NBA Mock Draft 7.0: Rockets reach for upside with draft order set

When SpaceCityScoop has done other mock drafts, we didn't know where the Houston Rockets were going to select. This is the first mock where we know their draft position:

It'll be our last mock draft as well.

This has been a monthly endeavor, and this is the month of the draft. On June 25, the Rockets will select their newest player:

Unless they trade the pick, that is.

Let's assume they keep it. Now, let's run through all 30 picks in the first round one more time:

No need for the Tankathon spin in this case.

1. Dallas Mavericks - Cooper Flagg (Duke)

The Mavericks were not supposed to land Flagg. They were supposed to be punished for the inept Luka Doncic trade, not rewarded.

Life is cruel. Flagg will be a Maverick. He's likely to be a thorn in the Rockets' side for years. The potentially dominant two-way forward has superstar written all over him. It's a shame that he has to be in Houston's division...

Don't shoot the messenger, but it gets worse.

2. San Antonio Spurs - Dylan Harper (Rutgers)

The Mavericks taking Flagg is a foregone conclusion. By contrast, there is some intrigue here.

The Spurs seem eager to win soon. They already traded for De'Aaron Fox. Meanwhile, Stephon Castle is the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. How many lead guards can one team have?

Still, the Spurs will likely take Harper. In a few years, he should be the best guard of that trio. This 6'5" combo guard is a three-level scorer who can orchestrate a pick-and-roll to perfection.

Naturally, he'll also be in the Rockets' division.

3. Philadelphia 76ers - Ace Bailey (Rutgers)

The Sixers should probably either trade this pick, or Joel Embiid. Pairing the former MVP and a rapidly aging Paul George with a youth movement isn't very logical.

For now, let's assume they draft the best prospect. Despite concerns about his feel for the game, that's still Bailey. He's a 6'9" wing who can hit impossible shots. Bailey also looks like a good defender. If the Sixers did rebuild, he's a perfect fit alongside the young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain.

4. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)

The Hornets have been in the lottery for too long. They'll hope Edgecombe can help drag them into the playoffs.

In fairness, it's possible that the Hornets would have had a stronger season if Brandon Miller had been healthy. In any case, Edgecombe should be a perfect fit alongside him and LaMelo Ball.

Edgecombe is one of the most impressive athletes in this class. He could be an elite perimeter defender and reliable shot creator as well. You wish he'd shot better than 34.0% from deep, but that could be a moot point alongside Charlotte's pair of sharpshooting stars.

5. Utah Jazz - Kon Knueppel (Duke)

There may be higher upside players than Knueppel left on the board, but they come with risks. Knueppel has an exceedingly high floor. Without a surefire star left, that might be the Jazz's priority.

His 40.6% three-point shooting is what gives him much of that floor. Still, his 6'7" frame doesn't hurt either. Knueppel is a good point of attack defender. If he can create shots at the NBA level, he does have a glimmer of star potential.

6. Washington Wizards - Tre Johnson (Texas)

Fans should feel for the Wizards. They badly needed a high pick, and they'll have to settle for 6th.

At least they're getting one of the most purely talented scorers in this class. Johnson shot 39.7% on a remarkable 6.8 threes per game for the Longhorns this season. He's also capable of driving to the basket. Johnson needs to improve his playmaking, but he's got a baseline ability to score that should serve him well in the NBA.

7. New Orleans Pelicans - Khaman Maluach (Duke)

The Pelicans could take a number of directions with this pick. Still, it feels like they've been searching for a big man for a long time. Yves Missi was solid as a rookie, but not someone you'd base your draft on.

Maluach has far more potential. With quick feet and an absurd 9'8" wingspan, Maluach should be a defensive anchor in the NBA. If he is able to stretch the floor in time, he'll be a perfect complement to Zion Williamson.

8. Brooklyn Nets - Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)

The Nets are at a crossroads. Having regained most of their control of their future draft, they can rebuild. They also have the assets to make a blockbuster trade.

For now, they ought to draft a primary playmaker. Fears fits the bill. He's an outstanding athlete who should be able to penetrate to the bucket regularly in the NBA. His 28.4% shooting from deep is concerning, but if the Nets want to surround him with shooters, they could offset that limitation.

9. Toronto Raptors - Derik Queen (Maryland)

Queen is a dominant interior scorer with fantastic passing chops and defensive limitations.

That will sound familiar to Rockets fans.

