2017 NBA Draft: Recap

With the NBA Draft in the books, it’s time to start preparing as next season is HERE! In this NBA Draft recap, the focus is opportunity. Which of these rookies will get the most playing time? Free agency is up next and these teams will change when it comes to personnel, and it’s hard to tell what these teams will look like when October hits. Stay ahead of the game. Be a scout! Be a Coach! Here is what each member of the 2017 draft class is looking at moving forward.

1^st Pick: Markelle Fultz, 76ers, PG Washington, 6’4”:  This is exactly who the Sixers traded for and for good reason. The Celtics had a ton of guards and the Sixers needed an NBA-ready talent and Fultz will provide all-around help with scoring, spacing, leading with the ball and it will take pressure off of Joel Embiid to do all of the dirty work. Their scoring will be more balanced and Fultz will get plenty of assists passing off to open wing players.

2^nd Pick: Lonzo Ball, Lakers PG UCLA, 6’6”: The prophecy is completed and Ball stays in Cali. Even though he’s not great off the pick and roll, Ball is an excellent passer and the Lakers were convinced that it was Ball that will lead them up the standings over the next few years. Ball is not only a good passer, but an excellent attacker from all angles. The Lakers traded away D’Angelo Russell for this guy, and are obviously oozing with confidence that Ball will help some of the younger Lakers find consistency in spots on the floor on offense that will be easier for them to create. Lakers will be a lot quicker next season.

3^rd Pick: Jayson Tatum, Celtics, SF Duke, 6’8”: It took a lot of guts for the Celtics to essentially pass on Fultz, but as always Danny Ainge is addressing team needs over overall skill and Tatum will help shutdown the lanes on defense as he has great reach and he will be effective from the elbow on offense. He will be a good compliment to Jaylen Brown as 2^nd units will experience two completely different players on the wing. Expect Tatum to take a ton of mid-range jumpers.

4^th Pick: Josh Jackson, Suns, SG/SF Kansas 6’8”: The Suns are another team with a ton of guards and even though De’Aaron Fox was on the board, the Suns are addressing a huge need at Forward and Jackson gives them size, tenacity on defense and even though he need to put on a bit of muscle, Jackson is a hustler on both sides of the court and the Suns need to start playing better defense in the post and Jackson should see a ton of minutes early.

5^th Pick: De’Aaron Fox, Kings, PG Kentucky, 6’5”: The Kings have not found the right fit at guard and the swift and aggressive Fox will provide impact on offense immediately, but it may not come in the form of points. Fox will show his intangible skills early. He is very consistent at pushing the ball and has good control of the tempo when he has possession of the rock, but the reputation is that he struggles shooting. Luckily for Fox, he not only has Buddy Hield, who will have no problem taking a bunch of jumpers, but the Kings have no identity and they can work together to re-create the Kings offensive attack. Fox can ease into shooting, so he can learn what exactly is a high-percentage shot.

6^th Pick: Jonathan Isaac, Magic, PF Florida State, 6’10”: A bit surprised by this pick because the Magic are really pushing Aaron Gordon to be “The Guy” in Orlando. Isaac MUST put on muscle to match his size, but he will be able to run the floor effectively. He will be best used, at least at the start, by coming in late in quarters in the first half to take advantage of the fatigue factor of the opposition. He will bang in the lane and the Magic will get more help up front.

7^th Pick: Lauri Markkanen, Bulls (Via Timberwolves), PF Arizona, 7’0”: The Bulls centerpiece in the Jimmy Butler trade and they must think what others think; He has the potential to become the next Dirk Nowitzki….Slow down! While Markkanen does have long-range shooting ability and can drive, he’s no pioneer. There are plenty of big forwards who will cause trouble for him on the outside. A lot will be asked of him early as the Bulls are in re-build mode. Expect him to get a lot of shots early. I’m a bit worried how he will defend the paint, but the position is open and he will get a long leash to learn. 

