The future of the NBA’s worst teams was decided on Tuesday night at the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery.
The Pistons secured the first overall pick in the upcoming draft, which will be held on July 29, following an Eastern Conference-worst 20-52 season. The Rockets secured the second pick, followed by the Cavaliers, Raptors and Magic rounding out the top five.
The 2021 NBA Draft class has some of the most exciting prospects in recent years, boasting a deeper class than last year’s talent pool.
There are rarely 100% certainties when it comes to professional drafts, but most scouts and mock drafters seem to agree: There are five players who most likely will be the first players off the board. Here are the top five prospects:
Cade Cunningham, Point Guard, Oklahoma State, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds
Cunningham has been the consensus top pick in 2021 for some time now. Many view him as a player that can turn a franchise around upon his arrival. Cunningham proved that when he decided to go to Oklahoma State over a blue-blood college program. He was able to lead the Cowboys to a 21-9 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament despite them being a bottom-four team in the Big 12 in 2019-20.
The 19-year-old averaged 20.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for the Cowboys. Cunningham has the size of a wing player, but plays like a point guard with savvy far beyond his years. According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, he is the man you want running your team’s offense.
“Dictates offensive tempo with the poise of a veteran point guard. Potentially dominant pick-and-roll shot-creator with great feel and footwork. Uses hesitations and deceptive moves to generate space.” O’Connor said.
The No. 1 recruit of the 2020 class is also a multi-level scorer. Cunningham has the ball-handling and quickness to take it to the rim and finish with ease. He also boasts a deadly jump shot. Last season, Cunningham shot 40% from 3-point range while converting 43.8% from the field.
The biggest weakness in the Arlington, Texas, native’s game is his decision-making. Cunningham tries too often to do too much, which could lead to turnovers. Last season, he averaged four turnovers per game. As he grows more accustomed to the NBA game, the turnovers should cut down. He is still the clear-cut top prospect.
Jonathan Kuminga, Small Forward, G League Ignite, 6-foot-6, 210 pounds
The No. 4 college recruit out of high school, Kuminga was one of the high school players who chose to forego college and play in the G League. The 18-year-old averaged 15.5 points and six rebounds per game while showcasing the skills that made him a top prep prospect.
One of Kuminga’s biggest strengths is his defensive versatility. With his strength, size, and wingspan, he can guard multiple positions and potentially be a small-ball center. He also has the speed and quickness to potentially shut down smaller guards.
“The combination of his size, strength, quickness and athleticism gives him the ability to completely take guards out of the game while also being able to bang bodies in the paint and play physical against bigs,” NBA.com’s Kyle Irving wrote.
The biggest problem in Kuminga’s game would be his ability to knock down jump shots. In the G League, he shot an abysmal 24.6% from deep while only converting 38.7% from the field. Instead of settling for jumpers, he likes to use his strength to his advantage and get to the rim.
Jalen Green, Shooting Guard, G League Ignite, 6-foot-6, 178 pounds
Green, who was the highest-rated prospect coming out of high school, spurned the college route to sign with the G League Ignite. He was the first player to jump to the pros from high school since Amir Johnson in 2005.
“He lives above the rim,” Michael VandeGarde, a Sixers college scout for 18 years who recently set up an NBA-themed high-school scouting service, told The Post in November. “He does NBA slam-dunk championship dunks in games — between the legs, around the back.’’
In the G League bubble, Green averaged 17.9 points per game while shooting 46.1% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range. At just 19 years old, Green is an athletic shooting guard who can create and knock down shots at will.
The downside to Green’s age is that he isn’t fully developed. At just 178 pounds, Green lacks the strength to play with the big boys. As he continues to grow and begins to work with an NBA training staff, he can be expected to add a few pounds.
The other knock against Green is his passing ability. He only averaged 2.8 assists while turning the ball over 2.7 times per game. He finished with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.05.
Jalen Suggs, Point Guard, Gonzaga, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds
As a true freshman, Suggs led Gonzaga on a regular season and NCAA Tournament run that came up just short of a title and an undefeated season – while making one of the most memorable shots in March Madness history. Suggs was the floor general needed to get stars such as Drew Timme, Corey Kispert, and Joel Ayayi the ball, but he also wasn’t afraid to score when needed. Suggs averaged 14.4 points per game while grabbing 5.3 rebounds and dishing 4.5 assists.
The 20-year-old from West St. Paul, Minn., is well suited to play point guard in the present-day NBA with his playmaking ability, knack for getting to the hoop and basketball IQ. He also has the proven leadership, poise, and defensive versatility to lead a team on and off the court.
The knock on Suggs’ game is his jump shot. It’s not a broken jumper, but last season, Suggs shot just 33.7% from 3-point range. With the NBA favoring 3-pointers, Suggs needs to work on his shot to become a multi-level scoring threat.
“His quickness, speed and size helped him create separation in college but against faster, stronger defenders in the NBA, he may have to get more creative to score consistently at the next level,” NBA.com’s Kyle Irving wrote. “While that also includes pull-up shots off the bounce, more specifically speaking, when attacking the basket.”
Evan Mobley, Center, USC, 7-foot, 215 pounds
The 19-year-old freshman was the go-to-guy out right out of the gate for USC in 2020-21. While averaging 16.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and three blocks per game, Mobley led the Trojans to an Elite Eight appearance before the Trojans ran into Suggs’ red-hot Gonzaga squad.
Mobley’s potential is through the roof. He could be the perfect pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop partner for any point guard. His ability to drive to the hoop and finish around the rim is top-notch. He has the ability to stretch the floor: Last season, Mobley shot 31.4% from 3-point range. And Mobley displays uncommon passing skills for a big man.
“Unselfish player who distributes the ball with accuracy and velocity. Shows good patience when pressured and has the potential to be an offensive hub around the elbows like Bam Adebayo or Nikola Vucevic,” The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor wrote.
Mobley has the ability to guard multiple positions on the floor. But he is a slender 215 pounds at 7-feet and will need to bulk up substantially or he get bounced around by most centers in the NBA.
