It’s NBA Draft season, the time of year when every basketball fan becomes an expert on team needs and obscure draft prospects. Here at FanSided, we decided to pool our actual team experts together for a Mock Draft.
We cover NBA basketball with a passion here at FanSided and our network of team sites go year-round covering the nuances and intricacies of each franchise. We have been running Mock Drafts for weeks here at FanSided, but with the draft just a few days away we wanted to pull together our site experts and let them use their deep knowledge of their teams to make the picks. If you don’t already, make sure to follow these sites on Twitter, and check them out for more great coverage of each team.
Here are our first round selections
The Philadelphia 76ers traded UP for the first pick of the 2017 NBA Draft for the nearly flawless fit of Washington guard Markelle Fultz with the young core of the Sixers. With the team planning to go full steam ahead with the point guard role of Ben Simmons, the team needs a versatile guard who can run the team, but also play off ball, sink 3-pointers, and elevate the play of all teammates around him. In the end, this trade is made possible due to the presence of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. With two players at first pick quality, the addition of Markelle Fultz creates a trio of star-potential players.
Markelle can certainly run an offense, but the bigger-bodied Ben Simmons is a facilitator. That allows Fultz to focus on his shooting and his offense, both of which he has mastered quite well. Place Markelle Fultz alongside Ben Simmons in the back court, and you’ve paired the top two draft picks in consecutive years at a minimum. Now you have a perimeter hot hand to go with the strong ball movement of Simmons. Toss Joel Embiid’s post offense and you’ve truly created a basketball team bound for years of entertainment and excellent play for the city of Philadelphia. This was a match made by destiny. With the opportunity to trade for Fultz, the 76ers have seized their future.
— Bret Suter, Sixer Sense, @SixerSense
The Los Angeles Lakers were reportedly enamored with Markelle Fultz, but they Philadelphia 76ers leapfrogged them into the top spot in the draft. The Lakers have also been linked to Josh Jackson and De’Aaron Fox but the best pick here is the obvious one.
Dealing with LaVar Ball off the court is not a fun proposition, but what Lonzo can do on the court will more than make up for it. There are questions about whether his quickness, handle, and off-the-dribble shooting will allow him to be a primary ball-handler but the Lakers don’t really need him to be that. D’Angelo Russell is enough of a primary ball-handler that he and Ball can complement each other perfectly.
For all his warts, Ball is terrific in transition, an incredible off-ball cutter, a good rebounder for his position and a terrific spot-up shooter. He and Russell can take turns attack defensive mismatches, spacing the floor for each other and running opponents off the court. Then Paul George shows up in a hear an this whole thing gets turnt up a notch.
— Ian Levy, Lake Show Life, @TheLakeShowLife
Danny Ainge took a big risk in passing on Markelle Fultz, but decided to trade the top pick for the third selection and another high draft pick from either the Lakers or Kings. With that third pick, Boston will take Josh Jackson, a player that they were rumored to have fancied over Fultz in the first place. By taking Jackson, Ainge gets the player that he wanted anyway, but also gains extra assets to deal for a superstar player to place alongside Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford. The Celtics also will have a much easier time getting to max cap space since the salary on the third pick is about $1.4 million lower than what Fultz will get.
In Jackson, you have probably the highest ceiling in the draft. He is already an excellent perimeter defender at any level, and has the athletic tools to become a go-to scorer if he fixes his jump shot. The Celtics have always gone after players like Jackson, and will continue to build their team with fierce competitors that offer versatility on both ends of the floor. Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley are just a few examples of players on the team now that have those same traits.
Jackson will be able to contribute on the defensive end right away, and has the basketball IQ necessary to pick his spots on offense and still be effective while he continues to work on his shot. There is a likelihood that this pick gets traded as well, but Jackson is the likely choice due to his ability to contribute now in key areas that the Celtics need, and has the potential to be a two-way superstar.
— Michael DePrisco, Hardwood Houdini, @HoudiniCeltics
Often compared to Carmelo Anthony, Tatum had a wonderful workout in Phoenix the week before the draft and by all accounts blew management away with his shooting. Considered capable of coming into the league and contributing right away, if he is willing to play team basketball and break from the isolationist game that made him a top-five pick out of Duke, he could become part of a powerful offensive one-two punch when paired with Devin Booker.
