We're fully into workout season during the NBA's pre-draft process, now that the collegiate entry list is finalized and the players are fully committed to the draft. Over the past week, we've seen plenty of agency pro days, which power brokers use in order to control the flow of information and keep the stakes relatively low early on by setting up favorable conditions.
Now that we're moving through pro days though, we're getting into team workout settings, which can sometimes sway a team on a guy. They're long job interviews essentially, with your personality and work being taken into account. This will be a period of heavy misinformation out there as teams look to get their favorites to fall to them, but if you can sift through the B.S. the next month can be a vitally important part of the process.
Here is where my mock draft stands heading into the dog days of draft season.
NBA Mock Draft
| 1. Philadelphia 76ers | |
 | Ben Simmons, SF, LSU: Most signs out of Philadelphia point to Simmons being the guy over Brandon Ingram at this stage, including the obvious rumors that Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor are apparently on the trade block. At least one of those two would likely have to go in order to accommodate Simmons, as it's a pretty strange fit with him at the 4 and one of them at the 5. The LSU all-around star has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft, making him the right pick at No. 1. |
| 2. Los Angeles Lakers | |
 | Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke: Ingram is far from a consolation prize at No. 2. Ingram could have gone No. 1 had the right team gotten the pick, and his combination of shooting ability, scoring in isolation and on switches, and length on defense will be a perfect fit for what Luke Walton will want to build in Los Angeles. Also, from a pure roster construction standpoint, he works perfectly next to D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. |
| 3. Boston Celtics | |
 | Dragan Bender, PF, Israel: There will be a lot of options here for Boston. Trade back, trade out for a player, select a more ready player to try and make a push in the East, or select simply the best long-term option. I've gone with the fourth choice there, having them select Bender in order to shore up their front court and take the perfect fit for the modern NBA in Bender. The 7-foot-1 forward is mobile on defense, shoots it well on offense, and has tremendous basketball IQ in terms of positioning and passing. He'll be an effective NBA player as soon as he gets onto an effective strength and conditioning program. |
| 4. Phoenix Suns | |
 | Jaylen Brown, SG, California: Brown has been much-discussed and somewhat maligned this draft season, with some teams questioning how much they want an intelligent, different-thinking player on their roster. While Brown also has some questions about his game, there's not much use in questioning his upside. At 6-7 with a 7-foot wingspan and tremendous explosiveness, Brown could become an all-star if things broke right for him. He's also a perfect fit next to Phoenix's two point guards or next to Devin Booker. Plus, you might even be able to use him as a small ball 4. |
| 5. Minnesota Timberwolves | |
 | Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky: Murray has been in this spot since the draft order was released. The Kentucky product is a tremendous shooter who will likely be able to contribute in that capacity immediately. If you're selecting him this highly though, you need him to do more with the ball. He showed that ability in high school, but didn't get a chance to at Kentucky. If he can translate that part to the next level, he fits either off the bench or in the starting lineup for the Wolves. |
| 6. New Orleans Pelicans | |
 | Kris Dunn, PG, Providence: This should be Dunn's floor in terms of draft stock, although with Pelicans ownership not exactly being in a particularly stable place at the moment I'm not sure any statement in regard to them is safe. Dunn is the best guard in this draft, an athletic monster at the point guard position who has the size, length, and speed to affect the game at both ends of the floor. He'd be the perfect player to bring in for when Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday are free agents next year. |
| 7. Denver Nuggets | |
 | Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma: The Nuggets were among the worst shooting teams in the league this season. Hield would represent a nice potential upgrade and a perfect fit next to Emmanuel Mudiay due to his ability to space the floor. There would also be some solid defensive versatility there due to Mudiay's ability to guard multiple positions, which could help Hield re-adjust to playing better on the defensive end like he did early in his college career. |
| 8. Sacramento Kings | |
 | Marquese Chriss, PF, Washington: The Kings have to be considered a team that could look to move this pick, as they will be gunning full-stop for the playoffs next year. However, if they can't move the pick, Chriss fits this roster well as a floor-spacing 4, even if he can't necessarily help right away due to his issues on the defensive end. Realistically, there's no one on the board though that you should expect to make an immediate impact for this roster. |
| 9. Toronto Raptors | |
