Jaime Jaquez a first-round NBA Draft pick in ESPN's post-lottery mock
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is projected to be taken in the first round of next month’s NBA Draft.
In Jonathan Givony’s post-lottery mock draft for ESPN, the former UCLA star is projected to be taken by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 30th pick in the draft. It’d be quite the move for Jaquez, allowing him to stay right at home and even continue to watch his sister, Gabriela, with the UCLA women’s basketball team.
Givony wrote this on Jaquez’s prospects with the Clippers:
With one of the league’s highest payrolls and entering a highly restrictive environment for adding talent dictated by the new CBA, the Clippers will need to find contributors in the draft to bolster their depth. Jaquez was one of the best players in college basketball and looks like a plug-and-play option who can contribute to winning immediately with his feel for the game, defensive acumen and ability to play a variety of roles. The Clippers will be well-acquainted with Jaquez after getting a front-seat view of the stellar career he had down the street in Westwood.
Givony also has Amari Bailey being taken 42nd overall by the Washington Wizards and Adem Bona being taken two spots later by the San Antonio Spurs.
Most seem to be in agreement that Jaquez will be a late first-rounder next month. It’ll be interesting to gauge how his stock changes once the NBA Draft Combine finishes up in Chicago, though.
Jaquez is in The Windy City this week for the Combine, and actually blew reporters away during the athletic testing portion of the event early in the week.
Jaquez was among the leaders in early testing of both the running and standing vertical jumps — tied for sixth in running with a 39-inch vert, and tied for third in standing with a 34.5-inch vert.
UCLA's Jaime Jaquez probably not someone most people thought would test as one of most explosive vertical athletes at the draft. 39 inch vertical leap. https://t.co/nwH45jXURD
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 15, 2023
UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. got after it at the #NBACombine #NBA@jaquez_jr, the 2022-23 @pac12 Player of the Year, is one of the best Mexican American college basketball players in history:
— Our Esquina (@OurEsquina) May 16, 2023