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Offseason | NBA Week 26

NBA mock draft: Projecting the top 14 post-lottery

Sun May 12 4:49pm ET
Field Level Media

The NBA draft lottery is complete, the order of the top 14 picks is cemented and the Atlanta Hawks are on the clock.

With about six weeks left before the draft begins June 27, Field Level Media takes a crack at projecting the lottery picks. There is no can't-miss star like Victor Wembanyama atop this year's draft board, but we may see a French big man go first overall for the second year running.

1. Atlanta Hawks: Alexandre Sarr, F/C, Perth Wildcats

The Hawks, who had just a 3 percent chance to win the No. 1 pick, now have every option in front of them. The answer, though, should be Sarr as a successor to Clint Capela. Tall, lean, mobile and talented as a ball-handler and passer, Sarr's most pressing task will be to bolster one of the league's worst defenses.


2. Washington Wizards: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn

Clingan isn't just any old college center. He's a 7-foot-2 monster in the interior with a 7-foot-7 wingspan who played a crucial role helping the Huskies win back-to-back national championships. His rim protection will make the Wizards' ghastly defense better and he'll be a persistent dunk threat teamed with Kyle Kuzma in the frontcourt.

3. Houston Rockets: Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg

This Frenchman's most notable trait is his 3-point shot, which he's connected on at ridiculous levels playing in his home nation's top league. Doing the same for Houston is another matter, but Risacher has the right build to fit in on the wing for a Rockets team that can take its time with him as it completes its rebuild.

4. San Antonio Spurs: Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky

Rob, meet Victor. Gregg Popovich will make sure you get along splendidly. Perhaps the best point guard in a class with several near the top, Dillingham offers the complete package on offense (15.2 points, 3.9 assists per game, 44.4 percent shooting from deep at Kentucky).

5. Detroit Pistons: Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky

Sheppard went from being the fifth-most hyped freshman in Kentucky's class to the consensus National Freshman of the Year. It helps to make more than half your 3-pointers and grab 2.5 steals a game. The Pistons tied for the fewest made 3-pointers per game and need a catch-and-shoot threat like Sheppard.

6. Charlotte Hornets: Nikola Topic, G, Red Star Belgrade

Topic's size (6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7, depending on your source), scoring and playmaking ability have powered his rise up draft boards this season. After dominating the Adriatic League, the 18-year-old projects as a major backcourt addition for any NBA team, but especially the Hornets, who need more playmaking guards especially considering LaMelo Ball's injury history.

7. Portland Trail Blazers: Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite

The 6-foot-11 Lithuanian-American offers a lot to Scoot Henderson and the Blazers. He averaged 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 blocks per game in the G League regular season and comes from multiple generations of basketball pros, highlighted by his IQ.

8. San Antonio Spurs: Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee

Knecht took the Southeastern Conference by storm as an offensive machine for the Vols and won league Player of the Year honors. He's already 23 years old, but the Spurs ranked 28th in 3-point percentage last year and Knecht offers a jolt in that department from Day One.

9. Memphis Grizzlies: Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite

Memphis may be getting a steal in Holland, once considered a potential No. 1 overall pick before an up-and-down G League season. At his best, Holland scores at will attacking the basket and is a threat as a passer and defender. The Grizzlies owned the worst scoring offense in the NBA, but they get Ja Morant back and Holland can give him another option.

10. Utah Jazz: Cody Williams, F, Colorado

Williams scored 11.9 points per game in his lone year at Colorado and shot 41.5 percent from 3-point range -- though he attempted fewer than two per game. The brother of Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams will bring great size on the wing (6-foot-8, 7-foot-1 wingspan) to the worst perimeter defending team of 2023-24.

11. Chicago Bulls: Stephon Castle, G, UConn

Part of the reason UConn managed to win another national title was that Castle so ably stepped into the point guard role as a freshman, but he can play either guard role. He facilitates, defends, hustles and drives to the rim, making him a great backcourt complement to Coby White -- especially if the Bulls bid farewell to Zach LaVine.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Devin Carter, G, Providence

The Thunder own this pick via the Rockets, yet they have no pressing needs. Why not help themselves to a guard prospect who can do a little of everything? Carter's stock soared as he averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 boards, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals this season.

13. Sacramento Kings: Zach Edey, C, Purdue

He's a controversial prospect for complex reasons, but don't overthink it: Edey is 7-foot-4, scores and rebounds everything he sees and -- most importantly for Sacramento -- protects the rim in a way Domantas Sabonis doesn't. The Kings aren't hard-pressed for an immediate starter, but someone of Edey's caliber spelling Sabonis should get coach Mike Brown's wheels turning.

14. Portland Trail Blazers: Ja'Kobe Walter, G, Baylor

For Portland's second pick in the lottery, Walter can provide something the Blazers desperately need: shot-making. Portland ranked dead-last in 3-point shooting (34.5 percent) and second-to-last in overall field-goal percentage (43.9 percent) last season.

