Sam Vecenie of The Athletic published his latest 2021 NBA mock draft this week, while Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer posted the initial version of his draft guide, complete with prospect rankings. Like just about every other draft expert, Vecenie and O’Connor have Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham atop their boards, with Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, and Jonathan Kuminga filling out the top five, in some order.
Beyond the top five though, there are some interesting choices filling out the lottery in Vecenie’s mock draft and in O’Connor’s rankings. Both analysts are high on the raw potential of Texas big man Kai Jones, with O’Connor placing him eighth and Vecenie putting him at No. 10 — Jones falls outside the lottery on ESPN’s big board.
Meanwhile, Tennessee guard Jaden Springer is the No. 27 player on ESPN’s board, but is considered a potential lottery pick by both Vecenie (No. 12) and O’Connor (No. 14). Vecenie acknowledges that there’s a wide range of opinions on Springer, who has some “real inefficiencies in his game,” but believes the 19-year-old is boosting his stock with a strong finish to the season.
Here’s more on the 2021 NBA draft:
- After testing the draft waters a year ago, Siena swingman Manny Camper has declared for the draft in 2021, confirming his decision on Twitter. Camper was a senior this year, but because NCAA players were granted an extra year of eligibility due to the coronavirus pandemic, he isn’t automatically draft-eligible.
- Boston College senior forward Steffon Mitchell is entering the draft, he announced on Instagram. Mitchell averaged 9.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG in 16 games (32.6 MPG) in 2020/21.
- In case you missed it, potential lottery pick Isaiah Jackson is testing the draft waters, as we detailed earlier today.
Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards would bring the Timberwolves back to relevance. I would look to move on from Russell and Towns in separate deals, Cunningham will be a floor raiser alike a LeBron and Luka at the NBA level. The Timberwolves could have the best backcourt in the game 2 years from now with both Edwards and Cunningham.
When have the Wolves ever been relevant? They are one of the worst pro sports franchises in American sports and will probably continue to be so.
Well they got Edwards correct, the kid will likely be one of top 5 shooting guards in the game over the next 8-9 years at the minimum. 6’5 225 with close to a 7 foot wingspan, he looks like a Wade-Irving hybrid.
However, timberpups chances of getting the No1 and Cade are just as strong as Detroit and Houston, so getting your hopes up based on chance isn’t the best. They could even lose the pick to GS as is the same situation with the rockets and OKC. It’s all chance RN.
Those top 5 all easily go #1 in last years draft, haaa
I only take Cade ahead of Wiseman. And Minny got Edwards right they got KAT.
KG n Sprewell TWolves took Lakers to 7 in West Finals. They had them too.That was their shot.
Yesterday it was 10. Whatever. Better hit some more blow.
I take LaMelo ahead of any of those 5 any day of the week & twice on Sundays!!!
I was a big fan of J-Wise… but so far he has been very disappointing… I mean his team isn’t as good as LaMelo’s & he isn’t even getting 2o MPG, LaMelo is meanwhile the star player of a playoff team, as simple as!
David Duke has been dropping in the draft. Since his team did not make the tournament. He’s probably falling out the lottery. Man …. we got two picks, two chances. To pick him up. He’s a big scoring PG who plays both ways. If we don’t make a move for a PG. I hope Knicks are looking at him. Also like Ayo Dosunmu from Illinois . Has good vision and likes passing as much as scoring. He’s thinner but also a big PG plays both ways.
They’re Halliburton-like!
I like how Illinois has memorable teams but only once in a while. ’05, ’89, the one ranked #1 in the 40s that quit en-mass to join the war effort, the one ruined by student jealousy bc the star missed many of his classes… It’s like they don’t want a title there.
What will ruin the ’21 team is that their huge Jamaican center cannot defend PnRs.