With the 2021 NBA Draft on July 29th fast approaching, I wanted to share my thoughts on this year’s draft class and where they might end up. In terms of the collection of talent that’s in this draft class, it’s one of the best in the last few years. These budding stars can drive the basketball, shoot the three, rebound, defend, and have the potential to be key pieces to desperate franchises looking to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the future. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
With the 1st pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select Cade Cunningham, PG, Oklahoma State. Cunningham is a fantastic playmaker and is always looking to get his teammates involved if he doesn’t have the right look at a shot opportunity. One play in particular that he excels in is the pick-and-roll. He seems to wait for the right moment to either pass it to the big man if he’s double teamed or count on his outside shooters to hit an open three point shot. Because he has a big frame for a point guard, he can finish around the rim like a wing or a big. He can float the ball over the defense like Tony Parker or get down low in the post like a big power forward and take advantage of mismatches. He’s good at getting to his spots in the mid-range and elbow area. But, his most surprisingly great trait (sorry I stole your line, State Farm) is when he shoots the three. Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, he’s a 40% three point shooter which is superb, especially for a 19 (going on 20) year old. Switching over to the defensive side, he’s an above average on-ball defender and sticks with his man at all times. He can guard multiple positions, showing potential for versatility which is key to being a successful defender in the NBA. He’s great at off-ball defense; making quick rotations and closing out. Finally, his clutch factor is one of the best in the class. According to Hoop Intellect’s YouTube channel, he dropped 106 points in the clutch which was the highest in the country this past season. However, his ball-handling skills aren’t the greatest. He doesn’t have a tight handle, which allows easy steal opportunities for the on-ball defender. Furthermore, he averages an astonishing 4 turnovers per game so he really needs to cut that down in order to be a great player at the next level. If he can cut down those two things, the Pistons have themselves an all-time great player that they can build around for a decade or more.
With the 2nd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets select Jalen Green, SG, G League Ignite. Green seemed like a special talent at the high school level where he liked to jump out of the gym every game. But, the question was, as with all future NBA players, can he keep that same level of greatness in higher levels? Green is proving that, yes, he can do so, no matter what level he’s in. He is powerful when getting to the rim and can slam the ball with authority. He’s extremely clever around the rim and moves his 6’6, 178 lbs body to get past a defender and get to the cup in mid-air. Additionally, he has tight handles and can drive by defenders on the ground. With those tight handles, he gets to his spots efficiently and creates space from whoever’s guarding him. Even though he’s not the best three point shooter, he has high potential in this department. He doesn’t have the best defensive game in the world, which is why, with his skill set, he reminds me of a guy like Russell Westbrook or John Wall. They can attack the basket at a high rate and do it really well while getting by with not being a great defender. The Rockets are a great team to have Green unlock his skills because he can be free to get open shots, whether that’s around the rim or from the outside, and create good shots for others like Wall and Christian Wood.
With the 3rd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select Evan Mobley, C, USC. Let me throw you this fact. Mobley is only the 2nd player in NCAA history to receive Conference Freshman of the Year, Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and Conference Player of the Year in the same season. Who was the 1st? Anthony Davis. I know, that’s pretty big company coming out of the gate. Oh, and by the way, Mobley is the 1st player in Pac-12 history to grab the trio of awards in one campaign. But, what’s behind those awards that makes him so special? Well, he averages nearly 3 blocks a game while averaging 1.8 fouls per game. That means he’s really good at defending the rim without fouling. If I were you, I would not want to try and drive to the rim when a 7’0, 210 lbs defensive stalwart is right in front of you. On top of that, he can be a walking bucket in the paint, particularly in pick and roll offense. When he rolls to the basket, he can either be an alley-oop threat or can just get easy layups and dunks down low. In fact, according to Hoop Intellect’s YouTube channel, he shot 56.8% when he was rolling to the basket, which was good for 4th in the country. The 1st? Potential 2022 lottery pick and March Madness standout, Drew Timme. He can be a great rebounder, specifically on the offensive glass where he averaged 2.7 offensive rebounds per game. If he rebounds on offense, then that opens up extra chances for himself or his teammates to get buckets of their own. But, the main thing he needs to work on is holding his own defensively on his fellow elite bigs. If he can fix that ahead of next season, he will be a generational talent at the center position and can make running the offense a lot easier for guys like Colin Sexton and Darius Garland.