Drafting Tatum puts the future of T.J. Warren out of focus. The 23-year-old is already capable of averaging 20 points and 7 boards per game. How Phoenix decides to manage he and Tatum becomes the next big question to be answered over the summer. Starting Tatum thus bringing Warren off the bench would make T.J. a Sixth Man of the Year candidate in 2017-18. However, as his market value is sure to be high, trading Warren could help to acquire the young franchise point guard Phoenix may have hoped to draft in Lonzo Ball, especially when packaged with other trade assets like the bevy of first round picks the Suns have at their disposal over the next few years.
— Adam Maynes, Valley of the Suns, @ValleyoftheSuns
The Sacramento Kings fill their biggest need at pick No. 5. With the selection of De’Aaron Fox, the Kings get their point guard of the present and future. Fox will be the only current point guard on the roster after this selection and brings extraordinary talent to Sacramento. Talent is precisely what the Kings need for their rebuilding roster.
Fox brings a great skill set to Sacramento. He is the fastest player in this draft with excellent burst and explosion to get to the rim and finish. The former Wildcat is also a great creator. Fox is dangerous in the pick-and-roll. He is a great passer, a blur to the rim, and has a nice floater game to keep defenders on their heels. Perhaps the best skill for the Kings roster is Fox’s defensive ability. Sacramento was a poor defensive team last season, and Fox brings the potential of being a lockdown defender. He uses his quickness to create turnovers and be a pest on defense.
Fox does not come without some warts, though. He is a poor 3-point shooter (24.6 percent last season). Sacramento lacks spacing at the five so having a non-shooting point guard is not ideal. His lack of shooting also allows defenders to sag off of him limiting the use of his quickness. Fox also lacks some experience and polish to both his body and his game. De’Aaron Fox still provides the Kings with their point guard to build around and instantly makes their future brighter.
— Tyler Watts, A Royal Pain, @ARoyalPain
The Orlando Magic need to find a star. They need to find someone they can build their team around. Not just for the future but for now too. The team still faces pressure to make the playoffs sooner than later. It may not be a playoff-or-bust year like 2017 season was, but the pressure still exists.
Dennis Smith is the best bet for the team to get someone who can make an immediate impact and develop into a potential franchise building block. He is a strong point guard for the modern game, able to create his own shot and finish at the rim with athleticism. Smith will have to shake off questions about his 3-point shot and length on defense. He is not a completely perfect fit. But at six, the team is not going to get a perfect fit. They need someone who has a high floor and a higher ceiling.
The Magic pass on a player like Jayson Tatum because he does not fit the team’s current roster. Tatum and Aaron Gordon would not likely be a good match as both struggle to shoot from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Smith can groom to become the team’s starting point guard, if not immediately than eventually. He would certainly be an upgrade over Elfrid Payton and his inconsistent play.
Smith in this case fits both needs the Magic have. The need to find a potential star player. And the need to find a player who can take the mantle and make these disparate pieces work together. Or, at least, that is the hope.
— Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily, @OMagicDaily
This is the best case scenario for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Tom Thibodeau. There have been many rumors swirling about Jonathan Isaac being drafted before the Wolves get on the clock but it’s becauseIsaac and the Wolves fit hand in glove. He projects to be almost everything that they need; defense, outside shooting, versatility. All that and more.
Defensive is part of the puzzle that draws Minnesota to Isaac. Given his height, 6-foot-11, and wingspan, 7-foot-1, he will be able to guard multiple positions right away. He also uses his length well to disrupt ball-handlers and block shots. All of which the Timberwolves need more of. Maybe the most attractive attribute Isaac possess for Minnesota is that he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact. Minnesota already has enough ball-dominant players in Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Isaac is a different type of player and will help the Timberwolves diversify their portfolio. He is active off the ball and understands when to cut. Due to his height and athleticism, he can also catch lobs over small defenders off those cuts. He also has the potential to become a spot up shooter at some point in his career. He shot 34.8 percent from the 3-point line at Florida State and will be able to use that as a launching off point.