Granted, there are no assurances that Queen will figure out NBA defense as Alperen Sengun has. Still, the Raptors could look to the Rockets and decide that Queen may be able to find an optimal defensive role. If he can, he's got all the skills needed to be a star big man.

10. Houston Rockets - Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)

Different Rockets fans will have different preferences. Some will have wings they prefer. Others would want to trade back, or out of the draft entirely.

That's fine. Jakucionis is the highest ceiling prospect on the board, so that's where the Rockets settle in our series of mocks. He's a 6'5" point guard with dynamic floor vision. If he can improve on his 31.8% three-point shooting, he can be a star.

11. Portland Trail Blazers - Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)

Remember we said some Rockets fans would prefer someone other than Jakucionis? Murray-Boyles is one of the guys we had in mind.

Granted, other Rockets fans will be pleased to avoid a 6'7" wing with a poor jump shot. That's fair, but Murray-Boyles is a gifted interior scorer with solid ball-handling skills. Coupled with the fact that he can defend multiple positions, that makes him an intriguing prospect despite his limitations.

12. Chicago Bulls - Cedric Coward (Washington State)

The Bulls have stagnated in recent years. It's time to do something bold -

How about reach for Coward?

An injury kept him out of action for most of last season. When healthy, Coward averaged an impressive 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds to go with 40.0% three-point shooting. As a 6'5" guard/wing who can score on all 3 levels, Coward could be the most underrated prospect in this class.

13. Atlanta Hawks - Carter Bryant (Arizona)

Another popular Rockets pick, Bryant is a 6'8" wing who hit 37.1% of his threes for Arizona this year. That description alone makes him worth a nod in the backend of the lottery.

It gets better. Bryant has flashed some ball-handling capacity. If he can be a secondary playmaker in the NBA, he could make a few teams look silly for passing on him. The Hawks should be happy to add him even if their frontcourt begins to look crowded with Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels in the fold.

14. San Antonio Spurs - Jase Richardson (Michigan State)

Another guard?

Yes, another guard. This mock is shaking out awkwardly for the Spurs with this pick. Any forward or big would be a reach. Meanwhile, Richardson has slipped a little relative to the consensus.

So, the Spurs should grab him and sort it out later. Richardson is arguably the best shooter in this class. Since Harper and Castle are both big guards, the 6'1" sniper should be able to play next to either.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder - Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)

The Thunder loves versatile defenders with auxiliary skills. Compared to some other picks in this mock, this one feels like a no-brainer.

Granted, Essengue himself comes with risks. His offense is raw, and there are no guarantees that it will develop. Still, he's a monster athlete with incredible lateral mobility at 6'8". There's a world where he's the best defender from this class, so the Thunder should roll the dice on him.

16. Orlando Magic - Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph's)

We're getting to that stage where teams can reach. Some will see Fleming as deserving to be picked later, but he's such a perfect fit for the Magic that they ought to consider him.

He doesn't look like a future star. Fleming has limited on-ball juice. He's still a 39.1% three-point shooter who can guard across positions. This is a player who will complement Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to a tee.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves - Nolan Traore (Saint-Quentin)

The Timberwolves could use a point guard, but that alone wouldn't justify drafting Traore. Luckily, he's got a strong case as the best prospect available at this spot.

Traore is lightning quick and a maestro in the pick-and-roll. He's got a relentless motor and is a stout point-of-attack defender. Questions about his jumpshot persist, but Traore may be tools-y enough to succeed in the NBA even without one.

18. Washington Wizards - Asa Newell (Georgia)

As with many prospects, shooting is Newell's swing skill. His 29.1% shooting from deep for Georgia this year is indicative of a player with some potential in that area, but some rawness as well.

Otherwise, there's nothing not to like. Newell is an athletic 6'9" combo big with great shot blocking instincts. If he can find his three-point range in the NBA, he'll be an ideal playfinisher to pair with whoever the Wizards have on their roster.

19. Brooklyn Nets - Danny Wolf (Michigan)

Wolf looks like a poor defender at the NBA level. If he didn't, he could have worked his way into top-5 conversations.

There's nothing else to dislike. Wolf is a 7'0" combo big who shot 33.6% from deep for Michigan this year. What's more, he's a dynamic playmaker with outstanding passing abilities. He has a superstar's offensive tool package, so as long as he's a viable NBA defender, he'll be a great pick in this spot.

