Interesting Steve Kyler Mock Draft

[Smartacus]

Interesting Mock Draft from Steve Kyler. Has us going entirely international and huge...

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/2016-nba-mock-draft-4162016/
With the standings ties broken, there is a better sense of who may pick where in the 2016 NBA Draft, all the way through the second round.

There is some unfinished business with the NBA Draft Lottery, which will be held on Tuesday, May 17. Until that happens all picks displayed are reflective of where they are today, not where they may end up after the lottery.

So with all of that in mind, here is all 60 picks:

Steve Kyler - Mock Draft - 4/16/2016
Pk   Team   Player
1   Philadelphia 76ers   Ben Simmons SF/PF 19 years old; 6'10"; 239 lbs. LSU,
Freshman
2   Los Angeles Lakers   Brandon Ingram SF 18 years old; 6'9"; 196 lbs. Duke,
Freshman
3   Boston Celtics   Dragan Bender PF 18 years old; 7'1"; 225 lbs. Maccabi Tel Aviv,
International
4   Phoenix Suns   Jaylen Brown SG/SF 19 years old; 6'7"; 222 lbs. California,
Freshman
5   Minnesota Timberwolves   Buddy Hield SG 22 years old; 6'4"; 214 lbs. Oklahoma,
Senior
6   New Orleans Pelicans   Jamal Murray PG/SG 19 years old; 6'5"; 201 lbs. Kentucky,
Freshman
7   Denver Nuggets   Timothe Luwawu SG/SF 20 years old; 6'7"; 205 lbs. Mega Leks,
International
8   Sacramento Kings   Kris Dunn PG 22 years old; 6'4"; 205 lbs. Providence,
Junior
9   Denver Nuggets   Demetrius Jackson PG 21 years old; 6'1"; 194 lbs. Notre Dame,
Junior
10   Milwaukee Bucks   Jakob Poeltl C 20 years old; 7'1"; 242 lbs. Utah,
Sophomore
11   Orlando Magic   Thon Maker PF 19 years old; 7'0"; 219 lbs. ,
HS Senior
12   Utah Jazz   Wade Baldwin PG 20 years old; 6'3"; 195 lbs. Vanderbilt,
Sophomore
13   Washington Wizards   Henry Ellenson PF 19 years old; 6'10"; 231 lbs. Marquette,
Freshman
14   Chicago Bulls   Skal Labissiere PF/C 20 years old; 7'0"; 216 lbs. Kentucky,
Freshman
15   Denver Nuggets   Denzel Valentine SG 22 years old; 6'6"; 223 lbs. Michigan St,
Senior
Pk   Team   Player
16   Boston Celtics   Jonathan Jeanne PF/C 18 years old; 7'2"; 195 lbs. Espoirs Le Mans,
International
17   Memphis Grizzlies   Deyonta Davis PF/C 19 years old; 6'10"; 230 lbs. Michigan St,
Freshman
18   Detroit Pistons   Ivan Rabb PF 19 years old; 6'10"; 215 lbs. California,
Freshman
19   Denver Nuggets   Furkan Korkmaz SG 18 years old; 6'7"; 185 lbs. Anadolu Efes,
International
20   Indiana Pacers   Tyler Ulis PG 20 years old; 5'9"; 160 lbs. Kentucky,
Sophomore
21   Atlanta Hawks   Marquese Chriss PF 18 years old; 6'9"; 225 lbs. Washington,
Freshman
22   Charlotte Hornets   Taurean Prince SF 21 years old; 6'7"; 215 lbs. Baylor,
Senior
23   Boston Celtics   Domantas Sabonis PF/C 20 years old; 6'10"; 231 lbs. Gonzaga,
Sophomore
24   Philadelphia 76ers   Malik Beasley SG 19 years old; 6'4"; 185 lbs. Florida St,
Freshman
25   Los Angeles Clippers   Damian Jones C 20 years old; 6'11"; 248 lbs. Vanderbilt,
Junior
26   Philadelphia 76ers   Ante Zizic C 19 years old; 6'11"; 240 lbs. Cibona Zagreb,
International
