NBA mock draft 6.0: Chaos edition features Anthony Davis trade

NBA comp: LeBron James in young Rodney Rogers' body

What more is there to say about Zion? He's the best prospect since at least Anthony Davis. He's the most physically gifted athlete we've seen enter the NBA since LeBron James. His play at Duke suggests he has a brilliant basketball mind as well. What more could you ask for in a prospect? Hustle plays? Yes, Zion does that, too. Perhaps his greatest skill is his energy. He brings it nightly. It'll be interesting to see if Zion can replicate that intensity every game like Russell Westbrook or if he'll learn to harness it a bit to avoid hitting the wall over the course of an 82-game season. 

NBA comp: Dennis Smith Jr. with point guard savvy

This pick may be as certain as Zion to the Pelicans. The Grizzlies reportedly are going to move Mike Conley and make Jaren Jackson Jr. their centerpiece. This couldn't have worked out much better for Memphis' rebuild. The Grizzlies might still kick the tires on RJ Barrett, but point guards with Morant's upside only come around every so often. Take Morant, and don't think twice about it. He's the second-best player on most draft boards. Morant will scare the heck out of teams on pick-and-rolls with Jackson for the next 10 years. 

NBA comp: Lefty DeMar DeRozan

The Knicks' grand summer plans were turned on their head Monday when Kevin Durant suffered an Achilles' tendon injury. Because of that uncertainty, New York will take the best available player. Knicks fans will love Barrett, the consensus No. 1 player in the draft class heading into the college season. He has the tendency to put blinders on when he drives to the basket, and his shot selection is questionable at times. However, this kid is special in the open court and an excellent rebounder for his position. Barrett, a forward, can develop into a top-notch scorer in the half court. He’s an alpha dog and maniacal worker. He's also a building block the Knicks can point to when recruiting free agents this summer. He'll contribute as a scorer and eventually a wing defender early in his career. 

Lakers agree to trade pick No. 4, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and 2021 and 2023 unprotected first-round picks for Anthony Davis.

NBA comp: Damian Lillard with less polish

One ripple effect of the Kevin Durant injury is the Knicks are probably out of the Anthony Davis sweepstakes. Thus, the Lakers should be in the driver's seat. Perhaps another team comes out of left field (Raptors with Kawhi?), but we'll go with the most obvious trade here. Garland is still the choice for the Pelicans because he can grow with Zion and the Pelicans' new core, but can also play both guard positions and has Jrue Holiday (who also plays both guard positions) to learn from and get bailed out by on defense. Garland, who missed most of his freshman season at Vanderbilt, will have a huge learning curve jumping essentially from high school to the NBA, especially when it comes to running a team as a point guard and defending the pick-and-roll. I can't think of a better veteran guard to aid him through this process than Holiday and a better running mate for a young point guard to grow with than Zion Williamson.

Hawks trade pick nos. 8 and 17 to Cavaliers for pick no. 5

NBA comp: Jeff Green

Reddish is difficult to slot because his talent suggests he should be a top-five pick, but his production and consistency last season suggest otherwise. The Hawks have an opening at small forward after dealing Taurean Prince to the Nets, and Reddish's upside as a modern forward and playmaker will fit perfectly with the young Hawks' spread-out, high-flying offense. Instead of hoping that he falls to No. 8, the Hawks package that pick with the Nets' pick they just acquired to move up and ensure that they get Reddish.

Celtics agree to sign and trade Terry Rozier, deal pick no. 14 to Suns for pick no. 6 and Josh Jackson.

Celtics then draft Jarrett Culver and trade him and Gordon Hayward to Memphis Grizzlies for Mike Conley.

NBA comp: Jeremy Lamb with better playmaking skills

This one gets a little wild, so hang with me. The Suns are apparently looking to trade back in the draft for a veteran point guard. Instead, they trade back and get a young, defensive-minded point man (Rozier) to pair with Devin Booker. The Celtics-Kyrie Irving marriage is likely over and Boston is rumored to be interested in Mike Conley. The Celtics also get a reclamation project whom they were high on in Jackson. And the Grizzlies are likely open to moving Conley for a high draft pick to pair with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Hayward makes the salaries match and opens some cap space for Boston in the future.

