NBA Mock Draft 2017: Bold Predictions for Low-Profile Prospects

As the downhill roll to the 2017 NBA draft begins, almost every prospect not named Josh Jackson, Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and Malik Monk boasts a low profile. 

It's the nature of the beast, especially for those who didn't keep up with the majority of March Madness. And for those who did, tournament play is far from the deciding factor when it comes to a prospect's draft stock.

Admittedly, it would help if some of the most recognizable names in the country would decide their pro status. Grayson Allen, for example, will return to Duke, per the team's official site.

But that's what mock drafts are for—it's one digestible look at the prospect stock market, projected order and team needs. Here's a look at the latest, with a spotlight on a handful of guys truly flying under the radar...for now.

2017 NBA Mock Draft

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

Predictions for Low-Profile Prospects

22. Brooklyn Nets (via Wizards): TJ Leaf, F, UCLA

Ball (rightfully) steals the thunder from other UCLA players. 

However, TJ Leaf is a player sure to find a role at the next level and prosper.

It's fun to talk about Leaf scoring 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the Sweet 16 against second-seeded Kentucky. But the real story here is his size at 6'10" and 225 pounds while shooting 61.7 percent from the floor and 46.6 percent from deep.

Here's what an Eastern Conference scout told the Los Angeles Times' Ben Bolch: “Everybody likes him, he’s on everybody’s board and everybody’s looking at him as a potential first-rounder, but I think it’s probably a lot to be determined by who else comes out and who else shows well in tryouts. He does do some really good things, though.”

Long story short, Leaf is an ideal stretch 4 in today's NBA, making him an obvious first-round target even if the draft-hype machine hasn't caught up with the idea. Shooting alone makes him worth a slot in the first round given the likelihood it translates to a lengthy pro career.

Look for a team like the Brooklyn Nets to pull the trigger. He fits anywhere, but giving Brook Lopez more room to operate in the paint isn't a bad thing. The Nets continue to sit mired in a big rebuild, and while unrealistic expectations might fall on Leaf's shoulders after Boston likely swipes the top pick in the draft, he'll still turn out as a quality role player for the franchise.

28. Los Angeles Lakers (via Rockets): Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina

What's that? A North Carolina prospect can't have a low profile? 

Try again, as 6'10", 248-pound center Tony Bradley only averaged 14.6 minutes per game as a freshman this year.

But pro projections go far beyond simple box scores.

Bradly is the perfect example given his limited usage. His sitting on the bench was more a strategic decision than one related to his skill. He has a 7'4" wingspan on top of the great size and is an ideal rim protector and rebounder.

Believe it or not, Bradley fits well into today's NBA despite the move to small-ball lineups. As Sporting News' Sam Vecenie noted, teams still covet rim protectors who can play small minutes and give all the shooters second-chance opportunities: "Having a guy like Bradley who is capable of creating offensive rebounding opportunities by himself could also allow an organization to continue to drop four players back in transition defense while not sacrificing much on second chances."

The above mock has the Los Angeles Lakers pulling the trigger on Bradley, who will give budding guys like D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram plenty of second chances. A hodgepodge of names such as Tarik Black and Timofey Mozgov aren't the future down low, but Bradley might be.

29. San Antonio Spurs: Jordan Bell, F, Oregon

On one hand, tapping the Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Year as someone with a low profile seems wrong.

On the other, the highest profiles tend to only go to flashy offensive players.

Oregon's Jordan Bell isn't totally inept on the offensive end of the court, not after scoring 13 or more points three times in the tournament. But go easy on those who didn't know that fun fact because they were too mesmerized watching him tally 16 blocks over five games in the Big Dance, more than imposing his will against the likes of Kansas and North Carolina.

The notes above about Bradley apply here, though Bell has plenty of his own upside on the offensive end of the court after arriving at Oregon as nothing more than a role player and using his niche to gain valuable experience.

Bell really flashed on both ends of the court in new ways during the tournament, which Jonathan Givony of Draft Express noted:

"

Bell had some impressive moments offensively against Michigan as well, finding advantages in the post against a poor defender in Moritz Wagner, coming up with numerous offensive rebounds, and making a couple of beautiful passes on short rolls to open shooters spotting up behind the 3-point line.

"

Call it the best-case scenario for Bell in the mock above, as landing with the San Antonio Spurs means learning an improved offensive game from guys like LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol.

Maybe the world doesn't see much of Bell for the next few years or so after landing in San Antonio, but he'll be better for it in the long run and the pick will get a glossy review in hindsight.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.