NBA Mock Draft: Latest Projections for All 60 Picks

A lot has changed since the Pistons won the lottery last month. With draft day nine days away, here are the latest predictions.

Author:
Jeremy Woo
Publish date:
Jul 20, 2021

There are only nine days until the draft, believe it or not. And with the NBA fully locked in on offseason preparation, and informed speculation becoming more factual by the day, it’s a good time to take a closer look at how draft night is shaping up. While the projected No. 1 pick—Cade Cunningham—remains the same, a lot has changed over the past month as players crisscrossed the country for workouts after the combine.

As always, this mock attempts to project what the draft might look like on a given day, and is based primarily off of my own intel and conversations with executives, scouts, and others around the NBA. As usual, we’ll update it further as things develop heading into next week. Let’s get into it.

Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Cade Cunningham reacts after scoring against the Texas Longhorns — Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports

1. Pistons: Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State

Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 220 | Age: 19 | Freshman

With nine days until the draft, the broad expectation around the NBA is that the Pistons will end up staying put and select Cunningham. He visited with Detroit on Monday, which was reportedly the only predraft trip he planned to take. That doesn’t mean Detroit is done exploring trade options, but it does feel like the reflection of a somewhat limited market. While the Pistons might like to trade back one or two spots—the most logical partner being the Rockets—the sense I’ve gotten from league sources is that interest from other teams in the No. 1 pick hasn’t been robust enough to seriously tempt the Pistons. That’s partially a byproduct of the quality of the draft’s top prospects: Houston and Cleveland can simply stand pat, comfortably select Jalen Green or Evan Mobley, and feel good.

In the end, the option of staying at No. 1 and taking Cunningham remains the simplest one for the Pistons. He’s widely viewed as the safest choice, with a versatile skillset tailor-made to augment a modern offense, even if he’s not a full-time lead guard in the long run. Cunningham can play and excel out of a wide range of spots on the floor, unusual for a prospect his age, and makes the process of adding talent that much more malleable in the long run. His improved jumper significantly improves his outlook as a scorer, and his rare intangibles and unselfish approach to winning basketball are increasingly difficult to find. There’s no faulting the Pistons for making the easy choice here, and Cunningham has the ability to change the course of the franchise.

2. Rockets: Jalen Green, SG, G League Ignite

Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 185 | Age: 19 | Freshman

Much of the chatter I’ve heard the past couple weeks has suggested that the Rockets prefer Green to Evan Mobley at this spot. There have been reports in recent weeks that Houston has interest in trading up with Detroit to take Cunningham, but the vast majority of speculation from other teams has centered on Green as the presumptive fit at No. 2. His ability to create his own shot gives him a chance to be a legitimate offensive fulcrum, and the Rockets are positioned to take a swing on upside. For what it’s worth, Green’s camp is thought to prefer Houston as a destination, rather than landing in Cleveland one pick later. Devin Booker’s evolution from promising scorer into a well-rounded perimeter centerpiece provides a blueprint for Green’s development, with his exceptional athleticism giving him major upside.

3. Cavaliers: Evan Mobley, F/C, USC

Height: 7' 0" | Weight: 215 | Age: 20 | Freshman

There appears to be a pretty good chance Mobley is available here at No. 3, which would be an extremely fortunate outcome for Cleveland. The Cavs are thought to covet Mobley here, and while there should be a degree of interest from opposing teams hoping to move up and grab him, this feels like an ideal match. He’d be a near-perfect fit with the Cavaliers, bringing legitimate versatility to operate on the perimeter and protect the interior alongside Jarrett Allen in a jumbo-sized frontcourt. He’s a low-maintenance, high-impact performer and a potential franchise centerpiece, and two-way bigs of his ilk don’t come around all that often. This shouldn’t be an overly complicated choice for the Cavs, and Mobley could end up being their best player in relatively short order. The high defensive floor and intriguing offensive ceiling make him an outstanding prospect.

