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- [00:00]
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- [01:33]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Good morning and welcome to the Athletic NBA Daily for June 22, 2026. I've got Ben Pfeifer here to talk about the NBA draft. We're doing a mock draft, the final one before the real thing. Let's get into it. Hello everybody. Good morning. You are so hype. Ben, you are ready to roll. It's going to be awesome. You do an incredible amount of work covering the NBA draft. I literally talked to you a week ago for Raptors Republic. But you do a lot of great work. You do it for essentially, sports news. You also do it for Swish Theory. And you have throughout this kind of draft cycle, you've been interviewing players, doing player breakdowns, film breakdowns with those guys, which I have found very, very enjoyable. There is not like five people in the draft world that I Like to hear talk about the draft more than you. So for everybody, everybody listening right now, go and tap into Ben Pfeifer and his draft stuff. Okay? We got to get through 30 picks here. So we're going to move rather quickly. We're going to do a mock draft. We know the order. Not going to do trades. There might be trades. Aaron Wiggins was traded, by the way.
- [02:54]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
The big trade.
- [02:55]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Big, big trade. The one we were waiting for. That's why Andrew Schlecht is not here. He's probably doing an emergency podcast somewhere. But Aaron Wiggins going to the Atlanta Hawks. So we're not going to do trades in these type of things. We're just going to go exactly how it is. The Wizards keep their pick, yada, yada, yada. I will give you the first pick since you are our guest on this show, and then we'll just go back and forth from there. The Washington Wizards are on the clock. Ben, who do you got?
- [03:22]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
And just to be clear, we're predicting what we think is going to happen.
- [03:26]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I think that's the best way to go.
- [03:27]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, I figured, yeah, like if we,
- [03:29]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
if we were to do big board, it might get a little messy. We'll do, we'll do prediction. We'll do prediction. Yeah.
- [03:35]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah. In my mock draft that I posted on my channel this morning as we're recording this, I went with Darren Peterson because as I said, I just have a feeling, among other reasons that are, you know, that feel right. But I think I'm going to go with Aaron Peterson. I think it could be either him or Debance, I really don't know. And Peterson, I like him for Washington because he's such a good player right now. He's going to be excellent next to Trey as like an off ball spacer, movement shooter, defensive playmaker with crazy high potential as a creator, slasher, insane defensive upside, obviously a big long term piece. So let's go with Darren Peterson, number one to the Washington Wizards.
- [04:13]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I honestly have no complaints. I would love for Darren Peterson to be on Washington Wizards. I know AJ debonsa is most commonly mocked there, but I just, I think Peterson is the most talented player in this draft. Like the highest ceiling of all the highest ceilings. And that's all respect to AJ DeBonsa and Cam Boozer, who I think are going to be very, very good. Like, you know, you want to call them like all time level draft prospects. But Darren, just the way that he played when he was fully healthy and at his best, you could tell there was just Another level he could get to which is really exciting and I agree with you. I think Washington should take Darren Peterson Number one and that is why Utah will be taking AJ DebonSA. It kind of makes sense, right? BYU, the guy Prep as well. Utah Prep played in their backyard. Honestly feels like he completes their starting lineup in a major way with. With adding a wing. You know, they've tried to find that wing of the future multiple times. Shout out Cody Williams, you know, shout, shout out to Ace Bailey, who I like. I think I still trust and believe that Ace Bailey will be a very good player. But AJ DeBonsa just has a ceiling again that like will will break through. What the Utah Jazz currently are as a group, I think he elevates them into. Honestly, I don't know how you feel about the Jazz next year, but they look like a pretty fun, frisky group that might be able to be a playoff team. Especially with Jaren Jackson Jr. In the fold.
- [05:40]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I could see him as a play in team for sure.
- [05:42]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, like a play in. I could. Yeah, something along those lines. But they're going to be competitive.
- [05:46]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I'm a big Jaren guy and I think AJ While he's going to have some trouble with, you know, double teams and reading the game at speed in the NBA like a lot of rookies do. He is a legendary wing scorer and I think his defensive potential is pretty high on the on ball side of things. Off ball, not as much. But that the Jazz so badly need like a primary wing scorer and potential stopper like him.
- [06:12]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I also, you know, I made this pitch when I was talking to Bryce Simon on here, but I really do think Will Hardy will help make things easy for A.J. you know, in a lot of ways like he made life easy for Ace Bailey, especially in the second half of the season with just like wide pin after wide pin after wide pin like AJ Will get easy opportunities and I think that'll help his offensive development a lot.
- [06:34]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
So I'd say that was one of my questions with Ace coming out of the draft was how would he play in this more off ball, closeout attacking movement role? And I think he took to it really, really well. And that's for a guy who struggled with that at times in college and before college, as does the Banta. So I agree with you. I'm very intrigued by that.
- [06:51]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, that would be an awesome pick. I just think fit wise that makes a lot of sense. Okay, Memphis Grizzlies feel like I know who you're going with here. What do you Got.
- [06:59]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, I'm going to go. Cameron Boozer. This is maybe the easiest pick of the draft. I don't know, there's a couple picks that feel like this in this range where a tear is ending. But Cameron Boozer, I have him number one on big board. And I think the crux of it is just that he is beyond being one of the most dominant 18 year olds we've ever seen in college basketball. He is just a supercomputer processor. His passing I think is the, the kind of elite offensive foundational trait that you can like build a championship offense around. He's also a great shooter, he's a great post scorer. He's not a traditionally explosive athlete, but he's strong, he's coordinated and I think that'll help give him a floor on defense even if like his rim protection isn't perfect. And I want to say about all of the top three were not in optimal offensive context. And you might not think that for like Duke, Kansas or BYU with an NBA coach and Kevin Young. But whether it was roster or scheme or situation, all of these players had to overcome a lot and were three of the best, most productive, most impactful freshmen we've ever seen.
- [08:02]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I want to take you back to 2022. Let's do a little rewind. Okay? 24 hours before the 2022 NBA Draft, many people, a lot of reports came out that the Orlando Magic were going to draft Jabari Smith Jr. And then two hours before the draft there was a report that they will not be drafting Jabari Smith Jr. And that they were leaning towards Paolo Bankero. We can go towards who was the best player in that draft, yada yada yada. But that goes to say, what if the Wizards do something similar and they're like, we're going to take Kam Boozer instead. Fit so much, you know, doesn't matter. Just get the best player, the guy we believe in most. And what if that player is Camboozer? Do you think that's something that might go down on draft night?
