NBA Draft 2017: 1st-Round Mock Draft and Names to Watch on Stock Market
The smoke around the NBA doesn't get much thicker than this.
Each year, the final throes of smokescreen season kick up some of the wildest rumblings and dramatic last-minute stock market changes.
There are two sides to these late changes. One is sheer deflection as front offices try to fool everyone in an effort to gain an advantageous position. Two is the media simply catching up and learning further details about a secretive process.
The reality this year is likely somewhere close to the middle with the draft a mere days away. In an effort to keep pace, here's a look at a mock draft and some notable stock market rumblings.
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) | Caleb Swanigan, F, Purdue |
| 29. Spurs | Frank Jackson, PG, Duke |
| 30. Jazz (via GSW) | Luke Kennard, G, Duke |
Names to Watch
Frank Jackson, PG, Duke
It's hard to get hyped about a late-round draft point guard in a class loaded with them, from Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz, De'Aaron Fox and on down the list.
But it's important to keep a close eye on Duke's Frank Jackson.
Jackson hasn't had the easiest time breaking into the first round of many mock drafts. But starting his pro career at 19 years old and 6'4" and 201 pounds is a good way to get teams to pay attention.
In short, Jackson feels like one of those prospects teams don't say much about because they don't want to show their hand before draft day.
Coming off a freshman campaign in which he averaged 10.9 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the floor, most teams boosted Jackson's stock after the combine, as noted by an ESPN.com scouting report: "Jackson was another winner at the combine. He tested as one of the best athletes there, played well in the first game of the five-on-five and ultimately decided he would hire an agent and go all-in."
Jackson's steady rise is enough to have him come off the board at No. 29 to the San Antonio Spurs in the above mock. It's certainly a case of the rich getting richer, because while the team has Dejounte Murray, the future status of Patty Mills isn't easy to figure out.
In San Antonio, Jackson could learn to quell some of those shoot-first habits and use his stunning athleticism to become a solid all-around player.
Luke Kennard, G, Duke
Jackson's teammate, Luke Kennard, hasn't had the easiest path to the draft.
Kennard boasts decent size at 6'6" and 196 pounds and was a quality shooter in college, last year averaging 19.5 points by way of shooting 48.9 percent from the floor and 43.8 percent from deep.
But therein rests the problem—there isn't much else to talk about with Kennard. He's an incredible shooter who shouldn't have problems transitioning to the pros in that area, but he's not an elite athlete and probably raised a few eyebrows by choosing not to do athletic testing at the combine.
Recent buzz out of nowhere from ZAGSBLOG.com's Adam Zagoria suggests an interesting connection:
This could be the New York Knicks simply doing due diligence. But there's no doubt the team has a need for a floor-spacing shooter at the 2, hence the mock above having them select France's Frank Ntilikina.
But the Knicks looking Kennard's way hints at his stock being rather unpredictable with perhaps the widest possible range of any first-round pick. Some team might fall in love with his system fit by way of shooting, others might shy away because the ever-growing, versatile backcourts around the league might have an easy time forcing him into low-percentage looks.
Above, Kennard lands at No. 30 with the Utah Jazz, where he'll serve a rotational role while rounding out the rest of his game. On draft day, though, another team with less patience might pull the trigger earlier.
Josh Jackson, F, Kansas
Kansas' Josh Jackson is by far the biggest name in the draft process right now—which is either a huge red flag or the outright truth.
Jackson could be the victim of a serious smokescreen campaign put on by teams looking to fool others into trades or hoping top point guards make it to them.
Or the hype is real.
First, a disclaimer. Jackson is a talent worthy of the top pick in most classes, though the importance of point guard hurts him this year. But 6'8", 202-pound forwards who look like surefire two-way players thanks to creative offense and aggressive on-ball defense don't come around often.
Now for the hype itself.
First, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 Phoenix revealed a team in the top three made Jackson a promise:
That's rather vague, though the odds the Boston Celtics at No. 1 are the team making the promise aren't so terrible—even after learning Jackson canceled his workout with the team, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman.
The cancelation could signal the end of Jackson as a possibility at No. 1. Or quite the opposite, as one general manager said of Celtics president Danny Ainge while talking to Goodman and Marc Spears, according to Chad Ford.
"I've picked Danny's brain for years," the general manager said. "Jackson is an Ainge player all the way. Tough, athletic, long, versatile, elite motor. If he's keeping the pick, Jackson just to me, far and away, is the most Celtics-type player for them to draft. From all my conversations with them, I'm convinced they'll take Jackson No. 1."
Smokescreen or not? It's almost impossible to say. Jackson would fit incredibly well with Boston considering Isaiah Thomas already controls the point guard slot. Drafting him gives the team a real chance at a superstar forward without splurging in free agency and aligns well with the current rebuilding plan.
In the mock above, though, Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers can't ignore the quality of the points. This pushes Jackson to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he'll help form one of the league's most interesting young cores alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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