Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green Headline New ESPN 2021 NBA Mock Draft

While the 2020 NBA draft is considered one of the weakest in recent memory and shrouded in uncertainty because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 class appears to be the opposite.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony released an early 2021 mock draft Monday, highlighted by Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green. Givony writes that both players would likely have been top picks in 2020 if eligible.

Cunningham is committed to attend Oklahoma State, while Green announced earlier this month he will be part of a new G League Select Team based in Los Angeles.

USC commit Evan Mobley, undecided recruit Jonathan Kuminga and Stanford commit Ziaire Williams round out the top five.

Cunningham played for Montverde Academy in Florida, emerging as the consensus top player in the 2020 high school class. The combo guard is an elite off-the-dribble attacker, equipped with a fast first step that allows him to get to the rim and excellent passing vision. He's still a work in progress as a shooter but has an instinct for the game that sets him apart.

Green might wind up being the most famous face of this class after he decided to skip college and join the G League, where he'll make a six-figure salary as part of a new Select program. The standout from California's Prolific Prep is a three-level star with elite athleticism and a strong shooting stroke, the type of player who could easily challenge Cunningham as the top pick in the draft. While defense isn't necessarily Green's strength yet, he has the makings of an offensive superstar.

Givony also noted that the 2021 class should be deep, especially since some potential first-round picks returned to school amid uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic. He named Louisville's David Johnson, Florida swingmen Keyontae Johnson and Scottie Lewis, and UConn guard James Bouknight as returnees who might've played their way into Round 1 this year.