The order for this mock draft was determined by using Tankathon.com
Josh Jackson is the early prize of the 2017 NBA Draft.
1) Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson | FR / SF | Kansas
– The lottery gods smile on the Suns as the team wins this year’s lottery. The prize is Jackson, who many consider to be Andrew Wiggins with a killer instinct and desire to never be beaten. While a good number of players can stake a claim as being worth the #1 pick, in the end, it’s Jackson to Phoenix.
2) Chicago Bulls: Harry Giles | FR / PF | Duke
– An ACL tear caused people to forget just how talented Harry Giles is. A modern day bigman with elite all-around skills, he can become an anchor for the Bulls for the next decade.
3) Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz | FR / PG | Washington
– A year after winning the lottery, the 76ers end up back in their familiar #3 spot. A cold-blooded scorer, Fultz is an ideal fit to play alongside new franchise building block Ben Simmons.
4) Philadelphia 76ers (Lakers): Dennis Smith Jr. | FR / PG | N.C. State
– Back to back picks for the 76ers as the Lakers pick finally conveys. Smith is getting a lot of hype right now because of his Adidas Nations showing and he’s the last of the four elite prospects in this draft. A mix between Derrick Rose and Allen Iverson, the 76ers new backcourt would be incredibly exciting.
5) Boston Celtics (Nets): Lauri Markkanen | FR / C | Arizona
– This was a tough spot for the Celtics who would love to get Giles to complete this lineup. Markkanen is kind of Kelly Olynyk, if Olynyk played defense and rebounded the basketball. This may seem high for Markkanen now, but it won’t by next summer.
6) Minnesota Timberwolves: Ivan Rabb / SO / PF | California
– While he isn’t the best player on the board, Rabb makes the most sense for a Minnesota team that doesn’t have many weaknesses. With an improving jump shot, he’ll fit nicely in-between Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.
7) New Orleans Pelicans: Jayson Tatum | FR / SF | Duke
– Quite a coup for the Pelicans to be in a position to pick Tatum at 7. A natural-born scorer, Tatum reminds many of Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony. His strength is in his mid-range game, which will compliment both superstar Anthony Davis and 2016 first round pick Buddy Hield.
8) New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina | 98′ / PG | Strasbourg
– This wasn’t an easy choice here as there isn’t a clear perfect fit available. Ntilikina looks like what you’d get if you tried to create a prototype point guard physically with his reported 7’0″ wingspan. He’s tall, athletic, surprisingly strong and should be a menace defensively from the word go.
9) Sacramento Kings: Lonzo Ball / FR / PG | UCLA
– Having a talent like Ball available with the #9 pick is a testament to the absurd strength of this draft. Perhaps the best passer in the amateur ranks since Jason Kidd, Ball has the ability to bring showtime to the Sleep Train Arena.
10) Denver Nuggets: Jonathan Isaac | FR / SF | Florida State
– The Nuggets are loaded with young talent and don’t really have a position of need. For them, it’s simply a matter of time until the young guys gain experience and they’ll instantly be a force. Isaac is a high-upside player who possesses elite offensive skills at his height.
11) Milwaukee Bucks: Omer Yurtseven | FR / C | N.C. State
– One of the most dominate players in the U-18 level in Europe, Yurtseven is taking his elite inside game to N.C. State. He could be the final piece to the Bucks starting unit.
12) Orlando Magic: De’Aaron Fox | FR / PG | Kentucky
– This is another team that doesn’t have a giant hole to fill. So we go with potentially the best defensive player in the draft to a team that prides itself on getting after opponents on the defensive end every night.
13) Utah Jazz: OG Anunoby | SO / SF | Indiana
– I’m assuming that Gordon Hayward is going to be moved. OG showed tremendous potential at the end of the season for the Hoosiers and has a chance to make an epic leap up the board this season. You can’t help but see Kawhi Leonard comparisons here.
14) Washington Wizards: Isaiah Hartenstein | 98′ / PF | Zalgiris
– Hartenstein’s stock has been all over the place. Some believe he’s a top 5 talent who can be a Kevin Love type on the offensive side of the ball. Others see average athleticism and rank him lower in the first round. Either way, another forward who can stretch the floor would be a welcome addition to the Wizards.
