Flagrant 2’s Top-15 To Watch for The 2017 Draft
Published in
19 min readFeb 8, 2017
Is Captain America: Winter Soldier an all-time great movie? No. But it has amazing re-watchability, and sometimes that is all you really need.
This is not a big board or ranking based on where I think the top prospects will land; instead, this is a list of guys I enjoy watching while prepping for the 2017 draft next summer.
Will the top guys you see in all the mocks appear on this list? Yes. But you won’t see any of the international flavor that folks love to read about. This list is for the casual NBA fan who wants to get a better understanding of the guys their teams might draft next summer, and the most fun prospects to watch. We all know that regardless of talent, if a team is bad, it is kind of awful to continually watch that player… sorry Markelle.
Also, while this is by no means a ranking of talent or a projection order of the draft, this list does consist mostly of the top 20(ish) prospects. If you are looking for deep cut, hipster prospects, this is not the rant for you.
To go along with the watchability rating, I also added a section called player archetype. This is where I think the prospect will be best in the NBA. Many of these guys are capable of succeeding regardless of where they are slotted, as talent will always blossom, but sometimes, finding the right spot will make or break a player’s career. Some would say I’m finally jumping on the idea of “positionless” basketball and accepting a role-based game, which is probably accurate. If you have core foundational pieces, the best bet is to draft guys who will fit the missing pieces and not disrupt the status quo.
For a quick breakdown of the archetypes, here is how I broke everything down:
- Each player’s position is broken down by category: Guard, wing, or big, which are the baselines of each archetype
- Guards, wings, and bigs are then further broken down into roles that each player fits
- Players labeled “elite” are can’t-miss prospects who have the potential to be All-NBA
- Players labeled “prime” means they are the best of the best in that category
- “Raw” means the talent is there, but they need time to find it
Note: I left Harry Giles out on purpose. I would still draft him in the first round for sure, but his watchability ranking is just depressing. I think he came back too early and it’s clearly showing on defense. I still believe in him, but I want him to be 100% healthy before nitpicking his game.
2017 Top 15 Best to Watch:
- Lonzo Ball, UCLA
Watchability Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Elite Playmaking Wing
Draft Range: High lottery, somewhere between 3–6
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Philadelphia 76ers & LA Lakers
Why: Lonzo Ball is easily the most watchable player this year. Ball leads his stacked, uptempo-playing team, doing his best to make basketball more argumentative. The different takes that NBA mock drafters have on Ball is one of the best things about him. Lonzo is one of the most polarizing prospects in some time, and while people love to watch him dominate great college teams, they still question his NBA talent. I am definitely all in for Team Ball, but I do believe he has to be put in the right spot where he can maximize his skillset. I’m not sure who said it first, but whoever originally assumed Ball’s potential is best suited on the wing is 100% accurate. After agreeing with the unknown internet writer, he immediately jumped into my top three. Although he is an efficient shooter at the college level, the best way to minimize the faults in his weird shooting stroke in the NBA is to let him play off the ball and use his “PG” skills as a secondary ball handler. This is not to say he couldn’t find success as a lead guard, because he has all the tools to run an offense, but in my opinion, he is best used playing off the ball. One area concern for me personally is Ball’s ability to finish through contact at the next level. He can finish at the college level, but when Rudy Gobert or DeAndre Jordan are standing in front of you, things are a bit different. Also, probably my biggest concern — he needs to stop wearing Big Baller Brand. I know it is his father’s clothing line, but damn, that shit is generic as hell. - Jonathan Isaac, Florida State University
Watchability Rating: 9.2 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Athletic Stretch Big
Draft Range: High lottery, somewhere between 4–7
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Minnesota Timberwolves & Miami Heat
Why: Honestly, Isaac is everything you want to root for in an NBA prospect: He is tall and has elite scoring potential from all levels, which has some fans calling him the second coming of Kevin Durant. He might never be the scoring threat that KD turned into, but he has definitely turned some heads, including mine. It took some time for me to turn from a skeptic to a true believer (The Academy Is anyone?), as originally I believed he was missing the “stuff” between the ears. However, he kept proving me wrong and now I am convinced. Isaac has shown the toughness to bang down low and do the dirty things that helps a team win, which combined with his offensive skill-set makes him an elite prospect and must-watch TV. The only hole in his offensive game right now is his ability to attack the rim, but I chalk that up to being 19 and needing to add weight to his frame. Folks really want him to play on the wing due to his size and abilities, but I personally don’t think Isaac has the athleticism or quickness to line up there. To me, Isaac is a prototypical stretch four in the mold of Rashard Lewis. Although he might be undersized at the four in terms of weight, his speed and length on offense/defense will make him a matchup nightmare if slotted next to a rim protector. The deeper we get into the CBB season, the more confidence Isaac is gaining in himself, which is why I think he might be a top three pick come June. - Josh Jackson, Kansas University
