If you’re a Detroit Pistons fan like me, I’m sure you spent all of Tuesday night filled with optimism and hope for the first time in a long time. The Pistons, habitual lottery losers, were the grand winners of the NBA Draft lottery and will receive the number one pick, followed by the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers. All three of these franchises desperately need a shot in the arm to get going.
Two weeks ago, we wrote about Franz Wagner’s potential destinations based on pre-lottery mock drafts. Now that we know the order of the first 14 picks of the draft, let’s re-examine where each prospect could land. We looked at five separate mock drafts that have been published since the lottery Tuesday night: one each from Kyle Boone (CBS), Gary Parrish (CBS), Jeremy Woo (SI), Krysten Peek (Yahoo), and Jonathan Wasserman (Bleacher Report). Here’s who they have each team selecting.
1. Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham - G, Oklahoma State (Unanimous)
Unsurprisingly, all of the mock drafts (and I) agree that Cade Cunningham should be the top overall choice. The 6-foot-8 freshmen has all the tools needed to be a foundational, cornerstone piece for a Detroit franchise that needs a star.
2. Houston Rockets
Evan Mobley - C, USC (3 mock drafts)
Jalen Green - G, G-League Ignite (1 mock draft)
Jalen Suggs - G, Gonzaga (1 mock draft)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Jalen Green - G, G-League Ignite (2)
Evan Mobley - C, USC (2)
Jalen Suggs - G, Gonzaga (1)
4. Toronto Raptors
Jalen Suggs - G, Gonzaga (3)
Jalen Green - G, G-League Ignite (2)
All of the mock drafts agree that Mobley, Suggs, and Green will go two, three, and four, though that order is up for debate. Mobley may be the most talented but I question the fit with the Rockets. After the top four prospects, I believe there’s a sizeable gap before we get to number five.
5. Orlando Magic
Jonathan Kuminga - F, G-League Ignite (Unanimous)
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
Scottie Barnes - F, Florida State (Unanimous)
Surprisingly, all five writers agreed on back-to-back picks at five and six. Kuminga showed flashes of brilliance in the G-League and Scottie Barnes is a physical presence out of FSU. For most Michigan fans, it’s tough to forget Michigan’s total domination of Barnes, though.
7. Golden State Warriors
Davion Mitchell - G, Baylor (4)
Franz Wagner - F, Michigan (1)
Our first Franz Wagner sighting! I would be shocked to see him go this high, but schematically he would fit in brilliantly with the Warriors. Seventh overall is certainly higher than the pre-lottery mock drafts had shown.
8. Orlando Magic
James Bouknight - G, UConn (2)
Davion Mitchell - G, Baylor (1)
Keon Johnson - G, Tennessee (1)
Moses Moody - G, Arkansas (1)
9. Sacramento Kings
Franz Wagner - F, Michigan (2)
Keon Johnson - G, Tennessee (1)
Kai Jones - C, Texas (1)
Jalen Johnson - F, Duke (1)
Things start to get dicey as we near the end of the top 10. Orlando clearly is looking for ball-dominant guards with speed and athleticism. Franz Wagner appears with two mocks having him going to the Kings. Wagner had been repeatedly tied to the Kings before the lottery as well so it isn’t overly surprising to see him here.
10. New Orleans Pelicans
Keon Johnson - G, Tennessee (2)
Moses Moody - G, Arkansas (1)
Josh Giddey - G, Adelaide 36ers (1)
Tre Mann - G, Florida (1)
11. Charlotte Hornets
Josh Giddey - G, Adelaide 36ers (2)
Corey Kispert - G, Gonzaga (2)
Moses Moody - G, Arkansas (1)
12. San Antonio Spurs
Josh Giddey - G, Adelaide 36ers (1)
James Bouknight - G, UConn (1)
Jaden Springer - G, Tennessee (1)
Alperen Sengün - F, Besiktas (1)
Isaiah Jackson - F, Kentucky (1)
13. Indiana Pacers
Franz Wagner - F, Michigan (1)
James Bouknight - G, UConn (1)
Josh Giddey - G, Adelaide 36ers (1)
Moses Moody - G, Arkansas (1)
Keon Johnson - G, Tennessee (1)
14. Golden State Warriors
Jalen Johnson - F, Duke (2)
Chris Duarte - G, Oregon (1)
Corey Kispert - G, Gonzaga (1)
Alperen Sengün - F, Besiktas (1)
By the end of the lottery, almost none of the mock drafts agree which is hardly surprising. However, it paints a portrait of which teams have needs in certain areas and which may be keen to take the best available player.
For those keeping track at home, Franz only appeared in the lottery in four of the five mock drafts as Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports has him slotting in at number 16 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. With that being said, he does appear to be sneaking up draft boards as time goes by. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Wagner taken in the top 10 anymore based on fit.
The Draft Combine is underway and will conclude on June 27th. The NBA Draft will then take place on Thursday, July 29th.