Dallas shouldn’t have any second ideas right here on capturing Flagg and securing a famous person at No. 1.

There was by no means a doubt San Antonio would choose anybody else predraft. That a lot stays true postdraft.

Philly locked in on VJ Edgecombe late within the draft course of and he has finished nothing up to now to dissuade anybody from him not being worthy of this choice. He mentioned throughout summer season league he has “no worry in any respect.” I feel he’ll slot in simply effective with the 76ers.

I used to be extensively lambasted in Might after I projected Knueppel at No. 4 to Charlotte shortly after the draft lottery. That turned out to be prescient, and Charlotte ought to be ok with flying Kon Air.

Ace has already proven sufficient predraft and through summer season league to validate his top-five choice. Utah, which had tied for the very best odds to get the No. 1 choose earlier than falling to No. 5 on lottery evening, might need lucked out right here.

Johnson scored 18 factors in his summer season league debut earlier this week and — to no shock — very a lot seems to be the half as a professional that he did as a flamethrowing school participant. Enjoyable instances forward in Washington.

My ultimate mock draft had Queen projected to New Orleans at No. 7. I used to be proper on the primary half however off on the second, as they chose Jeremiah Fears No. 7 earlier than making a megadeal to get Queen at No. 13. I would have taken Queen, who will bear wrist surgical procedure, right here if I valued him as a lot as they did and been content material seeking to tackle the backcourt later within the draft.

Brooklyn might need discovered one thing in Egor Demin, its unique No. 8 choose, however its assortment of 4 first-round picks collectively — Demin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf — was on the entire fairly underwhelming. The swing right here on a boom-or-bust prospect like Fears can be a enjoyable one to assist reshape its potential future.

Toronto made this choose simply earlier than parting methods with long-time decision-maker Masai Ujiri, and his fingerprints had been throughout this one. However I do not assume the Raptors will probably be upset with CMB. He is a defensive menace who will probably be a stopper on that finish and add physicality and ferocity to this crew.

Demin was scooped up by choose No. 8 on draft evening but it surely’s enjoyable to consider him falling right here to Phoenix at No. 10. His passing and total playmaking graded out as the very best on this draft class for me, and pairing him subsequent to a pair of scorers in Devin Booker and Jalen Inexperienced may’ve been a pleasant backcourt to construct round.

Memphis made a draft-night commerce to maneuver up and get Coward right here at No. 11. I am unsure I would have finished it — particularly with Derik Queen and Carter Bryant obtainable — but it surely’s clear the entrance workplace focused him. I will not stand of their approach of touchdown him once more on this train.

My phrase: Josh Giddey-Coby White-Ayo Dosunmu-Matas Buzelis-Khaman Maluach would’ve been enjoyable within the Windy Metropolis. Maluach’s large 7-6 wingspan and impactful presence on each ends across the rim is precisely what I would have hoped the Bulls may get. Alas.

Here is a query: If you happen to’re New Orleans would you fairly have Derik Queen and Clifford AND your 2026 1st you gave up within the Queen deal as an alternative of Fears + Queen? As a result of that would’ve been attainable. Clifford went twenty fourth total and will’ve been had for the Pels at their unique slot at 23. I do know which path I would have gone — and it is not the one New Orleans took.

Carter Bryant falling to No. 14 in an ideal scenario in San Antonio is probably the most Spurs factor since they stumbled into the No. 2 total choose in a stroke of lottery evening luck. He is seemed superior in Summer time League and is usually a nice complementary piece — and perhaps extra — to develop up with alongside Victor Wembanyama and this crew’s younger core.

There’s been some good and a few not-so-good from Essengue in his restricted time with the Bulls. (Johnny Furphy posterizing him is firmly within the latter camp.) He is an attention-grabbing long-term venture who’d make some sense for an OKC group that appears to constantly wager large on these archetypes.

Portland has to really feel not less than a *little* vindication after its gorgeous first-round collection of Yang right here after the best way he is flashed in Summer time League. I am nonetheless skeptical of the choose total, however he’s clearly a proficient participant with expertise as large as his 7-foot body.

Sorber went No. 15 total and wound up going greater than most everybody mocked all through the draft course of to an OKC crew that at all times retains a low profile. He’d be a pleasant developmental large for any crew and Minnesota particularly would’ve made sense.

I am nonetheless scratching my head questioning how McNeeley fell to No. 29 within the draft. It should not have occurred. That is not a take based mostly on summer season league — although he has seemed nice — but it surely’s a flag-plant I believed for a lot of the final six months. He was a top-20 participant within the class who almost fell to Spherical 2.

Beringer has seemed nice already and seems able to repay his billing as an elite defensive prospect. I do not assume Minnesota will probably be sad with having him to groom the subsequent couple years.

Brooklyn snagged Traore at No. 19 and jumped in entrance of the Warmth for him. However this alternate universe provides the Warmth the man I assumed may be a match for them. I feel he’d have been their man if he did not go a choose earlier.

I’d have liked for Washington to have a participant of Jakucionis’ caliber fall right here to No. 21. There was sadly a fairly large tier drop amongst playmakers after Traore and Jakucionis fell.

I had Powell projected to Brooklyn in my ultimate mock earlier than the draft, and in order a humble brag I will preserve him Brooklyn-bound on this house. I like him as a expertise and felt he was underrated relative to his notion. There’s so much to love right here long run.

This was a choose Atlanta acquired on draft evening within the cope with New Orleans. They took Newell then and can accomplish that once more right here. The Hawks entrance workplace cleaned up on draft evening.

Sacramento made a cope with OKC to land Nique Clifford on this spot right here — which up to now looks like an enormous, enormous hit — however on this mock he is gone. I like the concept of Clayton Jr. as a King to provide them shotmaking and guard optionality.

Some picks simply really feel *proper*. Like, oh yeah, Jase to the Magic. His pops performed in Orlando from 2010-2012 and he is an exquisite addition to this younger Magic crew.

I am not so certain Riley would have lasted for much longer if he hadn’t been taken No. 21 by the Wizards, however Brooklyn — with its 4 first-round picks — would have been an incredible spot for him to land and provide him an extended runway to be taught on the job.

Wolf was a great choose by Brooklyn at No. 27. I endorse this. He is a novel expertise and somebody who is usually a official playmaking presence at 7-foot.

Enable me to once more tout my predictive capacity right here: This one I had proper main into the draft. Gonzalez appeared like a Celtic for a crew and roster in flux. I feel he is bought a shiny future in Boston.

Charlotte made Kalkbrenner a Hornet at No. 34 total, however why not accomplish that earlier right here? He was so clearly a fantastic match for this crew, and the smoke surrounding him and the Hornets main into the draft now in hindsight makes a lot sense.

Los Angeles has made some main strikes of late — together with including Bradley Beal — however deciding on Niederhauser at No. 30 feels prefer it was nonetheless a sensible transfer within the short- and long-term. He isn’t supplanting Ivica Zubac as a starter anytime quickly however he is an NBA participant who can break right into a rotation and be a helpful piece.