Who did the Los Angeles Lakers select with their two first round picks in our 2017 NBA mock Draft?
The Los Angeles Lakers were big winners during the NBA Draft lottery. They landed the second overall pick for the third consecutive year, giving them an excellent chance to add more young talent to their roster.
The Lakers will have a legitimate chance of landing UCLA star point guard Lonzo Ball. Were they able to land him in our NBA Mock Draft? Who did the Lakers select with the second of their first round draft picks, No. 28 overall?
You’ll have to read on and found out! Check out our full first round NBA Mock Draft. The first team on the clock is the Boston Celtics. With the first pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics select…
The Celtics lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Usually, that doesn’t result in a top pick, but the Celtics are still reaping the benefits from a lopsided trade with the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics are glad to make the selection as they can continue building for the future with another foundational piece.
Washington point guard Markelle Fultz is a popular pick for this spot, with good reason. Fultz is a dynamic player, but the Celtics already have a point guard they like in Isaiah Thomas. Marcus Smart is naturally a point guard as well. Instead, we add another player the Celtics can try throwing at LeBron James over the next few years in Jayson Tatum.
Tatum is arguably the most NBA-ready prospect in this year’s class. Tatum stands 6-feet-8 inches tall and weighs in at 204 pounds, already possessing an NBA body. He has the potential to become a lockdown perimeter defender and already brings a diverse offensive game with him.
The Celtics would benefit from adding another scoring option to their roster, especially on the wing. There is only so much the Celtics can rely on the diminutive Thomas to score for them. He needs help and Tatum can deliver that right from the start.
The Celtics and Tatum would be a perfect fit. The question is, are the Celtics willing to pull the trigger on him with the No. 1 overall pick? A trade could be in the works here as well, as the Celtics would truly benefit the most from adding an already established veteran to try overcoming the Cavaliers.
The Lakers land their guy in Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick. It took some help from Lady Luck during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery, but the Lakers will be happy with the result. Despite Markelle Fultz still being on the board here, the Lakers go with the hometown kid.
This is something that LaVar Ball, Lonzo’s father, has been saying would happen for a while now. They will do everything in their power to make sure that Lonzo ends up with the Lakers, as he will reportedly work out only for the Lakers and possibly the Philadelphia 76ers. Oddly missing from that list is the Celtics, who have the first overall pick.
If Ball does end up with the Lakers they are getting their point guard of for the next decade. His arrival would allow the Lakers to move D’Angelo Russell to shooting guard and keep Jordan Clarkson as the sixth man. Ball’s skill set would allow him to play alongside either Russell or Clarkson.
His basketball IQ is sky high, making him an outstanding passer and ball handler. He is a willing passer but can hurt you from deep as he has some range on his jump shot. His form isn’t pretty, but he got the job done in UCLA making 41.2 percent of his three-pointers.
The Lakers are lucky to have landed the second pick and will gladly keep Ball in Los Angeles after he played his college ball at nearby Pauley Pavilion.
The 76ers had a small chance of landing the first and fourth picks in this draft based on previous trades made. The ping pong balls didn’t fall the 76ers way during the NBA Draft Lottery, but the board has fallen great for them in this mock draft. The 76ers didn’t get the Lakers draft pick this year, but they will gladly add Markelle Fultz to their team.
Fultz joins what is a potentially loaded 76ers team. There is excellent, young talent throughout this roster, especially in the front court. There aren’t many teams that boast a roster with as much talent in the front court as the 76ers, who have Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, and Joel Embiid to show from previous lottery selections. A backcourt option has been lacking, but they finally land one with Fultz.
Whether or not Brett Brown has Simmons run the offense, Fultz will fit in with the 76ers. He could step right into the starting lineup, or begin the season behind T.J. McConnell. Fultz has the size and versatility to play both guard spots, which fits perfectly into what the 76ers want. He also has range on his jump shot, making him a great complement if Simmons indeed runs the offense as a point-forward.
Fultz was dominant in his one season at Washington. The Huskies didn’t win many games, but Fultz stuffed the stat sheet. He averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game. There wasn’t much more he could have done to help Washington win games.
The only true knocks against Fultz are his free throw shooting and athleticism. He isn’ the greatest athlete, but he should more than hold his own at the next level. Fultz would fit in excellently with the 76ers current roster.