 | Jakob Poeltl, PF, Utah: I've had the Raptors going with stretch 4s for a majority of my mock drafts. However, Poeltl makes just as much sense, as the Raptors are now likely to lose Bismack Biyombo in free agency due to his breakout performance in the playoffs. Yeah, a wing or a stretch-4 might make sense, but Poeltl is the best player remaining on the board and helps what will be a positional need. |
| 10. Milwaukee Bucks | |
 | Henry Ellenson, PF-C, Marquette: Ellenson is the best player available here for the Bucks, who would likely love to try to move up for Kris Dunn but also probably would not want to reach for a point guard here either. If you buy Ellenson as being a potential stretch-five, this fit makes a lot of sense for the Bucks. There's also the fact that the Bucks have likely seen a ton of Ellenson, given that he plays right down the street at Marquette. It's a fit that works. |
| 11. Orlando Magic | |
 | Deyonta Davis, PF, Michigan State: Davis is a high-upside player with good athleticism and explosiveness, particularly on the defensive end. He can move his feet well and be effective in switches already, he crashes the glass, and protects the weak side of the rim. On offense, he's still working on improving his jump shot, but it's possible that will be a weapon soon. He fits with any variety of the Magic's forwards with his ability to play the 4 and the 5. |
| 12. Utah Jazz | |
 | Domantas Sabonis, PF, Gonzaga: The Jazz are likely trying to make a playoff push, and are definitely threats to move this pick. However, if they don't, a player like Sabonis makes sense given that he could contribute early because of his mature game on the boards and efficiency on the glass. He'd become a nice little player as a backup behind Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors. |
| 13. Phoenix Suns | |
| | Skal Labissiere, PF, Kentucky: The Suns have three picks in the first round, and can afford to take a nice home run swing like Labissiere, who has as much upside as anyone in this draft not named Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram. Labissiere also has a world of downside due to the fact that he's still not particularly instinctive and has an immature body, but with pick No. 3 available and a solid developmental system in place, it would be possible for Labissiere to develop at his own pace in Phoenix. |
| 14. Chicago Bulls | |
 | Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame: The Bulls should look to shore up the point guard position behind Derrick Rose. That means any of Wade Baldwin, Tyler Ulis, or Jackson could be on the table here. I'm going with Jackson for now, as his explosiveness, the ability to play with a second point guard on the floor, and his experience in the wide-open type of offense that Fred Holberg wants to run makes this the best fit. |
| 15. Denver Nuggets | |
| | Timothe Luwawu, SG, France: There may not be another team out there that scouts Europe as well as the Nuggets, so they will be well-versed in his game. He's an athletic wing that has improved tremendously this season as a scoring option due to a better jump shot and ball-handling ability. If he can become a player who can hit 3s and defend all three perimeter positions, that would be worthy of a top 15 pick. |
| 16. Boston Celtics | |
| | Denzel Valentine, SG, Michigan State: The Celtics have these three picks, and with them taking Bender earlier that may not be ready to contribute next season, they can select a player here like Valentine who could become a perfect fit for them due to his ability to move the ball in their motion heavy offense and skill shooting on a team that really struggled in that capacity last season. |
| 17. Memphis Grizzlies | |
 | Wade Baldwin IV, SG, Vanderbilt: The Grizzlies may lose Mike Conley to free agency this offseason, and could use a point guard to groom anyway. Baldwin has some upside due to his size and length at the point guard position, and could even be played with Conley if he decides to return due to that 6-11 wingspan that allows him to play on a variety of different players. It would be a pick that helps with contingency plans as well as builds for the future. |
| 18. Detroit Pistons | |
 | Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky: If there is one thing the Pistons need, it's a competent point guard to run the bench unit. They scored fewer points off the bench per game than any other team in the league this year. Ulis is a hyper competent point guard who can run an offense as well as any other player in this draft due to his incredible vision, passing ability, and skill at limiting turnovers. His presence would be a massive upgrade early over Steve Blake. |
| 19. Denver Nuggets | |
| | Taurean Prince, SF, Baylor: Prince does have a bit of overlap with Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari positionally, but his ability to bring size and scoring and floor spacing could open up some potential to move those players for future assets and continue to build around their earlier selections, Mudiay, Nikola Jokic, and Jusuf Nurkic. |
| 20. Indiana Pacers | |
 | Damian Jones, PF, Vanderbilt: The Pacers really need a big man inside, and Jones fits the bill as an athletic forward who can play in the pick-and-roll and protect the rim. It's not the most ideal fit necessarily with Myles Turner, but Jones would provide more depth inside for a team that was playing Lavoy Allen and Jordan Hill legitimate minutes and will also lose Solomon Hill from their rotation due to his free agency. |
| 21. Atlanta Hawks | |
