Best and Worst Landing Spots for the Top 2017 NBA Draft Prospects

NBA prospects benefit from landing in settings that suit their particular strengths and weaknesses. It's also a plus to join a team that has available minutes and a clear path toward the starting lineup.

The right fit can expedite a young player's development. A poor fit could prevent him from improving or maximizing his potential. 

For a rookie, particularly those who lack polish, going to a franchise with established talent makes the game easier.

We matched up projected lottery picks with the best and worst teams for them to start their careers.

Markelle Fultz (Washington, PG/SG, Freshman)

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Best landing spot: Boston Celtics 

After losing 22 games at Washington, Markelle Fultz needs a team looking to move past the tanking stage. The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers would qualify, but the Boston Celtics are ideal. 

The winning culture would benefit Fultz, whose inability to reach March's NCAA tournament raised the only worrisome predraft question. 

Isaiah Thomas would take loads of pressure off Fultz, who'd still see plenty of scoring and playmaking chances at the 2, where his size, length and shooting will allow him to play. Jae Crowder and Jaylen Brown are better suited as secondary options, and Avery Bradley could become an intriguing trade chip entering the final year of his deal.

In a few years, he and Thomas could challenge Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson for the NBA's most potent backcourt. 

Worst landing spot: Phoenix Suns

Already set with two high-usage guards, the Phoenix Suns don't have room for another. They'd likely have to deal Eric Bledsoe, a move that could set the current team back.

With Devin Booker, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss—the team's next-most valuable assets—all 20 years old or younger, the Suns are far away. Fultz or any rookie guard would be better off landing on a team with established talent and veterans.

Josh Jackson (Kansas, SF, Freshman)

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Best landing spot: Phoenix Suns

There aren't clear openings for Josh Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, and his strengths and weaknesses mirror Ben Simmons' in Philadelphia, where the 76ers need scorers and shooters.

The Phoenix Suns should value Jackson's defense, transition game, attacking and passing. He'd seamlessly slide in between Booker and Chriss, where the Suns have a hole on the wing.

Jackson could start right away in a fast-paced lineup suited for his explosive athleticism. 

Worst landing spot: Los Angeles Lakers

If the Lakers pick third and Fultz and Lonzo Ball go top two, Jackson may want to go fourth. 

Can he thrive in a lineup with Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle? Someone would have to play out of position. 

Jackson would likely be the odd man out. He'd be forced to play shooting guard as a fourth option, which could prevent him from maximizing his potential. The Lakers' likely pursuit of Paul George, either via trade or free agency after next season, could also work against Jackson.

Lonzo Ball (UCLA, PG, Freshman)

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Best landing spot: Boston Celtics

There is a clearer opening for Ball at the point in Los Angeles, assuming the Lakers would move D'Angelo Russell to shooting guard. But Ball, who doesn't project as a volume scorer, would be better off next to Thomas, Crowder and Al Horford in Boston. 

The Celtics would allow Ball to focus on passing, his core strength. And though Thomas would take the rock out of Ball's hands, the former Bruin proved he didn't need to dominate it, having made a significant impact at UCLA with just an 18.1 percent usage rate.

The Lakers were also the NBA's worst-ranked defense, and Ball struggles at times stopping dribble penetration. The Celtics, who are already atop the standings, have more defenders and veterans to support him.

Worst landing spot: Orlando Magic

Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier are weak go-to options. The Magic don't have enough weapons for Ball to work with. 

Orlando ranked No. 29 in both offensive efficiency and three-point percentage. Having averaged just 16.6 points per 40 minutes, Ball is the type of lead ball-handler who'll want scorers and shooters around him.

Jayson Tatum (Duke, SF, Freshman)

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

Best landing spot: Philadelphia 76ers

Looking for a second option to play off Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers could be targeting Jayson Tatum. He'd fit in perfectly at the wing, where his scoring and shot-making would complement Simmons' playmaking.

Tatum would fit with the Phoenix Suns as well, but if it were up to him, Philadelphia should look more attractive in a weaker Eastern Conference. The Sixers, who finished in the top 15 in defensive efficiency, appear closer to playoff contention. 

Worst landing spot: Minnesota Timberwolves 

The Wolves have multiple one-on-one players and not enough specialists. There would be too many ball-stoppers in a full-strength lineup with Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine and Tatum. 

Playing in Minnesota would call for Tatum to do too much spotting up, which takes away from his strengths as an isolation scorer.

Jonathan Isaac (Florida State, SF/PF, Freshman)

Robert Franklin/Associated Press

Best landing spot: Minnesota Timberwolves

Landing in a frontcourt with a pair of 20-point scorers would benefit Jonathan Isaac. Raw and limited as a shot-creator, he could play off Towns and Wiggins and take what the defense gives him.

Isaac would fit nicely between Towns and Wiggins at the 4, where he can exploit his threatening quickness, ball-handling and jumper. Meanwhile, coach Tom Thibodeau would value's Isaac's pick-and-roll coverage and versatility that highlights weak-side shot-blocking and the ability to switch on to wings or guards.

Worst landing spot: Sacramento Kings

With little talent and few veterans to lean on in Sacramento, Isaac would struggle to get consistent good looks. He'd be forced into too many situations that would call for him to create something out of nothing. And Isaac hasn't demonstrated high-level isolation scoring or playmaking ability. 

The Kings aren't likely lo acquire a high-profile free-agent point guard to run the show. Sacramento would delay Isaac's development and lead to early inefficiency.

De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky, PG, Freshman)

Wade Payne/Associated Press

Best landing spot: Los Angeles Lakers 

De'Aaron Fox would get to use his speed in L.A., where the Lakers ranked sixth last year in pace. That number would likely go up if they took the freshman out of Kentucky.

