For teams fortunate enough to have a team in the NBA playoff race, this week marks the start of the postseason. For many other fans, today marks the beginning of the build up to the 2017 NBA Draft in what has been a frustrating season for many fan bases. This year, more than any year in recent memory there is more anticipation for the draft with the amount of talented players at the top. The NBA differs from the NFL model where there is a long buildup to the draft. Just a little over two months remain before the NBA Draft on June 23. There will be mere weeks between the NBA Finals and the NBA Draft. Before we get there, here are a few storylines to watch.
The NBA Draft Lottery will take place on May 16. As part of the terms of a prior trade with the Nets, the Celtics have an opportunity to get the number one pick and make the NBA Finals in the same season. As far as the players go, teams and fans will continue to debate whether Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball will get selected first. After these two players, Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum and De'Aaron Fox are just a few of the prospects fighting to be the first player out of that next group. Since the college basketball season has ended there have been no real surprises from the top prospects. Players like Malik Monk, Zach Collins and Fox have all declared for the draft. This is good news for the NBA as it looks to be a deep draft for lottery teams. A quick note about the player evaluations, I have had the opportunity to see Jonathan Isaac, Fox, Monk, Ball and several other first round players in person giving me a unique perspective on quite a few top prospects. While the official lottery draft order will not be determined until May, the order for our mock draft is based on where each team is slotted to pick based on their record. We will continue to update this as the season ends as games become final and the lottery odds shuffle around. As always, happy to talk more about the draft on Twitter @JonDAdams. Click the right arrow to see Heavy's latest NBA mock draft for the lottery teams. (Getty)
No. 1 Boston Celtics (via Nets): PG Markelle Fultz
School: Washington
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'4"/195 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 23.2 ppg, 5.9 apg, 5.7 rpg, 1.6 spg, 1.2 bpg, .476 FG%, .413 3P%
Outlook: The Celtics did it or at least they did it by living vicariously through the Nets. Brooklyn lost enough games to secure Boston the highest odds to land the number one pick. How did this happen? It was seemingly a throw-in for a trade that occurred years ago sending Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Nets. As part of the Nets return package, they gave the Celtics the right to swap 2017 first round picks. This turned out to be a very bad decision for the Nets and gives Boston the rare opportunity to make a Finals run while also landing the number one draft pick. For months, we have been giving the Celtics the top selection, but draft fans know the lottery does not always work out as planned. The Celtics will land a high pick, but may not end up landing the number one spot. The Markelle Fultz-Lonzo Ball debate may not turn out to be theirs after all. For now, we have the Celtics taking Fultz if given the opportunity, but it will be interesting to see what happens in May. The odds are in their favor. (Getty)
No. 2 Phoenix Suns: PG Lonzo Ball
School: UCLA
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'6"/190 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 14.6 ppg, 7.6 apg, 6.0 rpg, .551 FG%, .412 3P%
Outlook: While every lottery team is hoping to land the number one pick, there are likely those GM's that are secretly hoping to get the second pick to avoid having to make a decision between Lonzo Ball and Markelle Fultz. While it will likely turn out to have little impact on his final draft position, teams could be concerned about the potential of a traveling circus of one, LaVar Ball. Lately, a week does not go by without seeing LaVar appearing on either ESPN or FOX Sports. Lonzo has started to join his father on these shows since UCLA's season ended. It is important to not blow this out of proportion, but Lonzo will have a lot of questions to answer about his family as the draft gets closer. On the court, he is the best creator in the draft and instantly makes the team that selects him better as he proved at UCLA. Up close, Ball does not look as athletic as some of the other players in this draft, but he has better court vision than any player. If they land the second pick, the Suns will be happy to select whichever point guard falls to them despite the position not being a great need. Both players have too much talent to pass up. (Getty)
No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers: SF/SG Josh Jackson
School: Kansas
Position: Small Forward/Shooting Guard
Size: 6'8"/207 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 16.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, .513 FG%, .378 3P%
Outlook: The Lakers are hoping they can slide inside the top two to grab either Ball or Fultz. However, they are really hoping to not fall outside the top three picks. If they do, the Lakers will send their pick to the Sixers. Assuming the Lakers are able to keep their pick, Jackson is a nice consolation prize for a Lakers team in desperate need of more talent. With two months to go until the NBA Draft, Jackson is the leader in the clubhouse to be the next player selected after Ball and Fultz. What's to like about Jackson? He can do it all and may be the most well-rounded player in the draft. Jackson has no problem getting buckets and brings intensity on defense as well. ESPN's Chad Ford writes why Jackson fits for the Lakers. "Jackson is the best two-way player in the draft and would bring an intensity, toughness and winning mentality that the Lakers desperately need," Ford wrote about Jackson.(Getty)
