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With the NBA Draft order now set following Sunday’s lottery — the Washington Wizards landed the top pick in one of the most anticipated drafts in recent memory — Kevin O’Connor dropped his Mock Draft 5.0 on Yahoo Sports, mapping out how every pick could play out now that the board is locked in.
We used KOC’s projections as the framework to break down the fantasy implications of each landing spot, because where a player goes matters just as much as who the player is. Here’s a look at the first 14 picks and what they mean for your dynasty and redraft boards.
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NBA Mock Draft 5.0 | NBA Draft Guide
Pick 1. Washington Wizards — AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
An ideal landing spot for Dybansta, as his size, skillset and scoring ability fit right alongside Trae Young, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis (for now). Selecting Dybansta hurts Bilal Coulibaly and, to some degree, Tre Johnson’s fantasy values, but Dybansta in Washington should be the top pick in dynasty —with considerable redraft potential heading into next season.
Pick 2. Utah Jazz — Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Peterson steps into a loaded Jazz roster that needs a starting shooting guard. Peterson is that guy, a two-way talent who’ll thrive off-ball with Keyonte George running point. There will be a lot of mouths to feed in fantasy production; however, in dynasty, Peterson should be a top-5 pick despite the injury concerns. For a redraft, I would temper expectations beyond that of an efficient scorer drafted outside the top-90.
Pick 3. Memphis Grizzlies — Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
There’s room for Boozer to contribute right away in Memphis. Between club options for GG Jackson, Oliver Maxence-Prosper and a few others on expiring deals, the reigning Naismith College Player of the Year would enter his rookie season with a strong fantasy profile. He’s proven he can score efficiently at three levels, rebound and generate steals. He’s also a decent passer. He’s a high-floor dynasty to pick who should go in the top-5, and also carries some appeal in redraft formats.
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