If not for the pandemic the draft would have been this week. In honor of this I have made a mock draft. I ran a tankathon sim and based my picks on my opinion, what I have recently read, and used Chad Fords intel for a prospect range. I made sure to keep every player he gave a range for in his pod in that range in the mock.
1 T-Wolves Edwards
Out of the highest ceiling top of the lottery prospects AE fits the best with Russell and KAT
2 Suns Ball
Potential to be a great fit along side Booker
3 Wiz Wiseman
He is much malined as a prospect but has elite tools and should have an instant starting role on Wiz
4 Cavs Toppin
He is my lottery mystery, im confident somone takes him top 14 but not sure who. If they move Love Toppin will fill a stat sheet
5 GS Okongwu
The warriors are likely going to try to trade down or for a vet but if not Okongwu is ready to contribute and fills a roster void
6 ATL Hayes
The hawks need another playmaking and Hayes has the size and skill set to play along with and back up Young
7 Pistons RJ Hampton
]The Pistons are a roster void of young talent, Hampton has a high upside and gives them a starting point
8 NYK Vassell
The checkers move would be to add a PG to fill the void, the chess move is to add a 3-D wing like Vassell or Okoro then get PG next draft
9 Bulls Haliburton
Their roster isnt winning but also doesn't have many holes, Hali is a good glue guy to help pull roster together
10 Hornets Okoro
Strong wing defender who needs to develop his outside shot but has more perimeter skills then Bridges
11 Spurs P Williams
A great Spurs project, has potential to be steal of the draft and SA could unleash his potential
12 Kings Avdija
Solid all around forward who should be able to step right in and contribute both on D and as secondary initiator
13 Pelicans Anthony
Playing off of Zion, Ingram and Ball Anthony has a real chance of being the stud many thought he was coming out of HS
14 Blazer Nesmith
Shooter who will create space for Dame and CJ
15 Magic Lewis Jr
Could fit really welll with Fultz as their backcourt of the future
16 Minn Paul Reed
versatile defender for a team in need of defenders
17 Cs Maxey
Ive talked about him alot, perfect DA pick. If Cs get his shooting where it was projected out of HS he is a steal
18 Mavs Terry
Lights out shooter who could thrive as an upgraded seth curry next to Luka
19 Buck Dotson
Solid PG who can contribute right away for a team looking to win now
20 Net S Bey
Big shooting wing who should be able to fit in next to Kyrie and KD and hit open shots
21 Nugg Achiuwa
Faried 2.0 who can play along side of backup Jokic and provide energy, rebounding and hopefully versatile D (Cs could try to package 26+30 for this pick)
22 76ers Poku
Long shot long term draft and stash, 76ers have picks to burn
23 heat McDaniels
Miami has a been really good at developing players and if they can tap into his potential Mcdaniels is a steal
24 jazz Flynn
really solid PG who is a master of P&R
25 OKC Jah Ramsey
High upside low floor wing
26 Cs Maledon
Potential to D&S makes him a fit for Cs, long term his has good size and can shoot. Would fit nicely on or off ball
27 NYK Mannion
Knicks basically take their backup PG of the future, in the short term I trust him to keep the games from getting to ugly.
28 Rap J Green
has potential to be a really good 3-D wing, I liken him to Courtney Lee. Needs to refine shot
29 LA L J Smith
Giving lebron a big who can shoots seems like a good use of this pick
30 Cs Tillman
Solid but not spectacular long term pro, will be ready to contribute as a rookie