NBA Draft. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: The stage is almost set
The 2021 NBA Draft is just over a month away, which means it’s mock draft season.
We’ve been hearing about the 2021 draft for years now. It’s top-heavy, it’s deep, there are already high expectations for this class.
For this mock draft, I used Tankathon’s draft lottery simulator to get the order for the lottery picks, which we won’t know until the end of June.
This isn’t just a list of picks, I wanted to give a detailed prospect analysis.
Going through my own notes from the past year, advanced stats and projection models, and opinions I’ve gotten from some terrific basketball prospect analysts and scouts, I wanted to include nice descriptions for not just the player but their outlook with the team.
Although they’re not my favorite tool, I included some pro comparisons, which aren’t meant to be taken as “this prospect plays exactly like these NBA players” but rather “here are some traits from specific NBA players that show up in this prospect’s game”.
It’s an exciting time of the year, with the playoffs still in full swing and the offseason on the horizon.
Here is a full first-round mock for the 2021 NBA Draft, starting with pick #1.
2021 NBA Draft</a> is just over a month away, which means it’s mock draft season.</p>
<p>We’ve been hearing about the 2021 draft for years now. It’s top-heavy, it’s deep, there are already high expectations for this class.</p>
<p>For this mock draft, I used <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"http://www.tankathon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tankathon’s draft lottery simulator</a> to get the order for the lottery picks, which we won’t know until the end of June.</p>
<p>This isn’t just a list of picks, I wanted to give a detailed prospect analysis.</p>
<p>Going through my own notes from the past year, advanced stats and projection models, and opinions I’ve gotten from some terrific basketball prospect analysts and scouts, I wanted to include nice descriptions for not just the player but their outlook with the team.</p>
<p>Although they’re not my favorite tool, I included some pro comparisons, which aren’t meant to be taken as “this prospect plays exactly like these NBA players” but rather “here are some traits from specific NBA players that show up in this prospect’s game”.</p>
<p>It’s an exciting time of the year, with the playoffs still in full swing and the offseason on the horizon.</p>
<p>Here is a full first-round mock for the 2021 NBA Draft, starting with pick #1.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #1 The winner of the Cade Cunningham sweepstakes is... </a>
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<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Wizards Get</div> <div class="info">2021 First Round Pick #19</div> <div class="info">2021 First Round Pick #21</div> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="15" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Davion Mitchell" data-team-id="27" data-meta-a="G" data-meta-b="New York Knicks" data-inner-content=""> <div class="mock-draft"> <div class="mock-draft-head"> <div class="mock-draft-order-container"> <div class="mock-draft-order">15</div> </div> <div class="mock-draft-player-details"> <h3>Davion Mitchell</h3> <h4>G,<span class="mock-draft-team-name"> New York Knicks</span></h4> </div> <div class="mock-draft-team-logo"> <img src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fknicks.png" alt="New York Knicks"> </div> </div> </div>
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<h2>2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: New York Knicks trade up to select Davion Mitchell</h2>
<p>I don’t think many people expect the New York Knicks to keep all 4 of their picks this year, and they make a bold move here by trading up to 15 with the Washington Wizards to select Baylor guard Davion Mitchell.</p>
<p>Mitchell is typically mocked around picks 9-12 but I’ve seen<a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/2021-nba-mock-draft-60-first-round-projections-after-play" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> him mocked even lower than 15.</a> New York didn’t think he’d still be there, and they say enough is enough and end up trading both of their first-rounders to go out and get him.</p>
<p>Trading up for someone like Davion Mitchell is an exciting move. Not only are you getting a terrific prospect, <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/04/16/ny-knicks-nba-draft-3-reasons-davion-mitchell-ideal-fit/">the Knicks are getting a perfect fit for Tom Thibodeau. </a></p>
<p><strong>NBA Draft – Davion Mitchell NBA player comparisons</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Donovan Mitchell’s burst, athletic finishing</li>
<li>Marcus Smart</li>
<li>Eric Bledsoe</li>
</ul>
<p>Davion Mitchell is one of the most well-known prospects because of the NCAA tournament. He was a leader for the Baylor team that knocked off undefeated Gonzaga and won the National Championship.</p>
<p>Mitchell is smaller for an NBA guard – he stands 6’2 with a 6’5 wingspan. That smaller size does not stop him from getting to the rim.</p>
<p>Mitchell has an elite first step and burst. His ability to immediately space doesn’t stop there. Mitchell has a nice bag of crossovers and hesitations – His patient dribbling coupled with his elite changing of speeds is a force.</p>
<p>At 22-years-old, Mitchell can be that starting point guard for the Knicks. His passing isn’t other-worldly, but he makes smart reads. Not only that, Mitchell always looks comfortable making whip passes while under pressure – a must for point guards in today’s NBA.</p>