With the 4th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Jalen Suggs, PG/SG, Gonzaga. Longtime Raptors point guard, Kyle Lowry, is expected to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He’s expected to leave Toronto because he said “I want more championships.” He’ll most likely be off to sunny Los Angeles to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis but that’s another story for another day. The point guard position is going to be wide open, and I think Suggs is the perfect guy to fit in that spot. The 6’4, 205 lbs combo guard out of West St. Paul, Minnesota has some really positive traits in his game. Like Jalen Green, Suggs has some of the best athletic ability in this class. He’s strong and can get to the basket with ease. He can get others involved in open spots and when running in transition. He’s an underrated defender. According to Hoop Intellect’s YouTube channel, opponents shot just 33% when Suggs was defending them. He’s a great off-ball defender as well. In particular, he reads passing lanes really well. It shows as he averaged almost 2 steals a game (1.9 to be exact). Last, but most certainly not least, his competitiveness is sensational. He dives for loose balls and makes clutch plays when the game is on the line. However, he does average 2.9 turnovers per game and had 11 games with 4 or more turnovers in this past season. If he cleans the turnovers up, the Raptors could have a special player to help spread the floor for shooters like Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby and create opportunities for Pascal Siakam to drive to the rim.
With the 5th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic select Scottie Barnes, G/F, Florida State. If you follow Barnes a lot, then you’ll know that he’s an elite defender and is far and away the best defender in this draft class. He has quick feet, can stick to his man like glue, and can guard multiple positions. All three of those traits can easily make him a top defender in the league already. And his 7’2 wingspan allows him to easily read passing lanes, steal the ball, and create transition offense. But, the one thing that separates him from a lot of kids in this class is the competitive energy and passion he brings on the court. If you watch him, you can see that he wants to scratch and claw for everything, and when he gets rewarded for said scratching and clawing, he celebrates that reward. If I was an NBA coach, I would make sure I would want a guy like that on my team because his energy is infectious and it will spread among players and fans. But, the big things that Barnes needs to fix are his three point shooting and his confusing shot selections. He only made 11 three point shots in college last season which is most definitely not going to work out in the NBA. Along with this, his jump shot needs to be fixed. It seems like not putting enough force on the ball when shooting so it could lead to a lot of airballs. With some improvements, he could make things easier for their offense, while playing electrifying defense. Barnes can be a really special player if developed right and fans of teams not named the Orlando Magic can look back at this pick and say to themselves “man, I wish my team drafted that guy.”
With the 6th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder select Jonathan Kuminga, SF/PF, G League Ignite. Like Jalen Green, they were teammates in this system that was able to surround them with professionals to teach them how the NBA works. As with a lot of wing players in this draft class, his main quality is attacking the rim with authority. He has that great trait because of his size, strength and athleticism. He’s also an impressive post scorer as well when shooting baby hooks, face up shots or even fade away shots. But the things that he really needs to work on is three point shooting and his decision making skills. He averaged about 24.6% from the three point arc. Part of the reason why he’s shooting at a horrible percentage is his jump shot. His shot mechanics are unpredictable at times and needs work, especially when getting more shots up in workouts. But, his decision making on the court needs just as much work as the three point shooting. Time and time again, he seemed to do too much in trying to get an open shot for himself, which will also be correctable with time, reps and experience. Overall, I can see Kuminga as a 6th or 7th man on the Thunder next year but, in a few years time and with careful development, I think you’ll see a guy who not only starts for them, but can score at least 19-20 points a game for them.
With the 7th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select Davion Mitchell, PG, Baylor. Mitchell shot up draft boards this season, and not just because he has the same number, last name, and style of play as Donovan Mitchell. He exceeded everyone’s expectations of him in this year’s March Madness tournament. He averaged 13.5 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and 36.4% from the three point line in the tournament. If there was anybody that could possibly have a chance at rivaling Scottie Barnes as the best defender in this class, it’s Mitchell. His on-ball skills are off the charts. He stays with his man really well and doesn’t let him go anywhere past him. Along with that, he can sell an offensive foul really well and can make life extremely problematic when trying to run plays. He averaged almost 2 steals per game (1.9 to be exact) last season so he has great potential to be a help defender and get steals. On the offensive side, Mitchell is really explosive when trying to punch the ball through the net with power. He’s also a great ball handler and can get past defenders with his change of pace. In fact, he was so good around the rim last season that he shot 60.5% around the basket (according to Hoop Intellect’s YouTube channel). One of the things he’s improved on from past seasons is his three point shooting. In fact, he made about 2.1 three point shots per game on 4.7 attempts per game. In 2019-20, he made about 1.1 three point shots per game on 3.5 attempts per game. The main thing he needs to work on ahead of next season is his free throw percentage. He’s hovered around the 64-67% range from the charity stripe in college. That needs to be brought up at least 5-10 percentage points in order to be trusted as a reliable free throw shooter in the clutch. If he can limit those problems, you might see a key piece for the Warriors off the bench who can sub in for Steph Curry and be able to pick up right where he left off.
