1. Washington Wizards (17-65)
Prediction: AJ Dybantsa
Rotation: Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Will Riley, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George, Justin Champagnie, Trae Young (?), Anthony Davis (?)
Biggest Need: Leadership
After three straight years of winning less than 20 games (and eight consecutive seasons of being below .500), the Washington Wizards finally have the opportunity to change the course of their franchise with the first overall pick in a loaded draft class. While it might be difficult to see, things have gradually improved since Michael Winger took over as GM prior to the 2023 NBA Draft. In three drafts, they’ve selected Bilal Coulibaly (7), Alex Sarr (2), and Tre Johnson (6) with their top picks while taking conservative risks along the fringes (Bub Carrington, Jamir Watkins, Tristan Vukcevic, etc.). Coulibaly has shown steady improvement since entering the league, and while the shooting and self-creation abilities are still weaknesses, he’s just turning 22 years old next month. Sarr (freshly 21 years old) has real intrigue as a potential foundational piece for this franchise, making massive offensive strides as a 7-footer with enticing physical tools and defensive flexibility. Johnson found solid production as a rookie, but it’ll be fascinating to see how his numbers improve with additional help and another year of experience under his belt. The issue? Each of these players are (likely) complementary pieces who need a true “guy” in order to flourish in their respective roles.
Theoretically, Trae Young and Anthony Davis were supposed to be those guys. Instead, it appears as if both Young and Davis are going to force their way out of Washington. Young essentially said “no thanks, I’d rather play anywhere else than stay here for nearly $50 million (a number he will absolutely not get in the open market) and Davis previously vocalized his disdain for even being traded there. While somewhat understandable, it’s disappointing to see two notable players basically big-timing an organization because they deem themselves worthy of being somewhere better. Unironically, this would’ve been an ideal situation for both players to rebuilt their respective value. Now, they’ll opt to chase after a ring and/or attempt to fit into a team structure that doesn’t actually tailor to their individual strengths. The positive spin is that removing disgruntled veterans who need shots and touches will only lead to more reps for young players.
That being said, drafting anyone other than AJ Dybantsa would be a mistake. At 6-foot-9 with incredible physical traits, elite athleticism, rare intangibles, and the scoring/creation skills to carry an offense, he is simply the safest choice. Coming into BYU with historically lofty expectations, Dybantsa might’ve still outperformed what many could’ve predicted. He averaged 25.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 1.1 SPG with 51/33/77 splits, which unsurprisingly led to an All-American nod. One would think that several players have done the following: average at least 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 50% from the floor and playing 1000 minutes. However, the list is only nine players long. Adjust it for freshmen only? Dybantsa is the only one. We even lowered the minutes requirement all the way down to a mere 100 in an attempt to add other freshmen, but he remained in a class of his own. Lowering the the average points to 20 while keeping everything else the same and the list doubled to Dybantsa and…Cameron Boozer! Ultimately, it’s impossible to see a scenario where Dybantsa isn’t an All-NBA level talent. He’s already an impressive shot-maker and downhill creator who gets to the rim with ease and draws fouls as much as any player in the country. Dybantsa is a useful rebounder who has real upside as a multi-positional defender Add in his feel, processing ability, mental wiring, and leadership qualities, and he has all the makings of an NBA superstar.
2. Utah Jazz (22-60)
Prediction: Darryn Peterson
Rotation: Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson, Walker Kessler (?), Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Brice Sensabaugh, Cody Williams
Biggest Need: Direction
It would be interesting to look at a list of teams who have lost fewer than 25 games in a season, because the 2025-26 Utah Jazz would possibly have the most talent of the group. This team is certainly not bad (and might actually even be good), but they decided to shamelessly (yet understandably) tank for a top pick in this historical draft class. However, they are in a very weird position from a team-building standpoint. Guys like Markkanen (28) and Jackson (26) don’t really align with the timelines of their young core pieces of George (22), Bailey (19), and whoever they take in this draft. Should they decide to overpay Kessler (24) his desired $30 million annually, then they’ll have between $125-135 million committed to a trio of Kessler, Markkanen, and Jackson through 2028-29. Though nice pieces, pursuing a title feels extremely unlikely with 75-80% of their cap being distributed to those three.
