaos off-ball and has the 6-11 wingspan to modify screens. The concern is not his recreation. It’s his physique, which is why he slipped to 3rd on this mock. Peterson missed 11 of 35 video games and pulled himself out of others because of cramping, capping off one of many weirdest freshman seasons in latest reminiscence. Questions about his burst, his availability, and what precisely is occurring below the hood are going to outline how NBA entrance workplaces really feel about him on the high of this draft. But perhaps that might work to the good thing about the Grizzlies given the necessity for a guard, his match as a massive guard alongside Cedric Coward and the two-man actions that might develop with a expert heart like Zach Edey.

Caleb Wilson, 6-9, North Carolina freshman massive

Wilson is probably the most gifted athlete within the draft. He’s 6-9 with springs for legs. When he is flying above the rim, ending by contact, and chasing down every shot in his space code, he seems to be like a future franchise cornerstone. That’s precisely what the Bulls want within the frontcourt. But Wilson is not a positive factor. He made too many aloof rotations as an off-ball defender at North Carolina, and the velocity of NBA offenses will take a look at him much more. He additionally will not be sharing the ground with two bigs like he usually did in school. On offense, Wilson has by no means shot jumpers with any consistency at any degree, so it might be a bonus if he can determine that out. And he might need to for Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis to be optimized. Still, even with out the jumper, he has a star upside.

Brayden Burries, 6-4, Arizona freshman guard

Burries has not scheduled many exercises, and it seems his vary begins with the Clippers with the fifth pick, as I reported the week of the lottery, and ends with the Warriors on the eleventh pick. If the Clippers really need him, they might trade down and nonetheless seize him. But for this mock, the Clippers keep put. Burries arrived at Arizona as a top-10 recruit, began gradual, after which erupted as soon as convention play started, serving to lead his staff to the Final Four. He’s a bodily, versatile scorer who can beat you from all three ranges, rebounds like a ahead, and competes arduous on protection. With solely two seasons remaining on Darius Garland‘s contract, he shouldn’t be a issue of their selection right here. But Burries has the kind of versatile recreation that may match completely subsequent to a smaller major initiator like Garland. This is not to say that Burries will solely mission as a position participant, however he is a methodical creator fairly than an explosive one, and his taking pictures historical past earlier than Arizona provides scouts cause to wonder if the effectivity is actual or a blip. In Los Angeles, he’d have time to develop at his personal tempo.

Mikel Brown Jr., 6-4, Louisville freshman guard

There is a sense in opposing entrance workplaces that Brooklyn may trade down from this spot, whether or not it is with a staff making an attempt to leap approach up the board and even up only one spot within the Kings or two spots within the Hawks. Brown is the selection right here, although. When Brown is within the zone, he has an unstoppable pull-up jumper, an ambidextrous ending skill, and the short reads to rifle passes earlier than the protection has time to react. He had a 45-point breakout efficiency in February after a again harm dogged him all freshman 12 months after which ended his 12 months later within the month. The absences muddy the analysis and go away actual questions on his consistency that will not get answered till he is absolutely wholesome.

Darius Acuff, 6-2, Arkansas freshman guard

All indications are that the Kings entrance workplace will keep put right here and hope that Acuff is on the board. Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from wherever on the ground with a fast set off, slippery deal with, and a really feel for manipulating defenses. After coming into school with the repute of a ball hog, he modified that and emerged as a expert, low-turnover playmaker who sprayed the ball across the ground and put in important effort transferring off-ball. So whereas he’s not the most important guard or probably the most explosive athlete, he reads defenses like somebody who’s been within the league for a decade. He nonetheless must make dramatic enhancements on protection, although, as he was one of many worst defenders in school basketball final season.

8. Atlanta Hawks

Keaton Wagler, 6-5, Illinois freshman guard

The Hawks re-signed CJ McCollum to a one-year, $21 million contract on Sunday, and so they may discover their successor on this draft. Wagler falling right here may very well be a best-case state of affairs. Wagler confirmed up at Illinois as a four-star recruit with no expectations of changing into a one-and-done. But he turned the orchestrator of a high-powered Illinois offense together with his high-IQ playmaking and artful scoring, main the staff to the Final Four. And now, he is a top-10 lock. To change into an NBA star, Wagler wants to beat a lack of conventional athleticism. But the most effective case is that his really feel for the sport is sufficient for him to proceed ascending.

