Flagrant 2’s Mock Draft 3.0: Before the Madness of March Part 1

Photo Cred: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

It’s time for us to put our thinking caps on and get our Mock Draft 3.0 out to the people. This time around, we did the whole Tankathon route again, and this is how the lottery landscape played out. Not much really changed in the lottery, outside of the Lakers jumping the Suns for the #2 pick. Sorry Knicks fans ….. You guys don’t have much luck in a “What If” scenario either.

All of the scenarios are based on my opinion on who I think would fit best with that team. This is really a long piece about how I would fix each team through the draft. Do I have an in-depth understanding of each team? Definitely not, but this won’t be the worst Mock Draft you have read either.

1. Boston Celtics
   Markelle Fultz
   Player Comparison: CJ McCollum 2.0
   Since 2010, there have been some talented players like KAT, Anthony Davis or John Wall but outside of them, Markelle Fultz might be the fourth best prospect since 2010. Guys like Embiid had injury concerns or Boogie with this temper so there were concerns there but I don’t have that with Fultz. His only negative to me right now is that he isn’t dominating on defense. His defensive upside is crazy high but he might never be 100% locked in on defense for him to reach that potential. I for one don’t nitpick the type of stuff when I see what he can do on offense. He has the scoring aptitude of CJ McCollum but has serious playmaking skills. Fultz is what you want in your lead guard and I cannot stress that enough. The whole, “his team won’t make the tourney” complaint is horseshit too, plenty of talented guys in the NBA are on shitty teams and people proclaim them to be Top-10. Relax… his team sucks and that shouldn’t play into your take. For a team like the Celtics who already have a loaded backcourt with an offensive superstar in Isaiah, a guy like Fultz wouldn’t start right away. In fact, he might not start the entire season since the Celtics should be fighting for first round home court advantage. That might be boring for Fultz fans but for the Celtics it will be huge. With Isaiah Thomas set for free agency next season and looking to be paid, it could be the perfect time for both parties to part ways. Isaiah should 100% take the most money offered to him and the Celtics should build around Fultz.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
   Lonzo Ball
   Player Comparison: Honestly, I Have No Idea
   Yes, I don’t know who Ball reminds me of but I do know this kid is going to find success in the league regardless. Sometimes I think he is a 6’6 Steve Nash, and other times I think Bizarro Evan Turner 2.0 …. (It is a superman reference and it makes sense, kind of) but regardless of that issue, Ball is a gifted athlete with a ridiculously high basketball IQ to fail.The way this kid plays, and with Magic Johnson’s recent climb into the managing side of things for the Lakers there isn’t a more obvious pairing than Ball and LA. Ball is Hollywood personified on the basketball court. I once said, Ball should bring sexy back to South Beach… now he needs to bring Showtime back to LA. He is flashy, successful, but most importantly really weird. Think about it. He has supreme height at 6’6 to see over the top of defenses as a lead guard and the playmaking skills to lead the league in assists but has a weird jump shot that pretty much limits him to taking 3s and attacking the rim. On a college level, that is acceptable because he is that much better than most kids in college that his flaws are just areas of concern but the NBA is a different animal. I worry that he might not be athletic enough to get space for his slow and weird jumper. I worry that he might not be strong enough to finish in contact. Okay, so those are my worries now I can talk about how Ball can impact the Lakers. With two playmakers already on the team in D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, Ball will be able to spend more time off the ball to allow for his strengths to impact the game. He is excellent at cutting or finding his spot on the court, which is helpful because if he is open then that weird jump shot is going in. I understand the concerns about Ball, especially if he lands on a team like the Orlando Magic where he is expected to initiate the offense but if he can find himself on a team with multiple playmakers, Ball is going to be VERY GOOD.
