1. Orlando Magic: Chet Holmgren - C, Gonzaga
With their fourth number one pick in franchise history, I have the Magic continuing with tradition and taking another big man, hoping that Holmgren can follow in the footsteps of their top choices from 1992 and 2004, in Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard. With Holmgren’s versatility to slide between the four and the five, I think he would pair nicely with Orlando’s current duo of Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. In addition, he would be reunited with his former high school teammate, Jalen Suggs, last year’s fifth overall pick, as the two would look to wreak havoc in Florida the way they did on the poor high school teams in Minnesota who had to match up against the tandem of top recruits. Holmgren’s elite rim-protection would be able to help protect weak defensive links like the undersized Cole Anthony, and offensively he would be productive both rolling to the hoop as a lob-threat, as well as popping out to hit threes. In addition his potential as a seven-foot ball-handler and playmaker has been something scouts have been drooling over ever since he first crossed up Steph Curry at his own select camp as a high schooler. The biggest question surrounding Chet has been whether or not his rail-thin frame will be able to hold up against NBA competition, but pairing him with a bigger-bodied frontcourt-mate in Carter, as well as an oversized small forward in Wagner will help to mitigate the mismatches that people have feared for him. When I think of a lineup consisting of Anthony, Suggs, Wagner, Holmgren, and Carter, I can see a real future for the Magic, something the people of Orlando haven’t been able to say for a while.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jabari Smith Jr. - F, Auburn
Finally all of Sam Presti’s tanking has paid off with a top three pick, and a chance to draft a future star in Jabari Smith Jr. The Auburn forward has all of the tools to be a bucket-getter at the pro level, and I love the idea of pairing him with Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the future of Thunder basketball. After being forced to play with guards at Auburn who failed to recognize his obviously superior talent, Smith will be thrilled to play with a playmaker to the level that Giddey is already at. One of his biggest criticisms in college was his shot selection, but when your guards refuse to pass you the ball, and you're as big and as skilled as Smith is, of course he took plenty of contested jump shots. Playing with shot creators like Giddey and Shai, Smith will be able to get looks more open than he’s ever seen in his basketball career, and with a jumper as pretty as his, those looks are going to go in more often than not. People have also noted Smith’s lack of ability to create his own shot, with a shaky handle and a hesitancy to attack the rim, but playing with the playmakers OKC already has will take that pressure of of him, allowing him to focus on what he does best, knocking down jumpshots and creating havoc defensively with his athletic 6’10” frame.
3. Houston Rockets: Paolo Banchero - F, Duke
Out of the three players at the top of this draft, Banchero is the most NBA ready as a shot creator, which he will need to be in order to survive on the Rockets, a team who started Kevin Porter Jr. as their point guard last year, which honestly does a lot to explain how they ended up with the league’s worst record. Houston has the murkiest future out of any team at the top of this draft, with the only piece set in stone being last year’s number two overall selection, Jalen Green. Banchero has had an NBA body since he was at O’Dea High School in my hometown of Seattle. standing at 6’10” and weighing 250 lbs. I got to see him dominate my high school during his junior year to the tune of 21 points and 7 rebounds, with a few thunderous dunks mixed in. With the Rockets roster essentially being a clean slate, Banchero should have plenty of opportunity to put up stats as a rookie. I am a little concerned with the team culture in Houston, as Banchero has often lacked effort defensively, and I think that landing with the Rockets has a chance to compound these issues early in his career. In the end though, the idea of what Banchero and Green could develop into together is a good sign for the future of Houston basketball.
4. Sacramento Kings: Shaedon Sharpe - G, Kentucky
After jumping into the top four, I have Sacramento taking a chance on the biggest question mark in this draft in Shaedon Sharpe. The previously unranked Canadian shot up prospect rankings after dominating the Nike EYBL AAU circuit, eventually landing as the top ranked player in the 2022 high school class. In the fall he reclassified to the 2021 class, enrolling at Kentucky a year before he was expected, but never actually playing for them, rather opting to just prepare for the draft. With his last time playing being high school, the question comes down to how he will project at the NBA level. In high school he was an absolute bucket-getter, scoring from all over the court with elite athleticism and a clean jumper. I have the Kings taking a swing on him here, as they just traded away Tyrese Haliburton last year in order to clear space for De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell, so it wouldn’t make sense for them to take another guard in Jaden Ivey here, rather opting for the scoring wing with a high upside that is Sharpe. Playing with a true point guard in Fox should be a positive for Sharpe as well, as he has been reluctant as a playmaker, and it will take the primary ball-handling duties away from him, while also giving him the opportunity to catch kickout passes for threes, and throw down lobs from Fox on the fastbreak. There’s a chance that Sacramento looks to trade this pick in order to make a push for the playoffs next year, but if they don’t I think Sharpe can fit well with the pieces they already have in place.
5. Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey - G, Purdue
The biggest priority in Detroit right now is building around last year’s number one overall pick, Cade Cunningham. With the versatility that his size at the guard position provides, it allows them to be able to take the best available prospect here in Ivey. With both of them being able to shoot, dribble, pass, and attack the rim, I think they will be able to complement each other nicely, and with Ivey’s explosive finishing it should make for some exciting fastbreak lobs from Cade. Playing together will also give both of them a chance to develop their game off of the ball as the other one runs the offense, while also not having too much pressure on either of them to be carrying the whole offensive load. In addition to his explosive finishing, Ivey also showed promise as a shooter, shooting over 35% on catch-and-shoot looks last year. The Pistons should absolutely take a chance on Ivey given the opportunity, as it will give them one of the most exciting backcourts in the league for years to come.
6. Indiana Pacers: Keegan Murray - F, Iowa
After going into a full-on tank to end the season, finishing off the year going 6-24 over their last 30 games, I have the Pacers taking the best available player on the board here in Iowa’s Keegan Murray. A strong scorer from the forward position, able to create shots from all three levels of the court, Murray was able to lead Iowa to a Big Ten championship last season while pouring in more than 23 points per game for the Hawkeyes. Although Murray is on the older side for a prospect, as he will be 22 by the time he makes his NBA debut, he should be an immediate contributor for Indiana, and someone they can pair with Tyrese Haliburton for years.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: A.J. Griffin - F, Duke
As I told my friend Georgie, a fellow Trail Blazers fan, in early March, “A.J. Griffin is going to be a great Blazer.” Here we are three months later, and that’s exactly who I have mocked to them with the seventh pick in this year's draft. After shutting down Damian Lillard for season-ending abdomen surgery in December, the Blazers seemed fully committed to tank the season, with hopes of landing a top pick in this year’s draft. The only problem was that Anfernee Simons had other plans, managing to lead the team to a 12-16 record while averaging over 23 points after taking over for Dame as the team’s starting point guard. When Simons’ season eventually ended with a knee injury in early March, it was finally time for the full tank, as Portland finished out the season with a 2-17 record down the stretch, and was able to land the sixth best lottery odds. With the Kings jumping ahead of them to the fourth pick, it leaves Portland with the question of whether to use this pick on a young player, or trade it for a piece that can help Damian Lillard lead them back to the playoffs. This is exactly why I have them taking Griffin here, as I think he is both a piece for the future, as well as a player who can contribute to winning right away in his NBA career. Standing at 6’6'' with a 7 foot wingspan, Griffin has all of the tools to be a high-level defender in the NBA, something the Blazers have needed for years to protect the undersized Lillard defensively. In addition, Griffin is a knockdown shooter, hitting on nearly 45% of his threes last year for Duke, and has shown the potential to create shots off the dribble as well. Overall, I think that Griffin projects to be a great 3-and-D player for a long time in the NBA, and a contributing rotation piece for a Portland team that looks to get back towards competing next year.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (LAL): Bennedict Mathurin - F, Arizona
After a strong finish to the season that saw them reach the playoffs after trading for CJ McCollum at the deadline, the Pelicans are back in the lottery thanks to the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers. With Bennedict Mathurin, New Orleans will be looking for a rotation piece who can provide scoring off the bench, as they look to contend next year with the return of Zion Williamson to join McCollum and Brandon Ingram. Mathurin is an explosive athlete with a high potential as a scorer, which he showed off last year while leading Arizona to a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. He is a strong finisher at the rim, able to finish over and through defenders, and can consistently knock down jumpers from the outside. He has been somewhat shaky when asked to create his own shot off the dribble, which is why he would benefit from being able to play in a more off-ball role alongside strong ball handlers like McCollum and Ingram, finishing dunks off of cuts and knocking down catch-and-shoot threes. Mathurin has also been inconsistent on defense, but with his athleticism and being surrounded by strong defenders like Herb Jones, he could have the potential to emerge as a plus defender as well.
