The Best Fits For Top 10 Teams

The NBA Draft is upon us, with the event kicking off Thursday night, starring the Orlando Magic as the team to get the evening started.

As per usual, the vast majority of teams picking in the draft aren’t going to focus on positions or needs, when they make their selection. Instead, they go for upside, which you could argue is the point of the draft anyway.

That said, how could the draft shake out, if teams picking in the Top 10 were to pick after need?

The selections

Pick 1 – Orlando Magic – Keegan Murray, Iowa

It’s no secret that Orlando sported the worst offense in the NBA this season, and they’re short at the forward position.

Murray helps in both categories. Outside of being a 6’8 forward, he’s also arguably the best offensive player in the draft, netting 23.5 points, shooting 55.4% from the field, and 39.8% from downtown on 166 attempts. He also got to the line 5.4 times per game, basically never turned the ball over (5.7 TOV%), and displayed great maturity and patience on the court.

Murray is also a reliable rebounder (8.7), and has considerable upside as a defender. He’d slide right into that starting lineup sandwiched between Wendell Carter Jr and Franz Wagner.

Pick 2 – Oklahoma City Thunder – Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga

The Thunder stick with the guy projected to actually go to them in most mocks. And it makes sense, because the Thunder need, well, everything.

Holmgren and his 9.9 rebounds, plus 3.7 blocks, in 27 minutes per game, immediately shores up their defense (which ranked 18th), and gives them a reliable multi-purpose screen-setter who can roll, pop (39.0% from range) or playmake off the catch on the other end of the floor.

The seven-footer is also adept at putting the ball on the floor, allowing players around him to play off of his actions. For a team that ranked 29th on offense, that matters.

Pick 3 – Houston Rockets – Tari Eason, LSU

Like the Thunder, Houston needs most of everything. That’s where Eason comes in. Not only is he an athletic tornado, he’s also one of the most productive players in the entire draft, averaging 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 5.7 free throw attempts per game in just 24.4 minutes.

The 21-year-old can effectively guard three positions, and even swing down to handle guards when needed to. Offensively, he seeks contact, uses a great combination of size, strength, and athleticism to bulldoze people off his path. When not doing that, he’s rebounding outside of his area and oftentimes winning the battle against taller players.

Eason would immediately provide a boost to Houston’s defense, which was ranked 29th this year, and inject some needed explosion to an offense that ranked 26th.

Pick 4 – Sacramento Kings – Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona

This writer recently broke down that potential fit, which you can find at this link.

Pick 5 – Detroit Pistons – Jaden Ivey, Purdue

Cade Cunningham needs a backcourt partner, and preferably one with some scoring chops. Ivey fits that description, as he can play both on and off ball, get out in transition, and initiate the offense on his own accord.

At 6’4 and with a high level of production (17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists), Ivey is a combo guard, not unlike Cunningham himself, making the duo interchangeable.

Ivey drastically improves Detroit’s running game, likely improving an offense that ranked 28th in the NBA last season.

Pick 6 – Indiana Pacers – Paolo Banchero, Duke

Tyrese Haliburton needs passing targets, and who better than Banchero, who in Indiana should get all the front court touches he wants, next to Myles Turner?

Banchero also functions as a secondary playmaker, and one who can consistently create his own offense when that’s called for. His 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists underlines what the eyes see, which is a player who can function in a wide variety of roles, especially offensively, which should suit the Pacers well.

Some might argue the Pacers need more help defensively, where they ranked 28th this season, and that isn’t wrong. But given the presence of a young star guard in Haliburton, the biggest need is finding him a reliable co-star. This is achieved here.

Pick 7 – Portland Trail Blazers – Jalen Duren, Memphis

With Chet Holmgren off the board in our hypothetical “fit draft”, the Blazers move on to a big, muscled center in Jalen Duren, who at 6’10 and 250 is not only productive (12.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks), but also an athletic, wide body who will immediately help Damian Lillard have more options offensively.

Duren is able to get up for lobs, use his wide frame to set screens, and he’s got a good enough touch inside to even warrant the occasional post-up, pending smaller matchup.

For Lillard, this provides him with a multipurpose big man, who can also occasionally play alongside Jusuf Nurkic, assuming the Blazers keep him around. If they do, Duren solidifies a tough, and strong, frontline the Blazers can build upon for at least the next half-decade.

Pick 8 – Oklahoma City Thunder – Dyson Daniels, G-League Ignite

The Thunder got Holmgren, so now they need defense on the perimeter. Enter Daniels, who is a near 6’8 guard, with great defensive instincts, and an evolving offensive game. His 1.9 steals in the G-League showcased an ability to pick apart opposing offenses, and his length routinely bothered players when trying to attack him off the dribble.

Offensively, Daniels is a work in progress, but he does pass the ball well (4.4 assists), and could develop a reliable jumper in due time. For now, he’s an NBA ready defender, who can play multiple positions, and rebound at a high level (6.6 per game).

For the Thunder, adding a high-potential player like Daniels is another step in their rebuild, to round out a roster with considerable young talent.

Pick 9 – San Antonio Spurs – E.J. Liddell, Ohio State

After missing out on Eason, who would have made a formidable pick for an organization starving for forward depth, Liddell becomes a tremendous consolation prize for the Spurs.

The 6’7 forward, who undoubtedly will remind older NBA fans of Larry Johnson, is explosive, strong, and has a highly complimentary all-around game, netting 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.6 blocks on the season for the Buckeyes, while also getting to the line 6.9 times per game.

He’s tough, has a wide frame, and should be able to muscle his way to the rim even at the NBA level due to his 245-pound base and understanding of timing. Liddell is a thinker, which works well in San Antonio, making him a snug fit on the roster.

Pick 10 – Washington Wizards – Jabari Smith Jr, Auburn

The projected top pick lands here, as his elite 3-&-D talents will fit beautifully in Washington next to Bradley Beal and his high-usage norms. Smith is a knock-down three-point shooter (42% from range) with defensive upside and some shot-creation ability.

His 16.9 points in 28.8 minutes won’t blow anyone away, but his shooting is such a draw, that defenses simply cannot leave him open for a second. The spacing alone, which he will provide, is worth gold for a team trying to attack off dribble-drives.

Smith would slide right into the starting four slot, and likely be an immediate contributor, which is certainly a need for Washington these days.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.