3. Phoenix Suns
   Josh Jackson
   Player Comparison: Nicolas Batum
   Much like Fultz, Josh Jackson is going to find minutes on whatever team drafts him. He is too talented between the ears to not get significant minutes as a rookie. There is a lot of love about Josh Jackson, and it stems from his defensive upside and raw playmaking skills. On defense, Jackson has the long arms and quick feet to stay in front of a lot of perimeter players in this league including “PGs”. His offensive skills are still growing but he plays within a team system and takes what he can get. He isn’t someone who will go off script at the next level and will feed off of his teammates. The whole weird hitch in his jump shot is a serious concern but since 2017 started, Jackson is shooting upwards of 38% from 3 and above 50% in his last 7 games. Yes, that is a small sample size but at least it shows he is improving. On a team like the Suns, Jackson is ideal. I have been hyping this partnership for a while, and believe that this could be the tipping point for NBA Hipsters. Move over Minnesota…. The NBA community now loves the Suns. Jackson’s playmaking ability and defensive intensity already puts him ahead of incumbent starter TJ Warren. Warren is a talented offensive wing but his game is his game and I don’t see much upside. Jackson should be able to develop behind Warren until taking over as the starter after the All-Star break. The potential that the trio of Booker, Chriss and Jackson have is up there for the best in the league.
4. Orlando Magic
   Dennis Smith Jr
   Player Comparison: Steve Francis
   The Magic need a lot of help, and even though Elfrid Payton is looking good it isn’t enough to stop them from drafting Smith Jr. DSJ is a talented lead guard that has shades of Damian Lillard minus the jumper. Yes, the jumper is a big minus but DSJ is growing in that area. Without a consistent jumper, DSJ could be in trouble in the NBA but his other offensive weapons are more than enough for him to get drafted this high. He is a next level driver who can finish at the rim but most importantly, he can create for himself. The Magic don’t have anyone that can take their man consistently in one-on-one situations, this is why Smith Jr is ideal for them. He is a me-first type of player, but he isn’t selfish and does get his teammates involved but that comes second. On the other end of the ball, people will point out his obvious flaws (T-Rex Arms) but DSJ isn’t as bad as people advertise. His defense shadows the type of team he is playing. If he is on National Television against Duke, then watch out but it is a different DSJ entirely on that end of the floor if it is Virginia Tech on a Tuesday night. A DSJ and Aaron Gordon duo will definitely have flaws, but the excitement on every fast break will be fun to watch.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
   Malik Monk
   Player Comparison: Lou Williams 2.0
   Pure offense means you are a guy that just gets buckets, nothing else matters. 100% of your energy goes into scoring. James Harden and Isaiah Thomas sound like pure offense since defense isn’t for them but their assist numbers are far too high for them to fall into this category. These guys don’t make All-Star games, but we might finally have found one in Monk if everything falls into place. Defense or playmaking are two things that Monk doesn’t do but on a team with Embiid and Simmons, he won’t need to flash those areas of his game. Having Embiid backing you up as a rim protector, and Simmons natural ability to make the right play, Monk can hide his flaws on one end and reap the benefits on the other. I also don’t think the Monk we see now on defense will be the Monk we see two years from now. Will he still be bad? Probably, but not minutes restriction bad. Monk’s ability to run off screens and his ability to shoot from seemingly anywhere on the court could be the magic the Sixers need if Simmons does display true playmaking ability. For Monk to be most valuable right away, he needs to be in Philadelphia. His offensive talent is unreal and could be game changing. He has Dion Waiters level confidence.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
   Jonathan Isaac
   Player Comparison: Rashard Lewis
   After the pairing of Ball with the Lakers, Minnesota and Isaac is the next great draft pairing. Isaac has everything that the Timberwolves are missing on their roster right now. In terms of defensive pairings, Isaac and KAT would be a very gifted duo for years to come if both mature on that side of the ball. Isaac can be that weak side help defender for KAT, but he will need to some weight to make sure he isn’t a complete liability on defense. Even though he lacks serious muscle, Isaac is a gifted shotblocker when playing within a team defense. For as good as Isaac is with using his length on defense, his lack of strength and frame could be the deciding factor on his NBA Outlook. At 6’10 and only about 210, Isaac needs to seriously fill out at the next level to make sure he can keep up with the physicality of the NBA. Even though Isaac is built like Anthony Randolph, it doesn’t mean he is against playing in the mud which for someone with his offensive talent it is a unique thing to see. Now that we got the whole, his length is great but I worry about his frame debate out of the way, we can get to the fun stuff with Isaac. When you see a 6’10 kid do the things he does on the offensive side of the ball, you get excited. He might not be the second coming of KD, and in reality will there ever be another but that unlikely comparison shouldn’t scare fans off. He has a silky smooth jumper from distance and also is a very reliable FT shooter, which for someone his height is huge. He can definitely improve his handles, but on a team with KAT, LaVine and Wiggins the likelihood of using Isaac in an ISO situation will be very small during his rookie year. The TWolves need someone who can stretch the floor with this roster, and Isaac will be that guy.