The Suns were losers in the NBA Draft Lottery. They finished the season with the second-worst record but were jumped in the lottery by the Lakers and Kings, who relayed their selection over to the 76ers. Dropping in the lottery has proven to not actually hurt the Suns, who still land their guy in Josh Jackson with the fourth pick.
Out of all the teams selecting near the top of the lottery, the Suns need backcourt help the least. They are set in the backcourt with Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker, with Tyler Ulis and Brandon Knight coming off the bench. Jackson will now give them a building block on the wing.
Jackson is a great fit for the Suns. He should challenge T.J. Warren for minutes right away based on his defense alone. Jackson has the potential to defend multiple positions given his excellent athleticism.
He played a lot of power forward at Kansas, so he has experience defending bigger opponents. Minutes at shooting guard shouldn’t be out of the question either, especially if he can find some consistency with his jump shot.
Even as he works on his jump shot, Jackson should still find some success offensively. He has a high basketball IQ, which helps make him an above average slasher. He relentlessly attacks the basket but has to find his flow. Becoming more assertive offensively wouldn’t hurt Jackson as he disappeared at times.
There are some off-court issues, as Jackson will have to attend an anger management course for an incident at Kansas. On the court, there is not much to dislike with Jackson. The Suns will love having him.
Sacramento has a great chance to kickstart their rebuild. Without DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings are looking for a new face of the franchise. Will Buddy Hield, the centerpiece of the trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, become that player? There is a chance, but the Kings would love to add more potential faces of the franchise. This pick has a chance to do that, as the Kings also solve their longstanding problem at point guard.
De’Aaron Fox has been shooting up draft boards. Teams really like Fox, as he killed it at the NBA Combine in the interviews he did. Once workouts get going, there is a chance that he pushes into the Markelle Fultz/Lonzo Ball area of the draft. Not everyone can do in the top-three, so if Fox stays in this area the Kings will be glad to take him.
The first thing teams notice about Fox is his athleticism. He is by far the quickest point guard in this class with elite speed and athleticism. He is a blur on the court and very difficult to stay in front off. Even without a consistent jump shot, Fox is very difficult to keep from getting into the paint.
Fox also brings it on defense. He is already a great on-ball defender despite his slight size. He weighed in at around 170 pounds at the combine, so he will probably have to be monitored a bit to keep from wearing down.
There are a number of teams that already favor Fox over Ball. His defense is what truly separates the two, and what could move him even higher in the draft. The Kings landed in a good place in this draft and will reap the benefits of one of the deeper prospect pools in recent memory.
Despite not being a starter at Gonzaga, forward/center Zach Collins finds himself going in the Top 10 to the Orlando Magic.
One of the great stories of the college basketball season was getting to see Gonzaga go toe-to-toe with UNC in the National Championship. Gonzaga had an extremely talented team, and one of their difference makers was Collins.
Seeing a potential first round pick coming off the bench for Gonzaga helped prove their legitimacy. Even though they fell short against UNC, Gonzaga and Collins had a great season. Last season, Collins averaged 17.3 minutes, 10.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.
Where Collins’ numbers really get impressive are when looking at his per 40-minute stats. Per 40 minutes, Collins averaged 23.2 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game.
As the Magic try to stack young talent, Collins will be a great addition. Collins’ best game arguably came in the Final Four against South Carolina. In the win, Collins played 23 minutes and totaled 14 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks.
As shown in college, he is capable of playing at power forward as well. Nikola Vucevic is certainly a talented player in his own right, and he and Collins should be able to play some minutes on the court together. With both being able to stretch the floor a bit from the position, the Magic could have a dynamic front court.
With the seventh overall pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be selecting a player that should fit nicely on their team.
Lauri Markkanen was one of the best freshmen in the country on a very talented Arizona team. With some big showdowns against teams like UCLA and Oregon in the Pac-12, the nation got to see the unique skill set of Markkanen.
As the NBA changes, big men are more and more frequently becoming shooters. As the European style has become integrated into the game, we have seen great big men shooters like Dirk Nowitzki and Kristaps Porzingis. While Markkanen has a way to go before he is their class, he has that type of potential.
Last season at Arizona, Markkanen averaged 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. As one of the best shooting big men in the country, Markkanen shot 54.5% on two-point attempts, and 42.3% on three-point field goals.
