With the NBA regular season in the books, we have a clearer idea of where most teams will be picking in the NBA draft. With this, we can now begin somewhat predict where guys will go based on fit in this mock. Most of the movement among guys will be based on team need. The draft lottery will be announced on May 16th, where the first 14 picks will be clear.
(It’s important to note, for now, the final official draft order has not been selected. The 16 teams in the playoffs are in their drafting spot as their position is based on their finish in the standings.)
2017 NBA Mock Draft: Top 30 Prospects
1) Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn)- PG Markelle Fultz (Washington)
Best player in the draft, he’s been the clear number one pick for virtually the entire year. If Boston wins the lottery he can help take pressure off of Isaiah Thomas. Thomas has to do it for the Celtics to score and at 5’9″ is easily double teamed, especially in the playoffs.
2) Phoenix Suns- SF Josh Jackson (Kansas)
Josh Jackson would slide in well in the three spot next to Devin Booker on the wing. The Suns need a guy like this who can become a great defender with their atrocious defense. If the Suns won the lottery I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take Jackson first overall. With Bledsoe, Knight and rookie Tyler Ulis already on the team, another ball-dominant guard in Fultz may not make sense on a team starving for defenders.
3) Los Angeles Lakers- PG Lonzo Ball (UCLA)
Lonzo Ball is the guy the Lakers want, and it’s the team Ball wants to play for. With D’Angelo Russell already sliding to the two spot near the end of the year and thriving, Ball would be the perfect point guard to slide in next to him. Ball to the Lakers is probably the easiest selection in the draft.
4) Philadelphia 76ers- SF Jayson Tatum (Duke)
The Sixers feel Ben Simmons will be their point guard of the future even at 6’10” so they need wing scoring. Enter Jayson Tatum the best scorer in the draft. Tatum has a Paul Pierce/Carmelo Anthony vibe to his game. A smooth scorer, not a great shooter but a guy who can knock down shots. Tatum should slide in well on the wing on a team desperate for wing scoring.
5) Orlando Magic- PG De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky)
Fox helped himself in the NCAA Tournament bumping his stock into the top 5. Although the Magic already has a point guard who can’t shoot Fox is young enough to grow in that area. He shoots it well from the free throw line so the form is there. The Magic will take the best player available here and that is Fox.
6) Minnesota Timberwolves- Malik Monk (Kentucky)
Minnesota gets a shooter to help Zach Lavine. I’ve maintained all year Monk seems like a sixth man guy. With this team, he could grow into a Jamal Crawford role behind Wiggins and Lavine.
7) New York Knicks- PG Frank Ntilikina (France)
In Phil Jackson’s time as team President, he has not been afraid to take international prospects. Ntilikina is a nice point guard prospect to take over in the triangle if Derrick Rose doesn’t return. His defense is something the Knicks should covet. He also has shown the ability to knock down shots at a respectable clip.
8) Sacramento Kings- PG Dennis Smith (North Carolina State)
Smith has kind of fallen throughout the year from where he started. The Kings could use a floor general to mix with Buddy Hield. Smith with his explosiveness and penetration ability could be a good fit.
9) Dallas Mavericks- PF Lauri Markannen (Arizona)
Could Arizona’s seven foot Finn be the heir apparent to Dirk? Their games are similar but Markannen doesn’t have the ceiling Dirk did. At one point he was talked about as a top-five pick. Concerns about rebounding and toughness inside contributed to his stock dipping.
10) Sacramento Kings (via New Orleans)- SF/PF Jonathan Isaac (Florida State)
Isaac is the best player available here and could be a nice replacement to Rudy Gay. The Kings are loaded with two guards but their small forward position is lacking behind Gay. With Gay’s contract entering its last season this year Isaac could slide into a starting role his second year.
11) Charlotte Hornets- C Zach Collins (Gonzaga)
Collins stock has risen significantly from the beginning of March to now. At this point, he is the best guy available but will also need time to be seasoned. He can bide his time and learn behind Cody Zeller until he is ready to slide into that starting center role.
12) Detroit Pistons- SG Terrance Ferguson (Australia)
Ferguson could add some shooting here to the Pistons backcourt behind Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. His athleticism is enticing too as Ferguson is one of the best leapers in the class. A 3&D guy earlier in his career, it will be interesting to see if Ferguson develops a dribble-drive game as he progresses.
