The 2016 NBA Draft is over, which means it's time for a 2017 Mock Draft. Sure, the next draft is a year away, but it's never too early to take a look at the top prospects and who teams will be tanking for next season. The order of this mock draft is based on next year's Vegas title odds with all existing trades accounted for. Here's our first crack at next year's draft with our way-too-early mock:
1) Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets) - Harry Giles, Fr., PF, Duke Blue Devils - 6'11", 225 lbs.
If it wasn't for a torn ACL in his senior high school season - the second of his high school career - Giles would be far and away the No. 1 prospect in the country. He's a big guy that can do it all - play with his back to the basket, make mid-range jumpers to regularly, runs the floor extremely well and excellent shot-blocker. As long as the injury doesn't derail his truly elite athleticism, Giles will be a frontrunner for the top pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
2) Phoenix Suns - Josh Jackson, Fr., SF, Kansas Jayhawks - 6'7", 205 lbs.
Yes, he needs to add strength, but that's about the only negative thing you can say about Jackson's game. He's as athletic as any player in this class, makes threes with regularity, is great at attacking the rim and - most importantly - is an extremely smart player. Jackson also has the passing and ball-handling abilities to play point forward, making him that much more valuable. Think of him as a much more polished, slightly less athletic Andrew Wiggins.
3) Philadelphia 76ers - Markelle Fultz, Fr., PG, Washington Huskies - 6'5", 186 lbs.
Fultz is a true combo guard, but he is perhaps the most pure scorer in this class. His jumper is inconsistent, but it's nearly impossible to keep him out of paint - and when he gets to the rim, you won't be able to keep him from scoring or from getting to the foul line.
4) Sacramento Kings - Frank Ntilikina, PG, Strasbourg (International) - 6'5", 170 lbs.
Ntilikina could be the best international guard prospect we've ever seen. Along with his elite size and seven-foot wingspan, he is a very good athlete that is polished in almost all phases of the game. He is a great passer with gifted vision, but his jumper does need some work - the only part of his game that is a serious flaw.
5) Denver Nuggets - Jayson Tatum, Fr., SF, Duke Blue Devils - 6'8", 204 lbs.
Tatum is extremely polished offensively, showcasing a reliable jump shot (especially from mid-range) and wide array of finishes around the rim. He isn't the quickest player in the world, but he knows how to get his shots off by using his size and length.
6) Orlando Magic - Dennis Smith, Fr., PG, NC State Wolfpack - 6'2", 160 lbs.
Despite his small frame, Smith is an elite athlete and lightning quick. Couple that with very good ball handling, and Smith can get to where ever he wants on the court. He can play a little reckless at times and doesn't have the most reliable jumper, but all of the physical tools of a star are there.
7) Washington Wizards - Thomas Bryant, So., C, Indiana Hoosiers - 6'10", 241 lbs.
Bryant likely would've been a first-round pick in the 2016 draft had he decided to leave Indiana after his freshman season, but smartly opted to go back to school and work on his game. A surprising athlete, Bryant is already polished in the post and a very good rebounder. Once he starts playing with more consistency and gets a big stronger, he'll be unstoppable.
8) Milwaukee Bucks - De'Aaron Fox, Fr., PG, Kentucky Wildcats - 6'4", 181 lbs.
Fox has the size (6'4") and athleticism that the Bucks love, along with having the scoring ability to become the focal point of UK's offense next season. That being said, he is also a pass-first point guard that would rather get his teammates involved. He's a bit like former Kentucky point guard John Wall in that sense - dangerous scorer, but he's most dangerous with his passing ability.
9) New York Knicks - Marques Bolden, Fr. C, Duke Blue Devils - 6'11", 250 lbs.
A big, physical, polished player the best true center in this year's class thanks to his soft hands, quick feet and reliable post game.
10) Detroit Pistons - Ivan Rabb, PF, So., Cal Golden Bears - 6'10", 215 lbs.
Rabb does need to bulk up, but he's the prototype stretch four at the NBA level. He has excellent touch around the rim and on his mid-range jumper, shooting 61.5 percent last season while grabbing 8.6 rebounds per game. However, Rabb's biggest problem is his tendency to fade out of games offensively from time to time because of his passiveness.
11) Indiana Pacers - Edrice Adebayo, PF, Fr., Kentucky Wildcats - 6'9", 225 lbs.
Simply put, Adebayo is an athletic beast. He's an extremely strong player who loves getting physical on the block on both ends of the court. Adebayo has a growing array of post moves, but his athleticism is his main calling card right now. Could be ideal as a small-ball five.
12) Dallas Mavericks - Lonzo Ball, PG, Fr., UCLA Bruins - 6'4", 162 lbs.
Ball just has a natural feel for the game. He averaged a triple-double during his senior season at Chino Hills High School, showing his ability to be a game-changer in all phases. However, he is a pass-first point guard, putting him in position to excel at UCLA - and eventually in the NBA.
13) Utah Jazz - Jonathan Isaac, SF, Fr., Florida State Seminoles - 6'11", 205 lbs.
Long and lanky, Issac obviously needs to add weight to his skinny 190-pound frame, but he has all the ability in the world. His length and athleticism make him a very capable defender on the perimeter, and allow him to get to the rim with ease.
14) Philadelphia 76ers (via Los Angeles Lakers) - Malik Monk, PG/SG, Fr., Kentucky Wildcats - 6'4", 185 lbs.
Monk is that rare prospect who can win both a three-point shootout and a slam dunk contest. He needs to bulk up like most high school seniors do, but he's a smooth athlete who rarely takes a bad shot. Not the quickest, but is fast and knows how to get past his defender and create his own shot.
