Mock NBA Draft: Pure chaos sends Cade to Golden State Warriors
By Tony Pesta
10 – Orlando Magic select: Alperen Sengun, C
The Orlando Magic went all-in on the rebuild after trading Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic at the deadline. This move left them with Wendall Carter as their center of the future. And, while the 21-year-old is averaging 13.3 points and 8.4 rebounds since the trade, the Magic could use to add another big man.
Alperen Sengun stands as one of the more interesting foreign prospects in the draft. He put up an inspiring 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game in the Turkish Super League as a dominant paint presence.
Sengun will have to prove he can keep up in the faster-paced NBA but he’s flashed enough potential to warrant selecting him with the 10th pick.
11 – Sacramento Kings select: Franz Wagner, G
Franz Wagner posted 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in his second season with Michigan and was a key reason his team went 23-5. His fundamental game makes him an ideal candidate for the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings have been struggling to rebuild for years now but they finally feel confident in their backcourt pairing of Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox. It might feel redundant to draft another guard but boosting their overall IQ and efficiency with Wagner will give them a top-tier guard rotation in the NBA.