The NBA trade deadline has passed and numerous 2017 draft picks were moved, but one particularly popular asset stayed in place: The Boston Celtics' pick from Brooklyn, which is highly likely to turn into the No. 1 overall selection this June.
With Washington's Markelle Fultz and UCLA's Lonzo Ball, regarded as two of the best point guard prospects in quite some time, sitting at the top of most teams' draft boards, that No. 1 overall pick could demand a King's ransom--or a Pacers' ransom, or a Bulls' ransom. The Celtics, who already have a superstar point guard in Isaiah Thomas as well as several other attractive trading chips for the future, could still attempt to move the pick for a star at a different position this offseason, or they could hold tight and add what looks to be a future star on a rookie contract. Whatever they ultimately end up doing, it's going to be one of the most fascinating stories to watch over the next couple of months.
Another important thing to watch down the stretch of the season: The Los Angeles Lakers' record. If L.A. remains in the Top 3 of the draft order, it will hold on to its pick. If it falls outside the Top 3, though, its pick goes to the Sixers, who already will likely have another Top-10 pick, as they have the right to swap spots with Sacramento. Trust the process, indeed.
Ultimately, there's still a potentially huge amount of shake-up when it comes to the Top-10, but it's still never too early to take a look at how the first round may play out. With that in mind, you can click through the gallery for my 2017 mock draft. Note: Draft order is based on standings as of March 4 (Getty)
1. Boston Celtics Select Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
Year: Freshman
This pick will certainly be in play for trades, but for now we'll assume Boston stays put. Isaiah Thomas is obviously entrenched into the point guard position, but this is about taking talent over positional need. Fultz, who is averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds, is an explosive playmaker who can get to the rim at will, who can finish in creative ways in traffic, and who is shooting 41.3 percent from deep. He has the entire offensive package with the potential to be a playmaker defensively (1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game).
Also, if you think Washington's dreadful record is an indication of Fultz's talent, just look at what the Huskies have done in the four games without him: 0-4 with an average margin of defeat of 19.75 points. With all due respect to Matisse Thybulle and David Crisp, who are solid players, Fultz has worked with very little talent around him and still be remarkably efficient. Pairing him with Thomas, another former Husky, would immediately give the Celtics one of the best offensive backcourts in the Association. (Getty)
2. Los Angeles Lakers Select Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Year: Freshman
Mr. Balll gets his wish. The Lakers already have a young, talented point guard, but this is another case of prioritizing talent over position. Ball, who is the engine that runs the second-most efficient offense in all of college basketball, is an outstanding creator and distributor. He would immediately improve the offensive flow for a team that ranks 26th in assist percentage and 28th in assist-to-turnover ratio, while giving Luke Walton a dangerous open-court option for his up-tempo attack. (Getty)
3. Phoenix Suns Select Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
Year: Freshman
Dropping to No. 3 might ultimately be better for the Suns, as they wouldn't be forced to draft Fultz or Ball (the consensus top two players) and crowd up a backcourt that already features Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker. Instead, they add a tremendous wing talent in Josh Jackson, an energetic playmaker who is averaging 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game and would instantly help a Suns team that ranks 27th in defensive rating. Moreover, his ability in the open-court as a point-forward would be awfully alluring for a team that already plays at the third-fastest pace in the NBA. (Getty)
4. Orlando Magic Select Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
Year: Freshman
This is where things get interesting. We know from Frank Vogel's insistence of playing Aaron Gordon at the 3 that the team is in need of small forward, and there are two really good ones available in Tatum and Jonathan Isaac. At the same time, though, the Magic have always seemed iffy on Elfrid Payton as their future point guard (there was a stretch where he came off the bench for 20 games this season), which would seemingly bring Dennis Smith, Frank Ntilikina and De'Aaron Fox into the mix. Ultimately, the Magic, who rank 28th in three-point percentage, need a wing who can score and stretch the floor, and that's Tatum, who is shooting 41.9 percent from deep since the start of February. (Getty)