7. Dallas Mavericks
   Frank Ntilikina
   Player Comparison: The International Man of Mystery
   Don’t enjoy throwing the international guys in my mock drafts, not because I believe in Trump’s America but mostly because it is too tough to get a good grasp on their situation. If the guy is locked in the lottery, I will do the best to find enough tape on him to put together an educated guess and that guess on Nikitina is worrisome. Don’t think he reminds me of Dante Exum, but the same nerves I had with Exum I have with Frank. When watching tape on him, the skills are there and I do love how the Euro kids are practicing with adults on a daily basis but what is Frank in the NBA? Is he a “PG” or a “SG”? If you can figure that out 100% by Draft Day, then I will feel a lot better about this situation. Feel to often that the NBA community looks at an international kid and tries to peg him into something they are not. I don’t think Frank has the speed to play “PG” in the NBA. He looks very slow playing in the French League, don’t know how he will be in the NBA. He makes the smart play, and plays within the game without forcing anything but for me to buy in 100%, I need him destroying folks in France. Do I think it is dumb to draft him? Not at all especially if I am the Mavericks, who has a strong core with Carlisle at the helm. At 6’6 with ridiculously long arms, he has all the wingspan you want in a guy who could blossom into a an unreal perimeter defender. Another area that impresses me is his shooting, he has good form and it looks like he can grow into a pretty good shooter from distance. I would not expect a kid with his measurables to be this good of a shooter at 19. His physical profile is more than enough to garner a lottery pick, but if it was me, I would hesitate on pulling the trigger but what do I know …. I thought Ben Mclemore was a no brainer All-Star.
8. New York Knicks
   De’Aaron Fox
   Player Comparison: Ricky Rubio
   The New York Knicks have some thinking to think about if the lottery plays out like this. Do they draft a guy a guard in De’Aaron Fox or a potential 20+PPG scorer in Jayson Tatum? After much deliberation, Fox is the go-to guy for the Knicks. The type of player Fox turns into could be one of the biggest moves in Knicks history. You have a generational talent in KP and with an owner ruining player relations around the league, finding a partner for him might have to be done in the draft. Fox is a one man fast break with no regard for human life. He sees the smallest of holes and he is going to try to exploit it with his surreal speed. His low shooting % is less than ideal but he does hit at a 70%ish clip from the line, which shows that he could develop into an average shooter rather than a Rondo. His form isn’t atrocious either which is good. Outside of him improving his jump shot, Fox needs to add serious muscle to his frame which I think he can do. With the added weight, Fox should be able to attack the rim and finish at a better % while also potentially help in his shooting numbers. Adding Fox isn’t going to fix everything but it is a good start, and his ability to penetrate the lane will allow for some easy looks for KP. The Fox/KP duo will make the Knicks fun again and that is what everybody wants in a rebuilding team.
9. Sacramento Kings
   Lauri Markkanen
   Player Comparison: Kelly Olynyk 2.0
   Alright … this is the pick the Kings received for Boogie Cousins, but we all know this pick won’t be as high as #9 and will likely be closer to #14. In this scenario they have to make a move and Lauri is there guy. Lauri isn’t the top big on my board but he does fit exactly when the Kings need from an offensive standpoint. His offensive talent at 7’0 is unquestionable, and they will need scoring next season. For as talented of an offensive player that Lauri is, he is pretty much the 7’0 version of Isaiah Thomas on defense which means he isn’t very good. This is the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Lauri. He could be one of the most gifted offensive big prospects ever, and also one of the worst defensive bigs to come out in a long time that is lottery projected.The Kings need a lot of help, and every position should be on the table which means they can literally draft anyone but outside of Tatum, I don’t see anyone left on the board with the upside of Lauri. If Buddy Hield is Steph Curry in the eyes of Vivek ….. Then Lauri will be Dirk but better. Also, the Markkanen and Papagiannis combo will be giving announcers a hard time for years.
