NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Rockets raise defense, Raptors raise Canadian Flagg

The Houston Rockets made a massive trade with the Brooklyn Nets over the summer.

No players were involved. The trade was entirely built around draft capital. In summary, the Rockets sent the Nets most of their own picks from the James Harden trade back in exchange for a larger quantity of Suns picks.

It was a logical trade, but it was disappointing for some. The Rockets seemingly bowed out of the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. Instead, they opted to load up on ammunition if they wanted to trade for a star.

Well, the Suns are 1-9 without Kevin Durant this year. Kevin Durant is 36...

...Who knows, right?

In this mock draft, the Rockets don't land in the vicinity of the number one pick. Just like last time, I gave the old Tankathon five spins to randomize the order.

Here are the results.

1. Toronto Raptors - Cooper Flagg (Duke)

It's difficult to write about Flagg in these exercises. His status as the top choice is a foregone conclusion. It doesn't matter who lands the number one pick.

He's not a natural fit for the Raptors, and if they draft Flagg, their roster will be exceedingly wing-heavy.

They will take the dominant two-way wing without a moment's hesitation and figure the rest out later.

2. Portland Trail Blazers - Dylan Harper (Rutgers)

Flagg may be the presumptive first-overall pick, but Harper is starting to establish a stranglehold on the second-overall spot.

The Rutgers product is averaging 23.3 points per game as a freshman. He's scoring from all three levels, and displaying a capacity to set his teammates up. Harper looks the part of an NBA lead guard by any measure.

Like the Raptors, the Blazers won't consider fit. Sure, they've got a lot of guards, but none have established themselves as a franchise player. With Scoot Henderson struggling mightily, the Blazers will see an opportunity to find their franchise guard of the future by pairing Harper with Shaedon Sharpe.

3. Brooklyn Nets - Ace Bailey (Rutgers)

At one time, Bailey was seen as the favorite to be selected after Flagg. His own teammate has eclipsed him...

Awkward?

Either way, Bailey figures to be the highest upside prospect on the board at 3. He's struggled with shot selection. Bailey has a propensity to attempt contested mid-range jumpers.

Still, the fact that he can hit them at 6'10" is enough for Brooklyn to invest this selection in him.

4. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecomb (Baylor)

This is where the draft gets interesting. There are a handful of players that several teams would probably pick ahead of Edgecomb. He's been falling short of expectations this year, shooting a meager 26.5% from long-range.

All of those players are playmakers. The Hornets eschewed conventional wisdom by picking Brandon Miller over the perceived better prospect in Henderson in the 2023 draft. Like Miller, Edgecomb projects as someone who won't need the ball to impact the game.

Surrounding LaMelo Ball with plus positional size and shotmaking seems like a smart way to build this team. The Hornets will be the first team in this mock draft to factor fit into their thinking. Still, make no mistake. Edgecomb has a strong athletic profile, and plenty of his own upside.

5. Washington Wizards: Kasparas Jakucionis (Illonois)

Now, the draft goes back to "best player available" mode. Bilal Coulibaly has been impressive as a sophomore, but he's a versatile player who should fit next to anyone. The Wizards don't otherwise have any players worth factoring into their draft selection.

So, why not land on a 6'9" playmaker? I'll be transparent: if the draft transpired this way, the Hornets may live with regret. Consider this a predictive mock. The Hornets could lean towards Edgecomb, but Jakucionis is arguably the better prospect.

He's got enough craft and ball-handling skill to play point guard even at his immense size. Even if the Wizards play him as a wing long-term, he'll add playmaking at his position.

6. New Orleans Pelicans: Egor Demin (Brighham Young)

It's hard to know what the Pelicans will do. Nobody even knows if Zion Williamson will be on this roster by the summer.

So, it's best to hedge towards them picking the best available player, That would be Demin. Like Jakucionis, he's a plus-sized, 6'9" playmaker with positional versatility, skill and craft.

If they keep Williamson, Demin is a strong fit next to him. If they move him, they may start looking to rebuild the franchise around Demin. Either way, he's the right choice for New Orleans at 6.

7. Utah Jazz: Kon Knueppel (Duke)

Scouts wish Knueppel was shooting better than 34.5% from deep this year. As a 6'7" wing with sub-elite athleticism, that's supposed to be a substantial part of his prospect profile.

He's still the pick here. The seventh pick in this draft feels like an inflection point. All the players with clear superstar potential are off the board. It feels like a Danny Ainge move to play it safe in that situation.

Knueppel is a high-feel player who makes the right play and competes on both ends of the floor. His shot mechanics suggest that he'll improve on his accuracy in time. The Jazz should be getting a good player here, whether he's a star or not.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia 76ers): Nolan Traore (Saint-Quentin)

Do the Thunder need Traore? No. This team has ample playmaking and backcourt depth. They could justify adding a more portable 3-and-D wing to compliment their stacked roster.

Did they need Nikola Topic when they picked him in the last draft? No. Here's an even more substantive question:

Do the Thunder need anything?

By now, it feels like they're willing to snag high-upside prospects no matter how they fit with their roster. The Thunder may be collecting ammunition for a future trade. Traore has struggled in international play this year, but the Thunder could roll the dice on him anyway.

