41. Orlando Magic: Jevon Carter PG West Virginia
Big Board Rank: 49
The Magic take a more NBA ready and defensive minded point guard, so they’re not forced to just throw Trevon Duval into the fire. Jevon Carter is second in the nation in steals at 3 a game.
42. Detroit Pistons: Tyus Battle SG Syracuse
Big Board Rank: 44
The Detriot Pistons are 24th in the league in points per game. This is their only projected pick in the draft, so the Pistons draft the absolute best fit for their needs. With Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond the Pistons should be looking for more wing offense.
Tyus Battle has great for a wing at 6’7″ and is averaging 20.1 points per game at Syracuse. He has been a high level volume scorer, but it will be important for Battle to be able to score efficiently in a much lower volume.
43. Houston Rockets: Billy Preston PF Bosnia
Big Board Rank: 52
Much like the Pistons the Rockets first, and only projected pick comes in the middle of the second round. Some of the Rockets players that aren’t under contract this year include Chris Paul, Trevor Ariza, and Clint Capela. With stars like Clint Capela and Chris Paul possibly leaving and a role player like Trevor Ariza the Rockets are going to need all their cap space possible to resign these guys.
That’s why the Rockets draft Billy Preston who has first round talent, but is extremely raw. Preston was a McDoanld’s All American who was suspended at Kansas regarding a car that was supposedly bought for him by somebody close to the program. Preston never saw the floor and is now in Bosnia playing. He’s only on a contract through the rest of the season, but I believe the Rockets can persuade him to stay an extra year or two since they are finals contenders.
44. Utah Jazz: Jared Vanderbilt PF Kentucky
Big Board Rank: 43
The Jazz look to add potential and depth here at the forward position with Jared Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt sat out the first half of the year for Kentucky. He has a unique ability to handle the ball with his size, but doesn’t shoot well at all.
45. Denver Nuggets: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk SG Kansas
Big Board Rank: 39
The Nuggets look to add another shooter for Jokic to play with on top of Jacob Evans. Svi is still relatively young and shoot very well at the combine last year, but was horrible on defensively.