2017 NBA Mock Draft: The best choice each team can make
By Chris Stone
Our latest NBA mock draft is here to tell each team their best choice
The day after the 2017 NBA Draft, analysts across the internet will offer their grades for each of the selections made the night before. Well, we figured we might as well get a head start on things, so with this week’s edition of the mock draft, we’ve identified the best choices for each team at their pick. All of these choices are subjective and made with no preference for rumors linking certain players to certain franchises. In theory, though, the result should be a mock draft that earns every team an “A” in our grades the next morning.
Here’s how things shook out.
Markelle Fultz
PG, Washington
For starters, there are questions about Fultz’s defense. He lagged behind with the Huskies and frequently lacked the necessary effort. However, in the NBA, high usage lead ball-handlers are rarely elite defensive talents. Steph Curry, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, for example, are frequently criticized due to their poor defensive play, but the value that these players contribute on the offensive end is so high that it simply matters less. All Fultz needs to do is try a bit harder and develop some additional fundamentals, two things that are well within his reach.
The other concern relates to Fultz’s fit next to Isaiah Thomas. The 5-foot-11 star is under contract for one more season and it’s expected he’ll cash in a big deal in free agency. Boston, though, could proceed without Thomas and build out its roster to compete after the LeBron James era, which is probably what they should do to maximize their chances of winning a title long-term.