9. San Antonio Spurs: Dyson Daniels - G, G League Ignite
With the ninth pick I have the Spurs taking the first player from this year’s G League Ignite class, Australia’s Dyson Daniels. An oversized combo guard standing at 6’7”, Daniels has one of the highest two-way ceilings out of any player in this class. He has shown the ability to attack off the dribble and get into the lane, where he has nice touch on his floater, and although his shot is inconsistent right now, he isn’t afraid to shoot, and has the potential to develop into an above average shooter. His size and length at the guard position give him high upside as a defender, and paired with Dejounte Murray could make for one of the most formidable defensive backcourts in the league.
10. Washington Wizards: Johnny Davis - G, Wisconsin
The Wizards are in a weird place right now, with a potential Bradley Beal trade hanging over their offseason, and no clear sense of direction as a franchise. In recent years they’ve found themselves middling in NBA purgatory, not good enough to compete in the playoffs, and not bad enough to land a top pick in the draft. That’s why I have them taking the best player available here in Johnny Davis, who has shown potential as an on-the-ball shot creator despite lacking a consistent jump shot, in addition to his ability to turn his hustle into strong defense and rebounding at the guard position. With most of their offseason depending on what happens with Beal, I think scooping up a strong foundational piece like Davis could be the thing that could help turn Washington basketball back around.
11. New York Knicks: Jalen Duren - C, Memphis
After the “bing-bong”’s of early-season Knicks basketball died out, as they returned to their rightful place in the lottery, New York basketball fans are again left wondering, “what exactly is James Dolan’s plan for the franchise?” With a grossly overpaid Julias Randle eating up way too much of the salary cap, and no overly-promising young players to place the franchise's hopes and dreams on, the Knicks are once again wallowing in mediocrity. Barring some big trade for a potential star-on-the-move like Donovan Mitchell, New York looks like it will again be left out of playoff basketball next year, meaning they will need to look to build towards the future. With Mitchell Robinson set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, there will be a new hole at the center position, one that Memphis’ Jalen Duren should be able to fill. A highly touted high school prospect, and one of the youngest players in the draft, Duren is a freak athlete, able to stretch the floor vertically with his ability as a lob-threat, and also provide an intimidating presence at the rim, à la Boston’s Robert Williams III. In addition, he has shown the potential to switch onto smaller players on the perimeter, and has the build of what could be a prototypical defensive anchor for the modern NBA defense.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (LAC): Ousmane Dieng - F, France
With their second pick in the lottery, I have the Thunder taking one of the most intriguing players in this year’s class, Ousmane Dieng. The Frenchman demonstrated the potential to be a high-impact two-way player while playing in Australia’s NBL last year, and showed great progress and improvement throughout the season. Offensively, he has a prototypical point-forward game, able to create shots both for himself and others out of the pick-and-roll, making nice reads and manipulating the defense to get to the pass he wants. His size allows him to be able to make passes from a variety of deliveries and angles that other players can’t get to, which combined with his fluid movement and strong handle makes him dangerous for any defense to deal with. He has a clean jump shot, with accuracy that made a noticeable improvement throughout last season, and he has even flashed the ability to get into it off the dribble, with various hesitations, stepbacks, and side-steps. Dieng’s length also makes him valuable as a defender, able to move with players on the perimeter while also being an intimidating presence at the rim. Although he will need to add some strength once he reaches the league, I like his fit in Oklahoma City, and think he could be a perfect complementary piece to the foundational players they already have in place.
