NBA mock draft: Projecting the top 14 post-lottery
Sun May 12 4:49pm ET
Field Level Media
The NBA draft lottery is complete, the order of the top 14 picks is cemented and the Atlanta Hawks are on the clock.
With about six weeks left before the draft begins June 27, Field Level Media takes a crack at projecting the lottery picks. There is no can't-miss star like Victor Wembanyama atop this year's draft board, but we may see a French big man go first overall for the second year running.
1. Atlanta Hawks: Alexandre Sarr, F/C, Perth Wildcats
The Hawks, who had just a 3 percent chance to win the No. 1 pick, now have every option in front of them. The answer, though, should be Sarr as a successor to Clint Capela. Tall, lean, mobile and talented as a ball-handler and passer, Sarr's most pressing task will be to bolster one of the league's worst defenses.
2. Washington Wizards: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
Clingan isn't just any old college center. He's a 7-foot-2 monster in the interior with a 7-foot-7 wingspan who played a crucial role helping the Huskies win back-to-back national championships. His rim protection will make the Wizards' ghastly defense better and he'll be a persistent dunk threat teamed with Kyle Kuzma in the frontcourt.
3. Houston Rockets: Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg
This Frenchman's most notable trait is his 3-point shot, which he's connected on at ridiculous levels playing in his home nation's top league. Doing the same for Houston is another matter, but Risacher has the right build to fit in on the wing for a Rockets team that can take its time with him as it completes its rebuild.
4. San Antonio Spurs: Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky
Rob, meet Victor. Gregg Popovich will make sure you get along splendidly. Perhaps the best point guard in a class with several near the top, Dillingham offers the complete package on offense (15.2 points, 3.9 assists per game, 44.4 percent shooting from deep at Kentucky).
5. Detroit Pistons: Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky
Sheppard went from being the fifth-most hyped freshman in Kentucky's class to the consensus National Freshman of the Year. It helps to make more than half your 3-pointers and grab 2.5 steals a game. The Pistons tied for the fewest made 3-pointers per game and need a catch-and-shoot threat like Sheppard.
6. Charlotte Hornets: Nikola Topic, G, Red Star Belgrade
Topic's size (6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7, depending on your source), scoring and playmaking ability have powered his rise up draft boards this season. After dominating the Adriatic League, the 18-year-old projects as a major backcourt addition for any NBA team, but especially the Hornets, who need more playmaking guards especially considering LaMelo Ball's injury history.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite
The 6-foot-11 Lithuanian-American offers a lot to Scoot Henderson and the Blazers. He averaged 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 blocks per game in the G League regular season and comes from multiple generations of basketball pros, highlighted by his IQ.
8. San Antonio Spurs: Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee
Knecht took the Southeastern Conference by storm as an offensive machine for the Vols and won league Player of the Year honors. He's already 23 years old, but the Spurs ranked 28th in 3-point percentage last year and Knecht offers a jolt in that department from Day One.
9. Memphis Grizzlies: Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite
Memphis may be getting a steal in Holland, once considered a potential No. 1 overall pick before an up-and-down G League season. At his best, Holland scores at will attacking the basket and is a threat as a passer and defender. The Grizzlies owned the worst scoring offense in the NBA, but they get Ja Morant back and Holland can give him another option.
10. Utah Jazz: Cody Williams, F, Colorado
Williams scored 11.9 points per game in his lone year at Colorado and shot 41.5 percent from 3-point range -- though he attempted fewer than two per game. The brother of Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams will bring great size on the wing (6-foot-8, 7-foot-1 wingspan) to the worst perimeter defending team of 2023-24.
11. Chicago Bulls: Stephon Castle, G, UConn
Part of the reason UConn managed to win another national title was that Castle so ably stepped into the point guard role as a freshman, but he can play either guard role. He facilitates, defends, hustles and drives to the rim, making him a great backcourt complement to Coby White -- especially if the Bulls bid farewell to Zach LaVine.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Devin Carter, G, Providence
The Thunder own this pick via the Rockets, yet they have no pressing needs. Why not help themselves to a guard prospect who can do a little of everything? Carter's stock soared as he averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 boards, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals this season.
13. Sacramento Kings: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
He's a controversial prospect for complex reasons, but don't overthink it: Edey is 7-foot-4, scores and rebounds everything he sees and -- most importantly for Sacramento -- protects the rim in a way Domantas Sabonis doesn't. The Kings aren't hard-pressed for an immediate starter, but someone of Edey's caliber spelling Sabonis should get coach Mike Brown's wheels turning.
14. Portland Trail Blazers: Ja'Kobe Walter, G, Baylor
For Portland's second pick in the lottery, Walter can provide something the Blazers desperately need: shot-making. Portland ranked dead-last in 3-point shooting (34.5 percent) and second-to-last in overall field-goal percentage (43.9 percent) last season.
