2017 NBA Mock Draft, The Process Realized

#1. Philadelphia 76ers - PG Markelle Fultz (Washington)

Dean Rutz - The Seattle Times
The only piece missing from the 76ers' "process" being realized was a point guard and they traded up to acquire the best PG in a draft loaded at that position.

The process has finally come to fruition. In an officially announced trade, the Sixers have acquired the #1 overall pick so that they can fill their need at the guard position. With Fultz, Covington, Saric, Simmons and Embiid on the court, they will be a playoff team and it's all thanks to years of hard-fought sucking and crafty former GM Sam Hinkie turning the awful Andrew Bynum deal into everything we see today. Fultz can do a little bit of everything and might be the best player on this roster after Thursday.

#2. Los Angeles Lakers - PG Lonzo Ball (UCLA)

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The most talked about prospect goes to the NBA's most overly-discussed franchise.

Unless the 76ers are playing the crazy long-con game, the next player selected will be the pass-happy phenom of Los Angeles, Lonzo Ball. The only question is whether or not the Lakers keep the pick or are they ready to jump at the two hot free agents (Paul George & Jimmy Butler) of next offseason. Luckily for new GM Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson, it should be impossible to screw this pick up despite the eldest son of Lavar Ball's broken shooting mechanics. 

#3. Boston Celtics - SF Josh Jackson (Kansas)

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The Celtics will not miss out on their main draft target (Jackson) despite the trade down.

Josh Jackson had risen up draft boards immediately following his stellar run in the March Madness tournament. Boston did not need another point guard after dramatic improvements from Isaiah Thomas and Terry Rozier so, they traded down two spots. In all likelihood, GM Danny Ainge felt comfortable making the deal because their main target for the first pick (either Jackson or Jayson Tatum) will still be available and simultaneously, a much better fit for contending in the East as soon as possible.

#4. Phoenix Suns - PG De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky)

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The Suns love their point guards from Kentucky and will add another if they are unable to find a trade partner.

Another team possibly looking for a proven star instead of younger depth, it would surprise nobody if the Suns dealt the fourth pick in the draft. On the other hand, it would also surprise nobody if the team that already rosters Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Tyler Ulis decided to take any point guard from Kentucky. I have heard that Fox, the quickest player in the draft, is also the only player that wouldn't mind going to the Sacramento Kings at #5. There are an endless array of possibilities for pick #4 and I'm betting on the Suns giving the tall duo of Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender another season before drafting additional competition.

#5. Sacramento Kings - SG Malik Monk (Kentucky)

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Kings owner Vivek Ranidive adores anybody with a jumper and Monk would be the closest thing to his backcourt teammate (De'Aaron Fox) that Sacramento would accept. 

Sacramento is dedicated to making Buddy Hield a superstar and drafting Malik Monk does not undo any of the good they have already done with the former Pelican. If their main target (Fox) truly is too good to fall past Phoenix, then the Kings will take the next best available guard. With Ben McLemore, Darren Collison, Ty Lawson and Tyreke Evans all potentially departing this offseason, they will need the best available guard.

#6. Orlando Magic - SF Jayson Tatum (Duke)

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Orlando is hoping that Tatum is the player to save their team from basketball purgatory.

The direction of the Magic's future has been unclear since they dealt away Victor Oladipo, their best player, at the 2016 NBA Draft. The one player left with obvious star potential is Tatum, an athletic forward with a high-percentage shot. Frank Vogel is all about 3-and-D players and every player drafted by the previous regime with those skills has failed to deliver on expectations (see: Mario Hezonja, Oladipo, etc.) despite good chunks of minutes. Tatum going this low is a bit of a surprise but, trades and the NBA Draft are synonymous so, Tatum might go as early as third and still end up in Orlando.

#7. Minnesota Timberwolves - PF Jonathan Isaac (Florida State)

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Jonathan Isaac would be a nice big to play alongside Karl-Anthony Towns.

