The
Darryn Peterson, 6-6, Kansas freshman guard
Tyrese Haliburton told Pacers fans not to get used to no games being played in April, May and June. Odds are, he’s right. Indiana has a lot of talent on the roster, and as long as Haliburton can return to his All-NBA level, whomever gets picked will be the cherry on top. With Dybantsa off the board, the Pacers could take a look at Cam Boozer with this pick — that’s who I had in my last mock — but would Indiana become too big with Ivica Zubac, Pascal Siakam and Boozer? Is there enough perimeter defense with that group? Maybe Boozer would be more of a successor to Siakam.
But if there’s one thing the Pacers are definitely missing, it’s some scoring juice. Andrew Nembhard is very talented, but he doesn’t have star upside. Neither do young investments like Aaron Nesmith, Ben Sheppard, Kam Jones, Jarace Walker and Johnny Furphy. That’s why Peterson would make total sense. The shot-making is real. He can pull up from anywhere and get to his spots. Plus he is 6-6 and plays with a fluidity that just screams superstar. Not to mention he’s a defensive playmaker with the tools to guard multiple positions and the approach to impact the game even if he’s not scoring.
Between the cramping saga, the missed time, the lack of apparent athletic pop and the stretches where he played heavy minutes but struggled to produce offensively, there’s a lot to be concerned about. But the pre-draft period could answer many questions. And for the Pacers, he could be worth the swing anyway. Because if he’s a hit, Haliburton-Peterson would have the upside to be the NBA’s best backcourt for the next decade.
3.
Hannes Steinbach, 6-11, Washington freshman big
Erik Spoelstra just doesn’t have any trust in Kel’el Ware. Even if things work out, it wouldn’t hurt making another investment in the frontcourt with the type of player that has all the qualities that Spo admires. Steinbach played professionally in Germany before enrolling at Washington, and he’ll enter the NBA with some ready-made skills as an interior scorer and rebounder. He has massive hands that he uses to grab every possible rebound and finish effectively around the basket.
He also showed legitimate touch on 3-pointers in flashes, which would turn him into a very different player if it becomes real. Given how successful the Heat were at helping Bam Adebayo develop his 3-pointer, Steinbach could see the same trajectory in Miami. Additionally, Steinbach probably needs a Bam type next to him in the frontcourt since he’s a bit of a modern tweener himself. Steinbach is not a true 7-footer, and there are specific matchups where he gets targeted in space. He needs to be the right kind of center for the right team. That could be Miami.
Brayden Burries, 6-4, Arizona freshman guard
Burries struggled in Arizona’s final NCAA tournament games against Purdue and Michigan, but he looked like a star against Arkansas. With Arizona up 13 with only 3:20 to go in the Elite 8, Burries dove head first for a loose ball, grabbed it, then flipped it to his teammate for an open layup. Some players would’ve relaxed with the big lead, but Burries stays pedal to the metal. Hustle plays like that, and the flashes of stardom as a shot creator, helped him earn his spot as a potential lottery pick.
He plays with physicality and can beat you from all three levels. He’s a methodical creator rather than an explosive one, but that could work in Charlotte with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel already absorbing so many touches. It would allow Burries to slide in as a Swiss Army Knife in the backcourt that fills different needs depending on what the matchup demands.
15. Chicago Bulls (via Portland)
Braylon Mullins, 6-6, UConn freshman wing
This pick will belong to the Blazers if they lose in the play-in. So all Bulls fans should be rooting hard for Portland to win on Tuesday (then Friday). After selecting a center in Mara with their first pick, let’s go with a shooter here. Mullins hit one of the greatest buzzer-beaters in college basketball history to send Connecticut to the Final Four, and he hit a ton of big-time shots off movement actions against stout defense by Illinois and Michigan, too.
Mullins shot only 33.5% on the season, but he’s a way better shooter than the number indicates. And though he needs others to generate looks at this stage of his career, he’s more than just a specialist with his nose for the ball and his defensive IQ, which led to so many little gritty moments that helped UConn stay competitive all the way to the final buzzer.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando)
Dailyn Swain, 6-8, Texas junior wing
Swain would be another upside play for Memphis. He played two competent seasons at Xavier, transferred to Texas, and somehow became the most efficient isolation scorer in the entire country. He’s relentless getting to the rim, creative as a finisher and active enough defensively to project as a switchable wing.