Watchability Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Elite Two-Way Wing
Draft Range: Current #2 pick
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Phoenix Suns
Why: For as good of a prospect as Josh Jackson is, he is sort of lacking in the excitement department. He doesn’t have insane measurables like Isaac or do anything flashy like Ball, instead he is cerebral athlete who competes at a high-level and puts his team before his own success. In fact, I probably wouldn’t have even ranked him third in terms watchability if it weren’t for him totally redefining himself as a prospect. When I first started reading about him and watched early highlights, it seemed like he would be a high volume/low efficiency Wiggins-clone. But… we’re halfway through the season, and I couldn’t be more wrong. Now, I view him as Nicolas Batum-type two-way wing with elite skills to be a playmaker on offense and a stopper on defense. When it comes to his defense, he is next level with his shot blocking skills, among others. While his jump shot isn’t quite as weird as Ball’s, it is still pretty abnormal and will be an issue when it comes to his pro outlook. With that being said, Jackson’s combination of defensive upside and playmaking ability make him a no doubt building block for a rebuilding team. I don’t think think Jackson will ever be that 20 PPG scorer that I said he would be in earlier mock drafts, but that doesn’t mean he can’t get buckets and find success at the next level. - Dennis Smith Jr., North Carolina State University
Watchability Rating: 8.3 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Prime Athletic Lead Guard
Draft Range: High lottery, somewhere between 3–6
Ideal Landing Spot(s): New Orleans Pelicans or Dallas Mavericks
Why: Before the season started, Dennis Smith Jr. was #1 on the Flagrant 2 hype train. In pure anticipation, he was even granted Jamal Murray Award, which is for the freshman that is the must-watch every night. This assumption was very incorrect, and unfortunately for Dennis Smith Jr., it is because the Wolfpack are just unbearable to watch. At least Washington was expected to be bad, NC State came in with expectations and it looks like they will be missing out on the Tourney come March. For as shitty as it is to watch NC State, Dennis Smith Jr. provides some sense of relief. He is shaking off the ACL rust, and the bouncy electric guard that we were promised in highlight tapes is finally showing. Right now, Smith Jr. is third on our “PG” rankings but if he can put together a strong end to the season, he could jump Ball. When looking at Smith Jr., the first thing that stands out is how athletic he is and along with Monk, he might be the most athletic guard in this draft. Due to his athleticism and aggressive attacking mentality, he will always be a fun guy to watch, especially since no one in college can stay in front of Smith Jr. for a full 40 minutes. However, if you are able to take him away from the hoop, you can minimize his production. His jump shot and his lack of elite measurables are the two biggest areas of concern. When you look at Smith Jr, his wingspan is equal to his height at 6'3 but if you take a guy like Terry Rozier who is the same size but instead has a wingspan of 6’8. For a guy who could be labeled a defensive liability at the next level, having T-Rex arms is not a good thing. High usage guards like Smith Jr. who are below average shooters do worry me, NBA coaches are too smart and can scheme around his weaknesses. - Miles Bridges, Michigan State University
Watchability Rating: 8.2 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Prime Athletic Combo Wing
Draft Range: Mid-lottery to mid-first, somewhere between 10–20
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Indiana Pacers
Why: Now for the real fun part… this is where our rankings start to become more about pure excitement and less about the prospect’s NBA potential. Miles Bridges is this high on the list solely for his extreme dunking ability. In no way can Bridges find himself being selected in the top five, hell, he might be closer to #18 than he is to #10, but the name of the game here is watchability. Bridges is an absolute monster, and he might be the most athletic guy in the draft outside of maybe Monk or Smith Jr. Alongside his ridiculous dunking ability, his lack of a true position is what makes him a guy to root for. For other NBA hipsters who always wanted to see Derrick Williams succeed, I think we will finally get to see it in Miles Bridges. Hearing the name Williams might scare some off, but the difference between the two is that Bridges enjoys doing the ugly shit that helps a team win. How can you not root for this guy? In the NBA, his blend of strength, speed, and athleticism will be the driving force behind his unique value. For someone this athletic, his jump shot isn’t terrible, and he could develop into a reliable outside shooter with time. He won’t ever be in the Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend, but if given enough space, Bridges has the ability to turn into a consistent shooter. - De’Aaron Fox, University of Kentucky
