We are now just three days away from the NBA Draft. The draft received a bit of a shakeup when Boston and Philadelphia completed a trade that sent the 76ers the top pick in the draft for a few picks, including No. 3 in this draft. Philadelphia is in love with Washington's Markelle Fultz and he will be the No. 1 pick. The intrigue starts at No. 2 with Los Angeles, just like two years ago when the Lakers drafted D'Angelo Russell.
1. Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
The last few years, the 76ers have started compiling talent for the future and on paper, the team should be much better. Last year's first round pick Ben Simmons missed the entire season, so basically the Sixers will come into the draft with two No. 1 picks. Philadelphia hopes to have its front court of the future with Simmons and Joel Embiid, along with Dario Saric and Jahlil Okafor coming off the bench. The point guard position is a huge need for the team, and if the team likes Fultz much more than UCLA's Lonzo Ball, it makes sense making the jump up to No. 1. If the team can stay healthy (specifically Simmons and Embiid), the Sixers could make some noise sooner rather than later. The playmaking guard averaged more than 23 points per game in his only season with the Huskies. He also shot nearly 48 percent from the field and more than 41 percent from deep. He also averaged nearly six assists per game on an atrocious Washington team that won just nine games last season. Fultz missed six games last year and in those games, the Huskies lost all six by an average of 15 points per game. He has the height and wingspan to go with his tremendous quickness. The one worry would be empty stats like Michael Beasley put up at Kansas State. In Beasley's one season with the Wildcats, he took a mediocre team and put up a ton of numbers, but they didn't necessarily translate to wins. Unlike Fultz, though, Beasley did lead his team to the NCAA Tournament.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Josh Jackson, SG/SF, Kansas
Two years ago, most people assumed the Lakers would take Duke big man Jahlil Okafor at No. 2, but instead took Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell, which really kicked off the draft after everybody knew Karl-Anthony Towns would be a Timberwolf. This year, most expect LA to take flashy hometown point guard Lonzo Ball. They like both Ball and Jackson, but I am having them take the Kansas wing who dominated the NCAA Tournament. The question with him is if he would work well with last year's first rounder Brandon Ingram. The big question about Ball is if the Lakers would be willing to put up with his loud-mouthed father, knowing he will likely be at the Staples Center every home game. Like I said, Jackson had an impressive tournament. averaging more than 16 points and eight rebounds per game on 53 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from deep. He has tremendous athleticism, which helps him play terrific defense. If there is one thing he needs to work on, it is at the charity stripe where he shot just 57 percent from the line in his season with the Jayhawks.
3. Boston Celtics: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
It would not surprise me to see the Celtics flip this pick to the Bulls in a deal to bring Jimmy Butler to Boston. Last year, Chicago was trying to acquire Kris Dunn from Minnesota on draft night. This year, I could see Chicago try to get its hands on the former UCLA star. He could be the guy Chicago is looking for as it tries to rebuild. As it is, though, I will treat this as if it is the Celtics pick, even though I don't see them keeping it. I am sure Boston would prefer Jackson since Ball is a point guard and Isaiah Thomas is Boston's best player and they play the same position. He may still be drafted at No. 2, especially with the news about Paul George opting out after next year and the Lakers being his top choice. Lavar's son has unreal passing ability, maybe the best coming into the draft since Ricky Rubio in 2009. He will need to add bulk and improve his shooting, but he has the athleticism and ability to be a terrific player in the NBA for a long time.
4. Phoenix Suns: Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
Some don't think there is too much of a gap between Tatum and Jackson. Last year, Phoenix drafted two big men in the first round as well as point guard Tyler Ulis. When given the opportunity last year, all three of the players played well. They also have high-scoring shooting guard Devin Booker. While T.J. Warren is a solid small forward for the Suns, Tatum would be an upgrade. With Phoenix loaded at guard, Tatum would be the perfect choice for the Suns at No. 4. He will need to add some bulk to add to his 205-pound frame. He was a star down the stretch for the Blue Devils after missing the first eight games. He hit double figures in all but three games, and averaged 22 points per game in the ACC Tournament with three of those coming against top 25 teams. He has a ton of potential and the Suns have the luxury of being able to take their time with him.