However, don’t expect Isaac to average double-digit scoring or shoot 36 percent from downtown during his rookie season. He will definitely take a few years to develop but could have the highest ceiling of any player in this draft class. He will definitely take a few years to develop but could have the highest ceiling of any player in this draft class. The young core of the Timberwolves just became much more impressive.
— Brian Sampson, Dunking With Wolves, @DunkingWolvesFS
The New York Knicks are one of the few teams that can accommodate Malik Monk’s style of play as a shooting guard in a point guard’s body. This is admittedly the perfect era for Monk to be playing in, but he still needs the right system to highlight his abilities and mask his flaws.
In the triangle offense, Monk would be able to play the point guard position without having to go out of his element as a ball-dominant facilitator.
In the triangle, Monk’s role as the point guard would be to create penetration, move without the ball, and space the floor. That’s a simplified version of his outlined obligations, but it’s fitting for the way Monk approaches and plays the game.
While most point guard prospects are still searching for how to play without the ball in their hands, Monk’s ability to curl off of screens and knock down jump shots is one of his primary strengths.
In New York, Monk’s 3-point shooting would create spacing for the likes of Willy Hernangomez and Kristaps Porzingis to work the low block or pick-and-roll. His athleticism would give New York the measure of explosiveness that’s been missing for far too long.
Monk’s defensive inconsistency and lack of an identity as a facilitator could push the Knicks away, but the Kentucky star has a rare combination of elite shooting ability and explosive athleticism.
Many have one or the other, but the select few who combine both tend to experience success that ranges from Eric Gordon to Brandon Roy.
— Maxwell Ogden, Daily Knicks, @DailyKnicksFS
There hasn’t been a player more connected to Dallas in mock drafts than the kid from France. Dallas has been all over scouting Ntilikina at Strasbourg and speculation was fueled when news came out of Cuban and Donnie Nelson meeting with him in Italy a week before the draft. Standing at 6-foot-5 and a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Ntilikina gives you versatility on the defensive side of the ball. On offense, he will slide in great alongside of Seth Curry and play both guard positions. Ultimately, he’s 18 years old and the appeal of molding him as he matures makes him the pick at nine.
— Isaac Harris, The Smoking Cuban, @TheSmokingCuban
Lauri Markkanen may be a one-dimensional player, but at No. 10, he fills a need for the Sacramento Kings and pairs well with No. 5 selection De’Aaron Fox. I have seen Markkanen fall in some recent mock drafts, so I will state my case for why the Kings should select him.
Sacramento is light on shooters and Markkanen is one of the two best marksmen in this draft class. The only players who shot over league average from 3-point territory (35.8 percent according to Basketball Reference) currently on Sacramento’s roster are Buddy Hield, Arron Afflalo (who could find himself waived before next season), Skal Labissiere, and Garrett Temple. Langston Galloway will be a fifth if he picks up his player option. Having a point guard and a center that do not space the floor in this every expanding pace and space NBA creates some issues for the Kings.
Enter Markkanen who shot 42.3 percent from 3 last year on 163 attempts. At 7-feet tall, the former Wildcat also creates problems for opposing defenses. Lauri Markkanen may struggle on the defensive end and not be physical enough to take on NBA centers, but he should provide floor spacing and add a new dimension to the Kings offense. On a young team with an inexperienced point guard, spreading the floor and creating matchup problems makes Markkanen a worthy choice at pick ten overall.
— Tyler Watts, A Royal Pain, @ARoyalPain
With Dennis Smith and Malik Monk off the board, Donovan Mitchell is not only the best guard still available but he is also the best fit for the Hornets. While he isn’t a natural point guard, the 6-foot-3 prospect could make the transition. Charlotte’s biggest need is a backup point guard who can score consistently to help take some of the load off of Kemba Walker’s shoulders and that’s exactly what the 20-year old brings to the table.
Mitchell checks all of the boxes for Charlotte. He is a good defender, a solid two-way player and someone who can not only create his own shot but also for his teammates. He still needs to improve his decision making and outside shooting ability but the former should come with experience and more playing time as the primary ball handler while the latter will take some work but just like Kemba has shown, it isn’t impossible to work and develop a consistent perimeter shot.
