2017 Mock Draft 1.0 — Preseason Weirdness Part 1
Published in
7 min readOct 4, 2016
It seems that a lot of the stuff I’ve been writing about this off-season is either about rookies who have been drafted, or kids still in college… there might really be something wrong with me. Well, I am 27 and it’s looking like I won’t change much by now, so let’s just acknowledge the fact that this is a little weird and get down into the nitty gritty of the Showman’s Mock Draft 1.0 for the 2017 season.
Originally, I thought it might be smart to use Tankathon and their lottery simulator for my draft, but a wise man told me that was fucking stupid. Instead, I decided to use my own brain and create the first mock draft based on where I thought each team would finish.
Here is my Mock Draft 1.0 for 2017, in October for all Lottery projected teams:
- Boston Celtics (From BK Nets)
Markelle Fultz, G, University of Washington
Quick Comp: D’Angelo Russell
Danny Ainge says fuck it and drafts Markelle Fultz, then lets Brad Stevens figure out how to get the talented 6'4 PG on the court. It shouldn’t be hard to do so, as Fultz is capable of playing both guard spots at an elite level. He is a gifted facilitator who plays like he is Neo in the matrix, in that the game seems to slow down when the ball is in his hands. With a growing perimeter game, Fultz has everything you want in a lead guard. - Phoenix Suns
Josh Jackson, G/F, University of Kansas
Quick Comp: Tracy Mcgrady
With Booker locked in as their two guard of the future and Chriss or Bender as the power forward, the Suns are in need of a young wing to complement the core. Adding Jackson to the mix will provide another potential 20 PPG scorer to the fold, as well as a potential defensive stopper from the wing. The TWolves might be all the rage this year, but come next season, if everything comes together it could be the Suns we are proclaiming as the future best in the West. - Philadelphia 76ers
Dennis Smith Jr., PG, North Carolina State University
Quick Comp: Steve Francis
Smith Jr. is actually the #1 prospect on my big board, but in terms of team fit, he doesn’t mesh well with the other teams that pick ahead of the Sixers. Smith is as gifted as any athlete that I have seen at the PG position since Westbrook or Rose, which should make his pairing with Simmons that much more exciting. His ability to attack the rim reminds me a lot of Kyrie Irving, but he has a shaky jumper that should be a major focal point this season as he looks to develop. - Denver Nuggets
Harry Giles, F/C, Duke University
Quick Comp: Cliff Robinson
With Jokic locked in as their center moving forward, the Nuggets will need to find a partner to pair with him, and the 6'10 Giles is that guy. Giles is a rare breed of speed and power with the ability to take his man off the dribble, thanks in part to his elite ball-handling for a big. He has shown flashes of a potential superstar, but his injury issues are a major concern. If Giles can come back to form after his second knee surgery, he should blossom into a legit 20 and 10 guy. - Philadelphia 76ers (From LA Lakers)
Jayson Tatum, F, Duke University
Quick Comp: Paul Pierce
If Philly selects Smith Jr. with their first pick, their rotation would consist of Simmons, Smith Jr., and either Embiid, Saric, Okafor, or Nerlens, leaving them without a reliable go-to scorer. That’s exactly why Tatum is their man. Tatum might not have the athleticism of Josh Jackson or the length of Isaac, but he has a very polished game with an NBA-ready body, making him able to slide in nicely as the future wing in Philly. - New Orleans Pelicans
Lauri Markkanen, F/C, University of Arizona
Quick Comp: Donatas Motiejunas
The Pelicans have been looking for a reliable power forward to pair with Anthony Davis since he entered the league, and they have the chance to finally find their man in Lauri Markkanen. For Davis to reach his potential, the Pelicans need a stretch four to give him the proper spacing to make plays, and Markkanen might be the best shooter in this draft out of the big men. This could be a little high for Lauri, but you can’t teach height, and Markkanen is a 7'0 talent with an unbelievable shooting touch and underrated athleticism, giving him the potential to be one of the best players in this draft when it is all said and done. - Sacramento Kings
Frank Ntilikina,PG, Strasbourg IG
Quick Comp: Dennis Schroder
