2021 NBA Lottery Redraft: Evan Mobley goes first overall

One of the surprises of the season from this rookie class has been the play of Franz Wagner, who originally went eighth to the Orlando Magic. In our redraft he isn’t even available for the Magic with their first pick as he goes off the board fourth. Wagner has been great as a combo forward with surprisingly developed perimeter skills. He leads the entire rookie class in scoring at 15.7 points per game, and despite playing on the worst team in the Eastern Conference has provided 2.2 win shares of value, third in the class behind Mobley and Barnes. Given the Raptors’ love of big forwards, he is a great pick for them here at No. 4.

The emergence of Cole Anthony for the Orlando Magic this season might make them rethink their positional choice here, as Anthony and their original draft pick Jalen Suggs overlap quite a bit — and even more with Markelle Fultz, yet to play this season due to injury. In our redraft there isn’t as clear of a tier break and the Magic can consider multiple options. Given their deep stable of bigs the pick is a wing who can provide playmaking.

Enter Josh Giddey, the Australian sensation who just became the youest player in NBA history to log a triple double. He leads the class in assists per game by a county mile, flashing confident shot-making and a quick analysis of the court. He’s also been a poor shooter and a bad defender, but as one of the youngest players in this class he has plenty of room to grow.

One of the most unique bigs in the league is Alperen Sengun, who is a scintillating combination of creative passing, post touch and abysmal defense. Does he develop into Domantas Sabonis or is he more Greg Monroe? Coming from playing in Europe it makes sense that his skill level is high for a rookie big and his defense is poor. Does the defense improve, or does the skill level off?

For now, his passing creativity is special and we lean on that playmaking ability in elevating him from 15th to sixth in our redraft. The Oklahoma City Thunder get a big man to pair with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as they continue their rebuild.