At this point, it’s a waiting game. The talents look forward to the big day, hoping to hear their name called as soon as possible and learn about their next destination, the first stop of their professional career.
First, we looked at the top five youth prospects in the draft and their potential landing spots. In this series, we continue examining the biggest young talents in the draft and their potential landing spots, moving further down the projected draft order to predict the best fits for each prospect.
6. Nets - Darius Acuff Jr. (G, Arkansas)
The Brooklyn Nets have the sixth pick, and if Acuff is still available, it feels like an obvious choice for a franchise that won only 20 games this season and finished third-to-last in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn struggled offensively all year, ranking last in points per game, field-goal percentage, and three-point percentage. The Nets need an aggressive scorer capable of jump-starting the offense.
Acuff fits the narrative perfectly. At Arkansas, he averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, while shooting 44% from beyond the arc. He took home the SEC Player of the Year award and was named an All-American.
The dynamic guard is a proven scorer able to score at will – he is crafty and explosive, finishes well around the rim, but also has a quick release that allows him to explore even the tiniest gaps the defense gives him. He’s excellent at pick and rolls, gets his teammates involved, and can orchestrate offense as the point guard. Acuff has a chance to become a franchise staple.
7. Kings - Kingston Flemings (G, Houston)
Flemings measured smaller than expected at the combine, but he compensates with explosiveness, quickness, and elite shiftiness. His ability to blow past defenders was one of the defining traits of his lone college season, and there is little reason to believe it won’t translate to the NBA.
The Sacramento Kings are searching for a point guard, and Flemings could be an ideal fit.
At Houston, the point guard recorded 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. Flemings is a tremendous athlete, skilled to score at all three levels. But he loves creating open shots and great looks for his teammates, and that’s exactly what Sacramento needs.
The Kings are looking for a new identity, and building around an unselfish point guard will benefit them. Flemings’ quickness also helps with the transition and pace of the game.
Despite his size, he’s a tenacious defender.
8. Hawks - Aday Mara (C, Michigan)
Mara is one of the biggest draft risers. A member of the Michigan squad that won the National Championship, he played a critical role in the Wolverines’ smooth March Madness run, which concluded on the mountain top.
Mara has shown that he can start his offense from the three-point line, make reads in handoffs and ball screens, and knock down perimeter shots. The Atlanta Hawks can get a real gem here to improve their rebounding and presence in the paint.
He has a nice touch around the rim and has the potential to immediately become one of the best shot blockers in the league. At 7-foot-3 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, he is going to be a defensive nightmare.
Mara must get tougher and stronger to truly excel in the NBA, but through his terrific growth at Michigan, he has proven he’s not afraid to put in the work. The combination of his skills, size, coordination, and absurd measurements makes him a coveted lottery pick.
9. Mavericks - Brayden Burrie (G, Arizona)
Last year, the Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick, and he wasted no time establishing himself as a superstar. But despite having the Rookie of the Year on the roster, Dallas struggled, finishing 12th in the West. The franchise fired head coach Jason Kidd, and new president Masai Ujiri is looking to rebuild and transform the team. Flagg will need a lot of help and would pair well with Burries.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard possesses a great size to thrive on the perimeter; also, he’s physical, loves playing with contact, and loves making plays on defense. He’s quick, dynamic, handles the ball well, and is comfortable as a shot creator. Burries took Arizona to the Final Four, playing a key role as he averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He dominates both ends of the floor and can make an immediate impact on the Mavericks.
10. Bucks - Yaxel Lendeborg (F, Michigan)
Unless the trade rumors with Giannis and the Miami Heat come to fruition, the 10th pick belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks, and they will try to address their rebounding issues.
The Bucks ranked last in the NBA in offensive rebounds, while finishing third-to-last in total rebounding. Also, they were among the worst teams regarding shot blocking, so drafting Lendeborg could solidify their need for a quality big.
He is a 6-foot-9, aggressive, physical, and tenacious post player who started his basketball journey at a community college. With a stop at UAB, the New Jersey native worked himself into a starting lineup at Michigan, proving that he can adjust to new levels and compete with the best.
He averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds, and he tallied impressive 2.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game for the Wolverines. Lenderborg's athleticism allows him to switch on smaller players and still guard them with a commanding presence in the paint that is felt on both ends of the court.
11. Warriors Mikel Brown (G, Louisville)
Steve Kerr’s return suggests the Warriors are unlikely to undergo a full rebuild this offseason. However, Golden State still needs to get younger and improve its depth, particularly while Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody recover from injuries.
Brown could be an excellent fit.
Brown is fast and quick, excelling in the open court. He gets downhill fast and initiates transition well, which would complement Golden State’s run-and-gun style of play.
His dribble jumper is silky smooth, and he’s also a solid three-point shooter. Brown averaged 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists for the Cardinals during his rookie campaign. On top of that, he displayed elite decision-making in college, making great reads in pick-and-rolls and off-ball screen actions.
His skill set feels tailor-made for the Warriors’ system.
12. Thunder - Jayden Quaintance (F, Kentucky)
The reigning champions from Oklahoma City will have to address some roster questions, as they hold options for Luguentz Dort, Kenrich Williams, and Isaiah Hartenstein. The franchise also has two first-round picks and will want to be effective with their choices.
OKC is currently guard-heavy, so adding a forward to create more depth regarding rebounding and paint defense makes sense.
At 6-foot-9, Quaintance would be an ideal piece to the Thunder puzzle. What matters is whether the franchise will put its trust in him – he comes with some serious injury baggage. He tore his ACL midway through his freshman season at Arizona State and later transferred to Kentucky, where recurring knee issues limited him to just five games.
However, when he was available, he displayed elite athleticism, speed, and mobility, especially for a big. He’s physical and wins 1-on-1 rebounding matchups with ease. He’s a proven shot blocker and serves as an anchor on defense.
If he can stay healthy, he has the potential to help keep Oklahoma City among the NBA’s elite for years to come.
Stay tuned for our next edition of mock picks!