Another edition of our weekly 2017 NBA Mock Draft is up just as the NBA Finals wrapped up. With a week to go before the draft, it becomes tough to believe any information coming from ‘sources’. Josh Jackson is all of a sudden the favorite to go number two to the Lakers following news of the Lakers potentially passing on Lonzo Ball after reports all year of a mutual love affair. At this time of year, teams don’t want to give away any secrets and tips and the smoke screens arise. We’re going to try and work through the drama and just go with the most logical scenarios.
It’s important to note that some top international prospects have departed the draft and this new mock might look a tad different than last time. French big man Jonathan Jeanne is unlikely to be drafted following a Marfans syndrome diagnosis and Rodions Kurucs, a wingman out of Latvia, will forego the draft this year according to his agent.
With a week out we can watch who works out for who one last time and from there begin to make some conclusions. With that, we dive into another 2017 NBA Mock Draft, Post-NBA Finals edition.
2017 NBA Mock Draft: First Round
1) Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn)- PG Markelle Fultz (Washington)
Nothing has changed with Fultz being number one and nothing will change. The Celtics are the only team Fultz has worked out for although he is expected to meet with the Lakers soon. He wasn’t promised the first selection in his weekend meeting with the team but all signs point to it being a foregone conclusion.
2) Los Angeles Lakers- PG Lonzo Ball (UCLA)
All the talk is of Josh Jackson rising to this spot but not for us. Is Jackson the better player? I believe so but the fit is so much better for Ball here allowing Russell to slide to the ‘2’. Jackson and Ingram on the wings could be nice especially with Jackson’s defensive potential. The Lakers though feel like Paul George is their’s in the near future what good does clouding up the wing spots?
3) Philadelphia 76ers- SF Jayson Tatum (Duke)
Josh Jackson is the better prospect but Tatum is the better fit. Jackson’s best skills and biggest weaknesses are too similar to Ben Simmons. Tatum can slide into the vacant three spot and take most of the shots on a team in need of a wing scorer.
4) Phoenix Suns- SF Josh Jackson (Kansas)
This is the best fit for Jackson compared to the other top three teams. Selfishly with Jackson being one of my favorite players in this draft you hope he falls to the team who actually may need him the most. Adding Jackson alongside Devin Booker could be a match made in heaven on the wing.
5) Sacramento Kings- PG De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky)
Adding Fox at point guard next to Buddy Hield could be a solid partnership moving forward. With Fox’s dynamic ability to attack the paint and kick out to Hield on the wing could be a good match.
6) Orlando Magic- PG Dennis Smith (North Carolina State)
Smith rises up just outside the top with a week to go. The Magic need a star and Smith is the one player left in the top ten who has that potential. Smith’s athleticism and scoring is something that could completely change the fortunes of the Magic. He has motor issues, especially on defense but his potential is too tantalizing to pass up.
7) Minnesota Timberwolves- SF/PF Jonathan Isaac (Florida State)
Isaac gets to go to the perfect team for him. Isaac can slide between Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. A positive for Isaac in college was his ability to fit within the system and play a role, which is what he’d be asked to do in Minnesota. He doesn’t have to be a great scorer and he can worry about filling the stat sheet similar to a Draymond Green.
8) New York Knicks- PG Frank Ntilikina (France)
It seems like everyone has Ntilikina to the Knicks but it is actually a very good fit for both sides. The frenchman would be a great point guard fit in the triangle and his defensive ability would be welcomed on this Knicks team.
9) Dallas Mavericks- SG Malik Monk (Kentucky)
Some believe the Mavs draft Dirk’s replacement in Lauri Markkanen but the Mavs add some scoring punch in Malik Monk. A microwave scorer in college Monk will hope to translate that to the NBA even at the short heigh of 6’3 for a shooting guard. A potential backcourt of Seth Curry and Monk could be an intresting shooting but small and mediocre defensive backcourt.
