SI Thunder: 2021 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0

With the 2021 NBA Draft taking place on July 29, SI Thunder drops the first edition of their big board.

Nick Crain | May 24, 2021

The Oklahoma City Thunder will have two quality first round picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, it's just a matter of where those picks fall at this point. With that in mind, Nick Crain of SI Thunder has dropped the first edition of the InsideTheThunder.com big board.

Keep in mind, this isn't a mock draft or what order we think players will be drafted in. This is a big board of who we think the top prospects are based on their NBA potential.

Let's take a look at our top 15 prospects in the 2021 class with just over two months until the draft. Over the coming weeks, the team will further break down each of these prospects and more individually.

1. Cade Cunningham

Scouting Report:

Cade Cunningham is the safe bet for the top prospect in the entire 2021 class. A 6-foot-8 point guard with the tools to be elite on both ends of the floor isn't something that comes along every day.

Player Comps:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic

2. Jonathan Kuminga

NBA G League — Mary Holt / USA TODAY Sports

Scouting Report:

While he's projected to go fourth or fifth in the 2021 NBA Draft, Jonathan Kuminga has the ceiling to be the second-best player in the class. At 18 years old, the 6-foot-8 wing has the potential to turn into the superstar wing that every championship team needs if he can develop a jump shot.

Player Comps:

Kyle Kuzma, Pascal Siakam, Jeff Green

3. Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley, Corey Kispert — Robert Deutsch / USA TODAY Sports

Scouting Report:

Evan Mobley is without question the best big man in this class. A 7-footer, he has the versatility to dominate inside but can also bring the ball up the floor and knock down jumpers.

Player Comps:

Chris Bosh, Jaren Jackson Jr.

4. Jalen Green

Scouting Report:

When it comes to offensive talent, look no further than Jalen Green in this class. He feels like a safe bet to average 20 points a night early in his NBA career, but the development of the rest of his game will determine his ceiling.

Player Comps:

Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell

5. Jalen Suggs

Scouting Report:

Jalen Suggs is a winner that gets things done on both ends of the floor. Making big plays in the spotlight his entire life, Suggs projects to be a do-it-all combo guard in the NBA that truly makes a positive impact.

Player Comps:

Jrue Holiday, Jamal Murray, Jaylen Brown

6. Scottie Barnes

Scouting Report:

In terms of defensive upside, Scottie Barnes jumps off the page. While his offensive game needs quite a bit of work, Barnes could legitimately guard all five positions at the next level with his 6-foot-9 frame.

Player Comps:

OG Anunoby, Draymond Green, Justise Winslow

7. Josh Giddey

Adam Silver 2019 NBA Draft — Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports

Scouting Report:

Josh Giddey should be the first international prospect taken off the board on draft night. Another 6-foot-8 point guard, the 18-year-old is one of the better playmakers in this class.

Player Comps:

Lonzo Ball, Shake Milton, Joe Ingles

8. Jalen Johnson

Scouting Report:

An absolute force in transition, Jalen Johnson is a walking highlight reel. Cutting his college career short was an interesting move that could affect his draft stock, but he's still the perfect NBA wing prospect if he can polish off his offensive game.

Player Comps:

RJ Barrett, Khris Middleton, Aaron Gordon

9. Keon Johnson

Scouting Report:

One of the most athletic guards in the upcoming draft, Keon Johnson has moved up draft boards quietly over the past six months. While he projects to be a solid defender, he will need to put more work on his offensive game to make it more well-rounded.

Player Comps:

Miles Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Malik Beasley

10. Moses Moody

Scouting Report:

A versatile 6-foot-8 wing, Moses Moody seems like a really safe pick to be a solid contributor for a long time in the NBA. With him, it comes down to what type of player he could turn into, with his overall offensive game still being unproven.

Player Comps:

Mikal Bridges, Khris Middleton

11. Davion Mitchell

Scouting Report:

For the majority of the last college basketball season, Davion Mitchell was projected to be a late first-round pick. However, after leading Baylor to a National Championship, his lockdown defense and improved offensive game have allowed him to skyrocket up boards.

Player Comps:

Marcus Smart, Patrick Beverly, Kemba Walker

12. Alperen Sengun

NBA Draft — Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports

Scouting Report:

Alperen Sengun is still just 18 years old and plays the traditional center position. A creative offensive player in the paint, he will need to prove that he can score from outside if he's going to fit in the modern NBA.

Player Comps:

Jusuf Nurkic, Enes Kanter

13. Sharife Cooper

Scouting Report:

If Sharife Cooper wasn't undersized at 6-foot-1, he might be a clear top-ten pick. Nonetheless, he absolutely stuffs the stat sheet and has the chance to generate a ton of offense for whoever picks him up in the draft.

Player Comps:

Trey Burke, Rajon Rondo, Jalen Brunson

14. Franz Wagner

Scouting Report:

The younger brother of Moritz Wagner, Franz Wagner stands at 6-foot-9 but has the ability to play a variety of positions. Whether he plays forward in a small ball lineup, or guard in a bigger lineup, he can help a team do a little bit of everything.

Player Comps:

Danilo Gallinari, Nic Batum

15. Kai Jones

Scouting Report:

While he's still a pretty raw prospect, Kai Jones has the defensive versatility to make an NBA All-Defense team one day. While he came off the bench in both of his college seasons, his potential upside as a prospect will earn him a first-round selection in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Player Comps:

Pascal Siakam, Christian Wood

Published May 24, 2021

NICK CRAIN

Nick has spent the last four seasons covering the Oklahoma City Thunder and has grown quickly in the media since starting. He’s continued to produce Thunder content through writing for Forbes.com and podcasting with The Uncontested Podcast, as well as branching out to cover the NBA as a whole for SLAM Online.