By: Alex Sommerfield Accurately predicting professional sports drafts is an incredibly tough thing to do. You have to do all the scouting and talk to all these team representatives to see what certain teams are looking for, and then you have to listen to all these rumors about who teams may or may not take. It is so difficult, in fact, that there are people who dedicate their livelihood to predicting the draft, those people are even paid quite nicely by large sports media companies. But how accurate are these people who predict professional sports drafts? ESPN’s Mel Kiper accurately predicted 4/32 first round draft picks in this years NFL draft. So why are we trusting these experts? Well they do tell us who will be drafted high and they normally get the picks close to right (off by a couple picks or so). Either way, I decided to give it a shot and do a full two round NBA mock draft going off of my knowledge, what “experts” are saying, team needs, how a player fits in a certain organization, and my own thoughts about how NBA franchises should fill their teams. So here we go… 1. Philly- Markelle Fultz 6’5” PG - Washington If the Celtics were picking here I would probably say someone else. It has been widely talked about that Fultz was on the JV basketball team at his high school until his junior year and him becoming the number one player in the nation coming out of high school is some crazy accomplishment considering his JV status. But the high school he came from, DeMatha, is somewhat of a basketball power house, so not as impressive, but still impressive and I can’t really talk because he’s way better than me. Fultz will help lead the sixers, along with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to the playoffs next year you mark my words. 2. Lakers- De’Aaron Fox 6’4” PG - Kentucky The Ball family doesn’t get their wish. I'd really like Lonzo if it wasn’t for his dad. Oh well. Plus, Fox has basically dominated 1-on-1 matchups against Ball when they’ve faced each other. I guess I’m buying in to the the hype that the Lakers weren’t totally sold on Lonzo and that he was out of shape at his workout. I think I’m also drinking the 'Lonzo Ball’s shot looks funky and the Lakers don’t like it' cool-aid. 3. Boston- Josh Jackson 6’8” SF - Kansas Apparently this is who Boston wanted anyways. If there was a more dominant big guy in this draft, I would probably say they take him here. Jackson can add to the SF spot and can maybe help Boston start using a small lineup 4. PHX- Lauri Markkanen 6’10” PF - Arizona Him and Dragan Bender together could be an interesting combination. Phoenix has enough guards anyways, Lonzo would just get in the way, so unless they have some draft night trade for Deandre Jordan, Lonzo continues to fall 5. Sacramento- Lonzo Ball 6’6” PG - UCLA The Chosen One is finally taken!!! Sacramento will basically take anyone at this point because they have nobody that good on their roster. And the front office in Sac town is probably too dumb to worry about Lonzo’s dad. But if Lonzo decides to play for the Kings, then he and Willie Cauley-Stein would be scary. 6. Orlando- Malik Monk 6’6” SG - Kentucky The Magic are kind of in the same boat as Sacramento; they just need to add any talent they can find. Monk’s scoring and exciting athletic ability could bring more high flying fun to the city of Magic. (does anybody call it that?) Maybe just another Oladipo to add to Orlando’s back court. 7. Minnesota- Jayson Tatum 6’8” SF - Duke The T-Wolves add to their young talented core. Tatum is probably a better scorer than Andrew Wiggins which could slide Wiggins to the PF spot to make room for Tatum in the starting rotation. PG-Dunn SG-LaVine SF-Tatum PF- Wiggins C-Towns. With that lineup the T-Wolves should make the playoffs next year in the tough western conference. 8. NY- Dennis Smith 6’4” PG – NC State If The Unicorn doesn’t get traded from the Knickerbockers, then that should be another fun pick and roll combo. 