2021 What You Expect NBA Mock Draft

The NBA Draft is upon us! The night where dreams come true for these young, talented prospects. Some franchises will be changed forever - for better or for worse. Here are our final picks for tonight's draft.  

*This mock will only be on the top 15 picks*

**There are NO trades in this mock draft**

1st (Detroit Pistons) - Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State 

Detroit was blessed into getting the #1 pick. This one’s obvious, right? Cade Cunningham is your guy here. The 6’8” point guard was the #1 player coming out of high school and his one-and-done season at Oklahoma State all but solidified his status as the top pick. He averaged 20-6-4 while shooting 85% from the FT line. He can play positions 1-3 and has a great all-around game. Joining a young core of Killian Hayes, Saadiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Sekou Dembouya; this pick is a no brainer.

2nd (Houston Rockets) - Jalen Green, G League Ignite

While taking Evan Mobley is extremely tempting, Houston buys the hype and gets arguably the best scorer in the draft. Green is freakishly athletic and can score from any level. A confident shooter, Green looked like a NBA veteran at times playing against pro talent. Putting him around players like Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood is a win for the Rockets. 

3rd (Cleveland Cavaliers) - Evan Mobley, Southern California

Best scenario for Cleveland here is to trade down. Assuming they don’t do that, they take the best player available with Evan Mobley. With how good Jarrett Allen was for them after being acquired from Brooklyn, it will be interesting to see how the pairing fits together. Nevertheless the upside of Mobley is simply too good for the Cavs to pass up on.

4th (Toronto Raptors) - Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga

With Kyle Lowry likely headed out, the Raptors select their new point guard at fourth overall. Suggs is a very balanced prospect, a solid scorer that can play defense and has playmaking abilities. He fell short by one game from leading Gonzaga to an undefeated season. We all witnessed Suggs’ prayer heave to eliminate UCLA from the tournament in one of the greatest college games ever. With the Raptors reputation for developing players such as Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Chris Boucher and Kyle Lowry, this is the perfect home for Suggs.

5th (Orlando Magic) - Scottie Barnes, FSU

For a large majority of the year, Jonathan Kuminga was the pick here but concerns over his offensive potential have tanked his stock a bit. The Magic avoid the risk and take Scottie Barnes here. Barnes is 6’8 with an unbelievable 7’3 wingspan, something Orlando is very fond of. Barnes is a playmaker. Cut from the Draymond Green cloth, the former Florida State Seminole can step up and make plays for teammates along with showcasing elite defense. Given how desperately the Magic are in need of a dynamic playmaker this is the perfect fit for Orlando.

6th (Oklahoma City Thunder) - Jonathan Kuminga, G League Ignite

Kuminga’s biggest downfall is his offensive upside. He has all the physical tools and the athleticism to be really good but he’s a streaky shooter at best, leading him to struggle in the G League this season. He's reminiscent of former Sun and current Piston Josh Jackson when he came out. Going to a team like OKC may be beneficial allowing him to playing alongside a primary ball handler and playmaker in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With SGA taking the pressure off of Kuminga to produce early on, he might have the proper runway to develop his game.

7th (Golden State Warriors) - Davion Mitchell, Baylor 

Davion Mitchell is coming off of a great college season that saw him walk off a national champion. Mitchell has a nice two-way game to him. He averaged 14 and 6 at Baylor this year while shooting 45% from behind the arc. He’s also established himself as on of the best on-ball defenders in this year’s class. The biggest knock on Mitchell is his age, coming in at 22 years old yet his ability to produce right away at the next level still makes him a valuable selection. Pairing him with the Splash Brothers could see Golden State return to the playoffs very quickly.

8th (Orlando Magic) - James Bouknight, UConn

Consistent scoring is something that has plagued Orlando since the departure of superstar Dwight Howard, so James Bouknight will be welcome at the Amway Center. Bouknight averaged 19 points a game for his UConn squad and was an absolute animal with the ball in his hands. His close relationship with last year's Magic draft pick, Cole Anthony, also helps Bouknight’s case to be the pick here.

9th (Sacramento Kings) - Josh Giddey, Australia

Giddey’s size and playmaking make him hard to pass up for the Kings. Giddey averaged 10-7-7 last year in Australia to go with a 6’8 frame. He’s basically a diet Lonzo Ball. Putting him alongside De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton can set up a formidable crew in California's capital.

10th (Memphis Grizzlies) - Moses Moody, Arkansas 

Moody is the perfect 3-and-D guy for today’s NBA. Pairing Moody’s instant offense and defensive potential with Ja Morant’s athleticism makes an already dangerous young Memphis squad, a near lock to advance in the playoffs sooner than later.

11th (Charlotte Hornets) - Alperen Sengun, Turkey

Here at 11, is another foreign-born prospect in the 19 year old big man from Turkey. Alperen Sengun is coming off a season that saw him win the Turkish League MVP averaging 19 points, 9 rebounds and nearly 2 blocks. Sengun is a very traditional big and is fundamentally sound. Sengun being an upgrade over Bismarck Biyombo and Cody Zeller is a recipe for the success of the Hornets building around the reigning Rookie of the Year, LaMelo Ball.

12th (San Antonio) - Keon Johnson, Tennessee

Here the Spurs get the best athlete in the class in Keon Johnson. Johnson made headlines when he smashed the NBA Combine record with a staggering 48-inch vertical. Putting Johnson with Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Lonnie Walker IV gives the Spurs a great young core to build around.

13th (Indiana) - Jalen Johnson, Duke

The Pacers are a team stuck in NBA purgatory.  Grabbing someone like Jalen Johnson sets them up for a low risk, high reward situation. Although he was underwhelming during his freshman season at Duke, Johnson still has a ton of potential. A former five-star prospect, Johnson’s size and ability to create his own shot is definitely enough to take a flyer on him. He can improve as a passer and has made it clear he models his game after the likes of Magic Johnson and LeBron James. The Pacers pull the trigger and start developing Johnson right away.

14th (Golden State) - Corey Kispert, Gonzaga

Oh no, it happened again - Golden State got the best shooter in the draft. Golden State adds on to their A+ draft history by nabbing former Gonzaga Bulldog, Corey Kispert. Kispert averaged 19 points a game, shooting 44% from 3PT land on about 6 attempts a game. A squad with Kispert, Davion Mitchell, Steph, Klay, and Draymond is an absolute nightmare for the NBA. A knockdown shooter from the bench, he’ll make an impact earlier than you think. 

15th (Washington) - Tre Mann, Florida 

With Russell Westbrook appearing to be headed to LA and Bradley Beal potentially on his way out too, Washington needs to add to their new core in this rebuild. Tre Mann is a good playmaker with a smooth shooting stroke. Coming off a 16-5-3 campaign at Florida, Mann has all the tools a young point guard should have. At 6’4, you can even slide him to the 2 if you want him to get his feet wet early. Solid value at the end of the lottery for the Wizards.