By Hocine Loukkaf on 12/14/2021

Bothered by an injury earlier in the season, Cade is slowly proving why he was drafted at #1. Yet, Barnes and Mobley are still at the top of the ranking once again joined by the do-it-all Wagner.

Scottie Barnes, 6-8 SF/PF Toronto Raptors
Stats : 15.1pts 8.2rbds 3.2as  1bl 1.2st

Barnes has been solid over the last month and a half with only three games under 40% combining 16/43 from three over the period. He has been even better in December as the Raptors had important wins against the Bucks, the Wizards and the Knicks as the former Seminole has averaged 14pts 8rbds 2.2bl and a stunning 5 a/to ratio with only 3tos during that stretch.

Evan Mobley, 7-0 PF/C Cleveland Cavaliers
Stats : 13.8pts 8.3rbds 2.5as 1.8bl

With seven games with at least 11pts and 45% FG to start November, including a four-game-streak with at least 16pts and a combined 10/13 from three, Mobley then hit a wall with an awful 1pt game against Boston on 0/11 FG. Since then, he has been less consistent with five of the last ten games under 42% FG games but only two losses for the Cavs.

Franz Wagner, 6-10 SF/PF Orlando Magic
Stats : 14.3pts 4.4rbds 2.8as 39% 3pt

17.6pts 5.4rbds 4.2as on 49.6% FG and 47% 3pt, these could be ROTY’s numbers and that’s what Wagner has been averaging over the last ten games. The German forward has been filling the statsheet and shooting like nobody, recording 10/17 from three over the last six games, fresh from his best scoring game with 27pts 6rbds 5as against the Sixers. He has turned into a real outsider for ROTY trophy.

Cade Cunningham, 6-7 PG/SG Detroit Pistons
Stats : 15.8pts 6.2rbds 4.6as

Despite a 12 game-loss-streak, Cunningham has been much better during the last eight games as he recorded multiple 20+pt games including 28pts 11rbds 5as against the Thunder on 6/11 from three or 26pts 8rbds 6as against Brooklyn on 5/8 from three. Cunningham still needs to cut down on his turnovers (he recorded the same number of assists and turnovers over the last five games)  and improve his efficiency inside the 3pt line as his 3pt % is way better than his 2pt %.

Alperen Sengun, 6-9 C Houston Rockets
Stats : 9.1pts 4.6rbds 2.7as

Playing for the surprising Rockets (eight wins over the last ten games), Sengun has been his usual consistent self, averaging 9.7pts and 4.2rbds on 54% FG/78% FT over the last ten games. The Turkish big man has been an elite contribution from the  bench, above all for someone that young and may have a lot of upside left to display.

Josh Giddey, 6-8 PG OKC Thunder
Stats : 10.4pts 6.7rbds 5.8as

With eleven games with 40% or less FG since the last report, Giddey has still a lot of work to do to stabilize his offense. His 3pt shooting has been awful with under 25% 3pt on 3+ attempts per game. Last but not least, he has struggled averaging a 2 a/to ratio in November and December has been worse with 24as for 16tos as of now. Once that said, Giddey’s gigantic size at his position and talent make him a special player but a lot has to be fixed so that he becomes an efficient player.

Davion Mitchell, 6-2 PG Sacramento Kings
Stats : 9.6pts 3.6as

Despite struggling badly with his offensive efficiency in November (seven games under 30% FG), Mitchell may have found the secret with 40% or more FG in five of the last six games. During the same stretch, he has shot 10/20 from three and posted a 4 a/to ratio.

Chris Duarte, 6-6 SG Indiana Pacers
Stats : 12.9pts 4rbds 2.1as

Relying heavIly on his 3pt shot, Duarte has seen his 3pt % drop from 39% in October to 35% in November and now a very poor 23% in six games in December. The Dominican still averages 12pts during that stretch with 40+% FG. If he can be consistent at 35+% from three, he and the struggling Pacers could find more success in the coming months.

Herbert Jones, 6-7 SF/PF New Orleans Hornets
Stats : 6.9pts 3.3rbds 1.8as 0.9bl 1.4st

Strange situation as the Hornets have given their 2nd rounder more playing time than their 17th pick, Trey Murphy, to play at the same spot. Jones may not be the flashiest but has been very solid with 8.3pts 1.2bl and 1.9st on 42% 3pt in 30min over the last ten games. jones must become more consistent (four of the last ten games with 33% or less FG) but has the tols to be a deFensive Swiss knife.

Jalen Green, 6-5 SG Houston Rockets/Jalen Suggs, 6-4 PG/SG Orlando Magic

Both top five picks have been injured lately. They have been better than most rookies scoring the ball but could be far more efficient, Green shooting a poor 40% FG and 27% 3pt in November while Suggs averaged an even worse 36% FG and 26% 3pt.

Click below for ou latest mock draft.

http://www.weballin.net/2021/11/30/2022-nba-mock-draft-2-banchero-takes-a-little-lead-over-holmgren/