Pre-Draft Lottery Projection: 24
Last time we predicted Grant Williams would be headed to Philadelphia, and we’ll be sticking to our guns on that one. The 76ers endured years of ‘The Process’ for this moment. By making two blockbuster trades to secure Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, Philadelphia decided that now is their moment.
Grabbing Williams here, who has spent three years developing under one of the nation’s best coaches makes too much sense. The 76ers immediately fill the void left by Mike Scott and add a player that can produce from the bench at a hugely discounted price tag.
At the end of the day, their laughably weak bench is the reason the 76ers got sent home early. If they want next year’s playoffs to be any different, they’re going to need players they can depend on. The former two-time SEC Player of the Year is the man for the job.
Pre-Draft Lottery Projection: 25
After an absolutely electrifying postseason performance that finally proved the Trailblazers could get over the hump and become serious contenders, the Warriors reminded everyone why they’ve won three titles in the last four years by decimating Portland in a series sweep. It seemed like every possession Golden State knew exactly which pass to make, which pick to set, and which cut to take to get to the hoop.
Portland absolutely needs to address their porous defense here by taking the 2019 NCAA Defensive Player of the Year Matisse Thybulle. With Al-Farouq Aminu likely leaving in free agency, Portland will need to do every single thing they can to improve their defense with the little cap flexibility they have.
Thybulle can immediately assume duties at the wing and be a rare first year player starting for a top ten team. Selecting Thybulle allows Portland to focus the little money it has to upgrading at power forward or perhaps adding more shooting in the absence of Seth Curry.