Mock NBA Draft: Pure chaos sends Cade to Golden State Warriors
By Tony Pesta
6 – Detroit Pistons select: Ziaire Williams, F
The Detroit Pistons found a suitable building block in Jerami Grant this offseason but will need to strike gold in the NBA Draft to get back to being competitive. Ziaire Williams can help them take a step in the right direction.
Williams is a 6’8″ forward with good size and athleticism. He’s an underwhelming shooter but has shined defensively and would make for a strong addition to the Pistons who rank 22nd in Defensive Rating.
The key to being a valuable player for Williams will come down to expanding his range. He shot below 30 percent from deep in college and was under 40 percent from the field as a whole. Nonetheless, being an impactful defender is his biggest strength.
7 – Cleveland Cavaliers select: Scottie Barnes, F
The new lottery odds haven’t been kind to the Cleveland Cavaliers and falling to seventh in the order won’t do them any favors. Even so, Scottie Barnes could be a diamond in the rough for Cleveland.
The Cavaliers need a few different things but shooting and defense should be their top priorities. Barnes can somewhat appeal to both of these needs. He’s a lanky wing defender and despite shooting only 27.5 percent from the 3-point line, Barnes could develop into a more consistent shooter in the future.
There’s plenty of options for the Cavaliers at the back end of the lottery but Barnes seems to be a prospect with the highest ceiling as a two-way threat. It’s worth a shot for the rebuilding Cavaliers as they certainly can’t afford to draft another undersized guard.