Post by Herby New Year! on May 2, 2022 10:50:45 GMT -5
Good morning GMs and welcome to a mock draft. We've got a tight publication deadline this morning, but wanted to get the top 10 out before picks start being made. We hope to update this mock draft throughout the day as time permits.
Enjoy!
1. Pittsburgh Pipers (from Charlotte Hornets) – DeMarcus Cousins
The Pipes bigs are legit with Okafor and Murphy, but there are questions about depth here. Similarly, they need to replace aging Blossongame and Beckman. Pearl Washington could be their long term solution at PG, and there aren’t any 1.1 wings in this class, so Cousins it is.
What we love: His scoring efficiency and rebounding are already elite. With A potential, expect him to be a perpetual all star
What we don’t love: lack of defensive counting stats aren’t great, but honestly those should improve with time. This is a great pick
2. Indiana Pacers – Hassan Whiteside
After losing Murphy and Brown in back to back free agencies, the Pacers need to reload in the front court and Whiteside looks like a day 1 starter with 4 bleals and 13 rebounds per 36 in college. He will need some work on the offensive end, but hopefully he’ll get enough out of TC to be serviceable on the offensive side.
What we love: Obviously the blocks and rebounds. Shown defense. Drool.
What we don’t love: Efficiency. He turns it over too much. He can’t shoot. Vomit.
3. Indiana Pacers (from Vancouver Grizzlies) - Paul George
With the potential to lose Giannis this offseason, the Pacers select an insurance player in PG13.
What we love: He is efficient from the line and from 3. He is a SF so has no cap on his inside uppies.
What we don’t love: He doesn’t score much and only has B potential.
4. Washington Bullets – Tiny Gallon
We’d love to pencil John Wall in to the Bullets here, but after signing Gilbert this off season there is no need for a starting PG in Chocolate City. So instead, Yawn selects Alpha Kaba 2.0.
What we love: 19 years old with B potential means he hopefully has a shot at the teen dream TC. He already does everything well enough that with a potential bump, he could be a special two-way big for the Bullets.
What we don’t love: Eric has been making a lot of non-profile B potential players with 61 hidden potential. Buyer beware!
5. Portland Trail Blazers - Derrick Favors
With half his roster spots dedicated to the point guard position, Portland will not be selecting John Wall. Instead, they opt to reinforce their front line with the teenage A potential lotto ticket, Derrick Favors
What we love: He is already well rounded with the potential with a certain chance at the teen dream TC. Portland could have drafted the best big man in this class if everything goes his way.
What we don’t love: He isn’t quite good enough from the line for our liking, but that is fixable through upgrades. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go at 1.2 if the scouts look as good as the college stats.
6. Utah Jazz – Stanley Robinson
Another team with PG locked down, so John Wall continues to slip while Fason throws it back to 4.0 great Stanley Robinson, who looks like a stud in college with A potential.
What we love: Great efficiency (outside of TOs) from an Oklahoma Special SF with A potential. With upgrades in the right spot, SRob will be a STud.
What we don’t love: He isn’t SG eligible. That’s about it. Honestly, he might go 1.3 over PG13 if the scouts look anything like the college stats.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers – John Wall
We couldn’t keep him OTB any longer. Sure, Sap has Mo Williams, but Wall is an athletic specimen whose potential to be a perinnial MVP cannot be overlooked. Worst case scenario he wastes a 1.7. Best case scenario in two years Wall is averaging 30/6/12 and winning slam dunk contests.
What we love: His strength relative to other PGs. Look at the number of FTs he shoots. He is a freak.
What we don’t love: obviously his C- outside grade, but that isn’t too bad given that you can upgrade the jump shot and he’s likely at or above the inside cap already.
8. Carolina Cougars – Ekpe Udoh
Despite the Cougars (relative) need at wing compared to big man, Udoh is too nice of a developmental piece to pass up here.
What we love: He. Scores. Buckets. With upgrades, he’ll be unstoppable.
What we don’t love: The turnovers, obviously. Those will reign in naturally. Expect 20s to let him develop naturally through TC before making a choice on how to deploy the uppies.
9. New York Knicks (from Houston Rockets) – Xavier Henry
The Kansas boy comes to New York City ready to replace an aging group of wings.
What we love: Teenager with A shown potential. No huge liabilities to his game, but he’ll need to develop naturally through TC to be anything more than a capable starter.
What we don’t love: He has no strengths. He’s well rounded and efficient, but he will need to hit TC to be great.
10. San Antonio Spurs – Jeremy Lin
The Spurs need to upgrade at PG and who better to do that with than Linsanity!
What we love: Above average rebounder for a PG who doesn’t show an obvious hole in his game. Add to that he has A potential, and Jeremy could be a sneaky good pick here at the back of the top 10.
