Now that the college basketball season has started, the whole world has now seen the best NBA draft prospects. It is never too early to look ahead, as many NBA teams are already focused on the future rather than the present. Here is the NBA Mock Draft January 11. (Draft order from NBADraft.net)
1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Zion Williamson, F, Duke
Williamson has gotten to show off his skills at Duke this season. He is really athletic, but is more than just a highlight reel player. The Cavaliers would be lucky to get another once in a generation player.
2. Phoenix Suns- R.J. Barrett, G/F, Duke
The Suns do desperately need a point guard, but they can’t pass up on Barrett. Barrett has a polished offensive game, but does need to distribute the ball more. Phoenix can get a point guard through a different avenue.
3. New York Knicks- Ja Morant, PG, Murray State
Morant is generating NBA buzz and is definitely worth watching when Murray State plays. He’s got great athleticism and sets up his teammates well. The Knicks have lacked a point guard for a long time.
4. Chicago Bulls- Cam Reddish, G/F, Duke
At Duke, Reddish takes a backseat to Williamson and Barrett, but still has great athletic ability and traits that help him score. Chicago has a nice young core, but they need to keep adding the best player available.
5. Atlanta Hawks- Keldon Johnson, G/F, Kentucky
Johnson has been the best player on Kentucky this season. He has good athleticism and scores well, while also putting a good effort in on defense. The Hawks have Trae Young and John Collins, but need to find some better wing players.
6. Washington Wizards- Rui Hachimura, F, Gonzaga
This pick will be hard to predict until the Wizards make some moves. For now, Hachimura could help stretch the floor and allow the Wizards to play small ball.
7. Orlando Magic- Darrius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
Garland is out for the season with a meniscus injury. Due to a limited number of quality point guards in this draft class and his talent, he still could be drafted early. Orlando needs someone who can run the team.
8. Detroit Pistons- Romeo Langford, G, Indiana
Langford has proven the ability to get to the basket, but needs to shoot better to improve his stock. Detroit needs better wing play if they are going to compete.
9. Boston Celtics- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Virginia Tech
There are a lot of improved players in college basketball, but Alexander-Walker is right up there with all of them. After averaging 10.7 points as a freshman, he is now putting up 17.8 points per game. This is a luxury pick for the Celtics, as all they’ll need to do is replenish some of their bench that they’ll likely lose this offseason.
10. Atlanta Hawks- Bol Bol, C, Oregon
After sustaining a foot injury, Bol is out for the season. He has still retained a lot of his value because of his ability to protect the rim and play like a guard offensively. With the earlier pick of Johnson, the Hawks can get a player to pair with Collins in the post.
11. New Orleans Pelicans- Jarrett Culver, G, Texas Tech
Culver has played so well he could be an All-American. He has a solid three-point shot and plays good defense. If the Pelicans keep Anthony Davis, they need better play off the ball on the perimeter.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves- KZ Okpala, F, Stanford
Minnesota still can’t seemingly reach their potential. They can take Okpala as a player that has jumped off the stat sheet this season for Stanford.
13. Boston Celtics- Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky
Bassey may be at Western Kentucky, but he was a good prospect who is now averaging 14.6 points per game. Boston could use some more inside depth.
14. Utah Jazz- Nassir Little, F, North Carolina
While Little was one of the most highly-touted prospects in this recruiting class, he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype yet. His athleticism is still enough to make him a lottery pick.
15. Brooklyn Nets- Kevin Porter, G/F, USC
Porter has only played in a few games this season because of a thigh injury, but showed he could do a little bit of everything on the court.
16. Miami Heat- Sekou Doumbouya, F, France
Doumbouya is just 18 and looks like a player that could thrive if a good coach gets his hands on him.
17. Charlotte Hornets- Bruno Fernando, C, Maryland
As a sophomore Fernando has averaged a double-double in points and rebounds. Charlotte needs more effective bigs.
18. Los Angeles Lakers- Jontay Porter, C, Missouri
He is out for the season with an ACL injury, but Porter would’ve been a first-round pick had he come out last season. The Lakers will need more inside depth with Tyson Chandler aging.
19. Portland Trail Blazers- DeAndre Hunter, G/F, Virginia
Hunter has athleticism and can shoot. Being that he plays at Virginia, it is a given that he knows how to defend.
20. San Antonio Spurs- Naz Reid, C, LSU
LSU is waiting for Reid to take over a game completely, but he is still a solid big man worth first-round consideration.
21. Houston Rockets- Kris WIlkes, F, UCLA
Wilkes has the potential to be a solid “three and D” player, even though he’s shooting worse from deep this year than in his freshman season.
22. Boston Celtics- Jaylen Hoard, F, Wake Forest
His numbers have dipped in ACC Play, but Hoard is still over 15 points per game due to his ability to score on the inside.
23. Boston Celtics- Daniel Gafford, F/C, Arkansas
He may not be the best offensive player, but Gafford has the necessary athleticism and finishing ability to be selected in the middle of the first round.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder- Jalen Smith, F, Maryland
Smith can score and rebound, although he might be too much of an old-school big to be drafted any higher than this.
25. Golden State Warriors- P.J. Washington, PF, Kentucky
Washington has worked on his body and his shot for this season and it has paid off.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- Ashton Hagans, PG, Kentucky
A team looking for a great defender who can also get to the basket, should look at Hagans.
27. Indiana Pacers- Tre Jones, PG, Duke
Just like his brother Tyus, Jones is a floor general who runs the team well.
28. Brooklyn Nets- Jalen McDaniels, F, San Diego State
McDaniels fits the current mold of a big man, as he can handle and shoot better than most bigs in the class.
29. Milwaukee Bucks- Jaylen Hands, PG, UCLA
Hands is a good defensive player and a good shooter, although he’ll need to improve his playmaking ability.
30. San Antonio Spurs- Carsen Edwards, PG, Purdue
Edwards can score in bunches, but doesn’t have prototypical size or athleticism for the NBA.
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