The NBA Draft Lottery gods have spoken and now we have the order of the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. The Detroit Pistons will have the 12th pick in the draft. We break down that pick as well as the other 29 in our full first round NBA Mock Draft.
Detroit Sports Nation NBA Mock Draft:
1.) Boston Celtics-Markelle Fultz Washington
Supreme athlete and a terrific shooter. Boston can play him off the ball with Isaiah Thomas together.
2.) Los Angeles Lakers-Lonzo Ball UCLA
Lakers are shopping D’Angelo Russell and Ball is more of a pure point guard who Luke Walton likes.
3.) Philadelphia 76ers-Josh Jackson Kansas
Malik Monk could be an option here too, but the Sixers can’t give up a guy like Jackson. He’s a terrific defender and athletic as all hell.
4.) Phoenix Suns-Jayson Tatum Duke
Tatum is an athletic big that fits right up the Suns alley. He will form a really nice tandem with Marquese Chriss as both guys are athletic and can shoot.
5.) Sacramento Kings-De’Aaron Fox Kentucky
The Kings have to grab a point guard and Fox would be perfect. He’s a distributor and he’ll love playing with Buddy Hield.
6.) Orlando Magic-Jonathan Isaac Florida State
Rumor has it that Orlando is getting ready to move on from Nikola Vucevic and Isaac would be the perfect guy to groom and replace him with.
7.) Minnesota Timberwolves-Malik Monk Kentucky
It’s hard to see where Monk goes, but I doubt he slides past Minnesota. Too good of a shooter.
8.) New York Knicks-Dennis Smith North Carolina State
Smith is an aggressive point guard who can take it to the basket and can score at will. Knicks need a reboot.
9.) Dallas Mavericks-Zach Collins Gonzaga
Collins is so skilled as a big. He can score inside and shoot the ball from deep as well.
10.) Sacramento Kings-Lauri Markkanen Arizona
Markkanen at 10 is the perfect scenario for the Kings as they begin their like I don’t know, 15th reboot since 2006?
11.) Charlotte Hornets-Jarrett Allen Texas
The Hornets need an enforcer down low. They didn’t have that with Al Jefferson gone and Allen would fill that roll.
12.) Detroit Pistons-Luke Kennard Duke
The Pistons would like to have a reliable shooter and Kennard fits the bill. He can shoot and he’s fundamentally sound. Stan Van Gundy will love this kid.
13.) Denver Nuggets-Frank Ntilikina France
This kid can score in every which way. He can shoot and he’s aggressive going to the basket. Denver will love this kid.
14.) Miami Heat-TJ Leaf UCLA
The Heat could use some depth at the big spots and Leaf is the most logical guy. He’s got range on his jump shot and can bang down low too.
15.) Portland Trail Blazers-John Collins Wake Forest
The Blazers need some depth at center, a guy who will bang down low and not shy away from contact. Collins fits that bill.
16.) Chicago Bulls-Kyle Kuzma Utah
The Bulls need help at power forward. Kuzma will be a nice bruiser to put next to Robin Lopez.
17.) Milwaukee Bucks-Justin Patton Creighton
The Bucks could use a guy who can score down low and also play solid defense. Patton is the guy.
18.) Indiana Pacers-Justin Jackson North Carolina
The Paul George era could end in Indiana soon, the Pacers need to prepare for that day. Jackson is the guy here.
19.) Atlanta Hawks-Terrance Ferguson USA
Ferguson isn’t much of a shooter, but he’s a physical slasher and a guy who can get to the cup.
20.) Portland Trail Blazers-Hamidou Diallo Kentucky
Assuming Portland goes big at 15, they should go small at 20. Diallo has an NBA ready body and he’s a very good defender as well.
21.) Oklahoma City Thunder-Harry Giles Duke
The Thunder need some scoring help and that’s what Giles does. He’ll come in right away and help out Russell Westbrook and company on offense.
22.) Brooklyn Nets-Bam Adebayo Kentucky
The Nets have got to move on from Brook Lopez and allow him to play for a contender. They’ve gotta bring in some young players and Adebayo would be able to develop on the fly.
23.) Toronto Raptors-Tyler Lydon Syracuse
The Raptors need better big men. They have Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka and that’s great, but outside of those 2, not much. Draft Lydon and develop him.
24.) Utah Jazz-Donovan Mitchell Louisville
Mitchell is the perfect fit for the Jazz. He’s energetic and he defends very well. He can shoot a little bit too.
25.) Orlando Magic-Dwayne Bacon Florida State
Bacon is a local product who the Magic fans will love to come see. He’s strong and has an NBA ready body and will bring people to the Amway Center.
26.) Portland Trail Blazers-Ivan Rabb California
With their 3rd first round pick, the Blazers should stock go on another big guy. Along with Collins at 15, they should take Rabb here.
27.) Brooklyn Nets-Frank Jackson Duke
You want to talk about a big game player, Jackson fits that mold. He’ll love playing in the bright lights of Brooklyn.
28.) Los Angeles Lakers-PJ Dozier South Carolina
Dozier is a shooter and he has big game guts. That’s exactly what the Lakers need right now.
29.) San Antonio Spurs-Omer Yurtseven North Carolina State
Yurtseven is the perfect Spur. You have no idea who he is and he has great potential. Gregg Popovich loves him already.
30.) Utah Jazz-Rodions Kurucs Latvia
A draft and stash type of pick for the Jazz here. They have a lot of depth and Kurucs will be ready to contribute in the NBA in 2-3 years.
I can’t see any way Kennard grades out higher than Frank N. on the Pistons board. Frank N. even projects to a better SG imo, so it’s an obvious decision.
I was an early supporter of Kennard but he just doesn’t have the size or athleticism to use his crazy skillset and his D is putrid. He’s very crafty but he’s not the athlete of even JJ Redick, a guy he’s often compared to being from the same school.
Comments are closed.