Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman released an updated NBA mock draft on Tuesday, and he included former Duke basketball players Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski in the opening round.
McCain, who shot better than 40% from the 3-point line as a freshman, keeps watching his stock rise due to his shooting and offensive creation. Fans called for him in the lottery after he went crazy during a 3-point shooting drill at the NBA Draft Combine last week. Wasserman paired him with the Portland Trail Blazers with the 14th pick and praised how repeatable the Blue Devil’s shooting form looked.
“Shotmaking has and will always be what powers his offense and value,” Wasserman wrote. “But McCain’s effectiveness this year in ball-screen situations, using change of speed, footwork, crafty finishing and vision, point to more on-ball upside with his creativity and feel.”
Filipowski, the Second Team All-American, went 23rd to the Milwaukee Bucks. The 7-footer averaged more than 16 points and eight rebounds as a sophomore, but his 2.8 assists and near-35% 3-point shooting make him an enticing option in the modern game.
“Shooting range, post skill, improved finishing and passing and defensive mobility create versatility that should lock Filipowski into the late-lottery/mid-first round,” Wasserman wrote.
The Bleacher Report scout thinks Filipowski won’t be a lead option at the NBA level, but he sees the former Duke star succeeding as a stretch four or a center.
The NBA Draft gets underway on June 26.