At 7’0”, it would have been nice to see Markkanen average more than 0.5 blocks per game. However, that just isn’t his game. On the Timberwolves, Markkanen will fit really nice next to center Karl-Anthony Towns. While Towns is pretty good shooter himself, he will be able to play inside more when on the floor with Markkanen. A front court of Andrew Wiggins, Markkanen, and Towns, certainly looks good on paper for Minnesota.
The New York Knicks were losers during the NBA Draft Lottery process. They lost a tiebreaking coin flip to the Minnesota Timberwolves, putting them in the seventh slot. The ping pong balls then went against them on lottery night, dropping them to the eighth spot. It may not end up hurting them, as they still land the point guard they covet.
Earlier in the college season, there were people mentioning Dennis Smith with Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball. NC State didn’t have a great season, but Smith played some great basketball. He recorded two triple-doubles on the season, averaging 18.1 points, 6.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. He scored over 30 points three times, including a victory over Duke at Cameron Indoor.
Smith’s stock has fallen, for whatever reason, since the season ended. The Knicks could benefit from that as they could really use a player of Smith’s caliber. He is very athletic, which helps him get into the lane and create. He has elite explosion to help finish at the rim but also possesses great court vision to kick it out and find teammates.
Improving his shooting will be integral to Smith reaching his full potential. He could step right into a starting role with the Knicks and provide them with another building block alongside Kristaps Porzingis.
There are some injury concerns with Smith, who tore his ACL prior to attending NC State. If he played that well recovering from ACL injury, imagine how well he can do as he moves further and further away from the injury.
The Knicks are hoping well, and that Smith can end their streak of underwhelming point guard play.
The Mavericks have been looking for a long-term point guard for years. Since Jason Kidd helped win a title in Dallas, the Mavericks haven’t found a consistent producer to lead the offense. They could land that new leader with Frank Ntilikina.
There are plenty of teams that need point guards, and this class is loaded with them. The Mavericks will cross their fingers that they will get a chance to select one. Their prayers are answered in our mock draft with the French point guard.
There isn’t much known at Ntilikina, as he played overseas. There are some people that believe he would be a top-five pick had he played in college this past season. He has excellent size, standing 6-feet-5 inches tall. His speed combined with his court vision make him the quintessential point guard.
He is a pass first point guard, showing the leadership qualities you want from your lead guard. Rick Carlisle will have plenty of options when deploying Ntilikina, who has the ability to defend multiple positions on the court. Like so many prospects in this year’s class, Ntilikina’s ceiling is partly tied to him improving his jump shot.
If he is able to do that, his game will be taken to the next level. Things would open up on the court if he can prove he can consistently knock down jump shots. It would open up lanes to drive and kick, and help him see the floor even more without players sagging off of him.
It sounds like this is the furthest that Ntilikina will drop in the draft. The Knicks are reportedly big fans of him as well, so eight or nine sounds like his range prior to workouts being conducted.
The Kings are huge winners in this mock draft. Their good fortunes began in the NBA Draft Lottery as they landed the fifth and 10th picks, a good scenario when taking into account how disastrous it could have been. Now the board falls in a great way for them. After landing their point guard with the fifth pick, they now get a dynamic frontcourt player to pair with him.
Isaac is a very intriguing prospect. At 6-feet-11 inches tall Isaac is already capable of playing both forward spots. He could become a matchup nightmare once he adds some strength and weight. Imagine a player with his skill set playing center in today’s positionless basketball? The opportunities are endless in that scenario for Isaac.
Already a good defender, Isaac will become even better once he fills out his frame. He only weighs 205 pounds right now but should be able to add some strength prior to the regular season. He possesses great athleticism for someone his size as he can score in a multitude of ways. Leave him open from beyond the arc and he can knock it down. Get up too close to him and he can put the ball on the floor and score as well.
Isaac will probably earn minutes in the early going because of his defense. He is athletic enough to defend small forwards and long enough to give power forwards some problems. If his offense comes along he could end up being the best player in this draft class. He is already a favorite of the analytic crowd, as ESPN’s analytic’s team believes Isaac will be the best player from the 2017 NBA Draft class.
The Charlotte Hornets could be getting a huge steal with Malik Monk at No. 11. There are mocks that have Monk going as high as No. 3 to the Philadelphia 76ers. He is by far the best shooting guard prospect in this year’s class, which is a good and bad thing.
