Giddey addresses their backcourt problems, but the Knicks would be wise to add some athleticism in the paint next to Mitchell Robinson. Brown might have to compete with Obi Toppin for minutes, but his rim-rattling offensive style, quality shot-blocking skills, and improving jump shot should be enough to sell Tom Thibodeau on his potential.
With or without an impending free agent in Dennis Schroder next season, the Lakers would be wise to add a point guard that could handle the ball when either Schroder or LeBron James isn’t on the floor. Dosunmu was a Player of the Year candidate who used his excellent court vision, shooting, and blinding speed to lead the Illini, and those traits could make him an ideal Laker.
The Rockets finally go big here, and they grab someone that could fit in well with their offensive scheme in Bassey. Given his raw power and interior game, Bassey could be a refreshing change of pace, providing scoring and efficiency in bigger lineups that push Christian Wood to the power forward spot. In a weak center class, Bassey’s potential gets him picked in the first round.
Butler was the other half of the dominant Baylor backcourt that brought the Bears a championship. Before the Jamal Murray injury, the Nuggets needed a solid scorer and defender who could take the pressure off of Murray and MVP candidate Nikola Jokic. After the injury, Butler is a necessity for a Denver team that needs to keep building upon their strong bench.
The 76ers could still use some more bench scoring and shooting, and Thomas would help do that after averaging 23.0 points per game as a freshman in the SEC. He is a one-trick pony at the moment, as his defense is very poor and his ball-handling is substandard, but he can put the ball in the hoop, and Philadelphia could use an offensive injection in the second unit.
The injuries to James Harden and Kyrie Irving have shown how Brooklyn needs a backup point guard to take some of the pressure off of them. With many of the best rim protectors off the board, the Nets opt for Mann, a 6-5 combo guard with solid rebounding and defensive abilities that he could use to become a part of Steve Nash’s rotation instantly.
The Clippers finally get a point guard, and it’s a player in Cooper that could go anywhere from the fringes of the lottery to the second round. While he is an incredibly inefficient shooter, his scoring power at his size in the SEC is remarkable, and Ty Lue should be able to help him round out his offensive game and start at some point down the line.
Juzang declared for the draft after riding his legendary March run to immortality in Los Angeles. He’ll end up in Phoenix, where he’ll join a ready-make group of bench players that can shoulder the scoring load when Chris Paul and Devin Booker are out. Juzang is a limited athlete and very raw, but the Suns can afford to take a risk on his offensive potential.
The Jazz need some backcourt reinforcements, as Mike Conley is starting to get a bit long in the tooth. Ayayi ends the first round due to the fact that his rebounding and shooting will make him an ideal backup guard. Utah’s second unit is one of the best in the business thanks to Jordan Clarkson, and Ayayi should make it even stronger.