5. Sacramento Kings: De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
Sacramento is in a great spot at pick No. 5. Both Rudy Gay and Darren Collison are free agents, so they will be able to take either Tatum or Fox (whichever one falls). The top five are all pretty much set. He does not have the greatest size by NBA standards, being well under 200 pounds, so he will need to bulk up in the pros. He had a showcase matchup against Ball in the Sweet 16 in March and dominated the top three pick, outscoring him 39-10 and shooting 68 percent compared to Ball's 40 percent. His quickness is second to none in the draft. He will need to improve his shooting, but he could be a handful for opposing teams if he does.
6. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Florida State
Isaac is extremely raw and will need a few years to develop, but it is rumored that Orlando really likes him at six. However, Orlando was one of the worst shooting teams in the league, so grabbing Malik Monk could be in play here. He has a great combination of size and length. He averaged only 12 points per game, but had nearly eight rebounds in just 26 minutes per game. Isaac also shot better than 50 percent from the floor. Like many of the other prospects, he will need to add bulk and strength, but has the frame to do it. He will also need to improve his shooting a bit. He could be a stretch four or a three to start his career. As of now, there is no one behind Aaron Gordon at power forward, but the Magic could use an upgrade over Terrence Ross at small forward.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
Going into the offseason, the Wolves have three big needs: shooting, perimeter defense and shot blocking. He is not a shot blocking big (averaged 0.5 blocks per game), but he is one of the best shooters in the draft, regardless of position. He shot 42 percent from deep and 49 percent overall from the field. He would help spread the floor and let Karl-Anthony Towns do work both inside and out. I don't expect him to start right away, but the Timberwolves have little depth behind Towns Gorgui Dieng at power forward and center. The one bad thing about this pick would be that the Wolves were not terrible offensively last year, especially with Zach LaVine in the lineup. The problem is defensively, and Markkanen is not strong in that area.
8. New York Knicks: Dennis Smith, Jr., PG, North Carolina State
Malik Monk is tempting here, but I will have the Knickerbockers take Smith. New York needs to rebuild and will not likely re-sign Derrick Rose. They would like to pry Ricky Rubio away from Minnesota, but the Knicks really do not have much the Wolves would want. Smith is a pure athlete who burst onto the scene with a 32-point performance in an upset win against Duke in January. He attacks the rim relentlessly and plays with a tenacity on defense that helped him have nearly two steals per game. He is also a very solid passer an the Knicks hope he could grow with Kristaps Porzingis.
9. Dallas Mavericks: Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
Nerlens Noel is a free agent, so there is a gaping hole at center. Dirk Nowitzki is also winding down his Hall of Fame career and will need a replacement soon. Yogi Ferrell had a very nice season last year and has a future with the Mavericks. He is pretty raw, but has the size and skills to have a nice career in the NBA. He is an athletic big with solid post skills and has the ability to be able to expand his range, even to 3-point territory. He also averaged a little under two blocks a game in just 17 minutes per game. He shot 48 percent from deep in his year at Gonzaga, but did not attempt many. He is also in play for the Timberwolves at No. 7.
10. Sacramento Kings: Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
Sacramento has a number of shooting guards currently on the roster, but Monk is way too good of a talent to pass up here. He could very easily go No. 6 to Orlando, but in this mock, I have him sliding to No, 10. He is one of the best shooters in this draft. He nearly brought Kentucky back from a late deficit to beat North Carolina by himself with back-to-back ridiculous 3-pointers to tie the Elite 8 game. In the first meeting against the Tar Heels, he had a crazy performance, pouring in 47 points in a 103-100 win in December. He can flat-out shoot the rock. He had double figure scoring performances in every game but two in his year for the Wildcats. He is only 6-3, so his height could be a problem NBA shooting guards. He is very athletic, which hopefully for the Kings translates into him getting better defensively.