That’s exactly why this team’s biggest need is direction. George and Bailey are both ahead of their anticipated trajectories. Acquiring Jackson right before his massive extension kicks in was questionable the moment it happened. Markkanen is a skilled player but has literally never made the playoffs…and now is set to make $46 million next season. Overpaying Kessler would put them in cap (and luxury tax) hell. Furthermore, the Jazz’ direction will be largely determined by who they select in this draft. Darryn Peterson is clearly the best raw talent, but questions surrounding his mentality, desire, durability, and willingness to play alongside George are troubling. Boozer (whose father is on the scouting staff) would be a really intriguing, and possibly ideal, fit but the aforementioned high-salary guys already create a logjam at his position. Caleb Wilson is likely the biggest project of the group, but could establish a much-needed culture to a franchise in desperate need of an identity.
While it’s still unclear whether they plan on taking Peterson or Boozer, it feels very like Danny Ainge to take whoever he likes and disregard any attempt to be pushed by a draft prospect. He called Bailey’s bluff last year, and guess what? Bailey was just fine. He led the team in minutes, worked through growing pains, and consistently improved each month of the season. In turn, Peterson should be the pick here. Perhaps no prospect in the history of the NBA Draft has received more love and adoration for his high school tape, but he is a legitimate talent. The ability is very real as a bigger guard with explosiveness, creation instincts, and shot-making prowess. However, the metrics seem to like him more than traditional stats. While it’s difficult to stick your nose up at a guy who averaged 20.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 1.4 SPG with 44/38/83 splits (in just 29 MPG), it felt like Peterson had even more to showcase. He’s a solid playmaker, but the “point guard” talk is somewhat ridiculous. Regardless, Peterson is the only player since 2002-03 to score 450 points in less than 700 minutes with a PER of 25 and BPM of 10. Removing the last two qualifiers and he’s only one of two freshmen (Nick Ward in 2016-17) to ever reach that scoring total in so few minutes. So, again, the risk is not necessarily with Peterson’s ability but rather with his ability to stay on the court. Whether he reaches his All-NBA level ceiling will be entertaining to monitor, but Peterson definitely has all the tools to be a major building block.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (25-57)
Prediction: Cam Boozer
Rotation: Ja Morant, Jaylen Wells, Cam Spender, Cedric Coward, Santi Aldama, GG Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr.
Biggest Need: Professionals
What a sad, unfortunate few years for the Memphis Grizzlies organization. It doesn’t feel that long ago when the 2021-22 Grizzlies won 56 games and secured the second seed before everything fell apart. Since then, it’s been consistent disappointment. The anointed franchise leader, Ja Morant, had one issue after another. The team fired a good coach in Taylor Jenkins, removed any players who clashed with Morant, and completely restructured the roster after trading Jaren Jackson and Desmond Bane for a ton of future assets. No problem, changes of these nature aren’t uncommon. Instead, Morant is now playing the worst basketball of his career, not exactly what you want from your franchise cornerstone entering his supposed prime (turning 27 years old in August). He’s taking more jumpers than ever, attacking the basket less, and getting to the line at the lowest rate since his rookie year. Add in the very real health and maturity concerns, and one has to wonder how much farther Memphis is willing to go.
That being said, they do have some useful pieces throughout this roster. Wells, Spencer, Coward, Jackson, Edey, and others give this team the flexibility to draft whoever they want without making any drastic stylistic compromises. If Dybantsa and Peterson are off the board, Cam Boozer feels like the obvious selection. Quite possibly the most polarizing draft prospect of the last decade, it’s difficult to envision a scenario where Boozer isn’t at least a really impactful NBA player. The winning, leadership, and general professionalism he possesses (not to mention the genetics and tutelage from an NBA father) should make him a seamless fit for any locker room. If we looked at raw stats only, how many people would think a guy who averaged 22.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG (led country), 4.1 APG, and 1.4 SPG with 56/39/79 splits could be bad? The more you dissect Boozer’s statistical profile, the more impressive he becomes. Using the comparison tool to measure him against others is truly unfair, as his collective numbers make him an anomaly. It’s almost as if his naysayers want him to struggle given the line of questioning regarding his game. While he’s not a perfect specimen, we’ve never seen a guy with this level of production and unprecedented success as a focal point at every level. He possesses a uniquely high basketball IQ and sees the game ahead of others. Maybe instead of looking for ways he could fail, we should emphasize all the reasons he won’t. Boozer should quickly emerge as a productive leader with the potential to an All-Star.
