Tag: Evan Mobley

Report: Most NBA teams expect Rockets to prefer Jalen Green to Evan Mobley

Per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, most teams expect Houston to prioritize the shot creation and playmaking of Jalen Green at No. 2 overall.

According to ESPN draft guru Jonathan Givony, most NBA teams are currently expecting the Houston Rockets to draft G League Ignite guard Jalen Green with the No. 2 pick in the 2021 first round.

Assuming consensus frontrunner Cade Cunningham goes No. 1 to Detroit, top candidates at No. 2 are likely to include Green, USC center Evan Mobley, and Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs. In his latest mock draft, Givony cautions that many rival teams don’t yet have a strong read on the Rockets, since it’s a relatively unknown front office led by first-year general manager Rafael Stone. However, Green is their best guess.

As part of his summary, Givony writes:

Most teams think the Rockets will end up prioritizing the shot creation and playmaking ability of Green over Mobley, the type of big man a front office groomed by previous GM Daryl Morey would seem less likely to covet. Green has the type of superstar upside the franchise lacks, making him an exciting prospect to build around long term, on and off the court.

It’s also worth noting that in the Detroit section at No. 1, Givony reports that some teams believe the Pistons might be open to trading down a spot to No. 2 and drafting Green or Mobley. In that scenario, the Rockets would presumably be moving up to land Cunningham, themselves.

With no shortage of storylines, the 2021 NBA draft is now exactly one month away from its scheduled date of Thursday, July 29.

Note: This post first appeared on Rockets Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Podcast: Key takeaways from Rockets landing the No. 2 draft pick

Thursday’s episode of Locked on Rockets with Jackson Gatlin and Ben DuBose breaks down the implications of a big draft lottery for Houston.

Thursday’s episode of the Locked on Rockets podcast with host Jackson Gatlin and analyst Ben DuBose explores the numerous ripple effects in Houston from Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery.

With the Rockets landing the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, top options could include rookie prospects like center Evan Mobley, as well as guards Jalen Suggs and Jalen Green. But even presumed No. 1 frontrunner Cade Cunningham can’t be ruled out, since it appears that Detroit will cast a wide net in its evaluations for the top pick, as well.

Thursday’s podcast features reaction to the fortuitous lottery draw and an early look at top rookies; analysis of whether trades involving the No. 2 pick should be considered, and what they might look like; key takeaways from the post-lottery press conference held by general manager Rafael Stone; and what Tuesday’s result means for the timeline and eventual success of Houston’s long-term rebuilding plan.

Thursday’s Locked on Rockets episode can be listened to via Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and nearly all major podcast distributors, and it can also be watched on YouTube (see embed below).

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zu2aW-zhjo

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New NBA draft prop bets for top 2021 rookies, Rockets at No. 2

Will Houston trade up to No. 1, or will they stay put at No. 2 and take a rookie prospect like Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green, or Evan Mobley?

Despite having only a 27.3% chance to pick that high, the Houston Rockets defied the odds in Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery to keep their 2021 first-round selection by obtaining the No. 2 overall pick.

Now, with the draft slot finalized, the debate can begin as to what Houston should do with such a prized asset. One path could involve a trade, which general manager Rafael Stone indicated is a possibility.

However, if they keep the pick, there’s no shortage of quality choices. Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, and Jalen Green appear to be the most likely candidates to go No. 2 overall, but even presumed No. 1 frontrunner Cade Cunningham can’t be ruled out — since Detroit appears poised to explore all of its options at the top of the 2021 draft.

Could Stone and the Rockets trade up to No. 1? After all, they have a significant amount of future draft capital to potentially use as incentive. Or, if they stay at No. 2, what’s the most likely outcome? Courtesy of our friends at PickUp, here’s an early look at the relevant draft props. Make your picks to reveal the results, and see if other fans agree!

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Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, or Jalen Green? Examining top rookie options at No. 2

Here’s an early look at the top three players (along with highlight videos) that should be available to the Rockets in the 2021 NBA draft.

After defying the odds to land the No. 2 overall pick in Tuesday’s 2021 NBA draft lottery, Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone made it clear that all options are on the table. That could include even trading the pick, should an elite player be made available.