13. Charlotte Hornets: Mark Williams - C, Duke
One of the most consistently mocked picks in the draft this year has been Mark Williams to the Hornets. The fit just seems to make too much sense, as in recent years Charlotte has rolled out the likes of Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo to start games for them at center, and no offense to those guys, but they aren’t exactly the ideal fit for a player as exciting as LaMelo Ball. That’s where Williams comes in. The Duke big man could be the lob-threat that LaMelo has been waiting for his whole career. Standing at 7 feet tall with an impressive 7’7” wingspan, Williams should be able to catch everything that Ball throws up, while also being able to make up for his defensive shortcomings as a high-level rim protector. As a 75% percent free throw shooter who hit five out of his nine jump shots last year, there is also potential that Williams can expand his range in the NBA, eventually knocking down mid range jumpers and potentially even threes. Just think about how fun it will be next year when LaMelo is running down on a fastbreak with Williams and Miles Bridges to either side of him. You don’t know who the lob’s going to, but you know you’re in for a show.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ochai Agbaji - F, Kansas
Following a surprising season that saw them narrowly miss out on a playoff spot, the Cavs look like they have a real plan for the future for the first time since LeBron left them for Hollywood. Looking to build on their young core of last year’s number three overall pick, Evan Mobley, and their duo of first time All-Stars, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji should be able to help them compete now, while also being able to grow with their young guys. An explosive athlete with a prototypical build for an NBA wing, Agbaji should be exactly what Cleveland needs in order to take that next step towards contention. He will thrive in an off-ball role next to a creator to the level of Darius Garland, able to use his athleticism to cut to the basket for dunks, while also providing nice spacing, as he shot above 40% from three last season. In addition, his athleticism and size should translate nicely on the defensive end of the floor, especially when playing in front of the twin towers of Mobley and Allen. Last year when the Cavs attempted to go to a more defensive minded lineup with someone like Isaac Okoro, they would lose spacing and offensive efficiency with Okoro’s outside shot still being inconsistent in his second year. Agbaji will be able to maintain that defensive presence on the perimeter, while not sacrificing any efficiency on offense.
15. Charlotte Hornets (NOP): Jeremy Sochan - F, Baylor
With their second pick in the first round, I have the Hornets taking another defensive minded player in Jeremy Sochan, trying to help boost what was a bottom-ten defense in the league last season. Sochan is the ideal defensive forward for modern basketball, infinitely switchable with the quickness to guard on the perimeter, and the size and length to hang with bigs inside. He plays with great anticipation on the defensive side of the floor as well, jumping into passing lanes for steals, and correctly identifying what the offense is doing, always making the correct help rotations. Though his offensive game is limited right now, he has shown flashes of playmaking potential, reading the defense to hit the open man, which could open up a nice short-role game to work with LaMelo Ball. Sochan has also been efficient attacking the rim as a cutter, and has the potential to develop a consistent jump shot that would make defenses have to respect him.
16. Atlanta Hawks: Tari Eason - F, LSU
With the Hawks constantly needing to hide Trae Young on defense, they can never have too many strong defenders. Tari Eason is a playmaker on defense, constantly jumping into passing lanes or ripping players for steals, while also able to rotate and erase a shot at the rim. He has shown the ability to switch one through four, and has the potential to be a defensive stopper in the NBA, someone his team can assign to the opponent’s best wing scorer every night. His halfcourt offense has been somewhat inconsistent, but he has been an absolute gamebreaker in transition, able to turn his defense into easy offense at the other end. Eason also shot over 80% from the free throw line, and over 38% on catch-and-shoot threes, which shows promise for his potential to be able to space the floor.
17. Houston Rockets (BKN): TyTy Washington - G, Kentucky
As mentioned previously, the Rockets spent the majority of last season starting Kevin Porter Jr. at the point guard position, which is not exactly ideal. This is why I have them taking the best true point guard available here in TyTy Washington. A strong operator out of the pick-and-roll, Washington is able to work within the offense to create shots for both himself and teammates. He is efficient as a ball handler, limiting his turnovers while also making sure to get his teammates involved, as he set a Kentucky record with 17 assists in their game against Georgia. He should be exactly the playmaker that Houston needs, able to score with his pullup game, while also helping set everyone else up, overall just making the team better as a whole.
18. Chicago Bulls: E.J. Liddell - F, Ohio State
The Bulls surprised everyone to start the season last year, as they quickly jumped out to a top seed in the East behind the resurgence of DeMar DeRozan, as he landed him on the All-NBA second team. As they look to build on a season that was tarnished by injuries to Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, I think that E.J. Liddell could be a player that can help them make another playoff push next year. Although their biggest priority right now is the future of All-Star guard Zach LaVine, they should still be focused on trying to patch the holes they had on their roster last year, one of the biggest being frontcourt defense. Despite the chaos that Ball and Caruso were able to create, their injuries really exposed the weak defenders in Chicago’s frontcourt, and E.J. Liddell can help them fix that. At 6’7” with a 7 foot wingspan that allows him to play taller than he is, Liddell was a strong defensive presence for the Buckeyes last year, averaging over two blocks per game. He also showed improvement as a shooter every year in college, and has the potential to be a nice stretch four or small-ball five, who can still be an intimidating presence at the rim.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves: Blake Wesley - G, Notre Dame
With D’Angelo Russell potentially not being Minnesota’s long term plan as a backcourt mate for their burgeoning star, Anthony Edwards, Wesley could be a nice developmental option with a high upside. Showing the promise of being a potential lead guard while at Notre Dame, Wesley is a high-level athlete with great length that could translate into good defense in the league. He is comfortable with the ball in his hands, able to handle pressure and create shots both out of the pick-and-roll, as well as isolation. His jump shot is still inconsistent, but he has good mechanics that suggest he can turn into a better shooter once introduced to NBA coaching.