27   Toronto Raptors   Ivica Zubac C 19 years old; 7'1"; 265 lbs. Mega Leks,
International
28   Phoenix Suns   Diamond Stone C 19 years old; 7'0"; 255 lbs. Maryland,
Freshman
29   San Antonio Spurs   Juan Hernangomez SF/PF 20 years old; 6'9"; 220 lbs. Estudiantes,
International
30   Golden State Warriors   Stephen Zimmerman C 19 years old; 7'0"; 235 lbs. UNLV,
Freshman
Pk   Team   Player
31   Boston Celtics   Zhou Qi C 20 years old; 7'2"; 209 lbs. Xinjiang,
International
32   Los Angeles Lakers   DeAndre Bembry SF 21 years old; 6'6"; 210 lbs. Saint Joseph's,
Junior
33   Los Angeles Clippers   Dejounte Murray PG/SG 19 years old; 6'5"; 170 lbs. Washington,
Freshman
34   Phoenix Suns   Petr Cornelie PF 20 years old; 6'11"; 220 lbs. Le Mans,
International
35   Boston Celtics   Isaia Cordinier SG 19 years old; 6'5"; 190 lbs. Denain,
International
36   Milwaukee Bucks   Melo Trimble PG 21 years old; 6'3"; 190 lbs. Maryland,
Sophomore
37   Houston Rockets   Brice Johnson PF 21 years old; 6'9"; 230 lbs. North Carolina,
Senior
38   Milwaukee Bucks   Patrick McCaw SG 20 years old; 6'7"; 185 lbs. UNLV,
Sophomore
39   New Orleans Pelicans   Wayne Selden SG 21 years old; 6'6"; 223 lbs. Kansas,
Junior
40   New Orleans Pelicans   Malik Newman PG/SG 19 years old; 6'4"; 179 lbs. Mississippi St.,
Freshman
41   Orlando Magic   Caris LeVert PG/SG 21 years old; 6'7"; 200 lbs. Michigan,
Senior
42   Utah Jazz   Malcolm Brogdon SG 23 years old; 6'5"; 215 lbs. Virginia,
Senior
43   Houston Rockets   Jake Layman SF 22 years old; 6'9"; 220 lbs. Maryland,
Senior
44   Atlanta Hawks   Paul Zipser SF 22 years old; 6'8"; 210 lbs. Bayern Muenchen,
International
45   Boston Celtics   Andrey Desyatnikov C 21 years old; 7'3"; 225 lbs. Zenit St Petersburg,
International
Pk   Team   Player
46   Dallas Mavericks   Cheick Diallo PF/C 19 years old; 6'9"; 220 lbs. Kansas,
Freshman
47   Orlando Magic   A.J. Hammons C 23 years old; 7'0"; 278 lbs. Purdue,
Senior
48   Chicago Bulls   Gary Payton II PG 23 years old; 6'3"; 175 lbs. Oregon St,
Senior
49   Detroit Pistons   Yogi Ferrell PG 22 years old; 6'0"; 178 lbs. Indiana,
Senior
50   Indiana Pacers   Chinanu Onuaku C 19 years old; 6'10"; 246 lbs. Louisville,
Sophomore
51   Boston Celtics   Aleksandar Vezenkov SF/PF 20 years old; 6'9"; 225 lbs. Barcelona,
International
52   Utah Jazz   Rade Zagorac SF 20 years old; 6'8"; 205 lbs. Mega Leks,
International
53   Denver Nuggets   James Webb III SF/PF 22 years old; 6'9"; 202 lbs. Boise St,
Junior
54   Atlanta Hawks   Nigel Hayes PF 21 years old; 6'8"; 235 lbs. Wisconsin,
Junior
55   Brooklyn Nets   Jarrod Uthoff SF/PF 22 years old; 6'9"; 210 lbs. Iowa,
Senior
56   Denver Nuggets   Nedim Buza SF 20 years old; 6'8"; 199 lbs. Oostende,
International
57   Memphis Grizzlies   Prince Ibeh C 21 years old; 6'11"; 260 lbs. Texas,
Senior
58   Boston Celtics   Marko Arapovic PF/C 19 years old; 6'9"; 220 lbs. Cedevita,
International
59   Sacramento Kings   Justin Jackson SF 21 years old; 6'8"; 201 lbs. North Carolina,
Sophomore
60   Utah Jazz   Josh Hart SG 21 years old; 6'5"; 202 lbs. Villanova,
Junior

