There’s help on the way for teams such as the Pistons and Timberwolves, who have the worst record in their respective conferences.
The 2021 NBA draft class is projected to be stronger than usual, particularly at the top where five players have emerged as potential All-Stars.
Most of the draft buzz has centered on Oklahoma State freshman guard Cade Cunningham. His college coach calls him a cross between Grant Hill and Penny Hardaway. He has also drawn comparisons to Luka Doncic.
Cunningham’s 40-point explosion against Oklahoma on Saturday further solidified his reputation as the draft’s top prospect (he only took eight shots and scored 15 points in a rematch on Monday). The 6’8’’ Cunningham is averaging 19.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 3.5 APG and could turn into a triple-double machine in the pros.
There are several other prospects who could legitimately argue they deserve to top the list. USC seven-footer Evan Mobley is averaging 16.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 2.9 BPG in his freshman season. Mobley is the prototype of a modern big man with elite rim protecting skills. Though the NBA has become an increasingly small-ball league, there’s always room for an athletic big man (Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis).
Gonzaga freshman guard Jalen Suggs hasn’t piled up the stats like Cunningham and Mobley but he’s got a good excuse – he’s surrounded by better players. The top prospect on the nation’s top-ranked team is averaging 13.9, PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 2.0 SPG. He could excel at either guard spot at the next level.
Then there’s the G League Ignite duo of Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga. Green is averaging 17.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 2.7 APG and shooting 37.9% beyond the arc while facing experienced professionals. Green has the ability to be an explosive scorer in the Zach LaVine mold and can terrorize defenders in the open court.
Kuminga, a 6’8’’ forward, has been better than advertised while averaging 16.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 2.8 APG. He has the physical tools to step right into a starting lineup and create mismatches at either forward spot. He has shown superior shot-creating ability in the Orlando bubble.
That leads us to our topic of the day: Should Cade Cunningham be the No. 1 pick of the draft or do you feel Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green or Jonathan Kuminga will be an even better pro?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
It’ll be cade but this is back to back years of weak draft classes. Odd….
this font isn’t the best
I agree, not a fan of the new font.
That being said, it’s not a question of who will make the best pro. The question is and always will be which one of the top prospects fits best with his new team. Talent gets you to the draft, but you need the right situation and fit and a little luck to really succeed in the NBA.
I don’t watch enough games
Cade and Suggs are good but not great
Who is better, Mobley or Wiseman?
Wiseman is two months older
Wolves and Rockets would be doomed for 5 years if they don’t have ping pong luck
Translation of first two sentences:
“I don’t have enough information
But ik what players are good and bad”
My dude teams clearly don’t even know a lot of the time. Not like there haven’t been a ton of high picks bust. Give it a rest you know nothing other than you’re meaningless opinion.
Would be great to see the Pistons win the lottery for once.
As a championship contender they won the 2nd pick in the draft with a 7.1% chance…too bad they took Darko
Cade will be first.
Secondly anyone that says this is another weak draft class obviously doesn’t know much.
Cade, Green, Mobley, Suggs and Kuminga Will all be all star players. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson and others are also all stars. This draft has 5 excellent pros at the start then a small drop off for another really good 5 players. From what I hear it’s also got some decent depth to it.
I think Cade will be very much like a Ben Simmons-Luka Doncic type dude. Filling up the stat sheet, good defender cause his size (Simmons), not the best three ball (Doncic) but a franchise player.
Cade only moves when he has the ball. On D, he falls asleep to often. He is all hype and lacking substance.
My top 5 by order
Cade
Suggs
Green
Kuminga
Mobley
You just said you don’t watch games. This isn’t a betting parlor.
Last year Warriors did not watch enough Wiseman and LaMelo games but they rank them
Cade C looked terrible in a couple games earlier. The 40-pt game versus their rival, he did not look special but stayed focussed and took advantage, which is also a good thing.
When he looked good, he looked like Demar Derozan, negotiating near the rim while dribbling, and sneaky-scoring with quick length.
I don’t think he’s as good as Lemelo (vids were available of him) but has intense expression. It is possible he still hasn’t recovered all the way.
Should be easy to scout the Igniters this year…
If you’re surrounded by better players on your team, how can you be the top prospect on that team?
@HubcapDiamondStarHalo… What they meant is that Suggs plays with other good players in his team, meanwhile Cade & Mobley play with a bunch of useless dudes, which means they can put up better numbers, on the hand Suggs playing with better teammates keep his numbers down.
