What Each Team Picking In The Lottery Should Do On Draft Night
1. Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham 6’8” 220 lbs., Guard Oklahoma State
There’s no reason to overthink it just take Cunningham. He’s a great leader who can make clutch shots and he shot 40% from three last season. The Pistons need a lead guard who can score, shoot the three, and pass. The future will be bright with Cunnigham and he even plays well with Killian Hayes, but on the floor together Hayes should play point.
2. Houston Rockets: Jalen Green 6’6” 178 lbs., Guard G League Ignite
The Rockets lose out on Cunnigham but will have their choice of Green or USC’s big man Evan Mobley. Green should be the pick as he has a very high ceiling and Christian Wood is good enough to keep at center to get the wing. The reason Green’s ceiling is so high is he’s a great athlete and with a couple of seasons of development can be a superstar who can score from anywhere. Green in the G League averaged 30 points per game and 7 assists to go with 3 steals per game.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley 7’0” 210 lbs., Center USC
The Cavs need a modern big who fits today’s times better and that’s exactly what they get with Mobley. Mobley averaged 16.4 points per game on 57.8% shooting and grabbed 8.7 rebounds to go with 2.4 assists. He even shot 30% from three. Mobley was first in win shares at 6.9 and has the ability to become a big who can score, rebound, and pass at a high level.
4. Toronto Raptors: Jalen Suggs 6’4” 205 lbs., Guard Gonzaga
Suggs would give the Raptors a leader they can build around for the future as he played an instrumental role in helping his team get to the national championship game. Averaging 14.4 points per game on 50% shooting while grabbing 5.3 rebounds and dishing out 4.5 assists was his contribution and he has a toughness from his days of playing football. The Raptors should look no further than Suggs.
5. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Kuminga 6’6” 210 lbs., G League Ignite
Kuminga averaged 15.8 points per game on a miserable 38.7% shooting but grabbed 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He’s a project but he has the tools and Orlando could use a young forward to develop in the mix. Keep in mind the Magic have two picks in the top eight. This is a team that can afford to gamble on potential.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder: Scottie Barnes 6’9” 227 lbs., Forward Florida State
Barnes needs to develop his offensive game but he can defend and his rebounding and passing are solid. Scottie Barnes averaged 10.3 points per game on 50.3% shooting and added 4.1 assists and 4 rebounds per game. The Thunder should consider him a good project to develop.
7. Golden State Warriors: Davion Mitchell 6’2” 205lbs., Guard Baylor
Mitchell plays defense and added 14.4 points per game on 51.1% shooting to go with 5.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds. In a year or two he could be a great piece for them especially with Klay Thompson coming back from injury it would be good to have Mitchell in the mix in case Thompson doesn’t quite come back the same.
8. Orlando Magic: Alperen Sengun 6’9” 240 lbs., Center Turkey
With Vucevic out the door, a new center is needed. Sengun finished 4th in scoring at 18.6 points per game in the BSL to go with 8.9 rebounds per game which was 4th in the league as well. Scoring and rebounding is something the Magic could use down low and pairing him with Kuminga would give two very interesting prospects to develop.
9. Sacramento Kings: Franz Wagner 6’9” 220 lbs., Forward Michigan
Wagner can play pretty good defense which is something sorely needed in Sacramento and he can add a solid point total nightly. Last season Wagner put up 12.5 points per game on 47.7% shooting and added 6.5 rebounds per game. In short, Wagner should be a reliable role player that compliments a few of their young pieces.
10.New Orleans Pelicans: Jared Butler 6’3” 195 lbs., Guard Baylor
The Pelicans could use a guy like Butler badly. He can play defense and last season Butler averaged 16.7 points per game on 47.1% shooting and 41.6% from three. Butler also added 4.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 2 steals per game. Bringing Butler in would provide a good two-way wing that can go nicely with Zion. Assuming their medical team is okay with his heart condition that is. He was cleared by the NBA’s Fitness-to-play panel so that’s good news.
11.Charlotte Hornets: Jalen Johnson 6’9” 220 lbs., Forward Duke
After landing a young star in LaMelo Ball last season, why not pair him with an interesting forward prospect? Johnson scored 11.2 points per game while shooting 53.8% on his two-pointers. Jalen Johnson added 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists to go with his scoring and he looks like a player with a couple of seasons of coaching can become a quality role player at least.
12.San Antonio Spurs: Josh Giddey 6’8” 192 lbs., Guard/Forward Australia
Giddey would be a fun prospect to see this staff get a hold of. Last season Giddey averaged 10.9 points per game while shooting 50.8% on two-pointers and dishing out 7.5 assists to go with 7.4 rebounds per game. With work, Giddey can develop a three but his shot currently as-is needs work. Worst case Giddey seems like a better rebounding Ricky Rubio.
13.Indiana Pacers: Moses Moody 6’6” 205 lbs., Wing Arkansas
The Pacers would get an intriguing player in Moody that could give them a much needed scoring boost. Moody averaged 16.8 points per game on 42.7% shooting and 35.8% from three to go with 65.8 rebounds per game. Work with him on his shooting and pair that with his good defensive ability he could be a pleasant surprise.
14.Golden State Warriors: Keon Johnson 6’5” 186 lbs., Guard Tennessee
Getting two young wings to develop in this draft would be a big win as it gives players to help stock for the future and improves the depth for now. Johnson averaged 11.3 points per game on 44.9% shooting, but his game is a work in progress. What makes him worth developing is he’s a freak athlete. If Johnson’s athletic traits can go with a developed basketball skillset he could be a good surprise in three or four years.
All stats are from https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/