4. Chicago Bulls (31-51)
Prediction: Caleb Wilson
Rotation: Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, Patrick Williams, Robert Dillingham, Jalen Smith, Noa Essengue
Biggest Need: Everything
Although the Chicago Bulls found some much-needed lottery luck to vault their position into the top four, it’s no secret that the franchise has been poorly managed for more than a decade. Outside of two memorable seasons during the Derrick Rose-era, the team has nested comfortably between pitiful and mediocre since the days of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Since that last title in 1998, the Bulls have an uninspiring 1006-1141 record while only making one conference championship in twelve playoff appearances. This is largely due to a confusing front office/ownership pairing that struggled to sign notable free agents and seemed unwilling to make trades. While their current roster construction and general lack of direction also leave a lot to be desired, bringing in a new general manager (Bryson Graham) and head coach (Tiago Splitter) could mean brighter days are in the near future.
There’s understandable frustration among Bulls’ fans, especially after watching Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu play pivotal roles for playoff teams when management traded them away for next to nothing. They outbid exactly zero bidders to overpay Patrick Williams and sat on Nikola Vucevic’s contract until his theoretical value was completed depleted…and then unnecessarily traded him as an expiring contract. Flipping Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey (still only 23 years old), drafting Buzelis, and getting away from Zach Lavine and Demar DeRozan are the only positive moves this front office has made in recent memory. Even taking a chance on someone like Jaden Ivey immediately blew up in their faces.
Luckily for Chicago, they won’t have the luxury (or fear, more likely) of making a decision. Picking fourth means the Bulls will get whoever is “left” between Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, and Caleb Wilson. Based on everything being said, it would be shocking if Wilson leapfrogged any of the other three. It’s ironic that for a team that needs basically everything, Wilson is the only player in the projected top four picks who actually overlaps with one of Chicago’s only real foundational pieces (Buzelis). Any team whose mediocrity nets them a potential star eliminates any margin for complaints or worries regarding fit. While there is a lot to like about Wilson, it feels like there are some conflicting opinions regarding who he currently is and who he could become. Though very exciting and entertaining, anyone who says Wilson is the next Kevin Garnett (objectively a top-25 player ever, by the way) should start watching another sport. Similar frames? Sure. But let’s please not forget that Garnett was better at every facet of the game entering the draft as a high school prospect. Despite averaging 19.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, and 1.4 BPG with 58/26/71 splits, the assumed projection of his offensive game feels a bit aggressive. For someone considered an “elite” finisher, he went 132-239 (55%) inside the restricted area. The three-point shooting is completely theoretical (7-for-27; 26%) and his non-restricted area attempts inside the arc (49-128; 38%) isn’t overly encouraging either. As critical as that sounds, Wilson’s appeal is obvious. He’s a highly fluid, bouncy athlete with exceptional physical tools and a long list of intangibles. Betting on his upside and work ethic seems wise, but only time will tell if Wilson will be a franchise-altering piece or just another valuable starter.
5. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40)
Prediction: Keaton Wagler
Rotation: Kawhi Leonard, Kris Dunn, Brook Lopez, Kobe Sanders, Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin (?), John Collins (?), Yanic Niederhauser, Derrick Jones Jr.
Biggest Need: Immediate Contributors (Theoretically)
Everyone knows this draft class has a clearly defined top grouping that drastically drops off at the fifth spot, but there’s still a lot of value outside the first four picks. It’s that time of the year when media members and basketball pundits try to sell the idea that the Los Angeles Clippers are real contenders. This shouldn’t be a hot take by any means, but the Clippers are not winning a title anytime soon. Respect to Kawhi Leonard and his body of work, but there is virtually no scenario where they win a title in a league with Oklahoma City, San Antonio, New York, and at least another three to five teams being considerably better than the Clippers. What they should do is either trade down a few spots or swing for the fences and start the post-Kawhi pivot. Look at the rotation above and seriously explain their path to a title. Add in the fact that the NBA is inevitably going to drop the hammer on Steve Ballmer for the Aspiration situation, and it’s unclear which direction this team should go.