<p>Where Mitchell is most famous is his defense. Maybe the best perimeter defender in the draft, Mitchell has the holy trinity of quickness, strength, and defensive awareness to one day be an All-Defensive Team type of perimeter defender.</p>
<p>He has the ability to match the speed of the quickest guards while being able to handle the strength of bigger wings. He brings a locked-in energy on defense every night.</p>
<p>Really, the biggest question marks for Mitchell are around his offense.</p>
<p>I think Mitchell will continue to be great at attacking the rim (Something Thibodeau needs in his point guard) but the 3-level scoring may not be the most efficient right away</p>
<p>Mitchell made a drastic jump in his 3-point shooting, going from 31% in his first 2 seasons to an eye-opening 45% this year. The 45% 3-point shooting paired with his 64.1% free throw shooting is… a puzzle. I think his 2021 3-point shooting is somewhere between improvement and an outlier.</p>
<p>Even with the age, this is a really exciting player to draft and develop. He very much looked like the better player when he and Jalen Suggs went toe-to-toe in the National Championship. He’s going to be great in the league.</p>
<p>I don’t expect Mitchell to be a dominant scorer right away, but his defense is ready to go.</p>
<p>The Knicks get not only an immediate lockdown perimeter defender, they get their potential point guard for the future.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #16 Boston bolsters the frontcourt </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-118748" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_990,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1293221248.jpeg" alt="NBA Draft" width="1600" height="990" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1293221248.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1293221248-420x260.jpeg 420w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1293221248-768x475.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Isaiah Jackson, NBA Draft. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)</p>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="16" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Isaiah Jackson" data-team-id="18" data-meta-a="C/PF" data-meta-b="Boston Celtics" data-inner-content=""> <div class="mock-draft"> <div class="mock-draft-head"> <div class="mock-draft-order-container"> <div class="mock-draft-order">16</div> </div> <div class="mock-draft-player-details"> <h3>Isaiah Jackson</h3> <h4>C/PF,<span class="mock-draft-team-name"> Boston Celtics</span></h4> </div> <div class="mock-draft-team-logo"> <img src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fceltics.png" alt="Boston Celtics"> </div> </div> </div>
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<h2>2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: Boston Celtics finally bolster their frontcourt with Isaiah Jackson</h2>
<p>The Celtics may have gotten sniped for Davion Mitchell, but this team is in need of some frontcourt help, and they get some reinforcement with Isaiah Jackson out of the University of Kentucky.</p>
<p>This Celtics team is at what seems like a pivotal spot for their organization. With Danny Ainge out, and Brad Stevens transitioning into the front office, Boston will have to figure out how to both rebound next season and get more young, long-term talent on the team. Drafting Isaiah Jackson is a nice start.</p>
<p><strong>NBA Draft – Isaiah Jackson NBA player comparisons</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Amar’e Stoudemire explosiveness</li>
<li>Nicholas Claxton</li>
<li>Nerlens Noel</li>
</ul>
<p>Isaiah Jackson is a 19-year-old, bouncy power forward/center prospect who very much has the potential to be a powerful rim runner.</p>
<p>He has an enormous 7’5 wingspan. The length combined with the high-end athleticism makes Isaiah Jackson an elite presence in the frontcourt.</p>
<p>On the boards, Jackson looks like he can one day be a 10+ rebounds per game player. He takes good angles and is only going to get better on the glass as he grows into his body.</p>
<p>His weight is going to be the biggest thing people focus on heading into the NBA draft. Jackson is 6’10 but weighs just 206 lbs. That’s what makes him more of a long-term prospect.</p>
<p>He can still play a limited role early on, but for him to grow into a starting big, it”ll take time. He’s a shot-blocker, but far from a strong interior defender. He has a long way to go with his defensive positioning.</p>
<p>On offense as well, he hasn’t flashed much of a post-game or anything off the dribble.</p>
<p>With Jackson, you’re buying into the amazing physical profile and potential a few years from now. This pick could pay off for a Celtics team that needs Jackson’s energy in the paint.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #17 An up-and-coming team gets another scorer </a>
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<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Thunder Get</div> <div class="info">2021 First Round Pick #22</div> <div class="info">2021 First Round Pick #23</div> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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<h2>2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: Houston Rockets trade up for Ziaire Williams</h2>
<p>The Oklahoma City Thunder trade down with the Houston Rockets. It may seem a little crazy for the Thunder to keep accumulating picks, but this is Sam Presti we’re talking about.</p>