8^th Pick: Frank Ntilikina, Knicks, PG France, 6’5”: This pick made more sense before Phil Jackson was fired. While the Knicks will look to find a guard in free agency, Ntilikina could provide immediate impact being the first guard off the bench and he defends well and is a solid ball-handler. Now that the Knicks will abandon the triangle offense, a lot should not be asked of Ntilikina early. He’s a good passer and defender, but not as much of a scorer.

9^th Pick: Dennis Smith Jr, Mavericks, PG North Carolina State, 6’2”: The Mavs have guards and they must have been blown away with what they saw in Smith. Smith is a quick driver and has quick moves to the basket. While is leadership ability is questionable, Mark Cuban has said that the Smith Era has begun. What an endorsement! Luckily for Smith, the Mavs guards can play both guard spots and Smith could actually end up starting from the get-go. The Mavs have a ton of scorers and they just need someone to organize and attack open lanes

10^th Pick: Zach Collins, Blazers (Via Kings), C Gonzaga, 7’0”: Jusuf Nurkic gets some help in the post as the Blazers trade to get an offensively skilled Collins. While Nurkic creates from the post, Collins will be able to create from further out and it will force bigger defenders outside to open up the paint. Collins should not have too much competition at the position.

11^th Pick: Malik Monk, Hornets, SG Kentucky, 6’3”:  A lot of analysts think Monk is the steal of the draft because of how effective of a scorer he is. The Hornets have a very effective back court in Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum and that is where most of their offense comes from. Monk will take advantage of the 2^nd unit and can rotate to both guard spots giving one of the starters a break. When the Hornets need more offense, Batum will shift to SF with Monk playing in the SG spot.

12^th Pick: Luke Kennard, Pistons, SG Duke, 6’6”: The Pistons struggled with guard consistency and health last season and because Andre Drummond is so limited offensively, the Pistons needed to balance out their offense. Kennard is an excellent fit and will serve as a knock-down shooter from long and mid-range. Kennard is also an effective free-throw shooters and he will take advantage if he learns how to attack the rim. Expect mainly Kyle Korver-like scoring to start.

13^th Pick: Donovan Mitchell, Jazz (Via Nuggets), SG Louisville, 6’3”: The common word I’ve been seeing when different Scouts and Analyst describe Mitchell is “athletic”. With Gordon Hayward likely gone, the Jazz will have to fill the hole and health has not been on their side over the last couple of seasons. The Jazz need someone to just run the floor efficiently and even though Mitchell is a bit of a smaller SG, if he can stay healthy, he will play a lot of minutes early.

14^th Pick: Bam Adebayo, Heat, PF, Kentucky, 6’10”: The Heat just got even tougher inside on defense as teams will find it hard to push their way in the paint between Hassan Whiteside and Adebayo. Both will be sending back a lot of shots and Adebayo could pick up a ton of playing time early as the Heat are a bit light at PF. Expect a ton of rebounds and inside scoring. He reminds me of Gorgui Dieng with the way he’s built and the way he plays.

15^th Pick: Justin Jackson, Kings (Via Blazers), SF, North Carolina, 6’8”: With the status of Rudy Gay up in the air, the Kings are completely rebuilding and Fox and Hield will re-develop the Kings offense with another scorer in Jackson. Expect Jackson to be a bailout option early in the season as he will get the chance to hit knockdown jumpers. He will likely be open when teams try to double in the lane.

16^th Pick: Justin Patton, Timberwolves (Via Bulls), C, Creighton, 7’0”: The ‘Wolves need more help up front and Patton will help defend against the 2^nd units early and he will be able to use his size to muscle his way inside. Don’t expect too much from the offensive side early, but he will earn his minutes via defense.

17^th Pick: D.J. Wilson, Bucks, PF, Michigan, 6’10”:  Wilson was brought on to give the Bucks more scoring from the outside. It’s also become hard to rely on Jabari Parker’s health and Wilson gives the Bucks more size, scoring, defense and he will draw bigger defenders outside of the paint.

18^th Pick: T.J. Leaf, Pacers, PF, UCLA, 6’10”: The Pacers had a big problem finding consistency in scoring, especially from their Forward spots. Leaf will provide scoring relief (with or without Paul George on the team) and he should be one of the first players who subs in off the bench to score against 2^nd units. He can score from both inside and outside and that versatility will add another dimension to the Pacers offensive scheme.

