Final Mock Draft Picks and Outlook

Coming up doing my full first round mock draft exploring what happens if Darren Peterson goes first to the wizards, but first bringing on Tom Havister to talk about everything going on around the NBA, Janis, LeBron Trey Young, Ns and a lot else. That's coming up right now with me and Tom Having the right people in your corner for life's biggest milestones makes all the difference. Like a friend who's there when you're house hunting or checking out a new ride, State Farm is there too, helping you choose the coverage you need. With a state Farm agent, you know someone is there to help you along the way. and with so many coverage options, it's nice knowing you have help choosing a plan that fits your needs so you can continue celebrating all of life's milestones. Head to statefarm. com to get a quote. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start, Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to. 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I think that's because the bucks are still trying to haggle with teams including Miami to try to get everything they possibly can And I think with John Horst The general manager, his career is going to be defined buy this Janesnda Kupo trade is not going to be defined by the championship. and getting Chris Middleton and Brook Lopez and Drew Holiday, it's going to be defined by the Yonest trade And so yes, they might take their time here and get everything they can. Sad. Every that I've heard for weeks now I said this in a mock I think two weeks ago Bcks are indicating to teams that they think they're going to have multiple lottery picks. They've been indicating that to other teams when it comes to trade talks. They've been indicating that to agents when it comes to trying to schedule prospect workouts So the bucks for weeks have said they're going to have multiple lottery picks, not just number ten. It could be ten and thirteen, could be ten and I don't know. Not sure. I don't know. depends on the destination for Yanis and how elaborate a trade could be. Maybe it's eight and ten Tact is that's what they've been saying. So I still think and I would still betnd on aonnaal happening before the draft or on draft Night itself I would not rule out, as Chris Haye said This draging along even more. when it's dragged along as long as it already has Yeah, to me, Kev, this you have to really keep in mind that there's a lot of posture in this lead up to the draft and understanding all these reports Wh benefits from this information being out there? I've been used in my reporting before where I hear something from an executive or a scout And I report it. And then afterwards, I learned that maybe I was used to get information out there because they wanted to build leverage So why would this get out there that the Milwaukee bucks want potentially to extend this past the draft deadline or the draft night. and potentially go into free agency. Well, I think one of the reasons why they want to do this or have this information out there is to build leverage is to say, look, If you're not willing to put in your best offer here in the coming days leading up to Tuesday night at eight thirty, then we're just going to we're just going to go into free agency This is a message to all of the teams that get your best offer in right now becausecause if you don't do it, we're going to have the opportunity to go in in the next, you know, week or two and we won't be able to draft who we want with your pick that you're floating to us. So if you really are putting on the table these picks, they become a lot more valuable here And I think teams are probably sitting there and being like, all right, do we call their bluff here Do we wait until I don't want to call their bluff. We should probably get them now and put in that extra pick or or remove a protection on there to gain some sort of negotiating power. I expect that Milwaukee Bcks, the Milwaukee Bucks are going to trade Yanesend to Cupo this weekend because Kev, like you point out If they add picks to their draft night on Tuesday, I think they're going to want to know what picks they have with time to evaluate those positions and potentially flip those picks again to move up or move back. So I think it's It's in it's it's imperative For the Milwaukee Bcks to this weekend figure out their best options here and make all the other suitors put their best offer on the table because if they have the tenth pick great If they move up potentially in the draft, I think their scouts are going to be working overtime and their draft experts are going to be working overtime to try to figure out who they want to select And Kev You and I both know The Milwaukee Bucks have had an awful draft record over the past ten years or so. And so for them, if they get picks ahead of Tuesday night, they got to make sure they nail these because it has not been a strong history of draft picking in the horse and and the Milwaukee Bcks going back It's been so rough under the horse era. So many so many whiffs that have put them in this position that they are today with Yanas likely being traded away. and maybe things would be different if they had hit on a lot of those picks. So I think for the bucks, I mean, it's kind of funny. like you mentioned how Everybody has an agenda, right? like different forces around the league. this week and I'm sure eventually it'll be reported. I don't want to say the player's name, but there is a prospect in this year's draft who has a elbow defect that he was born with where he can't fully extend his arm out straight and and I have heard about this, a lot of people have heard about this and I said it to somebody to get confirmation and they're like, Yeahah, whoever told that to you is just trying to kill that player's draft stock And it's like, well, that might be true, but it's also possible that you don't want his draft stock to be killed because you want him taken high. You know, It's like that means another player's fallen Everybody has their agendas. And this time of year, it is truly the silly season with the drafts with free agency, with trades Everybody has their agendas And like you said, The books want this out there for a reason And that reason is probably be because they're just putting out the front like, hey, We're just not gonna to do anything If you don't give it' not going to give us our best offer. we're not going to take it. right? Like we can extend this into into July, But but again, like Kev So much of what the Milwaukee bucks should want to do is have control over their pick this year in a loaded draft by waiting until after draft night, they're not going to have nearly as much selection power obviously with the draft in the rear view mirror. you're going to be stuck with whoever the guy the GM for the team that youre you're trading with selected at that position. Now I do think that given that this weekend or on Tuesday night when we have our live show, the on Yahoo sports. There might be a Yanest trade that night. It might be tonight. It might be this weekend. It might be Monday I think teams are rightfully concerned about whether they want to give up so much for Janis andedakupa. and it's something that the Miami Heat are going to have to figure out is All of the assets outside of Bama to buio some of the assets, most of the assets because The gut tax is a real thing What is the gut tax? The gut tax is really What you have to put ono the table to trade for a superstar that guts your team We've seen this so many times, whether it's Damian Lillard to Milwaukee, whether it's Kevin Durant to Phoenix, Harden to Philadelphia, Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland, Rudy Gubert to Minnesota, all these teams that put in a young player multiple first round picks, the kitchen sink as I like to call it, putting that into a trade mostost famously, the Carmelo Anthony trade with Denver and New York in twenty ten There's been eleven such trade since twenty nineteen when I went back and looked at this. where you have a young player filler maybe with a supporting cast member who has a large contract number and multiple first round picks. eleven of those deals for a superstar or a star player Only two of them has resulted in a championship and only two of those eleven have resulted in going to the NBA finals Now, that is not a good hit mark when you're talking about what these teams are giving up in these trades to get a Yan asen to Koopo or to get a Kevendnder ramp It's a lot And if you're willing to put in those assets You have to have