With less than a month to go until the 2017 NBA Draft, allow me to present you my top 10 prospects. I waffled on the exact order for a few of these guys but decided not to let myself get to fixated on precise rankings and just analyze each player individually. The draft is one of my favorite times of the year, and I thoroughly enjoy researching the draft process, both for the prospects and for the teams who will be selecting this guy. Keep a look out for my mock draft in the coming weeks!
I do believe these ten will ultimately go 1-10 in the draft, in some order, even though determining that can be less of an exact science than simply ranking them. Considering Sacramento, picking both fifth and tenth, can usually be counted on to leave even the most expert of scouts scratching their heads. But without further ado, let’s dive in and take a look at some of the most exciting young prospects who will soon be entering the league…
- Markelle Fultz – 5/29/98 – 6’4”, 7’0” wingspan, 194lbs – 23.2 ppg, 5.7 RPG, 5.9 APG, 41% 3pt
Widely considered the best prospect in this year’s class, Fultz is a near-lock to go number one overall June 22nd. Rumors that the Celtics would love to pair him with fellow Washington product Isaiah Thomas have been swirling since they came out on top in the Draft Lottery. And even if Boston were to trade the pick, possibly as part of a package for Jimmy Butler, Fultz is the best talent on the board and fills a position of need for Chicago as well. Fultz’s ability to score is second-to-none in this draft, as he was the offensive focal point all season for a sub-par Washington squad in a competitive Pac-12 Conference. With an impressive set of physical attributes, including a 7’0” wingspan, an ability to shoot from deep, and a knack for getting to the rim, Markelle Fultz is the most NBA-ready prospect in this draft, and will likely be the early frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.
- Lonzo Ball – 10/27/97 – 6’6”, 7’0” wingspan, 170lbs – 14.6 ppg, 6.0 RPG, 7.6 APG (41%3pt)
The purest playmaker in a point guard heavy draft, Lonzo rightfully drew comparisons to a young Jason Kidd during his one and only season at UCLA. His ability to attack, draw in the defense, and snap passes to open teammates is unparalleled among the other point guard prospects. Despite converting on greater than 40% of his attempts from deep, his shooting form draws a fair amount of criticism, as does his outspoken father. But Lonzo is not LaVar, and LaVar is not Lonzo, nor is he Lonzo’s professional representation. There is no reason to believe his father’s arrogance is his own. In fact, the consensus is that Lonzo is one of the most selfless players in this draft, preferring to create for his teammates first and himself second. There are plenty of areas he will need to grow and develop at the next level, but with an NBA ready body and a poised demeanor, Lonzo appears primed for whatever challenge may be placed on him – including possibly resurrecting the Showtime Lakers.
- Josh Jackson – 2/10/97 – 6’8”, 6’10” wingspan, 205lbs – 16.3 ppg, 7.4 RPG, 3.0 APG (56%ft)
Josh Jackson reminds me a lot of another super athletic wing who played one year at Kansas on his way to the NBA. The comparisons stretch beyond just physical attributes, as Jackson plays similar to Andrew Wiggins as well. His length and quickness should allow him to be impactful defensively right away as a rookie. An attacking forward with an ability to make plays for others as well as finish above the rim, the main questions regarding his potential center around his outside shooting. His shooting form fluctuated a bit throughout his freshman campaign, as did his shooting percentages. We saw his three-point percentage rise near the end of the season, giving some scouts hope that the ability to develop consistency is there. Although his 56% free throw shooting, and erratic release point at the charity stripe, leave some cause for concern.
- Jayson Tatum – 3/3/98 – 6’8”, 7’0” wingspan, 205 lbs – 16.8 ppg, 7.3 RPG, 2.1 APG (34%3pt)
Outside of Fultz, I consider Tatum to be the most well-rounded offensive talent in this draft. As a freshman at Duke, Jayson showed an ability to score at all three levels. He excelled in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments scoring out of the post, flashing a soft touch turnaround jumper. His early season struggles put him solidly below Jackson on most people’s boards, but some attribute that simply to lack of rhythm in the Blue Devils offense. Tatum’s high school coach took to Twitter often to advocate Tatum should be used more as a point forward, a playmaker, rather than a spot up wing. He will have to adjust to playing off the ball plenty in the NBA. I believe Philadelphia passes on him, in favor of Jackson, as Tatum’s style is fairly similar to that of Ben Simmons. Although Phoenix, drafting fourth, also has two ball-dominant players in their backcourt with Bledsoe and Booker. If he falls to Sacramento at fifth, that may give him the best opportunity to play with the ball in his hands and develop as a playmaker.
- De’Aaron Fox – 12/20/97 – 6’3”, 6’6” wingspan, 170lbs – 16.7 ppg, 4.0 RPG, 4.7 APG, (24.6%3pt)
Fox’s late-season play has helped him to climb up most draft boards, to the point where he is viewed as a potential top 3 pick. He noticeably outplayed Lonzo when Kentucky and UCLA met in the Sweet Sixteen, scoring 39 points and giving up just 1 turnover despite having the ball in his hands much of the game. De’Aaron has a natural feel for the game and moves very freely on the court, seemingly slicing through the lane with uncanny ease and precision. His ability to attack off the pick and roll and finish at the rim, a skill we don’t often see developed in young college prospects, has drawn comparisons to Mike Conley; along with the obvious left-handed similarity. That is certainly a lofty expectation to live up to, as Conley has consistently developed in the NBA to become one of the league’s best point guards. It is worth noting, that the biggest knock against Fox has been three-point shooting, where he connected on just 24.6% and attempted less than two per game, which parallels Conley’s college stats in that area but is no longer an issue for him.