Kingston Flemings, 6-3, Houston freshman guard

Dusty May leaving the defending champion Michigan Wolverines for Dallas is very large for the way forward for the Mavericks. May is without doubt one of the recreation’s biggest coaches, each as a tactician and as a motivator. And now he’ll get to teach Cooper Flagg for years to return. I’d think about May going to Dallas will increase the chance that we see the Mavs take a Michigan prospect with this ninth pick, or trade down with the Thunder for the twelfth and seventeenth picks. If the Mavericks don’t have a massive guard on the desk right here, that chance would enhance much more.

10. Milwaukee Bucks

Nate Ament, 6-10, Tennessee freshman ahead

Giannis Antetokounmpo stays a Buck, because the saga retains dragging on with simply at some point till the draft. Depending on what Milwaukee receives, the entrance workplace may look to maneuver up from this selection. But in the event that they keep put, Ament is taken into account a seemingly goal to start out constructing the post-Giannis basis. Players who can deal with, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-foot-10 do not develop on timber. This bodily basis stored Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful begin to his freshman season when he struggled to attain effectively and make an affect defensively. But over the second half of the 12 months for Tennessee, he flipped a swap and pictures started to fall. He averaged 23.8 factors over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everybody why he was a high recruit within the nation. Then he handled an ankle harm that ruined his momentum coming into March and he severely struggled throughout the event.

11. Golden State Warriors

Karim López, 6-8, New Zealand Breakers worldwide ahead

López is the most effective basketball prospect Mexico has ever produced. He left Hermosillo at 14 to play professionally in Barcelona, then at 17 moved to Auckland, New Zealand, the place he shined for two years within the NBL Next Stars program. He checks a lot of containers together with his glorious bodily instruments, a hard-nosed method, a well-rounded skill to defend a number of positions and deal with the ball, and a blossoming shot. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr would possibly even see cause to provide him minutes early in his profession. But he is thus much more of a jack of all trades since his jumper runs cold and hot and he lacks the burst to blow by defenders off the bounce. Regardless, not every participant is drafted with stardom in thoughts. And López has all of the requisite expertise to boost Stephen Curry as a key piece on a profitable staff.

Aday Mara, 7-3, Michigan junior massive

League sources proceed to quote the Thunder as a staff seeking to transfer up within the draft utilizing the twelfth and seventeenth picks. The Thunder may use a mammoth heart like Mara to tweak the roster for one other Finals run subsequent 12 months. There is not any higher choice on this vary than Mara, who stepped on UCLA’s campus as a lottery-projected heart from Spain. Then he fell off draft boards throughout two forgettable seasons there earlier than transferring to Michigan and changing into among the best true 5s within the nation on his technique to profitable the nationwide championship. He reads the ground like a guard, finishes with each fingers, and swats pictures with elite timing. The complication is he does not shoot from outdoors, makes beneath 60% of his free throws, and opponents are going to assault him on the perimeter.

13. Miami Heat

Christian Anderson, 6-1, Texas Tech sophomore guard

It may very well be the Bucks selecting right here if Giannis ends up in Miami. Anderson confirmed up at Texas Tech because the One hundred and first-ranked recruit and has performed his approach into the first-round dialog behind dynamic pick-and-roll creation and knockdown perimeter taking pictures. He does a good job of making simpler pictures for his teammates, however at his small stature he hasn’t proven a constant skill to get to the rim with any regularity. And any small guard will all the time be a goal on protection, so there’s a lot of strain on his shot translating to the subsequent degree.

Morez Johnson Jr., 6-9, Michigan sophomore ahead

You know the man on a championship staff who by no means will get sufficient credit score nationally? The one who units the bone-crushing display that springs the star, then instantly sprints to the rim for the lob, then turns round and blows up the opposite staff’s pick-and-roll on the opposite finish multi function sequence? That’s Morez Johnson. He transferred from Illinois to Michigan and have become the connective tissue of the nationwide champions as a 251-pound wrecking ball with surprisingly smooth fingers and the defensive IQ to protect 1 by 5 in a switch-heavy scheme. And the Hornets are in want of somebody with Johnson’s multi-position versatility since Miles Bridges, Josh Green, and Grant Williams all have only one extra season on their contracts. The difficulty with Johnson is he is not fairly large enough to be a true heart and never but confirmed sufficient as a shooter to ensure he areas the ground. But even with out a jumper, Johnson has a lengthy future forward of him on the subsequent degree – and that’s the reason league sources say his inventory is on the rise into the mid-late lottery vary.

