2017 NBA Draft: Latest Mock Draft and Top Rumors Surrounding 1st-Round Prospects
Has there ever been a crazier offseason than this year's in the NBA?
The 2017 NBA draft is Thursday, but trade rumors, crumbling front offices and even Kawhi Leonard's hairstyle have dominated the headlines over the past 72 hours leading up to tonight's must-see draft.
Amid all the insanity on social media, 60 young prospects will have their dreams fulfilled, as they will hear their names called one-by-one in what could be one of the more memorable, trade-filled drafts in recent memory.
Markelle Fultz is most likely going first after the Philadelphia 76ers traded for the No. 1 pick, but what happens after that? Let's put our thinking caps on and analyze tonight's first-round selections.
2017 NBA Mock Draft
1. Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz, G, Washington
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA
3. Boston Celtics (via BKN): Jayson Tatum, F, Duke
4. Phoenix Suns: De'Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky
5. Sacramento Kings (via PHI): Josh Jackson, F, Kansas
6. Orlando Magic: Dennis Smith Jr., G, NC State
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona
8. New York Knicks: Malik Monk, G, Kentucky
9. Dallas Mavericks: Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State
10. Sacramento Kings (via NO): Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
11. New Orleans Pelicans: Luke Kennard, F, Duke
12. Detroit Pistons: Frank Ntilikina, G, France
13. Denver Nuggets: Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville
14. Miami Heat: John Collins, F, Wake Forest
15. Portland Trail Blazers: Justin Patton, C, Creighton
16. Chicago Bulls: Justin Jackson, F, North Carolina
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Harry Giles, F, Duke
18. Indiana Pacers: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
19. Atlanta Hawks: Bam Adebayo, C, Kentucky
20. Portland Trail Blazers (via MEM): Semi Ojeleye, F, SMU
21. Oklahoma City Thunder: OG Anunoby, F, Indiana
22. Brooklyn Nets (via WAS): Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA
23. Toronto Raptors (via LAC): TJ Leaf, F, UCLA
24. Utah Jazz: D.J. Wilson, F, Michigan
25. Orlando Magic (via TOR): Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse
26. Portland Trail Blazers (via CLE): Caleb Swanigan, F, Purdue
27. Brooklyn Nets (via BOS): Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Gran Canaria
28. Los Angeles Lakers (via HOU): Ivan Rabb, F, California
29. San Antonio Spurs: Terrance Ferguson, G/F, Adelaide
30. Utah Jazz (via GSW): Derrick White, G, Colorado
*Author's picks
Lottery Rumors
Josh Jackson's landing spot
There is no question that Josh Jackson is one of the top players in this year's draft and will be off the board quickly.
When the Boston Celtics swapped picks with the 76ers, it became clear that Fultz is the favorite to go first. When D'Angelo Russell was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, it became clear that the Los Angeles Lakers are most likely going to draft a point guard, such as Lonzo Ball. With the third pick in the draft, the Celtics could draft Jackson and not look back.
But fellow collegiate standout Jayson Tatum has worked out for Boston and impressed the organization, whereas Jackson has only made people scratch their heads with his decision to turn down the Celtics' request for a workout, per ESPN's Chad Ford.
If Jackson falls by Boston, it's possible that the Phoenix Suns could also pass on him and take De'Aaron Fox, leaving Jackson in basketball purgatory, also known as the Sacramento Kings. But let's just say that the Celtics or Suns select Jackson with either the third or fourth pick. Does he stay put?
New York Knicks star prospect Kristaps Porzingis is on the trade block, as shocking as that sounds, per The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Even more shocking than Wojnarowski's report on Tuesday is that Phil Jackson came out on Wednesday to say that he is listening to phone calls for Porzingis, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com.
Jackson is the player Jackson wants to build around, it seems. Boston or Phoenix would have to trade their selections plus a couple of assets to land Porzingis, but a trade is possible. Jackson could end up being a part of the Knicks roster before the draft is all said and done.
Who is Boston taking at No. 3?
The aforementioned Jackson is still on the table here for Boston, regardless of Celtics general manager Danny Ainge's potential desire to trade the pick. While it is believed to be between Jackson and Tatum to go to Boston, don't sleep on the Celtics taking a point guard despite passing on Fultz before their trade with the 76ers.
Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported Wednesday that Ainge could be interested in trading down again in order to draft Dennis Smith Jr., an electrifying point guard out of North Carolina State.
Is this just another smokescreen that Ainge is having fun with? Or is there fire behind the smoke? Smith is the type of player Ainge and the Celtics love to have; a tough, gritty, physical guard who can make plays. Ainge said he felt he could select the player he wanted to take No. 1 later on in the draft, is it possible that Smith is that player? We will find out in the coming hours.
The Celtics are the team to watch with a loaded roster and a treasure chest of assets that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. Be it Smith, Jackson, Tatum or even a trade for a star player, all eyes will be on Boston's No. 3 selection this evening.
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