The foundation is there for Mitchell as he shot 35.4 percent from 3 during his sophomore season. Donovan has good length and athleticism for the pro game as well with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and a 40.5-inch vertical. His scoring should have no trouble translating to the NBA. Steve Clifford would also have the choice to play the Louisville product alongside Walker which would give them a lethal scoring backcourt tandem like the one the Hornets had with Jeremy Lin which yielded success only a couple years ago.
— Jerry Stephens, Swarm and Sting, @SwarmNSting
Luke Kennard fills a dire need in the shooting department for the Detroit Pistons. He’s coming off a sophomore season at Duke in which he shot almost 44 percent from 3-point range, and he can also slot in behind Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at backup shooting guard and possibly eat up some minutes at backup small forward in relief of Marcus Morris.
While Zach Collins was also still on our board at No. 12, and we are in need of bigs who can stretch the floor, we decided that need was secondary and something we can fill through free agency with either the mid-level exception or minimum veteran signings. The Pistons are cap-strapped going into this offseason, and this is a selection that allows us to both pick the best player and prospect available, while adding depth with a player who can play useful reserve minutes. It may also make Reggie Bullock and either Darrun Hilliard or Michael Gbinije expendable, freeing up some extra money to help keep the Pistons out of the luxury tax after re-signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in restricted free agency.
— Duncan Smith, Piston Powered, @PistonPowered
While Nikola Jokic is developing nicely, he is still a liability on the defensive side of the court. It is no secret that the Denver Nuggets were one of the worst defensive teams in the league and it cost them a playoff berth in the long run. This needs to be remedied going forward. That is where O.G. Anunoby comes in at the No. 13 pick.
While there are concerns about his health, Denver is in a position where they need to take some risks in order to get back into postseason contention. If that means drafting a player who may have to sit out a year, then so be it. O.G.’s potential is sky-high and while his potential is raw, he could really do some great things in the Mile High city. He could drastically improve Denver’s 29th ranked defensive efficiency rating if he can get healthy.
The Nuggets already have plenty of offensive firepower as they were in the same ranks as Golden State and Houston from an offensive standpoint. What they need to focus on now is the defensive side of the floor. It would make no sense for the Nuggets to draft an offense-oriented player when it is abundantly clear that defense is what’s holding them back. The Nuggets would be taking a major gamble with Anunoby, but it would be a risk that would pay off in the long run.
— Matthew Huff, Nugg Love, @Nugg_Love
The Heat already have Hassan Whiteside at center, and are expected to prioritize re-signing James Johnson who could be the starting power forward next season, but they don’t have much depth beyond that. Zach Collins has the skills to play both the four and five, and can slide in as Miami’s combo big behind the starters. Collins is a two-way player who will be able to rebound and defend right away. His versatility will allow him to defend opposing power forwards or centers, depending on where the Heat play him. He also showed some shooting potential at Gonzaga, and should develop into a nice pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop player.
While he’s not the best athlete, he shows good feel for the game. Not yet 20 years old, that should continue to improve. Collins isn’t like Whiteside, but that could be a good thing. Whiteside is a great rim protector, but he isn’t versatile, and is somewhat limited in today’s game. Collins isn’t as physically gifted or dominant, but he could allow the Heat to with different looks both offensively and defensively. If he develops properly, he could make Whiteside and his max contract expenable. For now, though, Collins is both insurance against free agents leaving in free agency, and depth behind key positions.
— Wes Goldberg, All U Can Heat, @allucanheat1
The Portland Trail Blazers are a mid-tier Western Conference team with a loaded cap sheet and not many open roster spots. They hold three first round picks and will likely be looking to package a few together to shed some bad contracts and clear physical and financial space. However, if they’re looking for a player to hang onto, Justin Jackson might be a great fit.
The Blazers’ wings left a lot to be a desired last year with Al-Farouq Aminu, Allen Crabbe and Mo Harkless struggling to replicate previous offensive success, and Evan Turner struggling everywhere. If the Blazers are able to shed one of that group Jackson could step right in and become a key contributor.