Watchability Rating: 8 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Athletic Two-Way Guard
Draft Range: Mid-lottery, somewhere between 5–10
Ideal Landing Spot(s): New York Knicks & Orlando Magic
Why: I am a BIG time Fox guy, and he would probably have a higher watchability rating if he didn’t play on a team with so many other prospects. Fox is the fastest guard in this year’s draft, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this kid found his way to Non-Alpha Westbrook stature as a pro. Watching him speed past opposing defenses like he is a Golden snitch eluding Harry Potter on his way to a crafty Euro-step layup is awesome. There are concerns about his frame, but I don’t really worry about that stuff until the player is at least two years into a professional conditioning program. Fox is still just 19 and stands 6’4, and not having the body of a 28 year old Russell Westbrook isn’t a flaw for me at this point. Although his broken shot needs to be managed to reach his prime, his other skills will leave him in a good position to find success in the NBA. With fast feet comes fast hands, and Fox has everything needed to turn into an elite two-way guard. Bring on that athletic Ricky Rubio comparison! In a league that is dominated by guards, someone that can cause havoc on defense and has the upside to be a lockdown defender should be forgiven for poor shooting right now. - Malik Monk, University of Kentucky
Watchability Rating: 7.9 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Prime Offensive Guard
Draft Range: Mid-lottery, somewhere between 5–10
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Chicago Bulls & Philadelphia 76ers
Why: For a guy who nearly dropped 50 points in a game this year, you’d think he’d be higher on this list. Unfortunately, however, Monk just doesn’t do it for me. Unlike Jamal Murray last year, Monk tends to over dribble and takes things into his own hands far too often. His defensive game is lacking, and when you add that to his lack of size and wingspan, he becomes a liability. Given his athleticism, he has the potential to be an elite two-way guard in the mold of Avery Bradley… but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen. With all the negativity that I am spewing, however, there are a lot of positives that make Monk an intriguing prospect. First off, Monk is a ridiculously talented offensive guard who can score at all three levels, with his bread and butter being the long ball. When comparing Monk to Murray, one area where Monk seems to prevail is in his ability to run off screens, which at the moment looks next level. Both are incredible for their age in terms of offensive ability, but Monk’s athleticism might give him the edge in the NBA. Right now, I think Monk is a great offensive prospect, but for him to become elite, he needs to strengthen his ball skills to become a complete offensive talent. His limited handle is a cause for concern for two reasons: His inability to initiate an offense means you need to have another larger guard/wing on the roster to do so, and his limited length pigeonholes him into only guarding smaller guards. Whatever team takes Monk will get an advanced shot maker, but they need hide his inefficiencies on defense to optimize his success in the NBA. - Markelle Fultz, University of Washington
Watchability Rating: 7.8 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Elite Lead Guard
Draft Range: Likely #1 pick
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Anywhere
Why: Let me preface this by saying that Fultz on his own is a 10 out of 10 and is certainly my choice for the first pick in the upcoming draft. However, unfortunately, his team is just unbearable. His situation is much worse than Smith Jr. and he falls this far 100% due to his team being a dumpster fire. I try to catch as many games on replay as I can, but watching highlights of Fultz is more than enough to realize what this kid can do. Fultz is everything you want in a lead guard. He stands at 6’4 with a 6’9 wingspan that allows him to defend both guards at the next level. Also, and most impressive of all, his scoring prowess sets him apart from the other guys in this draft. Fultz can finish at the rim with either hand, hit the open three, take his guy off the dribble, and most importantly, he can play off the ball. While his shooting stroke isn’t the most consistent, his other elite offensive abilities will trump that issue. If I’m going to nitpick an elite 18 year old with unlimited offensive potential, then I guess I can note his lack of defensive intensity but that is for the birds. I won’t label him a defensive liability until I see him perform on an NBA court with actual talent around him. Fultz is going to be a bonafide star and the next great guard in the NBA. Let’s call him a CJ McCollum with playmaking skills… fans, get ready for the revolution. - Justin Patton, Creighton
Watchability Rating: 7.7 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Raw two-way big
