Tag: Keon Johnson

2021 aggregate NBA mock draft 7.0: Ranking the full class of prospects

The 2021 NBA draft is less than a week away and we finally have an idea of who is in — and who has withdrawn — from the class.

The 2021 NBA draft is less than a week away and we finally have an idea of who is in – and who has withdrawn – from the class.

In order to get a better sense of where all of the prospects stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from NBADraft.net, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, Yahoo, The Athletic, The Ringer, Yahoo, NBA Big Board and USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win to see where the prospects rank at the moment.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion.

Since our previous update last month, some of the players with the most positive momentum include Quentin Grimes, Joe Wieskamp, Vrenz Bleijenbergh, Aaron Wiggins, Justin Champagnie, Jericho Sims, Jason Preston, Josh Primo, Neemias Queta, Trey Murphy and Bones Hyland.

Among players who ranked on our previous update who have since withdrawn from the draft include Roko Prkacin (32), Marcus Bagley (39), Terrence Shannon (48), Ariel Hukporti (50), Max Abmas (53), Johnny Juzang (54), Jordan Hall (66), Carlos Alocen (69) and Ochai Agbaji (75).

The most notable omissions who remain in this class but not these rankings are Yves Pons, Scottie Lewis, Jay Huff, Marcus Zegarowski, Aamir Simms, Dalano Banton, Matt Mitchell, Jose Alvarado, Carlik Jones, Derrick Alston Jr., Romeo Weems, Balsa Koprivica, Chaundee Brown, Isaiah Miller, Jordan Schakel and D.J. Carton.

Note that for the offensive roles, we borrowed a fun idea from Todd Whitehead (formerly of Nylon Calculus) with help from our friends at Bball-Index.com to create a slightly tweaked formula from the version they use.

The goal of that is not to explain how well a player scores but rather offer context for the way that he was used on his most recent team. This should help you predict how he might be used at the next level.

Meanwhile, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report

Roundtable mock draft: Thunder make 2 trades, get Kuminga and Sengun

In a simulated draft, the Thunder ended up making two minor trades. See how the NBA Wires sites draft shaped up for OKC.

In the second annual NBA Wires simulated draft, The Thunder Wire assumed the role of general manager for Oklahoma City and put together a mock draft with editors from other sites.

The Thunder failed to trade up to the top of the draft and ended up taking Jonathan Kuminga at No. 6. Overall, Oklahoma City drafted based on potential instead of fit and, at times, even over best available.

In the mock draft, Oklahoma City made a pair of trades: The Thunder used pick No. 55 to move up one spot from 18 to 17 and secure Alperen Sengun, and then they traded down from No. 36 for Carsen Edwards, cash considerations and pick No. 45.

Here’s a rundown of each pick. Find full explanations for each and the results of the entire draft at The Rookie Wire.

Hornets Mock Draft Roundup: Charlotte surrounds LaMelo Ball with athletes

The Hornets will likely look to surround LaMelo Ball with shooting and athleticism this draft as our latest mock draft roundup shows.

With the NBA Finals wrapping up on Tuesday, the next thing on the docket on the NBA calendar is the 2021 NBA Draft on July 29. As a result, a handful of mock drafts have come out in recent days with more and more possibilities.

For Charlotte, athleticism was the common theme for their draft picks. As the team looks to fully unlock LaMelo Ball offensively, pairing him with athletes and shooters looks to be the route they could take.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie had Charlotte taking Moses Moody, a sharpshooting wing out of Alabama:

“I’ve gone Moody, whom teams are excited about. Why? Because he was a productive college player that fills a genuine 3-and-D need next to LaMelo Ball long-term. I’m a big fan of Moody’s shot making and think this would be about as perfect a fit as you’ll find.”

For Sports Illustrated, Jeremy Woo projected the Hornets to grab some size in big man Kai Jones:

“They do have an obvious need for a young big, and Jones could be available to them here as an attractive option. Jones’ potential to knock down jumpers, finish lobs and protect the paint—coupled with unusual athletic gifts and skill flashes—make him one of the higher-upside options on the board in this part of the lottery. He never an especially consistent producer at Texas, and will still be very much a project for whoever drafts him. This is likely the very high end of Jones’ range, which runs into the teens, but he’s a pretty seamless hypothetical fit in Charlotte, where he’d likely benefit from playing as a lob target for LaMelo Ball.”