My main gripe with him was passing on Deyonta Davis and Ivan Rabb for Jonathon Jeanne. Either of those two would be excellent picks at 16.

[mr. dee]

So Danny is following Hinkie's way of drafting?

[TheSundanceKid]

It's a good draft haul. If he kept the picks he'd have to follow this strategy. I don't think Sabonis will be there at 23 but if he were it's a steal. I guess he could fail to rise, similar to RJ Hunter last year but he seems to have the right attitude for impressing in workouts.

It's all a bit moot though because it's basically a guarantee that some of the picks will be traded. Either the top picks for an All Star or the lower picks for consolidation or filler in a lesser trade.

Also has Vezenkov grown? I could have shown he was a SG/SF last time I saw him mentioned in draft talk!

[kiwiceltic]

I'm really not sold on Bender, yes the potential is there, but he's at least 2 or three seasons away from making any impact. If Simmons and Ingram are off the table i'd trade away... there will be a GM out there looking for the next Porzingis and is willing to give away too much for the chance.

Agree with your comment about Jeanne at #16, there are others in that range that I think make more sense. Especially since the next pick is Sabonis.

The rest I think will be either traded or draft and stash candidates

[Celtics4ever]

I'm really not sold on Bender

I wager Ainge is not either, look at his record of drafting  or acquiring foreign players and it is low.   KO Played college ball in the USA.

This mock shows a profound ignorance of Ainge as a GM.  It also is one of those that goes for the sexy pick hoping to be right in the end.   Ainge usually goes for productive proven players, who might have a flaw or two but can play.

[Irish Stew]

Looking at this mock draft makes me want to move these picks more than ever.

[TheSundanceKid]

I'm really not sold on Bender

I wager Ainge is not either, look at his record of drafting  or acquiring foreign players and it is low.   KO Played college ball in the USA.

This mock shows a profound ignorance of Ainge as a GM.  It also is one of those that goes for the sexy pick hoping to be right in the end.   Ainge usually goes for productive proven players, who might have a flaw or two but can play.

But who is that? Murray? Dunn? Hield? I just find them all redundant with our roster. And I have no appetite to move our current players to make room for someone who won't be of significant impact for a few years at least.
If he's not high on Bender with the 3 pick then it probably makes more sense to trade back with the Pelicans or Kings and get some extra assets. Then pick someone like Poeltl or Chriss or Brown if he likes them more.

Honestly if we end up with the 3rd pick the only challenger I see to Bender is Brown. There just isn't anyone else with the potential to be a star apart from them.

Also with the 2nd round stashes in this mock, whilst it may seem lazy to presume Ainge will do that the only other option is to find guys who would defer a year and go to Australia. You might as well just take the risk with some of the foreign bigs and hope one of them pans out..

[CFAN38]

I like his top 10. After that I have some issues. Think he has Maker going way to high, Chriss to low. I personally wasn't thinking Jeane would go that high but it wouldn't shock me.

[crimson_stallion]

I'm really not sold on Bender

I wager Ainge is not either, look at his record of drafting  or acquiring foreign players and it is low.   KO Played college ball in the USA.

This mock shows a profound ignorance of Ainge as a GM.  It also is one of those that goes for the sexy pick hoping to be right in the end.   Ainge usually goes for productive proven players, who might have a flaw or two but can play.