15. Chicago Bulls

Cameron Carr, 6-5, Baylor sophomore wing

Carr transferred to Baylor, and led the staff in scoring, shot practically 40% from 3 on excessive quantity, and regarded like a 3-and-D position participant who additionally has blossoming expertise off the dribble. With NBA genes in his blood, because the son of former participant Chris Carr, Cameron has the talents to make it within the NBA. The Bulls may use a participant with this kind of skill-set after buying and selling away Coby White. But at 184 kilos with not a ton of video games below his belt, he will get launched to the NBA’s physicality in a approach school basketball by no means did.

16. Memphis Grizzlies

Chris Cenac Jr., 6-10, Houston freshman massive

After touchdown Peterson with the third pick, the Grizzlies land a frontcourt accomplice for Edey right here. Cenac is a excellent athlete who strikes like a wing, has the size to change pictures, and shoots from the perimeter. Houston handed him a beginning position with nationwide title aspirations and trusted him with heavy minutes. But the Cougars fell quick once more, partially as a result of Cenac struggled to remain out of foul hassle, could not rating effectively, and was overeager to play on the perimeter regardless of having the physique of a bruiser. He arrived in school with lottery expectations, and he nonetheless may change into that participant sooner or later. But the NBA staff drafting him is taking a mission.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder traded away a rotation wing in Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks on Sunday night, opening up a roster spot which may imply they hold each of their first-round picks. Lendeborg may finish up being even higher for OKC in brief time. He fills the stat sheet, can play a number of positions, and has a 7-foot-4 wingspan at 241 kilos with a real deal with. But he’ll be 24 as a rookie. The arc is a nice story. Whether it ends with NBA stardom continues to be up for debate.

18. Charlotte Hornets

Hannes Steinbach, 6-10, Washington freshman massive

The Hornets proceed reshaping their frontcourt with this pick. Steinbach will enter the NBA with some readymade expertise as an inside scorer and rebounder. He has large fingers that he makes use of to seize every potential rebound and end successfully across the basket. He additionally confirmed legit contact on 3-pointers in flashes, which might flip him into a very totally different participant if it turns into actual. But he is not fairly a true 7-footer, and there are particular matchups the place he will get focused in house. It’s encouraging, although, that he bulked up from 220 to 248 kilos from the beginning of his freshman 12 months at Washington till now. He was already robust, and now he is making the case that he might be a true heart for any staff.

Labaron Philon, 6-3, Alabama sophomore guard

The Raptors clearly wanted two issues after their Game 7 loss to the Cavaliers: A degree guard and a heart. Here, they get a level guard. Philon is a shifty, score-first level guard who blossomed into among the best guards in school basketball as a sophomore. He doubled his scoring output with buttery floaters, a misleading deal with, and a really feel for working an offense, whereas additionally starting to shore up the taking pictures questions that when clouded his projection. But Philon can also be a below-the-rim athlete and listed below 180 kilos, so his slight body stays the one factor standing between him and stardom.

Allen Graves, 6-8, Santa Clara freshman ahead

The Spurs may use a massive ahead like Graves, who may develop alongside Carter Bryant. Graves was a level guard earlier than a late progress spurt, and the ground expertise carried over when he sprouted to 6-8. He got here off the bench at Santa Clara as a redshirt freshman and quietly turned some of the environment friendly producers in school basketball. While he lacks nice athleticism, and had some struggles in opposition to the restricted high competitors that he confronted, the analytics love him, and he passes the attention take a look at together with his elite really feel for the sport.

The Pistons want extra creation alongside Cade Cunningham and Stirtz may very well be the right match. Stirtz feels the sport at a totally different frequency than everybody else on the ground, and but nonetheless makes scouts squint as a result of he does not look the half athletically. The query is not whether or not he can play, although. After transferring from Drake to Iowa, he stored cooking with bullseye passes, pump-fakes, and taking pictures spark off the dribble from NBA vary. If he adjusts to the physicality and velocity of the NBA, he may thrive as each a ground common and off-ball connector.