4. Raptors: Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga

Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 205 | Age: 19 | Freshman

The general belief that Cunningham, Green and Mobley will be the first three players drafted places Toronto in a position of strength operating at No. 4. The clarity as to which players will be available—particularly Suggs and Scottie Barnes—makes this a valuable selection in the event the Raptors decided to move back. But there’s a great case to be made for simply staying put, as Suggs remains an excellent fit for their roster and organizational culture, and looks like an ideal replacement for Kyle Lowry, who may move on in free agency. He’s an elite-level athlete, hard-nosed competitor, and comfortable sacrificing shots in the interest of team success. Consensus says he’s the best prospect available here, and the Raptors shouldn’t have any qualms walking away with him.

5. Magic: Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State

Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 225 | Age: 19 | Freshman

With two top-eight picks in hand, the Magic have a lot of say over the flow of the lottery at the moment, with enough ammunition to feasibly attempt to move up from here. But with the top three teams most likely entrenched in those spots and comfortable with the players on the board, at the moment it feels more likely Orlando makes this pick. While their front office is notoriously airtight with its intentions, there’s a level of belief around the NBA that the Magic covets Barnes at this spot. On paper, that makes a lot of sense. Barnes would be a strong match for Orlando, possessing the length and versatility that fits their traditional draft ethos, and a galvanizing personality that could help stabilize their young locker room. A frontcourt pairing of Barnes and Jonathan Isaac as a backbone for the rest of the team is pretty intriguing in concept.

6. Thunder: James Bouknight, SG, UConn

Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 190 | Age: 20 | Sophomore

There’s been an increasing amount of chatter among rival teams connecting Bouknight to the Thunder at No. 6, and in any scenario, it appears unlikely he falls past No. 8. Oklahoma City is positioned to take a gamble on upside and can pair him with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a dynamic young backcourt, with Bouknight likely afforded some room to expand his playmaking skills and operate with freedom. He’s arguably the most polished scorer in the draft as things stand, with real creativity finishing in the paint and creating shots, and teams expect he’ll be more than adequate as a jump shooter, pointing to some legitimate star potential if everything breaks correctly. Bouknight’s elbow injury and end-of-season struggles never truly suppressed his draft stock, as he’s had plenty of believers around the NBA all season, and has affirmed that confidence over the course of the pre-draft process.

Keep in mind that the Thunder possess copious future draft picks and tradable young players in addition to Nos. 16 and 18 in this draft: they have ample ammunition to move around in the draft if they want. As usual, they’re a team to keep an eye on as draft night gets closer.

7. Warriors (from Timberwolves): Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite

Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 220 | Age: 18

While Kuminga remains one of the highest-upside prospects in the draft his range is now more comfortably assumed to be 6-8, and there’s a real chance he’s available to the Warriors here at No. 7. While league sources have pegged Davion Mitchell and James Bouknight as fits for Golden State here, in this scenario, it’s Kuminga who falls. Mitchell’s NBA-ready, defensive-oriented mindset is sure to be tempting for the Warriors, who need to improve the roster with Steph Curry entering a contract year, and having missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons. Expect the Warriors to seriously explore trading their lottery picks to improve the team in the short-term, but their loaded cap sheet may limit some of what they can do in that respect. But if Kuminga makes it to this pick—which was not widely expected a month ago—Golden State will face a difficult choice.

There’s only so far a player with Kuminga’s physical tools and scoring upside can slip, but he also hasn’t done much to truly bolster his stock of late, which has contributed to the realistic possibility he drops into this part of the Top 10. His decision to end his G League season early rather than play through a minor injury didn’t help his perception. Kuminga’s combination of improving skills and athletic gifts still set him apart from the vast majority of his peers, and if he shoots it better and becomes a more disciplined defender, there's a very high ceiling.

8. Magic (from Bulls): Keon Johnson, SG, Tennessee

Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 185 | Age: 19 | Freshman

The Magic are widely believed to be open to trading this pick, but there’s also a sense that the asking price may be somewhat steep. Johnson is a major risk-reward pick, but his considerable ceiling could enhance Orlando’s roster, as a stellar defender and athlete who can add value as a high-level supporting piece, even if he doesn’t fully turn the corner as a go-to scorer. Johnson needs to become a better shooter and refine his offensive game to maximize his considerable potential, but has better feel than a typical project wing, and a defensive mentality that should expedite his pathway to useful minutes. The fact the Magic have two picks should help them feel comfortable taking a big swing here.

