Sixteen NBA teams begin the postseason this weekend, but for the rest of the Association the offseason is well underway. The tanking is complete, the lottery odds are set, and the road to rebuilding has officially begun--again.
Though we're still about a month away from the May 16 lottery, which is the next major date on the off-season calendar, the outlook of the draft is always evolving. The most recent example of that is Miles Bridges' decision to turn down the draft for another year at Michigan State. A long, smooth athlete who improved his stock immensely with a terrific performance against Josh Jackson and Kansas in the NCAA tournament, Bridges was slotted No. 11 overall in most recent mock draft. His decision to stay in East Lansing is bad news for teams at the back end of the lottery, but it means more dollar signs for guys like Lauri Markkanen, Justin Jackson, Zach Collins and Jarrett Allen.
Other important draft news, albeit in an indirect way, comes out of Philadelphia, where head coach Brett Brown continues to talk up Ben Simmons as a point guard. "He wants the ball, and he has a complete passion to pass," Brown said on Adrian Wojnarowski's podcast. "So if you just take those two qualities, and forget how big he is, then you say well the starting point is interesting. When I say 'point guard,' I mean 'point guard.' You know, who takes the ball out of bounds, who receives the ball when the ball goes in the basket, who brings it up the floor after a free throw. I’m not talking about Draymond, I’m not talking about LeBron, you know, I’m talking about a point guard. And so I intend on trying this."
With the Sixers holding a Top-5 pick (and potentially two if the Lakers fall out of the Top 3) and insisting they have a point guard of the future (Brown also alluded to the team seeking a high-level free agent at the position), that could result in bad news for someone like De'Aaron Fox, Dennis Smith or Frank Ntilikina, as this year's PG class is deep enough for one of those potential stars to fall.
Ultimately, each minor ripple can have a major effect on the draft, so it's worth re-evaluating every so often. And with that in mind, you can click through the gallery for my newest mock draft and first-round projections. (Getty)
1. Boston Celtics: Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
Age: 18 (May 29, 1998)
Size: 6-foot-4, 195 pounds
The Celtics backcourt is already full of guys ranging from stars (Isaiah Thomas) to key role players (Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart), but when you're the No. 1 seed in the East, you don't typically tend to have a lot of holes in your roster. Ultimately, Danny Ainge and Co. will simply have to draft the best overall player, and that's Fultz.
Despite being well younger than almost every other college prospect in this class, Fultz is already a polished player with very few weaknesses to his offensive game. He's big, he's athletic, he can get to the hoop, he can shoot (41.3 percent from three with one of the worst supporting casts of any prospect), he can pass and, perhaps most importantly for the C's, he can play both guard positions. (Getty)
2. Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
Age: 20 (February 10, 1997)
Size: 6-foot-8, 207 pounds
Lonzo Ball is typically regarded as the No. 2 overall prospect behind Fultz, but Jackson, a future defensive star who improved his shooting dramatically over the last couple months, is certainly a part of the conversation. Deciding between the two becomes a lot easier if this pick ultimately goes to the Suns, who already have a star backcourt in Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker but could use a two-way difference maker after finishing 28th in the NBA in defensive rating. (Getty)
3. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Age: 19 (October 27, 1997)
Size: 6-foot-6, 190 pounds
After forgetting how to tank down the stretch of the season, the Lakers end the year with a 46.9 percent chance of landing inside the Top 3, which means they have a 53.1 percent chance of losing their pick to Philly.
If things go according to the standings, though, the Lake Show should luck out and get an ideal fit for their system. Though he went out on a sour note in a loss against, Ball excels in the open court (the Lakers played at the sixth-fastest pace in the league) and is probably the best passer to come out of the draft since Ricky Rubio (Lakers were 26th in assist percentage and 28th in assist-to-turnover ratio).
A core of Ball, D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and Ivica Zubac may not be consistent right out of the gate, but it would be arguably the best young quintet in the league. (Getty)
4. Philadelphia 76ers: Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
Age: 19 (February 4, 1998)
Size: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds
The Sixers finished the year dead last in offensive rating and 25th in three-point percentage. Monk, who averaged 19.8 points per game, hit 2.7 threes on 39.7 percent shooting and boasts this class' best blend of shot-making and explosive athleticism, would immediately help both of those problems. Moreover, it makes sense to pair Monk, an elite shooter, with Ben Simmons, a poor outside shooter, in the backcourt.
Jayson Tatum will get a long look, as he also has the skill set to improve this team's offense, but with Robert Covington and Dario Saric holding down the forward positions, the focus here will likely be on improving the backcourt. (Getty)
5. Orlando Magic: Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
Age: 19 (March 3, 1998)
Size: 6-foot-8, 205 pounds
Much like the Sixers, the Magic need an infusion of offensive talent. They finished the year 28th in field-goal percentage, 29th in three-point percentage and 29th in offensive rating. Enter Jayson Tatum.
