2021 NBA Draft: Mock 2.0, star power, trades, big risers
By Adam Kester
41. . F. Golden State Warriors. Corey Kispert. 14. player
2021 NBA Draft Mock 2.0: Golden State Warriors add more shooting, draft Corey Kispert
The Golden State Warriors nabbed a playmaking, defensive menace with Scottie Barnes, and now they select one of the best shooters in the NBA Draft in Corey Kispert.
We’ve watched Stephen Curry for years now, but it was different this season, watching him will a weaker Warriors team into the play-in tournament. There is zero doubt in my mind that the Warriors would’ve been one of the worst teams in the league without him.
So the next step for the Warriors as they hope to get Klay Thompson is health? Surround Steph Curry with players who complement him – Corey Kispert is a perfect fit.
NBA Draft – Corey Kispert NBA player comparisons
- Kyle Korver
- Joe Harris
- Wesley Matthews – Competitive nature, team-first play
Corey Kispert played basketball in 2020-21 like someone plays the mini basketball machine at the arcade – Non-stop buckets. Kispert averaged over 19 points per game at Gonzaga this past season on 44.4% from 3.
Maybe the best catch-and-shoot player in this draft, Kispert is terrific moving off-ball and finding spots. Even as he catches the ball, he has a nice simple bag of pump fakes and side-steps to create more space, the types of 1-2 dribble in-rhythm moves that a lot of great shooters have.
Kispert has nice size at 6’7, 220lbs which will allow him to continue to get good looks in the NBA.
Kispert isn’t much of a ball-handler and will be primarily deployed as a catch-and-shoot range extender.
Even outside of the shooting, Kispert is great at making quick, decisive decisions – I can see him piling up some hockey assists in the NBA.
As a defender, Kispert is going to be solid against some wings, but it’s easy to see him struggling against quicker players – he doesn’t have good lateral quickness, which may be the biggest qualm here. His defense is limited.
Still, I think between getting Klay Thompson back, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole, the Warriors have some solid guard rotations, and drafting the 22-year-old Kispert’s plug-and-play knockdown shooting will be instant value for Golden State in 2021-22.