Should they keep the pick, it’ll be fascinating to see who they select. They just acquired Darius Garland last season, so going after someone like Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, or Mikel Brown Jr. doesn’t make a ton of sense. It feels like Keaton Wagler or Brayden Burries would be the choice in this position. Right now, Wagler is being consistently placed ahead of Burries in all mock drafts, likely due to his size and on-ball usage in college. Although he has a clear path to being a good player, it’s interesting to see so many people labeling Wagler as a potential superstar. Similar with the Garnett/Wilson comparison, he is not Tyrese Haliburton. Being a bigger guard with legit playmaking and three-point shooting has obvious value, but there are questions as well. Wagler struggles beating defenders off the dribble, mainly due to a lack of burst, and doesn’t put pressure on the rim. His ability to hit jumpers at varying degrees of difficulty allows him to settle (yet still convert) more than you’d prefer. There’s no guarantee he’ll ever be an above-average defender either. It’s also worth noting that Wagler played for a stacked Illinois team whose structure naturally opened up more clean scoring opportunities than basically every team in the country.
6. Brooklyn Nets (20-62)
Prediction: Mikel Brown Jr.
Rotation: Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, Terance Mann, Drake Powell, Egor Demin, Zaire Williams, Nolan Traore, Danny Wolf, Day’Ron Sharpe, Michael Porter Jr.
Biggest Need: Everything
Probably the team that most desperately needed to be in that top grouping, the Brooklyn Nets, sadly dropped down to the sixth spot. After drafting a million guards last year, they’ll either be forced to take another guard, trade down, or reach on a non-guard prospect. The biggest problem is the Nets need everything. Terance Mann and Michael Porter Jr. belong on playoff teams, and Nic Claxton will likely be elsewhere before this franchise ever actually needs him to contribute to winning. Beyond the three veterans, this roster is incredibly bleak. Fortunately, the Nets have been willing trade partners for any team looking to offload bad contracts with draft capital attached…which is their only real path to rebuilding at this point. Jordi Fernandez is also a quality coach, but the team is just not talented enough yet.
The lottery has just not played out in their favor over these last two seasons. However, this draft position actually allows them to swing for a potential star. The main issue is Egor Demin, their top rookie from last season, will have a less than ideal fit alongside any of these guards. Obviously, they should not draft for fit. If they like any of Brown, Acuff, and Flemings more than the others, this is the opportunity to take a chance. In the hypothetical where they select Brown, they would be getting an incredibly dynamic offensive piece with the size, shooting, playmaking, and athleticism to be a real nightmare for opponents. There are little to no questions about his general skill level. Brown explodes to the rim, effortlessly shoots the ball from range, and has the craftiness and vision to consistently generate clean looks for others. In addition to what was largely considered a weird season at Louisville, there are understandable concerns regarding his efficiency, decision-making, and defensive desire/ability.
7. Sacramento Kings (22-60)
Prediction: Darius Acuff
Rotation: Demar DeRozan, Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, Russell Westbrook, Precious Achiuwa, Malik Monk, Zach Lavine, Dylan Cardwell, Keegan Murray
Biggest Need: Roster Overhaul
Arguably the saddest franchise in the NBA, the Sacramento Kings find themselves back in purgatory after firing their coach (Mike Brown), trading their disgruntled star (De’Aaron Fox), and acquiring proven non-assets in Zach Lavine and Demar DeRozan. It’s almost as if Vivek Ranadive enjoys torturing this fanbase, as there are little to no positive takeaways from this roster. Lavine is picking up his massive player option (obviously), Domantas Sabonis is still due over $90 million over the next two seasons, and Keegan Murray will make roughly the same amount as Trey Murphy III over the next three seasons. Business as usual in Sacramento! The positive spin is that the Kings could open up a lot of cap space next summer, and only have Murray on their books beyond 2027-28. They have a couple of intriguing young pieces throughout their rotation, but this team still needs an identity.
Although Acuff may not be available with the seventh pick, anyone who states they “want to play in Sacramento” should immediately become the Kings’ top priority. Acuff is a special offensive talent who is largely seen as the best prospect outside of the big four. Despite very understandable worries regarding his lack of defensive prowess, that hasn’t really seemed to affect other supremely skilled guards like Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, and countless others. The question is: will he be an average defender or the worst defender in the NBA? If he’s an average defender, we are talking about a potentially elite player. That’s how rare his offensive firepower is. Conversely, if he’s a Trae Young-type defender, then there is a clear ceiling on how high he can ascend. It’s simply uncommon for a guy to average 23.5 PPG, 6.4 APG, and 3.1 RPG with 48/44/81 splits on insane volume. Furthermore, his usage (29.5, sixth in SEC) wasn’t as astronomically high as people seem to think. There are very conflicting opinions surrounding Acuff, but it’s easy to envision a scenario where he becomes a 20 PPG and 5 APG player in the NBA.
