NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Picks for the entire first round
15. player. 170. . Forward. Charlotte Hornets. E.J. Liddell
The Charlotte Hornets have some dynamic offense players, but they need to figure out how to shore up the defense without smothering that scoring threat. Mark Williams is an excellent center option to accomplish that goal, and now E.J. Liddell can be a versatile defender at all of the frontcourt positions, and on offense he can space the floor and occasionally take smaller players down to the post and bury them. He’s not a star, but he’s a solid role player who will wear a lot of hats for a team.
125. . Wing. Atlanta Hawks. ochai Agbaji. 16. player
The Atlanta Hawks can use two-way wings, and Ochai Agbaji is a great option to step in and hit shots while helping to cover for Trae Young on the other end. If the Hawks end up moving Kevin Hurter or Bogdan Bogdanovic in a trade then a player like Agbaji becomes even more of an important fit. On the other hand, if they move Danilo Gallinari and John Collins, then a player like Liddell or Ousmane Dieng is more interesting.
Guard. Houston Rockets. TyTy Washington. 17. player. 169.
The Houston Rockets secured a major frontcourt piece with the third pick, and now they shore up the backcourt. TyTy Washington was inconsistent as a freshman at Kentucky, but there are plenty of reasons to think he can be better as a pro. The Rockets don’t know if Kevin Porter Jr. will be a long-term starter, and it makes sense to have another option behind him to begin grooming for the spot if KPJ doesn’t find that consistency.