2017 NBA Mock Draft: Early 1st-Round Predictions and Surprises for Top Prospects

Although the 2016 NBA draft just ended, it's never too early to start focusing on a loaded 2017 class.

Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram are expected to have major impacts with their new teams, but most agreed there was a drop-off from there. Obviously, a few prospects will step up, some of them seemingly coming out of nowhere, but there was not a lot of certainty after the first couple of picks.

This won't be the case in 2017, with a handful of players who can be All-Stars at the next level. Many of these players still need to prove themselves in college, but if all goes as planned, this could be one of the deeper drafts in years.

A lot will change before next summer, but here is an early projection for the first round of the 2017 NBA draft.

Pick	Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	Philadelphia 76ers (via SAC)	Josh Jackson	SG	Kansas
2	Boston Celtics (via BKN)	Harry Giles	PF	Duke
3	Sacramento Kings (via PHI)	Jayson Tatum	SF	Duke
4	Denver Nuggets	Frank Ntilikina	PG	Belgium
5	Phoenix Suns	Lonzo Ball	PG	UCLA
6	Philadelphia 76ers (via LAL)	De'Aaron Fox	PG	Kentucky
7	Orlando Magic	Marques Bolden	C	Duke
8	Charlotte Hornets	Ivan Rabb	PF	California
9	Chicago Bulls	Markelle Fultz	PG	Washington
10	New Orleans Pelicans	Bam Adebayo	PF	Kentucky
11	Milwaukee Bucks	Thomas Bryant	C	Indiana
12	Atlanta Hawks	Omer Yurtseven	C	North Carolina State
13	Dallas Mavericks	Jarrett Allen	PF	Texas
14	Denver Nuggets (via MEM)	Jonathan Isaac	SF	Florida State
15	Minnesota Timberwolves	Miles Bridges	SF	Michigan State
16	New York Knicks	Dennis Smith Jr.	PG	North Carolina State
17	Miami Heat	Isaiah Hartenstein	PF	Germany
18	Washington Wizards	Lauri Markkanen	PF	Arizona
19	Utah Jazz	Dillon Brooks	SF	Oregon
20	Detroit Pistons	Malik Monk	SG	Kentucky
21	Indiana Pacers	Grayson Allen	SG	Duke
22	Houston Rockets	Rodions Kurucs	SF	Latvia
23	Toronto Raptors	Terrance Ferguson	SG	Arizona
24	Portland Trail Blazers	Tyler Lydon	SF	Syracuse
25	Brooklyn Nets (via BOS)	Melo Trimble	PG	Maryland
26	Toronto Raptors (via LAC)	OG Anunoby	PF	Indiana
27	San Antonio Spurs	Justin Jackson	SF	North Carolina
28	Oklahoma City Thunder	Jaron Blossomgame	SF	Clemson
29	Cleveland Cavaliers	Monte Morris	PG	Iowa State
30	Utah Jazz (via GSW)	Dwayne Bacon	SF	Florida State

Top Prospects

Josh Jackson, SG, Kansas

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

One of the bigger question marks about Simmons this offseason was his effort level on the court for a middling LSU squad. That will not be an issue for Josh Jackson, who is as intense as anyone playing the game.

ESPN's Fran Fraschilla gave the guard high praise before he picked a school:

Jackson ended up choosing Kansas, where he can learn how to raise his already-quality defense into an elite level. The 6'7" player can guard multiple positions on the floor and actually enjoys shutting down opponents.

We haven't even gotten to his offense, where he can use his impressive athleticism to slash to the paint and attack the basket. He is still developing his outside shot, but if he can get consistency on it, there won't be many ways to stop him.

The Michigan native has all the physical tools you look for in a prospect as well as the perfect mentality as an unselfish player willing to do what is necessary to win. This is enough to make him the No. 1 overall pick regardless of who is on the clock.

Harry Giles

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Scouts will be watching Harry Giles closely this year to see if he can stay healthy. He missed his senior season in high school due to an ACL injury—the second one of his young career.

He explained to Jason Jordan of USA Today that he plans to be back by the start of next season, but he is not rushing anything:

"

We’re just taking everything slow. It just doesn’t make any sense to rush anything so I definitely won’t be in any summer leagues. I’m doing my rehab at Duke three times a week, I’m in the pool constantly rehabbing and even out here I’m doing my band work with stretching. I’m about to start running. I just want to be 110 percent ready because we’ve got business to handle next season.

"

As long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks, NBA teams should be fine with a player two years removed from a major injury.

This will be big because when healthy, Giles is a game-changing player. The 6'10" power forward can score inside with regularity but has guard skills that allow him to beat players off the dribble from the perimeter. He doesn't quite have the vision of Simmons, but he is capable of running a fast break while also showing the range to hit shots out to the three-point line.

Adding in his ability as a shot-blocker due to good length and excellent timing, it's clear Giles has an impressive skill set.

Duke is hoping he can be at 100 percent this season, but either way, he has a bright future ahead of him.

Jayson Tatum

Sam Forencich/Getty Images

Another Duke product, Jayson Tatum might be the most NBA-ready player in this class right now.

Tatum has an advanced offensive skill set that allows him to create his own shot no matter where he is on the floor. The 6'8" player knows how to use his body in the mid-range game, getting off looks few others his age can match.

With a consistent outside shot that allows him to stretch the floor, Tatum has the potential to be an almost-unstoppable force offensively.

The questions will come on the defensive end, where he has the ability to succeed but hasn't proved himself to this point. He has good length and lateral quickness that should make him an above-average on-ball defender, but he needs to dedicate himself in this area.

In any case, Tatum's offensive ability will get him drafted early as someone who could legitimately be a go-to option in the NBA as a rookie. If he puts up big numbers during his freshman season, he could be in line for the No. 1 pick.

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