This year's draft class is among the most talked about since maybe 2003 when names such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony were lottery selections. No doubt, there is a serious amount of incoming talent expected to have an immediate impact in the league.
As deep as this year's class is, two players stand head and shoulders above their fellow hopefuls — Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball. Fultz, with his combination of skills, basketball IQ, and physical attributes has superstar potential written all over him, while Ball has the tools to become a franchise changer himself with his ability to make players around him excel.
But the draft drama gets even better, so let's break down the potential top ten picks in the upcoming 2017 NBA Draft.
1. Boston Celtics: Markelle Fultz (Washington, PG/SG, Freshman)
After winning the lottery, the Boston Celtics are expected to take Markelle Fultz to build one of the NBA's deadliest backcourts. It will be an adjustment for Fultz, but he will provide an extra playmaker that is adept in creating his own shots.
Fulton and Isaiah Thomas will be able to play interchangeably at the two guard positions. He is extremely long with a wingspan of a 6’10” player, easing his development on defense. He is undoubtedly the most skilled player in this draft, and has a point to prove with all the hype around Lonzo Ball relegating him to leftovers when it comes to attention.
There is speculation that the Celtics may trade this pick, but Fultz is one of the few in this class that can have an immediate impact on whichever team selects him.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball (UCLA, PG, Freshman)
Lavar Ball spoke it into existence! Lonzo Ball has already made it clear that he would rather be drafted by the Lakers than being selected first overall. It appears that his wishes may be coming to fruition.
Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka will also be taking a close look at players like Josh Jackson, De’Aaron Fox, and Jayson Tatum in this spot. However, it's hard to imagine Magic passing up on Lonzo if he is not selected first by the Celtics. The UCLA standout essentially plays the same way as the Lakers legend did back in his heyday, being a pass-first guard with exceptional vision. Lonzo Ball would be able to help all the players, and don't be surprised if every Laker's scoring average rises this upcoming season if Ball ends up in Los Angeles.
Lonzo Ball stands out as the lone prospect capable of helping the Lakers expedite their rebuild more quickly. They'll have to add defenders in free agency, but all signs point to Ball running the show next year for the Lakers, which will allow Jordan Clarkson to focus on being that tenacious scorer off the bench.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Josh Jackson (Kansas, SF, Freshman)
In the third slot, Josh Jackson is arguably the best available player left on the board. He will be a future first team All-Defensive member and also possesses slashing ability on par with Jimmy Butler. His shooting also picked up towards the end of his freshman season and into the tournament.
Jackson will be able to take the pressure off Robert Covington by having the ability to guard the best player on the opposing team, and his inept skill to get to the rim should create a lot of easy buckets for Joel Embiid and Dario Saric.
4. Phoenix Suns:Jayson Tatum (Duke, SF, Freshman)
Duke forward Jayson Tatum has a slight case for being the best player available at the third spot, but it's likely to see him drop into the fourth pick. The Suns actually lucked out by not getting a top-two pick to avoid the pressure of drafting a guard and only adding to a position in which they are already loaded with talent.
The Suns' uptempo offense should also suit Tatum, one of the draft's most explosive athletes. Considering the team finished 28th in defensive efficiency last season, Phoenix will welcome his quickness and ball pressure as well. With Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker, Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis, and Dragan Bender, the Suns will suddenly have an exciting and explosive young core.
5. Sacramento Kings: De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky, PG, Freshman)
Despite being on the receiving end of a pick swap they owed the 76ers, the Sacramento Kings were still fortunate enough to have slipped into a top five draft pick. De’Aaron Fox is the spark plug that they need in order to jumpstart the rebuild they have begun. He'll start next to Buddy Hield, who is just the type of shot-maker Fox needs to play alongside with given his shooting struggles at Kentucky.
Now that Sacramento's backcourt is set, it'll be interesting to see who they land with the tenth pick.
6. Orlando Magic: Malik Monk (Kentucky, SG, Freshman)
Despite falling outside of the top five, Orlando can still land a quality pure scorer who will be looking to create buckets on every chance he gets.
Orlando was ranked second worst in the league in three-point percentage last season. Fortunately, three-point shooting is Malik Monk’s specialty. He also set the all-time freshman scoring record in a game with 47 points versus UNC this past season. Unfortunately, Evan Fournier will most likely have to take a backseat to this young stud as he will be an ideal partner for Elfrid Payton.
Monk will make things much easier for his teammates and create a lot of open pick and pop shots for Nikola Vucevic. Also, expect to see plenty of alley-oops between him and Aaron Gordon this upcoming season.
7.Minnesota Timberwolves: Lauri Markkanen (Arizona, PF, Freshman)
Lauri Markkanen would make a perfect fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns as he could spread the floor, allowing more room for Towns and Andrew Wiggins down the paint area. There have been questions on his defensive ability, but Markkanen will earn his paycheck at the other end where he averaged 15.6 points, hit 69 threes and shot 42.3 percent from deep.
Markkanen skipped the NBA combine entirely, but his skill level is exceptionally high, particularly for a seven-footer. People will revisit this pick as a steal in a decade and wonder why he was so overlooked. He is part of the new wave of European talent entering the league and expect him to be a household name for a long time to come.
8. New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina (France, PG/SG, 1998)
The New York Knicks may very well wind up buying into Frank Ntilikina‘s defense. He projects to be a fit in the triangle, with room to improve at only 18-years-old, due to his ability to spot up and knock down shots.
Ntilikina is an unknown commodity in the U.S., but very well-known throughout the European circuit. He is extremely lanky, standing 6'5″ with a reported 7'0″ wingspan, possesses unique tools for a guard and the versatility to play on or off the ball. He's also shooting 40 percent from three in France. He’s had the advantage of playing against professional competition from a young age, which should make his transition easier than many of the top prospects.
Phil Jackson has shown that he likes to draft these players from overseas after hitting it big on Kristaps Porzingis. Adding this piece to the puzzle should help ease the tension between the Knicks organization and the Unicorn, showing him they are taking the appropriate steps going forward.
9. Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Smith Jr. (North Carolina State, PG, Freshman)
Without thinking twice, the Dallas Mavericks would take Dennis Smith Jr. if he slipped to the ninth spot. They need a new lead guard, and between his explosive athleticism and volume production, Smith fits the description.
He had some questionable performances throughout the season during key games and questionable body language as North Carolina State's leader. And with De'Aaron Fox's rise, Smith lost ground in the draft discussion.
The Mavericks should already be preparing for the opportunity to buy low. He'd start right away his rookie year in Dallas, where the Mavericks can surround him with shooters in Wesley Matthews and Seth Curry, along with an isolation scorer in Harrison Barnes. This would move Yogi Ferrell to the bench giving them much needed scoring in the second unit.
Re-signing restricted free agent Nerlens Noel would give Smith a bouncy target in the pick-and-roll game, too.
10. Sacramento Kings (via Pelicans): Jonathan Isaac (Florida State, SF/PF, Freshman)
The Sacramento Kings see taking Jonathan Isaac as a way to improve defensively, given his potential to block shots and switch onto the perimeter. His strengths are ideal for whoever will take the floor between De’Aaron Fox, should they take him at fifth overall, and Willie Cauley-Stein.
Isaac also demonstrated the unselfishness to defer and the ability to capitalize on what the defense gives, having shot 59.3 percent from two-point range during his lone season at Florida State.
Isaac isn't ready to start taking over games, but between his defensive versatility and offensive potential, he deserves serious consideration.
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