2017 NBA Mock Draft: Latest Prospects' Stock Movement and Predictions
The NBA Finals have away of ripping away attention from the upcoming 2017 NBA draft.
Even these Finals, in large part because LeBron James looked elimination in the eye and pulled the Cleveland Cavaliers away from the brink, beating the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 and making the series interesting again.
But the draft realm doesn't stop.
In the background, prospects continue to make visits, teams continue due diligence and the stock market continues to adjust. While nothing as bold as, say, the Los Angeles Lakers skipping on Lonzo Ball has entered the conversation, there are some interesting stock shifts fans should know about before June 22.
2017 NBA Mock Draft
| 1. Celtics (via BKN) | Markelle Fultz, G, Washington |
| 2. Lakers | Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA |
| 3. 76ers | Josh Jackson, F, Kansas |
| 4. Suns | Jayson Tatum, F, Duke |
| 5. Kings (via PHI) | Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State |
| 6. Magic | De'Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky |
| 7. Timberwolves | Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga |
| 8. Knicks | Frank Ntilikina, G, France |
| 9. Mavericks | Dennis Smith Jr., G, NC State |
| 10. Kings (via NO) | Malik Monk, G, Kentucky |
| 11. Hornets | Harry Giles, F, Duke |
| 12. Pistons | Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona |
| 13. Nuggets | Terrance Ferguson, G, Australia |
| 14. Heat | OG Anunoby, F, Indiana |
| 15. Trail Blazers | Ivan Rabb, F, California |
| 16. Bulls | John Collins, F, Wake Forest |
| 17. Bucks | Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina |
| 18. Pacers | Jarrett Allen, C, Texas |
| 19. Hawks | Isaiah Hartenstein, F, Lithuania |
| 20. Trail Blazers (via MEM) | Justin Jackson, F, North Carolina |
| 21. Thunder | TJ Leaf, F, UCLA |
| 22. Nets (via WAS) | Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville |
| 23. Raptors (via LAC) | Rodions Kurucs, F, Spain |
| 24. Jazz | Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA |
| 25. Magic (via TOR) | Jordan Bell, F, Oregon |
| 26. Trail Blazers (via CLE) | Dwayne Bacon, F, Florida State |
| 27. Nets (via BOS) | Sindarius Thornwell, G, South Carolina |
| 28. Lakers (via HOU) | Jonathan Jeanne, C, France |
| 29. Spurs | Frank Jackson, PG, Duke |
| 30. Jazz (via GSW) | Luke Kennard, G, Duke |
Latest Stock Movers
Terrance Ferguson, G, Australia
It's impossible for the NBA to keep shoving Australian guard Terrance Ferguson to the side.
It won't be much longer before the fan's hype machine kicks into overdrive, too.
Look at it this way—Ferguson is 6'7" and 184-pounds. Only 20 years old, teams will draft Ferguson in the middle of the first round in large part because of his size. His being an elite shooter from deep is only an added bonus.
There's a major risk-reward factor to Ferguson. While perhaps the draft's best shooter and in possession of an NBA-ready frame, he's still growing in most other areas. It's why an ESPN.com scouting profile revealed teams are "all over the place on whether he'll be able to put it all together anytime soon."
It sounds dire, but the first round of the draft is where teams gamble on major upside. The Denver Nuggets do at No. 13 in the mock above, and as Harrison Wind of BSNDenver.com captured, it sounds like he'll fit right in:
Denver is one of the better teams in the NBA at taking international talent and grooming them. Ferguson fits quite well right out of the gates while learning behind guys like Gary Harris and Danilo Gallinari.
The real value here? Ferguson's major stock boost as of late lands him in a locale where he'll get to grow alongside a budding core in a great environment.
Justin Jackson, F, North Carolina
Fans perhaps haven't heard much about North Carolina's Justin Jackson as of late.
Indeed, Jackson's stock continues to dip slightly while those around him undergo major movement. It's a testament to the prospect he is—Jackson played three years with the Tar Heels and simply doesn't boast the upside of younger prospects.
Which isn't to imply he won't come off the board in the first round or provide real value to the team drafting him right out of the gates. A 6'8" forward who took home ACC Player of the Year last season has a way of knowing how to contribute.
Still, it's not hard to see which issues have held Jackson back. He's slowly discovering his stroke as a shooter, yet he only hit 44.3 percent of his shots last year. By NBA standards he's a bit of an average athlete, which caused Mike Schmitz and Josh Riddell of DraftExpress to note he'll need to win differently at the next level:
"Jackson relies on his feel for the game and high skill-level to make the right reads on and off ball to help him score. There will be an adjustment he'll need to make playing against more complex defensive schemes than he saw in college, but in a smaller offensive role, Jackson will likely find ways to use his basketball IQ to find openings to get good looks at the rim."
This sounds like a major issue, but not every player in the first round comes oozing with upside without having hit the age of 20.
Call it something the Portland Trail Blazers understand quite well at No. 20. Grabbing Jackson gives the team insurance behind C.J. McCollum at the 2 or Moe Harkless and Evan Turner at the 3. Rotational offense and high-energy defense is something Jackson can bring to those spots while otherwise working to round out his game.
Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville
Few players have benefited from the draft process this year like Louisville's Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell went from fringe first-round pick to mid-round stud seemingly overnight. He blew away the combine, coming in at 6'3" and 210 pounds, not to mention a wingspan registering at 6'10".
The height isn't ideal, but Mitchell showed off an explosiveness capable of meshing well with his well-rounded offensive game and smart on-ball defense.
Mitchell averaged 15.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last year while shooting 40.8 percent from the floor, but the real value seems to reveal itself when teams start to wonder if he can run the offense instead of playing the 2.
Here is the Ringer's Kevin O'Connor hinting at this side of the equation:
"Mitchell might not have Lonzo Ball’s X-ray court vision, but if he improves his ability to break down a defense with his dribble, he can create opportunities for his teammates through penetration, rather than passing his teammates open like Lonzo. There are multiple ways to get to the same destination in different shapes and styles."
Given the archaic nature of positional labels at all, it's important the film and workouts have started suggesting this to teams.
In other words, the NBA has slowly started to view Mitchell as a versatile backcourt player with plenty of upside. Above, the Brooklyn Nets pull the trigger at No. 22. Clutching perhaps the worst roster in the league, Mitchell is a smart addition to push backcourt members such as Jeremy Lin and Caris LeVert while giving him some run against budding two-way star Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Maybe the Nets act as big spenders while looking for a quick fix this summer. But Mitchell will see serious playing time either way, which is nothing short of a good development for his transition to the pros.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified
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