NBA Mock Draft 2017: 1st-Round Predictions and Wild-Card Prospects to Watch
For many teams in the NBA right now, the goal is to contend for the title in five years.
That's the stark reality when a team like the Golden State Warriors breeze to a perfect 15-0 record in the playoffs. Just one win away from their second NBA title in three years, they've built a roster that could dominate until injuries, egos or old age eventually pulls it apart.
In the meantime, several teams are going to be looking to create a window to contend when the Warriors' window finally comes to a close.
That's why the 2017 draft is a critical one. This has been heralded as an extremely talented class, and where certain players fall will determine who become the stars of this crop.
In a class this talented, prognosticating just where everyone will land is a bit more difficult. Because there's great depth—especially in the top 10—it's difficult to slot exactly who each team is going to like more.
Here's a look at the complete order with projections for each pick then the players who are the true wildcards of the draft that could turn out to define this class.
2017 NBA Mock Draft
1. Celtics (via BKN): Markelle Fultz, G, Washington
2. Lakers: Josh Jackson, F, Kansas
3. 76ers: Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA
4. Suns: De'Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky
5. Kings (via PHI): Jayson Tatum, F, Duke
6. Magic: Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State
7. Timberwolves: Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona
8. Knicks: Malik Monk, G, Kentucky
9. Mavericks: Frank Ntilikina, G, France
10. Kings (via NO): Dennis Smith Jr., G, NC State
11. Hornets: Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
12. Pistons: Luke Kennard, G, Duke
13. Nuggets: OG Anunoby, F, Indiana
14. Heat: John Collins, F, Wake Forest
15. Trail Blazers: Harry Giles, F, Duke
16. Bulls: Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville
17. Bucks: Justin Jackson, F, North Carolina
18. Pacers: TJ Leaf, F, UCLA
19. Hawks: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
20. Trail Blazers (via MEM): Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA
21. Thunder: Bam Adebayo, F, Kentucky
22. Nets (via WAS): Isaiah Hartenstein, F, Germany
23. Raptors (via LAC): Jordan Bell, F, Oregon
24. Jazz: Terrance Ferguson, G, Australia
25. Magic (via TOR): Justin Patton, C, Creighton
26. Trail Blazers (via CLE): Ivan Rabb, F, California
27. Nets (via BOS): Rodions Kurucs, F, Latvia
28. Lakers (via HOU): D.J. Wilson, F, Michigan
29. Spurs: Frank Jackson, G, Duke
30. Jazz (via GSW): Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse
Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA
Looking across the landscape of mock drafts, it's a general consensus that UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball is headed to the Los Angeles Lakers. It seemed pre-ordained since the Lakers won the No. 2 pick at the lottery.
LaVar Ball's crystal ball said he's going to be a Laker. The elite passing prospect grew up in L.A., went to college in L.A. and would love to stay in L.A. He even fits a need as the Lakers could slide D'Angelo Russell over to the 2 or trade him for more assets.
But Ball to the Lakers isn't a done deal. Chad Ford of ESPN reported that the Lakers are discussing other options, including De'Aaron Fox and Josh Jackson:
"I also think it reflects a genuine split within the organization about whom the best long-term candidate is. Ball was a clear favorite of the prior administration run by Mitch Kupchak and still has his fans within the organization. But the Lakers also took note on how Fox outplayed Ball in their head-to-head matchup in March. And Jackson has always been another favorite in the organization."
Taking Jackson might make more sense. If they take the wing, it doesn't force them to do anything with Russell and gives them a versatile defender.
Given Luke Walton's prior coaching experience with the Warriors, he might like the idea of pairing another long forward with Brandon Ingram to create some lineup flexibility and give the Lakers another defender who can switch on screens and guard multiple positions.
If that's the case, Ball's draft stock becomes interesting. He's obviously showcased the talent to be a top-three pick, but he still hasn't decided whether he's willing to work out for the 76ers, per Chris Haynes of ESPN.com.
With a loaded draft class and De'Aaron Fox left on the board, the Sixers might even pass on Ball, and the All-American would fall out of the top three for the first shocking development of the draft.
OG Anunoby, F, Indiana
The draft stock of OG Anunoby is difficult to nail down.
He projects to be just about perfect defensively for the modern NBA game. At 6'8" and 215 pounds with a 7'2" wingspan, he has the frame, tenacity and strength to play anything from small forward to center if a team really wanted to go small.
If Anunoby reaches his ceiling as a lockdown defender that can guard positions 2-5 on any given possession, that's easily worth a lottery pick.
Yet it isn't likely that the former Hoosier is headed for the lottery. Anunoby is recovering from a torn ACL, so the forward hasn't been able to work out for teams, and it's unclear when he'll be available to play this season.
On top of that, his offensive game is in serious need of refinement. If his future is as a three-and-D wing he'll have to work on a three-point stroke that only converted on 31.1 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc last season.
Taking a guy who is highly touted because of his athleticism fresh off a knee injury is obviously risky. However, Ford of ESPN believes the talent in this class really drops off after the first 11 picks:
If that's true and that's the way teams are looking at it, a player with Anunoby's ceiling becomes appealing. If teams aren't afraid of his injury, that probably starts his range as a pick. If teams are scared off by the injury and his shot, we may not hear his name until the late first round.
That makes Anunoby one of the more interesting prospects on draft night.
Harry Giles, C, Duke
Any conversation about high-risk, high-reward picks in this class has to include Harry Giles. The Duke Blue Devil had as lackluster a career in college as possible, but he still remains as a potential lottery pick.
That's because he came into Duke as the No. 2 ranked player in this loaded freshman class, according to Scout's rankings.
What happened to Giles is an NBA draft tale as old as time: knee issues for a big man. Giles not only came into college with two knee injuries, but he suffered another that limited him to just 11.5 minutes per game in 26 games played.
Despite that, he'll still get looks because of his promise as a 6'11", 222-pound center who is absolutely still a first round talent, according to one Western Conference executive, via Reid Forgrave of CBS Sports:
"You're taking a bet on a kid because he has the tools and is naturally gifted, but you don't know exactly what you're getting. He's a bit of a mystery and such a challenging evaluation. A couple years ago he was one of the most impactful players out there at his age and in his class. If you feel like you have a pretty deep team and you're looking to take a flier on a kid who does have legitimate upside if he can put it all together and stay healthy, I do think he's easily a high first-round talent."
If Giles' tremendous athleticism comes back to him when healthy, he could be the biggest steal in the draft.
As Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress noted, Giles showcases good range for a center in workouts in addition to his skills on defense and on the glass:
The precedent is there for teams taking upside despite injury issues. Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving spring to mind as examples of guys that were taken despite having college careers impacted by injuries. Of course, Greg Oden and Sam Bowie also come to mind, but that's a risk teams will have to be willing to take.
A team like Portland makes sense because even though their team history is littered with injury busts, they have three first round picks. That allows them to take some liberties with those picks and swing for the fences.
Adding a healthy Giles to a core that already has Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is the kind of move that could have a huge impact in a few years when the Warriors' death grip on the Association might just loosen.
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