I’ve wasted countless days just sitting in front of the Playstation drafting my fantasy teams in Madden, NBA 2K, and MLB the Show. So when Grey texted me about participating in a mock draft with the CBS crew, my response was THIS. Anyways, shout out to Chris Towers and the whole CBS and RotoWire crew for allowing me to participate. This particular mock was a H2H, 12-team, and 9-category draft. Now, mock drafts are a time to experiment and try new things, so the results have to be viewed in that context. With that said, they also provide a window into what the market thinks about certain players. When the participants are filled with people within the fantasy industry, you best pay attention.
The participants:
| PICK | NAME | AFFILIATION |
| 1 | Jeff Edgerton | RotoWire |
| 2 | Ben Miller | RotoWire |
| 3 | Mike Barner | RotoWire |
| 4 | Chris Towers | CBS Sports |
| 5 | Oscar’s Team | Unknown |
| 6 | Kyle McKeown | Basketball Monster |
| 7 | D.J. | Unknown |
| 8 | Son | Razzball |
| 9 | Joel B | RotoWire |
| 10 | Team 5 | Unknown |
| 11 | James Anderson | RotoWire |
| 12 | Alex Rikleen | RotoWire |
ROUND 1
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Jeff Edgerton | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2 | Ben Miller | Anthony Davis |
| 3 | Mike Barner | James Harden |
| 4 | Chris Towers | Karl-Anthony Towns |
| 5 | Oscar’s Team | Russell Westbrook |
| 6 | Kyle McKeown | Kevin Durant |
| 7 | D.J. | LeBron James |
| 8 | Son | Stephen Curry |
| 9 | Joel B | Nikola Jokic |
| 10 | Team 5 | Damian Lillard |
| 11 | James Anderson | Jimmy Butler |
| 12 | Alex Rikleen | Paul George |
In prior mocks, I’ve noticed big men being available later with guards and wings in shorter supply. Therefore, I wanted to start out guard heavy in this one and see how it turned out. I don’t hate that Curry fell to 8.
ROUND 2
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Alex Rikleen | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2 | James Anderson | Ben Simmons |
| 3 | Team 5 | Joel Embiid |
| 4 | Joel B | John Wall |
| 5 | Son | Victor Oladipo |
| 6 | D.J. | Andre Drummond |
| 7 | Kyle McKeown | Kyrie Irving |
| 8 | Oscar’s Team | DeMar DeRozan |
| 9 | Chris Towers | Chris Paul |
| 10 | Mike Barner | Jrue Holiday |
| 11 | Ben Miller | Kemba Walker |
| 12 | Jeff Edgerton | Kyle Lowry |
As mentioned above, I wanted to start with guards in this mock and see how it played out. Pairing Oladipo with Curry is sexy, but that George/Leonard start for Rikleen is nasty and Chris Towers got the perfect match with Towns/Paul.
ROUND 3
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Jeff Edgerton | Donovan Mitchell |
| 2 | Ben Miller | Bradley Beal |
| 3 | Mike Barner | Kevin Love |
| 4 | Chris Towers | Devin Booker |
| 5 | Oscar’s Team | Draymond Green |
| 6 | Kyle McKeown | Eric Bledsoe |
| 7 | D.J. | CJ McCollum |
| 8 | Son | Marc Gasol |
| 9 | Joel B | Rudy Gobert |
| 10 | Team 5 | Khris Middleton |
| 11 | James Anderson | Al Horford |
| 12 | Alex Rikleen | Gary Harris |
I’m not too concerned about Devin Booker’s injury and it looks like neither is Towers. The player that received the most buzz in this round was Kevin Love. Y’all know I’m bullish on him this season. Well, the rest of the guys were of the same opinion, as most were typing in the chat that they wished Love fell to them.
ROUND 4
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Alex Rikleen | Myles Turner |
| 2 | James Anderson | LaMarcus Aldridge |
| 3 | Team 5 | Gordon Hayward |
| 4 | Joel B | Paul Millsap |
| 5 | Son | Tobias Harris |
| 6 | D.J. | Nikola Vucevic |
| 7 | Kyle McKeown | Deandre Ayton |
| 8 | Oscar’s Team | Blake Griffin |
| 9 | Chris Towers | Clint Capela |
| 10 | Mike Barner | Klay Thompson |
| 11 | Ben Miller | Aaron Gordon |
| 12 | Jeff Edgerton | D’Angelo Russell |
I call this the Craig round, as three of his BFFs were selected: Blake Griffin, Aaron Gordon, and D’Angelo Russell. To be fair, though, he did mention on the pod that he felt the prices were too high on all of them. I was sad to see Ayton go this round, as I was thinking of drafting him in round 5. When I first started mocking a week ago, Ayton was going in the 6th round. Now, he’s in the 4th.