Fox would push Russell to off-guard and give the No. 30-ranked defense extra quickness and ball pressure. Between Russell and Ingram, whose shooting numbers should only go up from here, Fox, a subpar shooter, could also surround himself with three-point threats at the wing positions.

Worst landing spot: Orlando Magic

Fox may want to avoid Orlando, the second-worst three-point shooting team in the league.

As a ball-dominant lead guard, he wouldn't fit in a lineup with Elfrid Payton, either. Going to Orlando would likely mean pushing Payton out of town, which is somewhat counterproductive, considering he was arguably the team's best player after the All-Star break.

Without shooters, talent or direction, Orlando won't be a favorable place for young point guards to develop.

Dennis Smith Jr. (North Carolina State, PG, Freshman)

Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

Best landing spot: Philadelphia 76ers

Though Simmons is expected to handle the ball for Philadelphia, fewer touches may actually benefit Dennis Smith Jr. Simmons could help take pressure off Smith early, which would be a good thing, given the trouble he ran into with shot selection and decision-making at North Carolina State.

He'd receive plenty of scoring and playmaking opportunities without an overwhelming workload. Plus, even if coach Brett Brown makes Simmons the point forward, the team still needs additional backcourt firepower.

The Dallas Mavericks wouldn't be a bad fit for Smith, but between Simmons and Embiid, there is higher upside tied to Philadelphia's core. It wouldn't hurt starting his career in a weaker Eastern Conference, either.

Worst landing spot: New York Knicks

Phil Jackson's triangle would take away from Smith's bread and butter: playmaking and ball-screen opportunities. 

The system isn't suited for his dribble creativity. But most importantly, New York's roster doesn't offer great support for a rookie lead guard, particularly one with questionable shot selection and leadership qualities. 

Malik Monk (Kentucky, SG, Freshman)

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Best landing spot: Philadelphia 76ers

Malik Monk can play to his strengths in Philadelphia, where the Sixers need an off-ball scorer and shot-maker.

Considering Nik Stauskas and TJ. McConnell generate a combined 16.4 points per game, Monk would be looking at immediate minutes and a bright enough green light, which is key for a microwave player who thrives off rhythm and confidence. 

He'd also benefit from Simmons' passing and all the attention Embiid draws in the post. Monk could ultimately play the same role in Philadelphia as the one he played at Kentucky, which called for him to shoot off screens, spot-ups and leak-outs on the secondary break.

Worst landing spot: Sacramento Kings

Monk would have a target on his back in Sacramento. Defenses wouldn't have to spend too much energy trying to lock down any other King. 

The more playmakers and go-to scorers around Monk, the better. Otherwise, he'll likely be sucked into taking too many low-percentage jumpers. 

Lauri Markkanen (Arizona, PF/C, Freshman)

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Best landing spot: Dallas Mavericks

Dirk Nowitzki's mentorship should be a selling point for Lauri Markkanen, who brings similar size, perimeter scoring skills and athletic limitations.

In Dallas, he could also start slowly behind Nowitzki and presumably Nerlens Noel, assuming he's brought back. But with Nowitzki's career winding down, there is still a path for Markkanen toward the Mavericks' starting lineup.

With Noel, he'd also have a rim protector to back him up—a key detail, given Markkanen's weak interior defensive presence.

Worst landing spot: Sacramento Kings

Without any stars or reliable veterans, Sacramento isn't ideal for any rookie.

Markkanen projects more as a complementary scorer and shot-maker. He wouldn't get as many clean looks with the Kings, especially given their guard situation and struggles luring in high-profile free agents. 

His development could stall in Sacramento. The next step and playoffs are too far away for the Kings.

Frank Ntilikina (France, PG/SG, 1998)

GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/Getty Images

Best landing spot: Minnesota Timberwolves

Ricky Rubio and Kris Dunn are locked in at point guard, but Frank Ntilikina could be better suited for shooting guard, a position he's played a lot of with Strasbourg in France. 

The Wolves, a promising team poised to eventually rise, could use defense at the 2. And between his length and quickness, Ntilikina may be the draft's strongest perimeter defender. 

When he returns, LaVine could be better suited for a sixth-man role. Ntilikina would give the Wolves backcourt ball pressure and passing, as well as shooting (40 percent from three) to a team that ranked last in three-pointers made per game.

Worst landing spot: Sacramento Kings

At 18 years old, Ntilikina doesn't appear ready for lead ball-handling duties. And he'd likely be given them in Sacramento, where the Kings need a point guard. 

He struggles to create shots as it is. Ntilikina would be set up to fail running a team that has no veterans or talent.

Zach Collins (Gonzaga, C, Freshman)

Young Kwak/Associated Press

Best landing spot: Charlotte Hornets

The Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets have starting centers locked in, and the Dallas Mavericks are expected to bring Noel back. Zach Collins' best chance to earn a meaningful role for a team near playoff contention would be in Charlotte, where Cody Zeller has been injury-prone and doesn't offer much offense.

Though Zeller is much improved, Collins' ceiling is higher, given his age, tools, mobility and inside-out skill set. His game could actually complement Zeller's. Collins isn't as strong defensively, but he did block 4.1 shots per 40 minutes (Zeller has averaged fewer than one per game every season), and he's flashed more promising shooting potential.

Worst landing spot: Sacramento Kings

With two lottery picks, Collins better hope the Kings look elsewhere. Collins, who's raw and unpolished, would have trouble taking off with a young lineup lacking talent. 

He'd be better off beginning his career as a backup and practicing against a veteran starter. 

Sacramento also has Willie Cauley-Stein and Georgios Papagiannis, anyway, two centers the team recently used lottery picks on.