2017 NBA Draft Top 10 +1 Ratings

NBA Draft week is upon us! This draft is super loaded with a bunch of potential All-Stars. I think one guy definitely stands out from the bunch and that’s the guy the Celtics just gave to the 76ers. Danny seems to think there’s little to no difference between Markelle and the rest, but I strongly disagree. There’s a reasonable chance he won’t end up the best player in this draft with all the upside at the top, but he’s the surest bet to be an All-NBA player and someone a team can build around with confidence. If the 2018 Lakers pick ends up in the top 4, it could be worth it. There are 4 guys that could be really effing good in Porter Jr, Doncic, Ayton and Mohamed La La La La La La Bamba. That’s assuming trader Danny doesn’t just ship all these picks out for Jimmy Butler or Paul George. Which he should not do. Hes done enough damage for the time being.

Without further ado, here are the top 11 guys in the DX mock draft and my opinions on them. This doesn’t mean I think these are the best 11 guys, just the ones I have had time to watch in depth so far. Will be watching more tape before the draft on other dudes.

Markelle Fultz 6’5” 198 lbs. PG Washington Fr. – It’s a shame Fultz went to go play for Washington. He must’ve picked them because he thought the coach’s name was awesome, but that’s not a good reason and because of this I didn’t get a chance to watch a lot of his games this year. One thing I didn’t know until now is how many tools he has in his offense. Step backs, spin-moves, hezzies, you name it. And his footwork…that’s some damn fine footwork. A really advanced offense for someone this young is uncommon. There are lingering questions about his intensity, but it’s not something I’m too worried about. The Brandon Roy comps make sense, but with the 76ers, I think you are going to see a similar game to Kyrie’s. There’s no doubt Fultz is the best player in the draft and he should be an All-Star by year 3. Rating – 94

Lonzo Ball 6’6” 190 lbs. PG UCLA Fr. – What an interesting prospect. The best comp I’ve seen of him is Shaun Livingston with a J. Arguably the best passer to come out in the last 5-6 years (although Ben Simmons might have something to say about that this year.) Super flashy even when he doesn’t have to be, which is right in my wheelhouse. All of his passes hit shooters right in their pocket, an underrated skill. The main problem is he has no nuance in his offensive game. It’s either step back 3s from one side of the court or he’s driving. While I’m sure Daryl Morey wouldn’t have a problem with this, it really limits what he’s able to do. The low release and shooting from the left side of his head makes it difficult for him to shoot from the right side of the court and he’s not gonna be changing the mechanics at this point. Ball has a really wiry frame, which makes him easy to bump off on drives. He’s just not that aggressive and I wonder if he is actually going to be a gamer in the biggest moments. That tourney game against Kentucky continues to stick out for me as at least an orange flag. This draft is loaded, but I think his ability to make his team better stands out as the best skill in the draft and for that I believe he should be a top 3 pick. I see him becoming a top PG, probably in the 6-12 range in the league. Rating – 91

Jayson Tatum 6’8” 203 lbs. SF Duke Fr. – There’s been a lot of debate whether he or Jackson would end up the better player. For my money, I’m picking my boy Tay Tay with confidence. Definitely my favorite player in the draft, I think he’s going to be good right away. Has so many NBA ready moves and skills that should translate on day 1. You could describe his game as silky, but to me it’s more buttery. I really like the Danny Granger comp and also see some Paul George in his game. He can have that kind of impact. He’s not a knockdown 3-point shooter, but shot 85% from the free throw line and has good form, so I think he will get there. If he hits his ceiling, could be in the mix for 3^rd team All-NBA one day. Rating – 90

Jonathan Isaac 6’11” 205 lbs. PF Florida St. Fr. – Johnny boy is the modern 4. He’s super tall and can shoot from outside. One of those freaks who was a guard in high school and sprouted 6 inches super late. He reminds me of a poor man’s Anthony Davis with less feel for the game, but I love his energy. Isaac is just scratching his potential right now and I think you won’t see the player he is going to be until about year 3 in the league. I would take a chance on him in the top-5 over a few other consensus guys. The upside is huge and everybody in the league can use a guy like him. And he’s killing that high and tight haircut game. Rating – 90  