Tom Thibodeau's first season in charge of Minnesota went poorly as Karl-Anthony Towns suffered a severe regression on defense and the chronic rookie-denier sat lottery pick Kris Dunn too often in favor of wasting the energy of improving young core players like Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins. LaVine even managed to tear an ACL after Thibs gave him 30+ minutes in multiple games LaVine never should have played in due to an already sore leg. The coach likely wants more defense (or if recent reports are true, a reunion of his failed team in Chicago) and Jonathan Isaac has a higher defensive ceiling than most bigs in this class. Good luck getting minutes next season, Isaac.

#8. New York Knicks - PG Dennis Smith Jr. (NC State)

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Smith will be a better version of what the Knicks thought Derrick Rose might still be.

Speaking of teams with questionable leadership, Phil Jackson's fun house from hell wants to keep making the triangle offense a thing. Derrick Rose is almost certainly leaving after a moody season in the big apple. Luckily for James Dolan and his ragtag gang of circus clowns, Dennis Smith is as explosive as Rose was last season right now and should only improve given he does not tear any major ligaments. The eighth pick should not be as depressing as New York media claims it to be after another season of low effort.

#9. Dallas Mavericks - PF Lauri Markkanen (Arizona)

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The player most frequently compared to Dirk Nowitzki joins the man himself as an eventual replacement.

Nobody in this draft is going to score 30,000 points like the face of the Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki but, Markkanen has a similar set of skills with room to improve in the paint. Mark Cuban's team has rarely owned a first-round pick so, this pick is anybody's guess. I see Markkanen as the best player around at nine picks in and the team still needs a power forward for the future. Dirk is 39 after all.

#10. Sacramento Kings - PG Frank Ntilikina (France)

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The Kings should look to continue digging for star-potential guards with Ntilikina at the top of the board.

As mentioned with the fifth pick, Sacramento is likely looking for guard help and the best point guard after Fox is either Smith or Frank Ntilikina. Sacramento seems like a team that likes to take chances on a foreign prospect annually and Ntilikina is more reliable defensively than Smith. Of course, none of this happens if they make the right offer for the fourth pick.

#11. Charlotte Hornets - PF Harry Giles (Duke)

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With good coaching, Harry Giles could wind up as a steal for whoever drafts him.

The Hornets may have already added Dwight Howard for some meaningless wastes of contracts but, there is still room in Charlotte for an athletic big. Even if Giles is only a project pick that requires Steve Clifford to up his game as a head coach, he will still get immediate minutes with only Marvin Williams shooting his way into the starting lineup over the former Duke backup.

#12. Detroit Pistons - C Zach Collins (Gonzaga)

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The most natural center in the draft gets to sit behind Andre Drummond for a bit.

Detroit seems to refuse admitting that they need to rebuild or forever be a nine-seed. Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Andre Drummond are not the future of this franchise and Stanley Johnson only might be. Center may not be the best place for them to begin their rebuild but, there are no better players remaining on my hypothetical board so, why not take a big if Stan Van Gundy is not ready to give up on their mediocre cast.

#13. Denver Nuggets - SF OG Anunoby (Indiana)

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Ogugua Anunoby could end up replacing Danilo Gallinari in Colorado.

OG Anunoby is more defensively skilled than either Danilo Gallinari or Wilson Chandler. Both players, coincidentally, could exit the rocky mountains this Summer. The Nuggets already have plenty of offensively skilled players in Nikola Jokic, Mason Plumlee, Will Barton and the currently-bubbling Gary Harris. Anunoby won't be the sexiest pick but, he is a good fit for a team on the verge of winning.

#14. Miami Heat - PF Edrice "Bam" Adebayo (Kentucky)

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The Heat will continue to go all in on defense with the selection of the best Wildcat defender.

Miami's resilient 30-11 finish after an 11-30 beginning will attract the enormous names that Miami is accustomed to attracting in free agency, as if Pat Riley's presence and expertise weren't enough. The Heat will easily be able to get a player that does everything offensively one way or another. With the 14th selection, I have Miami betting on their own superior capability to turn a player that's all defense (like Adebayo) into an all-around stud (see: Hassan Whiteside and James Johnson).

#15. Portland Trail Blazers - PF T.J. Leaf (UCLA)

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Portland adds to their rotation with their first of three firsts likely playing a key role all season.

