It’s officially NBA Draft week, the first of its kind with the league implementing a new two-day model starting this year, one that begins with round one on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET followed by round two on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET.
What can fans expect once Adam Silver walks out there in Brooklyn and begins shaking hands? And more importantly, how long until he’ll be meeting Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham at center stage? Maybe Justin Edwards and/or Antonio Reeves slide in at the end of the first or to get things rolling on Thursday?
ESPN released its latest mock draft on Monday ahead of what could be one of the craziest draft days in recent memory with a historically weak class and names rising and falling by the second. Where do things stand with the Cats?
As expected, Sheppard comes off the board at No. 3 to the Rockets — the likely landing spot for him in recent weeks. The only caveat to those hoping to see the former Wildcat in Houston? A trade is very possible in that slot, Jonathan Givony reporting that “many NBA teams are operating under the assumption it will be moved in their internal mock drafts.”
The Rockets are interested in adding star talent while others are hoping to trade up to No. 3 to potentially take Donovan Clingan — Memphis and Oklahoma City being possibilities. Should they stay put, though, Sheppard is the overwhelming favorite.
“Houston’s ownership group traveled to meet with him in Los Angeles fairly early in the process, and he visited the Rockets’ facility to make his case as the best shooter in the draft,” Givony wrote.
From there, Rob Dillingham is projected to go No. 8 overall to the Spurs after meeting with San Antonio last week, along with the likes of Detroit and Utah. The Jazz and Miami Heat are also possibilities should the former Wildcat slip.
“Dillingham’s dynamic ballhandling, playmaking and shot-making prowess could be a natural fit for the Spurs with the creativity he offers in the open court and the pick-and-roll,” Givony wrote. “… (Matas) Buzelis, (Dalton) Knecht, (Cody) Williams, Tidjane Salaun and Nikola Topic are said to be other prospects under consideration here. Should the Spurs pass on Dillingham, Utah at No. 10 and the Miami Heat at No. 15 are viewed by teams as strong suitors, but there also could be trade opportunities that arise in the late lottery for the No. 8 prospect on our big board.”
From there, Edwards and Reeves are expected to wait until Thursday to hear their names called — but not long. The former is projected to go No. 39 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies while the latter comes off the board at No. 46 overall to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Check out the projected lottery:
- Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Bourg (France) | Age: 19.2
- Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth (Australia) | Age: 19.1
- Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky | Age: 19.9
- Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn | Age: 19.6
- Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League Ignite | Age: 19.6
- Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee | Age: 23.1
- Donovan Clingan, C, UConn | Age: 20.3
- Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky | Age: 19.4
- Cody Williams, SG/SF, Colorado | Age: 19.5
- Nikola Topic, PG, Mega MIS (Adriatic League) | Age: 18.8
- Devin Carter, PG/SG, Providence | Age: 22.2
- Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet (France) | Age: 18.8
- Ron Holland, SF, G League Ignite | Age: 18.9
- Ja’Kobe Walter, SG/SF, Baylor | Age: 19.7
What do you think, BBN? Are Sheppard and Dillingham going to be top-10 picks this week?
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