CBS Sports’ Colin Ward-Henninger also had the Hornets taking an athletic player at a different position in wing Keon Johnson:

“Charlotte needs athletes flanking LaMelo Ball on the break, and you won’t find a better one in this draft than Keon Johnson, who set the NBA Draft Combine record with a 48-inch vertical leap. He’s a bit rough around the edges, but there’s enough potential there to see Johnson eventually becoming a reliable offensive player in the halfcourt. Johnson said that his shooting consistency has improved since his college season ended, and that will be the key to his ceiling in the NBA.”

Lastly, NBC Sports’ Adam Herman also slated Charlotte to take Johnson with the No. 11 pick:

“An insanely springy athlete with Matisse Thybulle-like defensive potential for disruption, Johnson feels like a natural fit to slide in next to LaMelo Ball and sprint down the floor catching lobs for the half-decade. His shooting needs work, but it’s harder to teach explosive athleticism than it is a repetitive three-point shot.”

However the Hornets go about doing it, the clear focus is to build around LaMelo Ball with this selection.

2021 NBA Draft Big Board 5.0: Final rankings of the Top 100 prospects

With just over a week left until the 2021 NBA draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, it’s officially the most wonderful time of the year! 

With just over a week left until the 2021 NBA draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, it’s officially the most wonderful time of the year!

That means that after a slew of surprising early entry withdrawals impacted the worlds of both college and international basketball, the next generation of NBA talent is getting closer to entering the league. As players finalize their place on big boards in front offices, I wanted to offer my opinion on how I think those rankings should look.

Note that our list is certainly going to look different from the lists at ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report and other publications. Player evaluation is an inexact science. Part of the process is being willing to admit when you were wrong about a player.

But avoiding group-think and ending higher than consensus on a player is how an NBA team ends up selecting them in the draft. With that in mind, here is who I would target if I were running a front office.

Keon Johnson worked out for Warriors so far with others scheduled

Johnson has also worked out with the Thunder, Kings and Hornets with three more workouts on the schedule.

Keon Johnson worked out over the weekend with the Golden State Warriors, one of four teams the former Tennessee Volunteers guard has visited with so far during the pre-draft process.

Johnson said he has also worked out with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets. Following his workout with the Warriors, Johnson will also visit with the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs ahead of the draft.

The 6-foot-4 product was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 27 games with the Volunteers. He was the second-leading scorer on the team while he was third in assists and minutes.

Since leaving Tennessee, Johnson has worked to become a more consistent 3-point shooter after converting on just 27.1% of his attempts last season from beyond the arc. He also wants to become a better ballhandler while being able to push the pace.

“It has been an amazing process,” Johnson said on Friday after working out with the Warriors. “I’ve gotten to grow my game since my last game of college. I feel like I’ve been growing as far as being more consistent with my shot, as well as being more of a ballhandler. I feel like my game has just grown since my last game.”

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Johnson produced a record-breaking max vertical leap at the NBA draft combine last month in Chicago. He registered an incredible 48-inch mark, topping the previous record of 45.5 inches, which was set by Kenny Gregory in 2001.

He is projected to be a lottery pick on July 29 with his range beginning with the seventh overall pick by most mock drafts. He is viewed as a bit of a project, but could eventually develop into a strong 3-and-D prospect with an improved shot.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Thunder draft: 5 players that could fall out of lottery, to No. 16

A player with lottery talent could be available at No. 16 for the Thunder. Here are some players they should be looking at in the mid-first round.

With the NBA draft less than two weeks away, the Oklahoma City Thunder are continuing to evaluate their big board and prospects around the world as they take their next step.

Barring trades, the Thunder will enter the draft with six picks: Nos. 6, 16, 18, 34, 36 and 55.

There are a handful of players who are near-certainties to be lottery selections, but with the subjectivity that naturally comes along with prospects and front offices, there is always lottery talent that slips down.

Holding the 16th pick, the Thunder could find such player. Here are five lottery talent names who could still be available when Oklahoma City has its mid-first-round picks.

The list is in alphabetical order. Stats are from Basketball-Reference.

Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green among prospects invited to draft green room

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green are among the 15 prospects invited to attend the NBA draft from the green room.