9. Dallas –Frank Ntilikina 6’5” PG – France Don’t know much about this guy, but he’s pretty highly ranked and Dallas needs an exciting young point guard. Only 18 years old, very athletic, good defender who can shoot a little bit. Didn’t put up the greatest numbers in Europe though. 10. Sacramento- Justin Jackson 6’8” SF - -North Carolina So more scoring talent falls in the hands of the Kings. 11. Jordan (Charlotte)- Ike Anigbogu 6’10” PF – UCLA Very athletic, very long, very raw. A good comparison to Bismack Biyombo who was also drafted by MJ. 12. Detroit- Luke Kennard 6’6” SG - Duke Is there anybody else in Detroit who can even score? Well now they have someone. 13. Denver- Jonathan Isaac 6’10” SF – Florida State Could be a nice fit with the Nuggets or could be a good trade piece. 14. Miami- Zach Collins 7’0” PF – Gonzaga A surprise to some that he came out after one year at Gonzaga. Him, Hassan Whiteside and, the best player in the world, Dion Waiters will look to pick up where they left off at the end of last season. Collins could push them over the top when his ability to score both inside and outside. Somewhat of a Chris Bosh replacement. 15. Portlandia- Jarrett Allen 7’0” C – Texas The Trailblazers finally have their dominant big man that can push them further in the playoffs, but they still need to add a couple more pieces to be a real championship contender. 16. Chicago- Isaiah Hartenstein 7’0” PF – Europe Comparing him to Porzingis because you’re only allowed to compare tall European white guys to tall European white guys. 17. Milwaukee- Harry Giles 6’11” PF – Duke The Bucks get another young, athletic, lengthy player to add to their roster. As long as Giles stays healthy he could be a big impact for them. 18. Indiana- DJ Wilson 6’10” PF – Michigan We saw him during Michigan’s nice run during March Madness. Now that Paul George is on his way out, the Pacers need another low-key up and comer to build around like George was coming out of Fresno State. 19. ATL- Bam Adebayo – 6’10” C – Kentucky Overpowering big man with an NBA ready body. A Dwight Howard replacement with less drama. 20. Portlandia- Jordan Bell 6’9” PF – Oregon Bell stays in Oregon, Trailblazers now have two very productive big man to go with their stars in the back court. 21. Seattle I mean OKC (But really Seattle)- OG Anunoby 6’8” SF – Indiana I’ve heard this guys pretty good and OKC will just add any talent they can get around Russ. 22. Brooklyn- Donovan Mitchell 6’3” SG – Louisville The Nets will take any talent they can get. Mitchell is a pretty highly rated prospect so if he falls this far, the Nets shouldn’t think twice. A good two guard to go along with newly acquired D’Angelo Russell. 23. The 6- Dillon Brooks 6’7” SF – Oregon The Canadian goes back to Canada. Now the Raptors have someone who can actually shoot the three ball consistently. 24. Utah- Terrance Ferguson 6’7” SF – Australia Played in Australia last year after originally signing at SMU. Can jump out of the gym and if Gordon Hayward leaves he would be a nice developmental piece to eventually take over. Signed with Under Armour. 25. Orlando- John Collins 6’10” PF – Wake Forest Dropped pretty far, drafting best available, possible trade piece as Orlando is pretty deep at that spot already. 26. Portlandia- Semi Ojeleye 6’7” SF – SMU I don’t know who this guy is really, but Portland is pretty good at taking a somewhat unknown guy and turning them in to a borderline super star. Portland uses their three first round picks very well. 27. Lakers- Caleb Swanigan 6’9” – Purdue A lot was made about this guy and his massive weight loss. The Lakers just traded for Brook Lopez but they have been lacking a big guy for a while now and Swanigan can certainly help the Lakers be a playoff team next year with help from their other very talented youngsters. 28. Lakers- Tyler Dorsey 6’5” SG – Oregon An LA guy returns home. Another talented young guy they can add to their core. Presumably the backup to Jordan Clarkson. Dorsey is added to a little less crowded backcourt now that Mr. Ice in his veins is gone. 29. San Antonio- Justin Patton 7’0” C – Creighton The Spurs could go a lot of different ways this summer. One choice they could make is to go younger. Patton could be the young big guy they don’t have as the rest of the young guys they have fill up the rest of the future starting five, this pick might move Pau Gasol out of San Antonio. 