2021 NBA Redraft: Does Evan Mobley go first overall this time?

The most recent riser up the board, Cam Thomas has started to show flashes in the last month that he could be a dangerous weapon as an on-ball creator and scorer. His 3-point shot has turned into a weapon and he notched multiple 40-point outings in the midst of the Brooklyn Nets’ chaotic season. Only two players from this draft class have reached 40 points: Jalen Green (four times) and Cam Thomas (three times). He is a much better choice here than the Charlotte Hornets’ originally drafted point guard, James Bouknight.

Herb Jones becomes the first player in our redraft to leap into the lottery from the second round, and depending on how you value his defense could land higher or lower than this. He has been perhaps the second-best defensive player in this draft class behind only Evan Mobley, with the size, length and speed to defend multiple positions.

The problem? His offensive game is a big work in progress. His 3-pointer fell from a respectable 33.7 percent last season to 28.3 percent this year, and he doesn’t bring much in terms of high-level passing or shot creation inside the arc. Still, he’s an elite defender, and the San Antonio Spurs would love to plug such a player into their young group rather than their original pick here at 12.

Most guard prospects who struggle offensively upon entering the NBA are massive negatives to their teams, but Jalen Suggs is cut differently. His shot has completely deserted him since he was drafted (25.2 percent from 3-point range) and he isn’t finishing well from inside or at the line either. Even so, he has been a helpful player to the Orlando Magic because of his dogged defense at the point of attack. There is still hope for him to rediscover his offensive game, and if so he can be a solid two-way guard for the Indiana Pacers to pair with Tyrese Haliburton.

This is the most wild pick of this entire redraft, with the undrafted Jose Alvarado flying up to the last pick of the lottery. “Grand Theft Alvarado” is averaging just nine points per game in his second season but brings so much value to his team in other areas, from his insane on-ball defense to his fearless rim attacks to his brash leadership. He is the kind of player every coach wants on the roster and every player wants to go to war with, and for a Warriors team trying to win titles, the pairing of Quentin Grimes and Alvarado gives them a defensive backcourt to rotate in that will set the tone against any opponent.