<p>Both of these teams are looking to rebuild and capitalize off of their surplus of draft picks. The Rockets already drafted Jalen Suggs with their first pick, and now they combine picks #22 and #23 to move up to #18.</p>
<p>They’re getting a player with one of the highest ceilings in the 2021 NBA draft in Ziaire Williams.</p>
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<p><strong>NBA Draft – Ziaire Williams NBA player comparisons:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Brandon Ingram</li>
<li>De’Andre Hunter – Could grow into that level of defender</li>
<li>Jonathan Isaac</li>
</ul>
<p>Ziaire Williams is 100% a “trade-up” player. He’s going to be a top-10 player on some draft boards. He was almost a unanimous top-10 player before the season started, and it’s easy to see why.</p>
<p>The 19-year-old Ziaire Williams stands 6’8 with a 6’11 wingspan and is one of the bounciest wing prospects in this NBA draft. An above-the-rim athlete whose athleticism is incredibly fluid – nice changing of speeds, high acceleration, and can leap into open space around the rim with ease.</p>
<p>Ziaire Williams isn’t just about his athleticism, he’s got a smoothness to his game. He has a nice handle and understanding of angles for his size.</p>
<p>He’s a terrific finesse finisher and shot creator, but he isn’t there yet as a contact finisher. Williams has the length, but he weighs just 185 lbs and tends to shy away from contact. That will be an adjustment at the next level.</p>
<p>The thing is, I think Williams’ “rawness” gets overblown sometimes. This isn’t a project player in the sense that he may need the G-league or is just a raw athlete who started playing basketball 2 years ago. Williams has some tools to make an immediate impact, he just has some other areas of his game, areas where he’s already flashed potential, where needs to improve to grow into a star player.</p>
<p>His jump shot has really nice potential. He may make some tweaks to the form, but for the most part, it’s fluid, and Williams shot just under 80% from the free throw line. There is absolutely potential for him to grow into a 3-level scorer.</p>
<p>The weight is obviously an issue on defense, but Williams already has nice technique in his defensive stance, as well as the length and lateral quickness to keep up with speedy NBA wings.</p>
<p>The Houston Rockets are looking for future core players. Drafting Jalen Suggs and Ziaire Williams is an amazing start.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #19 The Wizards make the first of their 2 picks </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-118951" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1313141122.jpeg" alt="NBA Draft" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1313141122.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1313141122-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Usman Garuba, NBA Draft. (Photo by Sonia Canada/Getty Images)</p>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="19" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Usman Garuba" data-team-id="142" data-meta-a="PF/C" data-meta-b="Washington Wizards" data-inner-content=""> <div class="mock-draft"> <div class="mock-draft-head"> <div class="mock-draft-order-container"> <div class="mock-draft-order">19</div> </div> <div class="mock-draft-player-details"> <h3>Usman Garuba</h3> <h4>PF/C,<span class="mock-draft-team-name"> Washington Wizards</span></h4> </div> <div class="mock-draft-team-logo"> <img src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fwizards.png" alt="Washington Wizards"> </div> </div> </div>
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<h2>2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: Washington Wizards draft exciting big-man Usman Garuba</h2>
<p>After trading down with the New York Knicks, the Washington Wizards select the Spanish 19-year-old frontcourt energizer, Usman Garuba.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>The Wizards were a quick out in the playoffs but it still feels like they want to compete in the Eastern Conference with Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook.</p>
<p>The Wizards have some nice projects in Deni Avdija and Rui Hachimura, but this team still needs more depth. By trading down, the Wizards can try and simultaneously plug some holes on the roster while getting a few more shots on hitting big on some prospects. They get a perfect fit in Usman Garuba.</p>
<p><strong>NBA Draft – Usman Garuba NBA player comparisons</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Kenneth Faried activity on the boards, “full-court” big</li>
<li>Derrick Favors</li>
<li>Dorian Finney-Smith</li>
</ul>
<p>If you watched the Washington Wizards offense this season, you saw just how crazy it could get. Crazy in a good and bad way. It always reminded me of how you play NBA 2K when you’re losing and start playing angry – a rapid pace, attacking the rim, taking quick shots.</p>
<p>One of the main storylines all season for Washington was a lack of a presence in their frontcourt, and they get an exciting forward/center prospect with Usman Garuba.</p>
<p>Despite being just 19, Garuba has been a part of Real Madrid for 3 seasons now. Garuba is 6’8 with a massive 7’3 wingspan and he uses that reach when scrapping down low. Garuba has both length and a wide frame, his high-energy rebounding should translate into the NBA.</p>
<p>Garuba’s energy shows up in his speed as well. He’s going to run up and down the court with conviction – he’ll love playing with Russell Westbrook. Now while he never may amount to a big scorer (No real jump shot or touch away from the basket) Garuba has some chops passing the ball. He makes nice reads off of some basic 2-3 dribble moves and could be an underrated cog of an NBA offense one day.</p>
