So it's the time again (albeit with a delay) for the draft. This is the official DYNE Mag mock draft. Lottery first:
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Pick #1 - Brooklyn Nets Projection: Anthony Edwards Comparison: Victor Oladipo So the Nets started off trading their franchise cornerstone AD to Atlanta for a bunch of assets, including this first pick, with which they will either pick one guard of LaMelo Ball and Edwards. But, with FVV having a career year in Brooklyn, Edwards is more sensitive. An athletic shooting guard with a decent shot and incredible physical gifts. Effort and passion remain to be seen. |
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Pick #2 - Los Angeles Clippers Projection: LaMelo Ball Comparison: Taller Jason Kidd/Jason Williams So this second pick jumped up, gave the Heat a huge asset that netted them Westbrook, and now is with the Clippers. With interest and motivation being an issue, the Clippers seek to pick the face of the franchise (other than Curry), and they might have lucked out on the perfect guy. A dude with a very high celling and a very low floor, Ball is a generational passing talent, abnormally tall for a guard. Should he improve his shooting and defensive effort, the unmotivated Clippers may hit a home run at 2. |
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Pick #3 - Sacramento Kings Projection: James Wiseman Comparsion: Chris Bosh/Clint Capela So the Kings got this pick in a gamble of a trade, and they can use it to strengthen their center rotation with athletic freak James Wiseman. There has been a small sample size of him due to his college suspension, however he seems to be an incredible athlete, meaning he can be a very good rim protector and defender with his physical gifts, as well as having (an inconsistent) shooting stroke. |
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Pick #4 - Los Angeles Clippers Projection: Deni Avdija Comparison: Hedo Turkoglu/Poor man's Luka Doncic Similarly to their #2 pick, the Clippers may again want to pick a boom or bust guy that will increase interest. Deni is making the jump from the Euroleague to the NBA. He's a jack of all trades (currently) master of none wing. Consistency (especially offensively) and filling out his frame, are his two main flaws which he must improve on the next level. |
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Pick #5 - Detroit Pistons Projection: Isaac Okoro Comparison: Robert Covington So, this pick was a doozy. The Pistons are weird to project, but with their two starting forwards being free agents and probably garnering a lot of interest, they could go a forward. Okoro could be the pick as a replacement for RoCo. A very good defender and athlete who still needs to find his shot and seems to be a high IQ player, while also being one of the younger players of the draft. Detroit could see him as a potential replacement for one of their wings. |
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Pick #6 - Charlotte Hornets Projection: Obi Toppin Comparison: More athletic Tobias Harris The Hornets are currently playing Middleton at PF. Toppin could come in right now and start at the PF, as he is a little older for a rookie, which however means he's experienced and can contribute now. Very good athlete and can shoot on offense, however he is slow on defense and can not utilise his physical skills all that well. Still, a stretch big would be perfect for the Hornets system. |
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Pick #7 - Sacramento Kings Projection: Onyeka Okongwu Comparison: Montrezl Harrell with defense With their second lottery pick, the Kings may go with another big, that being Okongwu, who is also said to be able to get PF. A great rim protector and defender, despite being relatively undersized, which is made up with his athleticism, helping him make a case for being a potential defensive anchor. He will probably be better suited for the 5, as he doesn't necessarily project being a stretch 4 as of now. This would be a best player available pick, and would be a fun experiment having Onyeka and Wiseman sharing the floor. |
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Pick #8 - Sacramento Kings Projection: Killian Hayes Comparison: Spencer Dinwiddie And with their final lottery pick, the Kings are likely to go with French guard Killian Hayes, who's jumping from the German league to the NBA. A pretty good playmaker and passer who has an ever improving jumper and is underrated athletically. Very almost. He's very creative with his passing, and can be a solid defender. However, he is still young and that impacts his decision making, sometimes playing too fast and headlessly. |
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Pick #9 - Golden State Warriors Projection: Tyrese Haliburton Comparsion: Dejounte Murray With their first lottery pick, the Warriors should get guard help for Coby White. Haliburton is a very long, 3 and D combo guard, while also being a very good passer as well as a pretty good rebounder for a guard. Will probably not be a big-time scorer. He's mostly a catch and shoot guy, and struggles off of the dribble. He can be a really solid piece on a championship team while delivering on both ends of the court. |
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Pick #10 - Portland Trail Blazers Projection: Patrick Williams Comparison: Jonathan Isaac/Jerami Grant So with the 10th pick, the Blazers could address their PF situation with Patrick Williams, who has the mold of a perfect modern day PF. A solid 3 and D guy, with really good athleticism and speed, a team first player (sometimes to his detriment). Projects to be more of a complimentary piece as he doesn't seem to have the ability to be a go to scorer, but can however be a glue guy that gives it all on both ends of the court. |
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Pick #11 - Detroit Pistons Projection: Aleksej Pokusevski Comparison: Toni Kukoc/Ryan Anderson Here, the Pistons are going to be going with one of the biggest risers. The young Olympiacos PF is coming to the NBA as a raw, versatile big that has the ability to be good offensively and defensively. As of now his biggest weakness is his very thin frame for a big, which should improve as he grows older. |
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Pick #12 - Philadelphia 76ers Projection: Devin Vassell Comparison: Kelly Oubre with better defense/Jae Crowder The Sixers are very likely to luck into Vassell with their pick, a pretty solid 3 and D wing who has developed into a knockdown 3pt shooter at college in his second year. Could be a little inconsistent but if he can get that fixed, then Philly couldn't ask for a better fit next to Ben Simmons. |
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Pick #13 - Dallas Mavericks Projection: Jalen Smith Comparison: Serge Ibaka The Mavs recently got this pick from the T.J Warren trade, and with the players on the board, it's hard to predict who they would want. Jalen Smith could help their big man situation. A versatile big man that can do most stuff on an adequate level, Smith's biggest weakness is his frame, being too thin for a big period. However, his skillset projects to be somewhat of what Serge Ibaka is, a versatile big that can score as well as be a defensive anchor. |
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Pick #14 - Golden State Warriors Projection: Kira Lewis Jr. Comparison: Dennis Schroder With their second lottery pick, the Warriors could go with another guard, this time the lightning fast Lewis, who's also a good shooter (albeit mostly in catch and shoot situations). Pretty ball handler and decent athlete with defensive potential. It's really unknown if he will ever be better than White, but he is probably better suited for a point guard. |