2021 NBA Mock Draft Version 1.0: At the quarter mark of NBA season
27
Roko Prkacin 2002, Forward, ABA
12.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks, 45% fg, 34% 3pt, 28 mpg
An exciting young Croatian power forward, Prkacin excels at putting the ball on the floor and possesses guard-like skills at the four. He is certainly a unique talent, and one that NBA executives will certainly be drawn to. Many consider Prkacin to be a top-twenty pick, but I am not there yet. He is certainly talented enough to be in that conversation and has played solid basketball in the Adriatic League, but he should be more assertive with his touches in order to raise his draft stock.
As for Boston, they are a good fit with Prkacin because they do not have a true power forward on the roster. Although it is highly doubtful that he would become a starter any time soon, getting a power forward would allow for Boston’s players to go back to their natural positions. Prkacin could be a good pay off this late in the draft, though he may take some time to develop.
28
Isaiah Jackson Freshman, Forward, Kentucky (NCAA)
6.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 3.1 blocks, 43% fg, 0% 3pt, 20 mpg
Isaiah Jackson has done unbelievable things, from a shot blocking perspective, early in the 2020-2021 NCAA season. In very limited action, the five-star freshman has been able to record a mind-blowing 3.1 blocks per game. To put it in perspective, Jackson is blocking as many shots as projected top-three pick, Evan Mobley, per game, but doing so in 13 less minutes per game off of the bench. He isn’t going to give you much offense, but his paint protection and rebounding look to be elite.
Utah is certainly going to be in the market for a long-term solution to the power forward position, and though Jackson is more of an old-school pick, the thought of Jackson and Rudy Gobert on defense together is certainly enticing. Going with a more modern big could be a likely scenario as well, but Jackson to Utah is a good concept.
29
Kai Jones Sophomore, Center, Texas (NCAA)
8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks, 62% fg, 44% 3pt, 21 mpg
There has been a ton of hype around Kai Jones, who is yet another projected first round pick coming off of the bench in the NCAA. The selling point with Jones is his ability to play a stretch five. Shooting over 40 percent from deep on 1.3 attempts per contest, NBA teams relish the idea of finding a Brook Lopez-type big to space the floor. Jones is not spectacular on the defensive end, nor is he a liability.
For Los Angeles, adding another true center to the mix could be good for their rotation. Further, considering the fact that the Clippers are perhaps the deepest team in the NBA, they can afford to draft a one trick pony like Jones to add to their offensive scheme. Many believe that Jones should be drafted in or near the lottery, so snagging him at 29 is a solid value for Los Angeles.
30
Marcus Bagley Freshman, Forward, Arizona State (NCAA)
13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks, 38% fg, 38% 3pt, 31 mpg
Shooting is everything in today’s NBA, and LeBron James knows this more than anyone. Surrounding the King with shooters has always been the best past to success in the past, and with the possibility of losing Talen Horton-Tucker to free agency, they should draft a wing as insurance. Marcus Bagley, the brother of Sacramento’s Marvin Bagley, has shot the three ball well at a high volume in his freshman season with ASU.
His field goal percentage looks poor, but this is because virtually all of his field goal attempts are three pointers. He isn’t going to give you anything much outside of floor spacing, though he has shown solid rebounding ability with the Sun Devils. Bagley certainly has potential to be a solid NBA rotational piece, but for now simply adding kick-out options for LeBron is the focus.