There are some teams that are skeptical of Monk’s long-term outlook. He is listed at only 6-feet-3 inches tall, which is short for a shooting guard. Monk will have to show he’s capable of playing point guard to reach his potential. If he is unable to do that, he could be destined for a sixth man role in the form of Jamal Crawford.
There is nothing wrong with that, but selecting a tweener high in the lottery could cost front office people their jobs. At 11, the Hornets should feel comfortable selecting Monk. He is the unquestioned best scorer in this year’s class as he can fill it up.
Look no further than the 47 point explosion against North Carolina, or the 34, 37, and 33 point games against Ole Miss, Georgia, and Florida.
He is a relentless scorer. Despite his size, he can get to the rim. He also has limitless range on his jump shot well beyond the three-point line. The skill set is there for him to become an elite defender as well.
The only thing truly holding Monk back is his size. Had he been 6-feet-5 inches tall he would be a lock for the top-five, probably top-three. But he is not, so if his size deters some teams from selecting him the Hornets will be glad to snatch him up here.
The Pistons may be lucky to have a chance to select Donovan Mitchell come NBA Draft day. Mitchell is one of the fastest rising players on the board after he crushed the NBA Combine without partaking in any five-on-five games.
Mitchell killed the athletic testing. He cemented himself as an elite athlete at the combine with an insane 6-feet-10 inch wingspan. Those numbers have teams in the lottery really looking into him now as he has a great foundation to build upon.
Mitchell is only 6-feet-3 inches tall, but Louisville head coach Rick Pitino doesn’t think that will be a problem; he believes Mitchell is destined to be a point guard in the NBA, which would give him great size.
Mitchell can get to the basket and finish above the rim given his athleticism. He has shown that he can be a good passer as well. If he can live up to the expectations of Pitino, a team could be getting a steal in Mitchell. He is already a great defender and can score the ball. His versatility would be a solid addition to any team.
Mitchell improved from beyond the arc in his sophomore season, but there is still more work to be done. If he is unable to play point guard full time, improving his jump shot will be a must. The Pistons would be afforded a chance to work Mitchell into point guard, as they already have a starter in Reggie Jackson.
Mitchell would fill a role as a combo guard off the bench at the beginning of his career. He could be groomed into a point guard, or develop into a good sixth man off the bench with the ability to play point guard in a pinch.
The first thing people will notice about OG Anunoby is that he is injured. Anunoby injured his knee in late January, which caused him to miss the remainder of Indiana’s season. The torn ACL will play a big part in where he goes in the draft. If it is healing well, he is probably a lock for the lottery. If there are concerns, he will slip deeper into the first round.
Using a first round pick on a player that may not help you much in Year One is a risk, but if Anunoby is healing well he is worth the risk. As a prospect, there is a ton to like with him.
He has excellent size, as he already has an NBA body. Anunoby is 6-feet-8 inches tall and weighs 232 pounds; he looks the part of an NBA player. He has the skills to play the part as well. The physical tools that scouts and teams look for are there.
Offensively he has some work to do. He is a good shooter with range but needs to find consistency. His free throw percentage as a sophomore was 56.3 after a woeful 47.6 percent as a freshman. Overall from the field, he was successful, making 55.7 percent as a sophomore and 56.9 as a freshman.
His defensive ability is way ahead of his offense. He has a wingspan of 7-feet-2 inches, which can make him a terror on the perimeter. His size and athleticism give him the opportunity to defend multiple positions, a useful tool in today’s positionless game.
The Nuggets will have to wait a little while for Anunoby to return to the court. But, the return will be well worth the wait. His defensive game will get him a spot in the rotation, and if his offense can come along he will become that much more of an impact player.
The Miami Heat had an outstanding second half of the season. They fell just short of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference as they proved again that they have a winning culture. Even with Dwyane Wade leaving as a free agent and Chris Bosh not playing all season the Heat persevered. With the Bosh situation now resolved, the Heat need to begin reloading their front court and John Collins will be the first piece.
Collins exploded as a sophomore. His production improved across the board exponentially. He averaged only 26.6 minutes per game but put up huge numbers in that time. He averaged 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. Collins has a knack for scoring the ball and can do it in a number of ways.
He already possesses an above average mid-range game to go along with a good post game. The real question with him is if he will be able to stretch the floor in the NBA. He attempted only one three-pointer at Wake Forest, so work will have to be done in that area.