8. Atlanta Hawks (46-36)
Prediction: Kingston Flemings
Rotation: Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher, CJ McCollum, Mouhamed Gueye, Jonathan Kuminga, Aaron Wiggins
Biggest Need: Closers
This is being written directly after the Atlanta Hawks made two meaningful, low-risk moves in extending CJ McCollum (1-year/$21 million) and trading for Aaron Wiggins (two second-round picks). While both decisions were smart, they don’t necessarily address their main areas of concern. Between Johnson, Daniels, Kuminga, Wiggins, McCollum, Alexander-Walker, and Okongwu, they have a rotation full of legitimate contributors. The problem comes into play with the fact that McCollum is often their main source of offense in late-game situations, which is fine but not exactly ideal for a young, springy team looking to take a step forward next season.
There is little to no risk in adding a cheap contract to their books (as opposed to making a bigger trade), so it’ll be interesting to see who Atlanta thinks can carve out minutes on this team. Flemings and Burries both feel like pluggable pieces whose low-maintenance identities would mesh well with any collection of players. That being said, Flemings having more on-ball reps in college probably makes him the more desired fit for the Hawks. He’ll bring a valuable blend of defense, playmaking, and three-point shooting with a crafty downhill sense and the ability to play with or without the ball. While not enough people are emphasizing the amount of operating space that Wagler had at Illinois, just as many people are ignoring the lack of area Flemings had to work with at Houston. Furthermore, being professional enough to gleefully say, “yeah, I’ll gladly be Cason Wallace in the NBA” shows that there’s almost no scenario for Flemings to fail.
9. Dallas Mavericks (26-56)
Prediction: Brayden Burries
Rotation: Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, Daniel Gafford, Max Christie, Naji Marshall, Klay Thompson, Brandon Williams, Ryan Nembhard
Biggest Need: Shooting/Guard Play
After the most recent news announcing Dusty May to accept the Dallas Mavericks’ head coaching position, this team immediately becomes more interesting. Not only is Kyrie Irving expected to start the season with a clean bill of health, but Cooper Flagg being way ahead of his anticipated trajectory means this team could reasonably contend for a playoff spot as soon as next season. Unfortunately, there isn’t a ton of star power beyond that pairing. Dereck Lively cannot stay healthy, Naji Marshall will likely get a pay increase next summer, and Klay Thompson turns 37 in February. That being said, Daniel Gafford has value, PJ Washington is on a favorable contract, and Max Christie continues to highlight real flashes. This team is good, but it’s unclear if they can win more than 45 games with their current structure.
Although the Mavs could go several different directions with this pick, selecting Burries (if available) feels like the smartest possible decision. In addition to filling a position of need, he’s an incredibly solid player who can wear numerous hats for this team. Burries might legitimately have the least holes of any player projected in the lottery. Need him to run the team? No problem. Can he shoot, defend, and reliably make plays without the ball? Of course! He’s a highly adaptable, low-maintenance piece whose malleable game would make him an asset to literally any team in the league. His numbers echo this sentiment, as he averaged 16.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 1.5 SPG with 49/39/81 splits. While he may never be a star, it’s impossible to envision not succeeding as a starter or rotation-level piece for a long time.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (32-50)
*Written before Giannis trade*
Prediction: Nate Ament
Rotation: Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, Cam Thomas, Jericho Sims, Gary Trent Jr.