- Jonathan Isaac – 10/3/97 – 6’10”, 7’1” wingspan, 205 lbs – 12.0 ppg, 7.8 RPG, 1 a/s/b pg, 34.8%3pt
Isaac is a prototypical mid-lottery selection as he could accurately be described as a “boom or bust” prospect. The upside is enormous, with tremendous length and defensive potential, Isaac could become an elite NBA talent. As a freshman at Florida State, the way he was able to impact games defensively and rebound at his position – a near 7’0” small forward – reminded me of the way Kevin Durant has become a defensive monster recently. Offensively, Isaac is lightyears away from that sort of comparison, although it’s not crazy to think the potential is there. His outside shooting was inconsistent but looks fluid. He moves well on the court, with and without the ball, but struggled to score outside of the paint – getting many of his baskets on offensive rebound putbacks. Best case draft scenario for Isaac would be to fall past Sacramento at five, and land either with his home state Orlando Magic, or the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he should be able to shine defensively and benefit from great coaching to hopefully develop all-around.
- Lauri Markkanen – 5/22/97 – 7’0”, 255 lbs – 15.6 ppg, 7.2 rbd, 42% 3pt, 83% FT
A 7’0” European who can stroke it from three will always draw comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki and, unlike most, in Markkanen’s case, I think it absolutely fits. The Finland native showcased the incredible range and well-balanced scoring in his freshman season at Arizona, shouldering a lot of the offensive responsibility for a very good Wildcats team. There will be question marks about his ability to defend, both in the paint and on the perimeter, and it is no secret this is where he will need to make measurable improvements to succeed professionally. Despite his size, Markkanen averaged just one block every two games, same with steals. However, the offensive potential is definitely there and Lauri will rightfully be a top-10 pick, possibly to Minnesota to pair next to Towns as one of the most exciting and talented young big-man tandems in the league. Although, if I’m Markkanen, I’d have my fingers crossed that I fall to the Mavs at 9 and get to benefit from the tutelage of the best European big to ever play the game.
- Dennis Smith Jr. – 11/25/97 – 6’2”, 6’3” wingspan, 175 lbs – 18.1 ppg, 4.6 RPG, 6.2 APG, 36%3pt
Most people could have told you who the ACC Rookie of the Year was going to be before the season started; and in that regard, NC State’s Dennis Smith Jr. lived up to expectations. In many other aspects, he did not. The Wolfpack suffered through a very lackluster season, often seeing Smith put up great numbers in bad losses similar to Fultz at Washington. Other games Smith was somewhat of a non-factor and left scouts questioning if his inconsistency was part of a bigger problem. Personally, I think too much emphasis on the lack of team success will cause him to fall farther in the draft than his talent should otherwise dictate. And if not for De’Aaron Fox’s late season success, Smith would likely be the third point guard off the board behind Ball and Fultz. An explosive athlete, Dennis has the ability to score in bunches and from anywhere on the floor. His style of play honestly reminds me of a couple high-flying point guards I grew up watching in Steve Francis and Baron Davis. There are plenty of teams in the back half of the lottery, picks 8-14, that would be overjoyed to have one of the elite talents in this draft fall into their laps.
- Frank Ntilikina – 7/28/98 – 6’5”, 7’0” wingspan, 170 lbs – 5.1 ppg, 2.2 RPG 1.3 APG 42%3pt (18 mpg)
There will be five point guards taken in the lottery, the only question remaining is in what order they will go. Frank Ntilikina, born in Belgium but now of French nationality, played last season for SIG Strasbourg in Ligue Nationale (LNB) Pro A – the top tier professional league in France. Frank will be just 18 years old at the time of the draft and is widely considered to be the top international prospect. Playing limited minutes didn’t allow him to showcase his full potential, although he was presented with the prestigious Rising Star award in LNB Pro A. He has great size and length for a point guard, and has reportedly impressed NBA scouts who have made the trips to Europe to see him play. The Knicks are rumored to be targeting him with the 8th overall pick.
- Malik Monk – 2/4/98 – 6’3”, 6’6” wingspan, 190 lbs – 19.8 ppg, 2.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 40%3pt
Malik Monk is the best pure shooter in the draft. The question, with him, will be his ability to perform in the NBA beyond that. His size has many believing he will need to transition to point guard to be successful, but I don’t buy that. CJ McCollum and Bradley Beal have both found success as slightly undersized two guards, albeit playing next to All-Pro point guards. In his freshman season at Kentucky, Monk showed that he can be a factor scoring at multiple levels, not just from three. Most notably, his record 47 point performance against North Carolina – in which he shot 8/12 from three and 10/16 from inside the arc. Monk is a consensus top-10 pick.
