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What if only seniors were allowed to be drafted? Here's a mock draft I created using only seniors. Only had enough in the tank to go with the lottery picks, but might give the next parts of the 1st round in later installments. Enjoy:
1) Phoenix, Jevon Carter, PG, West Virginia
Phoenix woefully needs a center, and while Chandler Hutchinson is the best senior in the draft, he’s not an immediate candidate for playing time with Devin Booker, Josh Jackson and TJ Warren playing big minutes at positions Hutchinson can contribute for. What Phoenix needs badly is a defensive makeover and Carter is an elite defensive pest who would allow Booker to play off-guard more often. His combination of 3 steals/game, a 39.3 3P % and a 6.6-2.6 A/TO ratio profiles nicely at the next level. Carter's not the best senior in the draft, but he'll definitely carve a role somewhere as a depth PG for at least a few years.
2) Sacramento, Chandler Hutchinson SG/SF, Boise St.
Hutchinson is mostly a best-player available pick who can start at the 2 or 3 with Bogdanovic at the other spot and Fox at the 1 with Hield off the bench. Great athletic attacking wing player with an ability to grab boards (7.8/game), hit a 3 (36%), and dish the ball (3.5 assists/game). I’ll be shocked if Hutchinson isn’t the 1st senior drafted later this month.
3) Atlanta, Svi Mykhailiuk, SG, Kansas
One of my favorite college players last year, Svi has developed into one of the best shooters in the draft. With Bazemore’s contract expiring after next season, Svi gives the Hawks a great shooter who can develop with Schroder and their talented young frontcourt of Prince, Collins and Dedmon.
4) Memphis, Grayson Allen, SG, Duke
Memphis should be in rebuild mode, but they are stubborn to go back to the playoffs after last year’s dud of a season. Allen fits right in with Conley and Gasol and gives the team some long-distance shooting insurance just in case MarShon Brooks and Wayne Selden were a flash in the pan and if Parsons can’t play much.
5) Dallas, Angel Delgado, C, Seton Hall
This is definitely more of a need pick than BPA, but with Nowitzki not being able to play forever, Delgado gives Dallas a safe, traditional center to develop with Powell who can hit the boards hard to help the team extra possessions for their outside shooters.
6) Orlando, Devonte Graham, PG, Kansas
With Payton traded and Augustin mediocre, Orlando has a dire need for a PG and an outside shooter, so Graham is a nice mix of BPA and need. 7.2 assists/game and a 40.6 3P%. He fits nicely with their talented front court.
7) Chicago Bulls, Kevin Hervey, SF/PF Texas-Arlington
Hervey would be a perfect big wing to pair with Dunn, Lavine and Markkanen. Hervey has been compared a lot to Anthony Tolliver with his elite wingspan (7’3.5) and rebounding (8.8/game) and willingness to shoot the 3 (6.9 attempts/game). Not just an outside shooter, Hervey has a good spot up mid-range, and can attack the basket with a dribble or two to get to the line (4.2 FTA/game).
8) Cleveland, Alize Johnson, SF/PF, Missouri State
The former 5’9 high school point guard has become a 6’9 point forward who averaged 11.6 boards/game last season. Had a higher stock when hit more outside shots as a junior (38.8% as junior compared to 28.1% as a senior), but an interesting candidate for someone to play alongside or to replace LeBron.
9) New York, Kenrich Williams, SG/SF, TCU
Great blend of BPA and need, Kenrich Williams fits the Knicks need for a 3-and-D wing. Not a natural scorer, but he earned his bread and butter with rebounding (9.3/game), ability to dish (3.9/game) hit the 3 (39.5% last year) and the length and strength to defend anywhere from the 2 to the 4. Williams profiles as a great real-life target in the 2nd round.
10) Philadelphia, Gary Clark, SF/PF, Cincinnati.
After watching Jayson Tatum destroy Marco Bellini in the playoffs, a piece needed for the 76ers is a defensive minded wing who could hit outside shots. Clark is the perfect player for this spot with shooting 43.5% from 3, 8.7/boards game and enough athleticism to defend the 3 and enough strength to defend the 4. Lots of energy and smarts from Gary Clark.
11) Charlotte, Kendrick Nunn, CG, Oakland
Charlotte needs Kemba insurance and Nunn profiles as a similar player who can make a shot from anywhere, create his own shot, dish it, attack the hoop or grab boards. One of the stars of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Nunn finished with averages in the tournament of 20.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 51% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc on 7.7 perimeter attempts per game.
12) LA Clippers, Theo Pinson, SG/SF, North Carolina
The Clippers biggest need is PG upgrades and a replacement for Jordan, but not a ton of these prospects available worth picking. Going with BPA, Theo Pinson is a point-forward who would immediately compete for a bench role with his hustle, ability to dish and grab boards.
13) LA Clippers, Vince Edwards, SF/PF, Purdue
Again, not a player of need, but Edwards gives the Clippers another young wing with an solid inside-outside game and a willingness to attack the boards.
14) Denver, Bonzie Colson, SF/PF Notre Dame
Faried, Chandler and Arthur all have contracts expiring after next season, so Colson is a prime candidate to play bench minutes as a 2nd year player. Unique player with ability to protect the rim (2.2 blocks/game), grab boards (10.1/game) with his 7’0 wingspan despite measuring at only 6’6. After hitting only 29% of his 3s last season, he was once a much more adept 3 point shooter the year before (43.3%).