Josh Jackson 6’8” 203 lbs. SF Kansas Fr. – Reminds me of De’Aaron Fox in a lot of ways. A great bouncy athlete with a lot of passion, but can’t shoot. If Josh’s mom is reading this then I’m sorry Ms. Jackson, I am fo real. His mechanics aren’t as fucked as the Fox, but they ain’t pretty. That’s what makes Jackson one of the hardest players to project. If he gets drafted to the right team and works with the right shot doctor to get even an NBA-average 3 point shot, he can easily be the second best player on a contender. If he stays a below average shooter though, you are going to have to build a team of shooters around him in a league where shooting is at a premium. That will make him closer to a lower-tier third banana. Either way, he’s gonna be a good player. Has the right IQ and plays with fire. I’m not too worried about the off-the-court issues. Who hasn’t beaten the shit out of a car before. That’s the kind of passion I want on the court. He shouldn’t be the first pick, but there’s no reason he won’t be one of the best 7 players in this draft. Much like myself in any sport, the kid is bust-proof. Rating – 87

Malik Monk 6’3” 192 lbs. SG Kentucky Fr. – Monk’s shot it as pure I was until I hit the tender age of 21. Kid can light it up and is a gamer. Shooting is the most valuable skill in the NBA and he does it better than everyone in the draft. Any team could plug him into their rotation. I have worries though that this kid is a bit too Nintendo aka one-dimensional. His defense is laughable and he’s undersized for his position. Feels a bit Jamal Crawford-y to me, but he’s also still young playing in a system that didn’t showcase him. I think he should be a top-10 pick on his shooting and hops alone, but I’m not sure how much better his secondary skills will get. Rating – 84

De’Aaron Fox 6’4” 171 lbs. PG Kentucky Fr. – His highs are high and his lows are low. I love the kid’s passion for the game and think he has major heart. Someone that will improve his play in a big game. Fox is probably the fastest player in the draft and it’s fun to watch. My problem with ol Foxy is that I just don’t see his game translating as well to the modern NBA. He cannot shoot to save his life. He shoots the ball like a praying mantis and his misses are worse than a Josh Golden wiffle ball swing. NBA defenses are going to sag back on him and it’s going to nullify his ability to drive or space the floor. His body is also built like Snoop Dogg and it’s not getting much more size. I do like him as a player, but I don’t see a top 18 PG here. I think he’s probably going 7 spots too early tbh. I’m rooting for him though. Rating – 83

Frank Ntilikina 6’5” 170 lbs. PG Fraaance 18.9 years old – They call him French, but his hometown is Brussels where the waffles and chocolate are worth the trip alone (seriously go). Also has the same birthday as me so that’s HUGE points. Hopefully he has better friends than me and actually celebrate it with him. So how bright is Frankie Nicotine’s fewtch? I like his game and he is still quite a youth so he has time to develop. It’s always difficult to judge young guys in the Euro league, because I don’t watch those games and am not familiar with the competition, but from the tape, I like what I saw. His height will help him get minutes as someone who can guard either guard spot and help out as a secondary ball handler. I like him as a pick between 9-15, but I don’t see a top-20 PG here, I see a solid first or second guy off the bench though. Rating – 83

Dennis Smith 6’3” 195 lbs. PG NC St. Fr. – Might be the most athletic dude in the draft. The biggest problem is he’s more heartless than Kanye’s exes. Doesn’t do the little things to help his team win and does not look like a leader, which I want in a PG. NC State sucked balls this year. Some of that has to be put on him. It’s hard to tell how much though because his team sucked. So was he disengaged because he didn’t trust his teammates or his that his general disposition? Any team that drafts him is praying for the latter. I wouldn’t trust him to run my starting lineup unless I had a great group of guys in the locker room that could keep him in check. He could be Steve Francis if everything lines up right, but he could also be playing in Europe in 5-6 years. Rating – 81

Lauri Markkanen 7’0” 225 lbs. PF Arizona Fr. – Prototypical soft Euro, Lauri plays like a guy half a foot shorter, which is mostly a bad thing. I really like his stroke, but I don’t think it’s going viral. He can be pretty one-dimensional. It’s cool to have a 7 footer who can stretch the floor, but you also expect that 7 footer to be able to rebound and protect the rim maybe a little bit. He doesn’t do any of that. I think his future is as a bit of a more affluent Kelly Olynyk (who I just hate as a human). Can be a good 7^th guy off the bench, but in this draft I would be taking bigger swings in the top 10. Rating – 79