11. Indiana Pacers – Kelly Oubre, SF, Kansas
Like many Jayhawks prospects, Oubre should be even better in an NBA system where he’ll have more scoring opportunities. As a rookie, Oubre should be able to hit open jumpers, and if he develops his ball-handling skills to create his own scoring opportunities, he could be very good.
He averaged 9.3 points and 5 rebounds in just 21 minutes per game for Kansas, and went 15-for-19 from the foul line in a late-season victory over TCU.
Oubre could be a replacement to Lance Stephenson, who departed in free agency last season. Willie Cauley-Stein is a name the Pacers are said to be targeting, but they will need to move up in order to have a shot at him. With Paul George hopefully back at 100% next season, the Pacers will look to capitalize on the this momentum and return to the playoffs.
12. Utah Jazz – Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
This is the second straight mock we’ve slotted Kaminsky here. Kaminsky’s name was everywhere during Wisconsin’s postseason run, and for good reason. It’s challenging to find legitimate centers with Kaminsky’s skill-set offensively to face up the basket, beat his man off the dribble and even shoot threes (he was 42-for-101 for the Badgers).
Kaminsky does fall in love with standing outside and waiting for the ball. He needs to get stronger in order to handle the grind of playing against stronger opponents, but he is very NBA-ready. The Jazz, fresh off trading Enes Kanter, could use a big like Kaminsky, who can stretch the court and complement Derrick Favors.
Some scouts look at Kaminsky and see him as a pure shooting big man like Spencer Hawes.
Danny Schayes says Kaminsky reminds him of …. himself.
13. Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky
Booker’s stock has blown up after his combine performance in which he showcased great touch and range. Teams are now rethinking Booker’s ceiling and whether he was pigeonholed at Kentucky because of the roster.
Looking at the bigger picture, playing on a deep team like Kentucky might have actually helped Booker, as he was more efficient and is prepared for a similar role in the NBA coming off the bench. Phoenix must surround Eric Bledsoe with shooters and a player like Booker is a great fit.
When watching the game tape, Booker seems to lacks the length and explosion you’d want in a starting caliber wing, but there is no denying his combine performance could be an eye opener to teams looking for an under-the-radar prospect who could turn into the next Jimmy Butler.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder – Cameron Payne, PG, Murray State
The Thunder are not used to being in the lottery, but they will gladly take advantage of the draft position and try to rebound in the West next season. Not many players in college average 20.3 points, ranked 11th nationally, and six assists like Payne did as a sophomore.
Payne is a solid shooter who doesn’t ignore getting his teammates involved and has great court vision. Overall, he’s a very productive player with good burst and quickness who could be a great pickup for a team outside of the lottery.
With Russell Westbrook doing everything last season for the Thunder and a track record of taking point guards and developing them like Reggie Jackson, Payne makes sense, especially since Westbrook can test free agency in 2017.
Sam Presti will keep his eyes open for a player who falls but if things stand pat grabbing Payne would be a great addition.
15. Atlanta Hawks (From Brooklyn) – Myles Turner, C, Texas
The Hawks were abruptly swept by the Cavs and will use LeBron and company as the measuring stick going forward for improving the ball club. With Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll both free agents, the Hawks should be active and may opt for a developmental international prospect here but Turner is a great option.
Turner checks off all the boxes that make scouts and general managers go crazy for big men. As a freshman, Turner, who our Michael Scotto profiled here, showcased nice range and touch on his jumper, the legitimate size needed to play center, good rebounding ability and a nice touch in the post.
On the flip side, Turner is not a great athlete, and as the NBA picks up the pace of play, Turner must show he quick enough on his feet to not be a defensive liability.
16. Boston Celtics – Sam Dekker, SF, Wisonsin
The Celtics are loaded with future draft picks and will be very active on draft night, but if they stand pat watch for Dekker or Montrezl Harrell. Dekker became the x-factor for Wisconsin during their run in the Big Dance.
Dekker may not be a conventional three or four in the NBA, but he will be out on the court playing because of his fearless style of play and infectious energy. He does it all: scoring, shooting, rebounding, defending. As Brad Stevens showed this season, he doesn’t care about traditional positions as much as finding players who play hard.
