2021 NBA Mock Draft: Picks 16-20
#16 Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat): F Ziaire Williams – Stanford
As mentioned earlier, the Thunder are going to be looking to draft the best players available and while this pick is definitely in play to be traded by the Thunder, especially if they end up with a Top-5 pick, drafting Ziaire Williams is a strong move.
The 6’8” freshman from Stanford is a very raw, athletic player on the wing and has a chance to grow into a very strong scorer in the NBA. His length and athleticism also give him the potential to grow into a reliable defensive talent, which would be great for the Thunder to pair with Luguentz Dort on the wing.
His draft stock has been all over the place and where he will end up kind of depends on who you talk to, but his potential is what has made Williams a first-round prospect. He is not the most NBA ready guy and will likely spend his first few years developing into a more well-polished player, but the tools are there for Ziaire Williams to grow into something special.
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#17 Memphis Grizzlies: G James Bouknight – UCONN
The Memphis Grizzlies have made a living in the first-round of the draft by taking experienced college players over the years and taking James Bouknight is yet another example of doing so. Bouknight is a guy that has oftentimes been overlooked due to UCONN not being the powerhouse they once were, but he is a fantastic offensive talent that could contribute immediately like rookie Desmond Bane has.
This past year with the Huskies before injuring his elbow, Bouknight averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and shot 44.7% from the floor. He is a very streaky shooter and looks to drive rather than shoot from the perimeter, which could be viewed as a weakness of his game as it relates to the NBA.
Offensively and scoring wise, James Bouknight is NBA ready, which is why he could contribute to the Grizzlies. They are always looking for more scorers at the shooting guard/small-forward position, which is exactly where Bouknight will fit in.
#18 Boston Celtics: G Ayo Dousunmu – Illinois
Dousunmu was one of the best all-around players in college basketball this past year and with the Celtics needing diverse talent in their second-unit, the Junior from Illinois could fit right in. Not only did Ayo Dousunmu improve as a perimeter shooter this season, but he is a high-energy guy that can surely make a difference in a second-unit at the NBA level.
At 6’5”, Dousunmu will be a guard at the next level and is a really solid all-around team player. Whether it is making plays for himself or others, he always seems comfortable with the ball in his hands and usually does not make mistakes.
As an above-average facilitator and a really strong defender, Ayo Dousunmu is exactly the type of player the Celtics should be searching for in this draft class, which is why getting him 18th overall would make Boston happy for sure.
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#19 New York Knicks: F Franz Wagner – Michigan
The younger brother of NBA forward Moritz Wagner, Franz Wagner is an intriguing draft prospect this year because of his all-around game. There is not one thing that Wagner is great at, but he does a bunch of little things to help his team win games.
He has never been known to be a high-level defender, which could end up being a problem in the Knicks’ defensive system, but he is a crafty scorer that can get it done from inside the paint, in the mid-range area, or from beyond the arc.
Wagner does not possess All-Star potential and is by no means an explosively athletic wing, but he impacts the game by being able to knock down shots, create opportunities for his teammates and aid his team rebounding down low.
The Knicks need high-motor guys that will fight for all 48-minutes in a game and they would be getting that with a guy like Franz Wagner.
#20 New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks): G Chris Duarte – Oregon
Ending up with back-to-back picks would be a dream come true for the Knicks and give them the ability to potentially pull off a huge trade for a big time player, but if they hold onto both picks, going after Chris Duarte with one of them seems like a given.
Duarte has made a name for himself with the Oregon Ducks over the years because of his ability to be a high-level, impact defender. Standing about 6’6”, he has the size and length to be a great defender at the NBA level and given that three-point shooting is a strength of his game, he will fit the “3-and-D” philosophy that NBA teams search for perfectly.
Given that Chris Duarte is soon to be 24-years-old and is pretty much fully developed in terms of the kind of player he will be, some of the teams drafting earlier will overlook the type of impact he will bring to the NBA, which is why he will likely fall in the laps of the New York Knicks, who should be thrilled to get a guy like Duarte in their backcourt.
