NBA Draft: Is Corey Kispert a lottery pick?

The 2021 NBA Draft is coming up on Thursday, July 29, and many of college basketball’s biggest stars are set to become millionaires when their names are announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

One of the players we're monitoring most closely is Gonzaga product Corey Kispert. The talented sharpshooter has emerged as a possible lottery pick, and his Over/Under projection at TwinSpires Sports has been set at 14.5.

Kispert's outside shooting makes him a valuable commodity

Kispert wasn’t a bonafide superstar for the Bulldogs as they made their run to the NCAA title game this past season. However, he was a vital piece of the puzzle for Mark Few & Co. He averaged nearly 19 points per game while shooting almost 53% from the floor and making 44% of his three-point attempts. The 6’7” wing also added five rebounds per game.

Kispert is considered by many to be the best outside shooter in this year’s draft class. Given that it sure seems as though there’s plenty of talent on the board this time around, that is not a small statement. Even though he’s a college senior, which can sometimes be seen as a red flag, praise has come from all corners of the basketball world when Kispert’s perimeter game is discussed.

It’s no secret the NBA is a 3-point shooter’s paradise. Philosophies like "pace and space" are commonplace, and Kispert could slide right in. The question, though, is whether any team with a top 14 pick is actively targeting Kispert.

Golden State is eyeing Kispert

The Golden State Warriors boast a pair of lottery picks, and their style of play would fit Kispert like a glove. What the Warriors will do with the seventh and 14th picks is a mystery, and if they trade up on draft night, that obviously doesn’t bode well.

However, if they stay in those spots, Kispert would be a strong pick at No. 14. In that scenario, the Under covers at +130, and that’s a big reason I lean in that particular direction.

NBA Draft Pick: UNDER 14.5 (+130)