Player Notes
Ivica Zubac Thu May 30 9:50am

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac is expected to start extension talks with the team soon. The Croatian big man is currently on a three-year, $33 million deal that will expire after the 2024-25 campaign. Zubac joined the Clippers from the Lakers in the middle of the 2018-19 season and has steadily developed. The 27-year-old scored a career-high 11.7 points in 2023-24, grabbing 9.2 rebounds and blocking 1.2 shots across 26.4 minutes of action. Fantasy managers can expect to see similar numbers from him next season.

Jordan Clarkson Thu May 30 9:40am

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson has likely played his final game with the team. According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, the Jazz are expected to make Clarkson available on the trade market. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has spent the last four and a half seasons in Salt Lake City. Clarkson has mostly been used as a microwave scorer off the bench and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award for his efforts in 2020-21. He put up 17.1 points and averaged a career-high 5.0 assists this term. The veteran should be a very attractive piece on the trade market, as Clarkson is tied for two years with a deal that pays him $14 million annually.

De'Andre Hunter Thu May 30 9:30am

Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter appears set for a change of scenery. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Hawks are ready to make Hunter available ahead of the 2024 draft. The 26-year-old could be a hot commodity on the trade market after coming off a career year. Hunter averaged 15.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in 29.5 minutes, with 38.5 percent shooting from deep. The fourth pick of the 2019 draft has finished the first season of a four-year, $95 million contract.

Taurean Prince Thu May 30 9:20am

Los Angeles Lakers forward Taurean Prince hopes to ink a new deal with the team. He signed a one-year, $4.5 million pact last offseason and wants to extend his stay in L.A. "My family, the quality of life in Los Angeles is something that myself and my family haven't had in probably three or four seasons," Prince told Lakers Nation. "So to stay here would be definitely number one. If not that, then I mean, wherever the dominoes fall and wherever it's best, that's where I'll be. But I for sure want to be a Laker, 100 percent." Despite starting 49 times in 78 appearances and averaging 27.0 minutes, Prince didn't do much that pops out on the box score in 2023-24. He averaged 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range.

Duncan Robinson Thu May 30 9:10am

Miami Heat guard/forward Duncan Robinson is eager to develop further despite turning 30 in April. "I just turned 30, which is crazy," Robinson recently told Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. "But what might even be crazier is I still think I'm far from a finished product. Maybe a lot of people say that 28 to whatever is your prime, but I feel like my prime is still ahead of me." After having stints out of the rotation last season, Robinson enjoyed a bounce-back year in 2023-24. He averaged 12.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and a career-high 2.8 assists with 39.5 percent shooting from deep. Robinson is mostly seen as a three-point specialist and definitely has room for improvement in other areas.

Kristaps Porzingis Wed May 29 2:30pm

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) has been increasing his activity, as he attempts to return from a strained calf injury he suffered in the first round of the playoffs. In a recent interview, head coach Joe Mazzulla provided a positive outlook on the veteran center's potential return for the NBA Finals, stating, "Like I said, he's working really, really hard. There's been a couple shootarounds where he hasn't done anything with the team but has been in a 1-on-1 setting kind of ramping it up with the intensity level of it. He's been getting better and better." The Celtics have cruised through the postseason, and the NBA Finals will not begin for more than another week, giving Porzingis more time to get fully healthy.

Daniel Gafford Wed May 29 9:00am

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford scored 12 points with perfect 6-for-6 shooting and swatted away three shots in a 105-100 loss to the Timberwolves on Tuesday. Playing a playoff-high 31 minutes, Gafford contributed in multiple areas, grabbing eight rebounds and tallying one assist with one steal. The 25-year-old big man saw extra action due to Dereck Lively II (neck) being out. He's been a major force on the defensive end in the series and always does his work on offense efficiently as well. With four games played in the matchup, Gafford has averaged 10.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks with 72.4 percent shooting.

Kyrie Irving Wed May 29 8:50am

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving saw his incredible run of wins in closeout games come to an end on Tuesday, as the team went 105-100 down against Minnesota on home court. Irving had previously won on all 14 occasions when his team was in a spot to finish off a playoff series. However, the Mavericks were far from their best on Tuesday, and it was also a poor effort from Irving, who had 16 points with 6-for-18 shooting. He was 1-for-6 from behind the arc and capped off his line with two rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Irving and the Mavericks will look to get back on track in Game 5 on Thursday.

Luka Doncic Wed May 29 8:40am

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic came up with his ninth postseason triple-double on Tuesday, but his efforts weren't enough in a 105-100 loss to Minnesota. The Mavericks leader finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading his team in all categories. His line included one steal, although Doncic's triple-double came with poor 7-for-21 shooting. He was 4-for-11 from downtown and 10-for-12 at the free-throw line. Doncic now shares the ninth spot on the all-time playoff triple-doubles list with Wilt Chamberlain, with Magic Johnson sitting at the top with 30. However, four of Doncic's triple-doubles have come in losses, including two this year, which will be frustrating for him.

Rudy Gobert Wed May 29 8:30am

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert registered a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double as the team managed to avoid a sweep against Dallas in the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday with a 105-100 win. Gobert made four of his five attempts from the field and finished 5-for-9 at the line. He had one assist and one block, logging 39 minutes of action despite battling foul trouble. This marks the second double-double of the series for Gobert, who has averaged 12.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in the matchup. His numbers have dropped compared to the regular season, and it would be a big plus for the Timberwolves if he could get back to the level.

