ESPN mock draft dubs Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard as lottery picks
Kentucky’s top options off the bench could make a splash at the next level.
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Latest espn mock draft has Dilly and Sheppard as lottery picks
- Thread starter Smashcat
- Start date
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1. Detroit Pistons
Alex Sarr | Perth Wildcats | PF/C | Age: 18.7
2. San Antonio Spurs
Zaccharie Risacher | JL Bourg | SF | Age: 18.7
3. Washington Wizards
Cody Williams | Colorado | SF | Age: 19.1
4. Portland Trail Blazers
Ja'Kobe Walter | Baylor | SG | Age: 18.7
5. Charlotte Hornets
Nikola Topic | Mega MIS | PG | Age: 18.4
6. Memphis Grizzlies
Tidjane Salaun | Cholet | PF | Age: 18.4
7. Chicago Bulls
Rob Dillingham | Kentucky | PG | Age: 19.0
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Utah Jazz)
Kyle Filipowski | Duke | PF/C | Age: 20.1
9. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
Isaiah Collier | USC | PG | Age: 19.2
10. Atlanta Hawks
Matas Buzelis | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 18.9
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
Ron Holland | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 18.5
12. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors)
Reed Sheppard | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 19.5
13. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers)*
Donovan Clingan | UConn | C | Age: 19.8
14. Phoenix Suns
Zach Edey | Purdue | C | Age: 21.6
15. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
Stephon Castle | UConn | PG/SG | Age: 19.1
16. Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State Warriors)
Ryan Dunn | Virginia | SF | Age: 21.0
17. Orlando Magic
Kevin McCullar Jr. | Kansas | SF | Age: 22.8
18. Atlanta Hawks (via Sacramento Kings)
Tyler Smith | G League Ignite | SF/PF | Age: 19.1
19. Indiana Pacers
Trevon Brazile | Arkansas | PF | Age: 20.7
20. Miami Heat
Yves Missi | Baylor | C | Age: 19.6
21. New York Knicks
Bobi Klintman | Cairns Taipans | SF/PF | Age: 20.5
22. Cleveland Cavaliers
Juan Nunez | Ratiopharm Ulm | PG | Age: 19.3
23. New Orleans Pelicans
Izan Almansa | G League Ignite | PF/C | Age: 18.5
24. Milwaukee Bucks
Kel'el Ware | Indiana | C | Age: 19.7
25. Philadelphia 76ers
Jared McCain | Duke | PG | Age: 19.8
26. Minnesota Timberwolves
D.J. Wagner | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.6
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers)
Oso Ighodaro | Marquette | PF/C | Age: 21.4
28. Denver Nuggets
Tristan da Silva | Colorado | SF/PF | Age: 22.6
29. Indiana Pacers (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Melvin Ajinca | Saint Quentin | SG/SF | Age: 19.5
30. Boston Celtics
Baba Miller | Florida St. | PF | Age: 19.9
* The Pelicans can defer the Lakers' first-round pick to 2025
Alex Sarr | Perth Wildcats | PF/C | Age: 18.7
2. San Antonio Spurs
Zaccharie Risacher | JL Bourg | SF | Age: 18.7
3. Washington Wizards
Cody Williams | Colorado | SF | Age: 19.1
4. Portland Trail Blazers
Ja'Kobe Walter | Baylor | SG | Age: 18.7
5. Charlotte Hornets
Nikola Topic | Mega MIS | PG | Age: 18.4
6. Memphis Grizzlies
Tidjane Salaun | Cholet | PF | Age: 18.4
7. Chicago Bulls
Rob Dillingham | Kentucky | PG | Age: 19.0
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Utah Jazz)
Kyle Filipowski | Duke | PF/C | Age: 20.1
9. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
Isaiah Collier | USC | PG | Age: 19.2
10. Atlanta Hawks
Matas Buzelis | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 18.9
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
Ron Holland | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 18.5
12. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors)
Reed Sheppard | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 19.5
13. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers)*
Donovan Clingan | UConn | C | Age: 19.8
14. Phoenix Suns