the right supporting cast, the right coach, the right front office that can make a lot with scraps. And I think the Miami they've shown the ability to do that, whether it's the Jimmy Butler era, Dwayne Wade when he went to the NBA Championship in two thousand six with a lot of castoffs and a lot of veterans The Miami has shown an ability to get players at below market deals and play way more than their contract or their reputation suggests. A guy like D Davian Mitchell is a great example of guys at the Mi get and then produce at a much higher level than other teams were able to do that So for Yanis in this Nanna sweepstakes Does Orlando want tout their team Do other do the Boston Celtics want to gut their team, They have to make some serious calculus because that record, the track record of gutting your team to go for a superstar, nine out of the eleven teams didn't that acquired the superstar did not even make it to the NBA finals with said suuperstars. So it's something that every team really needs to marinate and figure out How much of these assets am I going to put into a deal s a good set and definitely a concern to be onnest in his thirties. Moving on to Treay Young. he opted out of his contracts and he will enter free agency this off season. But as Brian Windhorse reported this morning on get up on a SPN. The indications are is that Tan is going to stay in Washington and sign a three year contontract extension there Um, so there's a little bit of hoop law. on Wednesday that Trey could opt out and go to a team with Cappace Cordting the windy, it seems like he's still likely to go back the Washington Wizards, and that's not a big surprise at all that Trey Young could be head back to Washington. Yeah, Kev again, this is this is posture season. Why would he opt out and then have suitors out there to try to bring in Trey Young. Well, one reason why you might want that out there is to raise the extension number for the Washington Wizards. An agent might want to say, hey, look, he's opting out back to the wizards on a three year deal But there's other teams out here that could be interested in Ty Young's services at a max number and prepared to offer a max number, which then makes the Washington wizards be like, all right ine We'll add another ten million or we'll have more guarantees into the contract or more bonuses in the contract. and then the agent's done his job So that's really what it comes down to is The agents and the teams, they have to negotiate. what is the number that Trey Young can be agreed to over a three possibly a three year extension with the Washington Wizards order to build leverage The agent needs to have the appearance that other teams are willing to offer more money or parable money. So do I think that there is really suitors out there willing to give a max deal to Tay Young when all of those teams had an opportunity to trade for him at last deadline and he was essentially traded for Salary Flotsum. likeike I know CJ. McColl, much better than you know, just this cap number. but He was on an expiring contract and they were not able to get a first round pick out of that deal for Trey Young. So to me, I think this is the agent for Tay Young and his team trying to muster up as much leverage as they can in these talks with Washington as they can. And I expect that he'll be back and If you're really drafting Darren Peterson at number one Treay Young as a ball handler and playmaker certainly makes up for the lack of playmaking we saw at Kansas Yeah, it does, but at the same time If you have Darren Peterson, let's say he's the choice and you also drafted Trey Johnson a year ago who you still I would assume have belief in trays us a short term filler. And if you're tray young, maybe you do look at say, Chicago or Brooklyn, these teams that can create a lot of cap space and say, hey, Do you have it offer for me? do you want me? I'm open to go there. So maybe there's maybe it's highly likely he goes to Washington and I think that is definitely the case But I wouldn't rule out him taking those meetings for a reason just for the sake of doing it, as Windhorse said, just to see if there is an alternative out there just in case see what happens Tuesday night in the NBA draft. Walker Kessler He's got a big contract offer on the table. Multiple reports say five years one hundred forty million dollars is on the table for Walker Kessler made a big post on Instagram this morning about how he loves Utah and how he wants to be back and he's like, you don't, you don't lay your roots in a place if you don't want to be there You want significantly more one hundred forty million dollars over five years for a guy who's had some injury issues and been up and down so far is current. that feels It bit extreme to me unless they know of something else out there that is significantly more than twenty eight million dollars average annual value To me, a guy who missed the entire season. he played five games with with the injury and hasn't been a beacon of, you know, a stability when it comes to the injury front. played fifty eight games last season, not this most recent season, sixty four in twenty three, twenty four and he played almost every game in his rookie season, but that was coming off the bench So there isn't really a track record to point to that Walker Kessler is worth about thirty million dollars in this league. And yes, he does fit nicely next to a lot of score first options there with Ace Bailey, Lowerry Markin and Jereon Jackson Junr. certainly a defensive player of the year, but I don't consider him a lockdown five center in today's NBA So Walker Castter could certainly be a good fit. next to next to those scoring guards and Counte George and Ace Bailey But I don't see where he's going to get that kind of money elsewhere U I would be surprised if a ret a free agent Chicago Tom That's my g This is not sourced for what it's worth. Let me just make that clear. It' not sourced, but the bulls can get a lot of capap space if they want to and they need a five So if they draft Kalab Wilson at four If they want a true center to to play alongside Kayla Wilson, there's no better choice than Walker Kessler So I think Chicago could be a secret team that isn't that isn't a bad option. Tiago Spllitter taking over the job there in Chicago, Certainly a big man who just developed Donovan Clingon last year into one of the best defensive players and the best defensive bigs, stretching the floor. Walker Kessler. I think imagines himself as someone who can do that Now is is Utah going to get to that place with the restricted free agency. and Ban McMahon also reported that that it was rejected that offer To me, I think he goes back to Utah, but Chicago does present now with Tiaga Spllitter as the head coach and Cale Wilson there being a good fit there. It's possible. but about thirty million dollars for Walker Kessler with a restricted tag, mayaybe that's what it's going to take for Chicago to really land him We'll be right back Next to Golden State Wriors, Anthony Slater wrote on ESBN this week that Team sources continue to indicate that Kowi Len is the type of established wing talent that they could pursue in a win now maneuver. League sources tell Freater that Balmer, the cllippers owner has maintained a quote Firm stance againgst a Leonard trade preferring to continue building around his star forward. The then slater goes on to write how Ty Murph is the more obtainable wing for the warriors to target Um, he said the pellicans have clung it clung tightly. to Treay Murphy, but leeakue sources tells Slater that New Orleans has been signaling a desire to jump into the first round of the draft That last line is one hundred and fifty percent true. The Pelicans are trying to get a pick in the top twenty The warriors are definitely a team that we could see trade the number eleven pick to New Orleans for Treay Murphy. All that said though, Tom. I do think the warriors still want Kawai Letter. I still think the warriors are still going for Kawi letter. The warriors still want Kawai Traay Murphy, as Anthony Slater said, seems to be just the more obtainable guy. But I don't think this warrior's love for Koi Leonard has declined at all I we heard all about it at the deadline after it passed I think it's still there. It's just a matter of if the clippers are actually going to decide to go young And from the conversations I've had with people around the league regarding the clippers' intentensions, is it is it does seem like Balmer and the front office does want to continue wing and building with Ki Leonard