by: Frase & Nate Underdog
1. Orlando
Frase: I think they end up going Jabari Smith at 1. They have Carter Jr, Mo Bamba, Jonathan Isaac will be coming back. I’m not sure where he fits, but they’ll make it work. Smith is a next level athlete with an arm span as wide as a bridge. He has the potential to be an elite pro defender and he’ll have some rim rattling SportsCenter highlight dunks early in career.
Nate Underdog: While I agree with Frase I think Jabari Smith goes #1. I think its because he covers what I think Orlando needs SHOOTING and with great size, great defense and a versatile inside outside game I think he’s a perfect fit here. He might actually be able to defend 1-5 with his length, quick feet and timing.
2. OKC
Frase: Chet Holmgren. The Thunder feel like the type of franchise that welcome projects. While Holmgren certainly has some skills that will translate right away, his very slight frame could be a problem. I worry if an NBA center farts on Holmgren in the post he’s going to end up with a broken femur. However, if he puts on some weight him and Giddy could be a nasty duo years down the road.
Nate Underdog: Paolo Banchero. I just don’t know how OKC can pass on this kid, he has an excellent mid-range game, great turnaround jumper, and I love his jab-step jumper. A little rough around the edges from the 3pt line but he’s improving. Watching him this past season I think he might even be more athletic than Jabari I think his skill set is a cant pass here at 2.
3. Houston
Frase: Paolo Banchero, he was a stud at Duke this past season. He seems to have a basketball IQ above his age. You plug Banchero right in at PF to go with Christian Wood at Center. That’s a long, athletic, good shooting front court. Then you pair that with the young guns in the back court Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. and Houston just might be onto something. A strong pick for the Rockets here.
Nate Underdog: Chet Holmgren. I Feel dirty even saying it here at 3 personally. I understand all the skill set and size this kid has. Huge upside I understand it. You can bring anything you want to the table about this kid and I would listen, but in the end I would say he weighs less than 1 of my yorkies and I think he’s going to be broken in half at the NBA level. With that said I think its logical for Houston to take him here at 3 with all his upside and the ability to move Wood back to the 4 where he is more comfortable.
4. Kings:
Frase: They traded away young promising guard Haliburton, and they’ll fill the void by drafting shooting guard Jaden Ivey. I worry that players that go to Sacramento sometimes fade into oblivion. While Ivey had certain games at Purdue last season where he really stood out, I worry he might fall into the Sacramento trap. Optimistically though – Ivey meshes perfectly with Fox and Sabonis and they have a nice 3-man punch in Sac town.
Nate Underdog: AJ Griffin. They have a backcourt in Fox, drafted Davion Mitchell last year so I don’t think they go guard here. AJ Griffin is the perfect pick and fit for them here he’s a 3 and D guy who shoots the ball at an elite level. With Fox and Mitchell ability to drive and dish he will have a ton of open shots. Only problem here is we are talking about the Kings 1 of the worst owned franchises in all of sports for all I know they go and take Patrick Baldwin Jr and sell me he was a top 5 pick.
5. Pistons:
Frase: Nate Underdog is going to will his Pistons to take his guy Keegan Murray here. He’s a heady player that won’t seem like a rookie. He’s a tall wing that can shoot from outside with a nice touch. He’s not afraid to bang in the post, but that’s a part of his game he’ll need to continue to improve in the Association. This would be a nice piece to add with breakout rookie star Cade Cunningham.
Nate Underdog: KEEGAN MURRAY !!!!!! as Frase so elegantly put it this is my GUY!! He will be 22 by the time the season starts, so he’s already got that grown man mentality going into the season, and he made a huge leap from his freshman to sophomore year. Offensively I love this guy he can shoot, he can drive, he can get to the line. I want to see him progress on D and become a better team player, sometimes I think he gets a little to greedy. But with Cunningham and Bey he’s a perfect fit.
6. Pacers:
Frase: The great unknown Shaedon Sharpe goes off the board. There is not a lot of film on this kid which makes him a great mystery. In his limited available film, he certainly looks like a pro level explosive athlete on both sides of the ball. He could potentially be a great puzzle piece to add with Haliburton and big man Turner for the Pacers.
Nate Underdog: Shaedon Sharpe: Indiana is guard heavy so I don’t love this prediction, but I can’t see anywhere else for them to really go, personally I would like to see them reach a little and take Tari Eason here I think he gives them more what they need. But with very little known about Sharpe all I can really say is he was the 3 ranked prospect coming out of high school.
