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Draft day is upon us. With the first pick set to be on the clock at 8PM ET tonight, Off the Glass has you covered for all your pre-draft needs. A lot of picks have swapped hands in the past few days, but Alec Liebsch, Joe Makar and Dalton Pence have been right on top of it.
Our first mock draft was a knowledgeable argument on who we would take at each selection. Mock Draft 2.0 will be more realistic, headlined by trades and draft risers and fallers. We dive into who we think teams will select at picks 1-60.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, Wing, Georgia
Minnesota has been heavily shopping this pick, but has also provided some clarity on who it would select if it can't trade down. Among the top three prospects, Edwards is the cleanest fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell.
2. New York Knicks (via Golden State Warriors): James Wiseman, Big, Memphis
The No. 2 pick has been available for weeks, and the highest bidder in this world is New York. The Knicks would love to get their hands on Wiseman, an athletic marvel who might become the franchise player they've long been yearning for.
3. Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball, Guard, Illawara Hawks
The biggest name in the draft slips to the Hornets. LaMelo would bring his creative playmaking skills and shot creation to a franchise that still needs to find their franchise cornerstone. If LaMelo is available at 3, this is a simple pick for the Hornets.
4. Chicago Bulls: Deni Avdija, Wing, Maccabi Tel Aviv
Rumors are that Chicago is targeting a playmaker with its first pick. Avdija satisfies this need and then some, with what teams view as serious upside to be a jumbo playmaker. He doesn't expect to fall past 4th or 5th on draft night.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Obi Toppin, Big, Dayton
Cleveland likes both Avdija and Toppin, but in this world only Toppin is available. College basketball's best player has a serious offensive package; the questions are whether he can hang on defense.
6. Atlanta Hawks: Tyrese Haliburton, Guard, Iowa State
The league thinks Atlanta is trying to move this pick, but while they have it, Haliburton is a great fit. He can play next to Trae Young as a big, defense-first guard, and also play behind him as the backup point guard. Haliburton isn't the best talent left, but he makes the Hawks better, which gets them closer to satisfying ownership's mandates.
7. Detroit Pistons: Patrick Williams, Wing, Florida State
One of this class' biggest risers of late has been Williams, who has the ideal NBA forward body and great intangibles to grow into. Detroit has been showing its affinity for Williams a lot recently, which makes sense given Troy Weaver's draft record in Oklahoma City.
8. Golden State Warriors (via Knicks): Onyeka Okongwu, Big, USC
This is a dream outcome for the Warriors, who get one of the best fits for their current roster while picking up an extra asset (or two) from the Knicks. Okongwu can play either the 4 or 5 well in myriad defensive schemes, making him a good stronghold for the Warriors as their perimeter stars age.
9. Washington Wizards: Devin Vassell, Wing, Florida State
It's unclear what the Wizards want to do at 9. A rebuild should be on the horizon, but the front office has given no indication of trading Bradley Beal. Vassell is the most win-now prospect left on the board, a 3-and-D wing from day one who has the scoring flair to be more in a few years.
10. Phoenix Suns: Aaron Nesmith, Wing, Vanderbilt
Phoenix just traded for Chris Paul, meaning that this pick likely has to be a wing. Nesmith is the best fit of the wings available, a ready-made contributor with a flamethrower jump shot. He'll get a lot of open looks next to Paul and Devin Booker.
11. San Antonio Spurs: Isaac Okoro, Wing, Auburn
Okoro's not falling past San Antonio, a franchise that covets defense-first players at all positions. It helps that their backcourt is pretty crowded and that no bigs are worth a pick here; Okoro is the best player available at a position of need.
12. Sacramento Kings: Killian Hayes, Guard, Ulm
It would be surprising if Hayes fell this far, and while the Kings have a great point guard in De'Aaron Fox, the future of Buddy Hield is uncertain and the Kings should not pass on the best player available at this pick. Hayes can play off the ball and complement Fox in the backcourt.