However There are some people I've talked to around the league that have also indicated like They might just be trying to leverage their way into getting more back and that you look at their other actions. Trading for Dar Dariis Garland and Benedc Matharin sending out Zoobots for draft picks. The fact that the lottery went the way it did And they have the fifth pick. that their actions are that of a team that is ready to go young And so I think that That's an intriguing thing to keep in the back of your mind when it comes to what could happen between now and the warriors being on the clock. at number eleven Yeah I am not saying that there will be a Kat trade. I bet against it. but I think it's a possibility Yeah think about it. they they had best case scenario with Kai Leonard and how amazing of a season he had second team all NBA and they didn't even make the playoffs So if you're Steve Balmer with the aspiration scandal hanging all over you as we enter the draft night. Um I would imagine that after that trade when you trade away James Harden anditia Zubbots, you're signaling to the marketplace that wait, maybe they aren't going to be keeping Kawai Leard long term and maybe they are trying to low key rebuild and reload on the fly And so for me, I think it probably is posturing that he wants to keep Kai Leonard, but There's no guarantee that Kai is going to be healthy next season and then you're going to try to trade him after that or let him walk for nothing. That to me seems like a ripe opportunity for the Lawrence Frank and the organization to get maximum value for C Leard while he's healthy and he's able to put say like I just had an all NBA maybe I had him at the fifth slot in my MVP ranking this this season and there isn't a better time than right now to try Ci trade Kai Leardard, where he is top value. he's healthy, playing at a high level. And so for you to jump into this draft, There're not many teams that are willing to trade the assets to get Ki and have a lottery pick in this year's draft. And the Golden State Warriors are them. So If they weren't able to get Paul George a couple years ago, Golden State Kowa Leonard does bring you an opportunity to add more veteran leadership on this team and fits right next to Draymond Green and Stehan Curry with this squad. I think would be a great acquisition for the wararriors and it would make a lot of sense for the cllippers to move on from this iteration of the Paul George, James Hart and Kawi Leonard era, and they certainly have already signaled that with the Zubot Straade It is a no brainer for the warriors to try to flip that Jimmy Butler contract, you know, he's expiring coming off a torn ACL into Kaui Leonard. It's an upgrade for your team in the short term, it's an upgrade pereriod Considering that Jimmy Butler is an inferior player to Ki Lner And so for the warriors, it makes total sense depending on obviously what else you're having to give up on top of the eleventh pick. I'd imagine The clippers would probably want Ber and Pojemsk something like that in return in the deal as well. Pods is going to be a restricted free agent one year from now as well. And so like if it's Ki Leonard and I don't know, like Derek Jones Junior to the to the Warriors for eleven Butler pods something along those lines. like that makes a lot of sense to me from the clippers side of things to get that value. You can get a really high level prospect with the eleventh pick this year. And so for LA if they enter next season with Garland who's still only twenty seven and number five and number eleven and you know, they draft another guy in the second round and they have yach at Con and Nitherhauser It's like a fun young team. Never mind how much I like really like Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller some of their more adepth young pieces. But I think for LA. it's the perfect time to move off of Kalaner. And not only that, if you do get Butler back, he comes back from injury in March. February, March And he can potentially restore his value entering the summer and maybe he's a guy you want to resign to a one year deal and And who knows, you could be really competitive right away if you're the clipperers I think I think trading Kawai makes a lot of sense though from the warriors side, it's more of the no brainer than it is for the clippers. So spepeaking about Los Angeles, Tom LeBron James in the news cycle as he always is. This week, there's been reporting around how the warriors are a backup plan for him Anthony Slater had mentioned how They could get to the mid level exception around fifteen million dollars for LeBron James, but Porting, I believe it was Windhorse said LeBron is likely to stay in Los Angeles And I'd imagine that's the case that LeBron would prefer to stay in LA rather than move up to San Francisco to the Bay Area and play with Luca moving forward and likely bring back Austin Reeves as well given how great things looked before Luca got hurt against Oklahoma City in March Are we A we ruling out Cleveland? Are we done with Cleveland? I haven't heard of Pete personally and unless unless it's just private hidden possibility, but I have not heard Cleveland for LeBron. Yeah. given the I haven't heard my name either. but just forns Worth Yeah, given, given that LeBron James is right now on some sort of Gy weekend playing golf with all the Oh yeah his buddies with JR. Smith, Channing Fry, Kevin Love. I've been enjoying watching the the Ke. Where's Ke Uh, well, if you trust JR Smith's Instagram comment by saying no one we didn't miss any or ghost anybody. He ghosted us. We asked him to come and he ghosted us. So it's not a matter of them not reaching out to Kairi to invite them on this trip. But noting that Richard Jefferson, think about that. Richard Jefferson was there This should still be the NBA finals So he booked this ticket to go to London with LeBron and the rest of the crew in the middle of what would be the NBA finals. So I don't know what that last minute ticket looks like for for RJ. But that was really cool to see them hang out. This is what it's all about. the life the lifelong bonds of winning a championship together. That's why you play team sports is having the ultimate the goal of winning a championship and those things they last a long time. But notably Kye was not there, but like You know what was there is the gray in LeBrone beard. I think the horror that he would have if he kept the gray in an NBA season and he's dropping thirty, ten and ten on people I wanted to keep that, not just in the off season, but I do it reminded me You know, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a really fascinating off season here. They have another shortcoming in the in the post season. they underperformed. they got swept by the by the Ns where it's a Clear indication they're not on the next level. Um and whether they're in the Janis and of the coupo sweepstakes or not This is a monster off season for for the the cabs front office. They can run this back and say hey, the Nicks. they ran it back last year. They got a new head coach. yes, but largely the same corore and they did much better than than they did the previous season But I wonder if we can close the door on the Cleveland for LeBron James. rightight now it's not in the air swirling like he is flying those helicopters around Great Britain But I do think that LeBron will be back with the Lakers, but I just I can't imagine him with the storybook ending it would be for him to retire as a cv one last time. mayaybe that's more of an indication Kev that this isn't going to be his last season. that he has a couple more in them and he wants to do one more try here with the Lakers with that core of Lua Donich and Austin Reeves Let's not. The Elephant in the room, his son is still on the team and under contract. So him reupping with the Lakers would not surprise me And for Cleveland, I mean, it's a it's a two way street Tom. Cleveland would want to have to want him back to Right That's part of it here for the Cavaliers. I'm not so sure I'd want the broadback personally, but that's why wouldn't Be If you're the cals, you certainly haven't shown the ability to get over the hump and have the right guys and play with physicality and leadership in the playoffs But you would have to kind of give the keys and hand over the organization of LeBron and all the power that he brings So yes, that would be not just any player you're acquiring. It's a lot of the off court, just the attention, the is this is last season and the farewell tour that could potentially