7
Cole Anthony Guard, North Carolina
19.1 Points, 6.3 Rebounds, 3.4 Assists, 1.9 Steals, 0.4 Blocks, 37% FG, 36% 3PT, 33 MPG
Yet another phenomenal value pick, Cole Anthony lands in the Motor City as what could very well be the first major piece of the rebuilding Pistons franchise. Anthony was another player who was thought of as a potential first overall pick going into the season, but a knee injury may cause him to slide a bit in the draft.
Anthony is a scoring guard rather than a traditional pass-first point. His athleticism and greatly improved three point shot will make him a nice NBA scorer, while he is also a very solid rebounder. This is not to say that Anthony cannot make plays for his teammates, but he does need shots to be an effective player to this point in his career.
Detroit could use a point guard whether they decide to blow things up or not. Coach Dwane Casey has made it clear that he does not want to overwork Chicago legend Derrick Rose, while Reggie Jackson seems to have no future in Detroit. If a rebuild is the direction that the Pistons want to go, starting off with Cole Anthony is a great first step.
Draft Stock Trend: -3
8
Tyrese Haliburton Guard, Iowa State
16.6 Points, 5.9 Rebounds, 7.7 Assists, 2.6 Steals, 0.4 Blocks, 52% FG, 42% 3PT, 36 MPG
For the second straight mock, I have the Chicago Bulls selecting Tyrese Haliburton of Iowa State University. Coby White has proven that he has all of the tools needed to be a volume scorer at the NBA level, but the defense and passing have not yet gotten to where they need to be.
By taking Haliburton, the Bulls would instantly gain a distributor who excels on the defensive end. Drafting point guards in back-to-back drafts may not seem too wise, but Haliburton provides for a better starting lead guard than the scoring-minded Coby White does.
Taking a small forward may seem like a logical next step, as Otto Porter appears to be out for a long period of time, but there are none who trump the skills of Haliburton in the top-ten. Trading this pick for an established player or trading down in the draft could be an option for the Bulls if they are uninterested in taking another guard, but in the event they keep the pick, Haliburton is a phenomenal option.