No. 4 Philadelphia Sixers: PG De'Aaron Fox
School: Kentucky
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'3"/187 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 16.7 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 spg, .479 FG%, .246 3P%
Outlook: Fox had a great month of March and his play in the tournament means he has a good chance to slide into the top five. You're not getting a knockdown shooter with Fox, but he's a fierce competitor who is one of the quickest players in the draft. Fox gets most of his points by attacking the basket and pushing the offense up the floor in a hurry. Philadelphia could go a number of a different directions. This Sixers team could afford to add another guard whether it is a point or shooting guard. Barring a crazy draft lottery, Philadelphia will have options. De'Aaron Fox gives Philadelphia their point guard of the future to go with a team that is long and athletic down low. The Sixers will be one of the teams to watch next year with the return of Ben Simmons to pair with the players they get in the draft. Could they go with Jayson Tatum if given the opportunity? It is within the range of possibilities, but not sure Tatum is the best player to pair with Simmons given they have a good bit of similarities. On another note, imagine if the Lakers fall out of the top three, and the Sixers have two picks in the top five. (Getty)
No. 5 Orlando Magic: SF Jayson Tatum
School: Duke
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6'8"/205 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 16.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.3 bpg. .452 FG%, .342 3P%
Outlook: Tatum is one of the most-coveted players in the draft. His scoring ability is his strength, but his game also has a number of great qualities. Tatum has not been great from behind the three-point line. He will need to improve his long-range shooting as he transitions to the NBA. Tatum has enough talent that many teams will see him as the kind of player a franchise can build their roster around. There is not much hope in Orlando. How do you sell a team that has been rebuilding for four years with no real assets and dreadful production on the court. One of the things Stan Van Gundy alluded to after he was fired by the Magic was the increasing role of Alex Martins on the basketball side. If true, his involvement seems to have negatively impacted the on-court product. General manager Rob Hennigan was once viewed as a promising hire but now it will be shocking if he is not fired after the season. A combination of poor trades and sub-par draft picks has led to Hennigan's demise. Did we mention the leaked photo with Magic plans for free agency and trades? The best thing the Magic can do is blow the whole thing up and use this draft to start fresh. It starts with cleaning house with the front office but the players have also proven they are incapable of winning no matter who is coaching the team. (Getty)
No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves: PF Lauri Markkanen
School: Arizona
Position: Power Forward
Size: 7'0"/230 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 15.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, .492 FG%, .423 3P%
Outlook: One NBA team is going to get a player with a lot of potential and a big man with rare shooting ability. While Markkanen needs to improve his defending and rebounding abilities, his skills on the offensive side make him worthy of a top-10 pick. In addition to his knock-down shooting, Markkanen also has the ability to handle the basketball that comes from growing up playing guard for many years. The future was already bright for the Timberwolves even before they appeared poised to land a top 10 pick in the upcoming draft. When you look at the Timberwolves roster, there is not one area of need that jumps off the page other than the need to get older. Minnesota is likely to go best player available but could be intrigued to add another big man to throw into the rotation with Karl-Anthony Towns.
No. 7 New York Knicks: SG Malik Monk
School: Kentucky
Position: Shooting Guard
Size: 6'3"/200 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 19.8 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.5 rpg, 0.9 spg, .450 FG%, .397 3P%
Outlook: Malik Monk will continue to be one of the most debated players as the draft approaches. The big reason for that is his lack of consistency during the season. Two things keep him atop draft boards: his ability to score and his three-point shooting. The Knicks would be one of the best fits for Monk. New York has the talent mixed in with the chaos surrounding the organization. The ideal scenario for New York is to get Carmelo Anthony to agree to a trade. At this point it has little to do with what the Knicks can get in return for Anthony and more to do with opening up opportunities for their young players to develop. The Knicks have an opportunity in the 2017 NBA Draft to pair a great player with Kristaps Porzingis who had an up and down sophomore campaign. The future cannot get to New York soon enough. (Getty)
No. 8 Sacramento Kings: PG Dennis Smith Jr.