11. Charlotte Hornets: John Collins, PF/C, Wake Forest
After the top 10, the talent in this draft really drops off. The Hornets will try to make a splash with Collins since they need some help up front. Charlotte has drafted some decent bigs in the past like Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky, but neither one will ever be a star in the league. Both are solid role players and deserve to have a solid role, but they need a dominant big. No one knows if the former Wake Forest star can be that guy, but they will keep trying until they hit on one. He is a versatile big, but in today's NBA game, Collins may be a bit of a dinosaur. He is an interior presence who may have been drafted higher if this was 1987 instead of 2017. He put up very solid numbers with the Demon Deacons, averaging 19 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game in just 26.6 minutes per game. He also averaged 1.6 blocks per game as well. Aside from his shot blocking, he is not great defensively, and he has no outside game to speak of. If he can develop some of that, he will be solid for Michael Jordan's bunch.
12. Detroit Pistons: Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
The Pisons have been shopping around starting point guard Reggie Jackson for awhile, which tells us they are not sold on him long-term. Ntilikina is a pass-first point guard who would be KCP's best friend. His 3-point shot is improving and that would make him very tough to defend if he becomes a good shooter from deep. He needs to improve his strength to be able to become a great defender. With his 7-foot wingspan, he could be a very versatile defender. Obviously, he needs to prove himself against the best in the world.
13. Denver Nuggets: Bam Adebayo, PF/C, Kentucky
Not many top players available match their needs. Kenneth Faried is not a great player, but he is decent and there is not much behind him. Both Roy Hibbert and Mason Plumlee are free agents, so Adebayo could step in and contribute right away. He is an elite athlete for a big man. He is a very versatile defender who is not afraid to guard out on the perimeter. He would come in and be a rotation big right away.
14. Miami Heat: Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
Miami has a big need at shooting guard. Dion Waiters is a free agent and Josh Richardson is not the long-term starter for the Heat. He improved his draft stock considerably this year. He is one of the best shooters in this draft. But the reason he is not higher in the draft is because he cannot do a whole lot else extremely well other than shooting. He is just an ok athlete and his defense is below average. He also needs to put on some muscle to be able to withstand the punishment in the NBA,
15. Portland Trail Blazers: Justin Patton, C, Creighton
Portland's guards are very strong, but its front court leaves a lot to be desired. Jusuf Nurkic played well in his time with the Blazers. It remains to be seen, though, if he will fade back into the 8 point per game player he was in Denver. Patton is a solid athlete for a 6-11 guy. He has shown the ability to step out and knock down some jump shots. He did not shoot many 3-pointers at all, but made 53 percent of them. He will need to add strength or he will be pushed around by bigs in the league. The former Creighton Blue Jay will also probably spend some time in the D-League in order to develop further since he is very raw. Worth the risk for Portland, though.
16. Chicago Bulls: Jarrett Allen, PF/C, Texas
The Bulls could very easily add the No. 3 pick in the draft as well, but for right now, Chicago is a bit thin up front. Robin Lopez is a solid rotational player, but he should not be starting for the Bulls. He has solid size and length to be a big man in the NBA. As a freshman for Shaka Smart's club, Allen grabbed more than eight rebounds per game and had more than 13 points per. He will need to improve his defense and strength as he enters the pros.
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
Milwaukee is on the cusp of becoming one of the top teams in the East, and Jackson is ready to help right away. The Bucks don't have much behind the Greek Freak, and it would also let Giannis Antetokounmpo play some point guard since he has experience playing virtually every position. The skinny 6-8 forward will have to put on some muscle, but he will play on the perimeter in the NBA. His length will help him get shots on anybody he faces and can pass and shoot the ball effectively. Jackson will be able to step in and contribute immediately.