But the reason he lives at the rim is because his jump shot is genuinely ugly. He has stiff mechanics, bad percentages and a reluctance to even attempt it that goes all the way back to high school. Until his shooting becomes a credible threat, defenses are going to pack the paint and dare him to beat them from the outside. With Coward, Wagler and tons of other shooters on the roster, there’d be plenty of space for Swain to operate inside the arc, though, providing a balance with his downhill attacking.
17. Charlotte Hornets (via Phoenix)
Thomas Haugh, 6-9, Florida junior forward
Florida won the national title one year ago, and Haugh was the guy doing all the work by diving on the floor, taking charges, screening hard, cutting through traffic and running the break. Then this season he did all of that on top of becoming the team’s offensive engine. But Florida wasn’t as dominant and flamed out in the Sweet 16 for a reason.
Haugh hasn’t proven he can drive left or shoot off the dribble at any meaningful clip, and even the spot-up jumper is still a work in progress. Haugh’s work ethic is elite, though, which is exactly what the Hornets would be betting on and would fit the spirit of so many of their picks from last year too.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia)
Labaron Philon, 6-4, Alabama sophomore guard
Philon is a shifty, score-first point guard who turned into one of the best guards in college basketball as a sophomore. He doubled his scoring output with buttery floaters, a deceptive handle and a feel for running an offense, while also beginning to shore up the shooting questions that once clouded his projection.
There probably wouldn’t be a better place for him to learn slowly than Oklahoma City, because he still needs time in the weight room after playing last season at only 180 pounds. With Cason Wallace’s deal up after next season, and Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, Nikola Topić and Isaiah Joe the following year, some minutes could open soon.
Bennett Stirtz, 6-4, Iowa senior guard
Stirtz feels the game at a different frequency than everyone else on the floor, and yet still makes scouts squint because he doesn’t look the part athletically. At age 24 for a rookie, he’s also on the older end. The question isn’t whether he can play though.
After transferring from Drake to Iowa, he kept cooking with bull’s-eye passes, pump-fakes and shooting touch off the dribble from NBA range. The odds are that’ll carry over to the next level, especially if he lands on a team like the Raptors that can surround him with size, length and versatility. And Toronto needs another engine to the offense; if Stirtz adjusts to the physicality and speed of the NBA, he could thrive as both a floor general or off-ball connector.
Cameron Carr, 6-5, Baylor redshirt sophomore wing
The Spurs could go so many different directions with this pick. That’s the benefit of having Victor Wembanyama as the centerpiece. With plenty of downhill attacking, thanks to their point guard trio, adding another role player to help someday succeed Harrison Barnes could be a wise move.
Carr shot nearly 40% from 3 on high volume, and looked like a 3-and-D role player who also has tantalizing skills off the dribble. With NBA genes in his blood as the son of former player Chris Carr, Cameron has the skills to make it. But at 175 pounds with not a ton of games under his belt, he’s going to get introduced to the NBA’s physicality in a way that might limit his ability to get to his spots as a scorer. So he’ll need patience, and fortunately the Spurs are deep enough that they can provide it.
Isaiah Evans, 6-6, Duke sophomore wing
Evans is a legitimate sharpshooter with the off-ball chops to thrive without even running any offense for himself, which is a perfect fit in Detroit, where Cade Cunningham needs live targets in the corners. The Pistons were 29th in 3-point attempts and 17th in 3-point percentage this season, so more shooters like Evans are needed who can spot up and run around screens. As a sophomore, Evans made great progress on-ball as well, so in the long term he could have higher upside as a shot-creator.
Motiejus Krivas, 7-2, Arizona junior center
Good grief. Could this season have ended any more horribly for the Sixers? Joel Embiid returns from injury, plays five games, dominates more than he has all season. And then he gets sidelined because of … an appendectomy. The odds are he’ll be out for the play-in tournament, but if the Sixers escape and end up in the playoffs there’s a chance he returns. Still, the Sixers would be wise to target a big who can back up Embiid.