At this stage, though, it isn’t clear whether any superstars worthy of trading such a top asset will be up for grabs. Should Stone keep the pick, he’s likely to have his pick of the entire draft outside of Oklahoma State forward Cade Cunningham, who is likely to be taken by Detroit at No. 1.

In Tuesday’s post-lottery press conference, Stone made it clear that the Rockets will target the best player available that they believe can eventually become a star — with position not a high priority. “The goal is to find a star player,” he said. “That’s always our goal. When you bring in young players, you’re really looking for star potential.”

According to most draft analysts, the top prospects available at No. 2 are USC center Evan Mobley; Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs; and Jalen Green of the G League Ignite. Courtesy of the latest mock draft by For The Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky, here’s an early look at all three players.

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NBA Mock Draft 5.0: All 60 picks updated after the 2021 lottery

Learn who we think will get selected with each of the 60 picks in the 2021 NBA draft.

The 2021 NBA draft order is set and the Detroit Pistons have won the lottery, taking home the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday evening.

Of course, these projections are subject to change even over the next few days, as the NBA’s combine is currently underway in Chicago. Prospects are often able to separate themselves and improve their draft stock if they stand out during five-on-five scrimmages that will take place later this week.

Note that there are several players who are currently “testing the waters” (e.g. Texas Tech’s Terrence Shannon Jr., UCLA’s Johnny Juzang, St. John’s Julian Champagnie and Oral Roberts’ Max Abmas, etc.) that were omitted from this mock. Such players will have until midnight on July 8 to decide if they wish to return to the NCAA and improve their draft stock or remain in this class.

Unfortunately, collegiate national champion Jared Butler was omitted from our mock after news broke earlier today that he is “not permitted to play or practice” in the NBA, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, unless his heart condition is deemed as cleared.

We will continue to release more mock drafts as we gather more intel, but until then, here is how we project the draft to shake out on July 29.

Rockets defy odds in lottery, land No. 2 pick in 2021 NBA draft

If Cade Cunningham is selected first, as expected, Houston would be able to choose between Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, and Jalen Green.

The Rockets avoided the dire scenario of losing their first-round pick by securing the No. 2 overall pick in Tuesday’s 2021 NBA draft lottery. Assuming Cade Cunningham goes first to Detroit, as most expect, Houston general manager Rafael Stone could choose between top prospects such as Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, and Jalen Green.

Houston finished the 2020-21 season with the league’s worst record. But thanks to the NBA’s revised lottery weighting percentages, which were put in place to disincentivize tanking schemes for higher draft picks, the Rockets had only a 27.4% chance of selecting in the top two.

By comparison, Houston had a much greater probability (47.9%) at finishing at No. 5, which would have sent their pick to Oklahoma City as a condition of the Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook trade in July 2019. But Oklahoma City’s right to swap picks with the Rockets was top-four-protected, and the lottery draw went Houston’s way. The stakes for the Rockets were enormous, since OKC also owns Miami’s first-round draft pick (No. 18) and would have been able to swap that one for the Houston pick.

However, the Rockets don’t have to worry about such a doomsday scenario any longer. After one of the worst seasons in franchise history, headlined by the forced departure of longtime superstar James Harden, the Rockets will be in position on July 29 to potentially pick their next star.

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Five prop bets related to Houston’s 2021 NBA draft lottery outcome

As we enter the final 24 hours until the NBA’s 2021 draft lottery, here’s a look at the various prop bets related to Houston’s top pick.

On Tuesday night, the Houston Rockets will learn whether they’re set to land a potential franchise cornerstone… or if they have to wait to select anyone until the No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 first round.

It’s a monumental day thanks to the NBA’s annual draft lottery, which will finalize the ordering of all picks in the July 29 draft. For the Rockets, the stakes are even more dramatic than for most teams, since Oklahoma City has a top-four-protected “pick swap” (obtained from the July 2019 blockbuster trade involving Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook) allowing them to exchange Miami’s first-round pick for that of Houston, so long as it is not in one of the four spots determined by the lottery.