Henri Veesaar, 6-11, North Carolina junior massive

Finding a heart to play behind Joel Embiid must be prioritized. Embiid merely can’t be trusted to remain on the ground. Veesaar is an agile massive with actual taking pictures contact, connective playmaking, and baseline massive expertise with the power to set screens and catch lobs. He additionally provides rim safety and is a locked-in assist defender. He may even play subsequent to Embiid. In all three of his collegiate seasons, he made a large leap in manufacturing every year. The Sixers would wish that ascent to proceed.

23. Atlanta Hawks

Tarris Reed, 6-10, UConn senior heart

After deciding on Wagler within the lottery, the Hawks discovered their heart right here. Reed is a throwback heart who performed at his greatest on the most important stage on UConn’s technique to the nationwide title recreation. He does all of the soiled work contained in the paint as a finisher and rebounder and shot-blocker. But past his skill to display and cross, he is not all too snug on the perimeter as a shooter or defender. So there are questions on his upside, particularly since he’ll be 23 as a rookie.

24. New York Knicks

Koa Peat, 6-7, Arizona freshman ahead

Congratulations to Knicks followers for profitable the championship! Mitchell Robinson grabbed a clutch offensive rebound within the closing moments of the sport, however he is a free agent this offseason so the Knicks might have to exchange him. Peat’s bloodline is so loaded with offensive linemen that it is virtually humorous he ended up taking part in basketball. His father performed 9 NFL seasons. His uncle was a Pro Bowl deal with. Two brothers performed school ball on the road. And you’ll be able to completely see it in how he performs: highly effective, bodily, relentless, and it genuinely takes one thing particular to cease him from attending to the place he desires to go. He opened the season with a 30-point recreation in opposition to defending champion Florida and backed it up as one in every of Arizona’s greatest gamers all 12 months on its technique to the Final Four. Since Peat cannot shoot but, it’s going to be necessary that he is paired with a floor-spacing heart like Karl-Anthony Towns. Or he may function a small-ball heart in switchable lineups. So although Peat entered the 12 months with top-10 hopes, it may be a blessing in disguise for him to fall to the tip of the primary spherical.

25. Los Angeles Lakers

Dailyn Swain, 6-7, Texas junior wing

What sort of assist does Luka Dončić want by his aspect? Versatile wing defenders who can function connectors on offense. Swain is relentless attending to the rim, inventive as a finisher, and lively sufficient defensively to mission as a switchable wing. But the explanation he lives on the rim is as a result of his soar shot is genuinely horrible. He has stiff mechanics, dangerous percentages, and a reluctance to even try it that goes all the best way again to highschool. He made enhancements at Texas, although, so there’s hope his smooth contact on the line and from the paint will finally translate.

26. Denver Nuggets

Ebuka Okorie, 6-1, Stanford freshman guard

The Nuggets want some selection to their half-court offense except for having Nikola Jokić provoke every thing. Well, here is a man who may assist. Okorie is the most effective driving guard within the class, a 6-1 jitterbug who manipulates defenders with a tight deal with, sudden adjustments of velocity, and a complicated really feel for the sport. He’s not an above-the-rim athlete, although, and never way back he was a child from New Hampshire who ranked outdoors the highest 100 and dedicated to Harvard. Then Stanford discovered him, he flipped his dedication, and he proceeded to guide the ACC in scoring with eight 30-point video games and a behavior for hitting clutch pictures. NBA groups should resolve whether or not what carved up the ACC will survive in opposition to larger, longer defenders.

27. Boston Celtics

Jayden Quaintance, 6-9, Kentucky sophomore massive

Quaintance goes to get drafted based mostly virtually completely on what he regarded like earlier than his knee exploded. As a freshman at Arizona State, he was blocking every thing in sight, exhibiting defensive instincts and mobility that gamers his dimension aren’t imagined to have, and he was 17 years previous doing it. Then got here the ACL, the meniscus, the fractured knee, the switch to Kentucky, persistent swelling, a shutdown for the rest of his sophomore season, and an incapacity to completely exercise for groups throughout the pre-draft part. At some level, somebody is gonna take a swing on him although and it might be arduous to fault the Celtics for swinging for the fences right here.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves

Meleek Thomas, 6-3, Arkansas freshman wing

Just have a look at how essential Mike Conley nonetheless was to the Timberwolves in these playoffs. But he is 38. And Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland will each be upcoming free brokers. That’s the place Thomas may assist. Thomas has the boldness to “run for president,” in line with Arkansas head coach John Calipari. You may see that on the courtroom the best way he by no means hesitated to fireside, stepped proper into the lead position when Darius Acuff was sidelined at Missouri to shut the common season, and willed Arkansas to the SEC championship recreation with 29 in opposition to Ole Miss. He’s a legit NBA shooter with deep vary, a fast launch, and creation juice off the bounce. But he does not get to the rim, his shot choice drifts into hero-ball, and there are questions on how he’ll cope with NBA physicality.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers

Sergio De Larrea, 6-5, Valencia worldwide wing

Keon Ellis and Dean Wade might be free brokers this summer season, and Max Strus might be in a single 12 months. It could also be time for the Cavaliers to get a wing — one with extra talent — within the developmental pipeline alongside Jaylon Tyson. De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with main really feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives inside staff ideas. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and eliminated him from draft boards, but it surely ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a larger position and stronger manufacturing for a nice staff within the EuroLeague. With dimension, smarts, and defensive versatility, he may carve out a position within the NBA if his worldwide talent can translate.

30. Dallas Mavericks

Isaiah Evans, 6-6, Duke sophomore wing

Evans is the form of shooter that defenses guard and suppose they have him contained, then he makes use of a display and catches it off a full dash, transferring away from the rim, and someway manages to rise into a good 3-pointer. He’s a legit sharpshooter with the off-ball chops to thrive with out even working any offense for himself, and he additionally has a growing deal with that might unlock extra creation possibilities. But he is nonetheless a perimeter-based participant who wants so as to add extra layers to his recreation to change into a full offensive expertise.

SECOND ROUND

31. New York Knicks

Richie Saunders, 6-5, BYU senior wing

Saunders is a hard-nosed, two-way wing who performs with manic vitality, hustling across the ground looking for steals on protection and jumpers on offense. The staff that will get him is aware of precisely what they’re gonna get out of him. He’s additionally expert, although, with a quick-trigger jumper, smooth contact on floaters, and a really feel for transferring the ball. With lower than ultimate dimension and athleticism, he extra seemingly tasks as a stable position participant. But he is not a assure to succeed at age 25 after tearing his ACL in February, ending his four-year profession at BYU.

32. Memphis Grizzlies

Jack Kayil, 6-4, Alba Berlin worldwide guard

Kayil is a combo guard with a robust body, a really feel for the sport that exceeds his youth, and the grit to change into a high-level defender. He simply turned one of many youngest gamers to ever win the German League’s Under-22 Player of the Year, becoming a member of Franz Wagner and Dennis Schröder on a listing that bodes properly for his NBA prospects. He dedicated to Gonzaga again in October, however has determined to remain within the draft — a determination that stunned some scouts since he has but to show he can shoot constantly or run an offense full-time.

33. Brooklyn Nets

Zuby Ejiofor, 6-8, St. John’s senior ahead

After Ejiofor’s freshman 12 months at Kansas, Bill Self instructed him he wasn’t ok to play main minutes on any Big 12 staff. Three years later, he turned the unanimous Big East Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Tournament MVP, and Scholar-Athlete of the Year — the primary participant within the league’s historical past to comb all 4 in a single season — and he helped St. John’s bounce his former staff within the Round of 32 on the best way to this system’s first Sweet 16 in 25 years. Ejiofor discovered success with foundational expertise: motor, size, and defensive versatility. The query with Ejiofor is the very fact he is undersized for a heart and his jumper continues to be a work in progress. But he is developed sufficient to deserve a likelihood to determine it out within the league.

34. Sacramento Kings

Alex Karaban, 6-7, UConn senior ahead

Karaban makes defenses pay the second they chill out on him. He relocates for a 3, cuts when no one’s watching, and does every thing effectively. He’s a equally high-effort, high-IQ participant on the defensive finish, which helps him overcome his common athleticism. But he’ll be 24 as a rookie, and hasn’t proven a lot upside. He not often shoots off the dribble due to his funky mechanics. So if his role-player expertise are gradual to translate, his margin for error is narrower than for most.