19^th Pick: John Collins, Hawks, PF, Wake Forest, 6’10”: Collins is another big man with a solid offensive game, but the Hawks need defensive help up front and with Dwight Howard gone and Paul Millsap likely gone, Collins could start, make an immediate impact on offense, and if he can be as aggressive under the basket on defense as much as he was in college, the Hawks will finally be able to defend inside.

20^th Pick: Harry Giles, Kings (Via Blazers), C, Duke, 6’10”: I understand the risk because the Kings have had a lot of action in this draft and they already drafted a Center. Giles has had major Knee injury issues and that is the biggest warning sign of permanent damage for a big man. Giles has a ton of offensive ability, but if he’s unable to stay on the court, that’s not ideal. Expect Giles to get a limited amount of minutes early on as he will be eased into the league slowly. Conserving his minutes until he’s proven durable is key.

21^st Pick: Terrance Ferguson, Thunder, SG/SF, Australia, 6’7”: This pick fits well for what the Thunder need as Ferguson will be able to be a bailout option for Westbrook and could pick up more shots early because of how inconsistent Victor Oladipo is on offense. Ferguson is also a good defender on the perimeter and could pick up more playing time early because of it.

22^nd Pick: Jarrett Allen, Nets, C, Texas, 6’10”: If Allen does not start for this team, he will come off the bench a few minutes into the game because Timofey Mozgov is still very raw and is more effective when he plays less minutes. Mozgov’s inability to play 20 effective minutes consistently will benefit Allen. Allen will be a good two-way player and should play over 20 minutes per game easily, unless the Nets sign a more polished Center.

23^rd Pick: OG Anunoby, Raptors, SF, Indiana, 6’8”: The Raptors certainly have a ton of athletic types, but with Serge Ibaka’s status unknown heading into free agency, the Raptors want to continue adding aleticism and Anunoby will run the floor very well. The Raptors have had issues finding that consistent two-way piece (outside of DeMar DeRozan) and Anunoby will likely play a lot with the Raptors 2^nd unit to start as they need more help stopping lane drivers.

24^th Pick: Tyler Lydon, Nuggets (Via Jazz), PF, Syracuse, 6’9”: The Nuggets had a lot of shooters who came through at different times last season and Lydon is one of those guys. The Nuggets are dealing with the possibility of losing at least Danilo Galinari and Lydon should be able to pick up shots off the bench, but unless there is a big overhaul (like the Rockets trade) Lydon will not be playing a ton at least for the first third of the season. The Nuggets have had their fair share of injuries and that could help Lydon’s cause.                                                                                                                   

25^th Pick: Andzejs Pasecniks, 76ers (Via Magic), C, Latvia, 7’2”:  TRUST THE PROCESS! This guy is HUGE and athletic. He moves nicely, but is most likely a long-term project for the Sixers. When you watch him, he does have agility and moves quicker than your average big-man and could be a good compliment to Embiid and what comes with his game.

26^th Pick: Caleb Swanigan, Blazers, PF, Purdue, 6’5”: The Blazers back up SG/SF options were very inconsistent. At times, they looked like they punted at Small Forward (no offense Mo Harkless). Swanigan is listed as a Power Forward, but he’s 6’5”; doesn’t make sense and he will likely be a SG/SF in the NBA. Swanigan can shoot from the outside and will be an off the bench scoring option.

27^th Pick: Kyle Kuzma, Lakers (Via Nets), PF, Utah, 6’9”: The Lakers need more depth and while Larry Nance Jr, will be a major help defensively next season, Kuzma can be the Forward off the bench that provides a bit of offensive relief. The Lakers need all of the help they can get scoring from mid-range. It’s an uphill battle early on for minutes for Kuzma, but the Lakers have a ton of new pieces, and just like he impressed in the Combine, he can turn heads and steal more minutes in training camp.

