An Extremely Early Redraft of the 2017 NBA Top 10 Draft Picks
The 2017–2018 NBA season has truly been one to remember. We’ve witnessed greatness night in and night out, experienced heartbreak at the hands of opposing teams and also seen a frustrating number of injuries throughout the year — seriously Basketball Gods, pls give us a break. One of the largest contributing factors to the success of this season has been its Rookie Class — with what has been touted as the deepest talent pool since the 2003 Draft, this Rookie Class has assured fans that the future of the league is in good hands.
But, what good is sports blogging without picking something apart? Every NBA Draft always comes with its share of what ifs — what if Detroit took Carmelo Anthony instead of Darko Milicic? Hint: he’d have a ring, for one (we still own a small apartment on Carmelo Island, FYI — it’s becoming progressively more deserted but there’s still hope). What if Portland drafted Kevin Durant instead of Greg Oden? What if Cleveland drafted literally anybody else instead of Anthony Bennett?
Well, what if each team in the top ten had another shot at the most recent Draft? Now that we’ve seen what each of these players bring to the table on a given night, we can use the wonderful gift of hindsight to re-rank them based on how they’ve looked in their rookie campaign — it’s much easier to be an NBA GM from your couch, it turns out!
For the purpose of this exercise, let’s assume that all picks have already been traded and the teams are still picking both in the same order that they actually picked in and to fill a need.
#1: Jayson Tatum, Philadelphia 76ers
Previous Position: #3
Danny Ainge sent shockwaves through the NBA world when he traded down to acquire the #3 overall pick, with which he drafted Duke product Jayson Tatum — not that he needed more praise for building his Boston Celtics, but he struck gold.
At just 20 years old, Tatum’s offensive game is already polished beyond his years. He can score in a variety of ways, and has drawn praise around the league for his offensive arsenal and star potential. After being thrusted into a starting role following Gordon Hayward’s season-ending injury, Tatum has been nothing short of spectacular for the Celtics and looks to be a future franchise player.
Now, imagine a starting lineup of Ben Simmons, JJ Redick, Jayson Tatum, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid — there’s a Process I can trust. Philadelphia taking Tatum with the first overall pick gives them an incredible young core that would be poised to compete in the East for years to come.
#2: Donovan Mitchell, Los Angeles Lakers
Previous Position: #13
What else could possibly be said about Donovan Mitchell? Taken with the 13th pick in the Draft by Utah, he led the team to the fifth-seed in the Western Conference while also leading the team in scoring (averaging over 20PPG — Mitchell is the first Rookie to do so since Carmelo Anthony) — Mitchell is clearly the steal of the Draft and has an extremely valid case for Rookie of the Year (although Ben Simmons may have something to say about that).
Mitchell has been given the keys to the city in Utah this year, and for good reason — he’s a confident scorer and a freakish athlete who brought the Jazz back from a 19–28 start to then go 29–6 to close out the season.
If the Lakers, having traded D’Angelo Russell, snagged Mitchell at #2 overall, things may be a little different in Tinsel Town this season. Donovan’s swagger seems perfectly suited to L.A — he showed that he isn’t afraid of the big stage, winning the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend this year — and under Luke Walton, he could put up some serious numbers and flourish into the marquee player that they’ve craved since the retirement of Kobe Bryant.
#3: Lauri Markkanen, Boston Celtics
Previous Position: #7
This one might ruffle some feathers. When the Chicago Bulls drafted Lauri Markkanen with the seventh overall pick, many (including myself) were bewildered. In what world does a 7-foot white European dude who can shoot 3s NOT sound like a bust?!
Fortunately, it turns out Markkanen is good. Really good. In his rookie campaign, The Finnisher averaged 15.1PPG and 7.5RPG, leading all Rookies in rebounds per game and finnishing (pun intended) fourth in scoring — he was also the fastest Rookie to reach 100 made 3-pointers. Not only does he have a silky smooth jump shot with a quick release (the term “7-Foot Klay Thompson” has been thrown around), but he’s got a deceptively quick first-step and is great around the rim. The kid is special — Dirk Nowitzki 2.0 isn’t totally off the table.
