Jalen Johnson explains why he left Duke early, and why he thinks he’ll thrive in the NBA

Jalen Johnson (1) of the Duke Blue Devils shoots the ball against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on January 23, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images/TNS)

The Pistons come out as the big winners of this draft because they are in position to select Cunningham, a generational talent who can make an immediate impact. He enters the NBA with a rare blend of size (6-foot-8), playmaking and scoring ability. At 19, he plays with the patience and vision of a seasoned vet and can provide balance to Detroit's lineups. He's a seamless fit on most teams and could make things easier for the Pistons' other perimeter players.

Although Cunningham is widely considered the top player in the draft, there's an argument to be made for Mobley. At 7-foot, 215 pounds, Mobley can shoot, make plays off the dribble and is quick-footed defensively. He's lean, but that didn't stop him from averaging 8.7 rebounds and, at just 19, he should bulk up with time.

The Cavaliers are in a spot to potentially trade down because the top two players expected to be on the board — Green and Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs — both play guard and Cleveland recently drafted its starting backcourt in Colin Sexton and Darius Garland. With so many other needs, Cleveland could try to trade this pick for more first-round picks. Either way, Green figures to be the pick at No. 3 — regardless of who makes it. Some teams might prefer Suggs, but Green's scoring upside is rare.

Besides the Pistons, no team is a bigger winner than the Raptors, who moved up three spots on lottery night into position to nab one of the top four players in this draft. Suggs is an ideal fit in Toronto. His competitiveness, playmaking and defensive versatility could potentially replace free agent Kyle Lowry, and help complete a young core of Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.

Kuminga, 18, is the rawest prospect in this top group but his combination of size, athleticism and ball-handling make him as intriguing a player as any. His upside is unlimited, and even though he struggled at times in the G League, the Magic are rebuilding and could be in a place to give him enough time to round out his game.

There's a player who gets compared to Draymond Green in every draft, and this year it's Barnes. But among the would-be Greens, Barnes may be the closest fit. At 6-foot-9, 225 pounds, Barnes is listed as a forward but played point guard for the Seminoles. He averaged 4.2 assists and guarded every position. Though he struggles to make outside shots (29.7% on 37 3-point attempts last season), he does everything else at a good-to-high level.

The Warriors should be approaching this draft with one goal in mind: finding players who can crack the rotation right away. This is a team that aims to return to the playoffs and reclaim its status as one of the top teams in the West. Nail this draft, and that becomes much more realistic. Mitchell, 22, is a dogged competitor. He plays bigger than his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame, raises his game in the most important moments and can be a floor spacer (44.7% from 3-point range as a junior) and facilitator (5.5 assists per game) off the bench. A second unit that features Mitchell and Jordan Poole running the court with James Wiseman is well-balanced. Mitchell is strong enough defensively to share the floor with Steph Curry, as well.

If the Warriors don't select Mitchell at No. 7, they should consider Wagner. A smart, versatile defender who can make spot-up 3-pointers and keep the ball moving, Wagner has limited upside but figures to be a utility guy off the bench. Best-case scenario, he ends up as this draft's Joe Ingles. He's also a capable passer who can make plays against a scrambling defense. He'd thrive in Steve Kerr's system. Here, he ends up on the Magic.

The Kings are itching to get back into the playoffs, and Kispert can do things that help their lineups with De'Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton and Marvin Bagley III click into place. Kispert is a high basketball IQ, competitive player who can knock down 3-pointers and — at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds — defend multiple positions. At 22, he's among the older players in the draft and doesn't have a great handle or athletic upside, but he's solid.

One of the best athletes in college basketball, it's easy to imagine Johnson running the floor in transition with Zion Williamson in New Orleans. Johnson didn't commit to playing organized basketball until high school so some parts of his game still need refining, most notably his jumper (26.1% from deep, 70.7% on free throws). But he's physically gifted, a versatile defender and shows enough flashes on offense to take him here.

Jones is a high-risk, high-reward player. At 6-foot-11, 218 pounds, he's shown glimpses of being a modern big who can shoot, pass and defend on the perimeter. He shot 34.5% on 58 3-point attempts and converted on 67% of his free throws in two years at Texas. The Hornets will need to find a stopgap at center, but Jones has the potential to be their big man of the future.

With an impressive combination of size and strength — at 6-foot-9, 220 pounds — Johnson is a versatile defender who projects to be able to guard positions 1-5. Offensively, his skills are raw, but he shows good instincts for playmaking and just needs to polish up his jumper.

With the 14th pick, the Warriors need to select someone who can contribute right away. With two young players (Wiseman and the seventh pick) already ahead of this player in the pecking order, there won't be enough time to develop a raw prospect. So Golden State could go with Duarte here, a 6-foot-6 wing who, at 23, could have the impact of a free-agent addition rather than a draft pick. He's a 42% 3-point shooter who hustles and has good instincts on defense. He won't need a ton of minutes to make his mark.