by 1. Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State, Freshman, Guard/Forward)
Are you surprised? Gifted with the size of a forward at 6’8’’, 220lbs and the playmaking ability of a guard, Cade Cunningham has been the consensus number 1 overall pick all season long and the Detroit Pistons will not hesitate to bring the ultra talented guard to the Motor City.
He has the ability to score from all three levels on the offensive end using his twitchiness out of the post and triple threat to create space for jump shots and his beloved right-hand floater.
His elite vision and basketball IQ makes him a dangerous playmaker that will help the offense deprived Pistons create scoring opportunities both in transition and in half court settings.
This versatile offensive ability complimented by a 7’0’’ wingspan and solid defensive instincts makes Cade Cunningham a legit all-around talent any franchise would love to have.
Cunningham has shown to be unassertive offensively at times and could also tighten his handles a bit to improve his ball security against smaller guards and while driving to the rim (3.5 Assists per game to 4 Turnovers per game in 2020-2021).
However, with his upside at the age of 19 and no other glaring issues in his game, the Pistons should see Cunningham as the perfect piece to play alongside their solid young core of Saddiq Bey, Jerami Grant, and Killian Hayes.
2.Houston Rockets: Jalen Suggs (Gonzaga, Freshman, Guard)
With the unfortunate departure of James Harden this past season, the Houston Rockets were pleasantly surprised by sophomore shooting guard Kevin Porter Jr. who caught the eye of the league with his scoring prowess and flashy play.
Despite this breakout year from Porter Jr. he seemingly struggled as the Rocket’s lead playmaker during their string of injuries throughout the season (3.5 turnovers per game) although to his defense he was often on the floor with other young, inexperienced players.
Here is where 6’4’’, 205lb Gonzaga product Jalen Suggs enters the conversation. At number 2, Houston can find value in Suggs’ all around play style and toughness at the point guard position with his playmaking ability being the key to helping solidify a dynamic backcourt for the future.
Possessing standout athleticism, handle and a knack to get downhill, Suggs will effortlessly mesh with this rebuilding Rockets team by constantly putting pressure on the defense to create easy buckets for himself and his teammates.
Suggs is also an intense defender with great lateral quickness to make up for his lack of length. There are questions about his long term projection as a high volume scorer as he had cold streaks as a shooter during his lone season at Gonzaga but has shown some convincing shot creating ability when he gets it going.
Leading his Bulldogs’ squad through a flawless season up until their championship loss, Suggs is a proven winner and leader that the Rockets can covet as their lead guard of the future.
- Cavaliers: Evan Mobley (USC, ClevelandFreshman, Center)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a tricky position at this number 3 spot. Many expect them to go after shooting guard Jalen Green who is widely seen as the next best available player despite his questionable fit with Darius Garland and Collin Sexton already manning the back court.
There have been reports going around that the Cavs could look to trade Sexton this offseason but nothing has come of it at the moment. Because of this, the Cavs could look to USC big man Evan Mobley as their new lob threat to compliment their up and coming back court.
Coming in at 7’0’’ with a 7’4’’ wingspan, and insane mobility, Mobley is an NBA ready defender with the length and leaping ability to consistently alter shots at the rim.
What separates him from most rim protectors though is his footwork and discipline that allows him to switch out to the perimeter and hold his own against guards and forwards.
Offensively, Mobley has great touch around the rim and is very active on the glass for second chance opportunities. He’s comfortable handling the ball especially in transition where he’s very much capable of making the right pass or taking it himself.
At only 215lbs, Mobley desperately needs to gain weight and strength if he wants to compete with NBA bigs on a nightly basis. This will determine his effectiveness as a rebounder scorer against guys he will not be able to over power at this point in his career.
4.Toronto Raptors: Jalen Green (G-League Ignite,19, Guard)
The Toronto Raptors have had a very disappointing season after being only two years since their championship season in 2019 but that could be attributed to the injury bug going around and playing over 1,300 miles from home in Tampa, Florida. To get them back on track Toronto could look to the potential best scorer in this class Jalen Green.
The high-flying 19-year-old helped pioneer the G-League Ignite program this past season which created a new route for high-schoolers that do not necessarily want to go the college or overseas path to get to the NBA. Green took full advantage putting up nearly 18 points per game while shooting decent percentages (46%/36%/83%) from the field, three-point line and free throw line while playing against grown men.
Gifted with elite explosiveness and a budding shot creation arsenal, Green shows a lot of similarities to Zach Lavine with his relentlessness attacking the basket and ability to create space and elevation for shots on the move.
However, his high scoring ability and confidence can lead to bad shot selections throughout games. Oftentimes he gets tunnel vision while looking to score leading to him miss open teammates or force bad shots.
Toronto should feel very comfortable drafting Green at this position anyway, given the players they have such as Siakam, Van Vleet and Anunoby that can compensate for some of Green’s weaknesses when it comes to playmaking and defense.
5. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Kuminga (G-League Ignite, 19, Forward)
After trading Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon away this season, the Orlando Magic are looking for a fresh start with 2 lottery picks and will look to G-League Ignite prospect Jonathan Kuminga to make the new face of their franchise at number 5. Kuminga is a super versatile combo forward with some guard skills that makes him a threat to score all over the floor.
At 6’8”, 220lbs he loves the pinch post area where he has the ability to face up or use his handle, size and athleticism to get himself in the paint.
He’s also shown some ability to penetrate and make passes to the open man when defenses collapse but needs to improve his overall decision making skills. On the defensive end, Kuminga will be able to guard multiple positions with the ability to stay in front of his man and block shots as a help defender.
Much like his Ignite teammate Jalen Green, Kuminga also has the tendency to force things offensively and put up questionable shots. Despite this, the Orlando Magic can see value in Kuminga as a versatile yet raw two-way weapon alongside Cole Anthony and their other young pieces that can seamlessly fit in at multiple positions.
