NBA Mock Draft 2017: Predictions for Where Coveted 1st-Round Prospects Will Land

As basketball fans eagerly await Game 2 of the NBA Finals to see whether the Cleveland Cavaliers can come back after getting blown out by the Golden State Warriors 113-91 in Game 1 Thursday, there is still the NBA draft to distract us until we can watch basketball again on Sunday.

The draft is set for June 22, and teams are likely preparing final scouting reports and collecting as much information regarding each prospect before bringing them in for individual workouts. This draft class has elite talent throughout the lottery to the point the argument can be made that the field has at least three or four players who could've been No. 1 picks any other year. 

The Boston Celtics, thanks to the Brooklyn Nets, won the lottery, and the world is their oyster. What will they do with the top pick? It's hard to say. But in this scenario, the Celtics keep the pick and build through the draft, so don't get too carried away with the fantasy of trading the No. 1 pick for Paul George or Jimmy Butler just yet.

Here's an updated first-round mock draft:

2017 NBA Mock Draft

1. Celtics (via BKN): Markelle Fultz, G, Washington

2. Lakers: Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA

3. 76ers: De'Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky

4. Suns: Josh Jackson, F, Kansas

5. Kings (via PHI): Jayson Tatum, F, Duke

6. Magic: Frank Ntilikina, G, France 

7. Timberwolves: Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State

8. Knicks: Malik Monk, G, Kentucky

9. Mavericks: Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona

10. Kings (via NO): Dennis Smith Jr., G, NC State

11. Hornets: Ivan Rabb, F, California

12. Pistons: Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga

13. Nuggets: Moritz Wagner, F, Michigan

14. Heat: Isaiah Hartenstein, F, Germany

15. Trail Blazers: TJ Leaf, F, UCLA

16. Bulls: John Collins, F, Wake Forest

17. Bucks: Harry Giles C, Duke 

18. Pacers: Jarrett Allen C, Texas

19. Hawks: Dwayne Bacon F, Florida State

20. Trail Blazers (via MEM): OG Anunoby, F, Indiana

21. Thunder Justin Jackson: F, North Carolina

22. Nets (via WAS): Terrance Ferguson, G, Australia

23. Raptors (via LAC): Jordan Bell, F, Oregon

24. Jazz Josh Hart: G, Villanova

25. Magic (via TOR): Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina

26. Trail Blazers (via CLE): Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA

27. Nets (via BOS): Sindarius Thornwell, G, South Carolina

28. Lakers (via HOU): Justin Patton, C, Creighton

29. Spurs: Luke Kennard, G, Duke

30. Jazz (via GSW):  Jonathan Jeanne, C, France 

Markelle Fultz, G, Washington

Jennifer Pottheiser/Getty Images

There is no debate here. Markelle Fultz is, without question, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft. That doesn't necessarily mean he has the most potential—that would be Josh Jackson—but he is the best fit for Boston for a number of reasons. Mainly because of his ability to shoot the ball and score.

The Celtics are in a great position to win and compete in the Eastern Conference, but the window of opportunity could quickly come to and end before it ever starts in earnest. Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley are in line for max- or near-max-level contracts after next season and general manager Danny Ainge still has to decide whether Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier are worth building around in the backcourt.

Enter Fultz.

He is the most dynamic and electrifying point guard in this year's draft and could immediately contribute to Boston's rotation, whether he comes off the bench or plays off the ball as a 2-guard. 

Thomas thinks they can play together as it is, per ESPN's Chris Forsberg: 

The 19-year-old averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game for the Huskies as a freshman and was the only threat on that team. He'll have more room to work on the floor in the NBA and will have much easier opportunities to knock down open shots from the perimeter.

Fultz is the pick for Boston, and there should be no debate. 

Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA

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Lonzo Ball has a big problem. A Big Baller-sized problem, if you catch my drift.

As much as I hate to drag his father, LaVar Ball, into a discussion about his son's draft stock, it's impossible to ignore. We'll do our best to stick to the player who is good at basketball.

Ball looks to be a more polished version of Jason Kidd coming out of college. He has the size, he has a better jump shot and he can see the court just like Kidd did. And averaging 14.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game doesn't hurt, either. 

But the man in charge of the Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson, sees more Magic in Ball than he does Kidd, per ESPN Los Angeles:

Having said that, Ball needs to show more effort on the defensive end of the court and become a leader. There is no doubt he has the rare ability to make his teammates much better players when he's on the court, but he hasn't shown the killer instinct you hope to see out of an elite prospect. Ball never took over a game during his freshman year at UCLA and needed to at times, especially against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament.

There is a lot of hype surrounding De'Aaron Fox as the "next John Wall," but that shouldn't scare Ball. Unless he screws up his workout with the Lakers, he'll be the second overall pick in this year's draft. 

De'Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky

Jennifer Pottheiser/Getty Images

Let's get one thing straight: Fox is going to be a good player in the Association. But how good he turns out to be is up to him.

Inconsistency with his jumper and ability find his teammates are the two biggest knocks on Fox. His athleticism is elite, and his size (6'4") is good for a point guard. He can become a solid defender if he puts the time into it his craft, but defense isn't his problem.

Like his pro comparison, Wall, Fox needs a consistent jump shot to keep defenders honest. We all saw what Wall did against the Celtics when his shot was falling; he was unguardable. But once he started missing a few, it was clear the only way he was going to score was by driving to the basket.

And that's pretty hard to do in the NBA for a rookie. 

Fox averaged 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game as a freshman for the Wildcats, but the biggest game of his career came against the Bruins during the NCAA tournament, when he torched Ball for 39 points on 13-of-20 shooting. But the next game, against North Carolina, Fox disappeared and got himself in foul trouble, finishing his college career with a 13-point outburst against the Tarheels, shooting 5-of-14 from the floor.

If Fox can become a consistent shooter, any team toward the top of the lottery will be salivating over him. A nice landing spot for Fox would be with the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom he could grow as part of a young team. A core of Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Joel Embiid and Fox could be something special in the years to come. 

All stats are courtesy of ESPN.com.