He’s likely to lag somewhat as a defender, but Jackson is a crafty scorer on curls and off-screens around the elbow, as well as one of the best 3-point shooters available in the draft. He’s not quite the complimentary ball-handler the Blazers were hoping to land in Turner, but he would make for an extremely interesting complimentary scoring threat to Lillard and McCollum
— Ian Levy, Rip City Project, @ripcityproject
When this draft came about, I had five names on the board for the Bulls to take: OG Anunoby, Donovan Mitchell, Justin Jackson, Terrance Ferguson and Luke Kennard. This board was assuming that the Bulls run this past season back like I did with the “DAMN” album from Kendrick Lamar and bring back Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Nikola Mirotic.
Rondo and Wade will be unrestricted free agents in 2018 and the guards behind them really haven’t shown much in Chicago during their time with the Bulls and/or aren’t that good to begin with. So, I took to the draft. Anunoby would’ve been a top-10 pick if he hadn’t injured his knee. Mitchell soared up the draft board after his combine work. Jackson fits that Bulls mold of experienced college player and could probably take some of the offensive load off of Jimmy Butler. Ferguson is more of a project, but an explosive project that could be a gamble worth taking. Kennard made huge strides between his freshman and sophomore seasons at Duke.
Four of those guys were gone before we went on the clock, so Terrance Ferguson was the move we made. We like Ferguson’s leaping ability, defensive potential and his shooting stroke makes you wonder if he can be a valuable weapon as a 3-and-D star someday. It’ll take some time, but thanks to the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls aren’t in a hurry to try and win right away. That gives Ferguson some time to progress.
— Michael Whitlow, Pippen Ain’t Easy, @BullsBeatBlog
Although with Jabari Parker’s current injury status, there’s good reason for trepidation at the thought of the Bucks taking another player with significant knee problems, Harry Giles would also represent a continuation of a strategy they’ve had so much success with up to this point.
With all obvious guard and wing targets off the board at 17, it makes sense to revert to a best player available strategy. In Milwaukee’s case, best player available has always been about taking the long view and projecting the best player in terms of potential, and Giles certainly fits that mold.
Long, athletic and intelligent with a very positive attitude, Giles should fit perfectly alongside the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thon Maker. At the very least, Giles should be able to develop into a defensive playmaker. Even if injury prevents him from reaching his full potential, a backup big with the former Blue Devil’s size, skill and athleticism would chaos for opposing offenses paired alongside Milwaukee’s existing long-armed defenders.
On the other hand, maybe Giles can put his injuries behind him and realize the potential that once had him projected as a top pick. For a team on the rise like the Bucks, Giles has the tools to be a trajectory changing star in the mid-first round. Without a more obvious fit available before him, it makes sense to gamble on Giles.
— Adam McGee, Behind the Buck Pass, @BehindTheBucks
I know this is a reach, but hear me out. The Pacers have a lot of holes in their roster, and the ideal draft pick would fill a role on both a team with Paul George and a team without him. Semi Ojeleye is that guy. He could help shore up wing depth and provide 3-and-D potential if the Pacers continue to build around George, and he can also serve as a combo forward of the future if Myles Turner becomes the new cornerstone.
Ojeleye is a swiss army knife on offense, and Indiana desperately needs that versatility to add to its bench of one-trick ponies. He’s already an effective 3-point shooter in catch-and-shoot situations, and his points per possession in the pick-and-pop was the best in the NCAA. Whoever the Pacers end up playing at point guard next season will be happy to have Ojeleye on their side.
He’s in a bit of a no-man’s land positionally, but that’s not a huge deal to me. The way the league is going, I think Ojeleye will have no problem playing a lot of minutes at the four, even at 6-foot-7. His 235-pound frame will make it a lot easier for him to stop opposing power forwards in the post, and I think he has the upside to guard two through four someday. Ojeleye has his warts just like everyone else. His off-the-dribble game needs work, and there’s a chance he won’t be fleet of foot enough to guard quicker wings. That said, I think he would be a great fit on this Pacers team regardless of how the Paul George soap opera concludes.