But who is that? Murray? Dunn? Hield? I just find them all redundant with our roster. And I have no appetite to move our current players to make room for someone who won't be of significant impact for a few years at least.
If he's not high on Bender with the 3 pick then it probably makes more sense to trade back with the Pelicans or Kings and get some extra assets. Then pick someone like Poeltl or Chriss or Brown if he likes them more.

Honestly if we end up with the 3rd pick the only challenger I see to Bender is Brown. There just isn't anyone else with the potential to be a star apart from them.

Also with the 2nd round stashes in this mock, whilst it may seem lazy to presume Ainge will do that the only other option is to find guys who would defer a year and go to Australia. You might as well just take the risk with some of the foreign bigs and hope one of them pans out..

I think redundant is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to drafts. 

You always pick the best player / talent you have available - if you have to, you find a way to fit him in. 

We have played small ball lineups where we've had Rozier at SF and Turner at PF.  Crazy things happen in this league as it is today...but if you have a chance at pulling a future star player on a rookie scale contract, you sure as hell do not worry about how you are going to fit him in.  If he ends up being as good as he looks, then you move other guys to create playing time for him.

Besides you cant really play the "redundancy" game here, since this mock draft seems to suggest that Danny will sign three skinny 7 footers, one power forward and a single late draft guard.  That sounds like a pretty silly strategy to me.

[TheSundanceKid]

I'm really not sold on Bender

I wager Ainge is not either, look at his record of drafting  or acquiring foreign players and it is low.   KO Played college ball in the USA.

This mock shows a profound ignorance of Ainge as a GM.  It also is one of those that goes for the sexy pick hoping to be right in the end.   Ainge usually goes for productive proven players, who might have a flaw or two but can play.

But who is that? Murray? Dunn? Hield? I just find them all redundant with our roster. And I have no appetite to move our current players to make room for someone who won't be of significant impact for a few years at least.
If he's not high on Bender with the 3 pick then it probably makes more sense to trade back with the Pelicans or Kings and get some extra assets. Then pick someone like Poeltl or Chriss or Brown if he likes them more.

Honestly if we end up with the 3rd pick the only challenger I see to Bender is Brown. There just isn't anyone else with the potential to be a star apart from them.

Also with the 2nd round stashes in this mock, whilst it may seem lazy to presume Ainge will do that the only other option is to find guys who would defer a year and go to Australia. You might as well just take the risk with some of the foreign bigs and hope one of them pans out..

I think redundant is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to drafts. 

You always pick the best player / talent you have available - if you have to, you find a way to fit him in. 

We have played small ball lineups where we've had Rozier at SF and Turner at PF.  Crazy things happen in this league as it is today...but if you have a chance at pulling a future star player on a rookie scale contract, you sure as hell do not worry about how you are going to fit him in.  If he ends up being as good as he looks, then you move other guys to create playing time for him.

Besides you cant really play the "redundancy" game here, since this mock draft seems to suggest that Danny will sign three skinny 7 footers, one power forward and a single late draft guard.  That sounds like a pretty silly strategy to me.

You can play the redundancy card because most of these are draft and stash that might never play in the NBA, that's the reality of our draft this year. The first 5 picks are the ones that really matter for us. But I get your point. Realistically though we aren't picking that many players when all is said and done.

The question is still that #3 pick. All the mocks list Bender as the #3 pick so currently I'm on the side of agreement that he is the best prospect at that point. The query is whether Ainge would see him that way as historically people have questioned his taste for Euro prospects. Personally I don't think it'll be an issue for him.
I think he'll have options on draft night, there will be a big man trade somewhere. If Danny feels like one of the guards is the #3 then I think he shops it hard and turns it into a big man, either Love or Cousins. For example if Hield was the consensus #3 then I think that's a big chip to give the Cavs. If it's for a Cousins trade then maybe Murray is a big deal for Sac. I don't see us drafting and keeping a guard with #3. But I could see us taking Brown or Bender and keeping it.

