From blockbuster trades to shocking lottery picks, our experts break down everything from a wild draft night.
The first three picks of the 2021 NBA draft went as planned: Cade Cunningham to the Detroit Pistons, Jalen Green to the Houston Rockets and Evan Mobley to the Cleveland Cavaliers. But then, starting with the fourth pick, chaos ensued, with intriguing selections and draft-night trades taking over the spotlight.
The Toronto Raptors surprised many by selecting Florida State’s Scottie Barnes with the No. 4 pick, and the Oklahoma City Thunder used their high lottery pick, No. 6, to make the first international selection of the draft, selecting Australia’s Josh Giddey.
Then, the blockbuster: The Los Angeles Lakers added former MVP Russell Westbrook to their roster in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, along with future draft picks.
First Round:
1 Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State (story)
2 Houston Rockets: Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite (story)
3 Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley, F/C, USC (story)
4 Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State (story)
5 Orlando Magic: Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga
6 Oklahoma City Thunder: Josh Giddey, G, Australia
7 Golden State Warriors (from Timberwolves): Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite
8 Orlando Magic (from Bulls): Franz Wagner, F, Michigan
9 Sacramento Kings: Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor
10 Memphis Grizzlies (from Pelicans): Ziaire Williams, G, Stanford
11 Charlotte Hornets: James Bouknight, G, UConn
12 San Antonio Spurs: Joshua Primo, G, Alabama
13 Indiana Pacers: Chris Duarte, G, Oregon
14 Golden State Warriors: Moses Moody, G/F, Arkansas
15 Washington Wizards: Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga
16 Houston Rockets (from Celtics via Thunder): Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey
17 New Orleans Pelicans (from Grizzlies): Trey Murphy, G, Virginia
18 Oklahoma City Thunder (from Heat): Tre Mann, G, Florida
19 Charlotte Hornets (from Knicks): Kai Jones, F/C, Texas
20 Atlanta Hawks: Jalen Johnson, F, Duke
21 Los Angeles Clippers (from Mavericks via Knicks): Keon Johnson, G/F, Tennessee
22 Indiana Pacers (from Lakers via Wizards): Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky
23 Houston Rockets (from Trail Blazers): Usman Garuba, F, Spain
24 Houston Rockets (from Bucks): Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State
25 New York Knicks (from Clippers): Quentin Grimes, G, Houston
26 Denver Nuggets: Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland, G, VCU
27 Brooklyn Nets: Cameron Thomas, G, LSU
28 Philadelphia 76ers: Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee
29 Brooklyn Nets (from Suns): Day’Ron Sharpe, C, North Carolina
30 Memphis Grizzlies (from Jazz): Santi Aldama, F/C, Loyola (MD)
Second Round:
1 Washington Wizards (from Rockets via Bucks and Pacers): Isaiah Todd, F, G League Ignite
2 Oklahoma City Thunder (from Pistons via Knicks): Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F, Villanova
3 Los Angeles Clippers (from Magic): Jason Preston, G, Ohio
4 New York Knicks (from Thunder): Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Lithuania
5 New Orleans Pelicans (from Cavaliers): Herb Jones, F, Alabama
6 New York Knicks (from Timberwolves via Thunder): Miles McBride, G, West Virginia
7 Charlotte Hornets (from Raptors via Pistons): JT Thor, F, Auburn
8 Chicago Bulls (from Pelicans): Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois
9 Sacramento Kings: Neemias Queta, C, Utah State
10 Utah Jazz (from Bulls via Pelicans and Grizzlies): Jared Butler, G, Baylor
11 San Antonio Spurs: Joe Wieskamp, F, Iowa
12 Detroit Pistons (from Hornets): Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan
13 Portland Trail Blazers (from Wizards via Pelicans): Greg Brown, F, Texas
14 Brooklyn Nets (from Pacers): Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine
15 Boston Celtics: Juhann Begarin, G, France
16 Toronto Raptors (from Grizzlies): Dalano Banton, G, Nebraska
17 Toronto Raptors (from Warriors): David Johnson, G, Louisville
18 Atlanta Hawks (from Heat): Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn
19 Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks): Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton
20 Philadelphia 76ers (from Knicks): Filip Petrusev, F, Serbia
21 Los Angeles Clippers (from Trail Blazers via Grizzlies and Pelicans): Brandon Boston, G, Kentucky
22 Detroit Pistons (from Lakers): Luka Garza, C, Iowa
23 Philadelphia 76ers (from Mavericks via Pelicans): Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky
24 Milwaukee Bucks (via Pacers): Sandro Mamukelashvili, C, Seton Hall
25 Oklahoma City Thunder (from Nuggets): Aaron Wiggins, G/F, Maryland
26 Charlotte Hornets (from Clippers): Scottie Lewis, G, Florida
27 Detroit Pistons (from Nets via Hornets): Balsa Koprivica, C, Florida State
28 New York Knicks (from Sixers): Jericho Sims, F, Texas
29 Brooklyn Nets (from Suns): RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State
30 Milwaukee Bucks (from Jazz via Pacers): Georgios Kalaitzakis, G, Greece