- [08:45]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I would bet against it, but if it happened I'd be stoked. I think that would be an incredible fit if it were me in charge of the Wizards and you know, obviously it's easier to say this in my position. I'm just gonna hit the Cam Boozer button. Personally, I think he is both an excellent pair with kind of these like big lean forward type or like center sized players in AD and SAR who both don't like to play the five. And even though SAR has Kind of been coaxed into it. Even though he famously kind of ducked the Hawks because he didn't want to play the five, which is funny how things. And now he's on. But those guys are both incredible, like weak side shot blockers, roamers on defense. That's going to be one of Cam Boozer's biggest weaknesses on the defensive end. And Boozer's shooting and shot creation will be huge for both of those. So I think it's a phenomenal fit. Boozer as a hub to open up. Will Riley, Keyshawn George. I'm, I'm still, you know, holding a good amount of Trey Johnson in stock. That would be, that would be a fit I'd be really excited about for the, the short and the long term. I don't think they can go wrong, to be honest.
- [09:47]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, you, you, you have your kind of like beauty in the eye, the beholder there and to the point about like the connections that Boozer can make. I think a lot of those things can work for the Grizzlies as well. You think about the dribble handoff stuff between him and Cedric Coward. It would just be a very, very fun connection and him and Edie would be able to play together.
- [10:04]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Lovely. Yeah, I love that pairing.
- [10:06]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Zach, please stay healthy, you know, please. Not just from a Canadian perspective. Okay, number four. This also feels like an incredibly easy pick, and that is Caleb Wilson to the Chicago Bulls. You know, Bryson Graham, new GM of the Chicago Bulls, has brought up this slap acronym in terms of strength.
- [10:25]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I said this so many times, I've
- [10:27]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
literally said it 40 times in the last month.
- [10:29]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
But it doesn't for giving all the content creators an easy, easy lead in game.
- [10:35]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
It would be really funny if he actually, he brought up that acronym and he's like, I'm going to draft DE Darius Acuff instead. It's like that's the opposite of whatever Caleb Wilson matches exactly what they want. And I do think in terms of the style the Bulls want to play with Josh Giddey kind of pushing the pace. Obviously Modest Muzelis, maybe a sengay ends up getting healthy, but they love to play this fast transition game and I think Caleb Wilson will play incredibly well into that. He has to develop as a defender. I think he has the physical tools to be that. Of course Chicago will give him the avenue to just get better in that department. This is a no brainer pick. Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls how do you feel about 5? Because this is where now everything opens up and it gets a little messy. The LA Clippers who might not have this pick on draft night, but we'll see.
- [11:28]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, who knows, there might be another Aaron Wiggins level bombshell, but I do think the smoke has been between Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. And I tend to think Wagler is going to be the pick just based on the way that the NBA seems to have viewed him for a long time since the middle of the season where he really started to go off as a creator. I see a little bit of Khan knipple in the case for in the case against him and I don't think he's as kind of prolific as a shooter as Khan was. But neither are particularly big or explosive. But both find their own ways to win and similarly are just pristine decision makers. Wagler is one of like the the best kind of check down takers I've ever seen as a passer of his age. Like he's always taking what the defense gives him. He's got a little bit of high level passing but that combined with his craft, combined with his really impressive shot making, his footwork is excellent and even though he's not an explosive guy, he's like very flexible in his lower body. He extends with his strides while to get to the basket. And I think he can fit with Garland now as an off ball player and hopefully has some more on ball upside down the road. So I'm maybe a smidge lower on Wagler than consensus. But if this ends up happening and I think will I, it makes a whole lot of sense to me.
- [12:44]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
How do you, I mean between him and Mikel Brown Jr. Because of like the fit I guess with Darius Garland who obviously they're building around. Like do you feel it's, it's that much of a difference for them to lean Wagler vs. Mikel Brown or is it just prospect based? Like pick the best guy you think is the best guy.
- [13:02]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Wagler's probably going to have an easier time playing off the ball, but I think Mikel can certainly develop. He's a very smart player and ultimately I think it might be about prospect preference. And Mike Mikael also had back injury stuff throughout his freshman year. I know he's been cleared by some teams supposedly and maybe the Clippers are one of them but who knows if they're thinking about that. But Mikel to me is just at his best when he has the ball in his hands and maybe you can argue that is a reason for taking him because Garland has shown for so long to be a great off ball player. As well. He's so good scaling down, playing off the catch. Maybe that is a case for Mikel Brown, who I think has a bit of a higher ceiling as a true, you know, downhill advantage creator. Generating paid touches, hitting high level, live dribble reads. But it seems like Wagler's like, intelligence and his feeling, his decision making are really valued, and I do understand that. But he, he's also a little bit taller. Not like it doesn't have much of a longer wingspan. Hopefully can grow into being a better defender. Both of these guys have some defensive concerns, but especially for Mikel, his tools are pretty impressive. But I think he and Wagler as like the two seeming consensus picks make sense to me here, even though I think the draft is wide open at this point.
- [14:13]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, it does open up. But I do think, you know, going to Brooklyn here with the 6 pick, I would be shocked if they pass up on Darius Acuff. I think this is the team for him.
- [14:26]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Breaking Sacramento's hearts.
- [14:27]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I know, Breaking the King's hearts. You know, it seems like apparently, you know, according to reports, they'll be happy with whatever guard falls to them. But I just, I think if the Nets, you know, keep this pick, it will be Darius Acuff. He is, for a lot of purposes, like the guy that you can build around a relentless score in all three levels. He just knows how to create space, even at the size that he has. Of course there are defensive concerns, but that might not matter for a Brooklyn Nets team that's just trying to figure out what their franchise cornerstone is. Who is that guy that they are building around? And Acuff, I think, can be that guy for you. He's a guy who can put butts in seats, and he's also a guy who can be very, very dynamic for you culturally. Leader, etcetera, has won at a bunch of different levels. I just think Acuff is the guy that matches what Brooklyn needs at this point. You could argue the same for Sacramento, who probably wants Acuff for all the reasons I just described. But it makes a lot of sense for Brooklyn to take Darius Acuff. It's just a seamless fit for me. And again, they need a franchise cornerstone and he is that.