NBA comp: Jamal Crawford

The Bulls are another team that will likely look to move back in the draft if the price is right. However, if the three picks in front of them are dealt, it's highly unlikely that they'll find a suitor for this pick. No worries. They can sit tight and select Coby White to groom as their point guard of the future. Though he's more of a scorer (16 points, four assists per game), he's young enough to develop play-making skills in the NBA (unlike Kris Dunn). Moreover, White's attacking style could actually further loosen up defenses that are already concerned about the long-distance shooting of gifted offensive players Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter and Zach LaVine.

Hawks trade pick nos. 8 and 17 to Cavaliers for pick no. 5

NBA comp: Jae Crowder (Celtics version)

The Cavs, equipped with two bites at the apple in a draft where there isn't much consensus after the top-three prospects, are happy to take arguably the safest guy in the draft (besides Zion). Hunter should form a nice wing combo with Cedi Osman and immediately help improve Cleveland's league-worst defense. This choice also allows the Cavs to take a swing on a high-upside prospect at No. 17.

NBA comp: Pascal Siakam before he made The Leap

Doumbouya seems to have solidified his status as a lottery pick by impressing scouts during his individual workouts with his touch from beyond the arc. If the rumors about the Wizards offering Masai Ujiri an ownership stake in the team are true, then expect Ujiri to select the prospect who reminds everybody of Pascal Siakam. With the John Wall contract hanging over the franchise for the next five years, Doumbouya can develop at his own pace and will hopefully be ready to contribute to a playoff team toward the end of that deal.

NBA comp: Willie Cauley-Stein had he left after his freshman season

Although Brandon Clarke is a safer bet here, the fit doesn't make as much sense for the Hawks because they have John Collins. Jaxson Hayes is by no means a guarantee, but he could be a lethal rim-runner for Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and the Hawks, especially considering the attention Young commands with his unlimited shooting range. Hayes has the athletic gifts a big man of his size could ever ask for. Atlanta is probably the best situation for him. Win-win for everyone involved.

NBA comp: Tyrus Thomas, the prospect coming out of LSU, not the NBA player 

Although his wingspan surprisingly matches his height (6-foot-8), Clarke projects to be an excellent wing defender and rim protector. Clarke, who has a 40.5-inch vertical, averaged more than three blocks last season and had the second-best Player Efficiency Rating besides Williamson in college basketball. He's not a good three-point shooter, but that's fine because Karl-Anthony Towns sure is. If he does learn to shoot from the perimeter, he'll be one of the best players from this draft class.

NBA comp: Iman Shumpert with more scoring upside

Whether the Hornets plan to offer Kemba Walker the super max or not, they'll need two-way players with upside like Langford. He entered his lone season at Indiana as a potential top-five pick, but exited as a late-lottery pick. That being said, he was built to be an NBA two-guard, and flashed some prodigious offensive abilities a little over a year ago in high school. 

NBA comp: Marvin Williams

Little is built like Andre Iguodala, but failed to impress most of his freshman season. Some of that was because he spent the entire season behind Luke Maye and Cameron Johnson. Some of that was because he suddenly wasn't able to get away with pure athleticism like he was in high school. The good thing is that the Heat are a top-notch franchise and have turned athletic, hard-working players like Josh Richardson into legitimate studs. Little fits that bill.

Celtics agree to sign and trade Terry Rozier, pick no. 14 to Suns for pick no. 6 and Josh Jackson.

NBA comp: Taj Gibson

The Suns need to win soon, and Washington is a winning player. Instead of focusing on things Washington can't do (like shoot free throws), NBA teams would be smart to notice the little things he does extremely well. He's always around the ball, whether he's getting offensive rebounds, tip-outs, blocked shots or loose balls. That's an intangible trait that only good basketball players possess. He's a gamer and always seemed to show up big in Kentucky's toughest games. (Check out his stats in the tournament during his career at Kentucky.) He won't be a star in the NBA, but he projects to be a great role player. 

