Now that the NCAA withdrawal deadline is over, we have full confirmation of every player in the NBA draft next month. Rick Barnes' player development has always been very good, but this might be one of his best draft classes ever. Tennessee has three players in the draft this year, and all three are expected to be selected, with Nate Ament projected to go in the lottery.
Tankathon has released its updated mock draft, so let’s take a look at where they think the Vols will land.
Nate Ament, SF
The mock draft has Nate Ament going No. 11 overall to the Golden State Warriors. In my opinion, that would be a very strong landing spot for him. Golden State needs a versatile forward on the roster, and with all of their upcoming free agency questions, with Draymond Gerween and Porzingis, Ament could provide a solid secondary scoring option. Obviously, he would not be expected to star right away, and he would get the chance to develop under a veteran coaching staff alongside one of the greatest shooters of all time, Stephen Curry.
On the flip side, Nate Ament could also end up being used as a valuable trade chip if Golden State decides to go all-in for one last championship run. Obviously, that would be unfortunate for Ament, but it’s definitely not out of the realm of possibility.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie, PG
Next, Ja'Kobi Gillespie is projected to be drafted No. 46 overall by the Orlando Magic. This is a solid landing spot, as Orlando needs more scoring on its roster. The Magic famously scored just 19 points in the second half of a playoff game against the Pistons after blowing a 24-point lead and eventually losing the series.
Outside of Paolo Banchero, nobody on Orlando could consistently get a bucket. Gillespie has proven he can be a savvy scorer, and his game should translate to the next level. He won't ever be an SGA-type scorer, but he can run the second unit and occasionally put up 20 points. Gillespie is worth a second-round flyer, especially for a team that struggled to put the ball in the hoop.
Felix Okpara, C
One of the biggest risers in this year’s NBA Draft has been former Vol center Felix Okpara. Tankathon has him projected at No. 50 overall to the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA last year, so why not try to get even better? If Toronto wants to move on from Sandro Mamukelashvili, who they don't have ther bird rights to, Okpara could be the guy to fill in behind Jakob Poeltl at a cheaper rate.
Felix Okpara is one of those players who does all the little things that make him valuable, which is why teams will love adding him to their frontcourt next year. He had a really good NBA Combine and is a player who provides something every NBA team can use: rim protection and rebounding.
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