15) Houston Rockets: Kostja Mushidi | 98′ / SG | Mega Leks
– Mushidi is the player who I had the hardest time finding a place for. After watching tape, my instinct is that this is one of the 5 or so best players in his class. A strong season with Mega Leks and he could go 10 spots higher than this.
16) Dallas Mavericks: Bam Adebayo | FR / PF | Kentucky
– There isn’t a lot at the power forward spot behind the elderly Dirk Nowitzki. Bam is a physical force who plays the power forward spot with a reckless abandon. His energy will be a welcome addition to the Mavs roster.
17) Denver Nuggets (Grizzlies): Jonathan Jeanne | 97′ / C | Le Mans
– Jeanne is next year’s man of mystery. A 7-2 Frenchman with an absurd wingspan and elite mobility for a center has a chance to be a Gobert-like performer.
18) Detroit Pistons: Malik Monk | FR / SG | Kentucky
– I’m not 100% sure what Malik Monk is. Some people think he can get minutes at the point guard spot, but most consider him to be an undersized shooting guard. Either way, he’s one of the nation’s premiere athletes and a dynamic scorer.
19) Portland Trailblazers: Jarrett Allen | FR / C | Texas
– The Blazers are set from the 1-3 spots. Allen is the highest upside bigman left on the board at this point.
20) Indiana Pacers: Edmond Sumner | SO / PG | Xavier
– Sumner is a big guard with an emerging skill-set who could take minutes at either guard position at the next level. While his shooting is below-average at this point, his athleticism and defensive potential make him a fascinating prospect.
21) Atlanta Hawks: Terrance Ferguson | 98′ / SG | Adelaide
– Ferguson is an interesting case. A highly rated player in the 2016 class, he committed to play at Alabama, backed out, committed to Arizona, backed out and elected to play in Australia. His handle needs work, but he’s one of his classes’ top dunkers and a dangerous three-point shooter.
22) Charlotte Hornets: Bennie Boatwright | SO / PF | USC
– This is one of my favorite prospects in the class and for the life of me I don’t know why he isn’t universally considered to be a lottery pick. A 6-10 forward with a smooth stroke who connects from the outside at a good rate and rebounds the basketball.
23) Brooklyn Nets (Celtics): Rodions Kurucs | 98′ / SF | Barcelona
– The Nets are in dire need of talent and while he plays the same position as Bojan Bogdanovic, Kurucs is easily the most talented player remaining on the board, This is a potential do-it-all forward, assuming you’re willing to wait for him to develop.
24) Miami Heat: Tyler Lydon | SO / PF | Syracuse
– A little undersized, but other than that he’s everything you look for in a stretch-4. As a freshman, he shot 40% from 3 point range, averaged nearly 7 rebounds and 2 blocks a game in about 30 minutes.
25) Toronto Raptors (Clippers): Marques Bolden | FR / C | Duke
– A mobile bigman who has excellent touch around the hoop and a reliable jumper from 12-15 feet, Bolden is the kind of talent who wouldn’t be on the board at #25 in a normal draft.
26) Oklahoma City Thunder: Terry Larrier | SO / SF | Connecticut
– This is a bit of a projection pick here, but Larrier, who is set to make his UConn debut this fall, has been sensational all summer. He’s a big wing who can do everything on the floor and could be a great fit next to Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo.
27) Toronto Raptors: Mikal Bridges | SO / SF | Villanova
– In a lot of ways, the Villanova product is very similar to Indiana’s OG Anunoby. He’s a long, energetic, defensive-minded small forward who does all the little things to help his team win a game.
28) Cleveland Cavaliers: Grayson Allen | JR / SG | Duke
– If there’s a better fit of any selection in the draft so far, I’m not sure what it is. Allen in a big-time athlete who gets under people’s skin and shoots lights out from the perimeter. He can become a valuable member of the Cavs playing alongside LeBron James.
29) San Antonio Spurs: Thomas Bryant | SO / PF | Indiana
– Bryant is kind of a poor man’s, slightly shorter version of LaMarcus Aldridge. He’s not the best athlete in college hoops, but he can hurt teams with his ability to shoot the basketball.
30) Utah Jazz (Warriors): Frank Jackson | FR / PG | Duke
– Jackson gives the Jazz another option at point guard and he can also play off the ball without much trouble. A strong guard, he gets into the lane well and has to be respected from the outside. Like many other players in this draft, he should not be available this late.
