NBA Draft 2017: 1st-Round Mock Draft and Predictions for Most Talented Prospects

The 2017 NBA draft class, on paper, looks like one of the most talented groups in league history.

Of course, we'll need to see how everything plays out over the next three to five years before making any real judgments, but this class is loaded with elite talent and depth.

Players in the back end of the first round this year could have been lottery picks in other years. Others going in the second round could have been picked in the top 20 in previous drafts.

Here's a look at a new mock draft and predictions for the three most talented prospects.

2017 NBA Mock Draft

1. Boston Celtics: Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA

3. Philadelphia 76ers: De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky

4. Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas

5. Sacramento Kings: Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke

6. Orlando Magic: Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky

7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Florida State

8. New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina, PG, SIG Strasbourg (France)

9. Dallas Mavericks: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona

10. Sacramento Kings: Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga

11. Charlotte Hornets: Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina

12. Detroit Pistons: Dennis Smith Jr., PG, N.C. State

13. Denver Nuggets: OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana

14. Miami Heat: Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville

15. Portland Trail Blazers: Harry Giles, PF, Duke

16. Chicago Bulls: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas

17. Milwaukee Bucks: Luke Kennard, SG, Duke

18. Indiana Pacers: John Collins, PF, Wake Forest

19. Atlanta Hawks: Justin Patton, C, Creighton

20. Portland Trail Blazers: Terrance Ferguson, SG, Adelaide (Australia)

21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon

22. Brooklyn Nets: Tyler Lydon, PF, Syracuse

23. Toronto Raptors: Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA

24. Utah Jazz: TJ Leaf, PF, UCLA

25. Orlando Magic: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)

26. Portland Trail Blazers: Rodions Kurucs, SF, FC Barcelona B (Spain)

27. Brooklyn Nets: Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State

28. Los Angeles Lakers: Bam Adebayo, PF, Kentucky

29. San Antonio Spurs: Semi Ojeleye, SF/PF, SMU

30. Utah Jazz: Derrick White, PG, Colorado

Markelle Fultz: Boston Celtics

According to Spotrac, Celtics starting guards Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley will be unrestricted free agents following the 2017-18 season, while backup guard Marcus Smart will be a restricted free agent.

It's impossible to see the Celtics retaining all three players, especially when the best prospect in the draft, Markelle Fultz, can play both point guard and shooting guard.

The 6'4" guard turned just 19 years old on May 29 and scored 23.2 points per game for the University of Washington last year while shooting 47.6 percent from the field.

Although the Celtics' starting backcourt is set in stone for next year, Fultz could jump into the starting lineup for the 2018-19 season and stay there for at least a decade.

He'd be a valuable asset for a Celtics team that finished 16th in field-goal percentage and 14th in three-point percentage last season and needs a scoring boost in the rotation to help top the Cleveland Cavaliers next year.

Lonzo Ball: Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles needs to fill numerous roles on its roster (in addition to developing the young talent already on the team), but the most important need is for a floor general to conduct the offense.

Lakers guards D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson cannot fill that role. That's not a knock against their talent. They could theoretically play point guard for a competitive team in a pinch, but long term, they are instant-offense type players best suited to play off the ball and shoot.

Former UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball seems like the best fit to lead the Laker offense. He and future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd are being compared by numerous outlets, including DraftExpress and Slam. The comparisons make sense, as they are both smooth, pass-first point guards.

If Ball has anywhere close to the career that the 10-time All-Star point guard enjoyed, then the Lakers will have hit the jackpot.

De'Aaron Fox: Philadelphia 76ers

This might seem like a strange pick. The 76ers, who struggled offensively all year, finished the season 27th in field goal percentage and 25th in three-point percentage.

Former Kentucky point guard De'Aaron Fox has many strengths, but his noticeable weakness right now is outside shooting (he made just 24.6 percent of his three-pointers last year).

Furthermore, the 76ers said near the end of the 2016-17 season that Ben Simmons, who was picked first overall in the 2016 NBA draft but sat the year due to injury, will be running the point for Philadelphia next year.

However, Fox can make a case that he is the most talented player in this draft if he develops an outside jumper.

Without it, that player is Fultz, but if Fox keeps working on his shot, then the sky is the limit for him because he has numerous other attributes (namely his great defense and intangibles) that are fantastic right now even though he is just 19 years old.

The 76ers should run to the podium with Fox's name on a card if he's still there with the third pick.