CSNNEs A. Sherrod Blakely posted his first official pre-lottery mock draft Monday. Unlike some of the other mock drafts out now, ESPN for example, Blakely has the C's taking Croatian 18-year-old Dragan Bender. Predictably, Blakely had Ben Simmons going first to Philadelphia and Brandon Ingram headed to the Lakers second overall.
Most mock drafts I've seen have shifted away from the Bender idea and favored Kentucky Guard Jamal Murray with the third pick. Bender has struggled to earn significant playing time this season as Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball SuperLeague but, according to scouts, has shown great potential through his athleticism and feel for the game as a 7'1" center with above-average athleticism and a floor-stretching shooting stroke.