Defensively he can already hold his own. He is an excellent motor, both attributes which are helped by his continuous motor. You won’t have to worry about motivating Collins or him taking plays off.
The Heat will have to work on expanding Collins’ range and help him figure things out at the foul line. Those are the two biggest obstacles holding him back and are correctable. Miami would be an excellent fit for the productive big man.
With the 15th overall pick in the mock draft, the Portland Trail Blazers will be selecting UCLA forward T.J. Leaf. As one of the members of the talented freshman recruiting class, Leaf decided to leave school after just one season.
Leaf was a great player right away at UCLA, as he averaged 29.6 minutes per game, 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. As one of the best freshman in the country, it should come as no surprise that Leaf decided to leave school early.
As a scorer, Leaf was one of the most efficient players in the country last season, as he shot 61.7% from the field. In addition to being solid around the basket, Leaf also shot 46.6% from three-point range. While he didn’t shoot them often, Leaf did show an ability to hit that shot.
For the Trail Blazers, Leaf is a very good fit. With a great backcourt in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the Trail Blazers need to focus on building their front court. The addition of Jusuf Nurkic certainly helped last season. Now, Leaf will fit nicely next to him in the front court.
After being eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the first round, the Trailblazers will be adding a talented player in Leaf with the 15th pick.
If there is any team in the NBA that needs shooting, it is the Chicago Bulls. They will jump for joy if they are able to land Luke Kennard with the 16th pick.
Kennard is arguably the best shooter in this year’s draft. He has deep range on his three-point shot and is efficient doing it. He made 43.8 percent of his three-point shots as a sophomore. He made a huge jump in efficiency overall in his second season at Duke.
He improved to 19.5 points on 48.9 percent shooting, up from 11.8 and 42.1 as a freshman. His three point shooting also improved, as he shot only 32 percent as a freshman. In addition to the long range on his jumper, Kennard is successful playing in the mid-range. He also showcased his ability to handle the ball more and play pick-and-roll.
His high basketball IQ and diversity to score is what teams will be drafting him for. Kennard isn’t overly athletic and not the greatest defender. But, he can surely fill it up when given the chance. He could slide in nicely as a floor spreader in Chicago, even filling in as a backup point guard in a pinch.
The Bulls could have a hole at shooting guard depending on what Dwyane Wade does with his player option. If he leaves the Bulls will be left with a big hole. Kennard would be a good start at replacing Wade given his skill set.
The Milwaukee Bucks are probably the longest team in the NBA, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks have long players at every position, so why not add another one in this year’s draft class? With the 17th overall pick, the Bucks land wing player Terrance Ferguson.
Ferguson will aide the Bucks offensively, where they were a below average team. He has deep range on his three-point shot, which the Bucks will love. He can help space the floor for an offense that finished tied for 21st in three-pointers made per game with 8.8 last season.
Ferguson is a good athlete, which helps him defensively. Combined with his great length, and Ferguson is a perfect fit for what Jason Kidd is trying to do in Milwaukee. He would provide more depth on the wing and give the Bucks another shooter that they desperately need.
The biggest issue with Ferguson is his consistency. Everyone knows that he can shoot the ball, is an explosive athlete, and can defend. But, can he put it all together consistently? His effort level seems to wane at times according to some scouts, something that will have to change.
The skill is there for Ferguson. It is just a matter of putting it together, and the Bucks will be the team that will attempt to do that first.
The Indiana Pacers are in a peculiar position. They have a superstar in Paul George, but he does not seem to be happy in Indiana. If the Pacers are faced with a rebuild sooner than later, they will need some high upside prospects. Rabb presents one of those high upside prospects.
Rabb was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school. Many people thought that he would be a top-five pick prior to attending Cal, but his stock has steadily dropped since stepping foot on campus. He decided to return to school for his sophomore season after being a lottery projection last year, and now it has dropped again.
Right now Rabb hangs his hat on his athleticism, rebounding ability, and defense. There is nothing wrong with that, but they can be improved upon with some added strength. His 7-foot-2 inch wingspan makes him a good rim protector already.
Offensively is where he needs work. He has yet to develop a true go-to move in the post. He is raw on that end of the court. Rabb has a chance to develop more of an outside game, as he made 9-of-22 three-point attempts at Cal. There is a lot to work with here, as Rabb was a top recruit; that just doesn’t disappear in two years time.
