I really do commend Danny Ainge and the Jazz organization trying to start rumors about taking Cam Boozer here so that they can force a team to trade up to 1 and ensure they get Boozer... only for it to allow Utah to get who they really want in AJ Dybantsa

However, that is very unlikely, and they should be excited about the prospect who is Darryn Peterson because he fits this team and timeline perfectly

Crazier things have happened and Boozer could be taken here at 2 due to the influence from his father in the front office

If that were to be the case, look for Utah to move off of a guy like Lauri Markkanen or Walker Kessler to make fit

Memphis gets to sit back here and watch how the first two picks play out before they make their decision at 3

It most likely will be Boozer, as his fit with this team alongside Zach Edey and Cedric Coward is seamless, and what he could look like in this offense is very exciting

There is the chance they go Caleb Wilson, but you could turn towards a longer development with him, and now since the new draft lottery rules have changed, it could entice the Grizzlies to make a push sooner rather than later

There is also a world where Utah takes Boozer and you are gifted Darryn Peterson, which makes the Ja Morant trade very easy to swallow

The pick here for Chicago is still going to be Caleb Wilson as he will transform this defense and anchor it for years to come

With having two picks in the first 15 of this draft, you pick best player available here and then do more of a draft for fit selection with your next one, as you still need to address more guard options

Thinking of Josh Giddey and Caleb Wilson PnRs is a great sight for Bulls fans, and pairing him alongside Matas and Noa Essengue going forward will be a monsterous trio of length, size, and versatility

Going with a bold change here in the top 5 for the Clippers as they take a shot on a prospect that has one of the highest upsides in this class

There was a report that Keaton Wagler (who was previously in this spot in my first mock) did not stand out in many workouts, and the Clippers aren't "in love" with him. On the flipside, Brown has "wowed" evaluators and front offices in his workouts, which includes a private one with the Clippers

The Clippers still get a bigger guard that can play alongside Darius Garland, who has the potential to be a franchise changer and leader going forward

The Nets fell out of the top four, and without having a pick that is their own for 2027, they needed this year's to turn out for them

Despite not getting a top pick, they still wind up with one of the best prospects in this class in Acuff

Last year the Nets drafted 3 point guards in hope one would turn out, and none of them jumped off the charts outside of Egor Demin. His usage last year was more of a spot up shooter and off-ball movement player

This justifies picking Acuff here who is a scorer at will, and can take over a game for you. Allowing him to play in a backcourt with Demin can take some pressure off handling the ball, while also allowing both first round picks to be on the court together

Well this has been an unfortunate fall for Wagler in my mocks, and it isn't because I don't like the prospect, but rather based on what information we know publicly about workouts and rumors

Wagler will be a great change for the Kings who will get a versatile player with the ability to play the point, but also excel off the ball as a scorer

He recently worked out for the Kings, and based on how the board goes, he falls into a fit where he will be the focal point of the offense and his development. With there not being a bright spot in youth right now for Sacramento, Wagler would be breath of fresh air for the organization as they shift into their new generation

My projection here for Atlanta stays the same here in my second version of mock drafts, as it looks like one of the best fits in the lottery

Mara has yet to work out for any team that we know of being tracked, however, it makes too much sense for the Hawks to not pass up on a guy like him who can change the outlook of how they play

His size and ability to impact winning on the offensive end is something the Hawks are in dire need of, as well as building that depth in the frontcourt, especially the center position

Another change coming here at 9 and I originally had this locked in for my first mock, but changed it last minute because why not

Recently, it was reported that Burries' agency is doing whatever they can to get their client to Dallas. Honestly, it is a really good fit as well, which is why I originally slated him to go there in my Mock 1.0

Burries two-way ability is something that is very intriguing for Dallas to help build around the young superstar in Cooper Flagg

If Kyrie Irving is still around, this is a great person to learn from for Burries, as well as impact winning alongside him

We have now reached the "you cannot pass this guy up" portion of the draft, where you throw out any potential need or fit and just get the best player available who slid down the board

Flemings got knocked a ton after the combine for his size and measurements. But nobody really had an issue with it while he was producing at a high-level this past year at Houston

His defensive presence will bring him more upside at the 1 compared to Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. As of now, there is nothing with Giannis and that trade, but if that finally happens, this could be a great young player to start the new generation of Bucks

The Warriors are wanting to give Steph Curry one final push as his career start to come to a close. If they want to draft someone who will help now in that push, but also be a long-term piece, they go Lendeborg

Yaxel recently worked out with Golden State and with the influence of Draymond Green in his ear, he could really benefit from having a player like that teaching him his role and the ropes of the NBA