Zach Edey | Purdue | C | Age: 21.6
15. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
Stephon Castle | UConn | PG/SG | Age: 19.1
16. Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State Warriors)
Ryan Dunn | Virginia | SF | Age: 21.0
17. Orlando Magic
Kevin McCullar Jr. | Kansas | SF | Age: 22.8
18. Atlanta Hawks (via Sacramento Kings)
Tyler Smith | G League Ignite | SF/PF | Age: 19.1
19. Indiana Pacers
Trevon Brazile | Arkansas | PF | Age: 20.7
20. Miami Heat
Yves Missi | Baylor | C | Age: 19.6
21. New York Knicks
Bobi Klintman | Cairns Taipans | SF/PF | Age: 20.5
22. Cleveland Cavaliers
Juan Nunez | Ratiopharm Ulm | PG | Age: 19.3
23. New Orleans Pelicans
Izan Almansa | G League Ignite | PF/C | Age: 18.5
24. Milwaukee Bucks
Kel'el Ware | Indiana | C | Age: 19.7
25. Philadelphia 76ers
Jared McCain | Duke | PG | Age: 19.8
26. Minnesota Timberwolves
D.J. Wagner | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.6
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers)
Oso Ighodaro | Marquette | PF/C | Age: 21.4
28. Denver Nuggets
Tristan da Silva | Colorado | SF/PF | Age: 22.6
29. Indiana Pacers (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Melvin Ajinca | Saint Quentin | SG/SF | Age: 19.5
30. Boston Celtics
Baba Miller | Florida St. | PF | Age: 19.9
* The Pelicans can defer the Lakers' first-round pick to 2025
SECOND ROUND
31. Toronto Raptors (via Detroit Pistons)
Justin Edwards | Kentucky | SG/SF | Age: 20.0
32. San Antonio Spurs
Dalton Knecht | Tennessee | SF | Age: 22.6
33. Detroit Pistons (via Washington Wizards)
Tyler Kolek | Marquette | PG | Age: 22.7
34. Milwaukee Bucks (via Portland Trail Blazers)
Adem Bona | UCLA | C | Age: 20.7
35. Portland Trail Blazers (via Charlotte Hornets)
Pelle Larsson | Arizona | SG | Age: 22.8
36. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies)
Carlton Carrington | Pittsburgh | PG/SG | Age: 18.4
37. Boston Celtics (via Chicago Bulls)
Kylan Boswell | Arizona | PG | Age: 18.4
38. New York Knicks (via Utah Jazz)
Keshad Johnson | Arizona | PF | Age: 22.5
39. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
Ulrich Chomche | NBA Academy Showcase | PF/C | Age: 18.0
40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta Hawks)
Aaron Bradshaw | Kentucky | C | Age: 19.5
41. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
Harrison Ingram | North Carolina | SF/PF | Age: 21.1
42. LA Clippers (via Toronto Raptors)
Dillon Jones | Weber State | SF/PF | Age: 21.1
43. San Antonio Spurs (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Devin Carter | Providence | PG/SG | Age: 21.8
44. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns)
Tyrese Proctor | Duke | PG | Age: 19.7
45. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)
Jaxson Robinson | BYU | SF/SG | Age: 21.2
46. Houston Rockets (via Golden State Warriors)
Pacome Dadiet | Ratiopharm Ulm | SG/SF | Age: 18.4
47. Orlando Magic
Trey Alexander | Creighton | PG/SG | Age: 20.6
48. Sacramento Kings
Dillon Mitchell | Texas | SF/PF | Age: 20.2
49. Indiana Pacers
Alex Karaban | UConn | PF | Age: 21.1
50. Miami Heat
PJ Hall | Clemson | PF/C | Age: 21.8
51. Philadelphia 76ers (via New York Knicks)
KJ Simpson | Colorado | PG | Age: 21.4
52. LA Clippers (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
AJ Johnson | Illawarra Hawks | SG | Age: 19.1
53. New Orleans Pelicans
Ajay Mitchell | UC Santa Barbara | PG | Age: 21.5
54. Indiana Pacers (via Milwaukee Bucks)
Ariel Hukporti | Melbourne | C | Age: 21.7
55. Minnesota Timberwolves
Baylor Scheierman | Creighton | SG/SF | Age: 23.2
56. Los Angeles Lakers (via LA Clippers)
Mantas Rubstavicius | NZ Breakers | SF | Age: 21.6
57. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Payton Sandfort | Iowa | SF | Age: 21.4
58. Charlotte Hornets (via Boston Celtics)
Kobe Johnson | USC | SG | Age: 20.9
Note: The Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns forfeited a 2024 second-round draft pick.