35. San Antonio Spurs

Joshua Jefferson, 6-8, Iowa State senior ahead

Some gamers are drafted for their ceilings. Others for their ground. Jefferson lands within the latter class as a 22-year-old senior who spent 4 years in school getting higher at every thing to the purpose he is a regular, high-feel ahead. He can cross out of the publish, make connective reads, and guard a number of positions. He simply wants his taking pictures progress to show to be actual, and proper now there’s not sufficient of a pattern to make sure it’s.

36. Los Angeles Clippers

Baba Miller, 6-11, Cincinnati senior ahead

Miller is a fluid athlete who grew up taking part in guard earlier than a late progress spurt. He retained his perimeter expertise given the best way he can deal with within the open ground and make superior strikes. He’s additionally an equally compelling defensive participant who can swap throughout positions. The massive difficulty, and the primary cause why he has spent 4 years in school, is that he nonetheless cannot shoot.

37. Oklahoma City Thunder

Dillon Mitchell, 6-7, St. John’s senior ahead

Mitchell confirmed up at Texas as a McDonald’s All-American, and again then it regarded like a soar shot was the one factor standing between him and stardom. Four years and three faculties later, the jumper continues to be nonexistent. And but, he is performed his approach onto boards anyway as a left-handed energy participant who finishes every thing across the rim, wrecks video games on protection, and blossomed into a high-feel passer as a senior at St. John’s. The non-shooting is a downside, however on the fitting staff his athleticism on offense and defensive versatility may permit him to carve out a lengthy profession.

38. Chicago Bulls

Ryan Conwell, 6-2, Louisville senior guard

Conwell’s school profession took him from South Florida to Indiana State to Xavier, after which to Louisville, and he acquired higher at every cease. By the tip of his senior 12 months he was the main scorer for the Cardinals at 18.8 factors per recreation. He’s a stocky 6-2 lefty with broad shoulders, no actual first step, and precisely one dunk in 4 years of faculty basketball. But he is a knockdown shooter with deep vary and a bruiser on the rim who absorbs contact like a fullback. The query is whether or not the climb continues on the subsequent degree, when he cannot muscle his technique to the cup or shoot excessive of smaller defenders the best way he may in school.

39. Houston Rockets

Bruce Thornton, 6-0, Ohio State senior guard

Thornton is a three-level scorer with playmaking really feel and the aggressive hearth that lifts a locker room. But he is quick and never a bursty athlete, which implies he tasks as a reserve level guard. Players together with his intangibles can show to be necessary to profitable groups, although. He was a four-year captain at Ohio State, and improved every 12 months on his technique to changing into the college’s all-time main scorer.

40. Boston Celtics

Tyler Bilodeau, 6-7, UCLA senior ahead

Bilodeau was some of the environment friendly stretch-4s in school basketball. With his 6-7 body, he may deliver actual worth together with his dimension and spacing skill on the subsequent degree. But nobody ought to mistake Bilodeau for Tyler, The Creator, since he not often takes pictures off the dribble or serves as a playmaker for teammates. He additionally struggles as a defender, which is actually the large query about his skill to make it within the fashionable NBA.

41. Miami Heat

Ugonna Onyenso, 6-11, Virginia senior massive

Onyenso has bounced from Kentucky to Kansas State to Virginia, lastly discovering a dwelling in Charlottesville the place he become some of the feared shot-blockers in school basketball. He had 21 blocks throughout three ACC event video games, together with 9 in opposition to Cam Boozer and Duke within the championship. He lays a brick wall across the basket, although he has heavy ft when guarding on the perimeter and continues to be growing his offensive talent set.

42. San Antonio Spurs

Maliq Brown, 6-8, Duke senior ahead

Brown guards all 5 positions and has each the size and IQ to anchor the protection when he is on the ground. As a 6-8 senior, he was named ACC Sixth Man of the Year and gained the Lefty Driesell Award because the nation’s high defender. But he struggles to shoot the ball, which can make his offensive match a troublesome one. Regardless although, his protection may very well be that particular that his staff can not help however put him on the ground.

43. Brooklyn Nets

Braden Smith, 5-10, Purdue senior guard

Smith left Purdue because the NCAA’s all-time assists chief, breaking a 33-year-old report. He’s arguably the highest-IQ participant within the draft who may orchestrate an offense on the school degree whereas additionally offering scoring off the bounce. But the difficulty is the one every 5-10 guard faces: he is not a plus athlete, and larger guards are going to hunt him the second he steps on an NBA ground. That’s exactly why he’s a projected second-rounder and might want to work his approach up.