I see a world where they might go with a younger prospect to have someone build past Curry once he retires, so guys like Philon, Ament, Carr, and Lopez are in play as well 

OKC has the luxury of having this pick while also contending as one of the best teams in basketball. They have a ton to evaluate and work on this offseason, so this pick might be sent off in a trade elsewhere

Following their Western Conference Finals defeat, they will make moves around the margins, and getting a guy like Ament is a solid long-term project to develop into a solid player

Ament can play alongside their stars as an off-ball shooter and his length profiles him to eventually develop into something defensively

A bigger jump for me here is the rise of Morez Johnson into the late lottery, and honestly based on how people are talking, he could go higher than this

Johnson is the type of player that. goes unnoticed in the box score, but watching the games, you will see the impact he brings to the floor

Energy player who is great defensively, isn't afraid to get in the mix, crashes the glass hard, and plays physical offensively

This is the most Heat-like player in this class in my eyes, so it would be a no brainer for them here at 13. They have also worked out other guys, so a guy like Labaron Philon (who I had mocked here last time) could still be in play

So I really have no clue what Charlotte's direction in this draft at this moment in time, but this is a player I can see this front office liking as a fit

Really athletic, great scorer, and has upside defensively to be a really good fit on this Hornets' team with already a ton of above average positional size and athleticism

I can already see it now, Carr getting a ton of backdoor and fastbreak lobs from Lamelo. Based off of his combine scrimmage and measurables, it would be a "slam dunk" get for the Hornets in their first of two picks

I know what you might be thinking looking at the last two mocks, and that it is a lazy switch between Carr and Lopez at 14 and 15. However, it makes sense now based on how the board goes

Lopez is starting to gain some traction in this draft process, with both Brooklyn and Chicago bringing him in for workouts this past week. Both organizations are "higher than most" on Lopez and it would be a solid fit here

Chicago is most likely going to overhaul their frontcourt this offseason and Lopez is a good project pick to go for

Getting Caleb Wilson at 4 and now Lopez will be a nice defensive duo in the frontcourt if both pan out for years to come

I don't know if Philon will actually drop this far or not, nor do I know/think the Grizzlies will still be picking at this pick here. If this is how it works out, what a get and situation for all parties involved

The Grizzlies are reportedly looking to move inside the top 10, which would most likely be for getting a point guard to replace the eventual Ja Morant trade. But if they do not, and the board falls in their favor like this, you sprint to the podium

Philon brings a nice combination of scoring presence and playmaking ability that would be a different look than other guards on the roster

Also could see a big being in play here and double down on depth after the unfortunate passing of Brandon Clarke

With their first pick, we went for a long-term project, but here we are picking someone who can come in and help out right away for the Thunder

Graves brings a ton of defensive versatility and off the ball movement that fits exactly what the Thunder DNA is 

This is a very similar player to Kenrich Williams already on the Thunder, who can play 3-4 and a small ball 5

The other option is to go with another guy like Dailyn Swain who projects a similar style as Graves, so look for him here as well

This is a case of the unfortunacy having a loaded draft class, where a guy like Hannes who in most drafts would be a lottery lock, but here he falls down and goes at 18

I feel as if this is a great fit for all parties involved. Steinbach brings pure rebounding and size who can also stretch the floor at times. Charlotte has a few bigs they use in a rotation, but none that 100% standout from each other

Steinbach could come in and win the starting job day 1 if he lands here, and would be a great lob threat in the half court offense for Charlotte, and help anchor a defense on the other end of the court

This for me is probably the most common pick you will see outside of the lottery for a prospect to go. Stirtz has been linked to Toronto since the start of the process, and it makes too much sense for it to not happen

He was their first workout brought in and the Raptors are looking for a different type of point guard compared to Quickley and Shead

Stirtz brings a steady pace to offense and is smart with the ball in his hands, which they lacked in their playoff series vs Cleveland when their stars were unable to handle the ball

Now that the finals are over, we got to see what this Spurs team was made of, and boy did they blow a ton of games

One of the more noticeable things about this team that showed holes was their lack of size and defensive versatility outside of their two guards and Wemby

Swain brings good positional size and defensive upside that can guard 1-4, which they couldn't handle when it came to guarding Anunoby and even switching on to Brunson, they hunted the mismatch every time

Dailyn has improved every year in college and is a threat from 3, which if they decide to move off of one of their wings now, he can step in and fill their shoes

Staying consistent here too with Isaiah Evans to Detroit to fill the void of a 3&D player to put alongside Cade Cunningham

Evans has worked out for Detroit and it just seems like an easy fit for both parties. I see a world where Detroit makes a move for that same type of player, but based on their depth, you can't ever have too many shooters who can defend

I see multiple routes for Detroit here, but most are based on their offseason plans, and whether or not they keep both bigs they have as well. They could go Evans, Anderson, or even Meleek Thomas. Or they go the big route with Cenac or a shot on Quaintance.