- [15:35]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
That they do. They definitely need one of these. You know, fortunately for them and fortunately for Sacramento, there are quite a few options on the board even if they're going to miss out on Acuff or Keaton Wagler in this race.
- [15:46]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
So where is Sacramento? What are they going to pick?
- [15:50]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I think this one's going to be Michael Brown Jr. Kind of for a lot of the reasons you alluded to with Acuff, where they just need a guy to build around. And Mikel has an enormous offensive se ceiling, in my opinion, one of the highest offensive ceilings in the draft outside of that top three with his projectable size, incredible burst. And he's improved as an athlete throughout the last couple years, which gives me hope he can keep getting better. And a lot of his issues to me are just like slowing down, reigning him in. He's kind of erratic on drives. He can get ahead of his skis, but I'd rather that than a guy who's, you know, timid and not confident downhill and can't create space, but you have to kind of squeeze it out of him. And I think Mikel, his three point percentage is very misleading to his shooting projection because of his incredible volume, his free throw shooting, his high school shooting priors. So, yeah, I think this is like a primary initiator, offensive star with I think better defensive tape than you often see for freshmen in his role. I mean, he didn't play the whole season. There was some weirdness there and obviously needs to improve technically. But yeah, I think the ceiling is enormous for Mikel Brown. And once you have a player like that, similar to a situation of the Nets are, and you can kind of build around and see what the rest of the. The roster is going to look like.
- [17:02]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, you know, that, that does make sense. And again, Sacramento just needs a guy to bring in and be a guard because, like, who are the guards for the Sacramento Kings at this point?
- [17:13]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Zach Levine.
- [17:14]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Zach Levine. DeMar DeRozan. Maybe Nate Clifford can play some point guard for them. I don't know. Okay, so with the number 8th pick, we're going to deviate here a little bit from guards. I think this is where the Atlanta Hawks will take the first, I guess, first big of the night outside of the top four. And that is Adai Mara from Michigan. Anyaka Kongu is like 6 foot 9 on a good day. Asa Newell is like 610 on a good day. Adai Mara gives you such a different variation to big man. He's 7 foot 5. His ability to kind of like do a little bit of everything defensively will be massive for them. I think he's a very Quinn Snyder big man and like just bringing him in there and have him be this defensive presence for you next to Jalen Johnson, next to the litany of guards that they have at their perimeter, I think they can be A really, really fun team. And he'll also because of a congu. Because Asa Newell, etc. Like, I think he will be able to like slow roll his ability to play heavy minutes. Like he won't have to play 30 minutes a night for a tanking team. He can be playing 20 to 25 for a team that will use him, but maybe not as much as like another team that's. That's lacking at that position. So Adai Mara is my pick for the Atlanta Hawks.
- [18:29]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I love it. I had it. I had the same pick in my mock that I did my channel this morning. It makes so much sense for all the reasons you said, like Quinn Snyder big they need a real rim protector. His passing, I think adds a just totally different offensive elements. And I agree he's a great fit with Onyeka. I also like his fit with Mo Gay, for whatever that's worth. That'll be good. I. I'd love this. And another consideration is that they're going to be that the Hawks pick again at 23. There's going to be more guards at 23, which is a need for them as well to me than there are going to be center options.
- [19:00]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I agree with that. And honestly, like there could be. There, there's a. There's a way in which the Hawks kind of determine the draft from here because if they do pick a big then it. It ends up being more guard heavy down the road. But if they pick a guard, it might be more big heavy down the road. It's very interesting to look at like this is where things deviate for the rest of the draft. How do you feel about number nine, the Dallas Mavericks?
- [19:25]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I don't feel good. I think this could be so many guys. I think about what Masai Ujiri likes. I think about the length, the athleticism, the, you know, theoretical positional versatility that leads me to a couple players, but one who kind of screams to me in that type is Tennessee wing Nate Amen, who's been a very polarizing player. Yeah. Throughout this cycle has been linked to the Mavericks a little bit. And I think while, you know, this is a great spot to get a guard and there are a lot of talented guards on the board, the Mavericks kind of front court cupboard is just as dry in terms of like young players to build around. You have Cooper, obviously, and you have Derek Lively, who has a recurring injury issue. And then it's veterans in that part of the. On that part of the team. And I think Amet for, you know, all of his Rightful warts that, that people point out, his, you know, limited two point scoring, some of the, the ATH in the field efficiencies. He is, you know, 6 foot 9, 6 foot 10, a legitimately talented shot maker who can hit threes off movement. He's an aggressive, physical driver. And you can see the, the kind of upside case there. And the Mavs are a team that I think should be stacking young talent and there's a ton of ways they could go. I think Braden Burry would make a lot of sense. I think Kingston Flemings would make a lot of sense. But I'm going to predict that, that Amens is the choice.
- [20:45]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
That's, that's a little bit of a
- [20:47]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
curveball because I think the draft always throws us those.
- [20:51]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
It does throw us those. I agree with you. And like, I think a lot of Mavericks fans would think that this is going to be Braden Buries. And hey, honestly, maybe it does end up being Braden Burry's. But to the points that you said about Masai and kind of what he prioritizes in the draft, like, Nate Ament is like big, he's athletic. He at the very least is like long, you know, and prioritizing that is very, very important for a guy like him.
- [21:15]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Is Masai Ujiri taking Braden Burges with a plus two wingspan? I don't about that.
- [21:20]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
That's true. That's very, very true. Okay, well, that, that opens things up for the Milwaukee bucks at number 10, who are kind of preparing for life after Giannis Antonokounmpo. Maybe by the time you've heard this, Giannis Antonokounmpo is no longer a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. That's how fluid all of these things are at this point. But with that being said, it's kind of a lot of options that I could go with here. I think I have to take sort of like the guard that we haven't discussed here, and that is Kingston Flemings. Just because you think of like a cornerstone piece to build around. Houston has obviously been a very, very successful kind of college team since Kingston Flemings has been there. I think his ability to do a lot of different things I'm curious about, like how much all of his defensive traits kind of translate to the NBA level. But this is someone that you can completely like, build around. Not necessarily Darius Acuff level. I don't think he's that talent, truthfully. Maybe he is on your board, I'm not sure. But Flemings to me is just another one of these Guards that I think have a level of talent that the Bucks can build around. And I don't think this will be their first pick or their, their only pick in this first round. I think they will have multiple cracks at the can. How do you feel about Kingston Flemings?