30. Utah- Kyle Kuzma 6’9” PF – Utah The guy who played his college ball in Utah stays in Utah. Kuzma is smart, bouncy and knows his role. Utah is an ideal landing spot for Kuzma as they are ready to chase a ring. 31. NOLA- Derrick White 6’5” SG – Colorado From DII player of the year to NBA draft pick. The Pelicans now have a shooter to space the floor for Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Jrue Holiday. 32. PHX- Tyler Lydon 6’10 SF – Syracuse A good add to the SF depth for the Suns. 33. Orlando- Frank Mason III 5’11” PG – Kansas The Naismith Player of the Year calls an end to the Elfrid Payton era for the Magic. 34. Sacramento- Ivan Rabb 6’10” PF – Cal The Kings are filling out their roster nicely through this draft. Too bad their front office will probably screw it up some how. 35. Orlando- Thomas Bryant 6’10” C – Indiana Basically just drafting the best player available at this point, possibly a good trade chip. 36. Philly- Josh Hart 6’6” SG – Villanova The Villanova hooper gets to stay in Philly, should be a nice experienced role player for the playoff bound Sixers next year. 37. Boston- Tony Bradley 6’10” C – UNC Showed in the National Championship game that he can dominate the glass, something the Celtics desperately need. 38. Chicago- Johnathan Motley 6’9” PF – Baylor Adds some depth to their thin front count. 39. Philly- Frank Jackson 6’4” SG – Duke The Sixers get some outside scoring they most certainly need with all the inside scoring they get from their big guys. 40. ATL- Mathias Lessort 6’9” PF – Europe Explosive big man who could eventually replace Paul Millsap. 41. Jordan- Sterling Brown 6’6” SG – SMU Best available when drafting for need, which almost makes sense. Either way MJ has made some strange draft choices in the past. 42. Utah- LJ Peak 6’5” SG – Georgetown Sure why not. 43. Houston- Anzejs Pasecniks 7’2” C – Europe Another Porzingis comparison because he’s white and from Europe and is about the same height. 44. NY- Jawun Evans 6’1” PG – Oklahoma State The Knicks take another point guard because Phil Jackson just doesn’t care anymore. 45. Houston- Alec Peters 6’9” PF – Valpo Tall white guy, hopefully he can shoot some threes because that’s all the Rockets want to do. 46. Philly- Devin Robinson 6’8” SF – Florida Beginning the list of random picks. 47. Indiana- Jaron Blossomgame 6’7” SF - Clemson 48. Milwaukee- Nigel Williams-Goss 6’4” PG - Gonzaga The Bucks finally get a true point guard. Could be key in getting the Bucks further in the playoffs 49. Mile High- Alberto Abalde 6’7” SF – Europe Since the Nuggets have been pretty successful with overseas players. 50. Philly- Sindarius Thornwell 6’5” SG – South Carolina Philadelphia gets the player who helped lead the Gamecocks to the Final Four. Great player who could thrive from being over looked and really help Philly off the bench. 51. Denver- Nigel Hayes 6’7” PF – Wisconsin Hayes finally gets the money he deserved from playing in college. 52. Fighting John Walls – Chris Boucher 6’10” PF – Oregon Skinny, tall shooter who can help spread the floor for John Wall. Great shot blocker as well. 53. Boston- Przemek Karnowski 7’1” C – Gonzaga We will see how his old school back to the basket game translates to the NBA but the Celtics have loaded up their front court. 54. PHX- Dwayne Bacon 6’5” SF – Florida State I like his name. 55. Utah- VJ Beachem 6’8” SF – Notre Dame Another possible Gordon Hayward replacement. 56. Boston- Isaiah Hicks 6’8” PF – UNC Overpowering rebounder. 57. Brooklyn- Kennedy Meeks 6’9” C – UNC See 56. 58. NY- Jonah Bolden 6’10” PF – Europe Random Europe guy since Porzingis worked out so well. 59. San Antonio- Bronson Koenig 6'4" PG - Wisconsin Sharp shooter from Wisconsin is a steal for the Spurs. 60. ATL- Marcus Keene 5’9” PG – Central Michigan Mr. irrelevant for the NBA draft is the nation’s leading scorer. The next Isaiah Thomas?
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