2021 NBA Draft: Mock 1.0, Knicks bolster the backcourt
By Toby Jaffe
NBA Draft Mock 1.0: The top selections
1. Cleveland Cavaliers, Cade Cunningham, PG, Oklahoma State
ANOTHER first overall pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers! Should the proverbial ping pong balls go the way of this simulation, Cleveland would be treated to their fourth top pick in ten years.
Cade has the greatest MVP potential in this NBA Draft, reminding some of the players like Luka Doncic and Ben Simmons. If the Cavs view Cade Cunningham as a superstar that could lead them to become a championship contender, they won’t be able to pass him up.
2. Orlando Magic, Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite
The Magic hit the reset button at the trade deadline and are entering another rebuild. I’m making a leap of faith that Orlando will be targeting permitter prospects, so I have the Magic taking Jalen Green with the second overall pick.
Green is an athletic guard standing at 6’6’ with 20-plus-a-game potential. He has put up respectable numbers against G League competition, averaging 18 points a game on 46 percent shooting with 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Should he reach his ceiling, we could be looking at a high-scoring perennial All-Star.