Hello everybody! The NBA Playoffs have concluded, and next stop for the NBA train is the NBA Draft. This version of this year’s 2021 NBA mock draft is similar to the previous one. However, the order and some predictions have changed. I’m looking forward to this year’s draft as it has the makings of what could be a wild draft night!
Most experts, myself included, seem to agree on who will go in the top five in their mock drafts. However, they aren’t all aligned on who will fall exactly where. Something interesting about this year’s draft class is that there are a lot of teams who should be looking for a big man, but there doesn’t appear to be a ton of NBA-ready big men available.
I’m just as excited as any for this year’s draft though. This is the type of class where a team could find a long-term superstar from the second round or even an undrafted free agent. The 2021 draft class does seem oddly somewhat like the 2020 class. On the surface, it appeared top-heavy but once we dug in we found some untapped diamonds.
I expect plenty of shockers in the draft this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few teams trade out of the draft. However, I am basing this mock draft on no first-round trades. This mock draft was made using the 2021 team needs from freeagentforecast.com as well as other sources. Good luck to anyone betting NBA Draft props and I hope this serves as a great tool to base your picks off of.
2021 NBA Mock Draft 3.0
| # | Team | Pick | Pos | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Pistons | Cade Cunningham | PG | Oklahoma State |
| The Pistons landed the first pick of the draft, and it's hard to picture them going any other way than Cade Cunningham. They are set to lose a ton of guards this year, and Cunningham will be ready to step in and start from day one. | ||||
| 2 |  Rockets | Jalen Green | SG | G League |
| Houston's rebuilding process starts here with this pick. Although there's a couple ways they can go here I like the Rockets taking Jalen Green. His G League experience is a plus and his dynamic scoring will give Houston a wing scoring threat. | ||||
| 3 |  Cavs | Evan Mobley | C | USC |
| I expect the Cavs to aim for a big man early in this draft. Although they have Kevin Love and Jarrett Allen, they are still lacking in the big man department. USC's Evan Mobley would fill that role and be a great addition to a decent roster. | ||||
| 4 |  Raptors | Jonathan Kuminga | SF/PF | G League |
| Given that Toronto resigns Kyle Lowry, I believe their eyes will be set on grabbing Jonathan Kuminga here. One of the Raptors' biggest struggles last season was their big men. Kuminga will be ready to step in from day one and play meaningful minutes. | ||||
| 5 |  Magic | Jalen Suggs | PG/SG | Gonzaga |
| I picture the Magic going for Jalen Suggs here. Although his offense isn't the strongest, he makes up for his inconsistencies by playing hard-nosed defense. Orlando needs a ton, and it all starts with taking Suggs here. | ||||
| 6 |  Thunder | Scottie Barnes | SF | Florida State |
| I like Oklahoma City taking Scottie Barnes with this pick. His ball-handling skills are very strong for a player his size, and he can defend anyone on the court. With the Thunder in rebuild mode, expect some gambles with players such as Barnes. | ||||
| 7 |  Warriors | Davion Mitchell | PG | Baylor |
| If the Warriors hold onto this pick, expect them to target someone that can instantly contribute. Davion Mitchell is a player that fits this bill. He had a strong year with Baylor last year where he shot 45% from deep which fits right into Golden State's gameplan. | ||||
| 8 | Magic | Franz Wagner | SF/PF | Michigan |
| Since Orlando has addressed their wing depth issue, I like for them to take Franz Wagner here. His defense is outstanding and he can be a strong scorer as well. The Magic also need some forward depth, and this would be a great start to fill that void. | ||||
| 9 |  Kings | Alperen Sengun | PF/C | Turkey |
| The Kings have already worked out Alperen Sengun and they have two centers set to become free agents this offseason. I believe they could elect to let one or both walk and target the strong EuroLeague player with the ninth pick. | ||||
| 10 |  Pelicans | Moses Moody | SG | Arkansas |
| The Pelicans aren't a team who needs a ton, but they need consistent scorers to aid Zion Williamson. Moses Moody is one of the best offensive players available in the draft and New Orleans is a good fit for him. He is a solid shooter who is ready to come in and start at SG from day one. | ||||
| 11 |  Hornets | Josh Giddey | SG/SF | Austrailia |
| Charlotte taking Josh Giddey makes total sense here. He played in Austrailia in the same league that LaMelo Ball played for which means he should be ready to face professional athletes. He would add great depth behind Gordon Hayward who's had his share of injury problems over the years as well. | ||||
| 12 |  Spurs | Kai Jones | PF/C | Texas |
| The Spurs are in need of a solid starting big man. They have already worked out Kai Jones, and I believe they pull the trigger on him here. He is great in transition and can guard just about anyone on the floor which Pops has to love. | ||||
| 13 |  Pacers | Tre Mann | PG | Florida |
| Indiana will look to add some backcourt depth and a needed boost in offense here with Tre Mann. Although he is listed as a point guard, his 6'5" frame should allow him to see plenty of time at both the one and the two, and there's even a chance he comes in as a day one starter at shooting guard. | ||||
| 14 | Warriors | Filip Petrusev | C | Serbia |