15) Denver Nuggets (via Memphis Grizzlies) - Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Fr. Michigan State Spartans - 6'8", 230 lbs.
Bridges already has the combination of size, strength and quickness that has NBA scouts drooling about his potential. A freakish athlete, Bridges also has smooth jumper, making him virtually unguardable on the offensive end. He just has to make sure he stays in good shape and continues to improve defensively.
16) Charlotte Hornets - Jarrett Allen, C, Fr., Texas Longhorns - 6'10", 227 lbs.
Allen has all the physical tools you look for in a center and shot blocker - including a 7'6" wingspan - but his game is still extremely raw. Right now, he does his best work off the offensive glass and beating a defender with his speed and positioning instead of post moves.
17) Portland Trail Blazers - Ogugua Anunoby, SF, So., Indiana Hoosiers - 6'8", 215 lbs.
Anunoby is the kind of athletic, versatile prospect NBA teams love - especially if he starts to tap into some of his potential. He showed flashes of being dynamite defender and very good rebounds last year, and while he's still a work in progress offensively, he has the potential to be a very good small ball four.
18) Minnesota Timberwolves - Rodions Kurucs, SF, Barcelona (International) - 6'8", 190 lbs.
He needs to fill out, like most 18 year olds, but Kurucs has good ball-handling ability and is a knockdown shooter that can create shots for himself.
19) New Orleans Pelicans - Tyler Lydon, SF/PF, So., Syracuse Orange - 6'9", 205 lbs.
Lydon will be a stretch four at the next level (40.5 percent from three), and that has been his calling card in college. Scouts want to see him add strength and become more consistent, but he is a first-round talent.
20) Houston Rockets - Omer Yurtseven, C, Fenerbahce (International) - 7'0", 228 lbs.
The seven-footer isn't very athletic and doesn't possess a perimeter jump shot. However, he is very mobile for his size and is very polished offensively, especially in the post.
21) Chicago Bulls - Frank Jackson, PG, Fr., Duke Blue Devils - 6'3", 185 lbs.
Jackson is more combo guard than point guard, but there's not a lot the McDonald's All-American Game MVP can't do offensively. He has good size for a point guard, which coupled with his athleticism makes him hard to keep out of the paint. Jackson also has a good jumper, but decision making and bad shot selection can be an issue with him.
22) Atlanta Hawks - Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Zalgiris (International) - 6'11", 225 lbs.
Hartenstein has excellent physical tools and athleticism, allowing him to play power forward instead of center, but he still struggles to put it all together at times. He can play with his back to the basket, shoot from the perimeter, create his own offense and attack the basket off the bounce - yet is very inconsistent, often makes bad decisions and is a bit of a ball hog. The potential is there, but he needs a lot of polishing.
23) Toronto Raptors - Jonathan Jeanne, PF/C, Le Mans (International) - 7'2", 195 lbs.
Jeanne needs to add strength more than anyone else in this draft and may be a draft-and-stash prospect because of it, but his potential is immense. Picture him as Rudy Gobert who can handle the ball and has a three-point jumper. He's still learning the game, particularly defensively, but the potential is obvious.
24) Miami Heat - V.J. Beachem, SF, Sr., Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 6'8", 200 lbs.
Beachem is a pure shooter offensively, and looks like he could develop into the prototypical 3-and-D guy in the NBA.
25) Brooklyn Nets (via Boston Celtics) - Grayson Allen, SG, Jr., Duke Blue Devils - 6'4", 185 lbs.
Allen is arguably the best scorer in college basketball. A very good shooter, he has also displayed the quickness, strength and athleticism needed to get to the rim and finish. He is a questionable defender and shaky ball-handler at his point in his career, but he can put the ball in the basket with the best of them.
26) Toronto Raptors (via Los Angeles Clippers) - Lauri Markkanen, PF, Fr., Arizona Wildcats - 7'0", 225 lbs.
The Finland-native wanted to play at Arizona instead of entering the 2016 draft, and it could end up benefitting him greatly. He's already polished offensively with a reliable three-point jumper, but doesn't rebound well and isn't a rim protector despite his size. Sean Miller should fix that.
27) Oklahoma City Thunder - Dwayne Bacon, SF, So., Florida State Seminoles - 6'5", 202 lbs.
Bacon is a high-upside player who nearly entered the 2016 draft before returning to school. He's supremely athletic and is great at finishing around the rim (with plenty of spectacular slams from time to time), but also has good ball-handing ability and a reliable three-point shot. He just has to become more consistent and aggressive.
28) San Antonio Spurs - Jaron Blossomgame, SF, Sr., Clemson Tigers - 6'7", 214 lbs.
Blossomgame's NBA stock rocketed up during his breakout year last season, during which he emerged as perhaps the best stretch four in college basketball. Already an excellent defender, he displayed an improved shooting touch (44.6 percent from three) and quickness to attack the basket at a high rate from the perimeter. If he proves to be more than a one-year wonder, he'll be a first-rounder.
29) Cleveland Cavaliers - Monte Morris, PG, Sr. Iowa State Cyclones - 6'3", 175 lbs.
Morris isn't the kind of player who will blow you away with anything he does, but he doesn't have any weaknesses in his game. He's excellent at controlling the pace of play and has incredible vision and passing ability. He should be a reliable backup point guard at the NBA level.
30) Utah Jazz (via Golden State Warriors) - Allonzo Trier, SG, So., Arizona Wildcats - 6'5", 199 lbs.
Trier was held back a bit by an injury last year, and if he stays fully healthy, he could skyrocket up draft boards over the course of the next year. He has no weaknesses in his offensive game - consistency and motor are his only question marks.
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