7. Trail Blazers:
Frase: Although Dame was visibly sad at the lottery that they didn’t get a top 4 pick, AJ Griffin would be a good fit here. Banchero was the Duke player that got all the attention, but this kid can flat out play. He would slide in at the SF position with the backcourt of a returning Dame dolla, and breakout star Anfernee Simmons. Griffin is a solid all-around player that can score in a variety of ways and is a willing defender. This pick would help sure up Portland’s starting unit.
Nate Underdog: Jaden Ivey: How he falls this far is crazy to me, but I think he does, and he puts that smile on Dame’s face that Frase said he was missing. He gets his new version of CJ all shiny, young, and athletic. This man attacks the rim, hits big shots, isn’t scared of the moment and could potentially be a lethal defender if u push him to it.
8. Pelicans:
Frase: Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona. He’s a natural athlete with a great catch and shoot ability. With CJ, Ingram, a returning Zion, and big man Valanciunas, shots may be hard to come by his rookie year. But he can fill that fifth starter spot they need and provide New Orleans with hustle and shot making ability when his number is called.
Nate Underdog: Ochai Agbaji: They have plenty of offensive weapons, but not a ton of shooting and defense. He’s an older prospect stayed all 4yrs in college but a perfect sixth man, 3 and D wing who works hard and can improve.
9. Spurs:
Frase: Wisconsin’s do it all guard/ forward Johnny Davis. He seems like he’d fit the Spurs culture seamlessly. He gives it his all defensively, he loves to play gritty and get buckets down low, and he has a reliable jump shot when left open. Spurs star guard Dejounte Murray should love this addition, as it would help space the floor and make Murray’s job a bit easier during the grind of the NBA season.
Nate Underdog: Nikola Jovic: who loves international players more than POP? He can score at all 3 levels and is very solid defensively so in 3 years with pop this kid will be a hall of fame talent.
10. Wizards:
Frase: G league standout Dyson Daniels. I will admit I do not watch G league basketball, but Daniels amassed a very nice highlight tape from last season. He’s an Aussie hooper who compares to his countryman Josh Giddey. A very high IQ player with great court vision who loves to get his teammates involved, exactly the type of player the Wizards need next season with Beal, Porzingis and Kuzma needing to fire up a lot of shots.
Nate Underdog: Jeremy Sochan: I will start with he needs to improve his 3-point shooting. But he’s comfortable shooting it from the outside, can guard any position, I think he has a long career as a solid role player.
11. Knicks:
Frase: Kansas shooting guard/ small forward Ochai Agbaji. As a Knicks fan I hope we trade this pick at some point before the season starts. If we don’t, this pick makes the most sense. The Knicks have collected a very nice group of young players. Agbaji is the rare lottery pick that is coming off his senior year in college. I think his experience (leading the Jayhawks to a national championship in March) and his steady level of increased play year to year makes sense as the pick here. The Knicks do not need another 19-year-old player.
Nate Underdog: Malaki Branham: As much as I hate Ohio State, and trust me I do… This kid is a perfect fit for the Knicks he’s highly efficient almost 54% from 2 pointers and nearly 42% from 3. He won big 10 freshman of the year honors. He needs to improve on the Defensive end but offensively he gives the Knicks something they desperately need
12. Thunder:
Frase: Memphis big man Jalen Duran. The Thunder draft their front court for the next 10 years in 2022. Duran and Holmgren would defend the rim, rebound, and slam dunk the basketball as a very dynamic big man duo. Duran is a great defender that can switch onto guards, and he’s physical down low. This would give OKC future star Giddey a lot more freedom to do his thing next season.
Nate Underdog: Dyson Daniels: I think he’s a great playmaker who needs to work on his outside shot. I think he’s a project, but I think this is the team that takes a shot on his raw abilities.
13. Hornets:
Frase: Jeremy Sochan, forward, Baylor. This gives the Hornets a position-less big man that has his mind on defense and defense on his mind. This could be a great fit for the hornets as they have a lot of guys that want to score but need some help on the defensive side of the court. It’s always curious to see who MJ is going to draft, he’s been doing much better lately.
Nate Underdog: Johnny Davis: I love how hard this guy goes all the time on both ends of the floor. He has a good mid-range game and can attack the rim but brings that same intensity on the defensive end. He’s a perfect off the ball guard for Ball but he will need to turn some of those mid-range shots into 3pt shots.
14. Cavaliers:
Frase: Kentucky guard TyTy Washington. After a regular season that exceeded expectations, the Cavs may be looking to move injured guard Colin Sexton. This would open the door for TyTy to join the Cleveland roster. He’s a good midrange scorer with a potentially elite passing ability at the next level.
Nate Underdog: Kendall Brown: great size with the ability to shoot and play defense with the bigs in the middle and the guard play they have I think he’s the perfect fit at the 3.
This years NBA Draft will take place June 23rd.