18. Indiana Pacers: Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State
Indiana is on the verge of falling apart. Jeff Teague is a free agent and reports have surfaced that Paul George will opt out next year and become a free agent. Maybe the Pacers can strike a deal with the Lakers and land the No. 2 pick, but as it is right now, I have Evans going to Indy. Although his points per game average went up as a sophomore, his shooting percentage took a dip, mostly due to him taking well over twice as many shots as he took as a freshman. Evans shot a very respectable 38 percent from deep as a sophomore and 44 percent overall. He is very quick and can get to the rim and shoot it from 3. He may have a tougher time getting shots up, though, as he is undersized at just 6-feet. He also may struggle quite a bit defensively in the pros.
19. Atlanta Hawks: Harry Giles, PF/C, Duke
Giles is the biggest unknown in this draft. He missed more than a month to start the season and only averaged four points and four rebounds per game in just 11 minutes. His size and athleticism make NBA scouts drool. Giles is an extremely gifted athlete who is versatile and can play either power forward or center. He is one of the top big men in the draft when healthy, but he has not been healthy in a long time. As the draft gets into the late teens and 20s, Giles is worth the risk. He had two ACL tears and one MCL tear all before graduating high school. Those red flags are enough to push him down the draft, and he may fall further than this to be honest. It will be interesting to see who takes the chance on the former Blue Devils big man.
20. Portland Trail Blazers: T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA
While Lonzo Ball and Bryce Alford received all the recognition last year, Leaf quietly had a fantastic year for the Bruins. The 6-10 freshman actually led his team in scoring, averaging 16 points per night to go along with eight rebounds. Like most big men now-a-days, he can play inside and out. He always makes the hustle plays, which helps him when rebounding the ball. Like every other young player coming into the league, Leaf needs to add strength. He will start out as a stretch four in the NBA.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville
Oklahoma City is thrilled to get Mitchell at this spot, as many expect him to go higher. Andre Roberson is a free agent and may need to be replaced. Mitchell is an undersized point guard, but he is strong and athletic. He also plays very good defense. He improved his 3-point percentage from his freshman to sophomore years. He shot worse in overall field goal percentage, mostly due to him having to carry more of the scoring load for the Cardinals. Mitchell has improved from year one to year two at Louisville, so there is no reason he can't do the same in the NBA, but his height will make it an uphill climb.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Ivan Rabb, PF, California
Rabb was a potential lottery pick a year ago, but decided to come back for another year at California. He had a very nice freshman season, averaging 12.5 points per game on 61.5 percent from the field. His second season was solid, but not as good as his first. Most of that is due to having to pick up most of the slack due to not having another big time player like Jaylen Brown playing along side him. Brooklyn has needs all over the place, which is why the Nets were the worst team in the league last season. Trevor Booker is the current starting power forward, and while a decent role player, the Nets could certainly use an upgrade at the position. He has the size for a power forward and dominates the glass. He will need to be able to shoot the ball better, despite the fact that he shot 40 percent from deep last season. He is also not much of a rim protector.
23. Toronto Raptors: Frank Jackson, PG/SG, Duke
Kyle Lowry is a free agent, so they may need a replacement for him. Toronto also has two big men who are free agents, so they could go that route as well. Jackson only played 25 minutes per game, but averaged 11 points per game on 47 percent shooting overall and an impressive 39.5 percent from 3. Lowry is more of a scoring point guard than a pure point guard and Jackson would step in and try to replace Lowry. Granted, he may spend some time in the NBA D-League in order to try to improve his game. He does not have great size for a shooting guard, but does not have great handles for a point guard, so that will be hard for him to overcome since he has no true position.