happen. I can understand why those off court quote unquote distractions would not be something that they would want to take in. But I also think they need a guy like LeBron. They need a guy who knows what it takes and to play with physicality because they certainly didn't show that against the Kicks They seem so far away from being a championship contender as we've seen the last few years They're far away. And I mean they are far away and I think they need to make bigger moves. I don't think running it back is the best solution. Look, he would he would help Don't get me wrong But I think they need more of a lockdown wing defender than they need to have another creator. They already have James Harden They already have Donam and Mitchell That's what I think I'd love to see out of that three spot more so than than LeBron James, but it wouldn't fault him obviously if they added LeBron. And I think for LeBron I'd imagine being in LA. there's still also a PCU that's like We never got a parade We never got a parade The Lakers they win in twenty twenty in the bubble. they never got a parade and you see all the the images of the the New York Kicks of their parade in the streets of New York City today. They're going to have their Big celebration at City Hall as well U It's going to be madness in New York City for the entire day, even aside from that parade route. I saw some posts from people I I follow on X and on Instagram saying how They were there at six AM. they weren't able to get in. People waking up early. There's like a picture I saw of a guy with like Nicks face paint He wasn't able to make it in, you know, and he must have woken up at three AM to get that face paint going U yeah, so I wish the parade route were longer in New York City. I'm a little surprised. It's as short as it was But hey, it's still going to be an amazing, amazing moment with a lot of beautiful lifelong images and I'm sure some great moments u when they do get the city hall. Yeah, I saw Ben Stiller was on a float. I saw that they gave him a float. Ben Stiller got a float No probably for the Dign that he's doing. Yeah Yeah, he's on there and Mike Breen was on there. some some, you know, people in the New York Circle being on there, not necessarily with the organization, but outside of it too. It's great. I mean, it's a great experience for the fans. U I'm wondering, is there anything I'm trying to think is there anything that I'd be willing to cram with one million other people on a hot summer day as compact as they're going to be. Is there anything in my life that I would be willing to do that? Is that a sign that I'm like I I've come to a happy place in my life that I don't need to do this, but then I'm like, o, there's some passions in my life that I would love to be there for. I went to the parade in two thousand four for the Red Sox and watched the duck boats with my dad and my two brothers But it wasn't like this. It wasn't As packed I mean we were on the Charles and it was it was not nearly what we're seeing here. There's more space where the Red Sox had their parade. There's more space Yes. more space. That's why like I wish they had Central Park as part of the parade route. for the Nicks, There's plenty of space for people there, you know I think it's a security thing. Maybe it's just they didn't literally have enough law enforcement to secure the area if they were going to do that. I mean, I can't imagine how many people would require to secure something like Central Park for for a long parade route. but It's it's awesome. I'm happy for Nicks fans and for all the people who are in my mentions who are so upset that I would drop this asteris piece during the championship rally, the parade. That's the point I'm trying to make the point that you should enjoy this. Forget the asterisk talk. It's ridiculous. It's garbage. Enjoy this. It is a pure championship. no matter what some idiot on sububstack rightites at T thefinder. com It's satire. It is It's an awesome feeling. And we talked about on the big number this week is that the the Kicks have a good chance at repeating next year. I'm not saying that they're the favorites to repeat next year, but I got buddies who are upset that they're not going to be able to make it to the parade because they had schedule conflicts But I too with them I say, nextext year, there might be a parade too because this next team, you don't go sixteen and three having the largest point to differential in NBA history without the possibility of running it back Regardless of the last eight champions, what that says I think the next Because of their health this post season Um and the fact that they only played nineteen games. They only lost three games. They don't have they had long rest between these series I think the tax, that the miles on those tires is actually a lot less. than normal champions for the New York Kicks. I think they have a good shot next year Tom, I can't wait to see you in person next week in New York City. li live draft show on Tuesday night rom Yahoo, we're going to be doing the entire first round. M, you, King McLlure. Ice young going to be an awesome, awesome night and who knows, we might get some trades during the daytime There could be an emergency show that we have to do. Who knows. So I'll be I'll be staying ready. on Tuesday for the draft and I'm fired up about it. A you studying up this weekend? You diving into my draft guy getting ready Oh yeah. oh yeah, this is awesome. This is this is a great time. This is the the test that I love cramming for All right, thanks to Tom. Coming up, we got my first round mock draft and this one's going to explore happens if Darren Peterson goes with the first pick. that's coming up right now Let's do another mock draft today. five days to go until draft night. Today we're doing an exercise. What happens if Darren Peterson goes number one to the Washington Wizards? Let's start with that number one pick with the Washington Wizards with the assumption they take Darren Peterson here with this first pick instead of AJD Bonso, who does remain the favorite, but it certainly seems like There is a possibility that Peterson is the choice series had multiple workouts with the Washington Wizards has as has been widely reported across the league in recent days. Now Sam Batini said on Ryan Rusilla's podcast with me last night I was on Ryan's show Sam brought up how, hey, look whyy do they need to see him multiple times? It's not necessarily a great thing that they needed to see him more than once., But I do while I think that could be true, I also do think that this is a team that just wants to spend as much time as they can with this guy because Peterson at the high school level was Absolutely brilliant. And even in college, despite missing eleven out of thirty five games, despite the cramping situation, despite all of those concerns, he still looked like Ray Allen playing off ball, off screens, off handoffs. I mean, the dude was absolutely incredible. in that regard. So I think with the wizards, what's clear is that this does seem to be between Peterson and AJD Bona As of today on Thursday, just a handful of days until the NBA draft next Tuesday, it seems like Boozer isn't in consideration here, but at the same time, who knows Who knows? mayaybe this is just all misdirection and they end up going with boozer with that first pick. Another thing just to note here regarding the Wizards, My league sources say that the Wizards want another lottery pick They're trying to trade in to the late lottery They want another choice So I wonder if that could also dictate what they do here with this first pick if they get, let's say twelve from OKC Would that mean if there's a player they want there, they might go in a different direction at one? Who knows. But that's the latest that I'm hearing around the wizards is that aside from all the drama around number one. They are targeting another late lottery pick for a future pick or future picks to get back into the lottery after number one. All right, number two, the Utah Jazz, get them taken AJD Bonsa.esn't this just feel like destiny Doesn't it? He goes to Utah rep. He goes to BYU His life has been in Utah the last handful of years after growing up in Brockton, Massachusetts, which is where I also grew up if you didn't know that already. AJD Bonsons to the Utah jazz if Peterson goes number one, feels like a given I cannot imagine This choice would be that difficult for Utah AJ is on the board for them. Now if AJ goes number one, I think there's a real debate between Peterson or Boozer at number