44. San Antonio Spurs

Tyler Nickel, 6-6, Vanderbilt senior ahead

Nickel has a flamethrower soar shot that Vanderbilt utilized in a big selection of actions to constant success all season lengthy. The questions on him are those every specialist faces: Does he supply sufficient apart from taking pictures? Will he survive defensively? But anybody who shoots like Nickel and stands at 6-6 will get a shot to make it within the NBA.

45. Sacramento Kings

Jaden Bradley, 6-3, Arizona senior guard

Bradley is a combo guard with a robust body, a calm demeanor, and a knack for clutch moments. After arriving in school as a McDonald’s All-American, he misplaced his beginning spot as a freshman at Alabama then transferred to Arizona, the place he acquired higher every 12 months and have become the staff’s trusted chief. As a senior, he gained Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Tournament MVP, and led the Wildcats to their first Final Four since 2001. There are questions on whether or not he might be a lead guard on the subsequent degree, however his connective passing, improved taking pictures, and gritty protection all give him the potential to play massive minutes.

46. Orlando Magic

Emanuel Sharp, 6-3, Houston senior guard

Sharp’s calling card is his taking pictures skill. He can catch hearth from 3-point vary and be utilized as a weapon off screens. He performs with a excessive IQ although he is not a major shot creator as properly. On protection, he performs extraordinarily arduous to assist compensate for the very fact he is on the smaller aspect at solely 6-3.

47. Phoenix Suns

Felix Okpara, 6-10, Tennessee senior massive

Okpara is aware of his position as a participant who protects the paint, runs the ground, finishes lobs, units screens, and does not attempt to be greater than that. He spent two years at Ohio State, transferred to Tennessee, and helped take the Vols to the Elite Eight as their defensive spine. He had 4 blocks within the Round of 32 with clutch protection down the stretch, then a 12 and 10 double-double within the Sweet 16.

48. Dallas Mavericks

Trevon Brazile, 6-10, Arkansas senior massive

Brazile was a projected first-rounder earlier than tearing his ACL 9 video games into his sophomore 12 months at Arkansas, and the subsequent two years have been spent rebuilding the explosiveness that made him a prospect within the first place. He lastly put it collectively as a fifth-year senior with a profession 12 months by anchoring Arkansas’ protection. His lengthy wingspan, explosive vertical, switchability, and perimeter jumper, all give him the potential to have a lengthy NBA profession. But at this level, he is already 23 and nonetheless tasks solely as a position participant.

49. Denver Nuggets

Tobe Awaka, 6-8, Arizona senior ahead

Awaka was school basketball’s greatest rebounder and helped energize Arizona’s bully-ball fashion over the previous two years. At 6-8 with a brickhouse body and an unrelenting fashion of play, he set a tone off the bench and earned Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year. The downside is every thing else. He does not shoot. He does not cross. And he does not have a clearly outlined place on protection. The staff that drafts him is betting it may possibly discover sufficient of a defensive position to maintain that elite rebounding and relentless motor on the ground.

50. Toronto Raptors

Noam Yaacov, 6-1, Filou Oostende guard

Yaacov is a proficient shot creator with deep taking pictures vary off the dribble, a inventive playmaking really feel, and a manipulative deal with with shifty actions that he makes use of to interrupt ankles. But he is solely 6-foot-1, and on the abroad degree he nonetheless had a arduous time making issues look straightforward, so there’s a actual query whether or not his fashion will translate to the NBA.

51. Washington Wizards

Ja’Kobi Gillespie, 6-0, Tennessee senior guard

Gillespie spent two seasons at Belmont, transferred to Maryland for a 12 months, then got here dwelling to Tennessee as a senior and helped lead the Volunteers to the Elite Eight. In the NBA, he tasks as much less of a lead guard and extra of a spark plug who comes off the bench and fires jumpers and reliably runs the offense. The NBA’s monitor report with guards his dimension is the apparent concern, however anybody who shoots like Gillespie and processes the sport at his degree deserves a actual likelihood.

