2021 NBA mock draft: Post-trade deadline lottery picks

1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
It wasn't the most memorable NCAA tournament run for Cunningham, who shot an unimpressive 9-34 from the field and had more turnovers than assists. However, the NBA-readiness and ceiling that he displayed throughout his freshman campaign are too much to ignore, with averages of 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game popping off the stat sheet and his ability to single-handedly win games for an unimpressive Cowboys team impressing scouts.

The Timberwolves just need the best talent available, and though Evan Mobley is making his case, that wouldn't make quite as much sense given the megastar in Karl-Anthony Towns that Minnesota already has.

2. Detroit Pistons: Evan Mobley, USC
Mobley does literally everything that you could ask for from the modern-day big man, and he's shown it off during March Madness. Low-post scoring and ferocious, rim-rattling jams? All day.

Finding cutting teammates as he draws double teams in the paint? A true seven-footer with ball-handling skills that help him to attack the paint? The occasional three-pointer? Perimeter and interior defensive skills, with a huge wingspan and a knack for rejecting opponent attempts?

He does it all. And for a Pistons team who has rolled with Mason Plumlee and rookie Isaiah Stewart as the bigs this season, plugging Mobley in right away with the simultaneous return of Killian Hayes gives Detroit an exciting future.

3. Houston Rockets: Jalen Green, NBA G-League
The Rockets traded away James Harden, acquired Victor Oladipo, and then traded Victor Oladipo. Needless to say, they could use some backcourt scoring, and they should look no further than Jalen Green of the G-League Ignite. Green, who turned heads in deciding to opt for the G-League as opposed to a more traditional NBA route, averaged 17.9 points per game on all sorts of scoring methods. Three-pointers, pull-up jumpers and eye-popping dunks are all part of his arsenal.

It might be tough to pass up a name like Jalen Suggs here, but Green's ceiling as an unstoppable scorer is much higher — perhaps higher than anyone in the draft — and that's the type of excitement the Houston fan base desperately needs right now.

4. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Kuminga, NBA G-League
There's a very real possibility that the Magic end up with a higher draft pick than No. 4. Not only did they get rid of Nikola Vucevic, as mentioned in the intro, but they also unloaded Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon, and they are still without Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac until next year. It might be a long and rocky road back to prominence, so it might be worth drafting someone who fits that timeline. And while Fultz covers the point guard position, Isaac is a defensive beast at forward, and there's a lot of potential at the big man position, the Magic could really use an athletic wing that eventually becomes a go-to scorer.

Enter Jonathan Kuminga. Like Green, Kuminga went for the G-League and impressed at just 18 years old, playing alongside Green and still managing to score 15.8 points per game. It didn't take him long to showcase his instincts and athleticism, often against much more experienced opposition.

5. New Orleans Pelicans (trade up): Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
If Jalen Suggs is still on the board at No. 5, which may or may not be the case should he really show out for the Zags down the stretch of this tournament, teams will be salivating at the opportunity to grab him. The Wizards, who are currently slated to draft at No. 5, possess a backcourt of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, could afford to get a whole lot out of this pick from a team hungry for an elite guard prospect. Suggs is a do-it-all leader with a high defensive ceiling and the ability to score in many ways, even without a deadly shot.

The Pelicans make sense. Even though they decided to hold on to Lonzo Ball, his future in New Orleans isn't necessarily set in stone, as wins haven't exactly come easily in recent years. Instead, moving up to get an NBA-ready guard who can help Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram win right away could be the best plan of action.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers: Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Suggs' teammate could come off the board right after him, strictly because of need. The Cavs need to boost their outside shooting — and badly. They rank dead last in three-pointers made and three-pointers attempted, while they're thankfully better in three-point percentage... where they rank second-to-last. Collin Sexton and Darius Garland can both hit the long ball, but it gets a lot tougher at the wing and forward positions.

So how does an experienced, NBA-ready, 6-foot-7 sharpshooter who knocked down threes at a 45.8 percent clip this season sound? That's what the Cavs could get in Kispert, whose senior season at Gonzaga has been a big part of their undefeated run (19.2 points per game), and he's steadily grown in both role and performance each year.

