NBA Mock Draft: Cooper Flagg Holding Strong to No. 1

30. Utah Jazz (via Cleveland): Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph’s

We haven’t had an exciting prospect out of Saint Joseph’s in years, but Rasheer Fleming has burst on the scene as a 6’9” stretch forward who is a physical presence around the glass on both ends of the floor and an impressive shooter from beyond the arc. He’ll need to keep it up, but if he does, the tape is too impressive for him not to be a first-round pick. We could be looking at a lottery pick if you remove the small school bias.

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2. New Orleans Pelicans: Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers

The New Orleans Pelicans are dealing with another season of injury issues up and down the roster, so they ought to blow up the roster and restart around someone like Dylan Harper, who comes with all the traits of a franchise guard in this league.

3. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers

The Utah Jazz didn’t take the leap in their rebuild that they were expecting this season and are now in a place where they can look to add an elite prospect into the mix high in the draft. Ace Bailey has the scoring traits scouts salivate over in a 6’10” frame, but he’ll need to round out his playmaking abilities to be the total package.

4. Toronto Raptors: Tre Johnson, G, Texas

The Toronto Raptors have been eager to land an impact player from the guard position for years, and Tre Johnson can pour it in from anywhere on the floor as he’s averaging 19.9 points as a freshman for the Texas Longhorns.

5. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe, F, Baylor

VJ Edgecombe may still be a work in progress, but he possesses natural defensive instincts and is one of the better athletes we’ve seen at the top of the draft in years. His offensive skillset isn’t there yet, but he’s taken promising strides this season at Baylor.

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Egor Demin, G, BYU

Egor Demin is still a relative unknown to most basketball fans as he’s been tucked away at BYU, but the native of Russia has flown up draft boards as an elite playmaker at the point guard position sitting in a gifted 6’9” frame.

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia): Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois

The Oklahoma City Thunder may be the best team in basketball right now, and they might land themselves a top-ten pick, given the current trajectory of the Philadelphia 76ers. It has to fall outside the top six to translate, and if it does, the Thunder can afford to take some chances. Kasparas Jakucionis falls into that category, and he’s sky-rocketed up draft boards amidst his dominant season with Illinois as a well-rounded and savvy offensive playmaker.

8. Brooklyn Nets: Nolan Traore, G, France

The Brooklyn Nets are in a place where they should be throwing darts at a dart board, and Nolan Traore possesses exciting potential despite struggling with his international team currently. He’s the total package on the offensive end, and I don’t anticipate scouts being too dissuaded by his struggles since he’s just 18.

9. Detroit Pistons: Kon Knueppel, F, Duke

Kon Knueppel is as pure of a shooter as you’ll find on any basketball court, and the Detroit Pistons will welcome the chance to add him to their wing rotation, where they could use a knockdown shooter among their young core.

10. Chicago Bulls: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

Who knows what the Chicago Bulls will look to do at the trade deadline, but Nikola Vucevic should be on his way out the door in the near future. The Bulls will be looking to draft high-upside players to bring life to their rebuild, and Khaman Maluach appears as a natural long-term replacement for Vucevic, given all the potential he boasts as a 7’2” center with a nice touch around the rim and a ferocious defensive ability.

11. Sacramento Kings: Asa Newell, F, Georgia

Asa Newell finds a ton of success on the basketball court without the ball in his hands, as he has a knack for doing all the little things. He has the motor that NBA scouts salivate for, and if his three-point shot continues to evolve, look out.

12. San Antonio Spurs: Liam McNeeley, F, UConn

Liam McNeeley isn’t the best athlete, but he’s a natural sniper from beyond the arc, and he continues to find ways to make shots without the most gifted skill set. He could be drafted earlier than many fans if he continues to develop at the rate he’s already demonstrated.

13. Atlanta Hawks (via Los Angeles Lakers): Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina

Scouts may be turned off by Collin Murray-Boyles standing at just 6’7” and looking to be a power forward at the next level, but there is value for him somewhere in the league as he’s been highly productive and will benefit from the new age of small-ball lineups.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers): Noa Essengue, F, France

The Oklahoma City Thunder can afford to take shots on high-upside prospects who need a ton of time, and Noa Essengue has a sky-high ceiling as he’s just 17 years old and already boasts a well-rounded game with exciting traits in a 6’9” frame.

15. Indiana Pacers: Will Riley, G, Illinois

Will Riley may not have an NBA-ready body, but scouts will easily convince themselves they can get him to where he needs to be with an NBA training regiment. Still, his 6’8” frame and ability to knock down the long ball will have him nearing the lottery.

16. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta): Derik Queen, C, Maryland

It will be interesting to see how the San Antonio Spurs look to build around Victor Wembanyama in the long term. I’m enticed to see if they’ll mess with lineups where they play a physical big man and allow Wembanyama to roam around and make plays. Derik Queen, in particular, fits that mold as he can be a playmaker from the post and can take care of business around the glass.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami): Ben Saraf, G, Israel

Ben Saraf may be the highest-drafted international player in this draft. He already has an established ability to score at all three levels in Europe and what many view as an untapped playmaking ability.

18. Golden State Warriors: Boogie Fland, G, Arkansas

With John Calipari’s arrival in Fayetteville, it remains to be seen if the usual “Kentucky guard” sentiment now translates to the Arkansas. Boogie Fland is the current by-product of that, and scouts are especially thrilled with his ability to not just rely on his speed. He can make plays as a smart passer and efficient scorer.

19. Houston Rockets (via Phoenix): Miles Byrd, F, San Diego State

If you’re an athletic wing player who can knock down shots from beyond the arc and be an above-average defender, you’ll have a spot in the NBA for a long time. Miles Byrd may be an unknown to most, but he has the makings of being the prototypical three-and-D wing in this league.

20. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota): Ian Jackson, G, North Carolina

The Utah Jazz should be taking as many swings on high-upside guards as possible, and Ian Jackson fits that mold as a once highly-touted prospect who is now being overshadowed on a talent-rich North Carolina team. Still, the talent and upside are there for teams to view him as a backend first-round prospect.

21. Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee): Hugo Gonzalez, F, Spain

Hugo Gonzalez may not have the biggest role on Real Madrid currently, but he’s been on the NBA’s radar for quite some time and there will be multiple teams who view him as a first-round talent despite the current lack of production.

22. Orlando Magic (via Denver): Labaron Philon, G, Alabama

Labaron Philon has risen up draft boards in recent weeks with Alabama as he continues to showcase his efficiency in making all the smart plays you look for in a young collegiate guard.

23. Orlando Magic: Adou Thiero, F, Arkansas

Adou Thiero was once viewed just as a gritty wing player, but John Calipari has unlocked an offensive skill set with an improving outside shot and savvy play as a finisher that has scouts buying into him as a first-round prospect.

24. Brooklyn Nets (via New York): Jalil Bethea, G, Miami

The Brooklyn Nets need to take shots on high-upside guards. Jalil Bethea could be one of the biggest sleepers in this draft, as the former five-star prospect hasn’t been given the opportunities at Miami many would hope for. However, he still boasts a dynamic scoring ability in a 6’5” frame that will have scouts willing to take the chance on him should he make the jump to the Association.

25. Brooklyn Nets (Via Houston): Rocco Zikarsky, C, Australia

NBA scouts will easily find reasons to draft a 7’2” center who is just 18 years old, but his lack of minutes in the NBL currently could draw some concern if his workload doesn’t take off. Rocco Zikarsky will be an interesting player to watch in the pre-draft process.

26. Dallas Mavericks: Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton

Ryan Kalkbrenner could be viewed as a high-floor backup center in the league. Given his time at Creighton, teams will know what they’ll get from him as a smart post player with a strong defensive presence.

27. Memphis Grizzlies: Drake Powell, G/F, North Carolina

There’s a possibility that Drake Powell opts to stay in college basketball for another season, but should he enter the draft, I find it hard to believe he wouldn’t be a first-round pick. He’s an elite athlete who was lauded as a high school prospect for his three-level scoring traits.

28. Los Angeles Clippers (via Oklahoma City): Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma

Jeremiah Fears has flown up draft boards despite being a relatively unknown early on, thanks to his tenacious motor downhill and ability to pour in points from all over the court. He hasn’t been the most efficient player, but coaches will be able to convince themselves that they can coach him up.

29. Boston Celtics: Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown

The Boston Celtics have no needs, but they’ll need to look to add an insurance policy at the center position with all the injuries that Kristaps Porzingis has dealt with. Thomas Sorber was Ed Cooley’s first big prospect at Georgetown, and despite being a tad undersized, Sorber has demonstrated a well-polished post-game that NBA scouts will drool over.

30. Utah Jazz (via Cleveland): Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph’s

We haven’t had an exciting prospect out of Saint Joseph’s in years, but Rasheer Fleming has burst on the scene as a 6’9” stretch forward who is a physical presence around the glass on both ends of the floor and an impressive shooter from beyond the arc. He’ll need to keep it up, but if he does, the tape is too impressive for him not to be a first-round pick. We could be looking at a lottery pick if you remove the small school bias.

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