9. Detroit Pistons: Khaman Maluach (Duke)

Maluach may have the widest variance of any prospect in this draft. You'll find ample mocks that put him in the top-10, but some have him falling outside the top-20.

He feels like a perfect addition to this Pistons roster. Jalen Duren has been disappointing, particularly on the defensive end. Maluach should be a game-changer due to his 7'2" height, immense wing span and surprisingly quick feet.

He's also flashed some potential to space the floor. That's vital for a Pistons team that's hoping to feature Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland long-term.

10. Chicago Bulls: Tre Johnson (Texas)

Like the Pelicans, we don't know where the Bulls will be come draft day. Will Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic be on this roster? Will the Bulls be coming off of a first-round exit, or will they be picking higher in the lottery?

Johnson is a good choice in any situation. He's the best prospect left on the board. This kid is giving Texas 19.9 points per game while shooting a red-hot 43.3% from long-range. After Harper, he may be the best pure guard in this class.

11. Sacramento Kings: Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)

What will the Kings prioritize after sending De'Aaron Fox to the Rockets?

Joking (not really). In any event, the situation in Sacramento looks bleak. This team is stuck on the mediocrity treadmill. Given that situation, it feels likely that Fox will be moved - whether to Houston or otherwise.

Why not pick up their next lead guard? Fears shares some similarities to Fox. He's a pick-and-roll maestro with blinding speed. He could help the Kings usher in their next era of basketball.

12. San Antonio Spurs: Boogie Fland (Arkansas)

By contrast, the Spurs have "the guy" in Victor Wembanyama. Their next step is to find his co-star and surround that duo with complimentary players.

Fland is that player. He's an undersized guard, but he's relentless when guarding the point of attack. Fland is also shooting 39.6% from three-point range, and he looks like a guard who can orchestrate an offense at an NBA level.

13. Atlanta Hawks (via Los Angeles Lakers): Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)

Saraf has boom-or-bust written all over him. He's 6'5" and arguably the best passer in this draft. His creativity knows no limits, but he may be a tough sell as a primary option if he can't improve on that 25% three-point shooting.

Yet, the Hawks are in an interesting situation. They feel revitalized after the emergence of Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels. Suddenly, this team may have a complimentary core around Trae Young. If they still decide to move Young, they've got at least a pair of cornerstone players to work with in the coming years.

So, they can justify a gamble. Saraf is likely a poor fit alongside Young, but the Hawks could temporarily use him to pilot their second unit. If he outgrows that role, he could have tremendous trade value for them down the road.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers): Liam McNeeley (Connecticut)

It must be nice to be a Thunder fan. They're one of the best teams in the NBA, and they're picking twice in this lottery. Having reached for Traore, it would make sense to land a complimentary player with this pick.

McNeeley should compliment anyone. Sure, it would be nice if the 6'7" wing improved on that 33.9% three-point shooting. McNeeley probably will, but in the meantime, he's a sharp connective passer and plus rebounder. He should eventually find a place in the Thunder's rotation.

15. Indiana Pacers: Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)

Much has been made of Murray-Boyles' throwback game. To be sure, he's a skilled low-post scorer. At 6'8" and 245 pounds, Murray-Boyles is a physical combo forward who can punish opponents inside.

Yet, he's shooting 33.3% from long-range this year. That's not an elite mark, but given everything else Murray-Boyles brings to the table, it's solid.

For whatever reason, the Pacers haven't seemed satisfied with Jarace Walker. Drafting Murray-Boyles allows them to land an in-house replacement and get some value from Walker on the trade market.

16. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta Hawks): Alex Karaban (Connecticut)

Here, the Spurs stick with a theme: put quality role players around Wembanyama.

Karaban is one of the best shooters in this class, connecting on 42.4% of his triples this season. As a 6'8" wing, he's got some defensive potential as well. His star potential may not be through the roof, but Karaban looks like a readymade rotation player. Assuming the Spurs eventually go star-hunting, prioritizing their floor is a good plan in this draft.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat): Asa Newell (Georgia)

How many picks do the Thunder need? How many rookies can they add in one summer?

At this point, it makes sense for them to take on a project. Newell is raw. He's a 6'11" wing with a great athletic profile - and no identifiable outlier skill. He does fit the Thunder's typical profile as a tall wing with potential on-ball abilities. Newell will need time to develop:

The Thunder have got plenty of time to wait.

18. Golden State Warriors: Dink Pate (Mexico City Capitanes)

Pate is a G-League Ignite graduate. They haven't had a great track record in the NBA. The Warriors know this. Jonathan Kuminga has arguably been the best former Ignite player in the big leagues, but he's still highly inconsistent.

It still feels like the Warriors would gamble on Pate's upside. He's shooting a frigid 21.4% during this year's G-League season. Still, he's a 6'8" guard who has demonstrated some capacity to create his own shot. Pate has star potential, and it's hard to land star potential with the 18th pick.

19. Houston Rockets (via Phoenix Suns): Drake Powell (North Carolina)

The moment you've all been waiting for...