10) Sacramento Kings (via New Orleans)- C Zach Collins (Gonzaga)
I really like this for the Kings, Collins and Cauley-Stein can form a new age twin towers look, plus Skal Labissiere still developing as a third big could be a scary young trio. Collins has the ability to step out which will compliment Cauley-Stein’s inability to score besides putbacks and rim runs. Collins and Cauley-Stein could form a very nice front court for the Kings, in time.
11) Charlotte Hornets- C Jarrett Allen (Texas)
Allen could be a guy who ultimately replaces Cody Zeller in the next year or two. Allen isn’t ready right now but in time with his potential, he should have no problem eventually overtaking Zeller for the center spot.
12) Detroit Pistons- PF Lauri Markkanen (Arizona)
Markkanen takes a dive in this mock after Collins and few other jump him inside the top ten. The Hornets consider him but they’re still developing a similar player in Frank Kaminsky and decide not to in this scenario. The Pistons happily take him to slide next to potentially pair as another shooting option to compliment Andre Drummond. They hope Drummond’s rebounding and defensive ability shield Markkanen there.
13) Denver Nuggets- PG Donovan Mitchell (Louisville)
Mitchell is flying up the draft boards based on his combine performance. Measuring at 6’3 with a 6’10 wingspan at the point guard position will do that to your stock. He has shown an ability to be a playmaker as well as play off the ball. Because of his wingspan, he has the length to play the one or two. If Mitchell continues to improve his shooting he has the chance to be a very good player.
14) Miami Heat- SF Justin Jackson (North Carolina)
Jackson could be a nice fit here at the end of the lottery for the Heat. He can slide in at the three and provide shooting in a league starving for it. Jackson still has his trademarked floater which should translate well to the league. Jackson and the Heat seem like a great marriage of player and team.
15) Portland Trail Blazers- PF John Collins (Wake Forrest)
The Blazers don’t have great options at the four spot currently. Collins had a meteoric rise this past year and with continued seasoning could be a solid player. Collins is the best player available in the first non-lottery selection. The Blazers are getting a solid rotational player for many years to come.
16) Chicago Bulls- SG Luke Kennard (Duke)
The Bulls need shooting, everyone knows it except maybe their front office. Right here the Bulls grab the best shooter in the draft and aren’t scared off by the previous Doug McDermott pick a few years back. Kennard could be a good fit off the bench similar to when the Bulls had Kyle Korver in the early part of the decade. Kennard has more to his offensive game than Korver and could eventually carve out a role similar to what J.J Redick. Kennard’s ability to shoot off the dribble and occasionally drive to the basket with his smooth hesitation and pump fake moves.
17) Milwaukee Bucks- SG/SF OG Anunoby (Indiana)
The Bucks love long, athletic, defensive-minded players and Anunoby fits that description better than anybody. The ability to add a potentially elite defender at 6’8″ with a huge wingspan is something the Bucks won’t pass up. Imagine the Greek Freak, Anunoby, and Thon Maker making up a future front court with Jabari Parker and Malcolm Brogdon on the wings. That is length no team will want a part of
18) Indiana Pacers- SG Terrance Ferguson (Australia)
The Pacers take a chance on a potential 3&D guy with elite athleticism. Ferguson is a little unknown after his year abroad but has shown his game on the Team USA stage over his high school career. He could immediately add shooting to this Pacers team off the bench for years to come in a young Nuggets J.R Smith role.
19) Atlanta Hawks- C Justin Patton (Creighton)
With Dwight Howard owning two more years on his deal, it’s time the Hawks go for the center of the future with no one else in mind. Patton is a guy not on the radar entering the year as a freshman and exploded onto the scene. He will need some time to develop, get stronger but when Howard’s deal is up Patton could slide in.