Philly goes a different direction than last time for me here by solidifying their backup point guard spot with Christian Anderson

Maxey is a budding star in this league and a lot is expected from him. However, when he is off the court, they struggle to find true backup minutes. Anderson will easily fill those shoes, and honestly can play alongside him down the stretch for extra ball handling

Anderson is a great shooter and playmaker who can fit perfectly setting up Embiid and Edgecombe

76ers could opt for a backup 5 behind Joel Embiid as well. There is also the option they trade this pick entirely

This is another one of my favorite fits and picks with Okorie going to Atlanta. But Ebuka has been gaining a ton of steam as of late to be picked higher than this

In this mock, he will fall as the board goes and Atlanta can still pick him up at 23, but come draft night, they might have to move up and get him if they are in love with him

Okorie is electric offensively and creates for himself, which is something no other guard on the Hawks roster can really do that well

If he isn't here come time to pick, they could turn towards other guards that fall. With Mara being the pick at 8, don't expect them to go for another big

The Knicks have finally done it, they reached the mountain top, and Jalen Brunson was incredible for them. Once the celebration ends, the front office will have to get back to work and fill out the margins of this roster

Jayden Quaintance is a guy that if healthy, could be one of the best prospects in this class. He will fall on draft night due to his injury concerns obviously

With Mitchell Robinson becoming an UFA and Hukporti being a RFA, they will look for depth at the big position. KAT held his own this finals defensively, but Quaintance gives you a reassurance that you will have a defensive anchor down low

Still keeping the same here for the Lakers as well with Cenac, despite my thoughts of him potentially going higher

There will be a stretch of guards that go, which pushes the bigs down towards the end of the first round. But Cenac will prove that he should've gone higher in this draft, and has a two-way ability to play perfectly alongside Luka Doncic

There are questions about what Lebron will do this offseason, and if he will return to LA for one more year, or go elsewhere. No matter what, this is something they need to figure out around Doncic, a good big that sets screens, finishes around the rim, and is solid defensively

With a lot of the underclassmen opting out of the draft and heading back to school, a lot of these older, fringe-first round prospects will be picked late in the first round

Ejiofor is someone who has become a hot name late in this draft cycle following his draft combine showing, as well as his tape from this past year at St John's

Verastile player, can play a small 5, or a bruising 4, Ejiofor is a winning player who makes winning plays

Around Jokic, Denver tries to surround him with guys who can play defense and be in the right spots, and that is Ejiofor 

Another late-first round pick I will keep the same, and mainly due to how the board falls in the Celtics favor

Everyone thought and was hoping Peat would head back to Arizona to better his game and expand his shooting to the perimeter. That did not happen, so here we are instead of being a lottery guy to now a late first round pick

But Boston gets the best out of this situation, getting a former top recruit who has crazy measurements and is a top tier athlete. Boston cam get the best out of him and use him creatively in certain lineups

There have been hot rumors regarding Giannis to Boston, so this pick could end up elsewhere come draft night

A name that I think can go higher than projections come draft night? Meleek Thomas

He showed a lot on film this past year at Arkansas that makes him a great option and steal for teams outside of the lottery and later in the first round with a need for bench scoring

Thomas has good size and length for his position and can shoot the heck out of the ball, which instantly makes him impactful. Add his defensive upside to this and you get a prospect that everyone overlooks

This pick could also be on the move to be able to get rid of contracts they have which are horrible. But if they stick, this is an easy selection

My last pick that will stay similar to my first mock draft will be Veesaar from North Carolina

Cleveland losing in the conference finals showed they needed depth and options everywhere to throw different looks and lineup combinations at teams

Their starting 5 works well together, but you know what you are getting out of them and their exact playstyle together. You throw in a 7'2 guy like Veesaar who stretches the floor and now we have a potential problem 

The rumor is Cleveland will extend Harden, and if they keep this core together, this is a smart way to go about this depth situation

Well, I bet you didn't expect to see this name in the first round did you? 

Neither did I, but there is nuclear hype around Baba Miller after the combine and a larger audience watching his film

Dallas hired Masai Ujiri as GM, fired Jason Kidd, and most likely will announce their coach in the upcoming days. But if there is one thing Ujiri has shown he has a knack for, it is finding this talent late that profiles as athletic defenders with size and lenght

Miller is exactly that. Now I don't know how high I am on him comapred to most, but when there's smoke, there's fire. So Miller could end up in the first round to add to a new defensive look alongside Flagg and their other first round pick in Burries