The NBA season is more than one-quarter of the way done, and it's becoming clearer which teams are likely to land lottery spots and which are postseason-bound. With that in mind, here's a way-too-early look at a mock draft for the 14 lottery sides according to the current NBA standings.
Cooper Flagg (Duke)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 42.9 | 22.2 | 72.5 | 8.9 | 3.6 | 15.9 |
Flagg has been as advertised early in his Duke tenure. The 6-foot-9 forward has been excellent on both ends of the floor, showcasing a pull-up jumper, ball-handling in transition, playmaking ability, and elite defensive instincts. Flagg doesn't shy away from contact either, consistently battling on the glass and taking the ball strong to the basket.
Flagg's best performances have come under the brightest lights. He had a 20-point double-double in the Blue Devils' upset of then-No. 2 Auburn and tallied 24 points in a true road win over Arizona. Flagg's 3-point shooting and end-of-game execution could certainly improve, but it's hard to be disappointed with his body of work so far.
Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 51.3 | 33.3 | 77.1 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 23.2 |
Don't rule out Harper for the No. 1 overall pick. The Rutgers freshman has displayed traits that NBA teams covet in a lead guard. He's one of the nation's leading scorers and is lighting up the scoreboard at an efficient rate. He's getting to the rim at will and converting an absurd 76.5% of his attempts from close range, per Hoop-Math.com. His elite positional size and touch allow him to finish from all kinds of angles.
Harper's decision-making is turning heads as well. The 6-foot-6 floor general ranks seventh in the Big Ten in dimes and boasts a 2.25 assist-to-turnover ratio. He can create out of the pick-and-roll, make swing passes to open shooters, and dump off the rock down low when opposing defenses collapse on his drives.
Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 45.1 | 32.4 | 76 | 7.1 | 0.6 | 17.5 |
Depending on who you ask, Bailey is either the biggest threat to Flagg's top billing in the draft or a one-dimensional talent with glaring flaws. His combination of size and elite shotmaking prowess will create mismatches at the next level, and he's shooting 45.1% on roughly 15 attempts per game through eight contests with Rutgers following an early-season injury.
With Bailey - and most draft prospects, for that matter - age should be considered when assessing a player's shortcomings. The 18-year-old may dissuade some scouts with a lack of playmaking chops: He's recorded just five assists in 267 minutes with the Scarlet Knights.
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 40 | 24.2 | 65.2 | 5.5 | 3.0 | 11.4 |
Edgecombe was considered one of the players capable of dethroning Flagg as the No. 1 pick after an impressive showing during the Bahamas' Olympic qualifying campaign this summer. Edgecombe is comfortably the most explosive player in the draft and is capable of jaw-dropping feats of athleticism.
His physical tools are most apparent on defense, where he averages 3.9 stocks (steals plus blocks) per game. Projected as an off-ball guard, he'll need to improve his touch, particularly around the basket. The 6-foot-5 guard is only shooting 36.8% from the field and 26.7% from three.
Egor Demin (BYU)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 49.3 | 38.5 | 68.0 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 13.3 |
Demin would instantly be the best playmaker on most NBA teams. At 6-foot-9, the 18-year-old is adept at making just about any pass and can manipulate defenses using his size and change of pace. The Russian-born guard is third in the Big 12 in assists per game despite not having an elite lob threat at BYU.
He can get picked on when guarding but has shown flashes as a help defender, using quick hands and size to get into lanes. Shooting will determine if he becomes an All-Star or a rotation player. His jumper looks much smoother than it did while at Real Madrid's academy, and although a small sample size, 38.5% on 4.9 3-point attempts per game is promising.
Tre Johnson (Texas)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 48.2 | 43.8 | 83.9 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 21.1 |
The freshman guard simply has it. Watch him streak down the court, stop on a dime, and score in countless ways, and it's evident the lanky 6-foot-6 possesses what it takes to succeed at the next level. Whether or not he's drafted by a team suited to his development remains to be seen.
Johnson, 18, fits the profile of a three-level scorer blessed with a high motor and elite shooting that should translate well to the NBA. He's also proven to be a solid defender with the Longhorns, though scouts will look for sharper passing and improved muscle and burst to help separate from defenders and get easy points at the rim. The ceiling is very high for Johnson.
Nolan Traore (Saint-Quentin)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 32.2 | 25.5 | 74.2 | 1.8 | 4.9 | 10.0 |
Traore is a smooth floor general currently plying his trade in the LNB Pro A league - the same level as last year's top-10 picks Zaccharie Risacher and Tidjane Salaun.