52. Los Angeles Clippers

Nick Martinelli, 6-7, Northwestern senior ahead

Martinelli is a lefty who hunts mismatches within the publish, makes use of footwork and physicality to compensate for his common athletic profile, and performs with a hearth in his stomach. He arrived at Northwestern as a three-star recruit, acquired notably higher in every season, and proceeded to change into the back-to-back Big Ten scoring champion. There aren’t any questions on his work ethic. The actual concern is about whether or not he can adapt on the subsequent degree when he cannot feast on smaller gamers, and when he’ll be focused on protection. But he is overwhelmed the chances to this point and can obtain possibilities to show he belongs within the NBA.

53. Houston Rockets

Otega Oweh, 6-4, Kentucky senior wing

As a 6-4 wing with a robust body, Oweh turned among the best slashing wings in school basketball and had one of many nice video games of the season with 35/8/7 in opposition to Santa Clara within the opening spherical of March Madness with a buzzer-beater to power extra time. At the subsequent degree, although, he does not mission to be a major creator due to his shaky deal with and jumper, so the chances are he’ll must adapt as a position participant. Fortunately, he has a ton of these expertise as a cutter, connective passer, and versatile defender.

54. Golden State Warriors

Jaden Henley, 6-6, Grand Canyon senior wing

Henley is an explosive wing who can dunk over opponents whereas additionally switching throughout positions on protection. But he severely struggles as a shooter, and since he is not a major creator it is vital he figures out the way to make pictures fall with better regularity.

55. New York Knicks

Bryce Hopkins, 6-6, St. John’s senior ahead

Hopkins is a massive wing who bullies smaller defenders with arduous drives to the rim. But he is not a one-trick pony. He additionally passes with really feel, rebounds, and provides extremely versatility protection. He’s a do-it-all participant who may’ve been within the NBA by now if it weren’t for accidents. He was a first-team All-Big East expertise at Providence earlier than a torn ACL ended one season and a bone bruise in the identical knee worn out a lot of the subsequent, limiting him to 17 video games over two years. He lastly acquired a full, wholesome run at St. John’s, regained his explosiveness, and have become a pivotal piece on a staff that gained the Big East title and made a event run.

56. Chicago Bulls

Izaiyah Nelson, 6-8, South Florida senior massive

Nelson is a 6-8 athlete with a 7-3 wingspan who feasts on lobs, rebounds in site visitors, and disrupts all over the place on protection. He units a tone any time he is on the ground. After three years at Arkansas State, he adopted his coach to USF and proceeded to place up some of the adorned mid-major seasons in latest reminiscence by changing into the primary participant in American Conference historical past to win Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year. Even although he lacks creation and taking pictures talents, he made jaw-dropping performs on the Portsmouth Invitational, then earned an NBA Draft Combine invite, and now has a likelihood to go within the second spherical.

57. Atlanta Hawks

Nick Boyd, 6-1, Wisconsin senior guard

Boyd is a polished combo guard who runs the offense like a veteran, scores off the bounce, and easily has a pure really feel for the sport. But he’s already 25, lacks nice athleticism, and has a slight body so he’ll be a goal on protection.

58. New Orleans Pelicans

Michael Ajayi, 6-6, Butler senior ahead

Ajayi brings position participant qualities the best way he rebounds at an elite degree, passes inside the stream of the offense, and defends a number of positions. After a robust 12 months there, he transferred to Gonzaga however struggled, then went to Butler and earned an All-Big East efficiency by displaying the identical qualities that made him an interesting prospect within the first place.

59. Minnesota Timberwolves

Trey Kaufman-Renn, 6-8, Purdue senior massive

Kaufman-Renn is a throwback publish hub who bullies smalls, finesses bigs, and passes like a level heart. But he is a ground-bound tweener who cannot shoot and barely blocks pictures — he logged solely 39 in 147 profession school video games.

60. Washington Wizards

Aaron Nkrumah, 6-5, Tennessee State senior wing

Nkrumah is a 6-5 wing with a 6-10 wingspan and has the motor to trigger havoc on protection. His jumper continues to be growing, but it surely was fairly a journey to even get so far. He began his school profession at Division III Nichols College, transferred to Division III Worcester State and gained MASCAC Player of the Year, then jumped to Tennessee State and have become the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year whereas main the Tigers to the NCAA event as a 15-seed. He acquired a late invite to the G League Combine, dropped 33 factors throughout two scrimmages to earn a call-up to the NBA Combine, and stored producing as soon as he acquired there. He nonetheless wants so as to add muscle and tighten up his jumper, however nothing has stopped him but.

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