| I believe the Warriors will look to add some depth to their frontcourt if they keep both of their first round picks here. Filip Petrusev is a versatile big man who played two years at Gonzaga before playing in Serbia last season. He could play the four or the five, and would add some much needed depth for Golden State. | ||||
| 15 |  Wizards | Corey Kispert | SF | Gonzaga |
| Washington will be licking their chops at a chance to grab Corey Kispert here. He is a big-sized wing who is one of the best shooters in this draft. He will be a dangerous third option in an offensive attack behind Westbrook and Beal for a Wizards team who needs just a little more help. | ||||
| 16 | Thunder | Sharife Cooper | PG | Auburn |
| The Thunder have held a three day workout with Sharife Cooper, and they wil be all over him here I believe. He is an outstanding ball handler which will allow SGA to move back to the two and really open up the floor for OKC. | ||||
| 17 |  Grizzlies | Keon Johnson | SG | Tennessee |
| I believe that Keon Johnson will slide down the draft board and fall into the hands of Memphis here. He is a nifty athlete who excells on both ends of the floor. His biggest selling point is his hard-nosed defense though which plays right into the philosophy of the Grizzlies. | ||||
| 18 | Thunder | Luka Garza | C | Iowa |
| Many draft boards have Luka Garza going second round, but I don't believe that will be the case. There's quite a few teams who are looking for a big man, and his dynamic scoring ability will surely grab a look. The Thunder could use a dynamic scoring big man, and Garza fits that bill. | ||||
| 19 |  Knicks | Quentin Grimes | SG | Houston |
| The Knicks were reportedly "wowed" by Quentin Grimes's pre-draft workout and I believe they take him with this pick. He will add some much needed guard depth and can even run the point if he is needed to. | ||||
| 20 |  Hawks | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | PF | Villanova |
| This is the missing piece that Atlanta needs. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has some of the best basketball IQ in the draft, and this makes up for his less-than-ideal athleticism. He will make a great pairing down low for the Hawks alongside Clint Capela and he could be in the running to take John Collins's starting job. | ||||
| 21 | Knicks | Charles Bassey | C | Western Kentucky |
| Since New York has addressed their issue at the guard position with their last pick, this is a great time to add a dominant center. Charles Bassey has been overlooked in this draft class, but he's already worked out for the Knicks and will be a deadly pairing beside Julius Randle. | ||||
| 22 |  Lakers | Ayo Dosunmu | PG/SG | Illinois |
| The Lakers have a lot of players to resign this offseason, but they can use their first round pick to grab a solid scoring guard. They have worked out Ayo Dosunmu and his tough mentality should be enough for them to pull the trigger on him. | ||||
| 23 | Rockets | Jay Huff | PF/C | Virginia |
| With their second pick of the first round, I believe Houston will address the issues that they have at the center position. Jay Huff stands 7'1" and he's a well-rounded player. He averaged 13 PPG and 7.1 RPG, and he will be a great pairing down low aside Christian Wood. | ||||
| 24 | Rockets | Jalen Johnson | SF | Duke |
| The Rockets will be loving what they're getting with Jalen Johnson in this spot. He's a top ranked prospect who I picture sliding down the board. He is a great two-way forward who can contribute on both ends from day one. | ||||
| 25 |  Clippers | Daishen Nix | PG | G League |
| The first round of the playoffs have exposed a glaring hole for the Clippers. They need a scoring guard, and they need one pretty badly. Daishen Nix is a pick that makes sense here. He is a solid point guard who should be ready to start immediately after a season in the G League. | ||||
| 26 |  Nuggets | James Bouknight | SG | UCONN |
| Although Denver has depth at the two, they've been lacking a consistent scorer who can man the starting shooting guard position every night. James Bouknight could be the missing piece to a talented puzzle for the Nuggets. | ||||
| 27 |  Nets | Usman Garuba | C | Spain |
| Brooklyn is a pretty solid team all-around, so they can afford to take a shot here with Usman Garuba. His EuroLeague numbers haven't been impressive. However, there's a ton of potential here. His size would allow him to play the four or the five, and the Nets could mold him into a solid rotation player. | ||||
| 28 |  76ers | Greg Brown | PF | Texas |
| The 76ers are another team who doesn't have many holes. However, they could stand to take a chance at a solid four here with Greg Brown. Joel Embiid needs some help down low, and Brown's ability to score and rebound could help take some pressure off Embiid in the paint. | ||||
| 29 |  Suns | Ziaire Williams | SG/SF | Stanford |
| Although he's a little lanky, Ziaire Williams is a great fit for Phoenix. He's a good shot-maker who has great court vision and can score pretty efficiently as well. The most underrated quality of Williams is that he isn't selfish offensively, which is what makes him such a good fit for the Suns. | ||||
| 30 |  Jazz | Marcus Bagley | SF | Arizona State |
| I believe there's a few ways the Jazz could go here, but Marcus Bagley would make sense. They need another solid forward in their rotation, and he could be just that. His size and athleticism allows him to play the three or as a stretch four. He can shoot the ball lights out and would make a great addition to a solid rotation. | ||||
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