Mock Draft 2.0: Highlighting team needs for the lottery

Team Needs: Guards, Center, Entire bench

The Detroit Pistons have their future superstar, the most important piece to any roster-building puzzle. That Cade Cunningham is a big perimeter creator who can play multiple positions only makes it easier to build around him. After Cunningham, though, the drop-off is steep; Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey are keepers but probably project as low-end starters on a good team, and Killian Hayes looks like a bust. Jerami Grant is the best veteran around but he will likely be traded this summer.

That allows the Pistons to essentially go “best player available” with their pick even if they want to prioritize positional needs, because this team needs everything. Chet Holmgren would be a gorgeous fit with Cunningham, a deadly pick-and-pop duo where both compete defensively. The Pistons would be set up to compete very soon with that level of talent as their 1-2.

Team Needs: Forwards, Backup center

It’s a tale as old as time in Portland: the team needs to find forwards to fill out the starting lineup around Damian Lillard. They have three starters set in stone with Lillard, Anfernee Simons and center Jusuf Nurkic. That leaves two openings at forward, and this version of lottery results sees the Trail Blazers leap up to No. 2, giving them their pick of the available prospects.

The decision here is between Jabari Smith and Paolo Banchero. With Lillard and Simons this team has a strong dollop of shot creation, so getting the better shooter and better defender in Smith becomes the choice here. At worst he will feast on mismatches as teams scheme against the guards; at best he will pressure the rim himself and then hit those guards on the perimeter for open shots.