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Kira Lewis Jr., Guard, Alabama
New Orleans reportedly wants a ball handler with this pick, and the exodus of Jrue Holiday supports that. Lewis is one of the best guards in the class, a lightning-quick scorer and playmaker who will be happy to run the floor with Zion Williamson.
14. Boston Celtics (via Memphis Grizzlies): Tyrese Maxey, Guard, Kentucky
It's likely that another team is making this selection due to Boston's abundance of picks and players. But no one can quite pinpoint a trade down suitor in the lottery just yet, so the Celtics may be stuck with 14. Maxey is probably worth keeping anyway; scoring guards from Kentucky have been a good bet in recent years.
Picks 15-30
15. Orlando Magic: RJ Hampton, Guard, New Zealand Breakers
There's been talk of Orlando trading up from 15, but if Boston can't pull a trade-up off, then Orlando almost certainly can't. Hampton is a good get at 15 anyway, a hyper-athletic slashing guard who has enough size to fit the Magic's model.
16. Houston Rockets: Jaden McDaniels, Wing, Washington
The Portland Trail Blazers just traded this pick to Houston for Robert Covington. The last time the Rockets had a first rounder was 2015, so no one knows what they'll do at 16. McDaniels is a tenacious wing defender with a better jumper than you'd think; maybe he can fill the Covington hole down the line.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Brooklyn Nets): Jalen Smith, Big, Maryland
Towns needs a defensive-minded partner down low, and Smith can be more than that for the Timberwolves. He can protect the rim and shoot the 3-ball, a pair of strengths that are rarely found together. Whether that can translate to some perimeter defense—a skill that's also necessary for Towns' frontcourt friend—remains to be seen, but it's worth finding out at this spot.
18. Dallas Mavericks: Saddiq Bey, Wing, Villanova
The Mavs have their franchise point guard and a star big man, meaning that wings should be the focus to fill out the core. Bey is a good bet to be a reliable contributor considering his body and body of work. The upperclassman has the prototypical forward frame, a good 3-ball off the catch and the mentality to play a role right away. Recent Villanova prospects have been a good gamble to contribute, and Bey expects to be no different.
19. Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers): Desmond Bane, Wing, TCU
Another role playing wing is picked at 19, as the Nets get a guy who can bolster their championship pursuits right away. Bane is a stout, competitive defender with an effective jumper and serious passing vision. He's an ideal complement to scoring stars, and one of the few picks that didn't change from our first mock.
20. Miami Heat: Cole Anthony, Guard, North Carolina
The Heat are really good at reviving distressed assets, and despite having yet to play an NBA game, Anthony is just that. Once the No. 1 recruit of his high school class, the shifty, undersized guard's stock plummeted during a rough season at UNC. At this point in the draft, and given Miami's track record, Anthony is worth a shot here.
21. Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrell Terry, Guard, Stanford
Terry is one of the more polarizing prospects in this draft. He could go in the teens, or he could fall out of the first round entirely. His flaws are real, mostly related to his physical profile, but his shooting could be game-changing with the right situation. A team with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid could protect him on defense while maximizing his offensive gifts.
22. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets): Aleksej Pokusevski, Big, Serbia
The most swing-for-the-fences pick in this draft is "Poku," a seven-footer with the shooting and passing prowess of a perimeter player. Denver is famous for taking chances like this, and with depth still a strength of theirs coming off a Conference Finals run, this could be a home run in three years rather than a single from selecting somebody else.
23. Knicks (via Utah Jazz): Theo Maledon, Guard, France
After trading up for James Wiseman earlier in the first round, the Knicks would like to use this pick to attempt to solve their issues at point guard. They have lacked a playmaker and reliable lead guard for years and finding a gem this late would accelerate their rebuild.
