NBA Draft 2021: Cade Cunningham clear No. 1 pick in way-too-early mock draft
By Trevor Marks
24. . Wing. Chicago Bulls. Ziaire Williams. 9. player
His Sierra Canyon teammate and fellow top-ten prospect BJ Boston gets more shine as a creative ball-handler and shot-creator, but Ziaire Williams may be the superior prospect when it’s all said and done. His ability to create space off the bounce needs improvement, but Williams’ knack for drilling tough mid-range pull-ups is indisputable — check the tape — and his elite foul shooting on the Nike circuit (87.9 FT%) bodes well for his projection as a special shot-maker.
He’s underdeveloped physically and needs to gain serious muscle mass to bang against collegiate and professional athletes, but he routinely punches above his weight class, and there are whispers that he’s still growing despite already being listed at 6’8.
And he has the potential to be truly special on the defensive end, in terms of his ability to smother the shiftiest of ball-handlers (even Boston) and his ability to get off the floor quickly as a rim protector, whether he’s rotating from the corner or swatting a shot while backpedaling in transition. Stanford’s prized freshman is a top-five prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft, even if mocks don’t reflect that reality just yet.
player. 29. . Guard. San Antonio Spurs. Keon Johnson. 8
Tennessee’s freshman class is ranked fourth in the nation, but it’s getting a bit slept on in regards to the pro upside of its two five-star guards, especially Keon Johnson. Betting on Johnson, an otherworldly horizontal and vertical athlete with still-developing skills, is betting on him continuing down his meteoric growth trajectory as an on-ball creator and shooter. Bare minimum, he’s an unparalleled slasher and lob threat at 6’5, but he’s capable of being so much more.
142. . Guard. Washington Wizards. Jalen Suggs. 7. player
The highest-ranked recruit (No. 11) to ever commit to Gonzaga, Suggs plays with an unparalleled level of intensity and chaos, whether he’s forcing his way into the paint for a thunderous slam or pinning a poor opponent’s shot to the backboard with utter disrespect.
He very much plays like a star football player — he starred at both quarterback and free safety, earning 2019 East Metro Football Player of the Year honors as a senior — with the ability to throw pinpoint passes across the length of the court on offense and make impressive, proactive rotations on defense.
He’s currently more of a combo and needs to clean up the shot selection and ball control, but he has a decent shot at being the first non-Cade guard taken in the 2021 NBA Draft.