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green are among the 15 prospects invited to attend the NBA draft from the green room at the Barclays Center on July 29 in Brooklyn, New York.

The NBA on Thursday announced that the draft would take place in person after it was mostly held virtually last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league was then expected to invite the top prospects to attend from the green room.

While no player attended the draft in person last year, the league invited about 20 players in 2019 to the green room, including Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and R.J. Barrett. The league has so far invited 15 players this year, with five more expected to join the list next week.

The 15 players invited this year, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Of course, the 15 players invited so far are widely expected to be the first drafted in some order. Prospects like Alperen Sengun, Sharife Cooper, Ziaire Williams, Cameron Thomas and Usman Garuba are among the next group of players to be invited to the green room.

With the draft less than two weeks away, teams are busy conducting interviews and workouts as most prospects continue to try to improve their stock. Prospects often work out with teams right up until the day before the draft before enjoying the festivities with family and friends.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Moody, Johnson, Mitchell listed as Pelicans most realistic draft picks

Moses Moody, Keon Johnson and Davion Mitchell were named three of the most realistic targets for the Pelicans in the upcoming NBA draft.

The NBA draft, like effectively every other professional sports league draft, is an unpredictable event. While analysts and experts spend weeks and months producing mock drafts, rarely do those projections play out in real life. One team making an unexpected pick or one player slipping throws everything into chaos.

In lieu of predicting one player per team via mock draft, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman gave a small list of the most realistic prospects for each team to draft, including for the Pelicans with their No. 10 pick.

The three names listed for New Orleans Moses Moody, Keon Johnson and Davion Mitchell, three guards with varying skillsets. With the Pelicans having a pair of guards entering restricted free agency in Josh Hart and Lonzo Ball, the team could look to draft a guard that would ease the pressure on them to match offer sheets for both.

Moody would provide the team with 3-point shooting that they desperately needed last season. Johnson would give them athleticism on the wing the Pelicans did not have during the season and Mitchell would give the team defense that they lacked at any position last year.

However, while these players may be realistic, the Pelicans may not even be interested in drafting as they could look to trade the draft pick for immediate help.

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Moody, Jackson, Johnson listed as top realistic draft prospects for Hornets

In a recent Bleacher Report article, Jonathan Wasserman listed Isaiah Jackson, Moses Moody and Keon Johnson as the three most realistic draft picks for the Hornets.

The NBA draft, like effectively every other professional sports league draft, is an unpredictable event. While analysts and experts spend weeks and months producing mock drafts, rarely do those projections play out in real life. One team making an unexpected pick or one player slipping throws everything into chaos.

In lieu of predicting one player per team via mock draft, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman gave a small list of the most realistic prospects for each team to draft, including Charlotte with the No. 11 pick.

The three names for the Hornets all fill various needs in wings Moses Moody from Arkansas and Keon Johnson from Tennessee and big man Isaiah Jackson of Kentucky. Moody would help fill the gap in 3-point shooting, Johnson would add another athlete to the rotation. Jackson would fill the team’s biggest need in a center.

Interestingly, Jackson would also provide the storyline of having played a season with LaMelo Ball in the past at SPIRE Institute. In that season, Jackson averaged 14.9 points and 10.4 rebounds. Last season, he made his name as a rim-protecting, lob-catching big, shooting 54% from the field and averaging 5.0 blocks per 40 minutes.

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For The Win mock draft: Thunder get Keon Johnson with pick 16

Could the Thunder end up with both Scottie Barnes and Keon Johnson? One mock draft says yes.

Many draft analysts see Keon Johnson as a likely top-10 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, but his raw play makes him a candidate to drop a bit. One expert thinks Johnson could find himself all the way out of the lottery.

In For The Win’s mock draft, Bryan Kalbrosky had the Oklahoma City Thunder taking Johnson with pick No. 16.

Johnson set a record for the best max vertical leap ever recorded at the combine. Crazy athletic and with an ability to get to the rim on offense and play solid defense, the Tennessee freshman has a high ceiling. But there’s also certainly a floor.

Kalbrosky wrote:

“His ability to fly well above the rim makes him an interesting developmental project with jaw-dropping athleticism. Oklahoma City will have that kind of patience in their rebuild.”

The Thunder would be thrilled to get Johnson at No. 16. He’s certainly a candidate for top-10 in the draft. His game will require development, but he has potential to be a very good NBA player.