The Final Four is set and that means the NBA draft boards have experienced a shakeup. Stocks have risen. Stocks have fallen. This year's draft class is stacked and makes June 22 an even more exciting date.
How will Kentucky's Malik Monk fare after having an inconsistent NCAA Tournament? How will the international class fare this year?
Most important of all, will another player who did not even appear in the tournament be taken with the first pick?
1. Boston Celtics (From Brooklyn Nets): Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
The NBA is now a world where the scoring point guard is king and Fultz is set to capitalize on that in Boston. He is big for his position at 6-foot-4 and posted 23.2 points and nearly six assists per game in his sole season with the Huskies. Fultz can also score without relying heavily on the three-ball, à la Stephen Curry, so having the soon-to-be 19-year-old come off the bench as starter Isaiah Thomas plays out the final year of his $27 million contract is just the next step in the Celtics' march towards championship contention.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA
Ball is going to have a lot to answer for ahead of the draft thanks to a number of comments by his father, LaVar, but his talent speaks for itself. He can score, rebound, defend and pass like no other and already has the fan base in Los Angeles to be a potential star for the Lakers. The backcourt is a bit crowded, especially since Jordan Clarkson signed a new $50 million contract last summer, but the first rule of the draft is take the best player available. With Fultz off the board, that player is Ball.
3. Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
The Suns need an athletic wing and Jackson is just that. In fact, he may be the best player in the entire draft. The freshman shot 51.3% from the field for the Jayhawks this season and can do practically everything. He has the potential to be an absolute force on an NBA court and with TJ Warren proving unable to stay healthy for the second year in a row, adding the electrifying Jackson and letting Warren play out his rookie contract in a reserve role is probably what's best for Phoenix.
4. New York Knicks: Dennis Smith Jr., PG, North Carolina State
The Derrick Rose experiment has failed and with Carmelo Anthony likely staying in the Big Apple, New York will need a point guard. Smith would certainly be an intriguing option, as his 18.1 points and 6.2 assists per game imply that he could fit well in today's NBA. Smith is far from a sure thing in New York, especially if team president Phil Jackson continues to insist on running the triangle offense, but he is a strong player and should adjust to a new system quickly. If he can co-exist with Anthony, even better.
5. Philadelphia 76ers: Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
Another NBA Draft, another year where the Sixers have a lottery pick. The team looked to turn a corner this year due to the emergence of center Joel Embiid and with a hole on the wing, Tatum's scoring abilities would be very welcome in the City of Brotherly Love. Combined with the return of last year's No. 1 pick Ben Simmons and the continued development of Embiid, this former Blue Devil should fit right in in Philly after a brief adjustment period.
6. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State
The Orlando Magic are an absolute mess, so much that GM Rob Hennigan could soon be out of a job according to a recent report by ESPN. That means that the best strategy on draft day is to take the best player available and that would be Isaac in this case. He may be 6-foot-10, but can play both forward positions and was a strong presence for the Seminoles this season. Playing for coach Frank Vogel, he could find his niche and finally escort Orlando out of the Dwight Howard era.
7. Sacramento Kings: De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
The Kings' rebuild continues in 2017 with the selection of Fox, the latest in dynamic point guards to come out of John Calipari's program at Kentucky. Fox definitely needs to add to his spindly 6-foot-3, 187 pound frame, but plays with tenacity and is a strong playmaker in the making. Throw in a strong mid-range jumper, and maybe he will be the one to finally get Sacramento back on the winning path.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
Minnesota could be in the market for a big man this summer with Gorgui Dieng better suited as a rotational player and by moving Karl-Anthony Towns back to center, drafting Markkanen to take over at power forward is a fantastic move. The Finnish seven-footer is as strong in the mid-range as he is in the paint and can even be a threat from three-point land. He'd need time to adjust to coach Tom Thibodeau's defense-oriented system but with time, he has the potential to become a versatile NBA 4.
9. Sacramento Kings: Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
Rudy Gay can opt out of his $40 million contract this summer and the Kings should prepare themselves by drafting Jackson. The junior has carried the Tar Heels on his back in the tournament and is averaging 19.7 points over the team's four games thus far. Jackson can get a bit trigger happy with his three-point shot, but that could just be a product of Roy Williams' system. Playing for the defense-oriented Dave Joerger, he could blossom into an athletic superstar.
10. Dallas Mavericks: Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
Monk was one of the most electrifying shooting guards during the regular season, even dropping 47 points against North Carolina in December, but his wheels fell off when he shot just 37.5% from the field in the tournament and thus he has dropped to this spot. Fortunately, Dallas is a team that could soon be without team leader and future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki and needs a jump-start in the scoring department. Monk, despite his subpar tourney performance, can still provide that and would be a prime fit in coach Rick Carlisle's offense. He's still only 19, but count on Monk to make an immediate impact so long as his coaches are patient with him.