Krivas is a 7-2 Lithuanian center who does the old-school things by rebounding, protecting the rim and scoring in the post. But he also brings a modern flair with his ability to make good reads as a passer and the flashes he shows as a shooter. Krivas could anchor bench units when Embiid is healthy, and potentially play a bigger role when he’s not. No matter what happens with Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are both young pieces who need a big man to support them. Krivas has all the tools needed.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland)
Chris Cenac, 6-11, Houston freshman big
If Cenac gets feedback that he’ll be a late first-round pick, he very well might just go back to Houston for his sophomore year. There’s a reason why he might end up in this range though. He checks every box on paper as a superb athlete who moves like a wing, has the length to alter shots and has a habit for shooting from the perimeter. But the Cougars fell short again, in part because Cenac struggled to stay out of foul trouble, couldn’t score efficiently and was overeager to play on the perimeter despite having the body of a bruiser. If the Hawks draft him, he’s more of a developmental project. But there’s no harm in taking a swing when the roster has roles already occupied, especially after grabbing a guard in Brown in the lottery.
Patrick Ngongba, 6-11, Duke sophomore center
The Lakers are finding out how good Deandre Ayton can look when he’s hustling. But there’s no guarantee it’ll be sustained, and they need a better long-term answer anyway. Ngongba does the dirty work without complaining about it: set screens, run the floor, make the right read, protect the rim, and do it all again the next play and the one after that. Ngongba did it as the backbone of one of the best teams in the country before a foot issue derailed the end of his season, which played a factor in Duke’s inability to reach the Final Four. He had two screws placed in his right foot during high school, then had lingering issues in his left foot as a freshman before his right foot became an issue again as a sophomore. Those injuries are why Ngongba could be available at the end of the first round.
Alex Karaban, 6-8, UConn senior forward
Karaban sprinted off a curl, caught the ball while moving away from the basket, turned, and then fired a massive 3-pointer in the closing minute of UConn’s epic comeback over Duke in the Elite 8. The moment is emblematic of his shooting ability, which would be a positive addition to the Knicks. Karaban will be 24 as a rookie, but he’s just a winner. He cuts. He passes. He’s a high-IQ defender who’s always in the right position. He doesn’t create his own shots, but the Knicks have plenty of guys who can do that. What Karaban would add is winning intangibles to a team trying to take the next step.
Koa Peat, 6-8, Arizona freshman forward
Peat’s bloodline is so loaded with offensive linemen that it’s almost funny he ended up playing basketball. His father played nine NFL seasons. His uncle was a Pro Bowl tackle. Two brothers played college ball on the line. And you can absolutely see it in how he plays: powerful, physical, relentless, and it genuinely takes something special to stop him from getting to where he wants to go. But he also shoots like a football player, taking only 20 shots from 3 and making just 62.3% of his free throws.
Scouts question how well he’ll fit in the NBA. But the Nuggets have a way of making everyone fit with Nikola Jokić. And with Peyton Watson entering free agency this summer, the Nuggets may need to fortify the forward spot. The Nuggets can afford to be patient, deciding to bet on his development, with the hopes that he someday becomes a reliable shooter. Just like Watson.
Morez Johnson, 6-9, Michigan sophomore forward
Michigan is filled with so much star power that Johnson is the guy who often gets overlooked nationally. He’s a 250-pound wrecking ball with surprisingly soft hands and the defensive IQ to guard 1 through 5 in a switch-heavy scheme. And he makes constant plays beyond the box score with bone-crushing screens, full-court sprints and high-IQ rotations that blow up the opponent’s action. The Celtics have targeted team-first guys like Johnson in recent years, so he’d fit the profile here after proving himself as the connective tissue of the best team in the country. He isn’t quite big enough to be a true center and not yet proven enough as a shooter to guarantee he spaces the floor. But the Celtics can be patient and are proving to have a strong developmental program to help resolve any concerns.
Christian Anderson, 6-3, Texas Tech sophomore guard
Anderson showed up at Texas Tech as the 101st-ranked recruit and has played his way into the first round behind dynamic pick-and-roll creation and knockdown perimeter shooting. Mike Conley isn’t getting any younger in Minnesota, Rob Dillingham is gone, and Bones Hyland is no guarantee to stay next season. That’s where Anderson could help right away with his ability to thrive with and without the ball. At his small stature, he hasn’t shown a consistent ability to get to the rim with any regularity, though, and he struggled to create his own shot when Texas Tech lost in the tournament. Any small guard will always be a target on defense, too, so there’s a lot of pressure on his shot translating to the next level. But at least he’d have long-armed wings and bigs around him as support in Minnesota.