Boston would have no choice but to take him with the third overall pick, trotting out a lineup of Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward (this is an alternate universe where Hayward never gets injured), Lauri Markkanen and Al Horford — sheesh. The thought of Irving/Markkanen running a pick-and-pop makes me salivate, while the ever-reliable Horford would be there to cover up any defensive mistakes the youngster might make.
President Brad Stevens would, of course, bring out the best in The Markksman and the Celtics would have a versatile one-two scoring punch in Irving and Markkanen for years to come. Plus, it’s about time Boston had another slick-shooting “Great White Hope” who can keep Larry Bird’s (and Brian Scalabrine’s) legacy alive.
#4: Lonzo Ball, Phoenix Suns
Previous Position: #2
Being called “the new face of the Los Angeles Lakers” isn’t an easy moniker to live up to as a 19-year old. Ending his Rookie Season averaging 10.2PPG, 6.9RPG and 7.2APG (albeit with poor efficiency), the former UCLA Bruin looked more like the second coming of Jason Kidd (who averaged 11.7PPG, 5.4RPG and 7.7APG in his first season) rather than of Magic Johnson.
However, Ball’s height, sneaky athleticism, insane court vision and overall feel for running an offense give him a ceiling higher than current teammate Brandon Ingram looks on a daily basis. His poise and unique skillset tell me that he’s going to be just fine — the shots will fall and his numbers will improve, but he passes the eye test and has the foundations to be a star. And even if that doesn’t happen, LaVar Ball will tell you the opposite.
Things haven’t looked good in Phoenix for quite some time. Specifically, since 2012, when future Hall of Famer Steve Nash made the move to the Lakers. A glimmer of hope came in 2015 in the form of Devin Booker (he’s younger than both Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell, by the way), who inexplicably slid to the 13th pick in the Draft — however, that hasn’t quite been enough just yet (Phoenix just finished the season with the worst record in the league).
The Phoenix Suns have a history of great Point Guards — Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash to name a few. Taking Lonzo Ball with the fourth pick not only gives Devin Booker the running-mate he needs and bolsters their backcourt, but finally gives them the Floor General they’ve been missing for so long.
#5: Markelle Fultz, Sacramento Kings
Previous Position: #1
Markelle Fultz has had an interesting year. Having averaged 23.2PPG, 5.7RPG and 5.9APG on 47% from the field and 41% from distance during his lone season in Washington, he was more or less a lock for the top spot in the Draft. But then came the mysterious shoulder injury, which resulted in 68 missed games and bulk panic in the City of Brotherly Love.
To clarify, I’m extremely high on Fultz — he showed some really good glimpses in his late return to the team, including a triple double in the last game of the season (he’s now also the youngest ever to record a triple double — somewhere, LaVar Ball is crying).
Sacramento taking Fultz with the fifth pick would be a steal here — they get someone who has an extremely well-rounded game and has the potential to be “the guy” on a team that has sorely needed one for a long time. Pairing him with Buddy Hield in the backcourt and some of their other young pieces (Bogdan Bogdanovic, Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere) is particularly interesting as well. Give him the keys to the city, Sacramento! Just don’t expect him to play in his first season…
#6: Dennis Smith Jr., Orlando Magic
Previous Position: #9
Dennis Smith Jr. was my vote for Rookie of the Year and I’m definitely not alone in that. The high-flyer hasn’t had a bad season by any means — however, I expected a lot more from him coming out of NC State.
Taking a closer look at the numbers, though, Smith Jr.’s Rookie campaign is eerily similar to that of one Russell Westbrook: Smith averaged 15.2PPG, 3.8RPG and 5.2APG on 39% from the field, while Westbrook averaged 15.3PPG, 4.9RPG and 5.3APG on 39% from the field.
Based on that, I officially retract any previous negativity about Smith Jr. and would like to add that the only real knock I can give him here is that he currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks — a team that nobody except Mavericks fans and Mark Cuban can bear to watch.