31. Toronto Raptors (via Detroit Pistons)
Justin Edwards | Kentucky | SG/SF | Age: 20.0
32. San Antonio Spurs
Dalton Knecht | Tennessee | SF | Age: 22.6
33. Detroit Pistons (via Washington Wizards)
Tyler Kolek | Marquette | PG | Age: 22.7
34. Milwaukee Bucks (via Portland Trail Blazers)
Adem Bona | UCLA | C | Age: 20.7
35. Portland Trail Blazers (via Charlotte Hornets)
Pelle Larsson | Arizona | SG | Age: 22.8
36. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies)
Carlton Carrington | Pittsburgh | PG/SG | Age: 18.4
37. Boston Celtics (via Chicago Bulls)
Kylan Boswell | Arizona | PG | Age: 18.4
38. New York Knicks (via Utah Jazz)
Keshad Johnson | Arizona | PF | Age: 22.5
39. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
Ulrich Chomche | NBA Academy Showcase | PF/C | Age: 18.0
40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta Hawks)
Aaron Bradshaw | Kentucky | C | Age: 19.5
41. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
Harrison Ingram | North Carolina | SF/PF | Age: 21.1
42. LA Clippers (via Toronto Raptors)
Dillon Jones | Weber State | SF/PF | Age: 21.1
43. San Antonio Spurs (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Devin Carter | Providence | PG/SG | Age: 21.8
44. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns)
Tyrese Proctor | Duke | PG | Age: 19.7
45. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)
Jaxson Robinson | BYU | SF/SG | Age: 21.2
46. Houston Rockets (via Golden State Warriors)
Pacome Dadiet | Ratiopharm Ulm | SG/SF | Age: 18.4
47. Orlando Magic
Trey Alexander | Creighton | PG/SG | Age: 20.6
48. Sacramento Kings
Dillon Mitchell | Texas | SF/PF | Age: 20.2
49. Indiana Pacers
Alex Karaban | UConn | PF | Age: 21.1
50. Miami Heat
PJ Hall | Clemson | PF/C | Age: 21.8
51. Philadelphia 76ers (via New York Knicks)
KJ Simpson | Colorado | PG | Age: 21.4
52. LA Clippers (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
AJ Johnson | Illawarra Hawks | SG | Age: 19.1
53. New Orleans Pelicans
Ajay Mitchell | UC Santa Barbara | PG | Age: 21.5
54. Indiana Pacers (via Milwaukee Bucks)
Ariel Hukporti | Melbourne | C | Age: 21.7
55. Minnesota Timberwolves
Baylor Scheierman | Creighton | SG/SF | Age: 23.2
56. Los Angeles Lakers (via LA Clippers)
Mantas Rubstavicius | NZ Breakers | SF | Age: 21.6
57. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Payton Sandfort | Iowa | SF | Age: 21.4
58. Charlotte Hornets (via Boston Celtics)
Kobe Johnson | USC | SG | Age: 20.9
Note: The Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns forfeited a 2024 second-round draft pick.
Colorado all that talent but not doing much with it.
And there goes Bradshaw and Edwards into the 2nd round. If Edwards doesn't figure this thing out soon, he may not make the draft. Assume he stays the same the rest of the year, I'd be shocked if any team drafts him.
But he will still be a Kentucky starter! 🤣
And there goes Bradshaw and Edwards into the 2nd round. If Edwards doesn't figure this thing out soon, he may not make the draft. Assume he stays the same the rest of the year, I'd be shocked if any team drafts him.
But he will still be a Kentucky starter! 🤣
It'll be one of the greatest nights in the history of uk basketball.
So inanely weird.
And people (Cal clan) still think it doesn’t matter who starts, blah blah blah.
No justification whatsoever for this dude starting. They were holding onto “we need Edwards to reach his potential to make a deep run.” Well, now that it’s clear that this is not the case and that more minutes and more experience for Shep, Dilly, and Thiero are what make us dangerous - what exactly are they saying to defend Cal’s ineptitude?
Notice the new accounts that troll here and say that Reed is definitely gone. Most are Leadbelly accounts, but some are clearly too stupid to be in his category of mediocrity.
I haven’t seen these posts. But if he’s truly a lottery pick, he has to go. It’s not like he can work his way to top 3 or something. Can’t take the risk of playing another year at this level unnecessarily.
Reed throwing dimes to Wemby.
Everyone outside BBN sees it - the team’s two best talents are coming off the bench and playing fewer minutes than those ranked higher as HS prospects. And many here want to support that approach because Cal has them believing anything.
Everyone outside BBN sees it - the team’s two best talents are coming off the bench and playing fewer minutes than those ranked higher as HS prospects. And many here want to support that approach because Cal has them believing anything.
It is crazy. Dude in another thread defending Wagner getting 35 minutes.
Would love to see Dilly get a longer leash and 35 minutes. I fully realize there are times you got to get him off the floor, but that’s true with Wagner too (usually pulled by the first tv timeout).
And Shep, for sure, will have a long NBA career.
Can you imagine Cal’s ego if he gets two non starters drafted in the lottery?