20. San Antonio Spurs (TOR): Nikola Jovic - F, Serbia
I know it’s somewhat cliché for the Spurs to take a chance on a foreign prospect, but Jovic isn’t just someone that they're taking a chance on, he’s the real deal. The Serbian has the potential to be a true point forward, at 6’11” with a wingspan over 7 feet, he plays with the handle and vision you would expect from an NBA point guard. He can score from all three levels of the court, stepping back for threes or attacking the rim for a vicious poster. Though his game will need refinement as he adjusts to the NBA, he has all the right tools that could one day make him a star.
21. Denver Nuggets: Kendall Brown - F, Baylor
The Nuggets look to be in a good place next year, with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. coming back from injury to join the now back-to-back reigning MVP, Nikola Jokić, they should be one of most formidable contenders coming out of the West. At this point they just need to add depth, which is where Kendall Brown comes into play. As a high-flying athlete who throws down ferocious dunks, he would be a nice piece who can come off the bench for them, cutting to the hoop for no-look passes from Jokić. He would fit nicely being able to play off of the stars that Denver has on offense, while using his elite athleticism to help them out on defense.
22. Memphis Grizzlies (UTA): Patrick Baldwin Jr. - F, Milwaukee
A highly touted recruit who fell after choosing to play for his father at Milwaukee over his offers from the likes of Duke, Kentucky, and UCLA, Baldwin fell down draft boards after he struggled to dominate the lower level of competition, and his father was promptly fired. He showed promise as a strong shooter during his high school career, despite his struggles in college. Baldwin also has great size for his position at 6’10”, but lacks athleticism, having tested very poorly at the combine. The Grizzlies have a very exciting young team led by Ja Morant, and a great culture in place, so if any team can unlock the potential that was once seen in Baldwin, it’s Memphis.
23. Philadelphia 76ers: Malaki Branham - G, Ohio State
Following the departure of Seth Curry in the trade that brought James Harden to Philly, the Sixers quickly realized how badly they were lacking perimeter shot creation besides Harden himself. In combination with Harden’s struggles in the playoffs, I think someone with the skills of Malaki Branham could be exactly the player they need to try to make Joel Embiid an NBA champion. A terrific midrange scorer, Branham has all the tools to be a prototypical shot creator. He is an excellent operator out of the pick-and-roll, effortlessly able to get to his spots in the midrange to rise and fire. He has also been strong as a finisher at the rim, and shot above 40% from three, albeit on low volume, which I think could see him becoming a terrific scorer from all three levels. At 6’5” with a 6’10” wingspan, Branham also has the size and athleticism that could see him turn into a plus defender on the wing as well.
24. Milwaukee Bucks: MarJon Beauchamp - G, G League Ignite
After an injury to Khris Middleton left the defending champs throwing the likes of Wesley Matthews at Jayson Tatum in the second round, they should look to add depth on the wing that provides defensive upside. An athletic slasher who has shown flashes of potential as a shot creator and defender, Beauchamp could be the piece that helps Giannis capture his second title. He is a strong finisher who can throw down some vicious dunks, but will need to work on improving his shot in order to get a consistent role in the league, as he shot under 25% from three in 11 G League games. Beauchamp has the length, standing 6’6” with a 7 foot wingspan, and athleticism that could make him a strong defender in the league, but he will just need to add some muscle to his 195 lb frame in order to handle the physicality of NBA basketball.