Biggest Need: Post-Giannis Foundational Pieces
Based on all reports and swirling rumors, it sounds like Giannis is going to be dealt in the next 24 hours. Obviously, a deal of this magnitude would have massive implications for the Milwaukee Bucks in both the short and long-term futures. For starters, this team’s post-Giannis foundation is Ryan Rollins and whatever return they get back in the trade. Myles Turner is a depreciating asset whose value is almost completely contingent upon playing beside a star player…which they will no longer have. AJ Green is an elite shooting threat, Bobby Portis is a viable rotation piece for a contender, and Kyle Kuzma is capable of having some flashes from time to time, but almost none of these guys have standalone value. Cam Thomas and Gary Trent Jr. will inevitably get in each other’s way as three guys who all want the ball. Add in the fact that Milwaukee is paying $22.5 million for Damian Lillard not to play for them, and the Bucks will likely be tanking candidates for most of the next decade.
In turn, they should be looking to take a swing on whoever has the highest upside on their big board. Being slotted tenth puts them in somewhat of a precarious position, as it slots them right around the range with more immediate contributors than potential stars. Aday Mara has appeal, but he’s a complementary piece at the same position as Turner. Yaxel Lendeborg feels safer, but he’s turning 24 years old in September and already has questions surrounding his maturity and leadership. Unless Milwaukee is particularly high on Hannes Steinbach, Morez Johnson, Dailyn Swain, or Labaron Philon Jr. (each of whom they should trade back for, rather than selecting at ten), then it feels like Nate Ament makes sense here. The reason for liking him versus not liking him is actually the same: Rick Barnes. Outside of Kevin Durant and Lamarcus Aldridge, there isn’t a whole lot of star power being produced under Barnes. Other notable names (Myles Turner, Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams) have carved out solid roles in the NBA. However, this only further compounds concern surrounding Ament’s path towards being a franchise piece. For a guy who ranked one spot below Acuff in usage (SEC only), it felt they were on the different planets in terms of offensive prowess. The issue is that Ament has more ability than what we saw at Tennessee. The efficiency, shooting consistency, and playmaking instincts were underwhelming for the Vols, but maybe NBA spacing will help unlock Ament’s natural gifts.
11. Golden State Warriors (37-45)
Prediction: Yaxel Lendeborg
Rotation: Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Will Richard, Jimmy Butler, Pat Spencer, Quinten Post, Gary Payton II, De’Anthony Melton
Biggest Need: Immediate Contributors
In a similar position to the Clippers, the Golden State Warriors want to contend while Steph Curry is still around. Unfortunately, it’s unclear if that’s even a possibility with Curry (36), Draymond Green (36), and Jimmy Butler (37 in September) being the three top guys on the roster. While Moody, Podziemski, Santos, and Richards all had nice seasons, do they add enough production to truly vault this team into contention? Right now, the answer is no. Adding a rookie likely doesn’t change that result, so it’ll be interesting to see if they will have enough flexibility to make any other moves this offseason.
It seems like there are only two real paths for the Warriors—drafting Mara or Lendeborg. Anything else happening would be somewhat surprising, as they’ve been linked to both names since the start of the draft process. Both guys have real appeal and concerns. Lendeborg will turn 24 years old prior to his NBA debut, and the list of guys drafted at 23 years old (or older) is pretty frightening. Without citing the entire list of names, Buddy Hield, Cam Johnson, Brandon Rush, Al Thornton, and Delon Wright leading the way should give the Warriors serious pause. Despite some questions regarding his maturity, Lendeborg started playing at 18 years old and is relatively inexperienced in comparison to the vast majority of his peers. However, this is a veteran-laden team that doesn’t have time to waste. They need someone who can contribute right away and, in theory, Lendeborg fits that bill. It’s unlikely that he’ll ever be anything more than a nice rotation piece, but that could be all the Warriors want to make one last title push.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18)
Prediction: Aday Mara
Rotation: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Jared McCain
Biggest Need: N/A
The only team in the lottery that doesn’t have a true need, the Oklahoma City Thunder remain in the top tier of contenders, but will be tasked with financially restructuring their roster this offseason. Right now, they are nearly $100 million over the cap (nearly a $70 million increase from last season). They have Isaiah Hartenstein ($28.5 mil), Lu Dort ($18 mil), Cason Wallace ($7.5 mil), Kenrich Williams ($7 mil; already renounced), Nikola Topic ($5.5 mil), and Jared McCain ($4.5 mil) all on team options. Even if they renounce all those rights (they won’t), they’d still need to pull some strings to avoid the second apron. While that seems bleak, it’s likely that they’ll walk away from Dort and probably Hartenstein. Trading Aaron Wiggins got another $9 million off the books. Still loaded, this team definitely won’t be the juggernaut we watched over the last two seasons. That being said, Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, Wallace, Mitchell, McCain, and Williams (x2) should still be firmly in the title mix.