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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (ankle, knee, chest) was downgraded to questionable ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals against Boston. He has been battling knee and ankle soreness throughout the postseason and was deemed probable to play as of Saturday night. However, the 25-year-old is now dealing with a thoracic contusion. With that in mind, Doncic will likely do everything he can to get on the floor on Sunday night. But considering he's the costliest DFS option available for fantasy managers, the ailments could make it challenging for him to exceed his value enough to justify his presence in any lineup. On a positive note, Doncic's condition could open the door for more involvement from Kyrie Irving, who struggled in Game 1.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (chest, knee, ankle) will play on Sunday night against the Celtics. Doncic has been banged up all postseason. He was probable on Saturday night because of lingering knee and ankle soreness. However, there was concern about his availability when he was downgraded to questionable on Sunday because of a thoracic contusion. Of course, there was little chance Doncic would miss such an important game. But with his list of ailments growing, his DFS impact may be less than usual.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic produced a triple-double in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against Boston. But it wasn't enough, with the Celtics securing their second win of the series. Doncic entered this contest carrying a questionable designation because of a thoracic contusion along with knee and ankle soreness. While it's apparent he's still burdened by the ailments, he produced 32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, and four steals. The 25-year-old shot the ball better on Sunday than in Game 2. However, he also committed eight turnovers. With the Mavs down two games, both teams will head to Dallas for Game 3 on Wednesday. DFS managers should expect to see Doncic on the injury report, although he'll likely be out there.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum just missed a triple-double in Sunday's win over the Mavericks, ending the night with 18 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds. While the Celtics took the win to put the team up two games in the series, Tatum continues to struggle shooting the ball, going 6-for-22 from the field and 1-for-7 from deep. Fortunately, he was still a welcome addition to DFS lineups, although his shooting woes must be addressed ahead of Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday night.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving had 18 points in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against Boston on Sunday night. He added six assists and two boards. Irving shot 6-for-19 from the field in Game 1. However, he improved on Sunday, ending the evening by going 7-for-18 from the field. Unfortunately, he has missed all eight tries from deep in the series' first two games. But the 32-year-old and the rest of the Dallas offense have a chance to get it together in Game 3 on Wednesday evening.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown scored 21 points in the win over the Mavericks on Sunday. He added seven assists, four rebounds, and six steals. This wasn't Brown's finest outing, considering he shot 1-for-5 from deep and committed six turnovers. However, he was good enough to help his team go up two games in the series. The 27-year-old averaged nearly 30 points in the Eastern Conference Finals. But he hasn't been as productive against Dallas. With that in mind, Brown is due for a big performance, giving him plenty of upside for DFS managers for Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis came off the bench again for Game 2 of the NBA Finals versus Dallas. While he played better in Game 1, the 28-year-old still had a decent showing, ending the night by amassing 12 points, four rebounds, and two blocks. He has averaged just 22 minutes throughout the series. However, Porzingis appeared to injure his leg late in the contest, so there's reason to believe he may appear on the injury report for Game 3 in Dallas. Considering he missed over a month because of a Soleus strain, the team won't take any chances. With that said, DFS managers will likely get an update on Porzingis' health in the next day or two. But if he re-injured his calf, Al Horford could find himself getting more minutes.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday enjoyed a big night in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas on Sunday, scoring a team-high 28 points on near-perfect 11-for-14 shooting. It's his second-highest scoring effort of the season following a 28-point effort in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus Indiana. Holiday got there mostly with nifty finishes around the rim, but he also shot the three-ball well, finishing 2-for-4 from downtown. The 2021 NBA champion also led Boston with 11 rebounds and registered three assists with one steal and one block. It's been a good start to the Finals for Holiday, who averages 19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists with 44.4 percent three-point shooting through the first couple of games.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White had a good two-way performance as the team grabbed a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals against Dallas with a 105-98 win on Sunday. White posted 18 points with five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks. His second swat came late in the game against P.J. Washington at the rim to stop Dallas' comeback effort. The two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member struggled a bit with his shooting, going 6-for-15 from the field, but he nailed four of his 10 attempts from behind the arc. White's three-point shooting provided a big boost to the Celtics, who otherwise had a miserable night from downtown with a 10-for-39 record. We should see White get involved in everything again on Wednesday as Boston tries to take a 3-0 lead in the series.
Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis said he will be "good" for Game 3 against Dallas despite appearing to suffer a new injury blow in Sunday's Game 2. After missing 10 games with a calf problem, Porzingis appeared to have sustained another leg injury late in the game when he tried to contest a shot from P.J. Washington. He was moving gingerly following the incident and didn't see the court in the final 4:40. Porzingis added postgame that the ailment wasn't related to his right calf injury, which forced him to sit out over a month of postseason action. With Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla saying he has "zero" concern about Porzingis ' health moving forward, it looks like we will see the Latvian big man back on the court Wednesday night. Porzingis has posted 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks with superb 60 percent shooting from a bench role in the Finals.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford was very close to his second postseason double-double of the year in Sunday's Game 2 defeat to Boston, finishing the contest with 13 points and nine rebounds. Gafford, who is an extremely efficient scorer, was once again sharp from the field, hitting 6-for-9. He registered one block at the other end, logging 23 minutes of action after being limited to only 14 minutes in Game 1. Following an underwhelming performance in the Finals opener, Gafford was back in form on Sunday. But it looks like the Mavericks need even more from him, with Boston now 2-0 up in the series.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center P.J. Washington continued to struggle from downtown in Game 2 against Boston on Sunday, but he still ended up as the team's second-best scorer behind Luka Doncic. The versatile big man finished a 105-98 loss with 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting. He was 1-for-5 with the three-ball and has now hit 9-for-40 overall from behind the arc since the start of the Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks could really use Washington's three-point bombs right now, having averaged only 93.5 points in the Finals. In Sunday's Game 2, the former Hornet also recorded seven rebounds with one assist and one block in 40 minutes.
According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham could receive a contract extension this offseason. Edwards, who covers the Pistons, is "99.9 percent sure" it will happen, adding he'd "be stunned" if it didn't. The 2021 No. 1 overall pick has averaged 20.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.0 rebounds during his career. But some may argue against giving Cunningham a max rookie extension, considering he's been limited to 138 games since entering the league because of various injuries. Nonetheless, he still has upside for fantasy managers if he can stay healthy during most of the 2024-25 campaign. However, he has had issues taking care of the ball, averaging 3.5 turnovers. At the same time, Cunningham has shot a subpar 32.9% from behind the arc, which won't earn him praise from category participants.
According to Mihalis Stefanou of Eurohoops.net, citing sources, Sacramento Kings forward Sasha Vezenkov informed the team he doesn't intend to return. While it's unknown if the 2023 EuroLeague MVP wants to remain in the NBA or head back overseas, it appears he won't be suiting up for Sacramento in 2024-25. Vezenkov, who signed a three-year, $20 million deal with the Kings last summer, averaged only 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 37.5% from deep in 42 games. With that said, there should be more updates on this situation heading into the offseason. But Vezenkov has plenty of talent, so he could turn things around if he stays in the NBA and gets playing time, whether it be in Sacramento or with a new team.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) is probable for Game 2 of the NBA Finals against Boston. Doncic will likely remain on the injury report until the end of the series. However, barring a setback, he should continue to play. The 25-year-old wasn't his best in the loss to the Celtics on Thursday, scoring 30 points while shooting 12-for-26 from the field and 4-for-12 from deep. He also had just one assist. Doncic was observed grimacing throughout Game 1, so he's likely not 100 percent. With that in mind, he's a risky option for DFS managers, especially since he easily has the highest rostering cost.
According to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal underwent a nose procedure after the team was bounced from the postseason. The former Wizard suffered a broken nose in January. However, Beal had hinted after it happened that he would need to have his "septum realigned," so the latest update on his health didn't catch many by surprise. The 30-year-old averaged 18.2 points in his first season with the Suns, five fewer than his final season in Washington. He also logged just 53 games, missing time because of back and hamstring injuries. But Phoenix is strapped for cash this offseason, meaning everyone in the starting lineup should see plenty of minutes. If Beal can stay healthy, he has a chance to turn it around, even with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker also in the mix for scoring chances.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) will play in Thursday's meeting with the Boston Celtics. He was listed as probable heading into Game 1 of the NBA Finals. However, there wasn't much concern regarding his availability, considering he's battled lingering knee and ankle soreness for weeks. The 25-year-old wasn't himself during the Conference Semifinals. However, Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists while shooting 43.4% from behind the arc in the previous series versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. While he may not be as productive against Boston, he remains a top DFS option for Game 1.
Dallas Mavericks forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (ankle) is good to go for Game 1 of the NBA Finals versus the Boston Celtics. The rookie has been sidelined for most of the postseason because of a sprained left ankle. However, with Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Maxi Kleber, and Dereck Lively II available, Prosper isn't anticipated to do much for DFS managers.
According to Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports, impending free agent guard/forward Buddy Hield is expected to draw "strong interest" from teams this offseason, with the Bucks, Magic, Suns, and Timberwolves the favorites to acquire his talents. After inking a four-year, $94 million contract with the Kings in 2020-21, Hield was dealt to Indiana before eventually ending up in Philadelphia for the 2023-24 campaign. While Hield had some solid performances, he struggled overall by averaging 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 38.9% from deep. Fortunately, the 2016 No. 6 overall pick could turn things around with a new club, meaning he has a good chance to bounce back for fantasy managers in 2024-25.
According to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) won't have a minutes restriction on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran has been sidelined for well over a month because of a Soleus strain. With that said, Porzingis could still see less work than usual, meaning Al Horford remains a viable, albeit risky, DFS option for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.