28^th Pick: Tony Bradley, Jazz (Via Lakers), C, North Carolina, 6’11”:  Derrick Favors health cannot be relied on and Rudy Gobert needs help and just like he’s a force inside, Bradley will be a rebounding specialist as that is his major strength. The Jazz will be going through changes and if Bradley can show that he can play effectively at Power Forward, he could start alongside Gobert. He has a big ceiling for playing time with the Jazz in rebuilding mode.

29^th Pick: Derrick White, Spurs, PG, Colorado, 6’4”: It’s hard to get a read on the Tony Parker situation, and the Spurs are looking for a successor and White not only plays both positions effectively, but a lot of the Spurs players (while on the team) develop as nice complimentary pieces to start and he can come off the bench along with Patty Mills to bolster the Spurs offense against opposing 2^nd units.

30^th Pick: Josh Hart, Lakers (Via Jazz), SG, Vilanova, 6’5”: It will be hard for Hart to get playing time and shots early, but he could settle in the roll of being the first SG off the bench and he has a good two-pronged attack of stopping and popping for jumpers and attacking the basket. I expect Hart to be a good change of pace option for the Lakers, but he will have competition for playing time early on.

2^nd Round:

31^st Pick: Frank Jackson, Pelicans (Via Hornets), PG, Duke, 6’3”: Jackson gives the Pelicans what they need; strong attackers from the guard spot. The Pelicans have a very skilled frontcourt, but they need balance and if Jrue Holiday does not get re-signed the fierce lane attacker Jackson could start. The Pelicans just traded Tim Frazier and that should help Jackson secure more minutes early on.

32^nd Pick: Davon Reed, Suns, SG, Miami, 6’6”: Reed is known for his scoring ability, but he joins a Suns team that has a lot of shooters and he will likely get a limited amount of minutes because of the amount of depth they have. Reed could standout if he can play PG effectively as he has good ball-handling skills and could help push the Suns 2^nd unit offensively playing on the ball.

33^rd Pick: Wesley Iwundu, Magic, SG/SF, Kansas State, 6’7”: Total defensive pick for the Magic. It will be hard for Iwundu to earn sufficient minutes early. Iwundu does not fit well with the current roster when it comes to growth potential because of how much Forward depth they have on the team. Iwundu is a listed SG and if he can provide shutdown perimeter defense from the SG spot, that’s his only chance to break through the rotation. He should be a solid wing defender in the league down the road.

34^th Pick: Frank Mason III, Kings, PG, Kansas, 5’11”: The Kings have a lot of guards and it will be hard to for Mason to get playing time from an offensive standpoint, but just like with Iwundu, Mason is a solid defender and can earn playing time through defense. The Kings were embarrassing defensively and Mason can give them a boost on the perimeter. That’s his best bet.

35^th Pick Ivan Rabb, Grizzlies (Via Magic), PF, California, 6’11”: The Grizzlies need to start opening up the lane more and with Chandler Parsons health a constant issue, Rabb gives them size and outside scoring and could actually steal a few minutes if he is as consistent of a long-range shooter at the pro level as he grew to be in college. Rabb could eventually allow Marc Gasol to play more in the post than at the key.

36^th Pick Jonah Bolden, 76ers, PF, Austrailia, 6’10”: The Sixers go to the land down under to pick up an enforcer who is a prominent defender and could get minutes off the bench to rough up teams 2^nd unites. Bolden is a specialist and can even keep up with the guards on defense. He focuses on footwork when facing quick guards and shuts down their opportunity to get a step via momentum in the lane and keep them passing off and in check at the key.

37^th Pick Semi Ojeleye, Celtics, PF, SMU, 6’7”: The Celtics picked up more offense at the Forward spot in this draft, but will Ojeleye stay and grow with this team? The Celtics are rumored to be getting in the position to make a couple of blockbuster moves and Ojeleye could be an asset that is dealt. He can score from both inside and outside and defense will need to improve on the wing.

38^th Pick Jordan Bell, Warriors (Via Bulls), F/C, Oregon, 6’9”: Warriors added a defensive piece to defend their title and they are very high on Bell’s defensive potential. While I don’t think he will start, he will be the first big man to come off the bench to bang around with Draymond Green in the post. The Warriors needed an enforcer-type to keep them balanced.

