On Tuesday, I participated in the NBA beat writers mock draft by the Boston Globe. As you can see, the Hawks were the beneficiary of a player that might not be around when they select No. 19 on Thursday.
Here it is:
2017 Boston Globe NBA beat writers mock draft
1. Philadelphia: Markelle Fultz, G, Washington
■ Fultz is the perfect fit for the Sixers. He is extremely versatile and can score and create opportunities for others. His first step is deceptive. He’s shifty, changes direction with ease, and is an exceptional ball handler. Fultz also can pull up and shoot the 3-pointer. He made 41.3 percent of his shots from the college 3-point range. And he can slide off the ball and be a solid addition next to Ben Simmons.
— Keith Pompey, Philadelphia Inquirer
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA
■ Despite the issues surrounding his outspoken father and his conditioning in his first workout, Ball fills so many of the Lakers’ dire needs. The Lakers have a definitive leader on a young team that previously lacked one. The Lakers have a point guard that will look first to help his teammates flourish instead of searching for his shot. And the Lakers have more flexibility with D’Angelo Russell, who can either become an off-ball guard or expendable in a trade.
— Mark Medina, LA Daily News
3. Boston: Jayson Tatum, F, Duke
■ The kind of versatile swingman they need and someone who can develop into a star.
— Gary Washburn, Boston Globe
4. Phoenix: Josh Jackson, F, Kansas
■ The Suns last season were among the NBA’s worst defensive teams. Jackson comes in and helps immediately.
— Doug Haller, Arizona Republic
5. Sacramento: De’Aaron Fox, G, Kentucky
■ The Kings finally find their point guard after years of mishaps at the position.
— Jason Jones, Sacramento Bee
6. Orlando: Dennis Smith, G, North Carolina State
■ The Magic are seeking a player they can truly build an offense around after ranking 29th in the league in offensive rating last year. The team desperately needs . . . just about everything. While the Magic found a bit of flair and style on the offensive end toward the end of last season after switching to a more open style, the team still needs a scoring threat at point guard and someone who can contribute fairly quickly. Orlando is not quite giving up on its playoff dreams quite yet. Dennis Smith fits that bill best. He was a prodigious and efficient scorer on a bad N.C. State team last year. Surround him with more shooters and other weapons and he should be able to navigate pick-and-rolls easier and get downhill to the basket, where his athleticism can take over.
— Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily
7. Minnesota: Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State
■ The Wolves need defense and shooting, and a guy with maybe the draft’s biggest upside gives them some of both.
— Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune
8. New York: Frank Ntilikina, G, France
■ Phil Jackson seems determined to fit his triangle mold, and the lanky French point guard fits more than the shooter they could also use here, Malik Monk.
— Steve Popper, The Record
9. Dallas: Malik Monk, G, Kentucky
■ Mavericks need a point, but love shooters and will gladly scoop up Monk.
— Eddie Sefko, Dallas Morning News
10. Sacramento: Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona
■ The Kings have gone big the previous two years, but none can shoot the ball like Markannen, and the Kings need more shooting.
— Jason Jones, Sacramento Bee
11. Charlotte: Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville
■ Mitchell’s length, strength, and intensity will solve multiple issues the Hornets had last season. He will immediately provide help to a team that struggled to defend the perimeter and close out fourth-quarter leads.
— Doug Branson, Locked on Hornets
12. Detroit: Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
■ Indications are the Pistons think the big man will be off the board. But under this scenario, he’s the pick over Luke Kennard.
— Vincent Ellis, Detroit Free Press
13. Denver: OG Anunoby, F, Indiana
■ Yes, he is coming off a serious knee injury. But the Nuggets can afford to be a patient if it means selecting a player with the potential to eventually help fill some of the team’s big holes on defense.
— Nick Kosmider, Denver Post
14. Miami: Luke Kennard, G, Duke
■ Two years ago, Pat Riley was thrilled when Duke product Justise Winslow fell to him with the 10th pick. He’ll be just as happy this time around to get another Dukie. There’s no guarantee Dion Waiters will be back in Miami, and Tyler Johnson’s contract jumps to $19 million after the 2017-18 season. Kennard fills what will become a need.
— Manny Navarro, Miami Herald
15. Portland: John Collins, F, Wake Forest
■ Collins would give the Trail Blazers size and scoring punch inside to upgrade a frontcourt rotation that struggled last season. If the 3-point shooting touch he’s shown in predraft workouts carries over, Portland will end up with a useful stretch-4 and small-ball center.
— Mike Richman, the Oregonian/OregonLive
16. Chicago: Bam Adebayo, F/C, Kentucky
■ The Bulls need to infuse their roster with more athleticism. Adebayo provides that and a defensive presence that can protect the paint for years.