5. Philadelphia 76ers Select Dennis Smith, PG, North Carolina State
Year: Freshman
T.J. McConnell hasn't been terrible in his stint as starting point guard, but there's no question that his skill set is limited. Ultimately, with McConnell and Gerald Henderson as the current starting backcourt in Philly, the Sixers could desperately use an infusion of athleticism. Enter Smith, who has a bit of athleticism and can fill it up offensively. A core of Smith, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and Robert Covington (and another potential Top-5 pick should the Lakers fall out of the Top 3) suddenly looks awfully nice. (Getty)
6. Sacramento Kings Select Jonathan Isaac, SF, Florida State
Year: Freshman
Isaac isn't putting up huge numbers with the Seminoles, but a 6-foot-11 frame with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and athleticism makes him a potentially terrifying small forward. Though he's still a bit raw, he offers a versatile skill set (per Hoop-Math, 41.7 percent of shots come at the rim and 35.3 percent come from three-point range, where he knocks down 37.7 percent of his attempts) and great defensive potential (1.9 steals and 2.3 blocks per 40 minutes). Moreover, in Sacramento, he'll have time to develop, as the Kings don't look like they'll be competing anytime soon. (Getty)
7. New York Knicks Select Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
Year: Freshman
Monk, who is averaging 21.7 points per game and is no stranger to 30-point halves, has a good chance to be the best pure scorer from this draft class. He's probably a better fit next to a pass-first point guard rather than Derrick Rose, but the Knicks will be ecstatic to grab a player with his potential at this spot. (Getty)
8. Dallas Mavericks Select Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
Year: Born July 28, 1998
Though Yogi Ferrell has filled in admirably for the Mavericks, it's unlikely that Mark Cuban and Co. are comfortable moving forward with Ferrell and an oft-injured 32-year-old JJ Barea as their only point guards. Ntilikina is a bit of an unknown coming over from France, but he has the frame (6-foot-5 with "exceptional length"), the heady offensive game, the excellent defense and the overseas production (MVP at the FIBA Under-18 European Championships) to be a Top-10 pick. (Getty)
9. Minnesota Timberwolves Select Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
Year: Freshman
With Karl-Anthony Towns already serving as one of the most versatile offensive centers the league has seen, adding Markkanen--a 7-footer who has some question marks about his interior game but is a deadly long-range shooter (44.4 percent on 4.4 three-pointers per game)--to the same frontcourt would make the T-Wolves very difficult to defend. (Getty)
10. Portland Trail Blazers Select Robert Williams, PF, Texas A&M
Year: Freshman
First and foremost, the Blazers, who rank 26th in the NBA in defensive rating, need an impact player on that end of the court. That's Williams, who has an absurd 7-foor-4 wingspan and blocks 4.0 shots per 40 minutes for the Aggies.
Additionally, the Blazers have offense that relies on spacing for Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, and Williams has the mid-range acumen (42.3 percent on two-point jumpers) and the passing ability so as to not clog up the offense. Williams is a quickly rising prospect, and this is an ideal fit for both parties. (Getty)
11. Chicago Bulls Select De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
12. Charlotte Hornets Select Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State
13. Milwaukee Bucks Select Ivan Rabb, PF, California
14. Miami Heat Select John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
15. Denver Nuggets Select Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Germany
16. Detroit Pistons Select T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA
17. Indiana Pacers Select Johnathan Motley, PF, Baylor
18. Chicago Bulls Select Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
19. Atlanta Hawks Select Justin Patton, C, Creighton
20. Oklahoma City Thunder Select Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville
21. Portland Trail Blazers Select John Collins
22. Los Angeles Clippers Select Harry Giles, PF, Duke
23. Orlando Magic Select Tyler Lydon, SF/PF, Syracuse
24. Brooklyn Nets Select Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
25. Utah Jazz Select Rodions Kurucs, SF, Latvia
26. Brooklyn Nets Select Dillon Brooks, SF, Oregon
27. Los Angeles Lakers Select Terrance Ferguson
28. Portland Trail Blazers Select OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
29. San Antonio Spurs Select Josh Hart, SG, Villanova
30. Utah Jazz Select Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue
NBA Mock Draft 2017: Predictions for All 30 1st-Round Picks