24. Utah Jazz: Wesley Iwundu, SG./SF, Kansas State
Gordon Hayward is a free agent and is likely gone. They have Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson who can play small forward, but Johnson is getting up in age and Hood is replaceable as a starter. As a senior, Iwundu should be ready to come in and contribute immediately. He can play both wing spots, just like both Johnson and Hood, which could help him make it into the league. He has solid size and athleticism and plays very good defense. He had solid numbers in his last season with the Wildcats, averaging 13 points on 48 percent shooting. Iwundu also shot nearly 38 percent from deep, which was his best percentage since his freshman season.
25. Orlando Magic: Kyle Kuzma, PF, Utah
With its second pick in the draft, the Magic go with the veteran from Utah. Like I said at pick No. 6, Orlando has nothing behind Aaron Gordon. He improved every year for the Utes, as he shot more than 50 percent and scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds per game. He can shoot a bit, but will need to expand his range. Last year, he averaged 32 percent from deep, which is not great, but he can step out and drain the outside shot. He has the skills and ability to play solid defense, but has not put it all together yet. He has solid athleticism and is a solid rebounder, but he does need to improve his free throw shooting (67 percent last year).
26. Portland Trail Blazers: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Germany
Portland grabs its third big man in the draft in the first round. Hartenstein, who just turned 19 last month, is a prototypical European big man. He could be a major sleeper in this draft. He has good size with a good wingspan. He is a decent rebounder and shot blocker and he has potential to be a good defender. He is a work in progress and if he does not go back to Europe for a year or so before coming to Portland, he may very well end up in the NBA D-League for quite a bit of time next season.
27. Brooklyn Nets: Terrance Ferguson, SG, USA
After drafting Rabb at pick No, 22, the Nets grab a guard with this pick. Ferguson was committed to Alabama and then Arizona before deciding to play in Australia last season. He has great height for the position, but he is rail thin. He has great athleticism and is a very good shooter. He could be a sleeper in this draft, but is also one of the draft's biggest unknowns. His biggest problem will be guarding bigger shooting guards due to his small frame. He also needs to add strength and ball handling.
28. Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon
The Lakers drafted Josh Jackson at No. 2, so they decided to go with a big man here. Bell has great athleticism, but he lacks size as a power forward at 6-8. He really came on in the NCAA Tournament. In the Big Dance, he averaged 12.6 points, 13.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. That was improved from his regular season numbers of 10.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per. His field goal percentage last year was nearly 64 percent and improved his free throw shooting to 70 percent. However, with his field goal percentage so high, he does not do much of anything outside of the paint. He will need to develop some sort of jump shot in order for him to stick around long-term in the NBA.
29. San Antonio Spurs: OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
With Manu Ginobili likely retiring, I could see San Antonio going with a shooting guard as well. But as it is, I have them grabbing Anunoby. The Indiana forward likely would have been picked earlier than this if he didn't have a knee injury and miss much of his sophomore season. In his second season with the Hoosiers, he averaged 11 points and a little more than five boards per game. He could play power forward in a small ball lineup as well due to his 235 pounds. His impressive wingspan will help him guard the fours in the league too, and he has the potential to be a terrific defender. His jump shot is decent. He shot just 31 percent last season from behind the 3-point line, but shot 45 percent from deep in his freshman campaign. If he can improve his shooting a bit, he could be a nice find in the late first. He will need to improve his woeful free throw shooting and his rebounding at the next level.
30. Utah Jazz: Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue
After the Jazz took a wing with their first pick, they decide to go big here. They could go point guard since both George Hill and Shelvin Mack are free agents. However, this draft lacks point guards after the top 12 picks. The first team All-American is a stat stuffer. He is a tremendous rebounder, averaging 12.5 per game. In addition to being a dominant post presence, he has a solid jump shot as well. He shot 45 percent from deep last year, which was significantly better than he shot as a freshman. Swanigan is also a very good passer and he shoots free throws really well (78 percent). He is not a great athlete and his defense leaves a lot to be desired. The former Boilermaker is not much of a rim protector either, blocking less than one shot per game in more than 32 minutes per game.