Powell feels like a "Udoka guy". He's garnering Herb Jones comparisons. There were questions about Powell's shooting heading into the season, but so far, he's shooting 40% from deep.

He's also flashed very little ability to create for himself. Powell is only mustering 5.7 points per game at the moment. That's fine. The Rockets should be looking to add rotation players at this point. Powell fits their identity, and should be able to work his way into the rotation over the next couple of years.

20. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid Baloncesto)

Gonzalez' stats with Real Madrid are underwhelming. He's averaging 6.5 points per game.

Take that with a grain of salt. This is a professional team trying to win games, and Gonzalez is a teenager. NBA scouts should be looking at his potential. He's a 6'6" guard with ball-handling skills and playmaking abilities. If he can improve on his 31.3% shooting from distance, he's got intriguing upside.

21. Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee Bucks): Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana)

The Nets are back on the board after grabbing Ace Bailey all the way up at 3. Could they take another wing?

Why not? If the Nets are rebuilding, they're a blank slate. Bailey and Mgbako could be their wings of the future. If they're going to expedite their process by trading for a star, they should be drafting on a best player available basis.

That could be Mgbako. He's a 6'9" wing with immense power. He's been highly efficient for Indiana this year as a 42.9% three-point shooter who has no trouble finishing inside.

22. Orlando Magic (via Denver Nuggets): Nique Clifford (Colorado State)

The sell on Clifford isn't complicated. He's 6'6" and shooting 37.3% from distance. This is a long-term 3-and-D wing in the NBA.

Clifford could be more than that. He's been in a featured role for Colorado State. That doesn't always portend NBA stardom - college is not the NBA - but Clifford is a prospect with a high floor and a sneakily high ceiling.

23. Orlando Magic: Will Riley (Illonois)

Back-to-back picks for the Magic could make for some interesting selections. In Clifford, they got a 3-and-D wing who should compliment anybody. That's justifiable, but their wing rotation is crowded.

By contrast, they could use a guard who can shoot and create shots. Riley fits the mold. There are questions about his defense, but if any team in the Eastern Conference can make up for his deficits, it's the Magic.

24. Brooklyn Nets (via New York Knicks): Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)

Some mock drafts will have Essengue higher than this. Others will leave him out of the first-round entirely. This is a polarizing prospect.

Essengue is raw. His offensive strengths are not yet discernable. That said, it's easy to envision an elite NBA defender. Essengue can guard both the perimeter and the paint. Even if he only learns to space the floor, that should make him a quality NBA player.

25. Brooklyn Nets (via Houston Rockets): Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets)

This is going to be a busy draft for the Nets. In this mock alone, they've already grabbed three wings. Why not go for a big man?

Zikarsky hasn't had many opportunities to shine with the NBL's Bullets. He still has intriguing upside. His lateral quickness at 7'2" gives him the potential to be a dominant defensive anchor. Zikarsky also offers some connective passing that should give him some value on the offensive end of the floor.

26. Dallas Mavericks: Adou Theiro (Arkansas)

Theiro looks like one of the best defensive wings in this class. That makes him an interesting fit alongside Luka Doncic, but his 23.8% shooting from three-point range is problematic.

That shouldn't stop the Mavericks. We're down to the 26th pick in the draft. The Mavericks shouldn't be looking for an instant contributor here - they're title contenders. If Theiro can get that percentage up, he could be a useful role player for this club in two or three years.

27. Memphis Grizzlies: Jase Richardson (Michigan State)

Richardson is probably the best shooter in this draft. He's connecting on 50% of his three-point attempts. Like father, like son?

Richardson's dad Jason was a fringe star in the NBA. Fans remember him for his dunk contest theatrics, but Richardson was a knockdown shooter as well. It seems he passed that gene down to his son. The Grizzlies could use some floor spacing, and Richardson is ready to provide it.

28. Los Angeles Clippers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Derik Queen (Maryland)

This mock draft has Queen slipping. In most mocks, he'd have been off the board for about ten picks.

There's some reason to be skeptical about a big man who doesn't space the floor or defend at a high level in 2024. The Clippers aren't grabbing Queen here because they have a need for him - they're happy with Ivica Zubac. They're taking Queen because he's easily the best player available.

Sure, Queen has his flaws. He's still a talented interior scorer and a strong passing big. The Clippers can't pass up his talent at this juncture.

29. Boston Celtics: Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)

The Celtics have had tremendous success with their current big men. That said, the rotation may soon thin out. Al Horford is on the verge of retirement. Kristaps Porzingis is regularly injured, and the Celtics could consider dumping his contract eventually.

Kalkbrenner could be a readymade replacement. He could be a potentially elite rim protector as a 7'1" big man with impeccable instincts. Kalkbrenner has also shown some capacity to space the floor. Expanding on that skill could help him land higher in the draft.

30. Utah Jazz (via Cleveland Cavaliers): Labaron Philon (Alabama)

Philon isn't a remarkable athlete. At 6'4", he doesn't have outlier size. His star potential is low.

That said, Philon is solid. He's a crafty guard who can do some shooting, ball-handling and defending. He feels like a probable rotation player in the NBA.

At 30th overall, the Jazz will take that.