13) Denver Nuggets- SF Justin Jackson (North Carolina)
The Nuggets would be wise to bring in a guy like Jackson to slide into the three spot. Whether it’s starting immediately or back that position up early in his career. Jackson’s shooting and scoring ability as a role player would fit well on this Nuggets team on the wing.
14) Miami Heat- PF John Collins (Wake Forest)
Collins could be a nice fit here right along side Hassan Whiteside. Collins averaged 20 and nine in the ACC and showed off a respectable mid-range jumper. That jumper could be his way to play alongside Whiteside as Whiteside isn’t a guy who stretches the floor for the Heat.
15) Portland Trail Blazers- PG Donovan Mitchell (Louisville)
Mitchell began to fly up draft boards mid-season after his team’s point guard when out and he took over the duties. In that time Mitchell showed not only could he run a team but still produce scoring wise while at it. His shooting was much better this season and he kept that elite athleticism that made him well known as a freshman.
16) Chicago Bulls- C Jarrett Allen (Texas)
Allen slid down this mock a few spots with the last few teams being secure in the center spot. Chicago needs bigs and Allen is more talented than Felicio, Robin Lopez’s current backup. Allen may not be here at this pick if teams go best player available but the Bulls wouldn’t mind seeing him drop.
17) Milwaukee Bucks- SG/SF OG Anunoby (Indiana)
The Bucks love long athletic players and Anunoby fits that description better than anybody. The ability to add a potentially elite defender at 6’8″ with a 7’6″(!!!) wingspan is something the Bucks won’t pass up. Imagine the Greek Freak, Anunoby, and Thon Maker making up a future front court. That is length no team will want a part of.
18) Indiana Pacers- SG Luke Kennard (Duke)
Kennard’s ability to shoot has him just outside of the lottery and his shot making could be nice on a Pacers team who can struggle to shoot from the outside at times. Kennard has the chance to carve out a nice career for himself with his ability to shoot the basketball.
19) Atlanta Hawks- PF Ivan Rabb (Cal)
I like Rabb to the Hawks here, he is probably going to be a career role player with the ability to be a solid starter down the line. Backing up Paul Milsap would be a perfect position for his career to start. Rabb took the risk of coming back and it didn’t pay off but he still ended up a first rounder.
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(BPA) as Leaf is similar to Meyers Leonard. With the Blazers owning three first round picks the latter two become BPA picks.
21) Oklahoma City Thunder- PF Tyler Lydon (Kentucky)
The Thunder need shooting but Nick Collison is at the end of his career. 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)
With the Nets 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. 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.
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 depth on the wing. Ojeleye shot well from three in a small ball four role and could be a nice player for the Raptors at this spot.
24) Utah Jazz- SF Rodions Kurucs (Spain)
Kurucs most likely is a guy to be stashed especially with the Jazz somewhat set on the wing at the moment. That could change with Gordon Hayward on the verge of free agency. As a result without any top center options to help Jeff Withey backup Gobert, they look for a small forward.
25) Orlando Magic (via Toronto)- PF Bam Adebayo (Kentucky)
The Magic aren’t loaded down low so I like Bam here. He and Bismack Biyombo could form a nice one-two punch of rebounding and energy for the Magic. After getting Fox in the top five the Magic go and get another Kentucky freshman.
26) Portland Trail Blazers (via Cleveland)- PF Isaiah Hartenstein (Germany)
With their third pick, this could be a stash pick for the Blazers. Hartenstein has the ability to stretch the floor similar to their previous pick in T.J Leaf at 6’10” also.
27) Brooklyn Nets (via Boston)- PG Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State)
Evans is a Chris Paul clone, same size, and similar game. Evans 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 Justin Patton (Creighton)
Patton dropped significantly in this mock but with good workouts will probably rise because of his potential. The Lakers draft a raw Patton with hopes he turns into something special with their other young guys. Patton is a great rim runner and pick and roll big man but struggles to defend the rim.
29) San Antonio Spurs- SG Josh Hart (Villanova)
This is the perfect Spurs pick, an experienced guard, sound fundamentally and total team player. Hart comes from a great culture at Villanova which is some ways similar to the way the Spurs play. While most joke the Spurs love international players but in this draft, Hart is their picture perfect player.
30) Utah Jazz (via Golden State)- PF/C Mathias Lessort (France)
Looking for that backup center outside of Jeff Withey the Jazz gets it in Lessort. Whether he comes over right away is the question. Furthermore, he is a guy like Gobert and Withey who can block shots and will be that rim protector the Jazz covet.
