2021 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: One week before the 2021 Lottery
15
Franz Wagner Sophomore, F, Michigan
12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks, 48% fg, 34% 3pt, 32 mpg
After a tough start to the season, the Wizards found their groove and found themselves in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Although they lost in the first round, there is a lot more reason for optimism now than there was a few months ago, and they should look to make a pick that will help them maximize the Westbrook-Beal duo. The way to do this is to surround them with floor spacers and kick-out options.
Franz Wagner will have appeal from NBA teams for many reasons, like his size at 6-foot-9, his defensive promise, his guard-like skills, and his potential from range. Although he played guard during his time in the NCAA, Wagner will most certainly play a combination of the three and four in the NBA. Optimally, Wagner would be a point-forward, of sorts in a rotational role.
However, though he has a great skill set and great size, there wasn’t as much production as one might like to see. Another draw to Wagner is that although he played two seasons off NCAA basketball, he will be nineteen years old on draft night.
16
Josh Giddey 2002, Guard, Adelaide
10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks, 43% fg, 29% 3pt, 32 mpg
It has been rumored that Boston could potentially be looking for ways to unload Kemba Walker’s contract. Though the draft might not be the way that they look to address the starting point guard position with Walker off of the roster, assuming he remains a Celtic next season, grooming a point guard to facilitate for Tatum and Brown could certainly be in play.
Though they might want to address their floor spacing or the center position, Giddey being available at sixteen might be too much for Danny Ainge to pass up.
Giddey is a hyper-talented passer and rebounder out of the point guard spot. Though not a particularly built young man, Giddey possesses phenomenal size at the one, standing at 6-foot-8. The biggest draw to Giddey is his incredible vision.
At just 18 years of age, he proved to be one of the better passers in the NBL. His scoring bag is still a work in progress, but at the very least he should be a high-level passer in the NBA and potentially a solid defender as well.
17
Chris Duarte Senior, G, Oregon
17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.8 blocks, 53% fg, 42% 3pt, 34 mpg
If not for Duarte’s age, he would more than likely have been a lottery pick. Duarte, who turns 24 before draft night, was a great three-and-D player in the NCAA and will likely be a solid one in the NBA as well. Standing at 6-foot-6, Duarte could play either wing position in the NBA, though he is probably better suited for the two.
Though not a high ceiling prospect, so to speak, Duarte should come into the NBA ready to play quality rotational minutes.
Though the older Duarte won’t be for every team, someone in the latter half of the first round will more than likely be drawn to his spacing and defense that will translate now, rather than waiting on a young player to develop.
Though Memphis isn’t necessarily in win-now mode, adding a backcourt partner to play alongside and get the best out of Ja Morant has to be a priority this offseason. Though Duarte isn’t going to be a franchise-changing player for the Grizzlies, adding an off-ball and defensive threat to supplement their backcourt could translate to wins.