NBA comp: Whichever Morris twin is playing better 

Hachimura has the skills, athleticism and pedigree to be a good NBA player. At 6-foot-9 and a stout 235 pounds, he can bang with most bigs in the post. But he also has the ability to blow past them or knock down a face-up jumper if given too much space. His offensive potential will likely hinge on whether he can consistently knock down three-pointers and spread the floor for his teammates. Do not be surprised if Japan's first basketball prodigy winds up going in the top 10. If he slips, a team like the Pistons should be happy to swoop in and take him.

NBA comp: Associate's degree version of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 

Despite DJ Augustine's Game 1 playoff heroics against Toronto, the Magic desperately need a franchise point guard. Luckily for Orlando, Alexander-Walker should be available. You may have noticed Alexander-Walker has a lot of Gilgeous-Alexander in his game — that's because the two are cousins! He's tall (6-feet-5), long (6-feet-9 wingspan), ambidextrous and plays at his own pace. He's not a great athlete, but his feel for the game and high skill level make up for it. He will need a year or two to develop into a legitimate play-maker, but that's why you keep a veteran like Augustine around. Alexander-Walker projects to be a multi-positional defender.

Hawks trade pick nos. 8 and 17 to Cavaliers for pick no. 5

NBA comp: JR Smith

After selecting De'Andre Hunter, the Cavs take one of the bigger boom-bust prospects. Porter Jr. projects to be one of the following players in the NBA: JR Smith, Nick Young or Jordan Crawford. All three of those guys were talented, athletic and inconsistent in their play and behavior. Smith's ceiling made him a worthy gamble if your team had the right infrastructure. Young's ceiling made him kind of worth the gamble. Crawford's ceiling was not worth the gamble. When you watch Porter's highlights and see him making athletic plays and tough shots off the dribble, he looks like a future star. By the same token, when you look at the inconsistent game logs and read about his maturity issues, it makes you wonder whether he's worth the headache. But hey, the Cavs made it work with JR Smith before.

NBA comp: Kevin Huerter

This seems like a match made in heaven. The team that routinely wears Hickory High jerseys gets its own version of Jimmy Chitwood. Although he sometimes struggles to create his own shot, Herro will be a dynamic shooter in the NBA. He's the type of player who could shoot up draft boards during pre-draft workouts if he tests well and shows signs of improvement with his ball-handling. Some scouts believe he has the ability to run pick-and-rolls in the league, which would really raise his draft profile after the success of Kevin Huerter last season. The Pacers need scoring pop and shooting (as seen by their playoff performance against Boston), and Herro could be part of that solution.

NBA comp: The Ante Zizic Celtics fans told you about

Bitadze would be a lottery pick if he came up in the league 10 or maybe even five years ago. He has power around the basket, a nice touch from the outside and solid all-around game. His problem is going to be — you guessed it — his ability to play defense when he gets thrown into a bunch of pick-and-rolls and must switch onto the James Hardens and Steph Currys of the league. He's a little slow. His ceiling has been described by some experts as Jusuf Nurkic. If any team can help an international talent reach his potential, it's the Spurs. 

NBA comp: Thon Maker if he played more like his high school mixtape

Expect the Celtics to swing for the fences with at least one of their first-round picks. Bol Bol probably has the highest variance as a prospect in this class. If he can stay healthy, he's a matchup nightmare who can get a shot off over anyone (literally, anyone) and break down bigs off the dribble. He will struggle against the Draymond Greens of the NBA until he gains weight and because of his high center of gravity, but you can't teach a 7-foot-7 wingspan.

NBA comp: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Johnson is a 6-foot-6, 210-pound bulldog. His physical playing style, combined with his tenacity and effort, make him an ideal prospect for a playoff team looking to solidify its depth at wing. He could be a high-level role player in the NBA. While his offensive abilities are a little behind his defensive abilities, he should be able to at least attack closeouts with powerful drives to the rim and knock down open three-pointers. With a little discipline and the right coaching, Johnson could turn into an excellent wing defender, much like KCP was early in his career for the Pistons.

