1) Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons, SF/PF, LSU (previous: Brandon Ingram)
With the 76ers willingness to trade one or both big men Nerlens Noel and last year's first round pick Joel Okafor, that means that Philadelphia will be taking Simmons No. 1. I originally had Duke's Brandon Ingram going No. 1, but after the 76ers put both Noel and Okafor on the block, Simmons became the pick. Many people believe Simmons has the most star potential in this draft. Simmons needs to work on his shooting, but he has terrific passing skills and scoring ability. He also can get to the free throw line at will.
2) Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF, Duke (previous: Ben Simmons)
Los Angeles is in the easiest position in this draft. The consensus first two selections are Simmons and Ingram. Philadelphia will take Simmons, so Ingram will be the No. 2 pick for the Lakers. He is a good fit for Los Angeles. He has tremendous wingspan and uses it well to finish at the rim. He is also a very good shooter. Ingram gives Los Angeles a future it can get excited about with D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle already on the team.
3) Boston Celtics: Kris Dunn, PG, Providence (previous: Dragan Bender)
The draft really begins with this pick. There are many options for the Celtics and no one really knows what Boston will do. Ideally, they'd like to trade this pick for an established All-Star. But, if they keep the pick, a lot of scouts believe Dunn is the third best player in this draft. The Celtics like guards who can play defense and Dunn fits. Point guard is also a weak position in this class and Dunn is by far the best in this class.
4) Phoenix Suns: Marquese Chriss, PF, Washington (previous: Jaylen Brown)
Chriss has been shooting up draft boards recently and may now have passed up Dragan Bender as the No. 1 power forward on many team's draft board. The Suns already have a nice trio of guards in Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker, but after trading Markieff Morris at the trade deadline, Phoenix will be in the market for a big man and the Suns will likely have their choice between Chriss and Bender or Jaylen Brown may be a possibility here as well.
5) Minnesota Timberwolves: Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma (previous: Buddy Hield)
I think Minnesota would love if Dunn fell to them at No. 5, but in this draft, I have him going two picks earlier. However, in this scenario, I have the Wolves having a nice trio to choose from in Hield, Jamal Murray or Dragan Bender. Tom Thibodeau has not shown the willingness to play younger players much during his tenure in Chicago, so here is a compromise. The Timberwolves would love to trade this pick for an established veteran, but if they don't get what they would like, Buddy Hield is an older rookie and will be able to play right away. Minnesota desperately needs shooting, as it was near the bottom in both 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made last season.
6) New Orleans Pelicans: Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky (previous: Kris Dunn)
New Orleans had injury problems this year, specifically with its guards. Both Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans played fewer than 50 games. Jrue Holiday was also injured quite a bit this past season. They all are also free agents in 2017. Murray would be a good place to start re-tooling the guard positions. Murray is one of the better shooters in the draft and would come in and play early.
7) Denver Nuggets: Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia (previous: Jamal Murray)
Bender is the mystery player in this draft. Many people actually believe Bender is better than last year's No. 4 overall pick Kristaps Porzingis. He could be a key player off the bench for the Nuggets until he is ready. He will play behind Kenneth Faried for a year or two. He has not had consistent playing time, as he averaged only 4.5 points per game, but he has plenty of skills to work with that could make him a very good big man,
8) Sacramento Kings: Jaylen Brown, SF, California (previous: Deyonta Davis)
Many feel that there is a big drop-off after the top eight prospects. Brown could go earlier, and some think he even is in play at No. 3 to Boston, but I have him going No. 8 here. He will have to wait his turn as he will play behind Rudy Gay to start his career. He will need to improve his outside shooting if he wants to play much early on. But he is the best player on the board, according to most, so it is an easy choice here.
9) Toronto Raptors: Jakob Poeltl, C, Utah (previous: Marquese Chriss)
Poeltl is considered by most to be the best center in this draft and Bismack Biyombo is set to hit the open market and the Raptors will not be able to keep both him and Demar DeRozan. I think Biyombo will get the opportunity to start somewhere and Poeltl will jump in and fill that void. If DeRozan leaves, shooting guard becomes a major priority as well, but at this point, the best available players are project big men.