The Frenchman is a willing passer, leading the 2024 European Under-18 Championships with 9.3 assists per game. Although he's had some impressive scoring games, his inconsistent shooting and lack of elite athleticism remain question marks in his game.
Kon Knueppel (Duke)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 41 | 34.5 | 95.2 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 12.2 |
Knueppel arrived at Duke with a sharpshooter reputation. The 6-foot-7 wing has been a valuable floor-spacing option for the Blue Devils, knocking down two triples per contest. He can shoot off the catch and on the move coming off screens.
Knueppel's outside stroke creates opportunities for him to attack off the bounce. He's been a solid secondary playmaker for Jon Scheyer's squad, developing chemistry with Flagg in the pick-and-roll and finding open players on the perimeter off the drive-and-kick.
Liam McNeeley (UConn)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 41.3 | 34.7 | 83.8 | 5.9 | 1.9 | 12.4 |
McNeeley has been a key cog for KenPom's third-ranked offensive unit, registering double digits in scoring in all but two appearances this season. UConn's had success in recent years using Jordan Hawkins and Cam Spencer in off-ball actions. The Huskies are having similar results weaponizing McNeeley as a movement shooter.
McNeeley's also a pull-up threat and frequently draws fouls when driving to the basket. When his shot hasn't been falling, he's kept himself involved as a playmaker and has no problems getting after it on the glass. McNeeley's defense and lack of athleticism may limit his ceiling, but his offensive versatility should carry over to the next level.
Khaman Maluach (Duke)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 78.6 | 33.3 | 81.3 | 4.7 | 0.1 | 8.0 |
Maluach was only introduced to basketball in 2019, rising to prominence through the NBA Academy Africa. A native of South Sudan, his physical tools are special: He was measured at 7-foot-2 with a 9-foot-8 standing reach at Basketball Without Borders. Maluach has already shown flashes as an elite rim-protector, rebounder, and pick-and-roll target.
His stamina and core strength still need some work, though. Having just turned 18, the big man doesn't set the most imposing screens and has only surpassed 20 minutes in a game four times this season. Maluach is very much a work in progress.
Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 49.4 | 44.4 | 88.4 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 15.4 |
Jakucionis has the talent to become a top-five selection if things continue to go well at Illinois. The Lithuanian has the size and guile to be a prolific scorer in the pick-and-roll. His shotmaking ability on step-back threes, particularly when driving left, is already at an NBA level.
There are two main aspects of Jakucionis' game that need to improve for him to reach his potential: turnovers and defense. He has a habit of forcing passes and often struggles to navigate screens on defense. The 6-foot-5 guard already has five games with four or more turnovers.
Derik Queen (Maryland)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 60.9 | 13.3 | 78 | 8.7 | 2.4 | 17.5 |
The second-rated center behind Maluach, Queen possesses top-tier passing skills in the post and surprisingly polished footwork for a player of his size and age. He also boasts an impeccably soft touch around the basket, which should intrigue scouts who might consider using the Maryland big as a traditional power forward.
Queen will need to improve his shooting, especially as the NBA increasingly prioritizes post players who can provide spacing through perimeter play. That's not to say he isn't capable of making strides in that area, and efforts to improve his conditioning from his time at Montverde Academy speak to a player with the necessary work ethic.
Boogie Fland (Arkansas)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 40.8 | 38.8 | 84.4 | 3.5 | 5.4 | 15.5 |
While there are concerns about Fland's 6-foot-2 frame and how it'll affect his ability to guard bigger opponents in the NBA, the Arkansas guard's quickness and knack for changing speeds should translate well. The Bronx-born combo guard also possesses elite dribbling skills and appears as comfortable on the ball as off it.
The freshman is also capable of getting red-hot from deep, shooting 38.8% from three while under John Calipari's tutelage at Arkansas. He's also dependable at the charity stripe with an 84.4% free-throw percentage. Fland's 2.47 assist-to-turnover ratio is nothing to scoff at, either.
Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 65.9 | 37.5 | 64.3 | 9.4 | 1.9 | 16.2 |
Murray-Boyles' 245-pound frame and 7-foot-2 wingspan should tantalize teams needing an impact defender. As a freshman, the 6-foot-8 forward posted the NCAA's eighth-highest defensive box plus-minus (5.3) and finished ninth in the SEC in both steal and block percentage.
Murray-Boyles has the mobility to defend on the perimeter and the strength to hold his own down low. His play on the opposite end of the floor is the biggest question mark. Murray-Boyles has almost exclusively operated in the post, attempting just 13 triples through two collegiate seasons. Developing a jumper would go a long way in elevating his draft stock.
