This is part two of the sports staff’s mock draft. Read part one here.
** These picks were made on the night of April 29 and reflect the state of the league at that time.**
11. Dallas Mavericks — Egor Demin, G, BYU
It was a slow start for BYU freshman guard Egor Demin this season, but he ended on a strong note. Demin was one of the most sought-after foreign players last offseason and fills a huge hole on the Mavericks’ roster.
Nico Harrison has been the talk of the league since he initiated the superstar trade of guard Luka Dončić for forward Anthony Davis. When nine-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL not too long after, the Mavs were left with zero true ball handlers.
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Demin fits the Dončić mold as a massive ball-handling guard who can play-make. While he may not be able to shoot with the consistency and range that Dončić has, his 6-foot-9 frame could give him a defensive edge over opposing guards that the now Laker never seemed to have.
12. Chicago Bulls — Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina
Six-foot-seven South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles would be a solid choice for the Bulls at No. 12. The Gamecocks finished with an underwhelming 12-20 record this past season, and if not for Murray-Boyles, this record would likely have been even worse.
Murray-Boyles averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.5 steals per game, showcasing his all-around versatility on the floor. Against top contenders like Auburn, the forward led the charge and aided his team in close matchups. A leader like him and an efficient scorer at 58.6% from the field will greatly suit Chicago.
Quite frankly, the Bulls need a little bit of everything going into next season, and the best way to approach this draft would be to secure someone who can do a little bit of everything pretty well. Adding Murray-Boyles will give the Bulls some flair and scoring abilities they desperately need.
13. Atlanta Hawks — Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State
The Hawks have been stuck in play-in purgatory for the past few years, and there seems to be lots of uncertainty regarding star point guard Trae Young. If they decide to hit the reset button and move on from Young, Jase Richardson could come in and be his immediate replacement at the point guard position.
Even if they keep Young, Richardson would become the immediate backup point guard and ball handler for a bench unit that doesn’t have a natural lead guard. Richardson helped bring Michigan State to an Elite Eight appearance and shot 75% from the field in its Sweet Sixteen win against Ole Miss. His scoring ability and low amount of turnovers would pair well with Defensive Player of the Year finalist Dyson Daniels.
Richardson has also shown flashes of being a high-motor defensive pest, which would create one of the best young defensive backcourts in the league. Last season, the Hawks landed Zaccharie Risacher at the top of the draft. With a young roster boasting tons of potential, Richardson would slide in and make an immediate impact.
14. San Antonio Spurs — Nolan Traoré, G, France
The Spurs, with a pair of first-round picks, are coming into this draft in a unique spot. San Antonio should consider selecting Nolan Traoré with its second pick.
The French 18-year-old could be heading into a prime situation for him to learn the NBA style under an aging Chris Paul. The Spurs also have a good history of selecting French guards. In 2001, they selected Tony Parker. Parker was a key piece of the Spurs during the Tim Duncan era.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder — Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
Taking Arizona freshman forward Carter Bryant may be a slight gamble, but that’s one Oklahoma City should be willing to take. The Thunder are essentially as good as they can be, leading the NBA in several defensive statistics.
Since they pride themselves on competitive defense and toughness, Bryant could be a good fit here. He wasn’t the biggest scorer with the Wildcats, only averaging 6.5 points per game; however, with his size, agility and rebounding potential, he could help get the fire going on either side of the court.
Bryant comes off as one of the rawer players in the draft. As the Thunder stand, they’ll welcome him with open arms, and he’ll adjust to the NBA scene in no time.
16. Orlando Magic — Nique Clifford, G, Colorado State
Guard Nique Clifford will be the magical pick for Orlando. The Colorado native spent his collegiate career at both Colorado and Colorado State.
While the Magic struggled this past season, new additions will enhance their performance next year. Clifford, a senior, enters the draft with ample experience under his belt.
Orlando needs better scoring. Clifford could help the team accomplish this while also defending. This past season alone, Clifford scored nearly 700 points and averaged 18.9 per game.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves — Liam McNeeley, F, Connecticut
The Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley and Donte DiVincenzo, have a strong group of guards. Heading into the draft, their biggest need is a perimeter shooter. If Liam McNeeley falls to the later stages of the draft, Minnesota could pick him up.
McNeeley is known for his strong shooting. He averaged 14.5 points per game while shooting 38.1% from the field as a freshman at UConn. There are areas where McNeeley can still improve. The most important is improving consistency in his perimeter shooting.
McNeeley will need to translate his athleticism to create his own shots in order to succeed in the NBA.
18. Washington Wizards — Asa Newell, PF/C, Georgia
In our draft, the Wizards took Texas guard Tre Johnson with their lottery pick. With that in mind, adding a big, shot-creating forward would be more beneficial than taking another shooter. Therefore, Georgia power forward/center Asa Newell would be Washington’s best option.
Newell, 6-foot-11, has a smooth, fluid shot. He is efficient off the catch-and-shoot, shooting 54.3% from the floor. He wasn’t a huge facilitator in college, averaging only 0.9 assists. Alongside current power forward/center Alex Sarr, the Wizards could create a dominant frontcourt threat by combining the players’ sizes and finishing talents.
19. Brooklyn Nets — Danny Wolf, C, Michigan
Although the Nets are rebuilding, adding a player with more experience to their roster could prove a shrewd move. Michigan center Danny Wolf, 21, is one of the older players projected to be selected in the first round and is a proven leader. In his first season at Michigan, Wolf led the team to a Big Ten Championship and Sweet Sixteen appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Wolf’s versatility to switch between positions is what makes him a sought-after prospect. At seven feet tall, Wolf can take on a point guard role by leading the break while also skillfully scoring near the basket. His ability to facilitate an offense could be useful for the Nets next season.
20. Miami Heat — Will Riley, F, Illinois
The Heat are in a bit of a weird spot. They don’t really have a superstar that they’ve been able to build around. It’s difficult to see them landing a guy like that at No. 20. Still, Illinois forward Will Riley wouldn’t be a bad pick.
The freshman found his game in the final weeks of the season for the Illini. He turned in strong performances in several key late-season games. In the NCAA tournament, he scored 22 points and shot 66.7% from the field in the team’s win over Xavier.
He was also a major factor in Illinois’ wins over Purdue and Minnesota, as well as its Big Ten tournament victory over Iowa.
Riley would look to do more of the same in the NBA if he were to take his talents to South Beach.
