NBA Mock Draft: Who do the Knicks take at 8th and 27th?
28. Los Angeles Lakers, Xavier Tillman Sr., PF, MSU
After winning the NBA Championship in the bubble, the Lakers will probably look for a mature prospect who is ready to contribute on a title-contending team. While that is a tall ask for any young player, MSU’s Xavier Tillman might be up for the task. The 21-year-old is not the best athlete available at this spot, but he plays a smart game, which is important when joining a veteran squad. He can find a role as a defender, and as his shot improves, a reliable bench piece.
29. Toronto Raptors, Leandro Bolmaro, G, Argentina
If Leandro Bolmaro drops this far in the first round, he would be a great pick-up for the Toronto Raptors. While they remain confident in re-signing combo guard Fred VanVleet, if he were to depart in free agency, Bolmaro would be a nice young replacement as a 6-foot-7 playmaker who can also play point guard.
30. Boston Celtics, Zeke Nnaji, F, Arizona
As previously mentioned, it’s entirely possible that the Boston Celtics use this pick, along with their other two first round selections, to swing a deal. If they are somehow still on the board at 30, and if they used one of their previous picks on a point guard, it would make sense for them to focus on a wing or big.
Is this a landing spot for Tyler Bey? Since it’s a shot in the dark at this point, I will put Arizona big Zeke Nnaji as the final selection in this mock draft.