The Pacers could hit a homerun with this pick. Rabb is very talented but needs some fine tuning. He could learn behind Thaddeus Young, Myles Turner, and Al Jefferson in the early going. Indiana would be a solid landing spot for Rabb, who would welcome his defense with open arms.
With the 19th overall pick, the Atlanta Hawks will be looking toward the future when they select center Jarrett Allen from Texas. Even though the Hawks recently signed Dwight Howard to a big deal, this pick will be to groom a player that can replace Howard when the time comes.
As a freshman at Texas, Allen averaged 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Even though the Longhorns struggled last season, there was certainly some talented young players on the team like Allen.
Against Kansas last season, Allen certainly played some of his best games of the season. In their first meeting, Allen totaled 22 points and 19 rebounds on the road. Later in the season at home, Allen totaled 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Even though Allen is under 6’10” without shoes, he has a long wingspan that reaches over 7’5”. Being the backup to Howard to start his career would be a good situation for Allen to fall into. Howard has certainly been a great defender in his career, and like Allen, he isn’t over seven feet tall.
With Allen’s athleticism, he should be able to be a good pick-and-roll player in the NBA like he was in college. Even though he might not fill an immediate need, Allen could be a good piece to have in the future for the Hawks.
With their second pick in the first round, the Trail Blazers will be dipping into the international pool. Using the 20th overall pick, the Trail Blazers will be selecting Isaiah Hartenstein.
At over 7’0” and 250lbs, Hartenstein will be a center in the NBA with his large frame. While the Trail Blazers have invested a lot of money in their backcourt and on the wings, Meyers Leonard is the only big man that they currently have signed to a long-term deal.
Here is what DraftExpress recently had to say in their scouting report of Hartenstein:
"Hartenstein has developed the reputation as a 7-footer who can space the floor and attack from the perimeter but after a week in Portland he showed his initial value may be more as a hard-playing, 250-pound big who can make his presence felt on the glass and play with activity defensively as his offensive skill set continues to develop. Hartenstein may very well turn into a threat from NBA three down the road, but he showed that he has quite a bit of room to improve in that regard."
Like most international big men, Hartenstein will be able to stretch the floor. The difference between Hartenstein and some other international big men, he is a great rebounder and also pretty strong defensively in the paint. With no fear of playing in the paint, Hartenstein could be a future big man for the Trail Blazers.
Watching Russell Westbrook post triple-doubles is fun for fans to witness. The Thunder gave the Houston Rockets everything they could handle in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but one thing was clear; Westbrook needs help scoring the ball. Justin Jackson could help in that department.
The Thunder attempted to add more shooting to their roster at the NBA Trade deadline. They acquired Doug McDermott along with Taj Gibson from the Chicago Bulls. The Thunder will try retaining Gibson, who fit in well as the starting power forward. McDermott was injured and didn’t help much, but his ability to shoot three-pointers should help him find a role next season. Jackson can also help stretch the court.
His diversity offensively would fit in well with the Thunder. Someone needs to help space the floor, and Jackson can do that. He can score in a multitude of ways, as he also excels in the mid-range game. His high basketball IQ helps him overcome his lack of athleticism, as he knows how to get his shot.
The Thunder will welcome the shot in the arm offensively even if it is at the expense of some defense. Defense will also be the question mark for Jackson. If he can convince teams he is capable of being at least adequate on that end of the court his stock could rise.
Jackson would fit in well for the Thunder who are desperate for someone who can take some pressure off Westbrook in the scoring column. He would fit into their schemes and fill a need right away.
After seeing the Boston Celtics win the NBA Lottery, the Brooklyn Nets have to be extremely upset. The trade that brought in Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett is still haunting the Nets, and it will continue to after seeing the Celtics land a great prospect with that pick.
While the Nets do have the Celtics’ pick in the first round, they were able to acquire another first round pick from the Washington Wizards. During the season, the Nets traded Bojan Bogdanovic to the Wizards for their first round pick this season.
The Wizards hoped that Bogdanovic would help them get over the hump in the NBA Playoffs, however, they were eliminated by the Celtics in seven games. With the 22nd pick, the Nets will be selecting center Harry Giles from Duke.
Despite only playing 11.6 minutes per game last season, Giles declared for the NBA Draft. At 6’10”, 240 lbs, Giles has excellent size. However, he is still raw after his freshman season at Duke. Do to playing behind Amile Jefferson, big minutes weren’t there for Giles.