11. Charlotte Hornets: T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA
Leaf could finally be the power forward the Hornets need, especially with the inconsistency of Marvin Williams and the growing likelihood that Frank Kaminsky is better suited off the bench. Leaf shot 61.7% from the field for the Bruins this season and can be dominant above the rim as well as from long range. Leaf needs to develop his game in the mid-range but he is also just about to turn 20 years old. Give him time to develop his game and learn to play at a slower pace and he will be just fine.
12. Detroit Pistons: Frank Ntilikina, PG, SIG Strasbourg, France
The Pistons' point guard situation is tricky because though Reggie Jackson has three years and $51.1 million remaining, he has stepped back due to injuries this season and was part of multiple trade rumors earlier this season. It will be hard for Stan Van Gundy to move that contract in a trade, so the best strategy would probably be to draft the 18-year-old Ntilikina and let him develop for a couple of years. Ntilikina only averaged five points and less than an assist per contest in 21 games for Strasbourg this season, but also played just 16.2 minutes per game. He is also big for the point at 6-foot-5 and was the MVP for Team France at the FIBA U18 European Championships last year. With time, he can become an explosive and athletic NBA point guard and in Detroit fit right into Van Gundy's system.
13. Portland Trail Blazers: Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State
Portland could end up having as many as three first-round picks in the draft, should GM Neil Olshey decide to keep all of them, and the first should be used to take Bridges. The Trail Blazers are really hurting at power forward and could use a fresh dose of athleticism at the position. Bridges isn't the biggest at 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, but has an explosive presence that saw him post 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Spartans as a freshman. Bridges can also be a force from beyond the arc and if Portland takes a flyer on him, he could be the one to finally fill the void left by LaMarcus Aldridge.
14. Chicago Bulls: Terrance Ferguson, SG, Adelaide 36ers, Australia
The Bulls could use some immediate help at shooting guard, what with the aging Dwyane Wade being able to opt out of his deal after the season, and Ferguson is an intriguing option at No. 14. The Texas native opted to play overseas for a year as opposed to enter college and though he only saw limited action for the 36ers, he proved to be a strong shooter with potential to excel in the mid-range. Ferguson's potential is tied to opportunity, so whichever team drafts him must understand that playing time is key. If given that, he could wind up being a great go-to guy for star Jimmy Butler.
15. Miami Heat: John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
The Heat have a lot of issues to address, power forward being one of them. Collins has the size for the position at 6-foot-10 and also posted 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Demon Deacons his sophomore season. He is still just 19 and has a lot to learn, namely how to develop a more consistent offensive game and stay out of foul trouble on defense, but the potential is there. He could be a great fit in Miami, especially playing alongside Hassan Whiteside.
16. Denver Nuggets: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Žalgiris Kaunas, Lithuania
The Nuggets are a team with plenty of depth and on the cusp of taking a big step forward, and frontcourt help alongside Nikola Jokic is key. Adding that is tricky with Kenneth Faried having about $26.8 million remaining on his contract, but that's why Hartenstein could be a fine selection for Denver at No. 16. He's just shy of his 19th birthday and is little more than a dunker at this point in his career, but that's why teams utilize the D-League. Give this young man time to develop a more consistent game, especially in the low post, and he can wind up being an excellent asset for an ever-improving Nuggets team.
17. Atlanta Hawks: Ivan Rabb, PF, California
Atlanta could lose Paul Millsap to free agency this summer, making drafting a power forward all the more essential. Rabb has proven over the past two years that he can be one of the best at the position, posting 14 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Golden Bears as a sophomore. Rabb likely won't be much of a scoring threat as a professional, despite an above-average jump shot, but that could change in Atlanta since he'd have Dennis Schroeder passing him the ball. As a low-post defender, however, he can be the man to further help the Hawks establish themselves as a strong defensive squad in the Eastern Conference.
18. Milwaukee Bucks: OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
Small forward seems to be the one area where the Bucks don't have any consistent production and that is why GM John Hammond would be wise to pick Anunoby if the draft were held today. This young man isn't an elite scorer and posted just 11.1 points for the Hoosiers this season, but shot 55.7% from the field before going down with a season-ending knee injury in January. Injury aside, however, Anunoby is a strong wing defender with the potential to be more. So long as he stays healthy, count on him being a first-round pick if he opts to enter the draft.
19. Indiana Pacers: Donovan Mitchell, SF, Louisville
Guard will be an area Indiana will need to address this offseason and GM Kevin Pritchard should start by drafting Mitchell. The sophomore served primarily as a shooter and pest for the Cardinals, posting 2.1 steals per contest to go with 15.6 points, and he should serve in a similar role so long as Paul George is not traded. Regardless, count on coach Nate McMillan to help Mitchell become more consistent with his scoring approach and not rely heavily on the three-ball as Indiana looks to get back on track.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (from Memphis Grizzlies):Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
Here, we have the Portland Trail Blazers getting the steal of the draft in Allen. Yes, the team has Jusuf Nurkic at center and a team option for next season, but what if he continues playing at such a high level that his price tag as a free agent becomes too high? It's best to have a contingency plan and thus Allen being taken this late could be a great idea. He has the size at 6-foot-11, 235 pounds and has a nice jump shot to go with his strong defense, so count on Allen to be a fine fit in Portland should he end up there.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse
Oklahoma City needs some athleticism to fill the void left by Kevin Durant and Lydon has plenty of that. He logged nine double-doubles this season and can be as strong a scoring threat as he can a defender when called upon. The Thunder are definitely going with a guard-first approach led by Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo, but every player has their off nights. Add Lydon to the mix in OKC, and the Thunder would only get stronger on both ends of the court.