9. Kings: Franz Wagner, SF, Michigan

Height: 6' 9" | Weight: 220 | Age: 19 | Sophomore

Wagner’s range appears to have stabilized in the back half of the Top 10, and he makes a good deal of sense as a fit for Sacramento, with good positional size, great instincts on both ends of the floor, and an ideal complementary skill set to accentuate the players around him. The Kings are building around De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton but need frontcourt help, and adding a ball-mover like Wagner who has the chops to beef up a leaky defense seems like an ideal fit. Although he never fully broke out as a scorer at Michigan, Wagner’s versatility has made him a popular commodity, with a mature floor game that isn’t predicated on volume shooting. He’d be a strong match here.

10. Pelicans: Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor

Height: 6' 1” | Weight: 205 | Age: 22 | Junior

As New Orleans prepares to mount a legitimate playoff run next season, expect the Pelicans to explore options involving this pick to improve the roster and expedite their rebuilding process, while revamping the supporting cast around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Mitchell’s intangibles, defensive acumen and reputation as a gamer should hold obvious appeal to a team that has frequently struggled on the defensive end, and with late-game decision making. While New Orleans doesn’t necessarily need another guard, Mitchell’s skill set differs significantly from the offensive-minded Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis. Mitchell could come off the board before this, with the Warriors thought to be heavily interested. But the fit here makes sense if the Pelicans stay put.

11. Hornets: Kai Jones, F/C, Texas

Height: 6' 11" | Weight: 220 | Age: 20 | Sophomore

Given the state of their roster, the Hornets can hypothetically go a number of directions here, including potentially trading back to add extra draft picks, making them an intriguing swing team in the lottery. They do have an obvious need for a young big, and Jones could be available to them here as an attractive option. Jones’ potential to knock down jumpers, finish lobs and protect the paint—coupled with unusual athletic gifts and skill flashes—make him one of the higher-upside options on the board in this part of the lottery. He never an especially consistent producer at Texas, and will still be very much a project for whoever drafts him. This is likely the very high end of Jones’ range, which runs into the teens, but he’s a pretty seamless hypothetical fit in Charlotte, where he’d likely benefit from playing as a lob target for LaMelo Ball.

12. Spurs: Corey Kispert, SF, Gonzaga

Height: 6' 7" | Weight: 220 | Age: 22 | Senior

With Keldon Johnson emerging as a starting-caliber piece alongside Dejounte Murray and Derrick White (both of whom are under team control for the long run), the Spurs have a nice array of young talent on the roster, and some flexibility to add pieces moving forward. San Antonio could use a true knockdown shooter on the wing, with Lonnie Walker and Devin Vassell still developing. Adding an experienced, consistent prospect like Kispert—who might provide immediate help off the bench—would be a viable direction with this pick. While Kispert isn’t a naturally creative player, that won’t be too much of a concern considering the guard talent already on the roster. It’s unlikely he falls out of the lottery at this point.

13. Pacers: Josh Giddey, G, Adelaide 36ers (Australia)

Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 205 | Age: 18

A huge throng of NBA executives recently traveled to Las Vegas to watch Giddey with the Australian national team, and he appears likely to come off the board somewhere in the back half of the lottery. The Pacers are a nice theoretical match due to their need for another ballhandler to take pressure off of Malcolm Brogdon. Giddey is one of the draft’s best passers, has terrific size and feel for the game, and has improved his shooting to the point where it feels workable. While more of a complementary playmaker than dynamic scorer, he’s extremely advanced for a teenager and doesn’t turn 19 until October. It’s tough to find legitimate point forward types, and Giddey’s strengths feel translatable into a useful bench role at worst.

