NBA Mock Draft 6.0: Is anyone’s ceiling higher than Anthony Edwards?

There was a time where Maxey was among the top prospects on our Big Board, even garnering arguments as a potential No. 1 pick. He’s settled in at No. 9 on the latest iteration but slides a bit more here, just because of team needs and my desire to keep things interesting. Maxey offers very strong on- and off-ball defense and good potential as a complementary scorer and creator. His actual skill level as a shooter is probably much higher than what he showed at Kentucky but he’ll still need to prove it at the next level.

The Pelicans are a really fun fit to imagine for Maxey, because of their style of play and the pieces around him. Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday are both big point guards who can defend up a position or two, meaning Maxey would work in a backcourt alongside either of them. In those combinations, he could focus on running opposing point guards ragged with aggressive point-of-attack defense and relentless off-ball movement at the other end. Ball and Zion Williamson are also the foundation for an epic transition attack and Maxey would be a perfect addition in the open court.

Learn more about Tyrese Maxey with our full scouting report.