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David Kay’s 2017 NBA Mock Draft
Past Mocks From David Kay
2016 NBA Mock Draft
2015 NBA Mock Draft
Updated: Jan. 19, 2017.
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Charlotte Hornets: Grayson Allen, SG, Duke. 
Yes, Allen trips people, but he is arguably the best player in college basketball. He is a big-time shooter and scorer, plus can also play the point very well. He could be one of the best sixth men in the NBA, and as the Hornets love versatility, having somebody like Allen makes sense. -
Chicago Bulls: Edrice Adebayo, PF/C, Kentucky. 
The Bulls could lose Taj Gibson and would need to replace him if he leaves. Adebayo could be that replacement and is the Bismack Biyombo of the 2017 NBA Draft. Tall, athletic, a rebounder, a shot-blocker and a defender, Adebayo is a perfect fit with the Bulls and could actually become their starting center as he matures. -
Portland Trail Blazers: Omer Yurtseven, C, N.C. State. 
Yurtseven made his name by scoring almost 100 points in a U-18 international game a summer ago, and he is one of the few 7-footers in the 2017 NBA Draft. Yurtseven has the skill and size to be a big-time producer in the NBA, although he isn’t that athletic and is considered soft. Portland needs a franchise big man, and he has the talent to be that guy for the Blazers. -
Atlanta Hawks: Ivan Rabb, C, California. 
Rabb, a sophomore, would have likely been a lottery pick in the Ben Simmons Draft, aka last year. Rabb is a four today, but if he adds strength, he has the size and athleticism to be a center. However, as a four/five hybrid with rebounding and defensive skills, he is a fit with Paul Millsap – if he re-signs – and Dwight Howard. -
Milwaukee Bucks: Luke Kennard, SF, Duke.
Kennard is one of the best shooters and scorers in the country, and would be perfect off Milwaukee’s bench. The Bucks are starting Tony Snell, so they truly need help; Khris Middleton returning next season wil help too, but Kennard fits. -
Utah Jazz: Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana. 
Bryant is one of the biggest players in the 2017 NBA Draft and a strong rebounder and scorer. The Jazz have a lot of bigs, but not a load like Thomas Bryant. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Marques Allen, C, Duke.
Allen has had problem with weight and injuries, but he is a pure scoring big man. The Grizzlies need a second center to develop with Marc Gasol aging. -
Oklahoma City Thunder: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF/C, Germany. 
I have seen how much scouts have been talking about the German big, and my conclusion from the hours I spent watching tape of him; this guy has starter potential. I have seen him compared to Dirk Nowitzki, which makes sense as he is a big from Germany who can shoot, but Hartenstein is a lot more like Kevin Love to me, though a much stronger defender. Hartenstein is a big body to go with height, is an excellent shooter and rebounder, and can get his own shot. He also has a strong motor and hustles to defend and block shots. As the Thunder could use help at power forward, Hartenstein fits well. -
Brooklyn Nets (From Celtics): Frank Jackson, PG, Duke.
The Nets desperately need a young point guard, and Jackson is a sleeper prospect. He plays on a stacked team and is coming off the bench, but he is a shooter and scorer with size and athleticism who can run an offense. I’m a fan of his. -
Toronto Raptors (From Clippers): Terrence Ferguson, SG, Australia. 
The Raptors have two All-Star guards, an excellent center and a lot of strong, young veteran prospects, so really the only thing the roster could use is some more bench scoring, and Ferguson would be nice value here. He would be in the teens if he hadn’t gone pro in Australia instead of going to Arizona like expected. Regardless, Ferguson is an athletic three-and-D prospect, and Toronto could use one on the bench. -
Toronto Raptors: Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse.
Lydon looks to be an athletic shooting power forward, but at 6-foot-9, his size isn’t ideal. Regardless, he can also block shots, which isn’t common with shooting bigs, and he has more skill on offense than just shooting. Lydon is a very interesting prospect and can play two positions, making him a nice fit for the Raptors, who just need to pick the best player. -
Houston Rockets: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas. 
Houston has Clint Capela, Nene and Montrezl Harrell to play the five, but Nene is ancient, Harrell is small and Capela is about to be a free agent. The Rockets could use a big body like Allen, who can defend and rebound off the bench and give them some scoring. -
Cleveland Cavaliers: Jonathan Jeanne, C, France. 
I think I had Jeanne in the first round in multiple last-season editions, as I assumed he would declare, but he is still a firs-round prospect for the 2017 NBA Draft. The Cavaliers need some serious size in the frontcourt, and the French big man is arguably the biggest player in the 2017 NBA Draft; however, he is a twig, which needs to be fixed. At just 19, Jeanne can shoot, block shots and is a skilled player for somebody so tall. I like the fit as he would get time to develop in Cleveland’s system. -
Utah Jazz (From Warriors): Juwan Evans, PG, Oklahoma State.
Evans is one of the best scorers in college basketball and although he is just 6 feet tall, he has what it takes to be a starting point guard or one of the strongest sixth men in the league, as he can also run an offense, is a pesky defender and is one of the 2017 NBA Draft’s best shooters. The Jazz keeping missing at point guard and could use a player with Evans’ potential. -
San Antonio Spurs: Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina. 
Bradley is one of the best per-minute players in college basketball and is arguably the best prospect on a team with at least seven players who could be in the NBA. The Spurs have excellent big men, but those players are in their 30s and the Spurs need to develop a big-time talent like Bradley.
Go to Mike’s 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Round 2
Mike’s 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 1-15
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By Mike Elworth.
Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.
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