Simply put, the Trail Blazers need bodies for their badly bruised bench. Leaf will help Portland keep up their continued quest at conquering the Warriors at Golden State's deep-shooting game. That may not be their best usage of their first pick but again, they get two more chances at not botching this whole thing in the first two hours.

#16. Chicago Bulls - SG Donovan Mitchell (Louisville)

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With Jimmy Butler's time in Chicago running out, the Bulls must think fast on possible replacements.

No matter how this draft ends, the Bulls are fucked. Either the GM duo of GarPax deals Jimmy Butler for 50 cents on the dollar or they have another year of mediocrity ahead with old Dwyane Wade, moody Rajon Rondo and Robin Lopez. If they take Mitchell, Chicago will at least have a guard for safe-keeping in case of a firesale.

#17. Milwaukee Bucks - SG Luke Kennard (Duke)

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The Bucks still need shooting and Kennard just happens to fall to them at pick #17.

Milwaukee desperately needs a big man in case Greg Monroe is no longer around to steal all of John Henson's minutes. The only thing they still need slightly more of as soon as possible is a shooter to steal all of Rashad Vaughn and maybe Jason Terry's minutes. The fundamentals are all there with Duke's lesser-hated white dude and it's not like the Bucks need any more lengthy defensive disruptors when a shooter like this falls to them.

#18. Indiana Pacers - SF Justin Jackson (North Carolina)

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If they do indeed trade Paul George, the Pacers will need an NBA-ready forward to slow the bleeding caused by losing a star and Jackson is ready for the league right now.

Similar to the Bulls' situation, Indiana is considerably more likely to lose their superstar but, they at least have the hope that Myles Turner continues his ascent. Justin Jackson is one of the more NBA-ready players in the draft and should help control the bleeding caused by George's eventual absence. His recently discovered shooting hand is questionable at best but, he'll give Indiana productive time on the court immediately ala Danny Granger.

#19. Atlanta Hawks - SG Terrance Ferguson (Australia)

Sarah Reed
Atlanta adds a Kent Bazemore-like versatile guard/forward in Ferguson.

The Hawks have waved the white flag on the 2017-18 season after dealing Dwight Howard for Miles Plumlee's stupid contract and Marco Belinelli's future second-rounder value. This move signifies that they have admitted defeat on re-signing Paul Millsap and probably even the egregious Kent Bazemore contract. While Bazemore is still employed in Georgia, the GMless Hawks are best off taking a draft-and-groom prospect like the 19-year old that chose to come off the bench in Australia over college.

#20. Portland Trail Blazers - SF Jonah Bolden (Australia)

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Former UCLA forward Bolden will still be able to sneak into the first round after a year abroad.

3-and-D players are so hot right now. The Blazers tried to win the west with some crazy contracts and an attempt at turning into the Warriors. One of the Warriors most valuable players is Draymond Green, a 3-and-D guy with major emphasis on the defense. Bolden is not Draymond but, he can be Al-Farouq Aminu with a better jumper if he stays the exact same as he is right now. This former UCLA Bruin left for Australia and came back with a higher floor than your average prospect.

#21. Oklahoma City Thunder - PG Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State)

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The explosive Evans stays in Oklahoma with OKC needing a backup for their MVP.

Jawun Evans does not have first-round potential but, that did not stop GM Sam Presti from taking Cameron Payne, a similar guard with a worse shot, two years ago. Evans is a homeless man's version of Russell Westbrook. He is an explosive player that is extremely capable of playing quality offense, even though he may hog the ball sometimes. The Thunder's championship odds likely do not depend on this pick and they will need to do some serious digging for help for their MVP in free agency.

#22. Brooklyn Nets - PF D.J. Wilson (Michigan)

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After a March breakout, Wilson will help the Nets avoid the NBA's basement in 2017/18.

Brooklyn does not want to tank yet has no reasonable expectation to win. This is the worst state to be in as a franchise and it's all thanks to former GM Billy King and the KG-Pierce-Terry for picks five years in the future. Until they start receiving their own draft picks again in 2019, the Nets should take a scorer like Wilson while their defense seems in tact despite rostering zero all-stars. The 22nd pick will not suddenly make the Nets good but, it can help them avoid atrocious basketball.