<p>His potential on defense is intriguing. Garuba already has nice technique and strength as a post defender, and it’s easy to see it continuing to develop. There is serious potential here for Garuba to be able to even defend perimeter players.</p>
<p>Garuba has the wingspan, strength, and quickness to develop a really diverse skillset. The Wizards could get really creative with their lineups with Garuba in the mix.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #20 The next Sweet Lou Will? </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Cameron Thomas, NBA Draft. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)</p>
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<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="20" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Cameron Thomas" data-team-id="125" data-meta-a="G" data-meta-b="Atlanta Hawks" data-inner-content=""> <div class="mock-draft"> <div class="mock-draft-head"> <div class="mock-draft-order-container"> <div class="mock-draft-order">20</div> </div> <div class="mock-draft-player-details"> <h3>Cameron Thomas</h3> <h4>G,<span class="mock-draft-team-name"> Atlanta Hawks</span></h4> </div> <div class="mock-draft-team-logo"> <img src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fhawks.png" alt="Atlanta Hawks"> </div> </div> </div>
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<h2>2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: Atlanta Hawks add more scoring with Cameron Thomas</h2>
<p>The Atlanta Hawks have a deep roster and are looking to roll with what they have while subtly adding nice complementary pieces.</p>
<p>Legendary microwave bench scorer Lou Williams is a free agent, and while he might take a hometown discount, it shouldn’t really matter because Cameron Thomas out of LSU will be an excellent addition for years to come.</p>
<p><strong>NBA Draft – Cameron Thomas NBA player comparisons</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Lou Williams</li>
<li>Eric Gordon</li>
<li>Bigger Aaron Brooks</li>
</ul>
<p>You usually don’t have to read too much into college traditional box scores to analyze prospects, but it’s hard to ignore the 23 points per game he averaged as a 19-year-old.</p>
<p>When you think of Cameron Thomas, you think of buckets.</p>
<p>Thomas will beat you at the rim, in the mid-range, or 30 feet from the basket. Don’t be discouraged by the lower-than-expected 3-point percentage. An 88% free throw shooter who can knock down difficult jump shots, Cameron Thomas is going to be a sniper at the next level.</p>
<p>With Cameron Thomas, his scoring is going to be talked about as a blessing and a curse. The reason being that his game is very much a throwback, isolation-heavy, ball-stopping style of scoring.</p>
<p>Remember that this 2021, and if you’re not a 6’11 primary playmaking hub, 3-level-scorer, swiss army knife on defense, you’re a limited player.</p>
<p>In reality, there is some truth to Cameron Thomas being limited heading in the league. He’s a guard, but he’s really not a great passer.</p>
<p>He has work to do as a defender but he’s got very solid size at 6’4 with a nice frame. Who’s to say he can’t continue to grow into a better all-around player as he gets more comfortable in NBA offenses? He could immediately carve out a role as a spot-up shooter if he grows off-ball.</p>
<p>The Hawks already have a foundation with Trae Young in place, and Cameron Thomas gives them someone who can not only be an immediate boost of offense off the bench but someone who could turn into a terrific sidekick for Ice-Trae in the long run.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #21 Arguably the best passer in the draft </a>
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2021 NBA Draft</a> is just over a month away, which means it’s mock draft season.</p>
<p>We’ve been hearing about the 2021 draft for years now. It’s top-heavy, it’s deep, there are already high expectations for this class.</p>
<p>For this mock draft, I used <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"http://www.tankathon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tankathon’s draft lottery simulator</a> to get the order for the lottery picks, which we won’t know until the end of June.</p>
<p>This isn’t just a list of picks, I wanted to give a detailed prospect analysis.</p>
<p>Going through my own notes from the past year, advanced stats and projection models, and opinions I’ve gotten from some terrific basketball prospect analysts and scouts, I wanted to include nice descriptions for not just the player but their outlook with the team.</p>
<p>Although they’re not my favorite tool, I included some pro comparisons, which aren’t meant to be taken as “this prospect plays exactly like these NBA players” but rather “here are some traits from specific NBA players that show up in this prospect’s game”.</p>
<p>It’s an exciting time of the year, with the playoffs still in full swing and the offseason on the horizon.</p>
<p>Here is a full first-round mock for the 2021 NBA Draft, starting with pick #1.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/06/06/2021-nba-draft-mock-draft-2-knicks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #1 The winner of the Cade Cunningham sweepstakes is... </a>
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<span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Mitchell Robinson's long-term value </a> </div>
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