My First NBA Mock Draft

[Nebkreb11]

Let's get to it!

1) New Orlean Pelicans - Zion Williamson - Duh
2) Memphis Grizzlies - Ja Morant - They traded Conley to make room for their PG of the future.
3) New York Knicks - RJ Barrett - Barrett was overshadowed by Zion this year, but he is still ultra-athletic and has a great mentality to win, which will help him thrive in NYC
4) Atlanta Hawks (TRADE) - Jarrett Culver - The Hawks move up to grab a versatile player, who will thrive in the modern NBA with all the switches. Culver doesn't need the ball to be impactful, which works well considering the Hawks have Young to do that. He can guard the other team's best wing, letting Collins and Huerter focus on offense. They trade 8 and 17 to move up.
5) Cleveland Cavaliers - Darius Garland - Sexton played well as a rookie, but there are still questions over whether he's a true point. Either way, you need more than one quality ballhandler in the modern NBA, and Garland and Sexton should fit well together.
6) Phoenix Suns - De'Andre Hunter - The Suns decide to bring in a 3-and-D wing to play alongside Ayton and Booker. There are rumors they are chasing a veteran PG, and Hunter doesn't need the ball to contribute - he is an active defender and rebounder.
7) Chicago Bulls - Coby White - The Bulls have a ton of intriguing talent but they lack a true faciliator. White will crank up the speed - watching him and Lavine fly down the court will be fun.
8) New Orleans Pelicans (TRADE) - Jaxson Hayes - The Peicans find their AD replacement with Hayes, a rim-rolling big in the Capela mold. Whether Zion or Holiday are handling the ball, Hayes will create space with his ability to finish at the rim. He's a high-character guy who won't mind playing in Zion's shadow.
9) Washington Wizards - Cam Reddish - They don't have a GM, so it's hard to pinpoint them to a pick. Beal is their lone asset, but in this scenario, he is traded to the Celtics for their 20th and 22nd picks, as well as more. Either way, they have needs all over the floor. In my mind, they should target high-end guys who might take a year or two to develop. Reddish has a ton of talent but hasn't harnessed it. Hopefully, the new brain trust in Washington can help him do that.
10) Atlanta Hawks - Nicolas Claxton - The Hawks addressed their perimeter defense with Culver, and now they bring in a big man. Claxton should cover for John Collins on defense, and if he can develop a jumper, could be an excellent fit in their offense.
11) Minnesota Timberwolves - Brandon Clarke - The TWolves are reportedly chasing a PG in free agency. Thus, they turn their attention in the draft to a forward to play alongside KAT. Clarke can help cover some of KAT's defensive lapses, and KAT's ability to shoot could let Clarke play some smallball 5, which would be an intriguing fit.
12) Charlotte Hornets - Sekou Doumbouya - The Hornets are in a tough spot. They will need to commit a ton of money to keep their franchise guy in Kemba Walker, but it would leave them tied up financially. Regardless, they need talent, pretty much everywhere. They take their shot in Doumbouya, an athletic marvel who can be a force both ways.
13) Miami Heat - Nickeil Alexander-Walker - The Heat always seem to make some moves in the offseason, but right now they're a bit of a mess. They don't have a franchise player to build around, and their best players (Dragic, Winslow) might be on the trade block. NAW can step in and make an impact as a primary ballhandler at first. He can contribute both ways.
14) Boston Celtics - Nassir Little - The Celtics offseason has not been good so far. Losing the talents of Kyrie and Al Horford is a game-changer. They want to bring in a star, and they certainly have the picks to do so. Little is a do-it-all talent who can contribute both ways.
15) Detroit Pistons - Tyler Herro - The Pistons have two more years built around Griffin and Drummond. They have a plethora of mediocre wings. Herro isn't a savior, but he's a legit weapon as a shooter, and will help space the floor around Griffin.
16) Orlando Magic - Rui Hachimura - The Magic have big decisions to make regarding Vucevic and Ross, both of whom are free agents. Either way, they need offensive talent and Hachimura is a natural stretch four who can contribute in many ways on offense.
17) New Orleans Pelicans (TRADE) - Romeo Langford -With Zion and Hayes, the Pelicans have overhauled their front with size and athleticism. Langford gives them playmaking and upside.
18) Indiana Pacers - Ty Jerome - The Pacers have half their team hitting free agency and their best player coming off injury. They need a partner next to Oladipo and Jerome is a point guard who sees the floor better than almost anyone in this draft. He can take some playmaking duties away from Oladipo, allowing him to concentrate on other aspects of the game.
19) San Antonio Spurs - Goga Batidze - The Spurs going with a European should shock no one. Goga has tremendous upside but needs development and adjusting to the NBA game. The Spurs desperately need a building block at the 5, as they are seemingly locked in on Murray and White at the guard spots.
20) Washington Wizards (TRADE) - Bol Bol - In this scenario, I see the Celtics flipping their two lower 1sts to Washington as part of a Bradley Beal trade. After acquiring Reddish earlier, the Wizards take a chance on Bol. He has unreal talent and potential as a stretch five, but injuries are a concern, as well as perimeter defense.
21) Oklahoma City Thunder - Matisse Thybulle - The Thunder need shooting from the outside. This has been true for about three years going now. Thybulle has a pretty stroke and should give them that, while also being an impact defensive player from day one.
22) Washington Wizards (TRADE) - Darius Bazley - The Wizards add another high potential guy with Bazley, who projects as a borderline elite wing with skills and athleticism... but skipping his freshmen year at Syracuse throws up major question marks.
23) Memphis Grizzlies - Mfiondu Kabengele - The Grizz find a great pick/roll partner for Morant. Between these two and Jackson Jr., the Grizzies have a nice young core to build around.
24) Philadelphia 76ers - Cameron Johnson - The 76ers have two franchise guys in Simmons and Embiid, but with Butler and Harris both potentially leaving, not a lot else. Johnson is a swiss army knife forward, who can complement the play-making of Simmons and the interior ferocity of Embiid.
25) Portland Trail Blazers - PJ Washington - The Trail Blazers have two elite guards, but a lot of their complementary guys are free agents. In this case, they choose to bring in Washington, a modern-day big man who can play off-the-ball around Lillard and CJ, and can contribute on defense.
26) Cleveland Cavaliers - Dylan Windler - The Cavs have their backcourt of the future, and now they add possibly the best three-point shooter in the draft. Windler will spot up all day around Sexton and Garland's drives, and he's a max-effort defender on the other side of the floor.
27) Brooklyn Nets - Grant Williams - The Nets have been active leading up to free agency. They need a 4 who can shoot desperately, and their PG situation is knotty, with Kyrie and D'Angelo Russell in the mix. They have shown a predilication for European players, but in this case, they add a glue guy who does all the dirty work that a team needs.
28) Golden State Warriors - Louis King - The Warriors are in an interesting spot - their two major free agents are stars, but will likely miss most or all of next year. Either way, they always look for shooting, and King can do that from the forward spot. And if there's anyone who can help him maximize his defensive abilities, it's Draymond Green.
29) San Antonio Spurs - Keldon Johnson - A guard/wing who excels off the ball, Johnson will be a favorite of Popovich's for his defense and toughness.
30) Detroit Pistons - Carsen Edwards - The Pistons add another shooter, and Edwards comes with playmaking ability as well. He's undersized, but would be an electric sixth man who can go go go.

Let me know what you guys think - there's some interesting tiers in this draft and past the first 6-8 picks, it's very flat in terms of overall talent.

[illuminati666]

The Heat have Josh Richardson, why take the exact same type of players. I say they go for a bigger wing/4 .... Little/Pj etc.