22. Toronto Raptors (from Los Angeles Clippers): Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State
Kyle Lowry can opt out of a $48 million deal this summer and leave $12 million on the table. Even if GM Masai Ujiri re-signs him, Lowry is still 31 years old and needs a successor. Evans is very similar to Lowry in that he is a strong scorer, playmaker and defender and would be an excellent fit north of the border. He averaged 19.2 points, 6.4 assists and 2.1 steals for the Cowboys this season and could benefit greatly from learning behind Lowry. He shot just 43.8% from the field and and 38% from long range, but Evans relied more on getting to the basket than he did on long-range shooting. Throw in a remarkably unselfish approach to the game, and he could be a diamond in the rough come draft day.
23. Utah Jazz: Semi Ojeleye, SF, Southern Methodist
A Duke transfer, Ojeleye made an immediate impact for the Mustangs to the tune of 19 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He shot 48.7% from the field and 42.4% from three-point range. He was absolutely electrifying at times, be it nailing a clutch shot or rising up for a thunderous dunk. The long and short of it is that Utah needs Ojeleye to give its lineup some extra energy. Even if he isn't putting up insane numbers, his value to the team will speak for itself via his pace of play.
24. Orlando Magic (from Toronto Raptors): Justin Patton, C, Creighton
It's unclear what Orlando's approach will be on draft day but at this point in the first round, depth can be key. Patton is a seven-foot freshman who posted 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds this season while shooting an astounding 67.6% from the field. He is still young and needs to develop a low-post game, but has great size and a boatload of potential. If Orlando opts to hit the reset button and build around the frontcourt, the team could certainly do worse than Patton.
25. Brooklyn Nets (from Washington Wizards): Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
The Nets need, well, everything! At this point in the draft, however, adding a scoring spark is highly necessary and Kennard's excellent shooting stroke provides that. The sophomore posted 19.5 points per game for the Blue Devils this season and shot nearly 44% from three-point range. In Brooklyn, he would be in a position to play significant minutes immediately. Kennard can score from practically anywhere on the floor and once he learns how to get inside more often and rely less on mid-to-long range shots, he's going to be something special in the NBA.
26. Brooklyn Nets (from Boston Celtics): Anžejs Pasečniks, F/C, Herbalife Gran Canaria, Spain
With their second pick in the first round of this mock draft, the Nets are going to play draft-and-stash with Pasecniks. The 7-foot-1 Latvian is only 21, but already has a strong face-up game and can even hit the occasional three. He needs to work on his overall defense in the paint but with time to develop overseas, Brooklyn won't soon regret this pick.
27. Portland Trail Blazers (from Cleveland Cavaliers): Rodions Kurucs, SF, FC Barcelona Bàsquet B, Spain
This is an interesting selection for Portland, especially since Kurucs is only 19 and has seen limited action with Barcelona's senior team. Given that, the Trail Blazers would be wise to stash him in Europe for a year or two as he continues to develop. He has a great three-point shot and has versatility in that he can play both guard and forward, but basketball overseas is just so different from the NBA to the point where keeping Kurucs there to start is not only the best business decision, but the best professional one in terms of his growth.
28. Los Angeles Lakers (from Houston Rockets): Bam Adebayo, C, Kentucky
The Lakers could use an upgrade at center, especially since Timofey Mozgov is not living up to the $64 million contract he signed last summer, and Adebayo provides the strong interior defense needed by this young squad. The 6-foot-10 Adebayo posted 13 points and eight boards per contest this season, but struggled with consistency and is slow-footed. He's still young at 19 years old and has yet to formally declare for the draft but if Adebayo does opt to turn pro, the Lakers would be wise to take a look at him late in the first-round.
29. San Antonio Spurs: Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue
Swanigan is basically perfect for San Antonio. Not only is he a strong interior player, having posted 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds as a sophomore, but his overall blue collar approach is in perfect sync with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's philosophy. Swanigan wouldn't start immediately in San Antonio, but don't forget that GM R.C. Buford has turned drafting depth into an art form. In adding Swanigan, he would only further cement the Spurs as the deepest team in the NBA.
30. Utah Jazz (from Golden State Warriors): Harry Giles, PF, Duke
The No. 1 recruit of the 2016 recruiting class, Giles saw limited action this season as he recovered from a serious knee injury and managed just 3.9 points and 3.8 rebounds over 11.2 minutes per game. The wise decision would be for him to remain in school for another year and get some significant playing time under his belt but if he declares, he's a fine selection for Utah at the end of the first round. Just where he'd fit in the rotation is another question but in terms of depth off the bench, Giles is a good enough pick for Utah.