NBA comp: A poor man's Peja Stojakovic

Every year players fall in the draft because of their age, lack of athleticism or whatnot. Then they become immediate contributors on playoff teams and front offices wonder how they missed on them. An early candidate for the "Hiding in Plain Sight" contributor is 6-foot-9, fifth-year senior wing Johnson. He is an elite shooter, posting 51-46-82 (FG-3FG-FT) shooting splits last season. The 23-year-old seems like an ideal plug-and-play, three-and-D wing for a playoff contender. You can teach a lot of things in basketball, but height and a sweet stroke aren't among them. Expect Johnson to be a late riser on draft night or a late-first-round steal for a smart playoff team with a good eye for talent. 

NBA comp: Deonte Burton

What is it with super-"thicc" power guards at Iowa State? First it was Deonte Burton, and now it's Horton-Tucker. He's 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, but with a 7-foot wingspan, Horton-Tucker is unique from a physical standpoint for a guard. He's powerful and has broad shoulders, so once he gets a step on a defender, he's tough to slow or block. As one might expect, he's comfortable around the basket and has a nice face-up game with an array of up-fakes and step-back moves. He can pass, too. Although his shot needs work, he's an intriguing talent who could be used in small-ball lineups. Let's give him to Quin Snyder and see what he can get out of him.

NBA comp: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist pre-hitch in his jump shot

Would prime Tony Allen have a place in today's NBA? If so, Thybulle could be a steal for a team drafting near the end of the first round. He's the best wing defender to enter the NBA in years. Thybulle averaged an absurd 3.5 steals and 2.2 blocks this past season but only nine points and three rebounds. The odd thing is that his jump shot isn't broken, and there's some belief that he could eventually develop into a Danny Green-type player on offense. Hey, if you're getting that type of player at this point in the draft, he's a steal. The 76ers need more help at the wing. What better way to start than to take the best wing defender in the draft?

76ers trade pick nos. 33, 34 and 54 to Blazers for pick no. 25

NBA comp: Robert Covington

With five draft picks (and four of them in the second round), the 76ers seem like a good candidate to consolidate and trade up into the end of the first round. The Blazers are a candidate to trade out of the first round because of their salary cap issues (and first-round contracts are guaranteed). Thus, the Sixers move up and take Okeke. He's an intriguing stretch forward who was on the verge of playing himself into the late-lottery before he tore his ACL in the Sweet Sixteen. At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, Okeke can defend threes, fours and small-ball fives and stretch a defense with his 39-percent shooting from three-point land. 

NBA comp: Anthony Randolph with a pass-first mentality

Having selected a wing and a guard with their first two picks, the Cavs go after a big man at 26. Claxton popped off the screen if you ever found yourself watching a Georgia game. It wasn't that he was dominant or had some elite skill. He's 6-foot-11, lengthy as hell and possesses a guard's game. Yes, he can handle the ball and played some de facto point guard for Tom Crean last season. He has  three-point range. He's most impressive, however, when he grabs a rebound and pushes the ball up court. He'd be a great low-risk, high-reward guy at the end of the first round.

NBA comp: PJ Tucker with more offense and less defense

Williams' stock was at its apex heading into March Madness. Although the SEC Player of the Year put up solid numbers and had a few big moments during the tournament, he took a back seat to Admiral Schofield and Tennessee's guards when it mattered the most. Thus, his stock probably dipped back into the late-teens, early-20s range. Williams won't be a bust, but he must knock down threes and master switching onto perimeter players on defense. He was never really asked to do that in college, but it'll be mandatory in the NBA. He'd be a nice player for Kenny Atkinson to groom into a quality offensive big man off the bench.

NBA comp: Current Jae Crowder

Schofield is a man with a name to match his game. He's a senior and looks like he's a Big Mac away from being too heavy to play wing in the NBA. But man, this guy competes and brings it every night. Look no further than his second-half performance against Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. He can knock down threes consistently and is strong enough to guard in small-ball lineups. I'd be shocked if he isn't a rotation player in the NBA for seven to eight years -- that's a tremendous value for this late in the first round. Because their roster is so top-loaded, the Warriors could use help at wing and depth behind Draymond Green.