With the 8th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic select Keon Johnson, SG, Tennessee. The 6’5 guard didn’t even start playing competitive basketball until high school. Yes, let me say it again for the people in the back, a top 10 pick in this year’s Draft started playing basketball in high school! That just shows how hard Johnson has been working on his craft in order to get to where he’s at right now, and it shows. He’s the second best athlete in this draft behind Jalen Green, in my opinion. That’s because he can get to the rim with great strength and can punch the ball on just about anyone. Additionally, he has the potential to be a fantastic defender and has the IQ to make the other team turn the ball over with a highlight-worthy steal or block. Just like his projected teammate Scottie Barnes, he has a great competitor and exudes an overflowing amount of energy and passion every time he steps on the court. He has potential to be a knock down mid-range shooter if developed correctly. Finally, he’s an underrated rebounder. Every time there’s a missed shot and Johnson’s near the rim, he uses his unbelievable vertical leap to grab rebounds and create second chances for his team to score. Over his last 11 games, he’s averaged 4.4 rebounds per game and 1.7 offensive rebounds per game. The one crucial thing he needs to work on is his three point shooting. His shooting percentage from that area last season was 27.1%. That’s definitely not going to cut it in the pros. NBA fans know how not having a three point shot these days can absolutely ruin your game. Just ask Ben Simmons. If Johnson can make some more three point shots, the Magic aren’t looking so bad after all.
With the 9th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select Franz Wagner, SF, Michigan. The biggest thing that the Kings need is size. To put that into perspective, the tallest starting player for the Kings is 6’10 center Richuan Holmes. Wagner is 6’9 and he plays the forward position. It’s safe to say that the German would be a huge pickup because of that alone. But, what about his other traits? He’s a top 5 defender this class has to offer, which the Kings need desperately. But, the key thing for Wagner defensively is that he can guard multiple positions. If he can succeed in that in the NBA, it’ll remind me of Mikail Bridges. Bridges can guard all five positions with effortlessness and can use his long arms to get steals. Now, I don’t know if Wagner can do the latter in the NBA, but he has the right mentality to go get the ball and create transition offense. Speaking of offense, experts can see that he has great playmaking skills. When he sees the open man, he just puts the ball on a plate for said teammate to feast either around the rim or farther away from the rim. And if he wants to get his points, Wagner can do just that around the rim and from the three point line as well, shooting 34.3% from there last season. The one thing that can make his game a whole lot better is that Wagner heavily relies on his right hand when driving and doesn’t shoot with his left hand at all. As with any level, let alone the NBA, you’re going to have to use both hands around the rim in order to succeed. Now, it might seem like an easy fix, but it really isn’t. From experience, it’s like training another side of your brain to work just as efficiently as your dominant side. If he can work on that over the rest of the summer, the Kings have someone they can slot into the starting five immediately and make an impact.
With the 10th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select Corey Kispert, SF, Gonzaga. The Pelicans are a team that have a one-dimensional offense that just wants to rim run, especially when they have guys like Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball who do just that. In fact, last season, the Pels were 27th in the league in three point shots made, 25th in three point attempts and 26th in three point shooting percentage. So, to say that Kispert is a welcome addition is a huge understatement. He shot 44% from the three point line, which was tied for 5th in the country last season. Because of his breathtaking shooting ability, I would compare him to a guy like Joe Harris, who both play the same position and can be a reliable knockdown three point shooter when you need him to. Kispert is also good at finding open spots on the floor to either shoot three point shots or cut to the basket for an open layup or dunk. Finally, he has great upside with his playmaking attribute. If Kispert seems to have trouble getting things going for himself in an offensive possession, he can try and find open teammates so they can get open shots. The two things he needs to work on are defense and creating shots for himself when he has the ball in his hands. On defense, he seems easy to drive past for his man-to-man opponents to get easy points. When creating shots for himself, he seems to be scared to take risks to get open shots. Part of that is because he doesn’t have extra dribble moves that he has in his game. Instead of just switching from left to right, he should learn how to do a couple of dribble moves that makes it easier to blow by defenders and get to his spots more often. If the Pelicans actually draft this kid and work on his game, Kispert can really spread the floor for the Pelicans can make this offense really exciting to watch next season.
