Pick 1: Dallas Mavericks- Cooper Flagg
No matter what, Cooper Flagg will be drafted number 1 overall. The odds of him getting drafted here are lower than Victor Wembenyama’s in his draft year. Flagg is a generational prospect and was by far the best player in college basketball. Having him creates an incredible defensive, and tall lineup with Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson in the backcourt, with Flagg at small forward, Anthony Davis at power forward, and Dereck Lively II at center.
Pick 2: San Antonio Spurs- Dylan Harper
At 2, it is a toss-up between Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey for the second overall pick, and sources are pointing towards the Spurs wanting to take Harper. Harper may be the best guard in the draft. He is a 3-level scorer and a solid defender standing at 6-6. Having him creates a guard-heavy, but very good lineup with Harper starting besides Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassel, and Victor Wembenyama.
Pick 3: Philadelphia 76ers- Ace Bailey
With the Spurs taking Harper, Ace Bailey falls right to the 76ers. He is a tall and dynamic scorer standing roughly at 6-10. He has the ceiling of a Kevin Durant-type player, and if healthy, the 76ers can be a very good team with him slotting into the lineup. The 76ers would be running Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain as their backcourt, with Paul George and Ace Bailey as the forwards, and hopefully Joel Embiid back at center.
Pick 4: Charlotte Hornets- VJ Edgecombe
After the consensus 3 are taken, VJ Edgecombe is who the Hornets will select. He is an explosive and athletic guard with some of the highest potential in the draft. He is a physical player with good defensive qualities, along with his electrifying offensive skills. He will be able to slot into a lineup with LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, and Jusuf Nurkic.
Pick 5: Utah Jazz- Jeremiah Fears
Jeremiah Fears was one of the best freshmen guards in the nation for Oklahoma last year. He is a shifty and crafty guard and probably the next best player after missing out on the top 4 prospects. He is quick and a shotmaker and can slot nicely into the lineup and be the point guard of the future, as I do not believe players like Colin Sexton are gonna truly last for the Jazz.
Pick 6: Washington Wizards- Tre Johnson
With a lackluster guard room, Tre Johnson is the perfect pick for the Wizards. He is one of the top scorers in the draft and a shot creator. The Wizards need to bank on the scoring talent after the poor luck and not getting a top pick after an awful season.
Pick 7: New Orleans Pelicans- Kon Knueppel
Knueppel is a great pick here as he is a solid wing, capable of playing on both ends of the floor. He is a solid shooter at around 41% from 3. He could be very versatile with players such as Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, and CJ McCollum.
Pick 8: Brooklyn Nets- Khaman Maluach
Drafting Maluach is essentially drafting a raw prospect. At Duke, his stats were solid but not eye-popping, but his defensive skill and his impressive 7-2 height are what make him an attractive pick. Getting him and developing him has a lot of potential, and he could be the Nets’ starting center for many years next to Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson, and Cam Thomas.
Pick 9: Toronto Raptors- Derik Queen
Drafting Derik Queen is potentially a project-type of draft pick, but the ceiling is high with him. He is a dynamic center who is both strong and physical. He has a lot of raw talent and ability, which could be maximized if he were the center for the Raptors. He would be playing with Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Brandon Ingram. The Raptors would get their center of the future.
Pick 10: Houston Rockets- Kasparas Jakucionis
Jakucionis is a solid shooter and playmaker. It is the perfect pick for the Rockets, as they potentially may let veteran guards such as Fred VanVleet go in the future. Having Jakucionis creates an opportunity for a future backcourt duo with first-round pick next year with Reed Sheppard.
