Chad Ford Mock 10.0

[Eddie20]

It's draft day!

My conversations with NBA GMs and other sources are ongoing, and this page will be updated all day long.

So, who are NBA teams going to pick tonight? And which picks will be traded?



Believe it or not, teams are still firming up their draft boards, still arguing and, of course, still making trade calls. Some teams won't make up their minds until they are on the clock.

I've spent dozens of hours on the phone the past few days trying to sift through the info to get an accurate read on what's happening.

Complicating this draft more than most? Virtually every team outside the top two is shopping its picks hard. So we might see more trades than usual.

Here's our latest mock draft after talking to numerous NBA team sources.




3. Boston Celtics (via Nets)
Kris Dunn
Providence
Junior
Guard

General managers picking from Nos. 4 to 30 are cursing Celtics president Danny Ainge's name right about now.

The Celtics are patiently exploring trades for the No. 3 pick, while indicating to various teams that they are interested in all of the next six prospects on the board -- Dunn, Jamal Murray, Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender, Jaylen Brown and Buddy Hield.

Ainge's refusal to tip his hand essentially forces teams to deal with him if they want to be guaranteed to land their favorite player in the draft. It's brilliant.

Meanwhile, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Celtics have made offers to the Bucks, Jazz and Bulls for the likes of Jabari Parker, Khris Middleton, Gordon Hayward and Jimmy Butler. As of Wednesday night, they were still getting rebuffed.

The best offer they've received? The Sixers are willing to part with Jahlil Okafor for the No. 3 pick. While interested in Okafor, the Celtics want more.

If they keep the pick? I've heard all sorts of theories and believe it could be any of those players. But the three that are the most likely are Dunn, Chriss and Brown.

Dunn gets the nod here for a couple of reasons. In the estimation of most GMs in the league -- though not all -- he's the best prospect on the board after Simmons and Ingram. Whether that holds true for Boston's board remains to be seen.

And despite the logjam in the backcourt, Dunn's court vision give him a leg up over the Celtics' other talented guards. He's not as good a scorer as Isaiah Thomas or as good a defender as Marcus Smart or as good a shooter as Avery Bradley -- but he's a better passer than those three and and that makes him valuable in trades, if nothing else.


16. Boston Celtics (via Mavericks)
Skal Labissiere
Kentucky
Freshman
Forward/center

The Celtics will be hoping that they don't have this pick. They are shopping it hard. If they do keep it, international players are an option, but so is a draft-and-stash D-League guy.

Labissiere could go as high as No. 9 to the Raptors. If he slides, I bet Danny Ainge will be tempted to take him. The skills he has at his size are so enticing. On the other hand, Ainge loves toughness and we never really saw that on the court at Kentucky from Labissiere.


23. Boston Celtics
Ivica Zubac
Bosnia
Age: 19
Center

On the off chance the Celtics keep all three first rounders, I think it's likely they'll take at least one draft-and-stash candidate.

Some teams are Zubac fans. Other are more Ante Zizic fans. Zubac may ultimately have more upside if he's given time to develop, particularly on the offensive end. The Celtics will push for him to continue playing in Europe until he can help them.

Cheick Diallo is another real possibility here, especially if they don't take Labissiere at No. 16.


31. Boston Celtics (via 76ers/Heat)
Guerschon Yabusele, France, Power forward

Yabusele is a bruiser. He has terrific strength, a great motor and can score from anywhere on the floor. He's just a little undersized.


35. Boston Celtics (via Wolves/Suns)
Zhou Qi, China, Center

Zhou is loaded with talent. He is huge and super skilled on the perimeter and can be an excellent shot-blocker. He's just very skinny, and there are questions from teams about his true age.

45. Boston Celtics (via Grizzlies/Mavericks)
Paul Zipser, Germany, Small forward

Zipser played well at the Adidas Eurocamp and helped himself become a potential late first-round selection. He's super long, a very good defender and a good shooter. He could be a 3-and-D type player in the NBA eventually.

51. Boston Celtics (via Heat)
Gracin Bakumanya, Congo, Center

Bakumanya is long, athletic, just 18 and willing to remain in Europe for a few more years. That's what teams often want from a second-round pick. He's a major project, but all the physical tools are there.


58. Boston Celtics (via Cavaliers)
Wayne Selden, Kansas, Shooting guard

Selden has the reputation and body of a first-round pick, but he was inconsistent in putting it all together at Kansas. Perhaps with more space in the NBA, he can carve out a role. He certainly has the tools.

[Boris Badenov]

At this point the only real question is one of those other GMs blinks and give him what he wants.

If I had to bet on it, I'd say it's the Bucks, for Middleton but not Parker. Not sure how I'd feel about that.

[Csfan1984]

Like those picks. Lab and Zubac are on my favorites list at those slots. Brice Johnson, Warney, Yogi, Finn-Smith I want second round.

[saltlover]

Does the mock have the Suns picking Bender at 4?

[Eddie20]

Does the mock have the Suns picking Bender at 4?

No, Chriss. Bender going 7 to Denver.

[Eddie20]

Added our 2nd rd picks in the original post.

[Eddie20]

DX and Ford have us taking the following players. So there has to be something to that.

Dunn
Zubac
Yabusele
Seldon

[Donoghus]

I'm slowly resigning myself to the idea that the C's pick either Dunn (which will lead to some sort of trade) or Bender.   I think anyone besides those two would surprise me at this point.

I want no part of Skal at #16. 

[Csfan1984]

I'm slowly resigning myself to the idea that the C's pick either Dunn (which will lead to some sort of trade) or Bender.   I think anyone besides those two would surprise me at this point.

I want no part of Skal at #16.

At 16 that isn't a bad upside/potential gamble pick. Based on the mock who would you rather take?

[Big333223]

I'm slowly resigning myself to the idea that the C's pick either Dunn (which will lead to some sort of trade) or Bender.   I think anyone besides those two would surprise me at this point.

I want no part of Skal at #16.

At 16 that isn't a bad upside/potential gamble pick. Based on the mock who would you rather take?

Yeah, I like Skal at #16. He was a guy with #2 potential before his terrible year in Kentucky. He still has that talent and if the right situation could bring that potential out of him, he'd be a steal. I think at 16, you can take that gamble. I'd be really happy with either Skal or Denzel Valentine at #16.

[ssspence]

Not a fan of Ford's draft. I'd reach for Brice Johnson at 16, and Cousins at 23. Both guys are gonna NBA players with a roll.

[Donoghus]

I'm slowly resigning myself to the idea that the C's pick either Dunn (which will lead to some sort of trade) or Bender.   I think anyone besides those two would surprise me at this point.

I want no part of Skal at #16.

At 16 that isn't a bad upside/potential gamble pick. Based on the mock who would you rather take?

I don't have Insider so don't have access to 1-15 here. 

[GreenCoffeeBean]

That mock draft makes me feel like the Celtics are starting a Euro League franchise