USA TODAY Sports released a new NBA mock draft on Thursday morning with less than a week before the Atlanta Hawks get put on the clock.
Jeff Zillgett and Scooby Axson teamed to pair the best prospects from around the world with certain NBA teams, and former Duke basketball stars [autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Filipowski[/autotag] found themselves just outside of lottery range in the projection.
McCain, who routinely goes first in most projections, went 16th overall to the Philadelphia 76ers. Home of 2022-23 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and 2023-24 Most Improved Player Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers remain in search of additional pieces to push them into the elusive Eastern Conference finals.
After his lights-out shooting performance at the combine, many analysts think McCain can be one of those pieces.
Six picks later, Filipowski went 22nd to the Phoenix Suns. Another team with major star power, Phoenix boasts Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal as its main trio (and former Blue Devil [autotag]Grayson Allen[/autotag] as a key rotational piece) but the team’s depth forced them out of the playoffs in the opening round.
As an All-American 7-footer who averaged 2.8 assists per game, Filipowski can provide frontcourt depth while remaining a part of the perimeter offense.
“A low-post big who uses his size, strength and athleticism,” the duo wrote. “As the screener on pick-and-rolls, he can step outside and hit 3s and go to the bucket for dunks and layups.”
The NBA draft begins on June 26.