two and you can't rule out the slim chance of Kayla Olson here either. But ultimately, if AJ B Bona is on the board I cannot see how Ryan Smith, the jazz owner passes on that and And I'll tell you what. If D Bona does go here to Utah This is a pretty amazing fit. I think De Bon is the type of player he can fit on any team, any situation But ultimately with the Utah jazz with Jaron Jackson Jr. and Laurry Markin and bring back likely Walker Kessler, I would assume. Ace Bailey Ace Bailey as your two D Bonsa as your three and all those talented front court players. This would be a massive Rster And D Bonso would give them the type of go to scoring punch at that wing forward pos position to pair with Kiante George in the back court. that would really I think help make Utah really good right away. And as I said, to me, it just It feels like this is supposed to happen You know, it feels like AD Bonz is supposed to go to the Utah jazz And that's just going to be part of his story. But we'll see how it all plays out. All right number three The Memphis Grizzies Cameron boozer out of Duke. I would assume if Boozers on the board. he will be the pick Boozer feels like a perfect pick. nextxt to Zach Ey in that front court pair him with Cedric Cward, Jayalen Wells, GG Jackson. list all the young guys in this Grizzlyies roster you want. It goes pretty deep. O Max Prosper even had a good year, Ryan Ruair at the end of the season Boosters the type of guy that can elevate this group a whole new level with his versatility on both ends of the floor, particularly on offense. He can screen, he can roll, he can pick and pop. He can run the pick and roll. He can operate out of face ups, low post, he can overpower guys. He can create shots for himself. He's a good finisher, cutter. He literally does everything offensively And that's why in my draft guide, the comparison I have to him that I like most is twenty eighteen nineteen Blake Riffs The last time Blake Griffin made an all star team with the Detroit pistons, that version of Blake Griffin was a do it all player who hit game winning freezes who ran pick and roll, who did literally everything on the offensive of the floor and overpowered people. There's not a lot of guys that I can think of historically that have that type of skill set, but that late career version of Blake Griffin and this rookie version of Cam Boozer, I think are pretty special players and it's really a compliment to Boozer to pull that comp out. Number four Chicago Bulls Kaleb Wilson, nothing changing here. I can't imagine they go in a different direction unless they're going to just shock the world. Kaleb Wilson his athleticism, his versatility on defense would give the Bls a big that they badly need. Now, I don't think Wilson is the answer to be their room protector. like he can help anchor a defense, but he is not the anchor You do need a bigger center. So I think for the bulls this wouldn't necessarily solve that Total problem that I have, but I do think it's the beginning of solving it And with Kaleb Olson it's funny. like Draymond Green said on his podcast earlier this week. He thinks the floor for Kayleb Olson is Kevin Garnett, which is absolutely outrageous. Draymond Green and Kable Wilson share an agency. We know what he's trying to do here pumping him up. It's crazy to say his floor is one of the twenty greatest players in the history of basketball. Let's be serious here. KG, let's not underrate what he was at his peak in Minnesota and never mind what he turned into in Boston. KG is an absolute legend If he's seventy five percent of Kevin Garnett Kayle Bilson will be a star in this league. That would be a winning result, not the floor. But ultimately I really like Kaya Bilson. there's so much to like about what he can be at worst and also the when you squint and see what he could potentially become with the ball in his hands. So that's the top four. Peterson one. This is the point of this mock. what happens if Peterson goes one That means Debonza goes two to Utah, Cameron Brwser three to Memphis and then Chicago Kayla Wilson. And then we get to number five And this is where things get Really, really interesting. If you remember Back after the lottery. I think it was my first or second mock draft after the lottery. I had a report in there that the cllippers love Braden Burrys and that they view him as a good fit next to Darius Garland in their back court This week, it's been reported. I believe it was Jake Fisher over at the Steinline. correct me if I'm wrong here, but Jake Fisher, I think reported that Ty Lu is in love with Brad and Bures that Barry's had a great workout with the Clippers. And so this is now two reports. I had something in middle of May Now there's stuff in the week before the draft that the clippers really like Braden Burrys. and I so he is going to be the selection here. the clippers here in part due to the fit in part, due to just simply the player that he is. I think he's going to be a winning player six four with a real strong two hundred plus pound frame versatile defensive player can play with and without the ball. shows some on ball scoring juice, but also the ability to be a cutter, a screen or doing the roll player type of dirty work And I think that makes sense for this Clippers roster regardless of Garland's presence, but especially because of Garland's presence Now All that said, in recent weeks, I've pretty consistently reported that the clippers are very highighly likely trade down team. If there's any team that trades down It could be the clippers. And as I reported in my most recent mock draft, the clippers at five and the nets at six could potentially take Darius Akof to force the kings to trade up I still believe there's a chance of that I think if the if the clippers stay at five or if they trade down, you're going to see them look at Braden Burryess or Michael Brown. That feels highly probable to me Keet Wagler can't roull him out. either, of course, a bigger guard, but that seems to be the focus here They could take A cuff. and even before the draft, within the next few days, I think you could potentially see the cllippers and kings swap spots. The kings to assure that they get A cuff Brooklyn doesn't take him and potentially keep him and then the Clippers could still get their guy and number seven. So just something to keep in mind regarding the clippers with what they could do on Draft Night or even before Draft night Number six The Brooklynets I got them takingen Mikeael Brown out of Louisville. Michael Brown is one of my favorite guards in this draft class. I have him ranked in my top six. I think with him he didn't have the best year at Louisville up and down dealing with a back injury. He did also have a back injury in the overtime elite a couple years ago as well. So from one my conversations with teams and it's hard to know who's lying to you and who's not My conversations with different people around the league are that the back stuff is not really a concern. I remember Chad Fb was on my podcast months ago and he had said how, well, if it's a chronic back thing that'd be scary, That's concerning. It doesn't seem like It's a chronic back thing. Michael Brown has worked out for seven of the top ten teams from what I've heard is he's really excelled in workouts and impressed teams and interviews in the same way that he did with me when he came in my podcast. I really liked him. He has a very good head on his shoulders. And I think with him, like the one edge you give him over ACOff ACff is the more talented offensive player as a creator. He's more proven dge you'll give Mikeael Brown is that he has a lot of those character traits on offense But also he's just a way better defensive player. He's so active, so so much energy in the passing lanes, plays hard and he's bigger So I think with Mikeael Brown Going six to Brooklyn, I could see them taking him and potentially even just keeping him this choice here Number seven Sacament Kings in this mock, they get their guy, Darius ACoff. ACoff has been connected to the kings ever since they fell in the lottery in part because of the connection with Scott Perry having a relationship with ACuuff's father. They're all Detroit guys. They're all from Detroit, Michigan, ACff included. and so it seems to me from my understanding is that ACff's group wants him in Sacramento and the kings also this is just a one way street. The kings also really like ACuff as well and view him as a potential future of the franchise. And that's why I think there's a there is a real chance that Clippers at five or