[Moranis]

I'm really not sold on Bender

I wager Ainge is not either, look at his record of drafting  or acquiring foreign players and it is low.   KO Played college ball in the USA.

This mock shows a profound ignorance of Ainge as a GM.  It also is one of those that goes for the sexy pick hoping to be right in the end.   Ainge usually goes for productive proven players, who might have a flaw or two but can play.

But who is that? Murray? Dunn? Hield? I just find them all redundant with our roster. And I have no appetite to move our current players to make room for someone who won't be of significant impact for a few years at least.
If he's not high on Bender with the 3 pick then it probably makes more sense to trade back with the Pelicans or Kings and get some extra assets. Then pick someone like Poeltl or Chriss or Brown if he likes them more.

Honestly if we end up with the 3rd pick the only challenger I see to Bender is Brown. There just isn't anyone else with the potential to be a star apart from them.

Also with the 2nd round stashes in this mock, whilst it may seem lazy to presume Ainge will do that the only other option is to find guys who would defer a year and go to Australia. You might as well just take the risk with some of the foreign bigs and hope one of them pans out..

I think redundant is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to drafts. 

You always pick the best player / talent you have available - if you have to, you find a way to fit him in. 

We have played small ball lineups where we've had Rozier at SF and Turner at PF.  Crazy things happen in this league as it is today...but if you have a chance at pulling a future star player on a rookie scale contract, you sure as hell do not worry about how you are going to fit him in.  If he ends up being as good as he looks, then you move other guys to create playing time for him.

Besides you cant really play the "redundancy" game here, since this mock draft seems to suggest that Danny will sign three skinny 7 footers, one power forward and a single late draft guard.  That sounds like a pretty silly strategy to me.

You can play the redundancy card because most of these are draft and stash that might never play in the NBA, that's the reality of our draft this year. The first 5 picks are the ones that really matter for us. But I get your point. Realistically though we aren't picking that many players when all is said and done.

The question is still that #3 pick. All the mocks list Bender as the #3 pick so currently I'm on the side of agreement that he is the best prospect at that point. The query is whether Ainge would see him that way as historically people have questioned his taste for Euro prospects. Personally I don't think it'll be an issue for him.
I think he'll have options on draft night, there will be a big man trade somewhere. If Danny feels like one of the guards is the #3 then I think he shops it hard and turns it into a big man, either Love or Cousins. For example if Hield was the consensus #3 then I think that's a big chip to give the Cavs. If it's for a Cousins trade then maybe Murray is a big deal for Sac. I don't see us drafting and keeping a guard with #3. But I could see us taking Brown or Bender and keeping it.

If the Cavs move Love they aren't going to move him for draft picks, now sure I could see them wanting a high pick that would be moved to another team (like say Anthony to Cleveland, Love to Boston, and prospects to New York or something like that).

[The One]

UPDATED 4.21.16

3 - Bender
16 - Korkmaz
23 - Jeanne
31 - Zubac
35 - Qi
45 - Papagiannis
51 - Desyatnikov
58 - Mesicek

Still all internationals...can all develop as draft and stashes.

I didn't know that Jeanne was projected this high.

[manl_lui]

I see a lot of draft boards having us take Zhou Qi...I think that would be a waste of a draft even at 35

[footey]

If we make no trades, and winded up with the 3 pick, I would be vey happy with these picks, although prefer Brown at 3 to Bender.

[loco_91]

I'd be pleased with that haul. Bender at #3 is probably the correct choice. Sabonis in the 20's is good value, although I'd prefer Taurean Prince (who goes one spot earlier in this mock). I like the Jeanne pick, although I'd rather have Korkmaz given that you're also picking Bender, Sabonis and Qi. Qi is a similar prospect to Jeanne, a great upside pick at #31. At #35 I like Lavert, but I guess you really need a draft-and-stash.