2017 NBA Mock Draft: The worst picks every team can make

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The NBA Draft is next week, so here’s a mock draft of the worst decisions every team could make on draft night

The 2017 NBA Draft is just around the corner and with the draft comes the post-draft grades. In last week’s mock draft, we looked at how every team in the league can earn an “A” in those rankings.

This week, we’ve done something a little different and tried to sort out the worst decision that each team could make on draft night given the players reasonably available at their draft slot. In order to make things as realistic as possible, we’ve tried to keep prospects within their normal draft range. Shipping Markelle Fultz to the second round would have been too easy.

Without further ado, here’s a look at how every team can mess up their draft.

Feb 26, 2017; Pullman, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) looks on form the bench during a game against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. The Cougars won 79-71. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

made the case for keeping the pick on lottery night rather succinctly, “In this day’s NBA, picks are very, very valuable. You’ve got a young person you can help mold and grow with. Bring him in before the max salaries kick in years later. Makes a lot of sense to keep these picks.”

The Celtics should draft Fultz at No. 1 on draft night, but shouldn’t try to get fancy and deal him.

Learn more about Markelle Fultz at The Step Back.

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Markelle Fultz

PG, Washington

Markelle Fultz is an excellent prospect. He’s so good, in fact, that nearly everyone agrees he should be the No. 1 pick on draft night. So, how can the Boston Celtics mess this one up? It’s simple. They could trade him as part of a package to bring back either Chicago’s Jimmy Butler or Indiana’s Paul George in a short sighted win now move.

The goal for Boston is obviously to build a championship caliber roster and bringing in Butler or George could push them in that direction, but does anyone really believe that would get them over the hump against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers? Probably not. The Celtics should be positioning themselves to be the next team in the Eastern Conference and developing homegrown talent is incredibly important for doing that, especially at the point guard position given Isaiah Thomas’ looming free agency.

Boston’s owner Wyc Grousbeck made the case for keeping the pick on lottery night rather succinctly, “In this day’s NBA, picks are very, very valuable. You’ve got a young person you can help mold and grow with. Bring him in before the max salaries kick in years later. Makes a lot of sense to keep these picks.”

The Celtics should draft Fultz at No. 1 on draft night, but shouldn’t try to get fancy and deal him.

Learn more about Markelle Fultz at The Step Back.