Brooklyn at six does have the leverage to force the kings to move up because it feels very telegraphed that Sacramento wants a cuff They're signaling that if Acoff isn't on the board. They're very comfortable with Kingston Flennings They're very comfortable with another guard. I don't totally buy that and I think there's a chance We'll see a draft trade with Sacramento moving up to assure they get a cuff Number eight, Atlanta Hawks, Scott Keat Walker sllip into number eight here to the Atlanta Hawks. Gaggler is fifth on a lot of boards And he very well might end up going fifth Wagler super talented six five guard can play with and without the ball and to me, that's one of the key qualities that would make him a great fit for this Hawks team. and I Really can't see him falling past Atlanta. If he does get to eight. I don't think Alanta is going to pass on him at all. He just is a great fit for that Queen signiner offense. We've seen how Nikil Alexander Walker and CJ McCollum and all these guards have come alive when they've embraced playing with and without the ball and Wagler has so much of those traits with his ability to create off the dribble create shots on the perimeter to use his craftiness to get into the paint area, but also The intelligence offball as a cutter, I think would really come alive in Atlanta system and plus what his size at six foot five is somebody you could play next to. CJ McCollum, who I assume is going to go back to Atlanta play him next to Miael Alexander Walker and they kind have a pretty exciting team taking an even bigger step next year's NBA regular season. Number nine, Dallas Mavericks. This is an interesting result here in this mock draft. If indeed we see Michael Brown let's say Brand and Burryies, Michael Brown, Darryies Hcuff, Keaton Wall go five to eight That leaves Kingston Flemings for Dallas at number nine and that is the pick here We're going with Kingsston Flemings However Masiu Jeri historically hasn't drafted small guards The guard he last drafted was Delon Wright in the twenties And I think with Masiu Jiri, there's a question now of Is he making the pick or is Mike Schmidz making the pick in Dallas. There's a real uncertainty around the league about who's actually making the final call in this pick. It's also possible that Masi Jiri is picking the player at nine. and that Mike Schmidz is picking the player at pick thirty with his new Mavericks front office. And also, how much does the philosophy that Masi had in Denver and Toronto really apply to Dallas It might not at all. And every player is their own story and Kingston Flemings, if he is indeed the pick here with the Mavericks, I think you'd be a Really, really fascinating fit with Cooper Fag Two guys that are selfless highigh IQ players The Fleming's lack of size, I think can almost be an asset next to Cooper Flag in the sense that If you're defending Flemings with his speed and quickness and burst, you might not want to switch the guy defending flag onto Flemings. Maybe that disparity could be a tool for Dallas rather than a detriment. whereas if you have Keat Wagler, who's not Mbe you comfortably can switch Waggler flag screen and rollles. So I think Fleming says a lot of value here for Dallas if he is indeed the pick, but also I could see them going with a bigger player Nate Amant, Karem Lopez. I could see them trying to trade up. I could see them even trying to trade down willing to trade down to twelve with Oklahoma City and still get a guy there that really value So don't rle that out either. Do not roll down a trade down with Dallas from nine to twelve ish if this is indeed the way the board falls. Number ten Milwaukee Box Obviously everybody's talking focusing on the Yatus under the Koopo stuff. What's going to happen there? I've got them takeaking Nate amense with this selection. Ament. it feels like his Salute Bottom of the barrel floor is Chicago at fifteen, but in all likelihood Amens's fllo is number ten with the Milwaukee Bucks from my conversations with people around the league, it seems like the Bcks are in love with Amens's potential. They're willing to take a swing and see what he can turn into after an up and down season last year at Tennessee where he wasn't nearly as efficient as a score off off the catch. wasn't nearly as effective as a score on the dribble. And yet guys who are six foot ten that can handle shoot plays off the bnce. they don't grow on trees and that's why I think the bucks are a real bet to take Amment if he does end up falling to number ten and he may not. I can see the nets taking a at number six as well or even team moving up to the number five spot to take him as well, but number ten seems to be his floor Number eleven, the Golden State Warriors. I got them taken Kareim Lopez. He's a Mexican forward who spent this last year playing for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian League. Lopez is just solid, steady good all around player. I had a conversation with an executive this week about about Carim Lopez because I'm trying to figure out what's his ceiling What's his floor? And I've asked a ton of people about that and nobody really seems to have the best idea, but consistently it seems like Lopez, his ceiling is around nine to Dallas and then his floor could be, I think fifteen een range asss floor. But I think eleven to Golden State is a is a good spot for him in part because the physicality with Lopez, you see him in person The strength and size that he has. He's a very girthy player. I think he has the physicality and the toughness to play in the NBA right away, which would appeal to a warriors team that is still trying to win with Stehan Curry bringing back Steve Kerr and likely bringing back Draymond Green, but also with the future potential with what he could be as he hones his shot as he continues improving on the defensive midd the floor, learning the intricacies of making the proper rotations. I think Golden State would be a great spot for him and for the warriors a solid pick compared to the other guys remaining on the board. Number twelve, the Oklahoma City Thunder long rumored to potentially move up the warriors I got them taking a die Mara. Mara has long been reported as the potential Target for OKC if they move up I don't know how true that is Okay see every year it feels like there's a target they have One year it's pooku. that turned out to be true Another year it was a James Book Night. that wasn't true. It was It was a smokes screen. Another year it was Caseon Wallace That turned out to be true. this year, it's Maara. Is it Mara? if they're trying to move up? I don't know I don't know if it's the real answer. But ultimately, I do think Marow would make a lot of sense for OKC, especially if he's on the board at number twelve at seven three with playmaking skill flashed a jumper upside, even though I have my questions there he's just mammoth. He's just a huge guy. and that would give something okay, he does need even after driving Sorber one year ago, Sorber is not as big as Mara. And I think having a guy like that in your rotation would make a hell of a lot of sense Number thirteen Miami Christian Anderson. This is maybe a little bit higher than a lot of people have him But Christian Anderson from what I understand has worked out for a lot of these teams in this range And with Christian Anderson, I think he makes sense. for Miami if they stay put. I think he also makes sense for Milwaukee if they do end up trading Yanis for this pick and a lot else. Christian Anderson, he is an elite shooter off the catch and off the dribble, really runs a tight shit pick and rolls and for the Miami Heat or whoever is in the spot Christian Anderson very well could be the guy who goes ahead of Bennet Sturts, Le Bon Fhilon and some of these guards in this range of the draft. So I'll go with Anderson here to the heat. Nber fourteen, Mz Johnson to the Charlotte Hornets again I've had Morez Johnson here, I think five mocks in a row at this point. I do not foresee Morez Johnson falling past the hornets at fourteen. That seems to be what everybody around the league is assuming right now, Do't mean it's true. He might even go higher. Maybe he does slip past Charlotte, but All indications are the hornets are trying to reshape their front court. They're very happy with Booa Diaadi and drafting Ryan Culkbder last year, but it seems like adding more depth there, more versatility, having more ways to play. There's nobody better than Marez Johnson with his ability at six foot nine with a seven foot five wingspan and elite athleticism. where