2017 NBA Lottery Mock Draft Picks 1–7
After a disappointing 2016 draft, it’s exciting to have a draft filled with players who show a ton of potential to become stars. The 2017 draft is filled with interesting selections depending on the team’s. The Celtics with the #1 pick are mostly going to point guard Markelle Fultz, despite their best player, superstar, and cult hero, Isaiah Thomas also playing the same position. The Lakers might draft Lonzo or Josh Jackson, yet their last two #2 overall picks slot in at the same spots as them (Ingram and Russell).
Even more interesting would be watching what Philadelphia does with the #3 pick. After a year of slotting in Sergio Rodriguez, TJ Mcconnell, Nik Stauskas, and Gerald Henderson as their guards, the possibility of adding a high ceiling guard prospect is tantalizing. Should they pick De’Aaron Fox to give them a true point guard, or should they focus on adding the best talent, or possibly focus on fit, trading down and adding a Donovan Mitchell or Malik Monk. The draft and team building is my favorite part of basketball.
I’m going to be doing who I think will get drafted, and who I think should be drafted with the certain pick.
1 Boston Celtics
Who they are probably going to pick: Markelle Fultz
Who they should pick: Markelle Fultz
This one is fairly simple. Fultz has a very high floor as a player, an athletic 6'4 guard who can take you off the dribble, distribute, score, and has a developing jumper. While many view Fultz’s 3 point shooting ability as suspect, as he did not display a ton of range, really hugging the line on many of his attempts in college. I don’t think Fultz is a 40% shooter from 3, I do think he can become one, or at least get up to 35–38% on consistent attempts. His shot is much farther along at this point than Derrick Rose was, who became a better shooter during his MVP season. Fultz doesn’t have that exact speed, however, he has some of that, some of the explosiveness, a body, and a more developed repertoire of dribble moves to create space. Under Stevens, Fultz could become an impact defender. Watching the emergence of Bradley, Rozier, and IT has been incredible under Stevens, imagine what he could do with Fultz.
2 Los Angeles Lakers
Who they are probably going to pick: Josh Jackson
Who they should pick: Lonzo Ball
From everything I’ve read, too many Laker fans seem obsessed with this idea that reports of the Lakers interest in De’Aaron Fox and Josh Jackson are smokescreens to hide the fact that they are outright going to draft Lonzo. I don’t think they are going to draft Fox, they already have guards on their team who require the ball in their hands, Julius Randle excels most with the ball in his hand, and the development of Ingram requires giving him the ball. Adding another person who will be controlling the possessions is not part of the direction that the Lakers should be going in for their long term future if they believe the guys they have now are key pieces to their future.
I’m fine with the Lakers drafting Josh Jackson, he’s an athletic freak. He reminds of somewhere between Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes in terms of size, and athletic ability, as well as shooting touch. Being able to slot in an athlete like Jackson next to a lengthy freak like Ingram could make the Lakers a great team at defending PnR’s and switching on defense.
The reason the Lakers should draft Lonzo is that he’s a great fit for what the Lakers probably want to run. Lonzo does not need the ball in his hands to succeed, at UCLA his usage level was only 18.1%, Rubio type level of usage. He’s a quarterback on the floor who you can pair with a ball handler, a guy who can start the break, or throw the ball to 30–40 ft from the rim and have create for his team.
3 Philadelphia 76ers
Who they are probably going to pick: Lonzo Ball (Josh Jackon if Lonzo goes 2)
Who they should pick: Josh Jackson
The Lakers selecting Jackson could be the best thing for the 76ers. They are loaded in front-court talent: Simmons, Saric, and Covington, while having a tweening big in Holmes who should play center, a superstar if healthy in Embiid, and a Jahlil Okafor who I have no clue if he even should get playing time over some of the other guys on the roster.
Brett Brown has not backed off on his statement that when Simmons plays for the Sixers, that he will be the team’s point guard. I do believe Simmons will be running the ball up as the point of the team, but will slot in defensively at the 4 hole. Adding Lonzo would be the perfect point guard to pair with Simmons, letting Simmons drive and control the ball, while Lonzo can play off-ball, spotting and creating with his passing.
If the Sixers cannot pick Lonzo, I am interested in the idea of them trading down. Last season they had Nik Stauskas on the court chucking 3’s as his job. Putting Malik Monk in that role with a Simmons distributing, and Embiid posting up, could be deadly.
4 Phoenix Suns
Who they are probably going to pick: Jayson Tatum
Who they should pick: Jayson Tatum
A lot of people view Tatum as possibly being the second best player in this draft. I’m not as high on him. He is very talented, and an incredible scorer with a great feel and touch for the game.
The Suns have a ton of young talent, while also being a mess of a team that logjams at a ton of positions. Devin Booker is their future going forward, he is the star of that team, and is the age of a current draft prospect. Their best player is Eric Bledsoe, they also have Brandon Knight (whatever the hell he is), and a possible piece in Tyler Ulis. Last season they drafted two young and raw power forwards in Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss.
In theory, TJ Warren might be their small forward, and replacing a scoring wing with another scorer might not work, The Suns needs to focus on total talent and finding the right young pieces that will make an impact towards them being an eventual contender, this is a long build.
5 Sacramento Kings
Who they are probably going to pick: De’Aaron Fox
Who they should pick: De’Aaron Fox
The Kings like Fox, and Fox seems to actually want to join their team. Considering agents have kept their prospects from working out for the Kings, it’s good to know they have a prospect who wants to be there. He should be an upgrade over Ty Lawson, and the fact they can move on from Darren Collison should be exciting. Giving Buddy Hield a guy who can drive and kick passes out to him that the can develop together is exciting. The potential of Cauley-Stein and Fox defending PnR’s excites me, their total athleticism and speed could be ferocious. Given the identity that Joerger likes to play with the Kings might be a fun hustle team.
6 Orlando Magic
Who they are probably going to pick: Jonathan Isaac
Who they should pick: Jonathan Isaac
When my friends ask me who I would take first overall, I always say Jonathan Isaac to mess with them. Earnestly, I enjoy this guy a lot, and would take a major swing with him if I was a GM with an earlier pick. With a 6'11 frame, and possibly still growing, Isaac moves and runs so fluidly, reminiscent of Kevin Durant. Not all like Kevin Durant offensively, just in the way he runs as an athlete.
His long standing reach and 7'1 wingspan allows for him to cut off shooters rapidly. With a coach like Frank Vogel, he can use him like he did a young Paul George. Isaac’s shooting touch could give the Magic a destructive stretch four who can switch onto guards. A line-up of: Biyombo-Isaac-Ross-Fournier-Payton can play with a ferocious defensive speed and have crazy athleticism.
Isaac almost seems like a trap for the Magic. Adding another raw athlete who you hope can develop more could be a pitfall, at six, they are waiting to see what everyone else does.
7 Minnesota
Who they are probably going to pick: Lauri Markkanen? (Isacc if available)
Who they should pick: Malik Monk? (Isaac if available)
Tom Thibodeau and Frank Vogel are both excellent defensive coaches who will be salivating at the prospect of teaching Jonathan Isaac how to become their next Paul George or Jimmy Butler.
If Minnesota cannot get Isaac, I view Monk as a great option for them. A guy who can chuck shots and space the floor better for Towns is what you want. The possibility of letting Monk also develop his dribble creation game could lead to a fun line-ups. It really depends on how LaVine is doing health-wise.
Markkanen would be a fine pick. Probably the most talented prospect at that point. Not sure if you could put him and Towns on the court defensively together, that could be atrocious.