20) Portland Trail Blazers (via Memphis)- PF T.J Leaf (UCLA)
Leaf has shown the ability to stretch the defense at 6’10” while shooting 45% from three. This is a “best player available” pick as Leaf is a similar player to Meyers Leonard. With the Blazers owning three first round picks the latter two become BPA picks.
21) Oklahoma City Thunder- PF Tyler Lydon (Syracuse)
The Thunder needs shooting and with Nick Collison at the end of his career, there might be a spot in the frontline. The Thunder could use a backup at the power forward position outside of Sabonis who could start next year. Lydon fixes both issues as someone who can stretch the floor and play the four position.
22) Brooklyn Nets (via Washington)- PF Harry Giles (Duke)
The Nets probably won’t be good for awhile, so why not take a chance on a guy like Giles? At this position in the draft, Giles becomes a low risk/high reward guy. The reward could be great considering Giles was a consensus top three pick before his knee injuries. With the Nets giving Boston their top three pick, the Nets need to take a chance like this. They need to hope it nets them a star if Giles returns to his old form before his injury.
23) Toronto Raptors (via Los Angeles Clippers) SF Semi Ojeleye (SMU)
Ojeleye could be a nice depth piece on a Raptors team with not much wing depth. They are loaded at the one and down low but lack defensive depth on the wing. Ojeleye shot well from three in a small ball four roles and could be a nice player for the Raptors at this spot.
24) Utah Jazz- C Ike Anigbogu (Spain)
This could certainly be a situation where the Jazz pick best player available and if the big man from UCLA slips this far, they’d be silly to not select him. Anigbogu is a great compliment off the bench alongside either Derrick Favors or Trey Lyles. He’s going to be able to protect the rim, rebound the ball and eventually fine tune his ability to rim run on the break. He already has an NBA body and if he fine tunes what he’s good at, playing reserve minutes behind Rudy Gobert could be a dream come true for the Jazz.
25) Orlando Magic (via Toronto)- PF Ivan Rabb (Cal)
Rabb risked coming back for his sophomore year after being a projected lotto pick last year. It did not turn out great as his stock dropped after he showed little improvement in his game. His numbers improved because of more touches but not as drastically as many assumed they should or would.
26) Portland Trail Blazers (via Cleveland)- PF Bam Adebayo (Kentucky)
Many thought Bam would be a lottery pick entering the year but inconsistencies in his game hurt that. As a result, Bam is no longer thought of as a potential starter. He will need to commit to being a great energy big and sliding in as a backup behind Jusuf Nurkic could be interesting. He has shown an ability to hit a 15-foot jumper and will need to further make that consistently.
27) Brooklyn Nets (via Boston)- PG Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State)
Evans is seemingly a Chris Paul clone, same size, and similar game. He was the best pick and roll player in the entire country this past season and consistently carved defenses up. He won’t reach Chris Paul all-star status but similar to Tyler Ulis last year will be in the league as a nice backup point guard for a long time.
28) Los Angeles Lakers (via Houston)- C Tony Bradley (North Carolina)
Bradley was a surprise entry into the draft. He has not hired an agent and will decide on that after receiving feedback from the combine, but the clock is ticking. Bradley was a great offensive rebounder in his limited minutes on Carolina’s championship team. His potential is tantalizing at 6’10” with a 7’4″ wingspan. With a good combine showing he will move higher in the first round with possible lottery consideration.
29) San Antonio Spurs- PF Caleb Swanigan (Purdue)
The Spurs next Dejaun Blair is right here. All kidding aside Swanigan to the Spurs could be an interesting choice with his ability to rebound well and stretch the floor. Swanigan as a first rounder is 50/50 to most execs, but it only takes one team and the Spurs could be a potentially good fit.
30) Utah Jazz (via Golden State)- PF/C Isaiah Hartenstein (Germany)
A stretch foot seven footer gets picked and can play both the four and five spot. He is relatively young so he may stay over in Germany for a year or two. Hartenstein has a chance to play with Gobert or back him up at the five in time.
