2017 NBA Mock Draft: Full Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects Prior to Lottery

While the NBA world is currently focused on the playoffs and the race to the NBA Finals, fans should keep in mind that the 2017 NBA draft isn't too far away. In fact, the draft is scheduled for June 22, just four days after Game 7 should the finals run that long.

Given the dominance of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors in the postseason so far, there might actually be more drama surrounding the draft.

It all begins on May 16, when the draft lottery takes place.

Until then, we can only view the draft based on records and guess where draft prospects end up. That is exactly what we're going to do here.

We'll run down the draft order based on records and mock selections, using factors like prospect potential and team needs. We'll also examine some of the latest draft-related NBA news and rumors.

2017 NBA Mock Draft

Pick	NBA Team	Selection
1	Boston Celtics (via Nets)	Markelle Fultz, G, Washington
2	Phoenix Suns	Josh Jackson, F, Kansas
3	Los Angeles Lakers	Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA
4	Philadelphia 76ers	Malik Monk, G, Kentucky
5	Orlando Magic	Jayson Tatum, F, Duke
6	Minnesota Timberwolves	Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State
7	New York Knicks	Frank Ntilikina, G, France
8	Sacramento Kings	Dennis Smith Jr., G, NC State
9	Dallas Mavericks	Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona
10	Sacramento Kings (via Pelicans)	Luke Kennard, G, Duke
11	Charlotte Hornets	Justin Patton, C, Creighton
12	Detroit Pistons	Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
13	Denver Nuggets	Ivan Rabb, F, California
14	Miami Heat	Justin Jackson, F, North Carolina
15	Portland Trail Blazers	Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville
16	Chicago Bulls	John Collins, F, Wake Forest
17	Milwaukee Bucks	OG Anunoby, F, Indiana
18	Indiana Pacers	Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
19	Atlanta Hawks	Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA
20	Portland Trail Blazers (via Grizzlies)	TJ Leaf, F, UCLA
21	Oklahoma City Thunder	Josh Hart, G, Villanova
22	Brooklyn Nets (via Wizards)	Isaiah Hartenstein, F, Germany
23	Toronto Raptors (via Clippers)	Moritz Wagner, F, Michigan
24	Utah Jazz	Dwayne Bacon, F, Florida State
25	Orlando Magic (via Raptors)	Jordan Bell, F, Oregon
26	Portland Trail Blazers (via Cavaliers)	Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Latvia
27	Brooklyn Nets (via Celtics)	Caleb Swanigan, F, Purdue
28	Los Angeles Lakers (via Rockets)	Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina
29	San Antonio Spurs	Rodions Kurucs, F, Latvia
30	Utah Jazz (via Warriors)	Sindarius Thornwell, G, South Carolina

Latest Buzz

Ball Not the Only Option for Lakers

There are plenty of reasons to link the Los Angeles Lakers and UCLA product Lonzo Ball. For one, the kid is talented, and the Lakers are in need of talent. He's also a local product and high-profile player—thanks to the efforts of his father.

Ball could thrive in the L.A. spotlight, and he could certainly help the franchise. According to Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding, however, the Lakers aren't considering Ball as their only choice.

Per Ding, the Lakers are also considering Washington point guard Markelle Fultz, Kansas forward Josh Jackson and Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox if the team ends up selecting in the top three.

This is contradictory to earlier reports that suggested the Lakers were all-in on Ball in the draft.

"The Lakers appear to be enamored with Ball, a local product who could add star power to a team desperately in search of it," Chad Ford of ESPN.com recently wrote. "But they'll likely have to land in the top two to get him."

Perhaps the Lakers are focusing on a handful of prospects because they don't believe Ball will be available when they make their pick. Perhaps they truly aren't sold on him—given his unorthodox shooting style and ability to disappear, I do believe there is legitimate bust potential.

The truth likely lies somewhere in between, and we'll get closer to it after the lottery.

Josh Jackson Gaining Ground

While there are plenty of folks who view Ball as the top player in this year's draft, Washington's Markelle Fultz is just as much in the discussion. Depending on the team that ends up with the top selection, it feels like one of these two players will go No. 1 overall.

However, another player could be entering the discussion, according to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News. 

"Jackson has been getting a lot of buzz as a potential No. 1 lately, especially if a team that doesn’t need a point guard lands with the top pick," Deveney wrote.

While Jackson isn't the offensive force that Ball and Fultz are, the Kansas product is a physically gifted prospect with defensive ability and a ton of upside. 

Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com also believes Jackson could be the No. 1 pick: "Jackson is an intriguing basketball prospect because he's the most versatile defender of any of the forwards available in this draft and is considered among the best two-way all-around players in the pool."

We'll obviously get a better feel for the top pick after the draft lottery. However, if the team picking up top is looking for a player who can affect the game from both ends of the court, the pick easily could be Jackson.

Jarrett Allen Wants to be Great

While he isn't widely expected to be one of the first players off the board on draft night, Texas center Jarrett Allen is believed to be one of the top 20 or 30 players in the draft.

If Allen has his way, he'll eventually be one of the top centers in the NBA. Allen said the following, per Chris Haynes of ESPN.com:

"My ultimate goal is to be one of the top centers in the NBA and always trying to see how I can become that. That's going to always be my goal. ... I don't really know a lot about the other guys [in the draft class], but for myself, I know I'm in the mindset where I'm willing to learn, I'm willing to expand my game to places I haven't taken it before."

At 6'10" and 235 pounds, Allen is an intriguing center prospect with the ability to rebound on both ends and to put in mid-range shots.

"Jarrett Allen has the potential to be a rebounding machine in the NBA," Josh Cohen of NBA.com wrote. "He has tremendous size and really long arms."

Teams looking to bolster their interior should keep Allen in mind.