I usually get very in depth with the draft and all the prospects throughout the year, and usually pump out about 5-10 mock drafts. However, this year the draft process has been a pain and I definitely blame NIL. The amount of draft prospects that decide to go back to school was historic. Needing to scout and rewatch tape of about 10-15 more prospects very close to the draft isn’t ideal, but at least I was able to be comfortable to produce my first official and definitely my final mock draft this draft process (well at least final one i’m going to be posting). A few things to note:
This mock will have trades that I also believe are likely and I am willing to bet on happening. One of those trades being the Kevin Durant trade.
If the Top 2 aren’t Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper than I have no idea what’s inside the head of a GM.
I absolutely do not believe about the potential slide of Ace Bailey. If Ace Bailey believes he should go Top 3 then it makes no sense to why he is hoping to fall in the draft, and the 76ers organization and especially Daryl Morey are smart to know that the only pick to make at 3 is Ace Bailey since he has the most potential being a superstar and gives them the play with the most value in any potential trade after the draft.
Obviously, I’m not one to believe all these rumors especially this close to the actual draft. However, there are 2 more draft rumors I want to give my input on. First, I do believe that Egor Demin is very high on the Chicago Bulls’ draft board. However, if one of Derik Queen or Khaman Malauch is still available at 12 then they have to select one of those big man. They are more desperate for a rejuvenated big man on their team than adding a player like Egor Demin. Second, I also do believe that the Nets really want Jeremiah Fears, but at their current spot it very unlikely that he will still be there. So, if he still available at 6 then they can use some of their later picks to move up and select Jeremiah Fears.
One issue I have with the draft process is the measurements because it causes so much hurt to some prospects’ draft stock. That why I have players like Collin Murray-Boyles and Jase Rochardson falling. However, those measurements are definitely a double-edge blade because it could do a lot of good for other prospects and their draft stocks like Cedric Coward, Rasheer Flemings, and Thomas Sorber.
Lastly, I want to talk about Ratiopharm Ulm and their incredible run to Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga finals has been incredible to see and that’s why I’m probably much higher on the two players from the team, Noa Essengue and Ben Saraf. It’s typically very hard for young players to contribute on European teams, let alone on finals bound teams. That’s why I’m pretty high on them.