2021 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Post-NCAA 2020-21 season
1
Cade Cunningham Freshman, Guard, Oklahoma State
20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks, 44% fg, 40% 3pt, 35 mpg
Cade Cunningham is the best prospect we’ve seen in some time. Standing at 6 foot 8 inches tall from the guard spot, Cunningham poses a major mismatch with nearly every guard he goes up against.
His unique combination of size, vision, and shooting will make him a nearly sure-fire thing in the NBA. Cunningham has proved that he can win games on his own as well, taking an atrocious Oklahoma State group to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Here, Minnesota adds to an incredibly talented young core of Cunningham, Towns, Edwards, Russell, Beasley, Culver, and more. It is unclear how all of these players would mesh together, but the Wolves would have some serious assets with which to either make a move or develop a young roster organically. 2020-2021 has been tough for Minnesota, but a chance to add a generational talent could make it worthwhile.
2
Evan Mobley Freshman, Center, USC
16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.9 blocks, 58% fg, 30% 3pt, 34 mpg
Evan Mobley is an incredibly talented player who has first overall talent. Unfortunately for him, Cade Cunningham has seemingly run away with the odds to go first. Fortunately for Houston, they get a franchise-level talent to initiate their rebuilding process.
Mobley is a big-bodied center who does all of the things scouts look for in modern bigs: he passes, shoots, rebounds, defends the paint, and switches well. Mobley is a relatively safe prospect as well, as he appears to be very NBA-ready.
Although Houston just went out and paid Christian Wood relatively big money this past Summer, it is likely that the Rockets would still select Mobley with the second overall pick. Of his five NBA seasons to this point in his career, he has played the power forward position in all but his time in Houston.
A frontcourt of Wood and Mobley could develop into one of the best in basketball someday, giving the Rockets a great place to start rebuilding from.