Mike Conley Wed May 29 8:30am

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley produced a good two-way performance in Tuesday's Game 4 win over the Mavericks, scoring 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting and snagging four steals. He also recorded three rebounds in 34 minutes on the floor as Minnesota fought off elimination. Conley struggled in the first game of the series, but he's played well since then, and the team needs more of the same to remain alive again in Game 5 on Thursday. The veteran point guard will enter the contest with averages of 16.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.0 steals across the last three games.

Anthony Edwards Wed May 29 8:20am

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards posted a game-high 29 points and had 10 rebounds with nine assists as the team won Tuesday's elimination game against Dallas 105-100. He finished with 11-for-25 shooting, going 2-for-5 from downtown. Edwards has struggled to remain efficient from the field in the series, but he's been close to a triple-double multiple times and boasts some impressive numbers. Through four games in the matchup, Edwards has averaged 23.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.0 steals. He should be around triple-double numbers again on Thursday as the Timberwolves try to stave off elimination once more.

Karl-Anthony Towns Wed May 29 8:10am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns managed to end his shooting slump in Tuesday's Game 4 against Dallas, hitting 9-for-13 from the field en route to 25 points in a 105-100 win. After nailing only three shots with 22 attempts from deep across the first three games of the series, Towns was 4-for-5 with the three-ball. He recorded five rebounds and one assist while battling foul trouble all game. With Towns back in form, this series might not be over after all. Minnesota can make it 3-2 at home on Thursday, and we should see Towns in a prominent role again.

Jimmy Butler Tue May 28 8:50pm

According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers are reportedly willing to offer Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler a max contract extension. Of course, Miami would need to make him available. But if the Butler era in South Beach is finished, Philadelphia would be required to give him a two-year extension worth $113 million. The 34-year-old averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals during the 2023-24 campaign. However, he hasn't played more than 64 games in a season since 2016-17, when he was still with the Bulls. If Butler can stay healthy, he could be at least a top-15 fantasy option. On the other hand, his consistent injuries over the years will make fantasy managers look the other way heading into the 2024-25 season.

Simone Fontecchio Tue May 28 4:50pm

Detroit Pistons forwardSimone Fontecchio(toe) had surgery on his left big toe on Tuesday and is expected to return by the start of training camp, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Fontecchio missed the final 14 regular season contests with a contusion on his right big toe. However, the 28-year-old was reliable for the Pistons before getting injured. He averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.9 steals in 30.2 minutes per game, starting in nine of 16 outings as he was traded from Utah in February to the Motor City. As a restricted free agent, he could attract interest from multiple teams, including Detroit. Fontecchio had previously expressed a strong desire to stay with the Pistons.

Keldon Johnson Tue May 28 4:10pm

San Antonio Spurs small forward Keldon Johnson could be traded this summer as the Spurs are willing to hear offers involving the 24-year-old, according to Clutch Sports NBA reporter Brett Siegel. This past regular season, the Kentucky Wildcat averaged 29.5 minutes, 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.3 blocks, and 0.7 steals across 69 contests. Johnson would be an excellent option coming off the bench for a contending team.

Pascal Siakam Tue May 28 3:50pm

Indiana Pacers forward/centerPascal Siakamis expected to receive a max contract offer from the Pacers this summer, per Shams Charania of the Athletic. The 30-year-old averaged 35.4 minutes, 21.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 0.8 steals across 17 postseason contests. He helped take the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals after being traded from the Toronto Raptors in January.

Maxi Kleber Tue May 28 3:20pm

Dallas Mavericks forward/centerMaxi Kleber(shoulder) is set to return for Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Tuesday, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein. The 32-year-old power forward has been out of the Mavs lineup since May 3rd due to an AC joint separation. Kleber could see plenty of minutes as Derek Lively II (neck) is currently listed as doubtful. Before Kleber was sidelined, he averaged 19.3 minutes, 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.5 blocks in six postseason contests.

Mike Conley Tue May 28 2:50pm

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley (Achilles) is questionable for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against Dallas on Tuesday. Conley has suffered from a right soleus strain but has suited up the last five contests. The 36-year-old veteran will likely be good to go, with Minnesota on the verge of elimination. He has averaged 13.3 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31.7 minutes in the series.

T.J. McConnell Tue May 28 9:10am

Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell enjoyed another productive bench outing on Monday against the Celtics, scoring 15 points and tallying five rebounds, four assists, and one steal as Indiana's season ended with a 105-102 loss. He finished with 7-for-16 shooting, missing his lone attempt from three-point range. McConnell impressed throughout the playoffs with his high-energy performances off the bench. He averaged 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists across 20.5 minutes. Plenty of teams will likely be looking at him as a potential offseason acquisition, with McConnell on a very affordable $9.3 million deal for next season. Recent reports suggest that he has been a long-term target of the Phoenix Suns, who are desperate for a point guard.