Mock Draft 2.0: Highlighting team needs for the lottery
Houston Rockets. Bennedict Mathurin. 5. player. 169. . Wing
Team Needs: Point guard, forwards, backcourt depth
The Houston Rockets have a pair of keepers in rising-sophomores Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. Green looks like he will be best deployed at the 2 long-term, while Sengun could play the 4 or the 5 depending on his partner. Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood and Jae’Sean Tate all have warts and aren’t guaranteed to fill out the starting lineup of any future Rockets team, especially if the team moves on from Wood via trade.
If the Rockets got the first pick they would likely take Chet Holmgren to pair with Sengun, but would be comfortable with any of the players expected to go in the Top 4. The lowest they could fall is fifth, but that creates a conundrum for who is fifth on their board. Bennedict Mathurin fits better next to Green on the wing than someone like Shaedon Sharpe and has an incredibly high floor as a prospect and starting 3 in the league. Given the Rockets’ needs, however, nearly any player would be a good selection.
Wing. Orlando Magic. Shaedon Sharpe. 6. player. 38.
Team Needs: Wings, more wings, and maybe a wing or two
The Orlando Magic have somehow amassed a significant amount of young talent, in part because of repeated bites at the lottery apple and in part because of buying low on players at the right time. Franz Wagner is the only surefire building block, best deployed at the 4, but Wendell Carter Jr., Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs all showed flashes (or more) last season, and Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac could both make an impact post-injury next year and beyond.
That leaves this team’s primary needs on the wing, where similarly to the Cleveland Cavaliers their young core doesn’t contain any reliable true wings. They could shoehorn Wagner up a spot, and they can play two-guard lineups with one of their trio of point guards at the 2, but this team needs wing-sized players who can shoot and comfortably defend opposing 2s and 3s. Shaedon Sharpe is the best such player and a great value at sixth, and his length and shooting should be the perfect fit with this roster.