14. Warriors: Jalen Johnson, F, Duke

Height: 6' 9" | Weight: 220 | Age: 19 | Freshman

Having this second lottery pick is a luxury for the Warriors, who don’t expressly need to add two rookies to their roster, much less one. I’m not especially confident Golden State ends up keeping this selection, with trading back or out a possibility. Johnson is an intriguing buy-low opportunity at this point in the draft, his stock having taken a hit after a rocky experience at Duke. He entered the year widely projected as a Top 10 pick, and it’s difficult to find players with his blend of size and ball skills in a given draft. Johnson has his warts, particularly his inconsistent jumper, and how teams weigh the intel here will ultimately determine how far he falls. But he should be an appealing reclamation project in the right situation, with a pretty clear pathway to an NBA role if things break correctly.

15. Wizards: Alperen Sengün, F/C, Besiktas (Turkey)

Height: 6' 10" | Weight: 240 | Age: 18 | Freshman

Sengün will make for one of the more fascinating case studies in this draft, with an impressive, outlier-type statistical profile after a dominant season in Turkey, but a post-up centric game that doesn’t necessarily vibe with the aesthetics of the modern NBA. He’s clearly a lottery-level talent, though not a fit for every team’s style of play. But a player with Sengün’s type of pedigree rarely falls too far in the draft, and while he may not hear his name called in the lottery, he shouldn’t fall too far into the teens. He’d be an intriguing option for the Wizards, who need help up front, are comfortable with international talent, and should be focused on adding the best available prospect here given the uncertainty surrounding the long-term fate of the roster.

16. Thunder (from Celtics): Moses Moody, SG, Arkansas

Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 205 | Age: 19 | Freshman

Knowing Sam Presti’s tendency to move around in the draft, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Thunder deal one or both of their picks in the teens, whether consolidating them to move up, or trading them to other teams in exchange for future assets. If the Thunder wind up using these picks in the teens, Moody is an interesting fit, with a promising jumper and good size for his position that bodes well for his long-term viability on the wing. He’s still at an early stage of his development, and was predictably a bit inconsistent this season as he explored his shot-making potential. Moody is not especially explosive or creative as a playmaker, so his ceiling is strongly tied to his jumper. While he’s still a ways from helping an NBA team in a meaningful way, Moody is a solid bet in the mid-first round, with a clear pathway to a useful role given time. The Thunder could afford him immediate minutes and let him experiment.

chris-duarte-oregon-nba-draft — Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

17. Grizzlies: Chris Duarte, SG, Oregon

Height: 6' 6" | Weight: 190 | Age: 24 | Senior

Duarte’s range starts in the teens and runs into the early 20s, but he’s in demand as a plug-and-play wing with an NBA-ready skill set. He should be able to give Memphis immediate minutes off the bench, as a bigger floor-spacer who fits their recent M.O. of emphasizing college experience over theoretical teenage upside. Duarte is one of the top shooters in the draft, and a capable defender and ball-mover, with a mature style of play befitting his advanced age. While he struggles a bit to separate and create his own shot and isn’t supremely athletic, he’s smart and consistent enough to stick in the league a long time, particularly considering the premium placed on his skill set.

18. Thunder (from Heat): Usman Garuba, F/C, Real Madrid (Spain)

Height: 6' 8" | Weight: 230 | Age: 19

Garuba is exceptionally well-tested for his age, having cut his teeth in Real Madrid’s senior team and the Spanish national team and boasting strong physical tools and a defensive mindset. He should have utility as a legitimately switchable ball screen defender, and while he’s not big enough to moonlight at center in more than a situational capacity, he’s physically ready for the NBA and appears to have a good understanding of what his role is. However, Garuba’s pathway to becoming a legitimate starter requires a real evolution on offense, where he’s unlikely to be featured, but is a quality cutter and could add value as a passer and shooter with continued development. He’s got a chance to be more than a specialist, and would add a different dimension to Oklahoma City’s young roster.

