Tuesday night featured the annual Champions Classic in Chicago and, for the most part, the double-header marks the start of the college basketball season. Those interested in the NBA Draft were forced to pay (very) close attention to the 2017 edition of the event, as numerous potential first-round picks were in action over the course of two games, headlined by presumptive top-five pick Marvin Bagley III.
While Bagley was unfortunately forced off the floor with an eye injury in the early going, the evening was not void of action. From a collegiate perspective, Duke senior Grayson Allen (featured later in this post) stole the headlines with an incredibly prolific performance and was quietly the key to the Blue Devils picking up a win. From a draft perspective, though, Michigan State freshman Jaren Jackson Jr. made a national name for himself, even if that should have already been the case.
The 6’10, 240-pound youngster (Jackson turned 18 in September) was electric for the Spartans, scoring 19 points (including three connections from long distance) and grabbing seven rebounds to overshadow high-profile teammate Miles Bridges. Whiel Bridges, who returns as a top-ten prospect as a sophomore, flashed positive signs at times, Jackson’s entire arsenal was on full display.
It is likely too early to declare Jackson as the absolute No. 1 prospect on his own team and, by extension, it is difficult to vault him clearly into the top five nationally. Still, he brings a tantalizing skill set on both ends of the floor and, for whatever reason, Jackson has been overshadowed by classmates in Bagley III, Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr. and Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton.
Just how impressive was Jackson to begin the college season? Let’s find out in our latest mock draft.
1. Chicago Bulls – Luka Doncic (SG/SF, Slovenia)
Doncic is out of his mind right now and what he has done at the age of 18 is basically unprecedented for a European prospect. There will be doubters, especially as the college basketball season progresses and the general public sees (much) more of the freshman class, but Doncic has to be in the driver’s seat right now based on what we’ve seen. He’s a full-fledged monster.
2. Sacramento Kings – Michael Porter Jr. (SF/PF, Missouri)
The Kings have a plethora of young players but none with the offensive/scoring upside that Porter would bring. In some ways, he is the safest prospect in the top five aside from Doncic because it would be a stunner if Porter didn’t become an above-average offensive player. There are questions about his positional destiny and he has been weirdly absent at the outset of his one and only college season, but Porter has a chance to go No. 1 if he explodes. The talent is real.
3. Atlanta Hawks – DeAndre Ayton (C, Arizona)
Ayton has the biggest question mark of any top-four prospect in this class and it comes in the form of his motor. Simultaneously, Ayton also has the highest upside as a result of his status as an athletic freak that also brings an insane package of skills and a physical profile that is out of a lab. He would have been No. 4 prior to two strong performances in the early going but, if Ayton is locked in with consistent effort, this could end up being too low.
4. Dallas Mavericks – Marvin Bagley III (PF/C, Duke)
Bagley is probably the final player on this mock that could reasonably go No. 1 and, even if his national breakout party was cut short on Tuesday, that is still the case. He’s a ridiculous athlete that has already begun producing at a high level in college. There will be plenty of time to dissect his issues (as we will with every top prospect) but Bagley isn’t likely to slip beyond this point for me.
5. Phoenix Suns – Mo Bamba (C, Texas)
Bamba is preposterously long (7’9 wingspan) and his defensive upside is scary as a result. The Suns haven’t had the greatest luck lately with lottery centers (say Len, Alex) but Bamba would be a pretty clear pick at No. 5 if the top four went as they did above.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Brooklyn) – Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF/C, Michigan State)
As noted above, Jackson’s upside is considerable and stems from his two-way ability. It isn’t every day that a prospect comes along that can protect the rim while providing versatility and floor-spacing offensively but Jackson can (theoretically) do both. He belongs.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (via Los Angeles Lakers) – Miles Bridges (PF/SF, Michigan State)
Bridges is the best non-freshman in college basketball and he would’ve been a rightful lottery pick a year ago. Will he be able to crack the top-five this year? Maybe not, but he remains an incredibly safe top-10 guy based on his athletic burst, production and high floor.