#23. Toronto Raptors - PF John Collins (Wake Forest)

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Collins is a stronger pick in 2017 than Pascal Siakam was in 2016 for Toronto.

The two deadline acquisitions that the Raptors made last year (Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker) are expiring contracts and likely gone this Summer. This opens up space for another forward and clearly, this team does not want 2016 pick Pascal Siakam starting for them or else they would have felt comfortable with him in February. John Collins is not the defender that any of the current Raptors are but, his scoring ability is more NBA-ready than Siakam's defense and somebody other than DeMar DeRozan needs to get buckets if Kyle Lowry is indeed gone.

#24. Utah Jazz - C Jarrett Allen (Texas)

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Along with Josh Jackson, Allen is bringing the classic afro hairstyle back into the NBA.

Texas basketball has only had one player drafted in the last five NBA classes (Myles Turner) and Jarrett Allen is here to try and reinvigorate the repertoire of the Longhorns' basketball program. Of course, Allen does not have star potential but, the man is lengthy and has a comparable game to an NBA champion, JaVale McGee. Utah doesn't NEED a center the way they NEED to make sure Gordon Heyward stays in Salt Lake and as long as they keep Heyward, they are only one bigger piece than the #24 pick away from making the Warriors (or at least the Spurs) shake a bit.

#25. Orlando Magic - C Anzejs Pasecniks (Latvia)

Orlando needs a backup big and good luck pronouncing this one, Adam Silver.

Pasecniks' value confuses me. The Latvian center is very mobile for a seven-footer and has no obvious skills with a high ceiling. He is as much of an unknown as 2014 prospects Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bruno Caboclo. Anzejs could become the player that takes over for overpriced Nikola Vucevic' or he'll just be additional young depth taking a seat on the bench for a few years.

#26. Portland Trail Blazers - C Ike Anigbogu (UCLA)

Portland fills their need for big man depth with their third first-rounder of three.

With the Trail Blazers' final first round pick and their last scheduled pick, they officially erase their fans' minds of the Festus Ezeli contract. Anigbogu would be Portland's lone center behind folk hero Jusuf Nurkic. Ike's play defensively will be the perfect compliment to all of the team's shooters and the two picks (Leaf and Bolden) that I've already given them.

#27. Los Angeles Lakers - PF Caleb Swanigan (Purdue)

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Originally my pick for Brooklyn, the Lakers land a stat-machine in Swanigan.

I fell in love with Purdue this March because of Swanigan and his story of overcoming his living situation as a child (including weighing 380 pounds at age 13) to becoming a potential first-rounder. The 6'9'' forward averaged 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds his sophomore season and was 2016-17's Denzel Valentine Box Score MVP. Not to seem like too much of an armchair psychologist but, Swanigan seems like the gritty type of player that Magic Johnson would love to have on his team with the added modern bonus of a decent long-range shot.

#28. Los Angeles Lakers - PF Isaiah Hartenstein (Germany)

Hartenstein is the most mysterious potential first-round pick and LA might just bite on unknown potential.

With three first round picks, the Lakers are bound to take a chance on a foreign talent that may not come to the USA right away. Hartenstein is much like Anzejs Pasecniks in their totally unknown ceilings and under-developed skill sets.

#29. San Antonio Spurs - SF Semi Ojeleye (SMU)

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A 3-and-D sleeper pick, Ojeleye lands to the one team that could make him a star.

Gregg Poppovich has turned Danny Green, Jonathon Simmons and Kawhi Leonard into complete NBA players. Semi Ojeleye is the player most likely to be taken outside of the top ten and still possibly turn into Leonard. If he doesn't step foot into a gym or doesn't work on his handles, there will be problems as he is very inconsistent right now but, there is promise here.

#30. Utah Jazz - SG Josh Hart (Villanova)

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Josh Hart would be a nice fit off of Utah's bench.

Utah might package their two late firsts for an earlier draft pick but in case they don't do that... Here you go Utah. In a world where nobody stands a chance against the greatest and most three-point friendly team ever (Golden State), the Jazz should just take a shooter like Hart since they are already nearly on par with the Warriors' defense. Hart might not get the best separation on the court but, at least he's had some experience with winning.