1) Phoenix, Jevon Carter, PG, West Virginia
Phoenix woefully needs a center, and while Chandler Hutchinson is the best senior in the draft, he’s not an immediate candidate for playing time with Devin Booker, Josh Jackson and TJ Warren playing big minutes at positions Hutchinson can contribute for. What Phoenix needs badly is a defensive makeover and Carter is an elite defensive pest who would allow Booker to play off-guard more often. His combination of 3 steals/game, a 39.3 3P % and a 6.6-2.6 A/TO ratio profiles nicely at the next level. Carter's not the best senior in the draft, but he'll definitely carve a role somewhere as a depth PG for at least a few years.
2) Sacramento, Chandler Hutchinson SG/SF, Boise St.
Hutchinson is mostly a best-player available pick who can start at the 2 or 3 with Bogdanovic at the other spot and Fox at the 1 with Hield off the bench. Great athletic attacking wing player with an ability to grab boards (7.8/game), hit a 3 (36%), and dish the ball (3.5 assists/game). I’ll be shocked if Hutchinson isn’t the 1st senior drafted later this month.
3) Atlanta, Svi Mykhailiuk, SG, Kansas
One of my favorite college players last year, Svi has developed into one of the best shooters in the draft. With Bazemore’s contract expiring after next season, Svi gives the Hawks a great shooter who can develop with Schroder and their talented young frontcourt of Prince, Collins and Dedmon.
4) Memphis, Grayson Allen, SG, Duke
Memphis should be in rebuild mode, but they are stubborn to go back to the playoffs after last year’s dud of a season. Allen fits right in with Conley and Gasol and gives the team some long-distance shooting insurance just in case MarShon Brooks and Wayne Selden were a flash in the pan and if Parsons can’t play much.
5) Dallas, Angel Delgado, C, Seton Hall
This is definitely more of a need pick than BPA, but with Nowitzki not being able to play forever, Delgado gives Dallas a safe, traditional center to develop with Powell who can hit the boards hard to help the team extra possessions for their outside shooters.
6) Orlando, Devonte Graham, PG, Kansas
With Payton traded and Augustin mediocre, Orlando has a dire need for a PG and an outside shooter, so Graham is a nice mix of BPA and need. 7.2 assists/game and a 40.6 3P%. He fits nicely with their talented front court.
7) Chicago Bulls, Kevin Hervey, SF/PF Texas-Arlington
Hervey would be a perfect big wing to pair with Dunn, Lavine and Markkanen. Hervey has been compared a lot to Anthony Tolliver with his elite wingspan (7’3.5) and rebounding (8.8/game) and willingness to shoot the 3 (6.9 attempts/game). Not just an outside shooter, Hervey has a good spot up mid-range, and can attack the basket with a dribble or two to get to the line (4.2 FTA/game).
8) Cleveland, Alize Johnson, SF/PF, Missouri State
The former 5’9 high school point guard has become a 6’9 point forward who averaged 11.6 boards/game last season. Had a higher stock when hit more outside shots as a junior (38.8% as junior compared to 28.1% as a senior), but an interesting candidate for someone to play alongside or to replace LeBron.
9) New York, Kenrich Williams, SG/SF, TCU
Great blend of BPA and need, Kenrich Williams fits the Knicks need for a 3-and-D wing. Not a natural scorer, but he earned his bread and butter with rebounding (9.3/game), ability to dish (3.9/game) hit the 3 (39.5% last year) and the length and strength to defend anywhere from the 2 to the 4. Williams profiles as a great real-life target in the 2nd round.
10) Philadelphia, Gary Clark, SF/PF, Cincinnati.
After watching Jayson Tatum destroy Marco Bellini in the playoffs, a piece needed for the 76ers is a defensive minded wing who could hit outside shots. Clark is the perfect player for this spot with shooting 43.5% from 3, 8.7/boards game and enough athleticism to defend the 3 and enough strength to defend the 4. Lots of energy and smarts from Gary Clark.
11) Charlotte, Kendrick Nunn, CG, Oakland
Charlotte needs Kemba insurance and Nunn profiles as a similar player who can make a shot from anywhere, create his own shot, dish it, attack the hoop or grab boards. One of the stars of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Nunn finished with averages in the tournament of 20.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 51% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc on 7.7 perimeter attempts per game.
12) LA Clippers, Theo Pinson, SG/SF, North Carolina
The Clippers biggest need is PG upgrades and a replacement for Jordan, but not a ton of these prospects available worth picking. Going with BPA, Theo Pinson is a point-forward who would immediately compete for a bench role with his hustle, ability to dish and grab boards.
13) LA Clippers, Vince Edwards, SF/PF, Purdue
Again, not a player of need, but Edwards gives the Clippers another young wing with an solid inside-outside game and a willingness to attack the boards.
14) Denver, Bonzie Colson, SF/PF Notre Dame
Faried, Chandler and Arthur all have contracts expiring after next season, so Colson is a prime candidate to play bench minutes as a 2nd year player. Unique player with ability to protect the rim (2.2 blocks/game), grab boards (10.1/game) with his 7’0 wingspan despite measuring at only 6’6. After hitting only 29% of his 3s last season, he was once a much more adept 3 point shooter the year before (43.3%).
