Highlights:

https://youtu.be/CT-j2HAhvn0

Grade A Chucker.  I don’t see him making the NBA.

BY Sandro Guedes

1. Boston Celtics – Markelle Fultz

Isiah Thomas is too short to win in the NBA as a starter. He’s very close to his decline and is set to ask for more than 25 mil per on his next contract. So Ainge shouldn’t care about Thomas’ feelings and should just draft Fultz and trade Isiah this season, before he’s an expiring contract.

 

2. LA Lakers – Lonzo Ball

He’s from LA, he’s a passing first PG and has all the hype in the world. Pairing that hype with LA will do wonders for such a dormant franchise. He’s a very tall PG that loves to create for his teammates. You know who else was of that mold? Lakers own GM, legend Magic Johnson. It just makes too much sense. They can move D’Angelo to his natural NBA position (SG) and make Clarkson a perennial 6MOY candidate.

 

3. Philadelphia 76ers – Josh Jackson

It looks like Philly is set on using Simmons as their primary ball handler. That pretty much removes the Sixers from chasing a PG in the draft, considering that they can get one in free agency when all they need is a defensive minded PG that doesn’t take the ball out of Simmons hands on offense. Jackson can score and defend on the wing, which they’ll need with Ben playing on the perimeter most of the time.

 

4. Phoenix Suns – Jayson Tatum

I believe Phoenix should draft Fox and trade Bledsoe, but I don’t think their GM is that smart anyway. So I guess they’ll take Tatum. Him and Booker are young and can score in bunches, which appears to see what Phoenix values. That’s a franchise that has never valued defense in their history, so having a great scoring 1-2 punch might revive the organization.

 

5.Sacramento Kings – De’Aaron Fox

Fox is exactly what Sacramento needs. He plays defense and is not a shoot first PG. The Kings are set to make Hield their offensive priority, so pairing him with Fox makes a lot of sense. They already have an athletic Center in Cauley-Stein and can chase Markkanen with their #10, so it’s between a PG and a SF for them. Considering that Jackson and Tatum would be gone already, they’d have to take Fox.

 

6. Orlando Magic – Dennis Smith

Remember when Portland didn’t draft Jordan because they had Drexler? Remember when Detroit didn’t draft Melo because they had Prince? Well, those were mistakes. And it would be a mistake for Orlando to pass on Smith because they have Payton. Smith looks like the superior talent, by far, as Payton looks more and more disappointing with each passing season. Smith has franchise player potential, and the Magic desperately need that.

 

7. Minnesota Timberwolves – Jonathan Isaac

Rubio – LaVine – Wiggins – Towns. That’s their core. What they need? A defensive PF who is athletic enough to run the floor with the crew. Isaac is the best fit for them and, at 7, he wouldn’t be that much of a reach. This pick makes so much sense that it might not happen though.

 

8. New York Knicks – Frank Ntilikina

Frank is the last top PG I’d want in this draft class, but he looks to be exactly what Phil loves. His size and defensive prowess make him the prototypical Triangle PG. And we all know Phil Jackson will draft with the Triangle in mind. I’m not a big fan of Frank but, at 8, beggars can’t be choosers.

 

9. Dallas Mavericks – Lauri Markkanen

Why Markkanen? Because Dirk. Cuban won a championship with a stretch 4 PF. He’s got Dirk signed for one more season, so he’d be a great mentor for Markkanen. No one expects the kid to be as good as Dirk was, but the Mavs have no other chance but to reach for the stars in this.

 

10. Sacramento Kings – Malik Monk

What better story than to pair up Monk and Fox in the NBA like they were in College? Granted, the Kings already have Hield for that 2 spot. But he may not be the answer down the line. Monk is, worst case scenario, a good 6tth man of the bench for his career. That’s a gamble the Kings need to take. He’s the best available prospect at 10, and in that range, you can’t be too concerned about fit. If Monk balls out, you can trade Hield. If Monk becomes “just” a good 6th man, that’s something any NBA team needs. So while it doesn’t make much sense at first, it can do, in the long run.

https://youtu.be/D-czpHxEw0M

23. Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants

Analysis: “He’s a matchup nightmare. He can block on the perimeter. He’ll be an immediate impact player. His skill set is closer to Mike Evans. He runs routes like a wide receiver. I don’t care what you call him. Eli (Manning) is gonna say ‘Wow, I love this kid.’

https://youtu.be/NhOr1PSp9FI

6. Jamal Adams, S, New York Jets

Analysis: “Jamal Adams is the safest pick in the draft. You pair him with Marcus Gilchrist and all of a sudden you have one of the best safety tandems in football. I would assume Mike Maccagnan thinks he can augment the corner position because it is so deep later on.”

https://youtu.be/hMpdksqwjcg

Knickels Mock Draft

1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

-The Browns have a need at QB, but they can do that with the 12th pick. Now they should take the best player in the draft.

