NBA lottery mock draft: Teams get crazy with trades, Heat land the perfect fit
By Wes Goldberg
11. Charlotte: Donovan Mitchell, Shooting Guard, Louisville
The Hornets just made a trade to acquire Dwight Howard. Now it’s about surrounding their new pivot with premier perimeter talent. Mitchell fills a need for Charlotte who, after the failed Jeremy Lamb experiment, sorely lacks depth in the backcourt.
This also gives Mitchell a great opportunity to develop. Mitchell is a small 2-guard, who may project as a point guard down the road, though his skills aren’t there yet. However, Mitchell is long and supremely athletic, and will be able to guard at an NBA level right now. He can mix in with the starters as a premier defender and secondary ball handler, or come off the bench and practice his ball handling against second units. Either way, this is a great value pick for the Hornets at No. 11.
12. Portland (from Sacramento, via Detroit): Zach Collins, Power Forward/ Center, Gonzaga
With no one on the board that fills a need without reaching, the Kings make another trade, moving down and getting more assets in the process (my theory is that we look at the Kings as a competent franchise for a few days after the draft).
Portland moves up, trading Evan Turner and the 15th and 26th picks for Arron Afflalo and No. 12.
Despite trading for the Bosnian Sensation Jusuf Nurkic last season, Portland still needs length and defense in the front court. Gonzaga’s Zach Collins has tremendous potential. A fluid athlete and nearly 7-feet tall, Collins is a two-way player who should be able to defend both 4s and 5s right away in the NBA. He has a nice shooting stroke, too, which should continue to develop.
To review: The Trail Blazers get a player who fits their needs perfectly in Collins and shed Turner’s salary in the process. The Kings, meanwhile, could probably use Turner, and pick up two more first rounders while parting ways with the unplayable Afflalo.