Jayden Quaintance, 6-10, Kentucky sophomore big
Quaintance is going to get drafted based almost entirely on what he looked like before his knee exploded. As a freshman at Arizona State, he was blocking everything in sight, showing defensive instincts and mobility that players with his 6-10 frame aren’t supposed to have, and he was 17 years old doing it. Then came the ACL, the meniscus, the fractured knee, the transfer to Kentucky, persistent swelling, and a shutdown for the remainder of his sophomore season. Now teams have to make a decision after 28 games of great defense and eyesore offense. He might not fall this far. But if he does, it’d make perfect sense for the Cavaliers to scoop him up since he could operate as a backup to Jarrett Allen and as a small-ball center next to Evan Mobley.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via Oklahoma City)
Ebuka Okorie, 6-2, Stanford freshman guard
After landing Flemings in the lottery as their point guard of the future, the Mavericks can use this pick to double down on the backcourt with a different kind of bet. Okorie spent his freshman year at Stanford proving he belonged in the first-round conversation. He’s a live-wire guard with a tight handle, the burst to turn the corner, and the pull-up range to keep defenders honest. Where Flemings is the steady, low-turnover table-setter, Okorie is the shot-maker who can come off the bench and generate offense when the starters need a breather.
He can fall in love with the step-back and settle for tough shots, but that was partially his role at Stanford and he flashed enough playmaking to suggest he could become a lead guard too. At 6-2 with an average wingspan, he’s going to get hunted on defense, and that’s the kind of thing that could scare teams off in the lottery. But at the end of the first round, it starts to look like a bargain. With Kyrie aging, pairing Flemings and Okorie gives Dallas two young guards to bet on, and hope that one or both of them end up as Flagg’s co-star for years to come.
SECOND ROUND
31. New York Knicks: Alex Condon, Florida junior big
Condon is a high-octane Aussie big with a relentless motor, versatile defense and the playmaking pizzazz for no-look dimes. With Mitchell Robinson entering free agency this summer, the Knicks may need another big.
32. Memphis Grizzlies: Juke Harris, Wake Forest sophomore wing
Harris reportedly has some lucrative NIL offers to stay in college, meaning he may not even end up in this draft class after averaging 21.4 points last season as a highly versatile shooter with a 6-foot-7 frame. But if he does stay, he’d make perfect sense as another investment in Memphis’ backcourt.
33. Brooklyn Nets: Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt sophomore guard
Tanner can probably make himself a lot more money if he stays in school. But as a high-flying, sweet-stroking small guard he finds himself still in the late first-round conversation, and the early second at worst.
34. Sacramento Kings: Amari Allen, Alabama freshman forward
As a 6-7 wing, Allen does a little bit of everything without needing touches, rebounds like a big and displays incredible defensive versatility. The concern is purely about his upside, since he hasn’t shown many star flashes.
35. San Antonio Spurs: Meleek Thomas, Arkansas freshman guard
It’s not like the Spurs need another guard. But how could you pass up Thomas at this point? He’s a talented shotmaker who can provide microwave offense. And he’s an active defender too.
36. Los Angeles Clippers: Henri Veesaar, North Carolina junior big
Veesaar is an agile big with real shooting touch, connective playmaking, and baseline big skills with the ability to set screens and catch lobs. He also offers rim protection and is a locked-in help defender. Brook Lopez won’t start forever, so the Clippers need to make more investments in the future.
37. Oklahoma City Thunder: Dame Sarr, Duke freshman wing
Sarr is exactly the type of player who will probably return to school. But for now, we’ll keep him in the mock. The Thunder could stash him, only to see Sarr turn into the new Lu Dort three years from now.
38. Chicago Bulls: Sergio De Larrea, Valencia guard
De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with a major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. With size, smarts and defensive versatility, he could carve out a rotation role if his limited sample proves scalable.
39. Houston Rockets: Tarris Reed, UConn senior center
Reed is an interior bruiser, rebounder and shot-blocker. Steven Adams is getting old and injury prone. Reed is an investment in a future without him.
40. Boston Celtics: Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor freshman wing
Yessoufou entered Baylor as a projected lottery pick with freakish athleticism, a relentless motor and the kind of physicality that makes scouts dream. But Baylor missed the tournament, he’s still a shaky shooter, and he needs to improve his passing feel. There would be no better culture to learn in than the Celtics’.