7. Toronto Raptors: Jalen Johnson, Duke
Duke didn't appear in the NCAA Tournament this season, but that wouldn't have affected the draft stock of Johnson, seeing as he opted out for the rest of his freshman season in February in preparation for the NBA Draft. Needless to say, a first-year player who shows as much skill and potential as Johnson in a clearly difficult conference deserves a ton of recognition from draft scouts, and he could slot in nicely behind Pascal Siakam to develop under another good coaching staff. From Coach K to Nick Nurse... one can only get so lucky.

There were several flashes of brilliance from Johnson, but there's also a fairly sturdy stat line that covered all the bases. He can score (11.2 points), pass (2.2 assists per game, though as The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor notes, he'd have more had his teammates sunk more shots), hit the three (44.4 percent), be a defensive disruptor (1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks) and continue to mold his skill set.

8. Sacramento Kings: Scottie Barnes, Florida State
Rumors around the league said that teams hoped the Kings would sell low on forward Marvin Bagley III, given that he's solid but has dealt with injuries and has not quite lived up to his draft standing as the second overall pick in 2018. And even if these were simply wishful thoughts from rival clubs and the Kings had no intention of doing so, they could probably use a boost at their power forward position.

Scottie Barnes is a good guy to get for a team that needs help all over the place. The 6-foot-9 forward is the Draymond Green of the draft class, with 10.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists, playing a major role and a ton of minutes but in a bench capacity. He could probably do the same for the Kings right away, coming in with the second unit — which has been hugely successful for Tyrese Haliburton — and can deliver strong and versatile defense that the last-ranked Kings sorely lack.

9. Oklahoma City Thunder: Moses Moody, Arkansas
Moody has unlimited scoring potential — as a freshman, he has averaged 17.1 points per game on 37.4 percent shooting from deep — and the Thunder should value that skill set highly. They currently rank second-to-last in offensive rating and rank 23rd in three-point percentage despite hoisting up the eighth most attempts. Outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder don't really have that guy who can score upwards of 20 points on any given night, like Moody did for the Razorbacks on nine separate occasions in his first year.

Another note: SGA is now expected to miss an extended period of time with plantar fasciitis, and the Thunder could start hurtling down the standings and, consequently, up the draft board as a result.

10. Washington Wizards (trade down): Keon Johnson (G, Tennessee)
After swapping picks with the Pelicans and getting some more assets, I could see the Wizards adding a young and raw guard who can learn from the duo of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal and hopefully become a stronger defensive presence than what the Washington backcourt currently offers. He's not the best shooter, but he offers great effort and athleticism that can be fine-tuned into an NBA starter.

11. Orlando Magic (via Chicago Bulls): Franz Wagner (G, Michigan)
Wagner is a good defender that can help on both sides of the ball and align nicely with Magic team needs: everything. He can rip the net from deep (37.2 percent), make plays as an offensive facilitator, play hard-nosed and intuitive defense and more. Wagner would just be a breath of fresh air for a team that is beginning a fresh start.

12. Indiana Pacers: James Bouknight, UConn
Bouknight has an elite scoring ceiling at the guard position for a team with a lot of guards, but not a lot of elite scoring from smaller guys. Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. McConnell (an impending free agent), Justin and Aaron Holiday... all good players, but no one you give the ball to if you need a quick jolt of offense. That's where Bouknight, who averaged 18.7 points per game and who dropped a 40-burger on Creighton, would come into play.

13. Golden State Warriors: Josh Giddey, Adelaide
A 6-foot-8 playmaker who averaged 12.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists overseas? Sound familiar, Warriors fans?

He can come in and play backup point guard to Steph Curry — yes, at 6-foot-8, he's a point guard first — which is a role that recently hasn't held many answers for Golden State.

14. Memphis Grizzlies: Kai Jones, Texas
Jones is an athletic big man with perimeter abilities (38.2 percent on three-point attempts), athletic and energetic defense, and raw tools that can fit in with the timeline of the young Grizzlies. Get Valanciunas to help him with his interior game, and get Jaren Jackson to help mold his stretch-big skill set, and boom. You've got a real nice set up for the talented Jones.