25. San Antonio Spurs (BOS): Wendell Moore Jr. - F, Duke
Moore showed great improvement in his jump shot during his junior season at Duke, jumping up from 28% over his first two seasons, all the way to 41%, as the Blue Devils made a run to the final four. Moore’s improved three point shooting unlocked his game, as he was finally able to punish defenders who tried to go under on screens, bringing them up to his level so he could blow past them to get to the hoop. He played a lot of point guard for a Duke team that was essentially positionless, save for Mark Williams, but has skills that can translate to being off the ball as well, able to float in and out of having the rock. Standing at 6’5” and a strong 215 lbs, Moore also has a wingspan over 7 feet that gives him all the physical tools to be a high-level defender. He projects to be a terrific role player and glue-guy for whichever team decides to draft him.
26. Dallas Mavericks: Jaylin Williams - C, Arkansas
Ever since the Mavs took Luka Dončić in the 2018 draft, the one thing they haven’t been able to get him is a center who can catch his lobs out of the pick-and-roll on offense, and protect the rim on defense. Kristaps Porziņģis was clearly not the answer, and someone like Dwight Powell doesn’t provide the necessary defense to make them a true contender. Jaylin Williams is a versatile defender at the five, able to protect the rim in help, and also switch on the perimeter when needed. He has shown the ability to do more than just screen-and-roll as well, initiating offense from the top of the key and hitting cutters, even stepping out to knock down the occasional three. He projects to be exactly the type of center every team wants defensively, and if he can reach his offensive potential, he will be a great pick-and-roll partner for Luka.
27. Miami Heat: Jaden Hardy - G, G League Ignite
In Miami’s loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, their lack of shot creation from the guard position was exposed as Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry dealt with injuries. With Lowry set to turn 37 next season, they will need someone who can eventually take over for him as well. A disappointingly inefficient season against G League competition saw Jaden Hardy drop from a projected top-five pick before the year, down to someone projected in the back half of the first round. Hardy is a very streaky shooter whose talent is obvious, but he needs to add consistency and refinement to his game. When he is on, he has talent to score from all over the court, draining stepback threes, and slashing hard to the rim. He has also been a very disruptive defender, generating plenty of steals, and moving with great lateral quickness on the perimeter. Still a bit of a project, getting to learn under a savvy veteran like Lowry, and being a part of “Heat Culture,” would be a perfect scenario for Hardy to develop into the star many once saw him as.
28. Golden State Warriors: Peyton Watson - F, UCLA
With the Warriors in a great place as a franchise right now, having reached their sixth NBA Finals in the last eight years, I think they have a great opportunity to take a chance on a high-upside player like Peyton Watson here at the end of the first round. Playing for a veteran UCLA team last year that was looking to repeat its run to the 2021 Final Four, it was a struggle for Watson to find a consistent role and minutes. He was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school due to his great size and athleticism. At 6’8”, he has the size to match either forward position in the NBA, but will need to add muscle to his skinny 205 lb frame in order to match the physicality of the league. His handle is nice, which shows promise for his ability to create his own shot, but he will need to work to become more consistent as a shooter, which there is no better place to do than Golden State, home to the two greatest shooters of all time.
29. Memphis Grizzlies: Walker Kessler - C, Auburn
If Steven Adams is potentially not the long-term plan next to last year’s fifth-place Defensive Player of the Year finisher, Jaren Jackson Jr, I think that Walker Kessler could potentially be a nice alternative. Last year’s Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, Kessler measures in at a towering 7’1” with a wingspan over 7’4”. He is an elite shot blocker, able to control himself in the paint so as not to foul, while targeting the ball for the swat. He moves well, and while not necessarily switchable, can defend the pick and roll, and would thrive next to a defender as versatile as Jackson. Kessler’s offensive game is pretty limited, but he is a good screener in the pick-and-roll, and can be a lob threat simply due to his massive size.
30. Denver Nuggets (PHX): Trevor Keels - G, Duke
After sending JaMychal Green to Oklahoma City, the Nuggets have nabbed themselves the last pick in the first round. With that pick I have them selecting Duke’s Trevor Keels, a physical combo guard who uses his size and quickness to harass offensive players on the perimeter. He attacks the rim hard on offense, using his size to shield off defenders, and has shown the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. His status as a combo guard kind of leaves him without a true position, as he will need to improve his passing and vision to consistently have the ball in his hands, and will need to improve his shooting to be a solid off-ball option. Despite this, his size and athleticism that made him effective at Duke should allow him to stick in the league and earn minutes while he works to refine his game.
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