2021 NBA mock draft: Top-five picks
1. Detroit Pistons: Jalen Green, guard, G-League
A top recruit from the 2020 class that opted for the G-League, Green is considered by some to be the No. 1 prospect in the entire draft. He proved that for the Ignite in Orlando, looking every bit the part of a top prospect against NBA-level competition. He averaged 17.9 points and 4.1 rebounds on 37% shooting from distance. Green would act as a building block for Detroit to go with rookies Killian Hayes and Saddiq Bey.
2. Washington Wizards: Cade Cunningham, guard, Oklahoma State
There’s definitely some good news for the Washington Wizards during an otherwise bad season. Star guard Bradley Beal has yet to request a trade. While that could happen during the summer, the idea here would be for Washington to find him a running partner. The consensus No. 1 prospect up until recently, Cunningham would be just that. The 6-foot-8 point guard averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 40% from distance for the Cowboys a season ago. He could even slide in at the three depending on Russell Westbrook’s status moving forward.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jonathan Kuminga, small forward, NBA G-League
Kuminga just recently made his NBA G-League debut after deciding to opt out of playing college basketball. He averaged 15.8 points and 7.2 rebounds in the Orlando Bubble. This is just the latest example of the 6-foot-6 wing proving himself to be an elite-level youngster. Comparisons to Kevin Durant might be overblown. But the ability of the rebuilding Thunder to add a talented wing like Kuminga to team up with stud young point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just makes too much sense.
4. Orlando Magic: Evan Mobley, center, USC
A top-three recruit in 2020, the 7-foot Mobley has more than lived up to that with USC. He’s averaging 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks on 58% shooting as a freshman. Mobley looks to be a franchise cornerstone-type player. With the Orlando Magic having moved Nikola Vucevic they have a need at center. What better way to start anew with a rebuild than averaging a potential generational big man to team up with Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony in the backcourt?
5. Golden State Warriors (from Minnesota): Jalen Suggs, guard, Gonzaga
Suggs continues to ascend the rankings in our latest NBA mock draft. The Gonzaga star has been special with a capital S thus far this season, averaging 13.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists on 50% shooting from the field. Initially, he would team with stud youngster Jordan Poole as the primary backups behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in Golden State. He would also represent a potentially dominant future pairing with James Wiseman.
