2021 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Chicago Bulls leap up the lottery, land their next big star
By Ian Levy
2. player. 169. . Big. Houston Rockets. Evan Mobley
Mobley is the clear second-best prospect in this class, with the potential to be a two-way star. The Rockets are in the process of building from scratch and need to focus on best player available, easing any concerns about potential overlap between Mobley and the 25-year-old Christian Wood, who just signed a three-year, $41 million deal with Houston.
Mobley is a legit 7-footer with elite shot-blocking instincts but the mobility and fluidity to defend in space or step out and switch onto smaller players on the perimeter. He averaged 5.2 blocks and 1.4 steals per 100 possessions this season and there’s every reason to think he could be a disruptive defensive centerpiece at the next level.
On offense, he can score inside and out, pulling up, spacing out to the elbows, beating his man off the dribble and beating mismatches with his back to the basket. He’s also an excellent passer and likely has a future working with cutters and curling guard around the elbows. For a team like Houston, he’s a great starting point for the rebuild with star potential but the kind of versatility to slot lots of different kinds of other players around him.