— Hunter Kuffel, 8 points 9 seconds, @8pts9secs
The first player the Atlanta Hawks worked out was none other than Jarrett Allen, whom Hawks staff had lunch and dinner with the same day. Major interest by the Hawks for Allen seems evident. With Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard perhaps aging out in Atlanta, the Hawks should feel the need to add more youth in their frontcourt to eventually replace Millsap or Dwight. Allen seems to be the perfect fit. He has great length, exceptional rim protection capability, a reliable mid-range jump shot and post floater with the size to play down low. Allen seems to have everything a team should want in a rotational big man, making this a big potential steal for the Hawks.
— Justin Hodges, Soaring Down South, @SoaringDwnSouth
As mentioned with the No. 15 pick, the Trail Blazers are in the position to do some window shopping in this draft looking for depth and stacking it up against the holes and shortcomings on their current roster.
Portland has several athletic bigs already but, other than Jusuf Nurkic, none really have two-way potential or are particularly satisfying to begin with. Patton is a center and thus would be playing behind Nurkic (and theoretically supplanting Meyers Leonard), but he’s athletic and mobile with lots of potential. Right now, Patton is a decent rim protector and a handful in transition. In the halfcourt offense he has some range, which could theoretically stretch to the 3-point line eventually, but he mostly projects as a Clint Capela-type rim runner.
There’s nothing here that dramatically changes the fortunes of the Trail Blazers, but he’s a talented young player with potential, and one who offers a different look from the rest of the roster.
— Ian Levy, Rip City Project, @ripcityproject
In the post-Kevin Durant world, the Oklahoma City Thunder remained relevant behind the super-human efforts of Russell Westbrook. In spite of Westbrook, the squad needs to make considerable strides to rejoin the upper echelon of the West. Topping the list of areas to improve is 3-point shooting, where the Thunder ranked 30th in efficiency and 26th in makes. Punctuating this fact is that only two players on the roster shot over 35 percent (more than 50 attempts) from the perimeter. Playmaking, floor spacing, and rebounding are the other key areas to address.
Although the natural assumption is the Thunder will draft a backup point guard, reaching for a prospect won’t address the needs which can be filled by a veteran or via summer league. The cap-strapped Thunder also enter the offseason needing to address free agents Taj Gibson (UFA) and Andre Roberson (RFA).
Enter UCLA freshman T.J. Leaf, who checks off every box for Sam Presti. The 6-foot-10 power forward shot 64.4 percent from the field and a robust 46.6 percent from the perimeter. Leaf’s pure shot isn’t his only appealing quality. He’s a solid rebounder (8.2 per game) and his percentages (offensive: 8.5 percent, defensive:19.7 percent, total:14.5 percent) would rank top 3 in each category for the Thunder. Additionally, Leaf is an underrated playmaker (2.4 assists per game). The 20-year-old boasts a versatile offensive tool kit beyond his shot which includes the ability to drive, a 34.5-inch vertical to finish at the rim and speed in transition.
With the NBA movement toward small ball and position-less rosters, Leaf fits the new big man mold perfectly. His high basketball I.Q. and skill set offers options for the Thunder not currently available among their bigs. Specifically, he has the ability to rebound, lead the break and orchestrate the offense. He’ll need to gain size and strength and also expand his defensive chops, but his fluid style, high motor and adept foot work suggest these are attainable goals.
With the uncertainty of Gibson’s future and Enes Kanter being arguably the only high end tradeable asset, perhaps the greatest benefit Leaf affords Presti is options in constructing a more competitive roster for 2017-18.
— Tamberlyn Richardson, Thunderous Intentions, @ThunderousInt
The 7-foot-2 big man out of Latvia has exceptional tools for a late first rounder. Pasecniks is a former teammate and good friend of Kristaps Porzingis but plays differently than the New York Knicks forward. Pasecniks uses his size well in the post but lacks the shot-blocking abilities of his Latvian counterpart. Although he only played 15 minutes per game this past season overseas, he showed flashes of brilliance for a guy his size. Pasecniks has standout athleticism and intriguing size and is absolutely worth the gamble at the #22 pick. If Sean Marks is able to nab a prospect like Pasecniks after trading away Bojan Bogdanovic it would only further his reputation as a capable GM. If Pasecniks pans out, he has the potential to be a rotational piece for the long-haul and can even be Brook Lopez’s replacement if the team decides to trade him this offseason or let him walk in free agency next year.