41. Miami Heat: Allen Graves, Santa Clara freshman forward
The analytics love Graves. He came off the bench and scored only 11.8 points, but he filled the stat sheet, hit over 40% of his 3s, and could find himself in the first round if he decides not to stay in college.
42. San Antonio Spurs: Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State senior forward
Jefferson can pass out of the post, make connective reads and guard multiple positions. He just needs his shooting progress to prove to be real, and right now there’s not enough of a sample to be sure it is. The Spurs can help him there.
43. Brooklyn Nets: Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s senior big
Ejiofor brings an edge to the floor that could help instill a winning culture in Brooklyn, especially as a partner next to Boozer for years to come.
44. San Antonio Spurs: Luigi Suigo, Mega center
It’s hard to imagine the Spurs would keep all of these picks. But if they do, there’d have to be at least one stash in there. Why not a 7-2 mammoth who displays mobility and hits some 3s? You never know what those guys can turn into.
45. Sacramento Kings: Alijah Arenas, USC freshman guard
Arenas would be better served returning to school to improve his draft stock. But staying in California to hone his scoring talents at the professional level could have appeal too.
46. Phoenix Suns: Keyshawn Hall, Auburn senior forward
Hall became a do-it-all weapon for Auburn, and in the NBA his 6-7 frame and reliable stroke from 3 give him 3-and-D potential. He’d fit like a glove in the Phoenix rotation.
47. Dallas Mavericks: Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State junior forward
At 6-8, Momcilovic made 48.7% of his 7.5 3-pointers per game. That’s all you gotta know about what he’s capable of as a shooter.
48. Orlando Magic: Joseph Tugler, Houston junior forward
Tugler is a defensive force with freaky length and an insatiable motor that lets him guard anyone. The Magic need a tone-setter like him.
49. Toronto Raptors: Ryan Conwell, Louisville senior guard
Conwell has shotmaking skill as a high-volume shooting guard, which could eventually earn him some minutes in Toronto’s rotation.
50. Denver Nuggets: Milos Uzan, Houston senior guard
Uzan is a high-IQ combo guard who knits teams together with his playmaking skills and defensive hustle. The Nuggets tend to value guys in that mold.
51. Washington Wizards: Michael Ružić, Joventut forward
Ružić is a raw Croatian forward who was born in France and now plays in Spain. He projects as a quality shooter with passing feel, though he’s incredibly raw.
52. Houston Rockets: Braden Smith, Purdue senior point guard
Smith was one of the best point guards in college basketball, but he projects as a rotation guy in the NBA. The Rockets could potentially use his creation off the bench.
53. Los Angeles Clippers: Jaden Bradley, Arizona senior guard
Arizona looked hopeless any time Bradley wasn’t on the floor. He’s a stabilizing guard, he hits big shots, and he makes plays on defense. He might be a senior, but he has the tools to get drafted.
54. Golden State Warriors: Trevon Brazile, Arkansas senior forward
Brazile once had some believers that he could end up a first-round pick in the NBA before injuries set him back. But as a senior, he finally looked like the bouncy, versatile forward that put him back on draft boards.
55. New York Knicks: Mouhamed Faye, Paris center
Faye would be another big man for the Knicks, but he’d likely be a draft-and-stash to develop overseas.
56. Chicago Bulls: Baba Miller, Cincinnati senior forward
Miller has long been a fascination of scouts as a 6-11 guy who can handle the ball. But he never really put it together as a shooter. Maybe the Bulls could have better luck than any of the three schools he went to.
57. Atlanta Hawks: Dash Daniels, Melbourne guard
Hey, why not draft Dyson’s brother? Dash can’t really dribble right now but, much like his brother, he’s a fantastic defender. He could be worth the investment for Atlanta.
58. New Orleans Pelicans: Rueben Chinyelu, Florida junior big
Chinyelu is an elite rebounder and rim protector. It might be important to pair Derik Queen with a guy like that for the long term.
59. Minnesota Timberwolves: Richie Saunders, BYU senior wing
Saunders is a hard-nosed, two-way wing who plays with manic energy and a quick trigger jumper. But he tore his ACL and is already 25 years old.
60. Washington Wizards: JT Toppin, Texas Tech junior forward
Toppin is a defensive stalwart with elite athleticism, quick hands, and the motor of someone who genuinely cannot stop competing. The issue is he’s limited offensively and tore his ACL, which puts him in a tough spot of deciding whether to stay another year in school or go recover in the NBA.