he can play some three for you. He can play some five He can plug and play into different roles. He would make perfect sense. for the Charlotte Horn is next to their core of Con Knipple Bernon Miller. Lameello ball Number fifteen, Chicago Bulls. I had them taking Kale Wilson with the fourth pick. We're going with Hanness Steinbach out of Washington here. Hanas, I think would be a great pairing. nextxt to Kayla Wilson in the front court. to me. this is the vision of what the bull should be angling for for here. They do need a guard I think there's a lot of guards here that would makeakes sense, but I think if you can have a front court of Steinbach with Kayla Wilson and then you already have Noah Ascend and Madas Buzeles and Josh Gitty. that team is huge team is big And I think there's something to that with some of these teams around the league. like if Boozer goes to Memphis, for example, that team is big. if sorry, if Boozer goes to Utah, that team is big. If if we see the Bows draft two bigs in this year's class, that team would be massive And that could be an important tool. I think for beating the thunder, for beating the spurs in the Western Cference and for getting through anybody in the east as well. Number sixteen, Memphis Grizzlies. I got thenen it starts to the grizzlies here with this selection Sturts is just such a good overall point guard, a do it all guy. They can play with the ball can play without the ball. We had a funny conversation on Ryan Ruso's podcast between me and Vassini the other day. and I had mentioned I watched all of Sturts' pitch and shoot jumpers in his four years of college and Rusillo joked. Would it take it four minutes to watch that? because there wasn't many of them. It's true. It did take about. four minutes but he shot nearly fifty percent on those shots. He had plenty of no dip threes. And I say all this to say Sturs is a guy who always had the ball in his hands in college But in the NBA, as he said in his interview with me on my podcast He wants to prove the teams that he can play offball And from what I understand he is doing exactly that with his shooting off the catch, just light light in the room on fire in pre draft workouts. And so I think for the Memphis Grizz. Pairing him in this mock draft with Cam Boozer would give them a really solid foundation moving forward with Sturs, Boozer, Ey and Coward Number seventeen, somebody's gonna fall In this mock draft, it's Yaxel Lenborg. I have him falling to number seventeen to the Oklahoma City Thunder. And I think with OKC, this would probably be let's just say they don't move up Let's say they stay at twelve and seventeen entering the draft. This is probably a dream scenario for the funder. If Leonard Borg is here on the board, I think they would have So many calls from teams in the twenties, Chicago Philadelphia New York. Lakers, nuggets, Celtics Teams trying to move up to seventeen being willing to give future draft capital. This is probably the dream scenario for the Thunder. and they very well could just take him and keep them. I could see the Thunder keep taking him at twelve for that matter. I could see that happening. But with Lenenborg lot of up and down reports around his workout still recovering from his injury that he suffered at the end of the Michigan season. March wasn't that long ago U So I think with all the pre draft workouts, it hasn't been the best workout circuit ree axle to my understanding, but at the same time The versatility this guy has is just unreal And if he does fall to seventeen, there's a chance he ends up being the one of the steelals of this twenty twenty six NBA draft, which is why if he does slip There's going to be even more teams being aggressive to try to move up Number eighteen, the Charlotte Hornetetss getting them taken Allan Graves out of Santa Clara H Graves to me is just like a raw upside bet six foot eight freshman who came off the bench last year for Santa Clara and down season for him didn't have the best performances against Quad one and quQad two teams as Ive noted in my draft guide and ultimately, I think with him betting for the future And if they get Morez Johnson at fourteen and Alan Graves at eighteen, you get one guy who can help you now and one guy who might be able to help you later in Alan Graves. Number nineteen Toronto rappers. I got them taking Le Baron Fillon out of Alabama, shifty small guard, only one hundred seventy six pounds. There's some real concern there, which is why I don't have him taken in the lottery, even though there's still a chance in that given his skill level But he's under he's under one hundred eighty. Not a lot of those guys have had great success in the NBA, but the raptors do need a guard. They do have the right situation to surround a smaller guard like Fylon all their length and versatility and tough hard nose defensive players C Murray Boyles, Scoty Barnes up and down the line for that rappers's team. They need a big and they need a guard In this mock draft, I got the raptors taking a guard to help them there Number twenty, the San Antonio Spurs. I get them taking Chrisinck out of Houston This is an interesting spot for San Antonio. I could see them going in a lot of different directions here, but to me adding another front court player that can play next to Wemy. is important And if that front court player can space the floor, allowing Weemby to play inside That is of the utmost importance. And Chris Senak, Henry Visar. There's a couple of guys in this draft range where I think it makes a lot of sense Next to Wemby And Sat gets the nod here is a very perimeter perimeter oriented big man six ten with good lengths should project long term as a good defensive player as well. I think for the Spurs where you'd be taking a guy that was forally projected in the top ten and slipped after a okay season that he had as a freshman at Houston. So Senak gets the pick here potentially a steal for the spurs Nber twenty one. Detroit Pistons, I get them takaking Cameron car. Cameron carar out of Baylor. This is the pistons team that could very well move up They are talking to teams that try to move up Now are they trying to move up because they want to pick higher or are they trying to move up because they're trying to bolster their ammo trades They are pursuing three ind D wings in the trade marker right now. They're trying to make some moves with their future draft capital and they have all of their own picks. But if they stay put here with this twenty first pick, I think Cameron Car would make a lot of sense. This feels like around his floor six five sophomore, versatile creator on offense can handle the ball a bit P off ball Cameron carar fan, even though he's a bit lean, he does need to get stronger And so for Detroit at twenty one could potentially be a steal in this range. But there's a reason why he's not lottery fromom what I've heard is the the workout circuits for him have not gone quite as beautifully. as the NBA draft combine sing single scrimmage game that he played where he was awesome and by far the best player on the floor. It's not like he has continued blowown through everybody and pre draft workout. It's been more of what you expected. someome good ones someome okay ones Number twenty two, Philadelphia seventy sixers I get them taken Daleen Swayain six seven Texas junior wings Swain has everything you look for in a modern day wing except for one thing. He's got the defensive versatility. He's got the length. He's got the playmaking ability off ball offensively. he can create off the dribble, get to the rim. He was an elite isolation scorer last year at Texas He's a willing passer what he doesn't have is a jumper And that's would swayain why he's going to be a guy likely picked in the late teens or twenties rather than somebody in the lottery And with Swain unless he can prove over the course of time that he can become a good shooter It's going to be hard for him to be a high level NBA player. Now. There's some positive indicators with Swain, which is why I think he makes sense for the Sixers as the Sixers build this thing out, they have Maxi. They had have Edgecomb adding either a big here orr another wing to complete that back court to complete that trio would make sense. It would swain eighty plus percent from the freez throw line fifty percent on floaters. He's got Touch. It's just it hasn't translated to oututside of the pink at any point yet in his career Number twenty three, the Atlanta Hawks. So at number eight, I had them taking Keaton Wagler and number twenty three here. I had them