- [22:41]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I am a huge Kingston Flemings guy. I think maybe not as safe as Darius Acuff. He just doesn't have those like, you know, bankable pull up shot making from three, you know, like the, some of the things that Acuff has already shown. But I think his ceiling, he is a better athlete than most of the guards at the top of the draft. I think he's equally as high feel. He's a brilliant processor at high speeds. I really trust his defense ability to play above his sides and by all accounts I talked to him on my channel. Incredible kid, hard worker, very smart. So. So yeah, I'm all in on Kingston and I think as just like a reset piece would be awesome for the Bucks even, you know, I don't think they're keeping Giannis, but even in that world I'd really like this.
- [23:21]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, I agree. Yeah, it's, it's very, very interesting what the Bucks do here because it determines sort of the again Future without Giannis. AntonioKounmpo okay, number 11 with the golden State Warriors. Where are you going?
- [23:35]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
This is going to be Braden Buries where he makes so much sense with the warriors insistence on you drafting players that can help them win now and that are competitive early. And Buries was one of the most important players on one of the best teams in college basketball as an older freshman. And he is really a jack of all trades where he doesn't have any incredible strengths, but he's a physical, strong, versatile defender who can make rotations at the rim, guard, a couple positions on the ball. He's a phenomenal transition player. That might be his one real like elite strength is he's so good at snaring a rebound at its high point, pushing in transition for a guard. But he, he can shoot, he can drive off the catch, he's a solid decision maker, he can rebound, he cuts like. I don't think the warriors are getting like some sneaky real superstar bet. But in terms of someone who can help extend the life of you know, Curry, Butler, Green, whatever this core ends up being if they get LeBron, I don't know. He fits in right now and hopefully can grow into more as the team eventually gets younger inevitably.
- [24:40]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I, I love this pick. I think he would be such an awesome Pairing next to Steph even just like not necessarily immediately, but just a guy that you can help be as your secondary guard. He's, I think he's a crazy defender. I'm very, very high on Braden Buries. I think like I, I would probably honestly have him higher than Kingston Flemings on my like board here, but I don't, I don't know how you necessarily feel. I'm a big Buries guy. I think he'd be very cool, especially for this warriors team. Like if they land a guy like Braden Buries, that would make a lot of sense for them.
- [25:13]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
It's a great fit for the Warriors.
- [25:15]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Number 12, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Rich get richer and I think this is where we go big as well. I'm going to take Morez Johnson Jr. I think this is just like a match made in heaven, you know, switchable, wildly versatile defensive guy who can do multiple different things. He looks great on the perimeter defending multiple different positions. I think like his finishing and kind of like athleticism is something that's really, really fun. Offensively there's kind of this hope and potential of a jumper, but even if that doesn't develop to the point that you want it to, there are just so many defensive tools and a level of like offensive fluidity, if you will, as a finisher that I, I would be very confident in going into Oklahoma City Thunder system. So, so seems like a no brainer to me. And it also from like okc's perspective, if they take Morez here, he's not available for Charlotte later and for maybe even for other teams that are looking for bigs.
- [26:18]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Really game you got.
- [26:19]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I gotta game it. So Morez Johnson Jr. Is my pick for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- [26:24]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, the Thunder just hoarding these bigs. They drafted Thomas Sorber last year who hopefully, I mean I was high on him as a prospect. Hopefully he can show some of that in the league. And Morez just keep adding size, athleticism, physicality. I agree that he improved as a perimeter player throughout the year. I like it.
- [26:44]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
13 for the Miami Heat. It could be the Milwaukee Bucks, but 13 for the Miami Heat. How are you feeling?
- [26:51]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Not great. The Heat could take literally anybody, especially with the impending Giannis thing coming. But, but there are so many players that I could reasonably make a case for here. The Heat just feel like a team that would take Yaxel Lindeberg though, and he's one of the better players in the board by the consensus board. And the Heat are never afraid of taking older players high in the Draft and they seem to just always have a use for these like, versatile forward types. I think Lindenberg, you know, regardless of a Giannis trade, he, he'd be great with Giannis, but obviously that probably wouldn't happen. They wouldn't have this pick if they ended up trading for Giannis, I'd imagine. But regardless, he's a very talented player who bucks a lot of the, the trends and rules around older prospects because of his unique path, because of the changing nil landscape. And everyone is looking for a versatile, like PJ Washington flavor, you know, Keegan Murray type player.
- [27:48]
Bombas Comfort Line Representative
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- [27:48]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Where those guys aren't the same kind of players at all, but you know what I mean. Complimentary forward who can pass, who can shoot, has some defensive utility. I mean, more than some defensive utility. Yaxel's a great defender, so. And I, I think he feels like a guy who the Heat would, would have no reservations about. About drafting.
- [28:06]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, I think if it's, if it's Miami here, they will take Yaxel if he's available. You know, there's a chance Golden State takes him just because I think they, they want a guy who's like, ready.
- [28:16]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
He's in play for everyone here.
- [28:17]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I think he really is. He could go high, he could drop out of the lottery. He's just that type of player just because of the age. You don't know where teams rank him in terms of his potential, but like, in terms of what he can do on the floor, it's very tantalizing. And like getting another jumbo wing type for Miami wouldn't be something to be mad about at all. Okay. For Charlotte, one of their two picks in this draft. I really do think they'll go big here as well. And I know Morez Johnson is off of the board, so I'm going to take Hans Steinbach for them. Just another big dude. I really like Ryan Kalkbrenner for them. I love Musa Diabate, but you add another guy who can crash the offensive glass like crazy. Probably the best rebounder in this class, maybe the best hands in this class. And it's just like his finishing is very, very nice. His craft around the basket is awesome. There is hope and potential for developing a three point shot. This is a guy who would really elevate Charlotte and I'm just a fan of this pick. Like, this is so perfect. I think it would make a lot of sense for them. Hans Steinbach as the Charlotte Hornets.
- [29:31]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I love it. He absolutely has the best hands in the class. To me, those things are unbelievable. You throw the basketball anywhere near him and he is going to catch it over three people and turn around and make a little push shot. So yeah, Steinbach definitely a specific player, but but the Hornets love their offensive rebounds, so he's definitely going to contribute to that.