Draft Range: Mid-lottery to late lottery, somewhere between 8–14
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Milwaukee Bucks & Portland Trail Blazers
Why: Justin Patton might turn out to be the best big in this year’s draft, and that is impressive. He doesn’t have the defensive upside of Robert Williams or the offensive versatility of Lauri Markkanen, but he does have a well-rounded game that could allow him to develop into a serious two-way monster. Patton was virtually invisible when folks initially started 2017 draft mocks, but Creighton’s team success gave him the launching pad he needed and turned him into a hot prospect. Patton has the rare blend of speed, size, and athleticism that every coach wants in their big, but he still has a long way to go to reach his potential. He has shown flashes of turning into a potential Pegasus, which is how I describe the “unicorns” of the game. He runs the floor with grace, has amazing touch around the rim, and is a great roller out of the PnR. Patton’s biggest weakness right now is that he is close to 7’0 but only weighs in at about 225ish, which is the only glaring hole in his draft value. His lack of strength and skinny frame are evident in his low rebounding numbers, as someone with his combo of height and athleticism shouldn’t be grabbing under eight boards per game in college. He is also a little behind the curve when it comes to protecting the rim. All and all, I truly believe Justin Patton will be the best big prospect in this draft and I could see his name jump up the boards even more with a dominate end to the season. A guy like Patton who is still learning who he is as a player is infinitely more fun to watch then other guys… like Lauri. - Lauri Markkanen, University of Arizona
Watchability Rating: 7.7 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Prime Offensive Big
Draft Range: Mid-lottery, somewhere between 5–10
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Detroit Pistons & Sacramento Kings
Why: Lauri Markkanen might be the most talented offensive big prospect to come along in a while. No other big at his age has had the full offensive arsenal of moves he has, which allows him to score from anywhere on the court. Witnessing him score is worth the price of admission, and if you squint hard enough while watching him with the ball in his hands, it looks like you are watching a guard. If you are wondering why he is only a 7.7 on the watchability scale after that praise, then you definitely haven’t seen him attempt to play defense. His defensive skills are less than desirable, making him a very big risk if your team isn’t lucky enough to have a rim protector on the roster to make up for this side of his game. He plays defense as if he is was 5'9 instead of the 7'0 monster he is. How can a guy who is 7'0 only have 11 blocks through 24 games? I have said it before, but he is somewhere between KP and Kelly Olynyk. If he can ever match his defensive ability to even 25% of his offensive talent, then you are looking at a foundational cornerstone for your team. I don’t think we are looking at a top 20 talent with Markkanen, but he definitely has the potential to make a serious impact and be a top 50 player. - Jayson Tatum, Duke University
Watchability Rating: 6.8 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Prime Offensive Wing
Draft Range: High lottery, somewhere between 4–7
Ideal Landing Spot(s): New York Knicks & Portland Trail Blazers
Why: There is something about Tatum that I can’t put my finger on, but I just don’t trust him. Tatum has the potential to dominate with ease due to his silky offensive game, but so far, he has been pretty underwhelming. Now, I’m not saying he no longer deserves a top 10 slot; I think for me, I simply had unrealistic expectations for him from the start. Tatum has all the tools to be great in the NBA, and he showcases his potential far more often then he doesn’t, but with a talented crop of prospects in this year’s draft, sometimes you get thrown on the backburner. I can’t stress it enough, but again, this ranking is strictly in terms of watchability. If I was discussing production and pure potential, Tatum in my eyes is still somewhere around the number seven pick. He has an offensive game that would make Paul Pierce blush, as he operates best from the midrange but has a smooth stroke that should allow him to be a consistent shooter from distance. He might lack elite athleticism, but that doesn’t mean he can’t defend. Although he might not fall under the Josh Jackson umbrella for defensive upside, he still can be considered an engaging defender, and he doesn’t harm the overall team defense too much. At the end of the day, I don’t think Tatum will ever be a 1A option on a contending team, but that isn’t a major dig, because how many guys are? If I were to predict where Tatum will be in eight years, I would say a similar scenario to DeMar DeRozan in that he will put up numbers but the internet NBA’ers will battle to the end of times on where he ranks among the NBA elite. - Robert Williams, Texas A&M
Watchability Rating: 6.3 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Raw Rim Protector Big
Draft Range: Late lottery to mid-first, somewhere between 13–20
Ideal Landing Spot(s): LA Lakers & Boston Celtics