ROUND 5
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Jeff Edgerton | Goran Dragic |
| 2 | Ben Miller | Jamal Murray |
| 3 | Mike Barner | John Collins |
| 4 | Chris Towers | Mike Conley |
| 5 | Oscar’s Team | DeAndre Jordan |
| 6 | Kyle McKeown | Kris Dunn |
| 7 | D.J. | Zach LaVine |
| 8 | Son | Jarrett Allen |
| 9 | Joel B | Dennis Smith Jr. |
| 10 | Team 5 | Tyreke Evans |
| 11 | James Anderson | Steven Adams |
| 12 | Alex Rikleen | Josh Richardson |
I love both John Collins and Jarrett Allen. If you want them, this looks to be the area you have to pay. I really like Mike Conley this year and the fifth round seems like a great price.
ROUND 6
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Alex Rikleen | Lauri Markkanen |
| 2 | James Anderson | Ricky Rubio |
| 3 | Team 5 | Nikola Mirotic |
| 4 | Joel B | Nicholas Batum |
| 5 | Son | Luka Doncic |
| 6 | D.J. | Otto Porter |
| 7 | Kyle McKeown | Lonzo Ball |
| 8 | Oscar’s Team | Hassan Whiteside |
| 9 | Chris Towers | Harrison Barnes |
| 10 | Mike Barner | Julius Randle |
| 11 | Ben Miller | Robert Covington |
| 12 | Jeff Edgerton | Dwight Howard |
I want Doncic on every team and the 6th round seems to be the round he goes in every mock. Granted, that’s usually me selecting him there, but I’ve seen others take him in this area as well. I think this is the round where, if you want/need assists, you better get them here. I’ve received many questions regarding Julius Randle, so if you want him, there he goes in the 6th. The “metric whores,” Otto Porter and Robert Covington, both go in this round. I was curious to see how far they would fall. I do like Otto, but every draft is different.
ROUND 7
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Jeff Edgerton | Andrew Wiggins |
| 2 | Ben Miller | Will Barton |
| 3 | Mike Barner | Jeff Teague |
| 4 | Chris Towers | Kyle Anderson |
| 5 | Oscar’s Team | Jabari Parker |
| 6 | Kyle McKeown | Dejounte Murray |
| 7 | D.J. | Elfrid Payton |
| 8 | Son | Lou Williams |
| 9 | Joel B | Jusuf Nurkic |
| 10 | Team 5 | Joe Ingles |
| 11 | James Anderson | Brandon Ingram |
| 12 | Alex Rikleen | Brook Lopez |
The “hunting for assists” round? I’m very intrigued by Kyle Anderson this season, especially if he runs the point at times. I have Sweet Lou at 51 on my board, so I was happy to get a bonafide scorer here in the 7th.
ROUND 8
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Alex Rikleen | Reggie Jackson |
| 2 | James Anderson | Dario Saric |
| 3 | Team 5 | Jonas Valanciunas |
| 4 | Joel B | Trae Young |
| 5 | Son | Jonathan Isaac |
| 6 | D.J. | Jayson Tatum |
| 7 | Kyle McKeown | Taurean Waller-Prince |
| 8 | Oscar’s Team | De’Aaron Fox |
| 9 | Chris Towers | Jaren Jackson Jr. |
| 10 | Mike Barner | Enes Kanter |
| 11 | Ben Miller | Buddy Hield |
| 12 | Jeff Edgerton | Marvin Bagley III |
The 7th or 8th round seems to be the sweet spot for Isaac. I love him. Craig loves him. Hopefully he returns the love. Kanter, a double-dub machine, in the 8th. See? There are still big men down here. Here come the upside picks.