With the 11th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets select Alperen Sengun, C/PF, Turkey. Sengun is one of the best international players in this draft, sandwiched between Franz Wagner of Germany and Josh Giddey of Australia. Oh, and he’s only 18 years old! The thing is, his game is still super raw but let’s talk about the positives first. His biggest strength in his game is not something that a lot of bigs have nowadays, and that’s post-scoring. Sengun can use a myriad of moves to shake off defenders deep in the paint and score with ease. He’s also a great rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass where he can create extra opportunities for his team to get points on the board. Lastly, he has the potential to be a great playmaker and can run in transition really well. Just imagine a Sengun and LaMelo Ball give and go offense. That’s going to be a lot of fun to watch. But, like I mentioned at the top, his game needs a lot of work which is understandable for an 18 year old going to the best professional basketball league in the world. One big thing he needs to work on is his perimeter defense. He seems very jumpy and gambles way too often, leading to easy opportunities at the basket for the guy Sengun guards. He’s also slow to react on drives by opposing players, thus leading to below average help defense. His second, and final, big thing he needs to work is his outside shooting. Part of the reason why is that his load up leading to the follow through seems to be a little slow. If he can keep his hips square, get the shot off a bit quicker and slow down his defensive struggles, Alperen Sengun can be miles better than guys like Cody Zeller or Bismack Biyombo.
With the 12th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs select Jalen Johnson, SF, Duke. Spurs superstar DeMar DeRozan will most likely be heading off to greener pastures this offseason and Coach Gregg Popovich will need someone to fill in his shoes. If they choose to rely on their draft picks instead of signing a free agent, Jalen Johnson is the right guy to fit into Popovich’s system. Now, Johnson is a lot like the other two Jalen’s highlighted in this mock draft because he has great athleticism. But, his most likeable trait is when he’s in transition offense. He can create shot opportunities for himself or he can drop the ball off to his teammates to let them shine. But, his flaws are shooting and turning the ball over. Just like Sengun, Johnson’s shot needs a lot of tinkering which is a big reason why he thinks too much when taking the open shot and why he’s an underwhelming free throw shooter at around 63.2%. If Coach Pop and his team of great assistants can develop his shooting and defense, I don’t see why Jalen Johnson wouldn’t be a serviceable starting small forward for the Spurs for a long time.
With the 13th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers select Josh Giddey, PG/SG, Australia. The main thing that jumps off the page about his game is his playmaking. In his one year with the NBL’s Adelaide 36ers, he averaged 7.5 assists per game. That stat alone shows that he can set up his teammates for open shots at the right time. Going to a Pacers team where he can set up guys like Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis makes for some really fun basketball in the Hoosier State. He can also be crafty around the basket and can lay the ball up with either hand. But, the big issue with Giddey is his three point shooting. He shot 29.3% from that area on 3.5 attempts per game. His aggressiveness on shot opportunities need to be there in order to create open shots for himself or others. Like I mentioned previously, if he can develop, the Indiana Pacers are going to be a very pleasing team to watch next year because of the way Giddey can get great players around him open shots with his clean passes, and get open shots for himself too.
With the 14th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select Kai Jones, C, Texas. Most people in my shoes could go with a guy like James Bouknight or even Jalen Johnson, if he’s still on the board. But, the Warriors need depth help at the center position. That’s because James Wiseman could be used in a trade and if that actually happens, Kevon Looney will be their starting center. To give you perspective on that, Looney averaged 4.1 points per game in the 2020-21 season. Yeah, that’s not going to work in the NBA. Now, back to Jones, and the one part of his game that really excels is his athletic power when driving to the rim. One play in particular is when he turns defense into offense. Whenever Jones blocks or steals the ball and gives it up to one of his teammates, he can run the floor like the wind and open up alley-oop chances. If he can run the floor like that with guys like Steph Curry and Draymond Green, who have insane court vision, Jones can really excel because of their passing qualities and Steve Kerr’s fast paced offense. He also has a defensive upside, especially with potential at being versatile when guarding all five positions. However, he didn’t start playing true, competitive basketball until 4 years ago, according to Hoop Intellect’s Youtube channel. So, Jones can relate to a guy like Keon Johnson in this situation. Even though they didn’t start playing until recently, their games are raw but promising. One main thing that Jones needs to work on is his decision making. In order for this to be fixed, the game needs to come to him instead of him getting sped up and confused about what to do next. If Kerr and his coaching staff can make him smarter on the court, the Warriors might just have a diamond in the rough on their hands.