 | DeAndre' Bembry, SF, Saint Joseph's: The Hawks seem likely to lose Kent Bazemore in free agency if they hold out to keep Al Horford, meaning there will be a bit of a hole on the wing. Bembry is a smart, smooth wing who can do it all on the floor outside of shoot, and the Hawks will have the ability to surround him with Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and even Tim Hardaway Jr. to counteract that. Bembry would be a really nice fit here, especially given that he could be able to play relatively early. |
| 22. Charlotte Hornets | |
 | Brice Johnson, PF, North Carolina: It's not above Michael Jordan to get North Carolina guys into the mix with the Hornets. Just this season alone, he had both Marvin Williams and Tyler Hansbrough on the roster, and moved P.J. Hairston earlier in the year. Johnson would help shore up a front court that will likely lose Williams and Al Jefferson to free agency. He was one of the most productive players in college basketball as well, something Jordan has also had a predisposition to in his tenure with the Hornets. |
| 23. Boston Celtics | |
| | Ante Zizic, C, Croatia: This is a pure stash scenario here for a team that has eight selections in the draft. Many people like Ivica Zubac better than Zizic around the league, but it's been reported that he may try to come over as soon as possible. That doesn't help the Celtics, who already have a relatively full roster and need to find a way to make room for all of the potential selections they could bring in this season. For his part, Zizic is leading the Adriatic League in rebounding this year, and has been one of the most productive players overseas. |
| 24. Philadelphia 76ers | |
| | Ivica Zubac, C, Croatia: Zubac has had a strange trek this season, joining three separate teams due to issues with pay. He's finally back on the floor now for Mega Leks though, and playing well averaging 10 points, five rebounds and over a block and a half in 22 minutes per game for the Serbian club that could see four players selected in this draft. His upside is tremendous, and now that he's found a home maybe he'd be willing to stay stashed for another season in order to help a Sixers' team out that has multiple picks. But he's very worthy of this selection based on his skills. |
| 25. Los Angeles Clippers | |
 | Malik Beasley, SG, Florida State: The Clippers need some scoring punch from the wing off of the bench. Beasley would be a perfect guy to bring that as he's a good shooter from all over the floor with a mature, polished game to pair with solid athleticism. He'd be a solid upside player for L.A. |
| 26. Philadelphia 76ers | |
| | Malachi Richardson, SG, Syracuse: This is another upside play for a Sixers team that needs players, particularly at this spot on the wing. Richardson is one of the more polarizing prospects in the draft. Fans of his look at his ability to create shots and his length and assume that he'll be able to iron out the rougher parts of his game. Detractors think he's an inefficient chucker who is riding this wave of draft momentum based on a small sample of NCAA Tournament games. I tend to fall into the latter camp and don't have him rated in the first round, but there are plenty of teams who do like him and it's likely he hears his name called within the first 30 picks. |
| 27. Toronto Raptors | |
| | Petr Cornelie, PF, France : Cornelie is a 6-foot-11 stretch four prospect who is hitting over 40 percent of his 3s in France right now for Le Mans. The shot will translate well, as will his athleticism and mobility as a player who can rise and dunk and defend on the perimeter for his size. The question with him is whether or not his body will fill out enough to handle the pounding of the NBA, as he's still extremely skinny in his upper body. He's a draft and stash type for a Raptors team that could use a stretch four prospect in its pipeline. |
| 28. Phoenix Suns | |
| | Patrick McCaw, SG, UNLV: The Suns in this mock draft have already taken a pair of forwards, so let's give them a guard here -- albeit one who can do some different things from the ones they have already. McCaw is a smart, skilled, smooth player who can really defend and force turnovers defensively. Plus, his size could help a team that will likely want a bit more on the wing as well as in the backcourt. He's still relatively inconsistent, but his package of skills including his defense, passing, and potential to shoot make him a solid potential role player. |
| 29. San Antonio Spurs | |
 | Juan Hernangomez, PF, Spain: Hernangomez won the ACB's young player of the year award this year, and it seems likely he will be selected in the first round as a result. The Spurs know how to use guys like this, as Hernangomez's ability to space the floor, attack closeouts, and play unselfishly would be a really nice fit in their offense. Also, he could stay over in Spain for another season, which would give the transitional Spurs a bit more wiggle room in terms of free agency this offseason. |
| 30. Golden State Warriors | |
 | Cheick Diallo, C, Kansas: It's hard to imagine a better fitting big man for the Warriors than Diallo. Want a big who can run the floor with your guards? He's among the best to enter the draft in the last decade. Someone who can play in pick-and-roll. Yup, Diallo can do that on offense. Defensively, a player who can switch onto guards and handle them with his length and mobility? He has potential to do that, too. Plus, he projects as a plus rim protector due to his length. This would be a really nice upside pick for a team that can afford to take a risk. |