39^th Pick Jawun Evans, 76ers, PG, Oklahoma State, 6’1”: Could Evans be Fultz back up? Evans has good ball handling skills and could be a good change of pace option for the Sixers off the bench. Evans will likely be the third guard behind both Fultz and T.J. McConnell, but if he can prove to be a better ball-handler and control the pace more consistently, he could move up the depth chart.

40^th Pick Dwayne Bacon, Hornets (Via Pelicans), SF, Florida State, 6’7”: He has some growing to do, but he hustles. It is very easy to tell by watching a player who gives up on plays and who doesn’t and Bacon will sacrifice his body in order to keep players from scoring and hustle is an intangible that earns players more playing time and the Hornets need more SF depth. Bacon should see limited minutes off the bench early on.

41^st Pick Tyler Dorsey, Hawks, SG, Oregon, 6’4”: Dorsey’s stood out in the NCAA Tournament, but that’s over and he can run the floor and hit the knockdown jumper, but he has a lot of growing to do and a hill of shooting depth to climb in Atlanta.

42^nd Pick Thomas Bryant, Lakers (Via Jazz), C, Indiana, 6’10”: Bryant is just another enforcer type who will be brought in exclusively in foul trouble situations and/or if the Lakers need to stop consistent inside scoring by fouling in the lane.  I’m not expecting Bryant to pick up consistent minutes this season unless he stands out in training camp. He is the third Center behind Brook Lopez and Ivica Zubac.

43^rd Pick Isaiah Hartenstein, Rockets, C, Lithuania, 7’1”: The Rockets all-around defense SUCKS and with Clint Capela being more of an offensive force, the Rockets could bring Hartenstein in to bang as he loves playing in the paint. He doesn’t give up on rebounding and will always fight for loose balls. He’s very physical and uses his size to his advantage.

44^th Pick Damyean Dotson, Knicks, SG, Houston, 6’5”:  Dotson will be an off the bench shooter for the Knicks, but the question still remains whether or not he can drive? Dotson could take the Justin Holiday role from last season of being a high-energy shooter from the wing. Dotson is more of an offensive player, but could earn more playing time on this mess of a Knicks team if he shows he can play good perimeter defense.

45^th Pick Dillon Brooks, Grizzlies (Via Rockets), SF, Oregon, 6’7”: Brooks is another outside shooter the Grizzlies have incase Parsons can’t stay healthy. Brooks can pick up minutes early if Memphis keeps Parsons on a minutes limit. He produces primarily from the arc and could be a decent Mike Conley bailout option/

46^th Pick Sterling Brown, 76ers, SG, SMU, 6’5”: The Sixers are still trying to figure out their SG depth, and if they lose out on signing an established veteran, Brown could be the first SG coming off the bench as he can both rebound and hit shots from the outside. His defense could earn him more minutes. It also depends where the Sixers play Ben Simmons.

47^th Pick Ike Anigbogu, Pacers, C, UCLA, 6’10”: Anigbogu simply gives the Pacers more power up front and could be a primary back up option to Myles Turner if they need someone to come in and bang in the paint for a few minutes. He has a few athletic moves to the basket and will stop players in the post. He uses his size nicely and the Pacers need more power.

48^th Pick Sindarius Thornwell, Clippers (Via Bucks), SG, South Carolina, 6’5”: The major sell with Thornwell is court awareness. He is very good at reading defensive schemes and picking spots on the court that will keep him open for shooting. The Clippers lost Chris Paul and JJ Redick is likely gone as well. Thornwell should play limited minutes early, but if his NBA smarts are as advertised, Doc Rivers will reward him early as the Clippers lack an identity.

49^th Pick Vlatko Cancar, Nuggets, SF, Slovenia, 6’8”: A total project pick for the Nuggets as Cancar will have to learn where he best fits, but he does have a decent shot and can rebound as well. He has a long way to go when it comes to keeping up with the league, but he is a two-way player and that’s a good start.     