8. New York Knicks – Robert Williams (C, Texas A&M)
The Knicks feel the need to deploy Kristaps Porzingis at the power forward spot and, if that is the team’s plan long-term, adding a quality, versatile center to the mix would be a good idea. Williams isn’t going to blow anyone away with the upside that some players in this class possess but it would be a surprise if he wasn’t a rotation-worthy big man in the NBA and he joins Miles Bridges as players that would have been top picks in 2017.
9. Indiana Pacers – Collin Sexton (PG, Alabama)
There was a bit of fear with Sexton when he sat out Alabama’s opener under the guise of safety from the FBI investigation. The talented point guard did make an appearance on Tuesday, though, and he quickly reminded the draft world of his considerable abilities. Sexton isn’t quite the overall talent that some of the 2017 point guards were but his competitiveness is contagious and he seems like a lottery pick and the No. 1 pure point guard.
10. Orlando Magic – Troy Brown (SG, Oregon)
This is banking on improvement with Brown’s jumper because, right now, that is the only question I have. He is capable of creating his own offense while also defending at a high level with a 6’11 wingspan and that would fit well alongside the Aaron Gordon-Jonathan Isaac duo in a scary lineup for the Magic.
11. Charlotte Hornets – Wendell Carter (PF/C, Duke)
Carter isn’t nearly as flashy as some of his Duke teammates but he is rock solid. There are justified defensive questions given his lack of high-end athleticism, but Carter is more than agile enough to get by. As for positives, he is a monster on the glass and around the rim offensively. He’ll be overshadowed but NBA folks will be keeping a close eye on his progress.
12. Phoenix Suns (via Miami) – Trevon Duval (PG, Duke)
It wouldn’t surprise anyone if Duval was the first point guard selected and he put his full range of outcomes on display in the match-up against Michigan State. Everyone understands the limitations with Duval’s jumper at the moment, though, and that is where the divide comes into play.
13. Utah Jazz – Lonnie Walker (SG, Miami)
Draft pundits love Lonnie Walker and it is easy to see why. His defensive ceiling is immense and that will drive his value, even if some viewers will likely question his relative lack of offensive explosion. The complete package is certainly worth a look in the middle of the first round, though.
14. New Orleans Pelicans – Mikal Bridges (SF, Villanova)
No team in the NBA needs cheap, efficient wings more than the Pelicans and Bridges would be perfect. He doesn’t need the ball to be effective and, perhaps more importantly, Bridges brings defensive tools to the table with the simultaneous ability to stretch opposing defenses. Bridges isn’t a flashy prospect but he’ll keep rising based on need in today’s league.
15. Los Angeles Clippers – De’Anthony Melton (SG/PG, USC)
I’m a sucker for Melton’s defense and learning at the feet of Patrick Beverley would be intriguing as a result. In truth, this is probably higher than you will see Melton projected in most places but his all-court game is very intriguing and this would keep him close to home in Los Angeles.
16. Philadelphia 76ers – Bruce Brown (SG, Miami)
It would be a minor surprise to me if Brown fell this far but the fit is too perfect. He is something of a combo guard offensively, but Brown really guards and is exactly what Philly needs to go along with Ben Simmons and, eventually, Markelle Fultz. There would be no surprise if Brown zoomed into the lottery, though, so keep that in mind.
17. Detroit Pistons – Justin Jackson (SF, Maryland)
Everybody loves 3-and-D prospects in today’s NBA and Jackson is certainly one of them. He isn’t fantastic at any singular thing but Jackson is ridiculously long (7’3 wingspan) and has flashed the ability to shoot consistently from the perimeter. It would be a stunner if he developed into a primary offensive option but, at No. 17 overall, teams won’t be expecting that and he could fit nicely pretty much anywhere in the league as a result.
18. Memphis Grizzlies – Hamidou Diallo (SG, Kentucky)
Diallo isn’t a safe pick in the slightest but Memphis needs upside for the future. He nearly entered the draft a year ago and, frankly, he’s one of the best athletes in the entire class with a 6’10 wingspan to boot. Can he shoot? Can he defend? Questions abound but you don’t find these tools all that often outside of the lottery.