- [29:51]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Okay, so we just finished the lottery. We're going to take a quick break and come back with the second half of the first round.
- [30:02]
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- [34:27]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
And we're back and the Chicago Bulls are on the clock. Which means, Benz, you have to make a pick now. Bulls already have Caleb Wilson according to our mock draft. Who are you going with here? Here?
- [34:38]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
We could just really load up on the slap thing. There are quite a few slappy players on the board and I think the this this is going to be such an interesting player to track, who I could see going higher than this or a lot lower than this. But I'm going to put Jaden Quaintance here from Kentucky who is the best, probably the best athlete in the class who has obvious concerns because he played four games as a sophomore recovering from an ACL injury he sustained late in his freshman year, where he was too young to enter the draft. By the way, a dominant defensive player incredibly switchable incredibly explosive, real center measurables, a ton of stuff on like the feel and technical side to clean up. And offensively he has real flashes too, like with his driving, like the, the way he can put the ball on the floor for his size is so impressive. Coordination, power, a little bit of finesse too, but 50ish percent from the line, not a shooter at all. You're not going to be expecting much of that. And I think for a Bulls team that hopefully finally is going to commit to getting better, developing young players. Yeah, why not just take a big swing after getting a guy in Caleb Wilson, who is a very raw player, but I'm pretty confident has a reasonably high floor in the league.
- [35:54]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, and like, if you think about, you know, what makes sense around a guy like Josh Giddy, you know, it's, it's these wildly versatile defenders that can kind of clean up for him and insulate some of the mistakes that he makes at the point of attack. And so the promise of Jaden Quaintance as a player is to do all of that and maybe Caleb Wilson shapes into a really, really good defender as well. And so that as your front court next to modest Bou zealous, it just boatloads of slap everywhere that you can slap all around, you know, for the Chicago Bulls, which I think think would kind of like lend to their building philosophy, as they say. The Memphis Grizzlies here with their second pick is also fascinating one. In our mock draft they have, you know, Cam Boozer, which I think is a great cornerstone. They already have Zach Edie, they have Cedric Coward. It feels like John Morant has played his last game for the Memphis Grizzlies. And so do they go guard here? You know, do they pick another guard to kind of like pair? Do they take a wing? I could see them going multiple different options here. They are also like heavily inclined on like taking the, the analytics darling, if you will. So who favors that here in this draft at this point? I'd be kind of curious to get your thoughts on that after I make my pick. But I, I'm gonna go ahead and say Bennett Sturts, I think Sturtz is an interesting pick here because again, I, I, I feel like he's a, a good guy analytically. Very talented shooter, right? Very talented shooter. Guy who can create with the ball in his hands. I think he would work well with Cedric Coward. I think even some of the guards that they have in a Cam Spencer can kind of like they can play next to each other. There's obviously Defensive questions with Sturts. But I think ultimately the combination of Cam, Boozer, Zach, Edie, those are the type of guys that you want him, you know, kind of being behind, if you will. Sturts, Sturts makes sense for here. It's like a swing. You also get a guard who I think has a pretty high floor as a player, will be an NBA player, will be a rotation player in my opinion. Just because he's a little bit older, you know what he is as a final product or maybe almost a final product makes a lot of sense. How do you feel about Sturts in general?
- [38:07]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, I was gonna say he and Alan Graves are the two most obvious like analytics people in this range. But I'm a big fan of Bennett Sturts. As you know he has really unique skills. His touches out of the world. He's one of the best pocket passers I've ever watched. He's so good at like giving goes and sprinting around the floor and hopefully his defense can get better at the NBA level with less of an incredible like offensive responsibility and he's not going to have to play the whole game in the NBA every single game like he has for the last two plus years of college basketball. But yeah, Sturts is awesome. I think even though 22 plus year old guards who are drafted highly don't have the greatest hit rate in the world, I think Sturts is an outlier for sure.
- [38:51]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Okay, back to you for okc. They have Morez Johnson. What else do you want them to have?
- [38:57]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Again, so many different ways the Thunder could go. I think I'm gonna give them Dylan Swain from Texas who is another player I totally imagine them liking. Just like a versatile wing who the Thunder can always use more like real live dribble creators to take pressure off of Shay. And obviously like I think it's hard to use the playoffs this year as like an accurate representation of that because of the injuries they had. But still you never know when you're going to be missing one of one or two of your best creators. And having a guy like Dalen Swain who despite being you know, 6 foot 7, having the body of a 3 and D wing, is a true live dribble creator. One of the most productive and efficient drivers in the entire class, arguably the most, when you combine volume and efficiency, ridiculous handle, incredibly flexible, fluid athlete. He can pass. He's developing nicely as an optimal shooter in the mid range and honestly he flashed some pull up stuff. I think Swain needs a lot of time and as does Morez. But like the Thunder. Realistically. Unless they have time. Yeah, exactly. Unless maybe they take Yaxel. Like nobody they draft is realistically going to play for them unless they like really have salary, salary dump guys or injury. But it makes sense to me to get. You know they don't really have a wing like Swain. I think JW is the closest player on the team to him and he's a different player of course.
- [40:18]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
So more wing creators. That's I would there is not like you can't have too many if you're okc. Just other guys who can create outside of SGA and I think they found that last year with AJ Mitchell. But you know getting another wing, a big wing that can do it alongside J Dub and Swain would be awesome for them. That's a. That's a really, really great pick. And OKC coming away with Mraz and Swain would worst draft possibilities there. Okay, back to the Charlotte Hornets who in our draft picked Hans Steinbach. And this is where I think Alan Graves will grow go. I think it again the analytics stuff makes a lot of sense but also they need a jumbo forward power forward type obviously tracking to be this really, really talented defensive playmaker. We'll see how that looks at the NBA level. I think his shooting will translate at the NBA level. He has this like secondary connective passing that makes him really intriguing as a big that could do really well next to Lamelo Ball, next to Con Canipple next to Brandon Miller. I think he just kind of completes that team. Not in a way that that makes sense. Similar to how they have Grant Williams and how they have Miles Bridges. They need another four there to kind of play and play differently. So Alan Graves for the Charlotte Hornets is where I'm going. And now to the pick of the night brought to you by nobody. The the Toronto raptors with the 19th pick. And honestly if I could just say from a Raptors perspective, incredible board for them. If this is. If these are the players who are available at 19 laughing to the bank. Who are you taking at 19 for the Toronto Raptors.
