Live 2017 NBA Draft Grades: Round 1 – Picks 1-15
2017 NBA Mock Draft | 2017 NBA Mock Draft – Walt’s
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New Orleans Pelicans: Frank Jackson, G, Duke – A+ Grade
New Orleans acquired this pick from Charlotte, and with Jrue Holiday a free agent, the Pelicans need help at point guard. Jackson has first-round talent and probably would have been better served returning to school, but is a great value at the top of the second round. -
Phoenix Suns: Davon Reed, G, Miami – D- Grade
I didn’t have Reed in my mock draft at all, so that shows you how I feel about him. Maybe he can become a role player due to his athleticism, but I don’t see him sticking in the league. -
Orlando Magic: Wesley Iwundu, F, Kansas State – C+ Grade
Iwundu brings some versatility on the wing, which Orlando could use. I saw him more of a mid-late second-round prospect, so this is a bit high for my liking. -
Sacramento Kings: Frank Mason, G, Kansas – B- Grade
Yes, the Kings took Fox at No. 5, but he is their only point guard, so choosing a potential backup in Mason is smart. Mason is another winner, and the Kings have now drafted players from Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, and Kansas. That’s bringing some winners to a franchise desparate for a culture change. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Ivan Rabb, F, California – A Grade
Poor dude… he would have likely been a lottery pick if he came out last year. Instead, he returned to school, didn’t get much better, and fell into the second round. This could be a steal for Memphis getting him this late (Memphis acquired this pick from Orlando.) -
Philadelphia 76ers: Jonah Bolden, F, Australia – C+ Grade
The Sixers are quietly loading up on foreign dudes. They took two in the first round last year, traded for Pasecniks earlier in the night, and then took Bolden. -
Boston Celtics: Semi Ojeleye, F, SMU – A Grade
Great value pick here for Ojeleye, whom I had as a first-round talent. He should be able to play either the three or small-ball four at the next level and is kind of in the Jae Crowder mold. Question is where does a role get carved out when they have Crowder, Jaylen Brown, and now Jayson Tatum? -
Golden State Warriors: Jordan Bell, F, Oregon – A+ Grade
On the right team, Bell could be an extremely valuable role player due to his athleticism, shot blocking and rebounding. He isn’t much of a scorer, but he won’t need to put points on the board in Golden State (who bought this pick from Chicago.) -
Los Angeles Clippers: Jawun Evans, G, Oklahoma State – A- Grade
Evans was a borderline first-round pick, so grabbing him at 39 is a good value for the Clippers who bought this pick from Philly. Evans can score the ball, but his size knocked his stock down. With Chris Paul’s future in question in L.A., the Clippers could use depth and options at the point. -
Charlotte Hornets: Dwayne Bacon, G, Florida State – B Grade
I like Bacon’s ability to score the ball, but he needs to be a more well-rounded player. Bacon could carve a niche off the bench as a scoring option for the Hornets, as New Orleans sends this pick to Charlotte in their swap of second-rounders. -
Atlanta Hawks: Tyler Dorsey, G, Oregon – C+ Grade
Dorsey can shoot, but lacks a true position at the next level. He’s undersized to play the two, but not a true point guard either. Atlanta does need guard depth though. -
Los Angeles Lakers: Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana – D Grade
I am not a Bryant believer at all. I don’t think he has the footwork to make it in the league, though he does have some versatility on the offensive end. This pick goes to the Lakers, by the way, in the trade that sent pick Nos. 30 and 42 for 28. -
Houston Rockets: Isaiah Hartenstein, F, Germany – B+ Grade
Some had him as a first-round prospect, but apparently there were some concerns regarding a back injury. Maybe he comes to the NBA someday? Maybe not? All I know is Hartenstein is fun to say. -
New York Knicks: Damyean Dotson, G, Houston – D Grade
Guys who can shoot the rock always have a chance of sticking in the league. I didn’t have him on my mock, as I thought there were better options available. -
Memphis Grizzlies: Dillon Brooks, F, Oregon – C- Grade
The Grizzlies could be losing some wings to free agency so acquiring this pick and selecting Brooks gives them some insurance for depth. Brooks isn’t an NBA-level athlete, which is a concern and will struggle to guard pro twos or threes. -
Milwaukee Bucks: Sterling Brown, G, SMU – D+ Grade
The Bucks get this pick from Philly and add a wing player whom I don’t think he sticks in the league. This is becoming a common theme with some of these recent picks. -
Indiana Pacers: Ike Anigbodu, C, UCLA – A Grade
Most had him as a first-round pick due to his size, length, and athleticism for a big man. He is very raw offensively, which is why I was surprised he came out and didn’t return to UCLA. There were health concerns, but give him some time, and he could become a solid role player off the bench in a couple years. -
Milwaukee Bucks: Sindarius Thornwell, G, South Carolina – B+ Grade
I like Thornwell’s physicality, strength, and ability to knock down mid-range jumpers. It would not surprise me at all if he grows into a solid role player. -
Denver Nuggets: Vlatko Cancar, F, Slovenia – C Grade
A dollar says he never plays a minute in the NBA. -
Philadelphia 76ers: Mathias Lessort, F, France – A- Grade
From what I’ve seen of this guy, I think he could play a role on a team one day. But YouTube clips only show so much… -
Denver Nuggets: Monte Morris, G, Iowa State – A+ Grade
His ability in the pick and roll, and how well he takes care of the basketball, could find him a role as a solid second-unit point guard. Love this pick. -
New Orleans Pelicans: Edmond Summer, G, Xavier – C Grade
This is a TBD pick since Sumner likely won’t play this season as he recovers from a torn ACL. He has length and athleticism, but doesn’t shoot it well. -
Boston Celtics: Kadeem Allen, G, Arizona – D- Grade
I watch a ton of Arizona basketball, and at no point did I ever think Allen was an NBA player. He is athletic and can guard, but can’t see him sticking in a crowded Boston backcourt. -
Phoenix Suns: Alec Peters, F, Valparaiso – A- Grade
Peters could find his niche as a pick-and-pop power forward. This is a solid value for Phoenix this late. -
Utah Jazz: Nigel Williams-Goss, G, Gonzaga – B- Grade
A solid floor leader and crafty scorer, Williams-Goss isn’t an explosive athlete but knows how run an offense. For a Utah team that has some free agent point guards, this pick is smart as further insurance along with their first-round pick, Donovan Mitchell. -
Boston Celtics: Jabari Bird, G, California – D Grade
Bird underachieved in his four years at Cal, but can shoot the ball and has good size for an NBA two-guard. Doubt he makes a roster though. -
Brooklyn Nets: Aleksandar Vezenkov, F, Cyprus – C Grade
Sounds like a guy a team owned by Mikhail Prokhorov would draft late in the second round. -
New York Knicks: Ognjen Jaramaz, G, Serbia – D Grade
Those Knick fans at the Barlcays Center have to be psyched that they stayed at the Draft until 12:17 pm EST to hear this pick. -
San Antonio Spurs: Jaron Blossomgame, F, Clemson – A+ Grade
I liked Blossomgame as an early second-round prospect because he can defend the wing and shoots it well from deep. The Spurs are going to get a steal here, as I think he finds a role at the next level. -
Atlanta Hawks: Alpha Kaba, C, France – A Grade
I’ve had this guy on my “second-round foreign prospects to keep an eye on” list for the past couple seasons. He could eventually become an energy guy off the bench at the next level.
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2017 NBA Mock Draft – Walt’s
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