Vlade Divac takes risks… and I can totally see him swinging for the fences with Ntilikina at seven. Ntilikina is a tall, lanky guard who seems destined to develop into a Rajon Rondo/Dennis Schroder-esque player, which would bode well for Cousins. At 6'5 and 190 lbs, Ntilikina has great length as a PG, and his overall basketball IQ should allow him to grow into an elite defender. - Minnesota Timberwolves
Ivan Rabb, PF, University of California — Berkeley
Quick Comp: Chris Bosh Lite
The TWolves don’t have any glaring holes outside of a front court partner for KAT, and Rabb’s skillset would complement KAT better than anyone else in this draft (outside of Giles and maybe Lauri Markkanen). Rabb has an elite motor who thrives in the PnR, but has yet to demonstrate his face-up game. When he does, it will drive him up the draft boards come June. - Orlando Magic
Terrance Ferguson, G/F, Adelaide 36ers
Quick Comp: Zach LaVine/Terrence Ross
The Magic are a weird team in that they have a lot of youth on their roster who need extended minutes, but I don’t know if they are all fits. This is why I think adding someone like Ferguson would be ideal for them. Ferguson will give the Magic added scoring off the bench immediately with his ability to shoot from distance, and could develop into a go-to scorer for them if he hits his stride early. The potential trio of Gordon, Mario, and Ferguson is as dangerous as any when it comes to “untapped talent.” - Washington Wizards
Jarrett Allen, C, University of Texas
Quick Comp: Larry Sanders
Washington is in need of some serious youth in the front court, and the Texas big man is the perfect addition to their roster. Allen will never be mistaken for a low-post offensive maestro, but on a team like Washington who needs someone with a high motor, Allen will blossom. He still has a ways to go before he is a finished product, especially in terms of filling out his frame, but I do believe he has the potential to get there. - Miami Heat
De’Aaron Fox, PG, University of Kentucky
Quick Comp: Athletic Ricky Rubio
The Heat are building an elite defensive juggernaut for the future with Whiteside, Winslow and Richardson — all they are missing is a defensive stud at PG, which is what Fox can become. Fox is an athletic guard who stands 6’4 with a 6’6 wingspan and is an absolute blur in the open floor. Arguably the quickest player in the draft with the ball in his hands, Fox is also a gifted passer and a terror on defense. He is very much a pass-first guard, who is still looking to define himself on the offensive end. - Milwaukee Bucks
Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Quick Comp: Michael Carter-Williams
The “point guard Giannis” idea is fun to think about and something I love, but to maximize his talent, they need him operating out of the post just as much as they do initiating the offense. This is why grabbing Ball in the lottery makes sense. Ball, with his combination of size and skill, fits the M.O. for the Bucks, and with time he could blossom into a legitimate superstar in the league. He will fall to them in the bottom half of the lottery due to his lack of strength, ugly jumper, and inconsistent shooting from deep. Currently these are issues, but with time, Ball should be able to straighten his shot to become a viable threat from deep and add some muscle to his slight frame. - New York Knicks
Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Florida State University
Quick Comp: Austin Daye
Similar to Divac, Phil Jackson is a risk- taker which is why I can see the Knicks adding a high risk/high reward guy like Isaac. I do fear the the physicality of the NBA might be too much for him, but Isaac’s length and potential are unmatched in this draft, and if he is able to add some muscle to his frame and strengthen his ball skills, grabbing him at thirteen would be an absolute steal. - Dallas Mavericks
Edmond Sumner, G, Xavier University
Quick Comp: John Wall Lite
The Mavericks are in the process of building for the future with Justin Anderson and the Harrison Barnes signing, and it’s time for them to find their accompanying PG soon. Sumner is an athletic guard who was a relative unknown this time last season and attacks the rim like a madman. His poor shooting and decision making will be something to keep an eye on, but if anyone can help him it is Rick Carlisle.
Part 2 will be out soon…. Picks 15–30
