December 11, 2024
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2017 NBA Mock Draft

Walt12 mins
By Mike Elworth.

Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.



David Kay’s 2017 NBA Mock Draft

Past Mocks From David Kay
2016 NBA Mock Draft
2015 NBA Mock Draft
Updated: Jan. 19, 2017.



    The draft order is based on current records and how I project the season at this time.

  1. Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington.
    The 76ers still need years to make the playoffs, but they have one of the NBA’s best young cores. What Philadelphia really needs to do is to just take the best player in the 2017 NBA Draft, and that is looking like Markelle Fultz, who is an athletic monster and one of the best scorers in the nation. He will be a franchise point guard. A foundation of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Fultz could make the 76ers into a title contender.


  2. Boston Celtics (From Nets): Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas.
    Jackson is actually my favorite prospect in the 2017 NBA Draft, as he is a big and athletic small forward who reminds me of Andrew Wiggins with more defense. Jackson is a scorer, distributor and defender, and although I know the Celtics are going to likely trade this pick for an NBA All-Star, this is just them taking the best player, which is what the team which gets this pick would do – whether it be Josh Jackson or Lonzo Ball in the opinion of the franchise’s decision-makers.


  3. Phoenix Suns: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA.
    One of the best shooters and distributors in the 2017 NBA Draft, Ball may not be the most athletic of point guards, but he is arguably the most skilled guard available. Yes, the Suns have a bunch of point guards, but they are rebuilding and Ball can become their franchise player and form an elite guard duo with Devin Booker. I love Ball’s game.




  4. Minnesota Timberwolves: Harry Giles, PF, Duke.
    Giles is the best prospect in the 2017 NBA Draft to some, but since he is coming off an ACL tear, his stock is lower, like with Julius Randle a few seasons ago. Giles is big, has excellent length and can score, rebound and defend. If he can become more of a shooter and is healthy at the time of the 2017 NBA Draft, he sould easily be one of the first big men taken. The Timberwolves have no needs, so taking a player like Giles makes a lot of sense.


  5. Miami Heat: Dennis Smith, PG, N.C. State.
    Smith is an elite athlete and is scoring almost 20 points a game, plus gets a ton of steals and runs an offense very well. He is now firmly the third-best prospect at the point in this draft, but he would be first in most. The Heat need young talent for their rebuild, and Smith could become a stud player to pair with Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside in the frontcourt.




  6. Philadelphia 76ers (From Lakers): Jason Tatum, SF, Duke.
    A classic small forward with athleticism, and a born scorer, Tatum would be a really nice fit for the young 76ers. They may have Ben Simmons, but with him playing on the ball, they can use another player at the position in their starting five. He is the best player who fits.


  7. Dallas Mavericks: Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky.
    Monk is arguably the best scorer in the 2017 NBA Draft, but he is short. Regardless, the Mavericks are rebuilding, and Monk could become their next franchise player – he is that talented – and would work very well next to Harrison Barnes.


  8. Denver Nuggets: Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State.
    Bridges is a strong shooter and scorer who rebounds and blocks shots like a big man. The Nuggets need youth at the three if they trade Danilo Gallinari, and Bridges would give them another strong piece to go with their expanding group of excellent young talents: Nikola Jokic, Emmanuel Mudiay, Jamal Murray and Gary Harris.




  9. New York Knicks: T.J. Leaf, F, UCLA.
    If Kristaps Porzingis becomes the Knicks’ center as rumored, they will need a power forward and could use a young stud four regardless. Leaf is an excellent shooter, scorer and rebounder who would be a nice partner for Porzingis.


  10. Sacramento Kings: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona.
    Markkanen is a true 7-footer who is a shooter and scorer; he reminds me a bit of Meyers Leonard. Sacramento has bigs, but no player with the stretch skills like Markkanen and he fits well.




  11. Orlando Magic: Frank Ntilikina, PG, France.
    The Magic have a lot of young talent, but their keepers are in their frontcourt. At guard, they are mediocre after the Victor Oladipo trade, and they need to find a franchise point guard, which Elfrid Payton isn’t. This French teenager is a only pure one and at 6-foot-5, he has size and defends. Ntilikina is a distributor first and a scorer second, which should make him a talent Frank Vogel can work with.


  12. Detroit Pistons: Robert Williams, F, Texas A&M.
    Williams only plays half the game for the Aggies, but he is one of the best per-minute players in college and an elite defender who would be a very nice reserve to Andre Drummond as a third big man off the bench. Williams can’t shoot, but the rest of his game says he can be a starting power forward, and with Henry Ellenson and Drummond would give the Pistons a talented young trio of bigs.


  13. New Orleans Pelicans: De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky.
    The Pelicans are average despite having the best big man in the NBA playing like an MVP; they won’t win much. They also Jrue Holiday and Tim Frazier at point guard, but Holiday is a free agent, while Fox is a different talent. He is one of the best distributors in college basketball and is a big-time scorer who defends. A trio of Fox, Anthony Davis and Buddy Hield would look very nice for the next half decade for this franchise.




  14. Washington Wizards: Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State.
    Isaac is a huge small forward who could be a stretch four in the NBA. Regardless, he can score the ball and rebound, along with being the best talent available. Those factors make him a nice choice for the Wizards as they need to keep drafting well if they want to be something in the East, as there won’t be many big signings by them.


  15. Indiana Pacers: O.G Anuoby, G/F, Indiana.
    There are Kawhi Leonard comparisons for Anunoby, who is an excellent athlete, defender and shooter. He needs to develop his game on offense and be more than a shooter, but he has the potential to be a star, and the Pacers could really use his defense. He would look very nice next to Paul George.



    16. Go to Mike’s 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 16-30
    Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.


    Go to Mike’s 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Round 2



    David Kay’s NBA Mock Drafts
    Go to 2017 NBA Mock Draft
    Go to 2015 NBA Mock Draft





By Mike Elworth.

Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.





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