23. Portland Trail Blazers (via New York Knicks) – Colby Jones, G, Xavier
In this hypothetical scenario, the Portland Trail Blazers have Victor Wembanayma and will now need to fill out their roster around Damian Lillard. One player that would make sense as an NBA-ready contributor in this year’s NBA Trade class is Colby Jones. As one of the most productive draft prospects, Jones would be a player that the Blazers could lean on late in the first round.
He proved that he can be a playmaker, create his own shot, and hit the 3-ball on a consistent basis. If he can’t carve out a role next to a generational talent such as Victor and Lillard, perhaps he’s not an NBA player.
24. Sacramento Kings – Noah Clowney, F, Alabama
The Sacramento Kings made such great strides this season. The question moving forward for this franchise is whether or not they can continue to improve their roster to become a perennial playoff team (and, hopefully, eventually a contender) in the Western Conference. They’ll need to find a gem late in the first round.
And perhaps Noah Clowney could fit that role for the Kings. Clowny didn’t play a featured role with the Crimson Tide this past season but proved that he could be a contributor and a winning player.