Selecting Giles could be an eventual replacement for Brook Lopez in Brooklyn. Even though Lopez has been very good for the Nets and is by far their best player, trading him could help recoup some draft picks that they need.
After a really disappointing finish to their postseason, the Toronto Raptors are poised to have a very interesting offseason. For their playoff run, the Raptors added forward Serge Ibaka with the hope that he would help them get over the hump in the Eastern Conference. Despite adding Ibaka, the Raptors were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs.
Now, the Raptors not only have Ibaka as a free agent, but they could also lose Kyle Lowry this offseason. Losing either one or both would certainly hurt the Raptors, and they might have to use this draft to start thinking about the future.
With the 23rd overall pick, the Raptors will be selecting Bam Adebayo from Kentucky. As Kentucky began to improve at the end of the season, Adebayo also began to play much better. Last season, Adebayo averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. Toward the end of the season, Adebayo had some big double-doubles in the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament.
Like most Kentucky players, Adebayo will just be sticking around in college for the one season. As a young big man, Adebayo certainly has a lot of growing to do as a basketball player. With Ibaka and Patrick Patterson both being free agents, Adebayo could help the Raptors replenish some of what they could be losing in the frontcourt.
After a great 2016-17 season, the Utah Jazz are hoping to take the next step for next season. While signing Gordon Hayward is the most important thing for them this offseason, they also have the chance to improve in the NBA Draft. With two picks in the first round, the Jazz are certainly players in a deep and talented draft class.
With the 24th pick in the mock draft, the Jazz will be selecting forward Tyler Lydon. Even though it was a disappointing season for Syracuse, Lydon was certainly a bright spot. Last season, Lydon averaged 13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game.
At 6’10” Lydon was able to stretch the floor for the Syracuse offense, as he shot 39.2% from three-point range. With his size, Lydon figures to be a perfect stretch power forward. However, he can also play some small forward because of his quickness. With Rudy Gobert in the middle, having a stretch forward like Lydon would be a perfect match on paper.
Last season, the Jazz were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. However, they really struggled at times on the offensive end of the court. Adding a shooter like Lydon would be a big help to the Jazz space the floor.
With the 25th pick in the draft, the Orlando Magic will be taking a player to help upgrade their backcourt. One of the hottest prospects emerging as we approach the draft is guard Derrick White from Colorado.
Despite barely being recruited and starting his college career at a Division II school, White transferred to Colorado for his senior season. While playing in the Pac-12, White was one of the best players in a loaded conference.
Last season, White averaged 18.1 points, 4.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game. At about 6’5”, White has some good size at the guard position, and he knows how to use it well on both ends of the court. As an offensive player, White was able to shoot over 50 percent from the field last season. On defense, averaging over one block and one steal per game is pretty impressive. Overall, there isn’t much on the court that White can’t do.
White would give the Magic a player that can provide some offense off the bench behind Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier. Also, his ability to play defense should translate nicely to the NBA. As his stock continues to rise, the Magic would be getting a solid player in this spot.
Even though the Trail Blazers have their star in Damian Lillard at point guard, they will be using the 26th overall pick to add another talented guard into their backcourt.
While the combination of Lillard and C.J. McCollum is one of the best backcourts in the NBA, they haven’t had much behind him. With the selection of Oklahoma State point guard, Jawun Evans, that all changes.
In his second season at Oklahoma State last season, Evans burst onto the scene with a great year. While leading their high-powered offense, Evans averaged 19.2 points, 6.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. Evans was one of the best scorers in the entire country last season, as he finished his college career scoring over 20 points in his last four games.
At the NBA Combine, Evans measured just under 6’0”, however, his 6’5” wingspan should help him make up for what he lacks in height. With a need for some help behind Lillard, Evans will provide the Trail Blazers with not only a backup point guard, but a player that can give them a scoring boost off of the bench. In the later part of the first round, getting a player who nearly averaged 20 points per game in college is good value for the Trail Blazers.
Because of the trade with the Boston Celtics a few years ago, the Nets will be selecting 27th with what should have been the Celtics’ pick. While it’s not the ideal scenario, the Nets will at least have the opportunity to get a talented player.