- [42:04]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, we're not on Raptors Republic are we?
- [42:07]
MaintainX Advertiser
I don't know.
- [42:08]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
We're fixing this. I'd like to quickly say shout out to the Charlotte Hornets who got the two highest offensive rebound rate players of like the real first round guys. Actually two of the three highest offensive rebound rates. So that is very Charlotte. And yeah you're Toronto Raptors. I think I'm gonna go with Lebaron Filon Jr.
- [42:27]
Verizon Simplicity Plan Advertiser
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- [42:27]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
It feels pretty Easy. Honestly, I think they, they've been linked to him a little bit if I'm not mistaken. And they desperately need a player like him who can both get to the basket by himself from the perimeter with and without a ball screen can also draw the defense over ball screens because he's a pull up threat. I think he has a better chance to be like a good off ball, complimentary defender, playmaker than a lot of players who are like truly dominant creators and scorers at the college level. I view him as like a much higher level talent than this and I think consensus seems to have him around this area. There's kind of a, a big group of guards in, in this range and Filon if he falls in this range I think will probably be the best of them. To me.
- [43:10]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, what a poll that would be. That would be excellent for the Toronto Raptors to get a talent the level of just lebaron file on it would be incredible. Some other guys in this range that I think they can consider as like Christian Anderson and Cam Carr if they're still available at 19 would be really unique and intriguing players. But I think from a talent perspective Phylon is just, is just higher and has a higher upside than those two. So that's where I would go as well. Okay. Number 20 for the San Antonio Spurs. I think this is also an interesting team because you know I would have said maybe Alan Graves makes sense for them. You know, again like a forward that they can incorporate into their group but maybe for the same reasons Kohepit makes sense for them. You know I, I know they would maybe want to prioritize shooting and I understand that maybe they go Chris and Acier, that's another option. Just like another big man who, who can potentially space the floor. But I think I'm going to go copy just because with what Victor Wembanyama brings on the floor you want a guy who is massive but is also a battering ram. And Koha Pete can do that like inside finishing. That is what he is good at. That's what his bread and butter is. And I think he's also a guy that needs to go to the right place to develop the right way. Otherwise if he's in a bad context it might go a different direction. I think in San Antonio he has a chance and hey, I feel like they will take a swing on like a big or a forward of that type to, to see what they can do with that group. How do you feel about Cole Pete to the spurs?
- [44:47]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Everyone gets a plus 5 development boost playing next to Victor Wembanyama and in San Antonio. It's unfortunate for the spurs that pretty much all of the forward type players in this range, whether it's Pete Sanak, Kareem Lopez, even Graves to an extent, if he fell to me, aren't like NBA ready contributors at all. Where I don't think that's a huge deal because of how early the spurs are in their timeline. But it might sting a little bit coming off of the finals run. But yeah, back to back Arizona players. I think Pete, like you said, just needs a lot of time to improve his jumper, improve his feel for the game to become, you know, like a more fluid mobile athlete. Hopefully wouldn't have too much pressure there in San Antonio and could hopefully fill the void that you know, Keldon Johnson kind of left when he wasn't super viable as that like pseudo power forward in, in the playoffs. So yeah, not the best board for them here honestly. But it makes sense that why they'd go Pete.
- [45:42]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
So Detroit with the 21st pick feel like they will go guard here if they do, but how do you feel they will go?
- [45:49]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, we gotta get Cade Cunningham some help and I'm gonna go with Christian Anderson as that help in this case, who is one of the, if not the best pure like dribble pass shoot player in the entire class. Unbelievable. On an off ball shooter, insanely crafty pick and roll ball handler who manipulates screens, plays with jail snakes. The pick and roll and his passing is awesome. His defense while definitely hindered by his size, he will try, he will compete. And on a team like Detroit where they're a defense oriented team and I am tired of watching Cade Cunningham have to rely on, you know, Dennis Jenkins, Marcus Sasser. No disrespect to those guys, especially Dennis, that's my guy. But we need better for the Pistons to ascend to that next tier like a true championship level team. And a player like Anderson who might not have like the, the physical tools, the paint pressure to be like a primary lead handler, like that's fine. You're playing with Cade Cunningham. So I think that would be an awesome fit and would just be a really good match for the Pistons and for Anderson to get the best version
- [46:53]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
of him, I like it a lot. I think he would make a ton of sense. I mean maybe Booko Corey makes sense for this team as well, but Anderson just like the, the shooting would really help. Kate Cunningham here. Okay. Philadelphia 76ers with the 22nd pick. I believe it is. This is like, you know, I'm kind of confused because again, this is one of those teams that could use a forward slash big. That makes sense for them here. I think I would go Chris Cenac because he is a bit of a project, but he's also. He fits what the they would want athletically. Obviously, like has a long way to go. He's definitely a project and you need to take your time with him. But just someone who can maybe be another forward slash big man when Joel Embiid is injured. And I think when Sanac is able to play alongside Maxi and Edgecomb, they could be so fast and so athletic and run teams off of the floor. And Sanak can hopefully be able to just space the floor consistently at the NBA level. He still has a long way to go in terms of like dealing with physicality, but undoubtedly a very, very good rebounder at the college level. I think that will translate in the NBA as well. Chris and knack for the Philadelphia 76ers.
- [48:16]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, definitely a project, but has obvious utility. Like one of the most switchable defenders at his size you'll ever see with just his mobility monster on the glass. Gonna have again very, you know, high ceiling, maybe a lower floor, but in the 20s, I think it's a fine swing.
- [48:33]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Okay. How do you feel about Atlanta here with the 23rd pick?
