NBA Draft 2021: Updated mock 1st Round draft as deadline approaches

This is a no-brainer for any team. Cade Cunningham is the best player in this draft class. He had an outstanding season at Oklahoma State averaging 20 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 43% shooting and 40% shooting from three.

Cunningham also won a slew of awards this season including Big 12 Freshman of the Year, First Team All-Big 12, Big 12 Player of the Year, and was a consensus first-team All American. Cunningham lived up to being the top recruit of the 2020 class and took Okie State to the Big 12 Championship game. But, can Cunningham live to the bill of being a franchise player?

Cunningham at 6″8′ has excellent passing vision and is an outstanding floor general. Cade is an excellent finisher, and an excellent shooter as evident by shooting 40% from three. Cunningham can even score the post and is can make some very tough shots. You could make the argument that Cade is the best prospect going into the NBA in the last five years.

For Minnesota, this is an ideal pic. They have been riddled with injuries this year as former all-stars Karl Anthony-Towns and D’Angelo Russell have been with injuries all season. Not only that the T-Wolves will get to pair Cade with last year’s number one pick in Anthony Edwards. This gives Minnesota the potential to have a deadly starting five. With Cunningham at the 1, this allows Russell to play his more natural position at the 2, then put Edwards at the 3, with Jaden McDaniels at the 4, and then put KAT at the 5.

This is easily one of the better starting fives in the western conference. This is not only an ideal pick for Minnesota but the chance for the Timberwolves to get their hands on a once-of-a-generation player.