With the 27th overall pick, the Nets will be selecting Michigan forward D.J. Wilson. After barely playing in his first two seasons at Michigan, Wilson ended up having a strong third season for the Wolverines.
Last season, Wilson averaged 30.4 minutes, 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. Toward the end of the season, Wilson really started to play for Michigan as they went on their impressive run after the plane scare.
In the Big 10 Conference Tournament, Wilson totaled 26 points and eight rebounds in a big win against a talented Purdue team. In the NCAA Tournament, Wilson continued to play well, as he totaled 19, 17, and 12 points in three games.
At 6’10”, it would have been nice to see Wilson have some better rebounding numbers in college. However, he is quite skilled on the offensive end of the court. As he transitions to the NBA, Wilson has the potential to be a solid stretch power forward, and possibly a small forward if he can get a bit quicker.
After grabbing point guard Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick in the mock draft, the Lakers will be selecting another UCLA product with their second pick in the first round.
One of the reasons for the turnaround at UCLA last season was because of the talented freshman that they were able to bring in. Both Ball and T.J. Leaf will be first round picks, and so will backup center Ike Anigbogu.
As one of the youngest college basketball players in the country, Anigbogu played behind Leaf and center Thomas Welsh. Even though Anigbogu has a lot of raw talent, he wasn’t going to be taking over for Welsh, who was constantly praised by Bill Walton as being one of the best shooters in the country.
In 13 minutes per game last season, Anigbogu averaged 4.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Per 40 minutes, Anigbogu would have averaged 3.7 blocks per game and a double-double.
At 6’10” with a wingspan of 7’6”, Anigbogu has the ideal size and strength that you would want in a center. While he might be raw, Anigbogu could be a very good player with a few years of seasoning. Because the Lakers aren’t in a rush to be a title contender, waiting a few years for Anigbogu to develop could pay off big time.
The 2016-17 season will go down as a big ‘what if’ for the San Antonio Spurs. After defeating the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Playoffs, the Spurs were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
The frustrating part for the Spurs is that they played most of the series without their star Kawhi Leonard. In Game 1, Leonard was injured on a jump shot, as Zaza Pachulia slid underneath him. Leonard came down awkwardly and rolled his ankle. Prior to Leonard getting injured, the Spurs were well in control of Game 1, and that could have been an excellent series.
Now, the Spurs will be back to the drawing board. In recent years, they have done an excellent job transitioning from the Tim Duncan era into the Leonard one. With some talented young players on the team, the Spurs will be adding another one with the 29th pick. Creighton center, Justin Patton, was one of the best players in the Big East Conference, and he would be an excellent addition for the Spurs.
Patton would be able to play alongside LaMarcus Aldridge and give the Spurs a strong front court. As a rookie, Patton should be able to make an impact on the defensive end right away as a good shot blocker. Landing in San Antonio would be a dream scenario for Patton to thrive.
After a strong season, the Utah Jazz will have two picks in the first round. Their first pick in the 2017 NBA Draft will be there own, however, they also have the Golden State Warriors pick.
This past season, the Jazz were able to take another step forward. They were the fifth seed in the Western Conference, and they even defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the playoffs. While the Clippers were without Blake Griffin for part of the series, the Jazz also had to overcome an injury to Rudy Gobert and an illness for Gordon Hayward.
In the following round, the Jazz were outmatched by the Warriors. Like most teams, the Jazz struggled to contain the Warriors’ high-powered offense, but that is nothing to be ashamed of. This offseason, the Jazz’s priority will be to re-sign Hayward. After a great season, Hayward is one of the top free agents on the market, and the Jazz will have some competition to try and keep him.
Since the Jazz selected stretch forward Tyler Lydon with their first pick in the mock draft, their second pick will be used on an international prospect in Rodions Kurucs. At 6’8”, 190lbs, Kurucs needs to add some size like most international players do when they come over. However, he has a knack for scoring, which could be a welcomed sight for the Jazz.
Stefanos Makris of NBADraft.net recently had this to say about Kurucs.
"Rodions Kurucs is a really skilled player, who can bring a lot to the table, especially on the offensive end of the floor … His scoring ability and physical attributes are undeniable … If he remains healthy, works on his body and fixes some of his weaknesses (ball handling, court vision, defensive concentration) he can become a really good player in the future"
Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History
While drafting international prospects can be risky, the Jazz might have to take some chances if they lose Hayward in free agency.