19. Knicks: Trey Murphy, F, Virginia

Height: 6' 9" | Weight: 205 | Age: 21 | Junior

There’s a good deal of chatter around the league that the Knicks are aiming to combine their two first-round picks to move up in the draft, so it’s possible they don’t wind up making this selection. Murphy has gathered as much steam as any prospect in the draft over the last few months, and now looks like a good bet to hear his name called in the teens. He’s successfully showcased impressive run-jump athleticism on the workout circuit and has convinced teams he’ll be a passable defender who plays with poise, can knock down open threes, and has untapped upside to offer. Murphy isn’t a great ballhandler or creative passer, but has a good sense of his own strengths and weaknesses and shouldn’t be a major liability. Scouts I’ve spoken with have frequently used Phoenix’s Cam Johnson as an analog. He’d be a good fit for New York if they stand pat.

20. Hawks: Ziaire Williams, SF, Stanford

Height: 6' 9" | Weight: 185 | Age: 19 | Freshman

Word around the NBA is that Williams may have worked his way back into a Top 20 selection, with a series of strong workouts helping his standing after a tough year at Stanford cratered his stock. His history of inconsistent play and recurring injuries led many to peg him as a player with legitimate bust potential, but Williams is extremely skilled for his size, measured at 6' 9" in shoes at the combine, and has always been an impressive player in practice-type settings. Concerns about his ability to put pressure on the rim and overall consistency persist. But Williams’ upside is still appealing from a development perspective, and teams looking to take a shot on talent will have serious interest in this part of the draft. He’d be an interesting addition to Atlanta’s personnel, offering more size on the perimeter and more shooting to complement Trae Young.

21. Knicks (from Mavericks): Isaiah Jackson, C, Kentucky

Height: 6' 10" | Weight: 205 | Age: 19 | Freshman

While Jackson is inarguably raw and not particularly skilled, his athletic tools have sparked first-round interest, the hope being that he’ll evolve into a viable rim-running, shot-blocking, end-to-end big. Jackson is a ways away from reaching that level—he’s extremely foul-prone and scores almost entirely within gameflow—and there’s been a bit of an ideological resurgence surrounding bigs with offensive skills, which makes his fit a bit more selective. New York is facing an extension decision on Mitchell Robinson next summer, and adding depth up front through the draft could be prudent, depending on what the Knicks decide to do with their two picks.

22. Lakers: Cameron Thomas, SG, LSU

Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 210 | Age: 19 | Freshman

The Lakers could use an offensive spark at guard, and should have options available to them here to address that if they choose. While Thomas’s inflexible, shoot-first approach has been a divisive topic and a long-standing challenge to evaluate, he’s inarguably one of the more consistent, accomplished scorers in the draft. The questions here primarily surround the translatability of his playstyle, and his general disinterest in defense and sharing the ball. But the Lakers can use him to bolster the offense and trust that he’ll fall in line on a veteran team. It will fall on Thomas to become a more malleable player in the long run, but his production is hard to knock, and he’ll have much easier shot opportunities coming his way on a good team, in theory.

23. Rockets (from Blazers): Bones Hyland, SG, VCU

Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 165 | Age: 20 | Sophomore

The Rockets’ two picks in the 20s are a key swing spot in the late first round, with Houston presumably open to moving one or both depending on what’s available. Hyland has been gathering steam after a strong showing at the combine, and looks to be working his way into this range of the draft. While he’s a scorer by nature and quite slender for an NBA two-guard, his ability to make tough shots is hard to find, and has helped separate him from the large pack of guards in the 20-40 range. Hyland’s stock appears to have moved into first-round territory at this point.

24. Rockets (from Bucks): Joshua Primo, SG, Alabama

Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 190 | Age: 18 | Freshman

This second Rockets pick is thought to be available in trades, as the Rockets attempt to maneuver with their two selections in the 20s. After a strong showing at the combine and impressive pre-draft process behind closed doors, Primo now looks like a lock to land in the first round, with his range beginning in the teens and running into the 20s. He’s demonstrated a more diverse offensive game than he showed in a spot-up role at Alabama, with combo guard skills and an impressive level of poise and focus. The fact he’s the youngest draft-eligible prospect adds a layer of appeal as a long-term project, and he’s in the mix for teams that can afford to be patient. Primo has starter-level upside in the long run.