2. San Francisco 49ers: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

-Newly hired GM John Lynch makes his first big off-season move by drafting their QB of the future.

3. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama

-I think Jamal Adams (LSU) would be a better pick here, but Chicago has been heavily in contact with Allen, including pro day meetings and private workouts. Allen would be a great fit in Chicago’s 3-4 scheme as a DE.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

-Jacksonville is already set at corner with Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye. Adams paired with recently signed Barry Church would form a great defensive backfield.

5. Tennessee Titans (from Rams): Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio St.

-The Titans need a corner to replace Jason McCourty, and Lattimore fits in perfectly.

6. New York Jets: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

-I would prefer if the Jets traded down, but in recent years they claim they want to trade down but it never happens. I can see Malik Hooker (Ohio St.) going here, because it’s hard to see the Jets not drafting defense, but he’s too much of a risky pick at this spot.

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio St.

-This is a risky pick, with Hooker not being fully recovered from his injuries. However, the Chargers have a dire need at the safety position and Hooker is the best safety in this draft. Although he is listed as healthy to many scouts.

8. Carolina Panthers: Leonard Fournette, RB, Lousiana St.

-Fournette can be the replacement for aging Jonathan Stewart, and would be a great fit in Carolina’s offense.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

-AJ Green and Williams would form a dangerous duo, because Brandon LaFell isn’t going to cut it.

10. Buffalo Bills: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

-The Bills need a corner like Humphrey that can play opposite of Ronald Darby.

11. New Orleans Saints: Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama

-New Orleans needs a presence from the inside linebacker position and Foster can provide that if you look past his off-field concerns.

12. Cleveland Browns (from Eagles): Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

-The Browns need a quarterback and Mahomes is worth the reach to fill that need.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford

-Thomas stays a Cardinal and can be used at many positions for Arizona. I doubt Thomas falls this far though.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (from Vikings): Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida St.

-Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley told Cook’s grandmother that if Cook is still available at this pick, they’ll pick him, so here he is.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

-The Colts are in dire need of a pass rusher and Barnett would be a steal if he were to drop this low.

16. Baltimore Ravens: Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky

-I see Cam Robinson going here, but with the rumor of Lamp’s agent hinting at the Ravens possibly picking him, and Lamp being regarded as the top o-line prospect, the Western Kentucky product could end up with Baltimore.

17. Washington Redskins: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

-Washington is in need of a running back, and the Stanford product would be a steal at this spot.

18. Tennessee Titans: John Ross, WR, Washington

-Tennessee needs some type of boost in the receiving core, so the fastest man in combine history should work fine.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

-Howard would be the best player available at this point and gives Jameis Winston a good target in the receiving game.

20. Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin

-The Broncos have many needs on offense, but Ramczyk helps fill their need at the tackle position.

21. Detroit Lions: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

-The Lions stay local and get a solid defensive end in Charlton.

22. Miami Dolphins: David Njoku, TE, Miami

-Another local pick here, as the Dolphins get a solid tight end that they’re in need of.

23. New York Giants: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah

-The Giants are always in need of linemen and Bolles or Cam Robinson would be a great pick here.

24. Oakland Raiders: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio St.

-Conley could possibly be a top 10 pick if it wasn’t for his rape accusations. I can see a team like the Raiders taking a chance on him.

25. Houston Texans: T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin

-Because who wouldn’t want to see the Watt brothers wreck havoc together?

26. Seattle Seahawks: Obi Melifonwu, S/CB, Conneticut

-The UConn product would be a great safety in Seattle or a lengthy press corner in their defense.

27. Kansas City Chiefs: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan

-Should easily be a top five pick, but with diluted drug test results and with many scouts not sure where to put him, he could fall near here where the Chiefs would know what to do with him.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Takkarist McKinley, OLB/DE, UCLA

-Charles Harris (Missouri) would be a good pick here too, but either way the Cowboys could use a pass rusher with this pick.

29. Green Bay Packers: Kevin King, Washington

-King gives Green Bay a tall, athletic corner to match up with bigger receivers in the league to help their need in the defensive backfield.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Charles Harris, DE/OLB, Missouri

-Harris would be a steal at this point and Pittsburgh is always looking for pass rushers.

31. Atlanta Falcons: Budda Baker, S, Ohio St.

-Baker would be a great safety to pair with Keanu Neal in the Falcons secondary.

32. New Orleans Saints (from Patriots): Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama

-The Saints would get a talented tackle that can play guard and help the Saints o-line.