10) Milwaukee Bucks: Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, Gonzaga (previous: Jakob Poeltl)
Milwaukee will no doubt get pressure to choose the homestate player in Henry Ellenson, much like it did last year when Sam Dekker was on the board when it chose in the first round. But Sabonis is a very good player, averaging a double double last season for the Zags. He can play either the four or five, so he could be valuable off the bench when giving one of the starters a breather.
11) Orlando Magic: Skal Labissiere, PF/C, Kentucky (previous: Skal Labisiere)
Orlando needs another big man to help rotate with Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic. Labissiere did not play as well as many people thought he would, coming to Kentucky as one of the top high school prospects in the country. He could have used another year in Lexington, but he does have what scouts look for. He has a very nice jump shot and is a good defender with the potential to be a great one with his length and quickness. He will take a few years to develop, though.
12) Utah Jazz: Henry Ellenson, PF, Marquette (previous: Furkan Korkmaz)
Utah has a plethora of young talent, so they add one of the best players available. He has a nice jump shot and will likely sit for a few years, developing behind Derrick Favors. He does not have the athleticism that scouts look for, which could knock him down to the late teens, but there is a place for big men who can shoot. He will need to stretch his range out to 3-point territory, but he is still a solid jump shooter.
13) Phoenix Suns: Malachi Richardson, SG, Syracuse (previous: Henry Ellenson)
After drafting a big with pick No. 4, I could see the Suns taking another big man, but here I have them taking a guard who can also play the three. The 6-6 wing is another player who would have been better off staying in school another year, but has the ability to become a good player and make an impact early like Devin Booker did last season. He needs to work on his shooting, as he only shot 37 percent last season. Phoenix has three firsts, so it would not surprise me if the Suns tried to move up, especially if Jaylen Brown starts to slide a bit.
14) Chicago Bulls: Wade Baldwin, PG, Vanderbilt (previous: Denzel Valentine)
Chicago is need of a point guard. Derrick Rose is extremely fragile. The Bulls have been dangling Jimmy Butler out there in the hopes of attaining a pick high enough for them to get Dunn. But as it is, the Bulls get the next best point guard in the draft. He could learn under Rose for a bit before taking over for him when he inevitably gets hurt.
15) Denver Nuggets: Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey (previous: Domantas Sabonis)
Denver is rumored to have significant interest in the International shooting guard and with a roster full of youth, the Nuggets can afford to stash Korkmaz overseas for a few years. They already drafted Bender, so they don't have much room to be able to keep many more rookies on the team. I just don't see him slipping past pick 15. It's just a logical choice.
16) Boston Celtics: Deyonta Davis, PF, Michigan State (previous: Timothe Luwawu)
Boston needs length and athleticism on the front line and Davis would add to that. He has the potential to be a very good player. Jared Sullinger is not going to cut it as the starting power forward and Dunn and Davis could be a terrific duo in the future.
17) Memphis Grizzlies: Dejounte Murray, PG/SG, Washington (previous: Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame)
Mike Conley is a free agent and may not return. Memphis would be happy if Richardson fell, but he goes earlier here. Murray is a fast-riser on draft boards and he could take the spot of Conley if he were to leave. I could see them taking a big as well since Marc Gasol is coming off a season-ending injury and Zach Randolph is getting up there in age.
18) Detroit Pistons: Brice Johnson, PF, North Carolina (previous: Cheick Diallo, PF/C, Kansas
Detroit was looking for big man help at the deadline, so I have them taking the big-time big man from North Carolina, especially after losing Greg Monroe in free agency last season. I could see them taking Cheick Diallo as well.
19) Denver Nuggets: Ivica Zubac, C, Croatia (previous: Taurean Prince)
Denver could take another player it can stash overseas. The Nuggets could possibly trade up since they have three first round picks in the top 20. Denver has a chance to really stock up and help them become a contender in the Western Conference.
