NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Picks for the entire first round
The slide for Jalen Duren stops here. If he makes it past Charlotte at No. 13 it could be a bit of a fall for the big man, as none of the teams in the 14-17 range can really use another center. The Chicago Bulls need someone to groom behind Nikola Vucevic, and Duren would give them a rim protector who can provide a different look. If his offensive game from high school comes back, this becomes a home run pick.
The Minnesota Timberwolves need two-way players. They have one, Anthony Edward. That’s….basically it right now. D’Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Malik Beasley are offensive weapons with defensive deficiencies, while Jaden McDaniels (at least right now), Patrick Beverley and Jarred Vanderbilt are defense-first players.
Enter Jalen Williams, a long wing rising up draft boards. He has a ton of versatility on offense and can play alongside nearly anyone, while defensively his 7’2.25″ wingspan means he can guard up the lineup and take on opposing 4s in addition to wings. For a team with its two stars in place, a high-level role player like Williams is a perfect fit.
Jalen Williams is a popular pick to shoot up draft boards; Dalen Terry is a little more under the radar, but his ball-handling and playmaking skills at his size make him a prime candidate to sneak into the top 20 as well. He is 6’6″ and could be the backup to Dejounte Murray in San Antonio while also playing alongside him as the shot continues to develop. His defensive potential is monstrous, and combining him and Murray makes for a devastating pairing.