19. Portland Trail Blazers – Shake Milton (PG, SMU)
I’m pretty much all in on Melton when compared to the consensus. He has incredible size (6’6 with a 6’11 wingspan) when given the ability to function at point guard and that makes him a very interesting fit as a backup to both Lillard and McCollum in Portland. Fit is hardly ever that easy but, on the defensive end, he would bring quite a bit to the table and there is enough in the arsenal offensively to justify a top-20 perch.
20. Denver Nuggets – Kevin Knox (SF, Kentucky)
The Nuggets could really use an heir apparent to Wilson Chandler at the three and Knox is the rare player that has legitimate size that teams desire at that spot. Make no mistake, there are a few question marks with his game at this point but Knox boasts considerable upside and could return quite a bit of value if he falls all the way to No. 20 overall.
21. Milwaukee Bucks – Chimezie Metu (C, USC)
Metu isn’t the perfect fit in Milwaukee given what Thon Maker already brings but the Bucks do need help in a post-Greg Monroe world. Given his tools, Metu profiles as an interesting defensive prospect but, at the moment, he is probably better offensively and needs to marry the two together in order to reach his considerable ceiling.
22. Atlanta Hawks (via Minnesota) – Mitchell Robinson (C, High School)
The Hawks can afford to swing for the fences a bit given their stockpile of assets and Robinson is certainly a gamble. He won’t be playing college basketball this season after leaving Western Kentucky but Robinson’s tools are lottery-quality if he can put them together. That is a massive “if” at this point in time but, unfortunately, we won’t know much more until (at least) the draft workout process begins in earnest.
23. Washington Wizards – Nickeil Alexander-Walker (PG/SG, Virginia Tech)
The freshman from Canada burst on to the scene nationally with two prolific performances to begin the season in Blacksburg and he was on the radar for NBA folks long before that. At 6’5, Alexander-Walker has the frame to adequately play both guard spots and he was a top-25 prospect that just happened to end up at an off-the-beaten-path location. He can play.
24. Brooklyn Nets (via Toronto) – Jarred Vanderbilt (PF, Kentucky)
The 6’9 freshman isn’t healthy just yet but, provided Vanderbilt returns soon, he should be able to sneak into the first round. Brooklyn is in dire need of quality frontcourt players for the future and Vanderbilt would be an interesting long-term complement to Jarrett Allen up front.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers – Emmanuel Akot (SF, Arizona)
Akot is the lost player at Arizona with DeAndre Ayton, Allonzo Trier and even Rawle Alkins grabbing more headlines but I like him quite a bit as a prospect. It isn’t flashy, but he fits the mold of the modern NBA with his defensive tools. The question is the jump shot but, if it hits, he’s a first round player.
26. Boston Celtics – Allonzo Trier (SG, Arizona)
Not everyone “sees it” with Trier but he is a heck of a college player that should be able to carve out a role in the NBA. Of course, it didn’t hurt when he came out of the gates firing (averaging 31 points per game) at the outset of his junior season but Trier is a safe bet to some degree.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Oklahoma City) – Brian Bowen (SF, Louisville)
The Wolves do have plenty of wings right now but Bowen would add a touch of shooting to the proceedings. There is real uncertainty with just how much (if at all) Bowen will actually play in college given his bizarre circumstances but he’s a (late) first round talent that fits here.
28. San Antonio Spurs – Grayson Allen (SG, Duke)
Lost in the circus surrounding Allen last season was that, well, he can really play. Allen is a high-end finisher that doesn’t look like a high-end finisher (sneakily athletic, etc.) and, in San Antonio, he could harness his considerable skills into an NBA-ready package. Look no further than his off-the-charts performance in Chicago against Michigan State.
29. Atlanta Hawks (via Houston) – Dzanan Musa (F, Bosnia)
Given that the Hawks appear likely to have three first-round picks, a draft-and-stash candidate makes sense here. Musa can really shoot and, well, Hawks GM Travis Schlenk comes from a spot where you would assume he values that particular characteristic at a high level.
30. Golden State Warriors – Devonte Graham (G, Kansas)
Devonte Graham knows how to play basketball. He isn’t the flashiest prospect and there isn’t too much upside here but he has good size and IQ to go along with a varied set of offensive skills. Golden State also has a penchant for college veterans with high-end pedigrees and he fits that bill as well.