— Andrew Hughes, Nothin’ But Nets, @NetsBlogFS
The Raptors are in desperate need of deep shooting threats. DeMar DeRozan is an All-Star shooting guard, but a complete outlier in terms of how he gets his buckets. There’s no important NBA scorer who relies less on the 3-ball than DeRozan. If Kyle Lowry moves on, and with Terrence Ross already in Orlando as part payment for Serge Ibaka, the Raptors will have no quality outside shooting from its starting backcourt.
I don’t know whether Jonah Bolden can even make the NBA, but Masai Ujiri has been known to roll the dice in the draft (hello, Bruno Caboclo, who’s still “two years away from being two years away”). With all of the sexy swingmen already off the board, I can see Masai taking a chance. After all, Toronto has received excellent value already from another late-in-the-draft UCLA product, Norman Powell.
Bolden may be more ready than most to play in the big league. He’s spent a year in Europe since abandoning his college career, so is less likely than most to suffer rookie jitters. An Australian, he’ll have no difficulty in adjusting to Toronto, one of the NBA’s largest and most cosmopolitan cities. Bolden is a big small forward or an undersized 4-man, but the need for the Raptors is at the 3-spot (unless P.J. Tucker returns). DeMarre Carroll has been a massive disappointment since joining as a free agent, and coach Dwane Casey would be happy to find someone else to take Carroll’s ineffectual minutes. I think Bolden is versatile, athletic and hungry, and should be an asset on the Raptors.
— Brian Boake, Raptors Rapture, @RaptorsRapture
Although the Utah Jazz already have one of the premier big men in the league in All-NBA center Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz suffered from some deficiencies in their frontcourt last season. Yes, Joe Johnson and at times Gordon Hayward filled in admirably as small-ball fours when needed and the aging Boris Diaw had his moments of proficiency. But with Derrick Favors constantly bridled with injury, Trey Lyles suffering a sophomore slump and Jeff Withey being little more than a placeholder, they could use some additional talent in the paint.
With that being the case, the Jazz would do well to select Kentucky’s Bam Adebayo if he’s available with the No. 24 pick. At 6-foot-10, 260 pounds he has the size of a center but also boasts the athleticism to potentially play some at the power forward spot, continuing the “two towers” approach that the Jazz have long used with Gobert and Favors lurking in the post. What perhaps makes him most intriguing, however, is his ability to shoot the 3-ball. In his recent workout with the Charlotte Hornets, he knocked down 13-of-25 3-pointers and has certainly turned some heads as a potentially dangerous shooter from range at some point in the future. Of course, converting at that rate in a workout is much different from doing so in a game, but at a minimum it shows that the potential is there.
One of the main strengths that the Jazz benefited from this past season was versatility in their players as individuals as well as in their overall lineups. Selecting big man Bam Adebayo with the No. 24 overall pick would be an excellent way for the Jazz to continue that trend while also filling a crucial area of need.
— Jared Woodcox, Purple and Blues, @PurpleandBlues1
The last thing the Orlando Magic would seemingly need is another post player. They certainly do not need another center. Not unless there is a trade for Nikola Vucevic or Bismack Biyombo in the works. The team has plenty of size on the block. Yet, the team still lacks a traditional power forward. The team needs a grinder to dig out rebounds and provide some versatility on the perimeter.
To me, that would make John Collins an absolute steal with the No. 25 overall pick. Collins averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last year for Wake Forest, scoring mostly in and around the basket and working in the mid-range game. He is a bruiser in the traditional sense. Considering the Magic just need a talent upgrade in general, it is hard to pass on a player who showed so much growth and seems like he could step onto a NBA court quickly and contribute. He will have to continue expanding his range. And he will have to prove he has the speed to stay out on the perimeter some, but the other numbers trend well. Rebounding typically translates to the NBA.
Coming off the bench, the Magic will not need much from him. Just go out and play his game. That is something it already seems like Collins is good at.
— Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily, @OMagicDaily
D.J. Wilson is the last pick from the Portland Trail Blazers’ mystery grab bag draft board. Already having snagged Justin Jackson, a polished scoring wing, and Justin Patton, an athletic rim-running big, Portland opts for another home run swing.
At 6-foot-10, Wilson is a big with the size and athleticism to compete at the NBA level. His ceiling is a bouncy big man who can challenge shots at the rim, get out in transition, crash the glass, and also switch out onto smaller players on the perimeter.
However, the most appealing part of Wilson’s game is his jumper. Wilson made 37.3 percent of his 3-pointers this season on nearly three attempts per game. He’s also an 83.3 percent free throw shooter which reinforces the idea that his 3-point shooting is not a mirage. Between Jackson, Wilson, and Patton the Blazers should be able to add depth, athleticism and skill to their rotation next year.
— Ian Levy, Rip City Project, @ripcityproject
With Brooklyn going with long-term potential with the No. 22 pick, the team might elect to go with an NBA-ready player with the No. 27 pick. Hart was an NCAA National Champion in 2016 during Villanova’s title run. The forward averaged 18 points, six rebounds and three assists per game while averaging over 40 percent from the 3-point line. Hart’s ability to space the floor could make him an ideal fit in Kenny Atkinson’s motion offense. His ability to contribute all over the floor could allow Hart to grab big minutes immediately for a Brooklyn Nets team that figures to allow its younger players extended minutes next season.
Hart has played at the highest level of college basketball. He has played under the bright lights and in front of a national audience which should help the 22-year-old transition to the NBA. Although some may feel he is a reach at the No. 27 pick, Hart projects to be a worthwhile choice no matter where he goes in the draft.
— Andrew Hughes, Nothin’ But Nets, @NetsBlogFS
The Lakers got their prize in Lonzo Ball at the top of the draft. Here, at the end of the first round, they have an opportunity to take a low-risk swing on a project. Anigbogu missed some games as a freshman and didn’t play a ton of minutes even when he was healthy. However, he has an exciting physical profile with the size to bang with traditional centers and the quickness to fit in a modern, switchy, motion-based scheme.
The Lakers don’t need anything from Anigbogu next season, with Ivica Zubac already looking like their center of the future. Still, Anigbogu has immediate value as an energy player at the end of the bench and someone who could be brought along slowly as his skills develop.
— Ian Levy, Lake Show Life, @TheLakeShowLife
It seems like every season the Spurs find their way to some high-value prospect sliding down draft boards. Evans is projected in the mid-teens to high-20s on many draft boards but if he’s there at the end of the first round, he’s too good for the Spurs to pass up.
Point guard is something of a question mark for the Spurs. Tony Parker may not return until January and it remains to be seen what he has left in the tank. Dejounte Murray was a revelation as a rookie but he’s still young and may not be ready to take over full time. Patty Mills has been the perfect backup, but he’s a free agent and could be on his way out.
Evans is small compared to some of the other top point guard prospects but he’s one of the most polished scorers and distributors out of the pick-and-roll in this draft. There are questions about his jump shooting and defense buy he can absolutely score and run an offense. That polish means he could likely contribute immediately to the Spurs as they push for another run to the Western Conference Finals.
— Ian Levy, Air Alamo, @AirAlamo
The Utah Jazz will always take the best player available on their draft board — regardless of position. It worked out nicely here that Derrick White is probably that guy at No. 30. The Jazz are said to be high on the 6-foot-5, 200-pound combo guard and it’s easy to see why they might covet him. With point-man Shelvin Mack headed for free agency and the Jazz needing wing depth as well, White knocks out some existing needs. He would likely play the one and the two for Utah and he has attributes that the team values at both positions.
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His 6-foot-7.25 wingspan gives him good length at the point, while his shooting ability — over 40 percent on 4.3 3-point attempts per game last season — makes him viable off-ball. White may or may not have much upside as a 23-year-old former JUCO transfer with only one year of Division I ball under his belt, but he has the measurables and he’s risen to the occasion at every turn, from Pac-12 play to the Portsmouth Invitational and pre-draft workouts. He could probably make an immediate impact as a bench guard and carve out a nice career for himself as a back-up.
— Ryan Aston, Purple and Blues, @PurpleandBlues1