ROUND 9
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Jeff Edgerton | Rajon Rondo |
| 2 | Ben Miller | Serge Ibaka |
| 3 | Mike Barner | Tim Hardaway Jr. |
| 4 | Chris Towers | Evan Fournier |
| 5 | Oscar’s Team | Josh Jackson |
| 6 | Kyle McKeown | Mario Hezonja |
| 7 | D.J. | Kent Bazemore |
| 8 | Son | Jordan Bell |
| 9 | Joel B | Derrick Favors |
| 10 | Team 5 | JJ Redick |
| 11 | James Anderson | Al-Farouq Aminu |
| 12 | Alex Rikleen | Thaddeus Young |
Ding ding. Ding ding. I love Bell this season. That coincides with my hate for DeMarcus Cousins. Ok, hate is too strong of a word, but I’m definitely fading him. Obviously, if Cousins balls out, my Bell love will be unwarranted.
ROUND 10
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Alex Rikleen | Larry Nance Jr. |
| 2 | James Anderson | Eric Gordon |
| 3 | Team 5 | Carmelo Anthony |
| 4 | Joel B | Trevor Ariza |
| 5 | Son | Wendell Carter Jr. |
| 6 | D.J. | DeMarcus Cousins |
| 7 | Kyle McKeown | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson |
| 8 | Oscar’s Team | Collin Sexton |
| 9 | Chris Towers | Darren Collison |
| 10 | Mike Barner | Avery Bradley |
| 11 | Ben Miller | Allen Crabbe |
| 12 | Jeff Edgerton | DeMarre Carroll |
Speaking of DeMarcus Cousins. One of us is going to be wrong.
ROUND 11
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Jeff Edgerton | Frank Kaminsky |
| 2 | Ben Miller | DeWayne Dedmon |
| 3 | Mike Barner | Kyle Kuzma |
| 4 | Chris Towers | Markelle Fultz |
| 5 | Oscar’s Team | Jaylen Brown |
| 6 | Kyle McKeown | Willie Cauley-Stein |
| 7 | D.J. | Kristaps Porzingis |
| 8 | Son | Bogdan Bogdanovic |
| 9 | Joel B | Rodney Hood |
| 10 | Team 5 | Dennis Schroder |
| 11 | James Anderson | Domantas Sabonis |
| 12 | Alex Rikleen | Isaiah Thomas |
I was all set to select Fultz here, but Chris Towers beat me to him. I’m bullish on Fultz and am a believer in the Drew Hanlen magic. I’m good with Bog Bog, though, as I think he gets a ton of minutes and will contribute in threeecolas, points, steals, and provide around 3 dimes and 3 boards.
ROUND 12
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Alex Rikleen | Patrick Beverley |
| 2 | James Anderson | Caris LeVert |
| 3 | Team 5 | Malcolm Brogdon |
| 4 | Joel B | Kevin Knox |
| 5 | Son | Malik Monk |
| 6 | D.J. | Spencer Dinwiddie |
| 7 | Kyle McKeown | JaVale McGee |
| 8 | Oscar’s Team | James Johnson |
| 9 | Chris Towers | George Hill |
| 10 | Mike Barner | DJ Augustin |
| 11 | Ben Miller | Danilo Gallinari |
| 12 | Jeff Edgerton | Mohamed Bamba |
In honor of Craig, I selected Monk here. He may go undrafted in many drafts, as the default rankings have him buried. I like Dinwiddie down here as well.
ROUND 13
| PICK | NAME | PLAYER |
| 1 | Jeff Edgerton | Marcus Smart |
| 2 | Ben Miller | Dirk Nowitzki |
| 3 | Mike Barner | Stanley Johnson |
| 4 | Chris Towers | Nerlens Noel |
| 5 | Oscar’s Team | Rudy Gay |
| 6 | Kyle McKeown | Jeremy Lamb |
| 7 | D.J. | Taj Gibson |
| 8 | Son | Jakob Poeltl |
| 9 | Joel B | Marcin Gortat |
| 10 | Team 5 | Kelly Olynyk |
| 11 | James Anderson | Justise Winslow |
| 12 | Alex Rikleen | Boban Marjanovic |
I like the three big men down here in Noel, Poeltl, and Gortat. I am very much intrigued with Noel in OKC. Won’t surpass Adams on the depth chart, but could be a great fit and receive close to 20 mpg. Gortat should get a ton of run in LA and Poeltl could be a great source of boards and blocks late with upside, as Pau Gasol won’t get a ton of run.