taking Henry Visar out of North Carolina. I think if you're the Hawks Having a big hair would make a lot of sense to pair with onyk O Kongu I think Visar. I see him sometimes in the thirties and mock drafts and he very well. might go in the thirties. That's very possible. but I think twenty three is a good spot for him because of how much Atlanta values big that can space. they they pushed O Kong Wu for years to improve as a three point shooter and he has VR is entering the NBA as a forty percent guy from three point range, but not only that He's somebody that can screen and roll and catch and finish loobs I think with VSR, the versatility that he has, one of the comps and the draft guide I have is John Collins That somebody Alanta wants h. And that skill set, I think would be very valuable in that front court next to O Kong Wu as they build it out. Number twenty four for the New York Kicks. I got their parade going on right now as we speak. I don't have taking coa Pete out of Arizona. I wasn't the best year for Pete. Of course and his shot looks like an absolute disaster and pre draft workouts, but he's six seven He is a highly versatile, tough hard nosed player comes from a family of offensive linemen and you can just see it toughness with which he plays with And so for the Ns, I think if if there's any situation that's good for coaete It's this one because you can pair him in the front court next to Carl Anthony Towns. Cat can be your floor spacing big P can be your interior bruiser. and James Dollan, the next owner had hinted about the fact that it's going to be tough for this team to run it back with the same exact roster. It's very possible Mitchell Robinson could go elsewhere They're going to need a tough guy off the bench and granted you would want somebody who's a true seven footer like Mitchell Robinson. I think you can get that guy in the second round and maybe here find the Swiss Army knife piece like Caete with the twenty fourth pick. All right number twenty five. There's a guard who I really like That's fallen down the board here. And that's abookca O Cori. I challenge you like Tell me a team ahead of this pick that you think could definitely draft a guard. We had File on at nineteen twenty spurs do they need another guard? twenty one pistons. maybe. I could possibly see it. Philadelphia, they don't need another guard Atlanta. They already drafted Waggler. twenty four Nicks. They got Bruns and. they don't want another guard. The Lakers O'Cory could fall into their lap here. someome guard is going to slip into the twenties and O'Corri is the guy in this year's mock draft. He took half a shots at the ram at Stanford last year. I think he's going to be a way, way better shooter. than his numbers were at Stanford when he hit thirty four percent of his threes too many positive indicators with his touch from float to range with his high free throw percentage at over eighty percent. O Corey to me is somebody that would be a great fit for this Lakers team The size disparity with him and Luca, I think would be valuable in terms of two man actions between those guys. You do not want to switch Luass guy onto OCorei with OCorei speed and explosiveness. You do not want to switch a quicker small defender and O'Cori onto Luca with his size. So I think like as much as size matters in the NBA Having sometimes a smaller guy can be incredibly valuable too. And if you have somebody who's quick and fast and explosive Like a Corey. in the back court next to Luca, I think that could lead to pretty incredible results Number twenty six, the Denver Nuggets. I get them taking Malike Thomas out of Arkansas. He's the other guy with Arkansas. Everybody focuses on Darious A cuff, but Malik Thomas was awesome this year in the moments that Dar A calf was sidelined. We saw Thomas have some big games with the ball in his hands and when A calf was off the floor. But primarily the appeal here to me for Denver is the fact that this is somebody that can play with or without the ball. And that's exactly what you need with Nicolei Yokage. He can run through screens, run through dribble handoffs and for Denver at this point of the drafts I mean, hey, If you need to create trade ammunition and free up Jamal Mari N another Jamal Mari and Malik Thomas. So here I like that pick here Number twenty seven, Boston Celtics. I get them takaking Jadade CQuaintance out of Kentucky The word around acquaintances is not great right now. Obviously medical is the type of thing that's hard to talk about and Everybody, you know, every team has their own evaluations of what is good medical And what is bad medical? acquaintance, it seems like there's some teams that are like we'll just pass And then there are other teams perhaps like Boston that are like, sure, why not? Why would we not take this guy who's six foot nine And highly athletic an incredible defensive player who can switch against literally anybody. He can defend fives because he's so big and tough and strong at two hundred fifty with length and size, but he's also quick enough to defend guards and wings you can comfortably switch him one through five or plug and play him off ball room protector or primary big on the floor too. He can do it all The injury he had though definitely did saap him of some explosiveness. But for Boston at twenty seven, it's hard to fathom Bet upside fit here. And they had a guy in Robert Williams, who he very much compares to where they managed his minutes and injuries early in his career and helped him build out the career that he has. And so I think Caintance, this might be around his floor. twenty seven. I can't see him slipping into the second round. I I think there's a promise out there for acquaintance. I think he's going to be a first round pick. It's just a matter of where exactly that floor is for him Nber twenty eight, Minnesota Timber Wolves. I get them takaking Isaiah Evans, a Duke sophomore wing Isaiah Evans would be a nice fit for this team. ded D Vianenzo out for all of next season and possibly on the trade block as well. Evans is the type of guy who could come in right away play minutes for you playoff Anthony Edwards and with his improving handle, you'd hope over time that can keep developing for him and he could be a guy who can crereate off the jble to pick and rolls as well Number twenty nine in Cleveland Cavaliers. I takaking Sergio Delarea, six foot six Valencia wing. I think he is way underrated in part because of just how deep this draft is with so many college basketball players. But Delarea, I think in any normal year would probably be a top twenty pick and maybe he end up does going top twenty. I would not rule that out with his size shooting ability at over forty percent last this current season for Valencia and then the ability to create off the dribble, the pick and roll ability, the size, the versatility Delarea very underrated in my opinion. I think for Cleveland here at number twenty nine. You would be great a great guy to replace some of their wings who are going to be free Asians. Number thirty, the Dallas Mavericks. I get them taken Teris Reed, a six foot ten Yukon center. This is after having them with a ninth pick. takeake Kinks and Flmings. hereere's another big for the rotation. hopefully Derek Livevely can come back and stay healthy, but That seems to be a little bit of wishful thinking here. Terrace Reed is just rock solid We saw him dominate in the tournament to Yukon to help bring them to to the national championship they lost to Michigan, but Terist Re just a good player.. He's going to come in right away as a senior and be able to play and get minutes for you. And I think for the Dallas Mavericks, if you want to try to win next season it does seem like they want to try to do that you got Kye Irving like he's a mentor to to Kingston Flemings. and then you draft Teris Reid and hopefully Derek Lively can be healthy with Cooper Plag taking the leap to possibly all NBA level That team could be a threat to make the playoffs next year in the Western conference That's it for this mock draft. We are neer ual draft itself next Tuesday eight thirty PM I'm fired up for it. I'm going to be live with King Ricoler. Iice young Tom Havistro here on Yahoo NBA. So definitely be sure to subscribe Hit that bell button as well so you get notifications every time we go live and because hey Who knows? We might be doing emergency podcasts over the weekend as well. I still think there's a strong chance that Janison Dakupo gets traded ahead of the draft. So we'll see what happens there. That's it for this first round