NBA comp: Patty Mills

Edwards' Kemba Walker impersonation during March Madness certainly did his draft stock favors. Instead of being viewed as a chucker, like he was for much of the Big Ten regular season, Edwards is now seen as a player who carried an average Purdue team to the cusp of a Final Four. He showed off unlimited range and impressive shot-making ability in the NCAA Tournament, solidifying his stock as a late-first-, early-second round pick. Every team could use a spark plug guard off the bench, and Edwards fits that mold. He'd be an ideal long-term replacement for Mills.

NBA comp: Norm Powell

Dort is a "thicc" guard with a lot of two-way capability. He seemed to play up to the competition when Arizona State faced a tournament-level opponent, a trait scouts like. His shooting must improve, especially from three-point range. He could easily develop into the Bucks' version of Norm Powell, one of the Raptors' most important role players in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

The less exciting, younger brother of Michael Porter Jr. may have been drafted ahead of his brother had he entered last year's draft. Unfortunately, he chose not to enter the 2018 draft and suffered a torn ACL twice in six months. Porter has gone from being a fringe lottery pick to a late-first, early-second round pick due to the injury concerns (a Porter family tradition). If Porter heals properly, he's a center with above-average touch from the perimeter and good play-making skills. He's a solid value pick for the Nets at 31.

With their second pick in the draft, I see them going with a  pass-first guard. As anyone who watched March Madness can attest, Jerome is a nice playmaker and good all-round guard. He is a high-IQ player who can pass and shoot at an NBA level, but he's limited athletically and probably destined to be a solid backup. With his ability to play on and off the ball, he'll fit in nicely with Devin Booker.

76ers trade pick nos. 33, 34 and 54 to Blazers for pick no. 25

Okpala isn't your typical Stanford prospect: He's an athletic, raw wing with three-and-D upside. He is 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and is comparable to a young Trevor Ariza. Despite averaging 17 points and six assists, he was inconsistent last season, especially against the more athletic PAC-12 and non-conference teams. He will be a nice wing for the Blazers and ready to contribute while Damian Lillard is still at his zenith.

76ers trade pick nos. 33, 34 and 54 to Blazers for pick no. 25

With their second pick from Philly, the Blazers select a player who was considered a fringe lottery pick a little more than a year ago. Samanic impressed scouts at the NBA Combine with his perimeter game and defensive potential. He's a perfect player for the Blazers to leave in Europe for a season if he's not ready to contribute.

Atlanta's is on the rise, but it's a team that should still be taking the best player available instead of the best fit. McDaniels has a lot of upside if he develops a reliable three-point stroke. He's almost 6-foot-10 with a seven-foot wingspan. He's a good defender and has solid perimeter skills. He could easily go in the 10 to 15 picks before this if a team thinks his free throw stroke (75.8-percent) will be indicative of a good three-point shot.

You know MJ couldn't go too many picks without snagging a highly productive, winning player from the college ranks. Kidding aside, Paschall is a good choice here as he's a strong, switchable big who is also comfortable on the perimeter on offense. Interestingly, the best NBA comp for him is his former college teammate at 'Nova, Omari Spellman, who went in the late-first round to the Hawks in last year's draft and figures to be a good rotational player for years. 

Fernando is an absolute physical specimen who should be drafted in the first round on his potential as a rim-running and rim-protector center. He is 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and big-league hops. His highlight reel of huge dunks and blocks is reminiscent of prime Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan. But he's raw and inconsistent in all other facets. You draft him hoping he figures it out and surprises people, like Andre Drummond, but you know that the chances of him being a plus-player in the NBA are a coin flip at best. At pick No. 37, why not get Luka Doncic a nice rim-runner with upside?

Bazley famously skipped college and an opportunity to play overseas this past year to complete an internship with New Balance that paid him $1M. He is a 6-foot-9 wing with good perimeter skills and NBA athleticism. It remains to be seen, however, whether Bazley has NBA skills. (If he definitely did, he'd be a first-rounder.) The Bulls got screwed by the lottery this year, so they should be swinging for the fences with their second-round pick. Then go with Bazley!