Similar to the Warriors above, the Thunder have been consistently attached to Lendeborg and Mara. Assuming Lendeborg is gone, Mara feels like the choice to be a potential Hartenstein replacement. Quite possibly the most tantalizing prospect in the lottery range, Mara rightfully skyrocketed up draft boards during Michigan’s tournament run. Arguably the best rim-protector in college basketball, he’s truly just beginning to harness his abilities. Mara is an elite defensive anchor with nice vision and the ability to excel as a rim-running big man. He’s a good, not great, rebounder who competes well on the glass. The concerns? His offensive game is pretty limited outside of lobs, drop-offs, and filling the lane. Sure, he’s a sharp passer for his size, but his lack of scoring ability doesn’t really instill fear in defenses. Until Mara adds a viable go-to scoring move, opponents will just play him for the pass. Furthermore, he’s only played 30 or more minutes in only 5 of 101 college appearances…not exactly encouraging after watching an alien big man struggle with conditioning in the Finals. There’s a very real scenario where Mara is an elite rim-protector in the NBA, but should be a meaningful rotation big either way.
13. Milwaukee Bucks (32-50)
*Written after Giannis trade*
Prediction: Cameron Carr
Rotation: Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Ke’lel Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, AJ Green, Myles Turner, Cam Thomas, Jericho Sims, Gary Trent Jr.
Biggest Need: Post-Giannis Foundational Pieces
Well, as predicted, the Giannis saga finally ended around midnight last night when he was traded to the Miami Heat. In addition to Tyler Herro, Ke’lel Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Jaime Jaquez Jr., the Bucks receive this lottery pick. Similar to what we stated with their tenth pick, Milwaukee should be swinging aggressively at any long-term prospect they like. Honestly, there is no clear or obvious choice here. Fit should be irrelevant in the decision-making process, but it’s difficult to see them drafting a post player (Steinbach, Morez Johnson) with Turner and newly acquired Ware set to occupy the frontcourt spots over the foreseeable future.
Guys like Dailyn Swain, Cameron Carr, and Labaron Philon Jr. would all be intriguing pieces worth rolling the dice on. Swain might overlap too much with others on the roster, but his size, isolation scoring, and upside as a shooting threat is undeniably appealing. Carr is someone that feels a tad overlooked right now, as his physical traits (size, length, explosiveness), shot-making, and general trajectory (took a major leap after leaving Rick Barnes) should make him a lottery-worthy selection. Lastly, Philon has been a polarizing prospect who seems likely to be an impactful rotation-level piece no matter what. The question is will he become a slept-on star or merely another highly polished scorer and creator. Milwaukee should take a hard look at all three, but Carr or Philon followed by Swain would probably be my preferred order of the three.
14. Charlotte Hornets (44-38)
Prediction: Hannes Steinbach
Rotation: Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Moussa Diabate, Sion James, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Coby White
Biggest Need: Depth
By all accounts, it was a magical year for the Charlotte Hornets. While winning 44 games and getting bounced in the play-in probably doesn’t excite most fan bases, it was only the fourth time they’ve reached the 40-win mark in the last two decades. Kon Knueppel exceeded any and all expectations, LaMelo Ball played more than 51 games for the second time in his career (and actually contributed to winning basketball), Brandon Miller remained healthy while taking a step forward, Miles Bridges provided his usual production and switchable ability, and Moussa Diabate emerged as a major x-factor. Adding Coby White for little to nothing and getting valuable rookie contributions from Sion James and Ryan Kalbrenner put this team ahead of expectations.
Going into the draft, Charlotte should be looking to bolster their roster around the fringes. They’ve already established a legitimate core grouping that will only continue to progress, so adding depth and guaranteed contributors should be their main point of emphasis. Insert Steinbach, the best rebounder in college basketball, and one could see this team continuing to steadily improve. Steinbach is strong, fluid, and skilled on the block. He carves out space extremely well and is physical enough to displace opponents with relative ease. While his upside as a perimeter shooter is intriguing, it’s still theoretical at this stage of his development. Steinbach will also probably never be a real rim-protector, but understands angles and timing well enough to be a decent to solid defender in the NBA.