But still he is the top prospect for the Zags, his teammates ain’t anywhere near better than him, like at all!
Suggs is viewed as having more translatable NBA skills than his teammates who are putting up bigger numbers at the college level.
That’s been going on since basketball started. All sorts of players put up big numbers in college whose skills don’t translate to the NBA where everyone is bigger, faster, and more athletic.
Cade is a serious talent, rather see him on the wing SF. I find funny is ……..
The 6’8’’ Cunningham is averaging 19.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 3.5 APG and could turn into a triple-double machine in the pros.
3.5 ast . Not a machine, more like a good passer
Truth is he will be good ast guy. Has great vision. But to me isn’t really a true PG. Like I don’t see Ben as true PG. Chris Paul is true PG. Bron can play the point but is not a true PG. Imo this is the deepest draft in yrs. Lottery is loaded with future stars and starters. Think the top pick will depend on who’s picking. I agree those 5 can be deserving of top pick. Mobley a true big more a C is new age center. Similar to Wood a better defender. Rockets stay in top 4, they keep their pick this yr. At this point they should just trade Oladipo, PJ, Gordon and just look to that top 4 pick. With Blazers pick also (two #1s) those are two solid players.
Pistons – #1 pick they want Green. But could trade down to get him. Be wise
TWolves -#1 pick they take Cade he’s gone they take Kuminga.
Rockets – #1 pick they take Cade. Should take Kuminga. Don’t need Mobley so can trade down.
Knicks have 3 of top 32 picks in draft. Rebuild Rebuild
Mavs #1, Knicks #1, Pistons 2nd rd pick. Rebuild
I believe GSW own TWolves pick, and that Rockets and Mavs also dont have a their firsts either.
Yes they do but it’s top 3 protected. So right now if Minny stays top 3 they keep pick. And have a shot at #1 pick. Probably best they keep losing right.
As of right now I would put this 5 guys in this order…
1/ Kuminga
2/ Green
3/ Cade
4/ Mobley
5/ Suggs
I would say its early, but its somehow March now lol. I always dread having to watch college basketball, and the last couple of years, I pretty much left it until right before the draft to start figuring stuff out. Usually I’ll have that 1 or 2 guys I’ve seen earlier, and form an opinion on before the others. Last year, that was Okongwu. I’ve only watched a bit of the G-league games so far, but still have 4 or 5 of them waiting for me to look over. Kuminga kind of reminds me of Wiggins so far, so hopefully I’ll see a little more there. Green is very interesting to me. I’ll need to see more
Surprised Ayo Dosunmu isn’t part of the discussion.
I don’t believe the expectation is he will be a great pro.
Dosunmu is way smart and detailed and makes entry passes. I hope that last thing doesnt work against him.
With no HS all star games for this group (that I know of), it’s more difficult. I’ve seen CC on his national TV games, and on measurables for his skill set, it’s not hard to see why people think he’ll go #1. I’m not sure the skill is quite as good as advertised, but I’m open to seeing him as a Simmons/Doncic type (whether or not as good). Mobley, I’ve seen very little of, but has a nice skill set like Wiseman did/does. G-League guys, I’ve seen once, and have no view. Suggs, I seen more than all the others combined, and really like. He would be a great fit for the Knicks, maybe a better one than CC, although either may be a pipedream for them at this point.
It depends on who is the first pick. Detroit takes Cade and they got a back court of Cade and Killian moving forward. Minnesota takes Kuminga. With Edwards and Kuminga at the wings for the future. If it’s the rockets they can literally take anyone because they have no young dudes that r building blocks. But in my opinion Cade is 1. Kuminga and Mobley r tied at 2nd best prospect. Then it’s Suggs and Green at 4&5. And right outside the top 5 is Williams at Stanford and Barnes at Florida St. Best shooter is Moody at Arkansas. But mid rounders with a chance at becoming starters early. Wagner at Michigan, Shannon at Texas Tech, Bouknight at UConn and JRE at Nova. This class is far from a weak class. There’s probably 10-12 starters and a bunch of top bench pieces. The guys I names doesn’t even include the Texas Bigs or the North Carolina bigs who all 5 could b starters or too big man bench guys. There’s a reason there’s so much parody in College BBall this season. It’s because there is a lot of talent on a lot of non traditional power house teams. Because I didn’t name a single Duke or UK player in that whole ramble.