NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 14: Markelle Fultz is still no. 1

The Portland Trail Blazers picked up some frontcourt help with center Justin Patton at no. 15 earlier in this mock draft, so we can snag Patton a running mate here. UCLA’s TJ Leaf has a very good offensive skill set for the modern NBA. The 19-year old is averaging 22.3 points per 40 minutes for the nation’s top offense. He’s shooting 67.4 percent on 2s and 46.7 percent on 3s. Leaf is a solid slasher with the ability to beat slower defenders off the dribble. He’s also a developing jump shooter. He’s taken just 45 3-point attempts this season and has a poor free throw percentage, so his 3-point numbers are probably a bit inflated at this point.

The problem is that Leaf is a really questionable defensive piece. Sure, he’s a good defensive rebounder for his position, posting a 20.7 percent defensive rebounding rate, but the eye test doesn’t treat him very well. Leaf often gets taken advantage of in pick-and-roll when guarding the roll man, for example. Sound like any other former UCLA power forwards who can shoot?

The hope is that Leaf will develop into more of a two-way player over time, but even if he doesn’t, his scoring position at the power forward spot should be valuable at the end of a starting lineup or against second units where his defensive shortcomings may not be so devastating.

This pick goes to Portland via the Cleveland Cavaliers.