20. Miami Heat - Egor Demin (BYU)

Many mocks have Demin getting picked higher than this. Others will agree that his profile is concerning. Demin is a 6'8" player with guard skills, and that has tempted many teams. Still, his difficulty scoring in the halfcourt gives him considerable bust potential.

That said, he's easily worth a flyer at 20. Players with this type of upside don't usually shake loose this late in the draft. Demin is a flawed bet, but the only safe picks at this stage in the draft are clear role players. The Heat can justify reaching for upside.

21. Utah Jazz - Liam NcNeeley (UConn)

McNeeley is another guy who's slipping in this mock. What can I say? An alleged shooter who hit 31.7% of his triples loses some luster.

That's not to say McNeeley holds no intrigue. He's a high feel player who consistently makes good decisions. He's also shot better at times in the past - if he can get his touch back from beyond the arc, the Jazz could get a steal here.

22. Atlanta Hawks - Maxime Raynaud (Stanford)

The Hawks' center rotation has been funky for years. Fans have been clamouring for them to replace Clint Capela with Onyeka Onkongwu. Now that Capela seems to be gone, why would they draft another big?

It's simple - Onkongwu small, Raynaud big. The Stanford product could be Onkongwu's backup early, but as a 7'0" big man who shot 34.5% from deep and protects the rim, he could be giving the talented NBAer some stiff competition soon.

23. Indiana Pacers - Nique Clifford (Colorado State)

The Pacers may not be thinking about the draft. They're in the NBA Finals as we speak. They're lucky - 23rd is a good selection for an NBA Finalist.

Similarly, Clifford is a good prospect for a team this strong to add. He's a wing who can shoot and defend across positions. Clifford is also an outstanding positional rebounder. He's even flashed some ability to create shots.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder - Joan Beringer (Cedevita Olimpija)

The Thunder don't need another lenghty big man. Sure. Look at this roster - the Thunder don't need anything.

Why not add a defensive presence like Beringer? His 7'4" wingspan and plus lateral mobility give him tremendous potential on that end. He could be Chet Holmgren's longterm backup - or running mate. If he's starting caliber, and that duo doesn't gel, the Thunder will have a valuable trade asset on their hands.

25. Orlando Magic - Will Riley (Illinois)

The Magic's halfcourt offense needs juice. They could use a player who can space the floor for Banchero and Wagner. That said, another player who can create shots for themselves would help as well.

Moreover, this team likes size. Would you look at that? Riley is a 6'8" guard/wing who can hit impossible shots. Orlando would like him to improve on his 32.6% three-point shooting, but his form is strong. He's worth a flyer for this team.

26. Brooklyn Nets - Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)

Sorber is a safe pick. He's nearly certain to have a solid NBA career as a rim running, rim protecting big. There's no real reason to think he'll be a star, but that's fine when you've got the 26th pick.

The Nets need to make a decision on Nic Claxton. If they move him, Sorber could be his long-term replacement.

27. Brooklyn Nets - Ben Saraf (Elitzur Kiryat Ata)

Sorber is a safe pick. So, why not get a bit crazy with their very next selection?

Saraf is a 6'5" point guard with outstanding floor vision. Like some other players in this class, it's unclear if he'll be able to score in halfcourt sets in the NBA. The Nets might as well find out. They've got a surplus of picks in this draft, so they can afford to gamble with one.

28. Boston Celtics - Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)

The Celtics should look to cut costs this summer. Kristaps Porzingis feels like the most likely contract to be offloaded. Why not draft his replacement?

Kalkbrenner should be one of the better rim protectors in this class. He's flashed a semblence of floor spacing. He may be a long-term backup - Kalkbrenner can't defend in space, and emphasis on "semblence" when it comes to the shooting - but he's likely to be a servicable NBA player.

29. Phoenix Suns - Walter Clayton (Florida)

The Suns have been struggling to fill their point guard spot. Clayton could be the long-term answer. He's a well-rounded offensive guard who can shoot 3s, make plays and protect the rock.

He's got starter potential, but his size will deter some suitors. That said, 6'3" is an acceptable height in the NBA. Clayton has the tools to give the Suns surplus value at this spot.

30. Los Angeles Clippers - Noah Penda (Le Mans)

Penda reminds scouts of Nic Batum. So, this feels like a fitting pick.

If he ever shoots as well as his countryman, he'll be a great NBA player. Either way, Penda has an exceptionally high feel for the game and is a stalwart defender. If he's on the board at the end of the first round, the Clippers should give him a new home.