Old North Banter Mock NBA Draft

20. The Lakers need a solid foundation in the post Kobe era and Okafor should be a big part of that. I don’t believe the smokescreens that Mitch Kupchak, a former big man known for finding big men, is actually looking at DeAngelo Russell in this spot. This should be one of those times where you do not overthink it and just take the proven big man with the National Championship under his belt.. Forward. Duke. Jahlil Okafor. 2. player

Forward. Latvia. Kristaps Porzingis. 3. player. 93. Porzingis is the sweet shooting European seven footer of this draft. You may question why the 76ers would take him here with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid on the team, but Embiid is having difficulty coming off his injury. Also Porzingis has an offensive game that would allow him to play beside either guy. There is also a good chance the 76ers might trade out of this pick with another team interested in Porzingis. Sam Hinke will draft the biggest asset, even if it is not the popular choice.

My favorite player in the draft. Russell is a 6’5″ guard who can shoot and has some point guard skills. This will be a very easy call to pair him with Carmelo as the new base of the Triangle offense the Knicks want to build. A skilled point guard is not a necessity in the triangle, so the Knicks will take Russell over Emmanuel Mudiay. If there was one player that the Hornets should trade up for, it would be Russell.. Guard. Ohio State. D'Angelo Russell. 4. player. 27