- [48:37]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Like I said when I made. When you made the Mara pick, I like center for them because the guard options here are probably going to be better than the big options. And that is the case with Abuka Corey falling here. And I think whichever one of you know, Anderson starts a Corey Filon falls here would be a great choice. But I'm gonna go with the Buko Corey, Stanford point guard. Someone who myself and you know, plenty of others view as like a legit top 10 level guy in this class. Incredible first step. One of the best downhill creating guards in quite some time. You know, outside of like Dylan Harper, honestly like he is. He is so explosive. He's a good sh shooter. He's kind of like a combo ish secondary because he's not the best playmaker and he has some of that size limitations. But I trust his defense actually. I think he's got a long wingspan, incredible core strength, lateral mobility, just that kind of athleticism while being such a productive true freshman in a really poor context as well. Had to carry a not super talented Stanford offense and had some utterly dominant performances. And I think think in Atlanta again a place where he wouldn't be asked to be the primary playmaker. You have Jalen Johnson, especially a Dai Mara here. You know, Dyson Daniels is a great connective and transition pastor. Could let a Booka just go wild as a scorer and hone in on his defense. So I think this would be a great pick and an ideal way the board could fall for the Hawks if they. If they end up making and keeping both these picks.
- [50:06]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, yeah, man. This is fascinating because there's one player that is sliding in our version of this mock draft.
- [50:12]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, I know. I thought about him and I'm kind
- [50:15]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
of curious where he lands because I don't think I'm going to take him for the New York Knicks either. Who in in my opinion the Knicks are going to draft a big and the reason for that is because of Mitchell Robinson. Question. Even if they do resign Mitchell Robinson, there's a question of him missing games and his availability overall in the regular season. I think they could just use another big man. And here's where I would go with Terrace Reed Jr. I think he just makes sense because he is wildly talented as a rebounder. He's huge. He's like 6 foot 11. He has pretty great hands. I think generally he just matches what the Knicks would want from that position. Played for the huskies, he's like 611 with a massive wingspan. I'm gonna go with Terrence Reed Jr. Here for the Knicks. How do you feel about Terrace Reed?
- [51:03]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, there's quite like quite a few good big options in this late first range and I think Reed is one of the ones that I like. He has a very unique skill set and like body type intersection which I like. Absolutely crazy strong, like so hard to move off of his spot on both ends but like really high field hub passer, skilled post score. He's one of the better, you know, anticipatory off ball defenders for a center. Like his steel rate is really high for his position. So yeah, yeah, big terrorist re guy could. Could probably contribute pretty early on in his career as well. For a Knicks team that's obviously going to be looking to go back to back if they can.
- [51:39]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Okay, Lakers. Are they taking the guy that is falling?
- [51:43]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, we're going to take. I assume we're talking about Cameron Carr.
- [51:47]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yes, we are talking about Cameron Carr.
- [51:49]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
We're going to say Cameron Carr. I think LA would be stoked if car fell to them. They need athletes around Luka Doncic, especially if they resign Austin Reaves like they seem keen on doing regardless of whatever happens with LeBron. Like they just need juice and Cameron Carr has juice. He is definitely Like a role player to me. He's kind of a one positional on ball defender. Like pretty skinny, has some warts as a creator but incredible movement shooter has some of the deepest shooting range the entire class and a legitimate paint protector weak side shot blocker for a wing which to me makes him like more valuable than a lot of these garden like Athletic 3 and the Wings. You know, that's what separates me him from like a Terence Ross. To me though I do think that kind of player is like a decent medianish outcome for car.
- [52:37]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, yeah yeah.
- [52:38]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I think the Lakers would be would be stoked even though ideally you know there's like a perfect like lob threat center for Luca and there are some big. So I'd like here if they took this is honestly a great board for the Lakers and the team that's picking next.
- [52:50]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yes, I agree and, and honestly Cam Carr would be pretty fun for the Lakers. Like I think Luca would be able to set him up for a lot of like lob opportunities on backdoor cuts and things like that. Like that would be be fun and I think he'll make life easier for Cam Carr. You know, simplify the game for him offensively, make him like a catch and shoot guy.
- [53:09]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
He'll do a lot of like the little things Max Christie did for them too in terms of like screening and cutting. Like you said, like filling in gaps on defense.
- [53:18]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
I agree. Yeah, I, I don't know where the Denver Nuggets will go here. This is fascinating and I, I honestly I don't have a good read on which direction they would pick. I, I feel like I would lean towards a guard, just another creator to to pair and put alongside Murray and Jokic, which makes me feel like Malik Thomas just taking a swing on Malik Thomas as a player. He is a wildly fun player to watch. If you've gone on to like just search up Malik Thomas highlights on YouTube. He plays very sporadically and chaotically, but it's so much fun and it's an enjoyable brand of basketball. He's also a little bit bigger so he's like 6 5. He can get to the hoop. He can really be relentless at finishing around the basket. There's probably buzz for him to go higher than, than this spot, but I think for the Nuggets getting another guard to create would be just the right pick for them. So Malik Thomas, that's my pick for the Nuggets. How do you feel?
- [54:21]
Paylocity Advertiser
You?
- [54:22]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, I think Malik projects as you know, a complimentary three and dish style guard. But with A real like hot hand, you know, Gary Trent, 40 ball in the playoffs. Gene, we're like I think the stuff Malik is going to be doing on a play to play basis, you know, jumping passing lanes, using his length as, as a weak side defender and a screen defender, you know, hitting catches, your threes, tacking off the catch. But yeah, if you need him to get buckets like he is, he is going to get buckets even if he's not like a, you know a lead guard or anything. But you have Joic so who cares.
- [54:53]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah. And, and also like when it comes to Jokic, he will be able to work off of him pretty well. I think that will be a lot of fun to watch for sure. The Boston Celtics with the 27th pick. Also a team that might not have this pick at this point if they end up getting giannis and Akumpo but 27 for the Celtics, what do you think they'll do?
- [55:13]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Man, there's still so many good players.
- [55:16]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah.
- [55:17]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
On the board who I like quite a bit. Stop me if you've heard this before but I'm thinking front court for the Celtics. The only thing I think they probably wouldn't go with is like they've drafted so many wings and have so many like rookie contract wings that I am going to go with between a couple big men but we're going to go with Henry Vasar, North Carolina big who the Celtics love dribble pass shoot bigs. They have first, they have forever and he is, is probably the best like dribble pass shoot big in the class. Like he's a very impressive pick and roll handler like did some very fun inverted stuff with Caleb Wilson as a screener this year. Can shoot a little bit as well off the pop. Just you know as a trailer. Pretty good passer, doesn't do anything particularly well but like true seven footer with strength. He's a well positioned defender, you know, decent enough mobility wise to play a little closer to the level in a pinch. But. But yeah, I think he's a very Celticsy role player and as good as Nemi's Keda was this last year. You know Garza has had his moments. I, I think they would be happy and probably will be will be looking for more big man depth. I, I totally forgot about Vuch. He's there as well I guess.