School: NC State
Position: Point Guard
Size: 6'3"/195 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 18.1 ppg, 6.2 apg, 4.6 rpg, .455 FG%, .359 3P%
Outlook: It has been a long time since we saw Smith on the court given NC State missed the NCAA tournament. With the NBA season coming to a close, Smith can finally begin the process of winning over franchises given some of the concerns about his ability to win along with the consistency of his motor. Sacramento lost the news cycle after the DeMarcus Cousins trade, but it is the Kings that may have won in the end. There are a couple reasons the trade looks to have paid off. First, it freed the Kings from having the obligation to re-sign a player to a massive contract that clearly was not going to make their team competitive. Secondly, it gave more playing time to their talented young big men like Skal Labissière. Finally, the Kings did get assets in return like Buddy Hield who averaged over 14 points a game while shooting 42 percent from behind the three-point line. The Kings are likely to have two top 10 picks in a draft loaded with talent at the top of the draft. Years from now we could be looking back at the Boogie trade as the turning point for rebooting the Kings franchise. (Getty)
No. 12 Detroit Pistons: PG/SG Frank Ntilikina
School: Strasbourg (International)
Position: Guard
Size: 6'5"/170 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 4.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, .506 FG%, .457 3P% (16.5 minutes per game)
Outlook: The Reggie Jackson experiment has not gone as planned. Jackson still has two more years left on his deal and is slated to make just over $17 million next season making him very difficult to trade. Bringing in Ntilikina could put pressure on Jackson to be more efficient. It also helps he is the best player remaining on the board as the Pistons finished off a disappointing season where many expected them to make the playoffs. The pressure is on Stan Van Gundy to turn things around next season. (Getty)
No. 10 Sacramento Kings (via Pelicans): SF Jonathan Isaac
School: Florida State
Position: Small Forward
Size: 6'10"/210 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 12.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, .508 FG%, .348 3P%
Outlook: I've had the opportunity to see Isaac play courtside twice. What I've taken away is he has the ability to contribute in multiple categories. Isaac has a solid jumper, can rebound and possesses a willingness to defend. The challenge is projecting Isaac's potential. He seems more like a very good second option rather than a player that emerges to be "the man" on an NBA roster. His efficiency at Florida State was incredible but it is unclear whether his production with the Seminoles was based on the roster or his personality. NBA teams could hope Isaac fits into the mold of a player like Kawhi Leonard whose ability to impact the game in so many different ways makes him a star. This is the second top 10 pick for the Kings. This one comes as part of the Cousins trade. Sacramento has an opportunity to get two really good assets in the 2017 NBA Draft if the lottery works in their favor like the odds show. (Getty)
No. 11 Charlotte Hornets: F Zach Collins
School: Gonzaga
Position: Power Forward
Size: 7'0"/230 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 10.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.8 bpg, .652 FG% (17.2 minutes per game)
Outlook: Collins officially entering the draft is good news for teams looking to add a big man. It is easy to look at Collins' numbers and not be blown away. Keep in mind, Collins only played 17 minutes a game as Gonzaga had Przemek Karnowski. Collins proved several times during the tournament what he can do. One of his best games of the season came against South Carolina in the Final Four. Collins had 14 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks in just 23 minutes of play. With an array of post moves and the ability to block shots, Collins will challenge Markkanen to be the first big man selected in June. Charlotte has no shortage of talent, but this season did not go as they planned. With Nicolas Batum and Kemba Walker, the Hornets have a strong backcourt but their big men all seem to be just adequate. Kemba Walker naming Collins and Bam Adebayo when asked who the Hornets should draft could be indicative of the thoughts on the current roster behind the scenes. (Getty)
No. 12 Detroit Pistons: G/F Miles Bridges
School: Michigan State
Position: Forward/Guard
Size: 6'7"/230 pounds
Class: Freshman
2016-17 Stats: 16.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 bpg, .486 FG%, .389 3P%
Outlook: Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Bridges is leaning towards returning to Michigan State for his sophomore season but is weighing his options. As with other prospects, we will continue to leave him in our mock draft until there is an announcement. Bridges is not getting the NBA publicity that some of the other freshman are getting but he is as NBA-ready as a player comes. He can do it all, and he is not going to sneak up on Detroit as he plays down the road from the Pistons. If this holds true, Bridges would have the shortest move of any player in the draft. Where Bridges fits will depend on the team, but he seems to have some flexibility at both forward positions. The Pistons were expected to challenge for the playoffs but the team failed to come together. Detroit's best players are on bad contracts making it difficult to move them for different assets. Detroit fans should be rooting for a top 10 caliber player to fall to them where they pick. (Getty)
No. 13 Denver Nuggets: F Justin Jackson
School: North Carolina
Position: Forward
Size: 6'8"/210 pounds
Class: Junior
2016-17 Stats: 18.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, .447 FG%, .380 3P%
Outlook: The amount of talented freshman in this draft class will likely push Jackson down, but an NBA team in the late lottery will be able to get a good player who can contribute right away. Jackson went from being unlikely to be selected in the first round in last year's draft to moving himself into the lottery discussion this year. The big reason is his improved shooting. While some teams may be skeptical of it given the small sample size, Jackson does plenty on the court to make it feasible for him to slide into the lottery. Things continue to look up for the Nuggets with the emergence of Nikola Jokic. A playoff birth would have been icing on the cake for a team poised to be really good if they can add one or two more pieces to pair with Jokic. The biggest need for Denver going forward? They have a logjam of average guards on their roster. Jackson is a player that can play shooting guard and small forward. (Getty)
No. 14 Miami Heat: PF John Collins
School: Wake Forest
Position: Power Forward
Size: 6'10"/235 pounds
Class: Sophomore
2016-17 Stats: 19.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg, .622 FG%
Outlook: For the second straight mock draft, we have Collins going to the Heat. Love the pairing of Collins with Hassan Whiteside. The Heat could have done damage if they made the playoffs this season with the way they were playing after the All-Star break. Look for Miami to make the playoffs next season, and Collins could play a key role on that team. He is a sophomore which puts him farther along than some of the other prospects in the draft. Collins may not be a stretch-four that many teams are coveting, but he is strong down low on the blocks. (Getty)
NBA Mock Draft 2017: Updated Lottery Order, Picks & Teams