A team with Zion Williamson (and Anthony Davis or whatever he's traded for) will want to space the court to give him room to operate. What better way to spread the court than to draft arguably the best three-point shooter in college basketball history in Dylan Windler? Windler's game resembles Bojan Bogdanovic's: He can bomb from outside, but also handle the ball and pass well enough to run pick-and-rolls and attack closeouts. Nobody would have given a small-school guy like this a chance in the NBA five years ago, but he could even jump into the first round.

Cheatham, an athletic 6-foot-8 big man, doesn't shoot often from the perimeter, but he's a good passer. The guy plays his tail off and should be able to earn a rotation spot on an NBA roster. He'd fit in nicely running the break with De'Aaron Fox in Sacramento.

With five picks, the Hawks have an opportunity to fill out their roster with role players around their core of Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter. In today's NBA, it's important to have a rim-running, rim-protecting big man in your rotation to make your opponent think twice about going small. Gafford could be that big man for Atlanta, which would get good value if he falls to No. 41. He was a projected first-round lock after his freshman season. Gafford is huge -- he is 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan -- and a fluid athlete who should make a living cramming home lobs off pick-and-rolls.

Here's a staggering fact: Joel Embiid's on/off rating in the 2019 playoffs was a net plus-41.3!!! That means when Embiid was on the court, the 76ers scored 41.3 more points per 100 possessions than when he was off the court. When he was off the court, the Sixers gave up 122.1 points per possession, which would have outpaced the highest-scoring team this season by nearly five points. If Dikembe Mutombo's shot-blocking nephew Mfiondu Kabegele is still available here, he'd be a nice selection and a rim-protector for the Sixers when Embiid sits. 

Before the NBA Combine, Roby wasn't even sure if he would keep his name in the draft. After testing well and crushing it in scrimmages, he is all but guaranteed a spot somewhere in the second round. Surrounding KAT with more versatile, athletic forwards should unlock his potential and hide his occasional inattentiveness on defense. Roby, Andrew Wiggins and Josh Okogie would be one of the more athletic sets of wings in the NBA. (If only they could shoot!)

Norvell was a specialist for Gonzaga, but that speciality -- shooting -- should make him a coveted prospect late in the draft. He must be a better ball handler and defender, but his improvement from freshman to sophomore year helped his draft stock tremendously. Not only did Norvell shoot 37 percent from three on more than seven attempts per game last season, he also made 87 percent of his free throws. That kind of efficiency makes him a perfect wing off the bench for the Hawks.

Davis is one of those players with a funky game who are difficult to project in the draft. If a team falls in love with him, he might go in the early 30s. Or he could fall into the 50s. His shooting fundamentals are a little herky-jerky and he leans back on a lot of jumpers, but the ball goes in (he hit 37.1 percent of his threes last season). He's a good athlete, plays hard on both ends of the court and projects to be able to guard ones, twos and threes in the NBA. 

For teams competing for the playoffs, the mid-to-late second round is all about finding rotation players, especially three-and-D wings. Jeffries is a 6-foot-5 wing with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and some bunnies (aka "hops"). He's a good defender who can guard multiple positions. Jeffries should contribute off the bench.

King should have stayed in college another season or two. He has battled injuries since high school and may have been worried about hurting his stock. The Kings, who could use more floor spacers around De'Aaron Fox, will have a chance to develop the 6-foot-8 wing into a solid player. Luckily for them, he's an excellent jump shooter (39 percent from three last season). 

I don't understand why Lawson isn't a surefire pick in many mocks. The 21-year-old was a somewhat inefficient volume scorer for the underachieving Jayhawks last season. But he averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds and shot 39 percent from three and 82 percent from the line. He also has the measureables that make him intriguing at this spot. 