— K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune
17. Milwaukee: Harry Giles, F/C, Duke
■ The Bucks have one of the more low-key crucial offseasons in recent memory. So why gamble on an injury risk like Giles? Well, the versatility he flashes on defense, the motor he exhibits on both ends, and his impressive length would be a great pairing with prospective center-of-the-future Thon Maker and future-everything Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Giles can play, that is.
— Mitchell Maurer, Brew Hoop
18. Indiana: Justin Jackson, F, North Carolina
■ The Pacers, in the aftermath of the news of Paul George’s intentions to not re-sign, will need an athletic forward who can potentially contribute next season in what appears to be the franchise’s start of a rebuild.
— Nate Taylor, Indianapolis Star
19. Atlanta: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
■ The Hawks may need to replace Paul Millsap. However, new GM Travis Schlenk likes length and athleticism. Allen is the best available.
— Chris Vivlamore, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
20. Portland: Justin Patton, C, Creighton
■ With Jusuf Nurkic entrenched as the starting center, the Trail Blazers can afford to take a patient approach to finding his backup. Patton might take a few years to develop, but he has the size, athletic ability, and natural passing instincts to become a force.
— Mike Richman, The Oregonian/OregonLive
21. Oklahoma City: Terrance Ferguson, G, Adelaide 36ers
■ The Thunder (and the rest of the NBA) are thirsty for two-way wing talent. Ferguson, who just turned 19 in May, is athletic, can shoot the spot-up 3-pointer, and was one of the top players in his high school class before playing a season in Australia instead of Division 1 college ball. Ferguson doesn’t fit precisely into the Russell Westbrook-prime timetable, but he fits the Thunder’s profile of athletic upside at a premium position, and could be a replacement for Andre Roberson on the wing. His family is also from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
— Erik Horne, The Oklahoman
22. Brooklyn: Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA
■ The Nets are looking for 3-and-D guys, but most of all they’re looking for upside talent. That’s Anigbogu, whom they likely expected to be long gone in the top 15. The 7-6 wingspan, the raw gifts at 18, and the athleticism are too good to pass up. With a long rebuild ahead, and both of their first-round picks near the bottom, it’s the smart move.
— Brian Lewis, New York Post
23. Toronto: T.J. Leaf, F, UCLA
■ This pick has draft-and-stash written all over it for the already-young Raptors, but what fun is there in that? Frontcourt shooting is a huge issue with Toronto, and why not get a guy who seems accomplished at it?
— Doug Smith, Toronto Star
24. Utah: D.J. Wilson, F, Michigan
■ Utah’s search for a viable playmaking power forward continues. Wilson played well in his workout with the Jazz. He’s a good shooter and rebounder
— Tony Jones, Salt Lake Tribune
25. Orlando: Semi Ojeleye, F, SMU
■ The Magic desperately need to add talent to restock their bench after struggling through last season. Finding some athletic wings to fill the bench and add depth will help the team begin to inch forward. Ojeleye is a super-talented scoring wing with good length and athleticism to grow on the defensive end. He struggled in his first few years at Duke, but grew tremendously as the AAC Player of the Year at SMU. Ojeleye is a strong scorer with a lot of rough edges. But at this pick, he should be able to come off the bench and provide some good minutes for a growing, young team.
— Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily
26. Portland: Jordan Bell, F, Oregon
■ It’s hard to imagine the Blazers using all three of their first-round picks. But getting a defensive-minded big man who doesn’t need the ball to be effective and is already a built-in fan favorite seems like a good fit this late in the first round.
— Mike Richman, the Oregonian/OregonLive
27. Brooklyn: Jawun Evans, G, Oklahoma State
■ In most drafts, Evans would be one of the top point guards. He may be overshadowed by Fultz and Ball, but he’s a great pick-and-roll player, a .407 career shooter from 3, and gives the Nets a capable backup to Jeremy Lin, who missed much of last season and can opt out after next season.
— Brian Lewis, New York Post
28. Los Angeles Lakers: Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse
■ Lakers coach Luke Walton does not have the talent he once enjoyed when he took over as Golden State’s interim head coach. Though that gap still remains, Lydon’s arrival will help the Lakers showcase a skill the Warriors have perfected. With Lydon shooting 40 percent from 3-point range in two seasons with the Orange, he will become a reliable spot-up shooter.
— Mark Medina, Los Angeles Daily News
29. San Antonio: Kyle Kuzma, F, Utah
■ It’s no secret the Spurs love shooters. In Kuzma, they get a shooter with size. Kuzma plays well without the ball, attacks the glass, and is solid in transition. He’s not the best defender, but he’ll quickly learn how that aspect of his game needs to improve playing on Gregg Popovich’s team.
— Jabari Young, San Antonio Express-News
30. Utah: Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina
■ The Jazz could consider a draft-and-stash here, but Bradley wowed in his workout in Utah. Ultimately, his talent and upside is too much to pass on.
— Tony Jones, Salt Lake Tribune
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