10. Portland Trail Blazers
    Jayson Tatum
    Player Comparison: Paul Pierce
    The Trail Blazers might be having a down year after the success last year, but if Tatum falls this far grabbing him at 10 is an absolute showstopper of a move. Tatum has ideal height at 6’8 with a 6’11 wingspan, and already displays a high level of offensive upside. He has a clean shooting stroke that should translate to the next level. He can definitely look to improve his handles, but Tatum has the potential to be a serious dude in the NBA. On a team like the Blazers who have two ball dominate guards that can fill it up with relative ease, adding Tatum could be the missing piece. On offense, Tatum does most of his work from midrange and at the line with efficiency. He gets to the line almost five times per game, while hitting at almost 88%. For this relationship to work, Tatum will need to improve his ability to finish through contact and prove that his recent hot streak from distance is for real. Currently, Tatum is pretty reliant on working out of the iso at Duke but with CJ and Lillard running the show, he will need to show that he can play off the ball. An area that really has me intrigued about Tatum is what he can do in terms of adding muscle to his frame. It looks like it shouldn’t be an issue. If he can add some strength, Tatum has all the measurables to develop into a reliable defender.
11. Chicago Bulls
    Justin Patton
    Player Comparison: Larry Sanders
    With Sacramento trending more towards the top-5 after trading Boogie, Chicago landing this pick is highly unlikely but the game still needs to be played. Chicago currently lacks any real potential on their frontline, with Robin Lopez acting as their best player. This is why grabbing a big man like Patton is the ideal scenario. Patton is super raw but he is the top big on my board for this draft and has the potential to be a difference maker on both ends of the court. At 7’0, he is a very gifted and fluid athlete who can run the floor like a guard. He has shown glimpses of being able to hit the midrange jumper but I wouldn’t call that a strength right now. The main area of concern for me with Patton is his weight and need to add muscle to his frame. Those are two glaring holes, but he does have the frame to do it. Lillard and McCollum desperately need rim protection and another big to add to their roster, a guy like Patton can be that piece.
12. Charlotte Hornets
    Robert Williams
    Player Comparison: Bismark Biyombo
    The Hornets are in need of some athleticism on their front line and this is where Robert Williams comes in. He is a defensive star in the making and has everything you want in an elite rim protector. At 6’10, Williams has the height and length to protect the rim, but he also has elite defensive awareness that shows in his timing and patience. On offensive, I’ve said it before and I worry that he might not grow into anything other than a DeAndre Jordan-esque clone. I predict a lot of PnRs and dunks in the future for Williams.
13. Miami Heat
    T.J. Leaf
    Player Comparison: David Lee 2.0
    Hassan Whiteside is special, and he needs a running mate next to him that will stretch the floor for him and give him space to operate in the paint. Enter T.J. Leaf. Currently running second fiddle to Ball at UCLA, Leaf would slide in perfect alongside Whiteside. Leaf is a talented offensive big who works best out of the PnR. For him to be at his best, he needs an aggressive guard that will allow him to find space on that end. Leaf can hit the midrange jumper, with potential to stretch to the 3 at the NBA and has enough handles to take his guy off the dribble. Leaf is a lot like his college buddy Ball in that they have some of the top basketball IQ in the draft. His defense is a little shaky and could be an issue for him at the next level, but good thing Whiteside is there to cover his ass. If he is too much of a liability on one side of the ball, we might be looking at Leaf as a valuable scoring big off the bench. At his peak, Leaf is a starter with All-Star potential and at his worst, he is the “PF” version of Enes Kanter.
14. Milwaukee Bucks
    Miles Bridges
    Player Comparison: PJ Tucker 2.0
    It isn’t news but I LOVE Miles Bridges and everything he brings to the table. This move might be me just asking for pure chaos with this Bucks team but adding a versatile forward in Bridges would be awesome. In terms of team fit, it really depends on the health of Jabari Parker but that shouldn’t stop them from scooping up a potential two-way threat in Bridges. When it comes to raw athleticism, Bridges is probably the top in the class which should make Milwaukee a very exciting team to watch. For a guy who will spend most of his time at the four, he has less-than-stellar measurables at 6’6 with only a 6’9 wingspan but the way he uses his frame is impressive. He is an aggressive driver who uses his blend of speed and width to bully past opposing players. He might not be able to do that right away in the NBA but the skillset is there to be a valuable asset to any team. He is shooting much better than advertised but being able to carry over his production from distance will be key in determining his true value at the next level. With a guy like Bridges, you can play him as a traditional wing or if you want to go small, he can play on the baseline. He is the type of prospect that defines the era of positionless basketball and we all know how much the Bucks love breaking the rules on positions.

Check back in for Part 2 of our Mock Draft 3.0