25. Clippers: Sharife Cooper, PG, Auburn

Height: 6' 1" | Weight: 180 | Age: 20 | Freshman

The Clippers can go a few directions here, but they need depth at guard, and Cooper’s special passing ability and high-level handle appears to be keeping his stock afloat in the 18-25 range. Those unique traits have helped mitigate his diminutive stature and disinterest in defense. While he most likely profiles as a backup due to those drawbacks and a streaky jump shot, Cooper does have the potential to be a very good one, with a demonstrable knack for getting into the paint and drawing fouls. There’s a point in the draft where his playmaking skills become worth the gamble, and on a team with established talent like the Clippers, Cooper should be in a better position to succeed.

26. Nuggets: Jared Butler, G, Baylor

Height: 6' 3" | Weight: 190 | Age: 20 | Junior

With the news that Butler has been medically cleared by the NBA, teams generally expect he’ll be drafted in the late first round or early second. The issue now is that team doctors will have to sign off on drafting him, which is a piece of the puzzle that can’t truly be gauged in a speculative sense, and will affect where he can and cannot land. The prospect of medical risk may cap how high he’ll go on draft night, but Butler is a clear first-round talent and a steady, proven contributor who can play both guard spots capably. Teams have always raved about his intangibles. Denver is a team that has historically been willing to take on risk, and Butler is arguably the best prospect available here in this scenario.

27. Nets: Day’Ron Sharpe, C, North Carolina

Height: 6' 11" | Weight: 265 | Age: 19 | Freshman

Sharpe has built himself a bit of buzz around the league with a strong predraft process, having worked himself into great shape and demonstrating a much more projectable jump shot than teams expected. He’s a good bet to land in the first round, and could go higher than this, particularly given the dearth of quality bigs in this range. While not supremely athletic or skilled with the ball, Sharpe is a highly competitive, high-effort rebounder with palpable offensive upside tied to his passing and floor-spacing potential. The Nets could use some additional muscle up front, and Sharpe’s feel and toughness could be appealing here as an eventual rotation piece.

28. 76ers: Tre Mann, G, Florida

Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 190 | Age: 19 | Sophomore

Daryl Morey has never been particularly attached to his draft picks, and history suggests the Sixers will entertain offers for this pick, making it an interesting spot for a team to grab a player who unexpectedly slips to the back of the first round. Considering the large glut of guards pencilled in all over this part of the draft, it’s inevitable that a few of them will fall. While Mann has a bit of a wide range at this point in time, he’s a first-round type talent with a quality jumper and nice size for his position. The knock on him is that he’s a bit one-dimensional, as he’s more scorer than setup man, doesn’t play a physical style and isn’t known for being a committed defender, fancying himself as a perimeter creator and most comfortable with the ball in his hands. But Mann does have unique ability to create space off the dribble and score, and he remains a good bet to come off the board in the 20-30 range.

29. Suns: Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee

Height: 6' 4" | Weight: 205 | Age: 18 | Freshman

Springer is another guard with a relatively wide range at this point in time, but remains an intriguing first-round option in this part of the draft, considering his youth and productive moments at Tennessee. He’s one of the more divisive players in the class, as scouts remain split on where his upside lies, without one elite skill, but a range of strengths that could feasibly coalesce into a starting-caliber guard. Springer should defend capably, but will have to expand his offensive skill set and continue improving his jumper to better suit his likely role as an off-guard. He’s worthy of strong consideration in the 20s, but other guards have made stronger pushes for draft position over the past month.

30. Jazz: Quentin Grimes, SG, Houston

Height: 6' 5" | Weight: 210 | Age: 21 | Junior

Grimes was one of the biggest winners at the combine and has played his way into first-round consideration, with a well-rounded perimeter game and strong intangibles that have earmarked him as a tailor-made NBA role player. Grimes reinvented himself at Houston as a ball-moving, complementary jump shooter, and plays with a level of maturity and confidence that should endear him to playoff teams in this part of the draft. He’d be a good fit as an extra playmaker and shooter in Utah’s system.