50^th Pick Mathias Lessort, 76ers, PF, France, 6’9”:  The Sixers take another risk on a project. Lessort is excellent at running the floor and provides good interior defense. Lessort will help with the intangibles such as getting his teammates open, but in terms of offensive ability, he has a lot of growing to do in that area and he will have a ton of time to learn.

51^st Pick Monte’ Morris, Nuggets, PG, Iowa State, 6’3”: As much as the Nuggets covet Jamal Murray as the Guard to lead them into the future, Morris’ ball handling abilities and good three-point shooting could make for a good training camp competition versus Emmanuel Mudiay. Mudiay has proven that outside of speed, he is a liability until proven otherwise and Morris could take advantage if he turns heads early in training camp. Morris is a good perimeter defender as well and is good at swiping the ball.

52^nd Pick Edmond Sumner, Pacers (Via Pelicans), PG, Xavier, 6’5”: Sumner is a efficient attacker and he is able to re-create mid drive to get to the hoops more successfully. He can change is attack to the rim while in the air and if the Pacers lose Jeff Teague, Sumner can be a good quick attacker from off the bench. The Pacers need to be more aggressive on offense.

53^rd Pick Kadeem Allen, Celtics, SG, Arizona, 6’3”: Defensive pick for the Celtics as Allen is good at slowing down the possession. When the opposition is on the drive he knows just how much space to leave the guard with the ball so he doesn’t commit a foul or let him blow by him. He can keep up with quick guards and will serve as a specialist off the bench.

54^th Pick Alec Peters, Suns, PF, Valparaiso, 6’9”: The Suns had a revolving door of Power Forwards in and out of the starting lineup last season and if Peters proves he can be a good scorer from mid-range AND in the post, he will pick up more playing time quickly. Peters will come off the bench and could make the very end of the Suns rotation due to the fact that they are desperate for scoring in the low-post.

55^th Pick Nigel Williams-Goss, Jazz, PG, Gonzaga, 6’3”: As stated above, the Jazz have had terrible luck with drafting guards who get injured. The reputation of Williams-Goss is that he is a good floor general and he can keep the Jazz offense organized and could earn more playing time quickly if he shows excellent ball handling ability. He will not start, but should still play.

56^th Pick Jabari Bird, Celtics, SG, California, 6’6”: Decent two way prospect who can score from mid-range. It will take a bit for Bird to develop and unless he shoots lights out in Summer League and training camp, he is likely to be buried on the bench for a year or two. If the Celtics make a trade moving a chunk of their roster, Bird, if showing well, could be an end of rotation candidate.

57^th Pick Aleksandar Vezenkov, Nets, PF, Spain, 6’9”: Solid Euro-ball scoring option, but he definitely lacks the tools to make an immediate impact. He will be a scorer when he eventually plays. He does have smarts when it comes to creating space and picking spots off the ball. He does not know how to use his size just yet, and he needs to become an attacker and aggressive in order to hang with the other Power Forwards in the league. Long-term project.

58^th Pick Ognjen Jaramaz, Knicks, PG, Serbia, 6’4”: A project pick for the Knicks and Jaramaz attacks the middle of the floor very nicely and while most smaller guards attack from angles to make bigger defenders move, Jaramaz attacks these defenders head on and has good agility when driving around bigger defenders.

59^th Pick Jaron Blossomgame, Spurs, SF, Clemson, 6’8”: Blossomgame is very physical inside and if he gets the chance to play, he will be expected to go in and bang against the more skilled offensive players in the league. The Spurs have a good amount of depth at the SF spot so it may be a season before he gets sufficient minutes. He is aggressive in the post especially on defense and pushes people out of the paint when the ball goes up.

60^th Pick: Alpha Kaba, Hawks, PF, France, 6’10”: Lacks a consistent offensive flow, but uses his body nicely on the defensive end and is a known rebounder in Europe. He is yet another long-term NBA project, but if he comes over and shows he can bang with the big men in the league and can box out and rebound versus these players, he can eventually make the rotation. He will have to develop a bit more overall.