24. Pelicans (via Milwaukee Bucks via Indiana Pacers): Xavier Tillman
New Orleans has traded Jrue Holiday to Milwaukee, picking up this pick in the return package. With Kira Lewis Jr. already picked at 13, a stretchy big who can coexist with Williamson is probably the move here. Tillman won't post gaudy stat lines or jump off your screen, but he'll make winning plays as a multipurpose big.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Nuggets): Precious Achiuwa, Big, Memphis
OKC just traded Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder in consecutive days, signaling to the rest of the league that a rebuild is imminent. The front office has always targeted defense and length, both tantalizing parts of Achiuwa's profile. He's a steal at 25.
26. Celtics: Leandro Bolmaro, Wing, Spain
Boston would like to find a bidder for this pick, but if it can't, Bolmaro is a nice draft-and-stash option. He's got advanced defensive feel for a European youngster, with his NBA potential reliant on developing his shaky jumper.
27. Jazz (via Knicks via Los Angeles Clippers): Josh Green, Wing, Arizona
Every contender could use a rookie like Josh Green. He defends at an advanced level for his age, shoots somewhat well, and cuts intuitively without the ball. He's a good bet to stick around even with a shaky jumper, simply off his defense and feel for the game.
28. Thunder (via Los Angeles Lakers): Devon Dotson, Guard, Kansas
OKC might use this pick to draft a guard to pair alongside rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder have a plethora of draft picks and will happily take Dotson if he is still on the board late in the first.
29. Toronto Raptors: Malachi Flynn, Guard, San Diego State
With Fred VanVleet ticketed for free agency this weekend and Kyle Lowry only a year behind him, the Raptors are in need of a young guard at some point. Flynn doesn't have the highest ceiling of anyone left, but he's a reliable option next to Pascal Siakam for years to come.
30. Celtics (via Bucks): Jahmi'us Ramsey, Wing, Texas Tech
Yet another pick that could change hands soon, 30th overall is an attractive trade piece because its the cheapest rookie-scale deal of the draft. If Boston somehow keeps this pick, Ramsey is a nice upside grab in a range that mostly consists of boring role players.
Second Round: Picks 31-60
31. Mavericks (via Warriors): Tyler Bey, Wing, Colorado
32. Hornets: Elijah Hughes, Wing, Syracuse
33. Timberwolves: Paul Reed, Big, DePaul
34. 76ers (via Hawks): Isaiah Joe, Wing, Arkansas
35. Kings: Robert Woodard II, Wing, Mississippi State
36. 76ers: Grant Riller, Guard, Charleston
37. Wizards: Nico Mannion, Guard, Arizona
38. Jazz: Tre Jones, Guard, Duke
39. Pelicans: Zeke Nnaji, Big, Arizona
40. Grizzlies: Cassius Stanley, Guard, Duke
41. Spurs: Killian Tillie, Big, Gonzaga
42. Pelicans: Ty-Shon Alexander, Guard, Creighton
43. Kings: Skylar Mays, Guard, LSU
44. Bulls: Udoka Azubuike, Big, Kansas
45. Magic: Sam Merrill, Guard, Utah State
46. Blazers: Jay Scrubb, Guard, John A. Logan Junior College
47. Celtics: Mason Jones, Guard, Arkansas
48. Warriors: Cassius Winston, Guard, Michigan State
49. 76ers: Payton Pritchard, Guard, Oregon
50. Hawks: Yam Madar, Guard, Hapoel Tel Aviv
51. Warriors: Reggie Perry, Wing, Mississippi State
52. Kings: Daniel Oturu, Big, Minnesota
53. Thunder: Intl G Yam Madar
54. Pacers: Markus Howard, Guard, Marquette
55. Nets: Myles Powell, Guard, Seton Hall
56. Hornets: Josh Hall, Wing, Moravian Prep H.S.
57. Clippers: Lamine Diane, Wing, Cal-State Northridge
58. 76ers: Paul Eboua, Big, Victoria Libertas Pesaro
59. Raptors: Abdoulaye N’doye, Guard, Cholet (France)
60. Pelicans: Immanuel Quickley, Wing, Kentucky
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