Orlando taking Smith Jr. with the sixth pick and thus handing over the reigns to their 25th-ranked offense would be a turning point for the franchise. Not only would they have their most exciting Point Guard since Penny Hardaway, but can you imagine all the dunks we’d see between Smith Jr. AND Aaron Gordon!? Plus they could bond over how they’ve both been snubbed from Slam Dunk Contest wins.
#7: Kyle Kuzma, Chicago Bulls
Previous Position: #27
Selected with the 27th overall pick, Kyle Kuzma surprised a lot of people this season — now affectionately dubbed “Kuz” by fans, he has become a legit scoring threat for the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 16.1PPG and 6.3RPG this season. Not bad for somebody who at one point was expected to go undrafted.
Out of all rookies averaging at least 20 minutes per game this season, only Jayson Tatum and Atlanta’s John Collins (more on him later) have posted a higher PER (Player Efficiency Rating), and only Donovan Mitchell is putting up more points per-36-minutes.
Bringing Kuzmania to Chicago would be a solid move for the Bulls, giving them another viable scoring option at the wing position next to Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine. Somehow, 26 teams passed on Kuzma — not only does he have Kobe Bryant’s approval, but he can make things happen with the ball in his hands and he excels in iso situations. He would get plenty of opportunity on a rebuilding Bulls squad.
#8: De’Aaron Fox, New York Knicks
Previous Position: #5
De’Aaron Fox is quick. I mean lightning quick. The Kentucky product is bouncy, athletic and an above-average defender at his position. Whilst he didn’t have a spectacular Rookie season (11.6PPG, 2.8RPG, 4.4APG), he did show some flashes —including a couple of game-winners.
Many touted Fox as the top Point Guard prospect in the Draft, and for good reason. His two way play and undeniable athletic ability give him a high ceiling (let’s hope he flourishes when he inevitably leaves the Sacramento Kings). While he doesn’t have a knock-down jumper as yet, he can attack and penetrate defenses while finishing with both hands.
An attacking Point Guard such as Fox would be perfectly suited for a big man who can space the floor — bah Gawd, that’s Kristaps Porzingis’ music! Pairing a culture-changing Point Guard like Fox with Porzingis is just the kick in the nuts that the Knicks need to get back on the road to relevancy.
#9: John Collins, Dallas Mavericks
Previous Position: #19
You’ve got to hand it to the Atlanta Hawks. They really know how to tank. There wasn’t a single thing that compelled me to watch a Hawks game this year — except for Wake Forest product John Collins (note: I didn’t actually watch any Hawks game, but the Collins highlight reels were real nice). Taken outside of the Lottery, Collins was the lone positive for the Hawks this season. His rim-running and activity on the glass alone make the 6'10" 20-year old an extremely promising prospect.
No other rookie is rebounding more on a per-possession basis, and only Jordan Bell of the Golden State Warriors converted a higher percentage of his shot attempts. Not only that, but Collins has the highest PER (Player Efficiency Rating) of all first year players.
Seeing as the Dallas Mavericks hate Nerlens Noel, drafting Collins and playing him alongside to Dirk Nowitzki would be the right move and would give them a solid, athletic big man for years to come.
#10: Josh Jackson, Portland Trail Blazers
Previous Position: #4
Touted as a lockdown defender and do-it-all wing prospect during his time at Kansas, it’s easy to see why Phoenix took Josh Jackson with the fourth pick in the Draft. While he certainly fits the bill as an athlete and defender, Jackson is still missing a reliable jumpshot — he’s been one of the least efficient scorers this season and his mechanics just don’t look right (26.3% from distance for the season).
Jackson’s second half of the season saw much improvement, however. On a bottom-dwelling team like the Suns, there’s plenty of opportunity — and Jackson showed some solid glimpses, even scoring a career-high 36pts against the Golden State Warriors in March. While people initially thought Jackson was the most NBA-ready prospect in this Draft, it seems like he’ll need some more time to develop.
Fortunately, he wouldn’t need to be an instant star on a Portland Trail Blazers roster that already has one of the better backcourts in the NBA. Sliding in next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum at the 3-spot, Jackson would compliment the two nicely and provide an additional element of defense and playmaking for their already top-10 ranked defensive efficiency — maybe Dame can even teach him how to shoot!
