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2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 23: The NBA Playoffs are upon us

By Chris Stone

Feb 9, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Boulder, CO, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) shoots against Xavier Musketeers forward Kaiser Gates (22) in the finals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Zach Collins

C, Gonzaga

Lottery odds: 0.8 percent

Draft status: In with an agent

The Charlotte Hornets missed out on the playoffs this season despite finishing with a positive net rating. As such, the front office seemingly has some flexibility to take the best player and that’s Gonzaga’s Zach Collins, a 7-foot tall freshman center who excelled in limited minutes with the Bulldogs.

Collins averaged 10.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 17.3 minutes per game this season, but those numbers balloon when adjusted for minutes played. He posted a ridiculous 23.2 points, 13.6 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per 40 minutes while finishing with a 70.3 true shooting percentage. Collins is developing 3-point range and made 10 of his 21 3-point attempts this season. He is a strong pick-and-roll player and has enough post moves to score down low. His biggest offensive limitation is his passing, something he struggles to do out of double teams.

Defensively, Collins is arguably the top rim protector in the class. He has a great understanding of verticality and a willingness to challenge every shot that goes up in his range. Collins is also athletic enough that he can defend smaller players when he gets switched onto them. Those two skills should make him at least a useful player at the NBA level.