Dekker’s biggest weakness right now is a lack of a consistent shooting stroke, but as he becomes more consistent he can play forward in the NBA and match up against a variety of opponents. After making just a third of his 3-point attempts for the Badgers, my hope would be that he is currently shooting 1,000 a day prior to his individual workouts.
17. Milwaukee Bucks – Jerian Grant, PG, Notre Dame
The Bucks look like a team that will be a defensive force, as they showed in the playoffs. With Jabari Parker returning from a torn ACL, Milwaukee will need to add a player to shoulder the burden of scoring and shooting.
Grant is an intelligent prospect who plays hard and has great length for the point guard position. Grant can even play off the ball at times, as he is a solid shooter, but he’s most effective when creating for himself and his teammates. That would be a perfect complement to Michael Carter-Williams.
Blessed with good size and athleticism, teams will look past his mediocre defense. He can be coached up in that area. He averaged 16.5 points and 6.7 assists per game for a very good Fighting Irish squad that nearly knocked off Kentucky in the Elite Eight. His body fat percentage was a mere 5.6, lower than Kentucky’s Harrison twins.
18. Houston Rockets (From New Orleans) – Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
The Rockets had an impressive postseason run, ending with a disappointing exit in the conference finals. Surrounding James Harden and Dwight Howard with a player like Harrell makes sense, as he can play multiple positions.
Harrell is an imposing physical specimen, there’s no doubt about that. Physical ability often improves your draft stock, but it does not necessarily translate into having or developing a full NBA skill-set. Since Draymond Green has become the new standard for undersized, versatile forwards, Harrell should be next in line. Standing at 6’8″ with a freakish 7’5″ wingspan, Harrell has teams playing close attention as teams look for the next Green.
Coming from a blue-chip program like Louisville and knowing the ins and outs of playing defense, the biggest questions with Harrell will be his offense and what position he’s best suited for. He averaged a flashy 16.7 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Cardinals, but his junkyard dog mentality will fit in nicely in Houston. One red flag at the draft combine was his body fat percentage, 11.9 percent.
19. Washington Wizards – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
The Wizards are an up-and-coming team in the East and while they may be hoping Kevin Durant returns home next summer, they must first await Paul Pierce’s decision with his player option.
Hollis-Jefferson is an intriguing prospect who could be a lock-down defender of multiple positions at the NBA level. Hollis-Jefferson recently tweeted that he was looking forward to dunking on Serge Ibaka when he joins the NBA.
Like Ibaka, Hollis-Jefferson will make his living in the NBA as a defender, but can also finish in transition and rebound pretty well. Due to his lack of offensive skills and polish, Hollis-Jefferson probably slips to a team in the late teens or early 20’s.
Otto Porter’s growth could impact the Wizards’ thinking, but there’s also the fact that Paul Pierce is not getting any younger and sounded uncertain about his future after Washington’s second round loss to Atlanta. Adding Hollis-Jefferson, who could play a Draymond Green-like role and allow Porter to slide over to SF, could help the Wizards improve even if The Truth retires or goes elsewhere.
Porter’s play in the second round will have a major impact on which need the Wizards choose to address in the draft.
20. Toronto Raptors – Bobby Portis, PF Arkansas
Toronto is a team to watch on draft night, as it seems the last few years they’ve hit their ceiling and need to shake things up. It’s hard not to look at Portis and see all the potential he has. Several executives I spoke with in Chicago were gushing over Portis and his competitive streak.
Portis has tremendous length and moves well for his size. Combined with the ability to face up and step out beyond the arc, Portis can be an inside-out threat, and we all know how much NBA teams value stretch fours.
In fact, the Raptors probably have more of a need for a stretch-four than any other team in the NBA not named the Knicks. Toronto could have used a player like Portis in their opening round exit to the Wizards.
Portis measured 6’10” and weighed 246 pounds at the combine, but he definitely must get stronger to play in the NBA and be effective rebounding at that level.
CONTINUE READING: PICKS 21-30