After finishing with the league’s worst record (17-55) in the 2020-21 regular season, the Rockets have the maximum possible odds for a top-four selection. However, those odds are not as strong as they used to be, thanks to the NBA’s recently revised lottery weighting percentages — designed to disincentivize tanking schemes for higher draft picks.

In short, it’s now basically a coin-flip proposition on whether the Rockets will land a top prospect such as Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, or Jalen Green. The odds are 52.1% that Houston keeps its pick and drafts in the top four, and 47.9% that it finishes at No. 5 and goes to Oklahoma City (with Miami’s No. 18 pick sent to Houston).

Feeling lucky? After checking out the lottery odds for all teams, take a look at the leading prop bets and make a wager or two, if you like. Make your selections to reveal the results, and see if other fans agree!

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2021 NBA Draft Big Board 4.0: Top 100 prospects pre-combine and lottery

Now that the early entry list is officially out and combine invitations have been sent out, the 2021 NBA draft class is starting to finalize.

Now that the early entry deadline has passed and combine invitations have been sent out, the 2021 NBA draft class is starting to finalize.

Last year, the NCAA tournament and the combine were both canceled due to the pandemic. That made evaluations much tougher for scouts and front offices around the league. This year, the pre-draft process feels somewhat normal again for top basketball prospects who are set to join the pros.

As a new class of players prepares to turn professional, here is how we would currently rank this class based on what we have seen from them so far, with some of my picks that are higher than other experts have them ranked.

2021 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Player comparisons and predicting all 60 picks

Who should the Houston Rockets select if they get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft?

While fans are now enjoying the NBA postseason, there are several teams that didn’t make the playoffs with full attention on the draft.

Now that the regular season and play-in tournament are both complete, the order is set for picks No. 15 to No. 60. However, we will have to wait until the lottery on June 22.

For more details on odds for when each team in the lottery will be on the clock, you can read this post by our own Charles Curtis.

Meanwhile, we also have a pretty clear idea of which prospects have opted to declare for the 2021 NBA draft. But any stragglers still have until May 30 to make their decision in order to be eligible for draft consideration.

Scouts and executives around the league will have an even better feel for this class come June 21, when the combine begins in Chicago.

After that, all those who hired either NCAA-certified agents or do not already have any representation have until July 19 to decide if they wish to remain in the class and forego their collegiate eligibility or return to school.

Until then, however, this is how we predict the two rounds of the 2021 NBA draft will shake out:

2021 NBA Draft Big Board 3.0: Top 100 prospects pre-early entry deadline

As the NBA’s 2020-21 regular season nears its close, the league’s next wave of talent is preparing to take the great leap to become pros.

As the NBA’s 2020-21 regular season nears its close, the league’s next wave of talent is preparing to take the great leap to become pros.

Players have until the end of this month, May 30, to apply for entry into the 2021 NBA draft. They will then have until July 19 to determine whether or not they plan to stay in this class or (unless they hired an agent who does not have NCAA certification) return to school.

This is obviously an incredibly difficult decision and as the majority of early entry candidates have made their intentions public, those who are testing the waters are already weighing their options.

Fortunately, the NBA’s Undergraduate Advisory Committee (UAC) exists to help answer some of those questions.

The advisory committee, which began in 1997, offers feedback to prospects on their potential draft stock. As many prospects are facing pivotal decisions about their future, this kind of intel is incredibly important.

Players like Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert and Baylor’s Jared Butler both went through this process last season, likely were not satisfied with the results and opted to return. Now, after tremendous efforts last season, both are projected first-rounders.

These decisions have tremendous financial implications for these individuals as well. For example, even if Kispert or Butler went with the last pick in the first round in 2020, they would have likely earned a contract worth around $5 million over three years. This year, even if they went outside of the lottery at at No. 15 overall, that would be around $8.5 million.

With that in mind, for the latest version of For The Win’s 2021 NBA draft big board, I’ve provided my evaluation for the top prospects expected to be in the pre-draft process. Players excluded from this exercise were likely because the reporting suggests that they are going back to school.

Note that these decisions were fully based on where I would have each player ranked, not a projection, although various conversations with scouts as well as other talent evaluators around the league have factored into my evaluation.