20) Indiana Pacers: Cheick Diallo, PF/C, Kansas (previous: Brice Johnson)
Indiana does not have much at the power forward, so Diallo would help the position. Diallo is perhaps the most raw player in this draft, as he averaged just three points per game. He will have to sit and learn for a bit before being able to help out the Pacers.
21) Atlanta Hawks: Juan Hernangomez, SF/PF, Spain (previous: Damian Jones)
After losing DeMarre Carroll in free agency last season and possibly losing Al Horford this offseason, Atlanta may need a forward if Horford leaves. Even if he doesn't, they could still use a reserve big man.
22) Charlotte Hornets: Thon Maker, PF/C, Australia (previous: Thon Maker)
Maker, much like Bender, is one of this draft's great unknowns. He has a lot of talent and potential. He is really raw as a prospect, and some team with the ability to be able to let him sit and learn for awhile will draft him late in the first. Al Jefferson is an unrestricted free agent, so they'll need to replace him soon, even if he is re-signed on a short term deal.
23) Boston Celtics: Timothe Luwawu, SG/SF, France (previous: Ante Zizic, C, Croatia)
Boston could use a wing with Evan Turner being a free agent. He has terrific athleticism and is a solid scorer. He also is a solid passer as well. He has a long wingspan, so with that and his athleticism, he has a chance to be a very good defender at the next level.
24) Philadelphia 76ers: Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame (previous: Malik Beasley)
With the second of two first round picks, Philadelphia should think about taking a point guard. Maybe the 76ers can use these next two firsts to trade up for one into the teens. Jackson is ready to come in and play right away.
25) Los Angeles Clippers: DeAndre Bembry, SG/SF, St. Joseph's (previous: DeAndre Bembry)
Bembry is an athletic wing who almost helped St. Joe's to an upset of top seeded Oregon in the NCAA Tournament. He did not have a great shooting performance, but he still scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Paul Pierce is on his last legs and the Clippers will need a replacement. He is a good passer and he had a good assist-to-turnover ratio. He can also finish at the rim very well.
26) Philadelphia 76ers: Denzel Valentine (previous: Wade Baldwin)
The 76ers quickly run up to give the card to Adam Silver for this pick, The 76ers could take a European stash, but Vanentine is too good to pass up and Philly just needs to look for anyone who can help the team right now. Valentine should (and probably will) go higher. He has a very good jump shot and was arguably the best player in college basketball last season. He will jump in and play right away for the re-building 76ers.
27) Toronto Raptors: Taurean Prince, SF, Baylor (previous: Malachi Richardson)
Toronto looks around and sees who the best player available is, regardless of position, and so they draft Prince. He has the quickness to be able to guard both shooting guards and small forwards in the NBA. He also is a solid shooter and is ready to contribute in the NBA immediately.
28) Phoenix Suns: Diamond Stone, C, Maryland (previous: Zhou Qi)
Phoenix could go with a European stash since this is its third first round pick, but instead I have the Suns taking the young, talented center from Maryland. He will need to sit a bit to mature before making a significant impact. Phoenix can be patient with Stone and develop him into a very good big man.
29) San Antonio Spurs: Tyler Ulis, PG, Kentucky (previous: Diamond Stone)
According to CBSSports' Jon Rothstein, the Spurs are doing extensive research on Ulis. It could be a smokescreen, but the Spurs do need a point guard to prepare for life after Tony Parker. Why not draft Parker's heir apparent and let him sit and learn for a few years while he gets prepared to play big time minutes?
30) Golden State Warriors: Ante Zizic, C, Croatia (previous: Brice Johnson)
Golden State was destroyed by Tristan Thompson's rebounding in the NBA Finals. Cleveland won the Finals based largely on second chance points. The Warriors largely play a small forward at the power forward position. They certainly could use another rebounding big who can help them rebound to avoid giving up second chance points.
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