Mock Draft 2.0: Highlighting team needs for the lottery

Team Needs: Guard depth, upside plays, perhaps a center

Figuring out what the New York Knicks’ team needs are is incredibly difficult. On the one hand, they go two-deep at every position with serviceable players. On the other they go 0-deep in true star players, with Julius Rande coming back to earth and RJ Barrett still improving. They might take a swing for the fences with a high-upside prospect like Jalen Duran or Malaki Branham…or they could play it safer, taking an established shot-taker like Johnny Davis or Oachi Agbaji. They do the latter here, getting a versatile wing who can plug in at a number of spots in the lineup.

Team Needs: Forwards, Starting center, Shooters

The Oklahoma City Thunder addressed their need for a starting forward earlier in this mock draft, taking Iowa’s Keegan Murray. Another key issue of need is at center, where they have rolled through a variety of young lottery tickets the past few years like Isaiah Roby, Moses Brown and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, the latter of which projects as a solid backup. Here they get their pick of the No. 2 and 3 centers in the class, and go with the steadier Mark Williams, who would make a devastating pick-and-roll partner with their guards.

Team Needs: Center, backup wings, center, new coach, definitely a center

Center is the league’s most replaceable position, and yet the Charlotte Hornets have lacked a high-end option at the position throughout this life cycle. They have steady options in the vein of a Cody Zeller or Mason Plumlee, or smallball options like PJ Washington or Montrezl Harrell. What the Hornets truly need is an athletic big who can finish and defend the rim at a high rate. Jalen Duren would give them just that, with the upside to become something even greater.