Crazy thing also is that if Thiero got 28mpg, he’d get drafted too. Not lottery - but still impressive given his ranking coming in.
We have two guards off the bench that would be drafted higher than Wagner and Reeves. And we have a forward off the bench who at this point has greater pro potential than Edwards and Mitchell (he won’t even be drafted).
Cal is odd.
Wagner is more than likely going to be top 15 in about a month.
If I was an NBA team I would love the opportunity to get any of the 3.
I would have a hard time picking any of these bums over Wagner, Shep or Dilly. Much like the Maxey draft. Very obvious Maxey was a top 5 talent in that draft.
NBA GMs won't let our boys slip like that again
If I was an NBA team I would love the opportunity to get any of the 3.
I would have a hard time picking any of these bums over Wagner, Shep or Dilly. Much like the Maxey draft. Very obvious Maxey was a top 5 talent in that draft.
NBA GMs won't let our boys slip like that again
I know if you're a lottery pick you should probably go I just hold out hope that somehow after Reeds ad went through all this that he and his mother talk him in to at least 2 years at Kentucky.
I knew he would be good but I thought we would be here at least 2 to 3 years. The NBA isn't going anywhere, the kid is loved in his home state and there's money to be made and I think he still needs more time to do real damage in the NBA against that talent every night.
If Dook can return lottery picks than we should be able to return a hometown hero like Reed. Unless we win it all and then it's understandable. Or come back to defend. FL guys did it and I feel like Reed is cut from that old school cloth. Love watching him. Sometimes I think he plays too unselfish. Only took 4 shoots Tues, he'll Edwards is 7 mins less took 7. Then Cal didn't play him down the stretch. I think he plays around the 4th to 5th most mins and might be our best player.
I knew he would be good but I thought we would be here at least 2 to 3 years. The NBA isn't going anywhere, the kid is loved in his home state and there's money to be made and I think he still needs more time to do real damage in the NBA against that talent every night.
If Dook can return lottery picks than we should be able to return a hometown hero like Reed. Unless we win it all and then it's understandable. Or come back to defend. FL guys did it and I feel like Reed is cut from that old school cloth. Love watching him. Sometimes I think he plays too unselfish. Only took 4 shoots Tues, he'll Edwards is 7 mins less took 7. Then Cal didn't play him down the stretch. I think he plays around the 4th to 5th most mins and might be our best player.
Odd to me is that I don’t know anything about any of the projected top picks until it gets to a UK guy (other than knowing that Sarr is our Sarr’s bro). One could’ve just made up some fictional names and it would’ve meant the same thing to me.
Sure is a far cry different from the long ago days when those were familiar names we all knew from their college careers.
Sure is a far cry different from the long ago days when those were familiar names we all knew from their college careers.
I'm sure cal will be thrilled. Let's try to get a national championship or out of the second round before we give a shit about draft night.
Cal's about to add another stockpile of NBA players over the next few years. He's been slacking the last few years with only a sprinkling of 1st round picks (Jackson, Washington, Wallace) and only one lottery pick in that span.
I'm hoping we land Dybantsa, Stokes, Peterson, Edgecombe, Wilson, and Johnson to join guys like Quaintance, Bradshaw, Edwards, Sheppard, Wagner, Dillingham, Thiero, Big Z and Onyenso in the NBA.
We could be adding another 15 to 20 NBA guys the next three seasons. If we do, it will mean more Final Fours and genuine shots at the national title.
I'm hoping we land Dybantsa, Stokes, Peterson, Edgecombe, Wilson, and Johnson to join guys like Quaintance, Bradshaw, Edwards, Sheppard, Wagner, Dillingham, Thiero, Big Z and Onyenso in the NBA.
We could be adding another 15 to 20 NBA guys the next three seasons. If we do, it will mean more Final Fours and genuine shots at the national title.
What is your NBA comp for Reed. I see him as a slightly more athletic Austin Reeves, with not quite as good a handle.
So now Cal should decide who starts based on NBA projections?
Or ratings?
If he does that then the CHC claims Klutch is running the show.
Now without bogeyman to blame he just odd?
Edward's drop reflects his actual performance, maybe NBA has learned something, I was totally amazed Boston and Clarke went first round, I never could see that based on performance.
It’s crazy. I think we have two of the five best guards in all of college basketball …and our coach refuses to start either of them.
That’s something that could only happen with Calipari at UK.
So you were “totally amazed” by something that never happened?
Boston fell to the bottom of the second round, he was one of the very last players taken in the draft. And Clarke was not drafted it all … due to the fact that he was then deceased.