Why: Robert Williams and Justin Patton are similar beasts in that they were not on any draft radars coming into the season, but after a few months, have found themselves as two of the best big prospects in a loaded draft. Williams has a strong defensive IQ that allows him to disrupt the opposing team with ease. His blend of timing and strength makes him a pretty great prospect to draft in the late lottery. He has the makings of a rim protector in the mold of Bismark Biyombo, but like Biyombo, there is a chance that Williams never develops into anything other than a great PnR partner. Looking at Williams right now, I don’t see him developing any low post moves or a consistent jump shot from the elbow, but I would still take a guy with his defensive abilities over other bigs in this draft. He is a lot like Marcus Smart in that he already understands that to impact games, he needs to outwork and out jump any one in his way. Williams is that guy that many teams will jump at when given the opportunity, because when you are building a team for the future, a guy like Williams is essential to a winning culture. - T.J. Leaf, UCLA
Watchability Rating: 6.2 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Skilled offensive big
Draft Range: Late lottery to mid-first, somewhere between 10–20
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Houston Rockets & Brooklyn Nets
Why: How this kid didn’t end up a Hoosier is beyond me, but UCLA is seriously reaping the benefits. In terms of watchability, Leaf is hinged to the back of Ball, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a legitimate NBA talent in his own right. Leaf is an intelligent PF with legit NBA size who makes the right play with the ball in his hands. He has the necessary ball skills to take lesser athletic defenders off the dribble and can work out of the pick and pop with relative ease. His jumper won’t make fans mistake him for a worldly shooter, but if left open, he will make you pay for it. His strengths are definitely on the offensive side of the ball, and while his defensive outlook doesn’t look all that great, that doesn’t scare me off too much at this point. Things could definitely change on that side of the ball if Leaf can add some muscle. His upside might be third or fourth on the list of bigs, depending on how you view Isaac, but any team in the late lottery would be lucky to grab him. - PJ Dozier, University of South Carolina
Watchability Rating: 6 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Athletic Two-Way Guard
Draft Range: Mid to late first, somewhere between 18 to 30
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Toronto Raptors & Cleveland Cavs
Why: Dozier is definitely here just for my own viewing pleasure and might be the only guy on the list who isn’t considered a lock for top 20. He might need a ridiculous second half to jump into lottery contention, but he has definitely done enough in my eyes to be considered middle first. Dozier is an athletic lead guard who is at his best with the ball in his hands initiating the offense, but it is his height and length that make him a very intriguing prospect. At 6’6 with added muscle, Dozier can definitely guard multiple positions at the next level which makes me think he can blossom into a defensive stopper. His long arms were built to disrupt opposing teams. Although he is shooting much better from distance this year, there isn’t a large enough sample size to completely ignore his terrible shooting numbers from last year but his shooting form gives me hope. At his best, Dozier could be a borderline All-Star guard like George Hill, and at his worst, he is someone that you can let run the second unit. To get there, he needs to be more consistent in his shooting while also improving his off-ball-play. For as disappointing as he was last year, watching and rooting for him to make that leap is something that all NBA fans should appreciate. - Tyler Lydon, Syracuse University
Watchability Rating: 6 out of 10
Prospect Archetype: Skilled Combo Wing
Draft Range: Late lottery to late first round, somewhere between 14–25
Ideal Landing Spot(s): Chicago Bulls & Indiana Pacers
Why: The final pick was a tough one because I originally had OG Anunoby on this list, but with him injured for the season I had to fill the final spot. Finding another player wasn’t hard, since this draft is loaded with fun guys to watch, but it was tough to narrow the list to just one. Guys like Jawun Evans, Dwayne Bacon, and Cameron Oliver were all contenders, but I finally settled on Tyler Lydon to fill the last spot. Lydon is a 6’9 versatile wing who could play both forward spots in the NBA, but his calling card will be playing as a stretch four like Ryan Anderson. His ability to stretch the floor is backed by what could be the best shooting form in this draft. Lydon’s form is smooth and compact which allows him to get the ball off without needing much space. Even though his go-to skill will be his shooting, he does have some sneaky impressive athleticism. Since Cuse is strictly zone, I do worry about his ability to play man to man. Lydon does have starter upside, but if I was a betting man (which I am), then I’d bet he’ll end up as a three-point specialist with a shot at being a Sixth Man of the Year.
(update 2/8: …. here is the famous unknown internet writer… everyone should read this. When I say “unknown”, it means I don’t know this person but I want too. He is smarter than you and it is okay to admit.)