A skilled wing with elite length (6-foot-11 wingspan, 8-foot-10.5 standing reach) for the small forward position, Tatum can score at all three levels. While Jonathan Isaac may have a higher ceiling as a two-way player, Tatum's polish on the offensive end should ultimately earn him the nod for Orlando. (Getty)
6. New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
Age: 18 (July 28, 1998)
Size: 6-foot-5, 170 pounds
First a quick note: If neither the Knicks nor the Timberwolves land inside the Top 3, a coin flip will decide who picks here.
If it is the Knicks, and if they get to choose between Ntilikina, De'Aaron Fox and Dennis Smith Jr. as their point guard of the future, it's going to be a really interesting conversation. While Fox's quickness and Smith's explosive athleticism are both highly intriguing, the international prospect gets the slight nod because he's one of the youngest prospects (two months younger than Fultz), he has the size to play multiple positions, and he's arguably one of the best perimeter defenders in this draft. The latter is especially important, as the Knicks finished 25th in defensive rating and Jeff Hornaceck has discussed the need to improve defensively. (Getty)
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jonathan Isaac, SF, Florida State
Age: 19 (October 3, 1997
Size: 6-foot-10, 210 pounds
Isaac was hardly the go-to offensive option at Florida State (12.0 points per game with a 20.3 usage percentage), but the fact that he's 6-foot-11, has a 7-foot-1 wingspan and is comfortable playing on the perimeter is enough to make NBA scouts drool.
Moreover, a landing spot in Minnesota, where there are already a number of stars, would allow Isaac to develop offensively without much pressure while focusing on making a defensive impact. Among DraftExpress' Top 100 prospects, he was one of just four players to rank in the Top 20 in both steals (1.7) and blocks (2.2) per 40 minutes pace adjusted. (Getty)
8. Sacramento Kings: De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
Age: 19 (December 20, 1997)
Size: 6-foot-3, 187 pounds
If Fox would have shot the ball better than 24.6 percent from deep, he would likely be in the conversation for No. 2 point guard along with Lonzo Ball, a player he obliterated for 39 points in the NCAA tournament.
Still, even with the concerns about the jump-shot (which improved down the stretch), Fox is a potential Top-5 selection who shouldn't slide any further than this. A down-hill player with electrifying quickness, he can beat opponents off the dribble, he can finish at the hoop or from mid-range, and when he's locked in, he can be a pesky defender (1.9 steals per 40 pace adjusted). The Kings are desperate for an injection of excitement, and Fox is the perfect player to provide that. (Getty)
9. Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Smith Jr., PG, NC State
Age: 19 (November 25, 1997)
Size: 6-foot3, 195 pounds
The Mavs would probably like to see Frank Ntilikina here, but there's no denying Smith's allure. Once regarded as a consensus Top-5 prospect before a shaky finish to his season, he brings absurd explosiveness and a relentless attacking nature to the point guard position. There are concerns about his mental game, but he's an electric talent who has the potential to transform a stale offense that finished 23rd in offensive rating. (Getty)
10. Sacramento Kings: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
Age: 19 (May 22, 1997)
Size: 7-foot-0, 230 pounds
Markkanen has a ways to go as an interior defender, but when it ultimately comes down to it, this is a 7-footer who is arguably the best shooter in the draft. He's a mismatch waiting to happen, and the idea of watching De'Aaron Fox and Markkanen run the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop for years to come could give Kings fans a tiny sliver of hope. (Getty)
11. Charlotte Hornets: Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
12. Detroit Pistons: Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
13. Denver Nuggets: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Germany
14. Miami Heat: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
15. Portland Trail Blazers: OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
16. Chicago Bulls: Terrance Ferguson, SG, Adelaide
17. Milwaukee Bucks (coin flip with IND): Justin Patton, C, Creighton
18. Indiana Pacers: T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA
19. Portland Trail Blazers (coin flip with ATL): John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
20. Atlanta Hawks: Ivan Rabb, PF, California
21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville
22. Brooklyn Nets: Harry Giles, PF, Duke
23. Toronto Raptors (coin flip with ORL, POR & UTA): Rodions Kurucs, SF, Latvia
24. Orlando Magic: Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
25. Portland Trail Blazers: Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State
26. Utah Jazz: Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA
27. Brooklyn Nets: Bam Adebayo, C, Kentucky
28. Los Angeles Lakers: Tyler Lydon, SF/PF, Syracuse
29. San Antonio Spurs: Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon
30. Utah Jazz: Semi Ojeleye, SF/PF, SMU
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