The 6-foot-8, 190-pound skinny wing from Lithuania won't play in the NBA anytime soon. His 46-percent three-point shooting is eye-opening. In typical Spurs fashion, we won't hear about Sirvydis for a couple of years...next thing we know, he'll be burying treys off the bench for the immortal Gregg Popovich.

Reid just looks like an NBA player. He's a hair under 6-foot-10 and has a wingspan over 7-foot-3. He's strong, skilled and not yet 20. If he was entering the NBA a decade ago, he'd probably be a lottery pick. However, because he's not an explosive athlete who can throw down lobs and protect the rim like, say, Daniel Gafford, he might not have a huge role in today's NBA. Even still, a team like the Pacers, who have developed the likes of a similarly skilled player in Domantas Sabonis, should take a chance.

No, this isn't Gerald Green reincarnated, but from an athletic standpoint, Lecque is pretty damn close. He turned heads at the NBA Combine with his 43-inch max vertical, confirming what his prep school highlight tapes indicated. Lecque probably should have attended North Carolina State for a year and developed his game. If he remains in the draft, he's the type of player who could greatly benefit from the coaching of Brad Stevens. The Celtics do an excellent job developing prospects.

Because draft night is before the NBA free-agency period begins, the Hornets won't know if Kemba Walker plans to re-sign with the franchise. So Charlotte should probably snag a point guard with one of its three picks. Ponds' aggressive playing style is comparable to Walker's, but he's nowhere near as good as Kemba. Ponds averaged 20 points and five assists as a junior for St. John's last season.

Bone was a testing marvel at the NBA Combine, finishing first in many categories. I knew he was quick and fast from watching him play at Tennessee -- his leaping ability (42.5-inch vertical) is eye-opening. But he's not known as a huge dunker or fantastic finisher. He could be a nice backup guard behind Donovan Mitchell. 

76ers trade pick nos. 33, 34 and 54 to Blazers for pick no. 25

Weatherspoon projects as a prototypical three-and-D guard/wing with his 6-foot-9 wingspan and 40-percent three-point shooting. He averaged 19 points last season and should be an able-bodied defender in the NBA. When you are relying on Mo Harkless and Alfarouq Aminu to hit threes in the playoffs every year, you can never draft enough wings if you're the Blazers.

With their second pick of the draft, and big plans in free agency, the Knicks will likely use this pick on a developmental player. Who is Obiesie? He's a 6-foot-6, rangy combo guard from Germany who can attack the basket and make plays for his teammates. If he can develop a better jumper, he could be a high-upside choice as a draft-and-stash player.

Martin had a bit of a disappointing senior season at Nevada after a standout junior season and memorable NCAA Tournament run. While he isn't a big-time athlete and is nearly 24 years old, Martin has a great feel for the game and should be able to contribute off the bench from the get-go. His size combined with his ability to handle the ball and defend multiple positions should get him a shot at an end-of-the-rotation spot with the Clippers next season.

Fall may have been the only player Zion Williamson didn't dunk on last season, so why not grab him at the end of the draft? At 7-foot-7, with an 8-foot-2 wingspan, Fall is probably the tallest human who will play in the NBA. It's unlikely he'll play more than 10-15 minutes a game without getting pick-and-rolled off the court, but he could be a situational backup big man. That's decent value from the 57th pick.

Mann has prototypical NBA wing size and enough defensive intensity to be a pro. He even made close to 40 percent of his threes his senior year (though it was only on 79 attempts). He'll fit in nicely with the Warriors.

Only 5-foot-11, Waters has great feel for the game as a playmaker. He can score and set up teammates, abilities on display at the NBA Combine. With next season potentially in flux with Kawhi Leonard's free agency looming, Waters could be a good, young point guard to build the second unit around should Kyle Lowry or Fred VanVleet leave or get traded.

Willie Cauley-Stein probably will leave in free agency, and Marvin Bagley and Harry Giles are the front court of the future in SacTown. So the selection of a defensive-minded big man with the last pick of the draft would be a smart for Sacramento. Konate is slightly undersized at 6-foot-8, and he is extremely raw on offense. But he's an elite shoot-blocker. His timing, power and tenacity at the rim are reminiscent of Ben Wallace.