2021 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: How the picks should fall

Kai Jones, NBA Mock Draft (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Kai Jones, NBA Mock Draft (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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2021 NBA Mock Draft — 25. Isaiah Todd, LA Clippers

The Clippers strike on the upside of a former five-star recruit in Isaiah Todd, who spent last season with potential top-5 picks Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga on the G-League Ignite team. While Todd experienced his share of struggles, he is still a first-round talent.

Reggie Jackson may have outpriced himself in free agency, while Rajon Rondo is not very good. The Clippers could use some offense in the second unit. Todd is not a point guard — he’s a wing, standing 6-foot-10 with springboard athleticism and wiry arms — but he’s a gifted above-rim finisher and shooter, who can immediately give the Clippers’ a scoring boost in the second unit.

It may take time for Todd to fully unlock his skill set in the NBA, and he will have to show more focus on defense to truly crack LA’s rotation in year one. That said, the Clippers have Paul George and (when healthy) Kawhi Leonard, who can remove any outsized playmaking burden from Todd’s plate. He can focus on slashing and shooting and using his athleticism where it’s needed. The Clippers’ recent track record with player development makes Todd an especially strong fit.