What we don’t love: Like Henry, Lin is a pick based on potential. There are a couple players left with higher floors based on college stats, but Lin may be better than all of them by the end of his rookie contract with some upgrades.
Enjoy!
1. Pittsburgh Pipers (from Charlotte Hornets) – DeMarcus Cousins
The Pipes bigs are legit with Okafor and Murphy, but there are questions about depth here. Similarly, they need to replace aging Blossongame and Beckman. Pearl Washington could be their long term solution at PG, and there aren’t any 1.1 wings in this class, so Cousins it is.
What we love: His scoring efficiency and rebounding are already elite. With A potential, expect him to be a perpetual all star
What we don’t love: lack of defensive counting stats aren’t great, but honestly those should improve with time. This is a great pick
2. Indiana Pacers – Hassan Whiteside
After losing Murphy and Brown in back to back free agencies, the Pacers need to reload in the front court and Whiteside looks like a day 1 starter with 4 bleals and 13 rebounds per 36 in college. He will need some work on the offensive end, but hopefully he’ll get enough out of TC to be serviceable on the offensive side.
What we love: Obviously the blocks and rebounds. Shown defense. Drool.
What we don’t love: Efficiency. He turns it over too much. He can’t shoot. Vomit.
3. Indiana Pacers (from Vancouver Grizzlies) - Paul George
With the potential to lose Giannis this offseason, the Pacers select an insurance player in PG13.
What we love: He is efficient from the line and from 3. He is a SF so has no cap on his inside uppies.
What we don’t love: He doesn’t score much and only has B potential.
4. Washington Bullets – Tiny Gallon
We’d love to pencil John Wall in to the Bullets here, but after signing Gilbert this off season there is no need for a starting PG in Chocolate City. So instead, Yawn selects Alpha Kaba 2.0.
What we love: 19 years old with B potential means he hopefully has a shot at the teen dream TC. He already does everything well enough that with a potential bump, he could be a special two-way big for the Bullets.
What we don’t love: Eric has been making a lot of non-profile B potential players with 61 hidden potential. Buyer beware!
5. Portland Trail Blazers - Derrick Favors
With half his roster spots dedicated to the point guard position, Portland will not be selecting John Wall. Instead, they opt to reinforce their front line with the teenage A potential lotto ticket, Derrick Favors
What we love: He is already well rounded with the potential with a certain chance at the teen dream TC. Portland could have drafted the best big man in this class if everything goes his way.
What we don’t love: He isn’t quite good enough from the line for our liking, but that is fixable through upgrades. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go at 1.2 if the scouts look as good as the college stats.
6. Utah Jazz – Stanley Robinson
Another team with PG locked down, so John Wall continues to slip while Fason throws it back to 4.0 great Stanley Robinson, who looks like a stud in college with A potential.
What we love: Great efficiency (outside of TOs) from an Oklahoma Special SF with A potential. With upgrades in the right spot, SRob will be a STud.
What we don’t love: He isn’t SG eligible. That’s about it. Honestly, he might go 1.3 over PG13 if the scouts look anything like the college stats.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers – John Wall
We couldn’t keep him OTB any longer. Sure, Sap has Mo Williams, but Wall is an athletic specimen whose potential to be a perinnial MVP cannot be overlooked. Worst case scenario he wastes a 1.7. Best case scenario in two years Wall is averaging 30/6/12 and winning slam dunk contests.
What we love: His strength relative to other PGs. Look at the number of FTs he shoots. He is a freak.
What we don’t love: obviously his C- outside grade, but that isn’t too bad given that you can upgrade the jump shot and he’s likely at or above the inside cap already.
8. Carolina Cougars – Ekpe Udoh
Despite the Cougars (relative) need at wing compared to big man, Udoh is too nice of a developmental piece to pass up here.
What we love: He. Scores. Buckets. With upgrades, he’ll be unstoppable.
What we don’t love: The turnovers, obviously. Those will reign in naturally. Expect 20s to let him develop naturally through TC before making a choice on how to deploy the uppies.
9. New York Knicks (from Houston Rockets) – Xavier Henry
The Kansas boy comes to New York City ready to replace an aging group of wings.
What we love: Teenager with A shown potential. No huge liabilities to his game, but he’ll need to develop naturally through TC to be anything more than a capable starter.
What we don’t love: He has no strengths. He’s well rounded and efficient, but he will need to hit TC to be great.
10. San Antonio Spurs – Jeremy Lin
The Spurs need to upgrade at PG and who better to do that with than Linsanity!
What we love: Above average rebounder for a PG who doesn’t show an obvious hole in his game. Add to that he has A potential, and Jeremy could be a sneaky good pick here at the back of the top 10.
What we don’t love: Like Henry, Lin is a pick based on potential. There are a couple players left with higher floors based on college stats, but Lin may be better than all of them by the end of his rookie contract with some upgrades.