- [56:30]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, I don't think he will be. I, I think that is the last we've seen of Nicola Boston Celtics uniform. Yeah that, that makes a lot of sense to me. Me I, I think that's the type of guy, especially if he, if he's available, like getting a big like that, who can stretch the floor for them, that would be very, very nice. Okay. With the 28th pick for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Truthfully, I'm not gonna lie to you guys, I don't. I haven't watched a ton of this player that I'm going to mock to them, but it has been reported that they are going to look for guards and I think Sergio Delara is the type of guard that would make a lot of sense for them. I would like to hear you make the pitch. Just know that this is a guy they've been linked to. How do you feel like Sergio De La Rea matches what the Timberwolves would want from another guard creator?
- [57:19]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I love this one. I've mocked this one a ton. Delar is an awesome player who like 6 foot 6 point guard who probably isn't best as like a true lead guard because he doesn't have the burst and the ball skills to consistently like break open defenses and force rotations. But. But he is an ideal Anthony Edwards point guard compliment where you're never going to need to do that because you have one of the most explosive players in basketball, if not the most explosive player with the basketball on the perimeter. And delorea's ability to run secondary pick and rolls or even primary pick and rolls if he's not getting totally switched on and struggling to create. He's a good shooter both on and off the ball. He's a pretty smart defender who uses his size and his tools. So I think De La Raya is an ideal Minnesota point guard and something that I've mocked, I've seen like you said, and it's just one of those pairings that like it's hard to unsee once you think about it.
- [58:15]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Rubio times two. Let's go. Why not, you know, getting another Spanish guard in Minnesota. Okay, number 28 or 29 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Which way are you going? And we're running out of picks here. We got two picks left, Ben.
- [58:31]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Yeah, we're running out of picks and there's still quite a few players on the board who I think are worthy of being late first round picks. But the Cavs to me so badly need physicality, toughness, grit and like whatever way you want to twist it. And Zubi edge of for St. John's big is that guy to me who is maybe the best on ball defensive prospect in the class. Like there aren't any true like crazy Wing stoppers in this class but a lot of switchable bigs. You know, quaintance, Merez Johnson, some second round guys and definitely Zubi who doesn't have real center size but has improved as a perimeter player, especially as a passer his last year at St. John's but crazy athlete, one of the best rebounders in the class, has some of the highest motor in the entire class and like I said, comfortable switching out. He was a great drop defender in college even if maybe his size won't let him continually do that at the NBA level. He's got a 72 wingspan despite being 6 foot 7 barefoot and to me is just a very good basketball player who will help a winning team. A I'm sure the Cavs are going to do whatever they can to salvage this core and getting a guy like Zubi who I think could play in the playoffs, you know, sparsely probably as a rookie and hopefully it's like a real big contributor soon with his defensive versatility. Like I, I like it a lot. They just need a guy like him who is.
- [59:50]
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- [59:51]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
Who's never getting punked and yeah, yeah, I like that.
- [59:54]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
That would be awesome. I think that's a great pick for them. If, if Zubi is available at 28 or 29 for the Dallas Mavericks final pick, I'm just going to take the swing. This is another guy who's. But I think we'll probably get drafted in the first round and that is Kareem Lopez from the New Zealand Breakers. Lopez is just like this jumbo forward, like power forward type who mocks to like potentially be able to do a lot of great things, whether it's like dribble, maybe potentially shoot. Very talented passer. I just think like I don't know if any of those things are all going to pan out and I'm very curious to see how he looks at the NBA level. But he's talented enough to take a swing at 30 for the Dallas Mavericks who have already had a pick here and I believe took Nate event and so that to me makes sense in terms of like just another big wing that they can bet on and see if he pans out next to Cooper. Flag. That is our mock draft. Ben. We did it. We successfully did a mock draft. It was a lot of fun to do. We will see how correct we were. It would be really fun if this was like like 30 for 30. We got all of them right and it was just perfection from both of us. I will call you if that actually happens. I. I've wr I've written down what our.
- [61:13]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I mean, I hope people will call me anyway because that's not gonna happen. But yeah, yeah.
- [61:17]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
But hey, it is what it is.
- [61:19]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
You know, I think that there's quite a few pairings that we made in this mock draft that I like a lot. Like Mara to the Hawks really stands out in my head. Like Steinbach to the Hornets, I think makes it to ton of sense. So.
- [61:29]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah.
- [61:30]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
And of course draft is so unpredictable. I was thinking like Cream Lopez shouldn't fall this far. Like Cam Car shouldn't far. This will fall as far. But somebody will. There's going to be somebody. We're going to be. I'm going to be sitting there on, on the morning of, you know, day two or whatever thinking, wow, I did not expect X Player to be there.
- [61:46]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah.
- [61:47]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
So hopefully we're just going to be the. The first ones right on that.
- [61:51]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Yeah, maybe we will be. Maybe we'll be.
- [61:52]
MaintainX Advertiser
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- [61:53]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
We put people on. Ben, thank you very much for joining us here on the Athletic. Thank you to everybody who's listened to Ben and mine's picks. Let us know what you guys think. If someone was outrageously put, like way too low or way too high, let us know in the comments. We appreciate you guys as always tapping into the Athletic NBA Daily. We are doing the live show. I will be in Chicago. We will be doing a live show for the entire first round of the NBA draft.
- [62:21]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
It will be awesome.
- [62:22]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Them we'll be talking about fits and we'll be talking about outfits and actual fits. It'll be a whole thing. It'll be a lot of fun.
- [62:29]
Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
I love the outfit. Watching it's awesome.
- [62:31]
Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
Dude, it's like half of the process, honestly. It's like this guy has swag. Hell yeah. Thank you very much for everybody who tuned in here. Thank you to Ben. Appreciate you as always. Go and check out Ben's work. We will see you guys next time. Peace out. Thanks for listening. Make sure you hit the subscribe or follow button so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed it, drop a like leave a rating or let us know in the comments. Thank you guys for waking up with us.
- [63:10]
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Host (The Athletic NBA Daily)
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Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
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Ben Pfeifer (NBA Draft Analyst, Guest)
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