NLL Insider - 2017 NLL Lottery Mock Draftby laddas, updated on Thursday, June 22 2017, 05:31 am EST
Ht/Wt: 6' 5"/186 lbs.
The best rated prospect in the draft. I
just can’t see the Hawks passing on this guy. Has the most complete offensive
arsenal out of any prospect in the draft and to try and find many negatives is
just nitpicking at best. He is just as capable at running the offense as he is
letting it come to him so if Jrue returns I don’t see any issues with these two
playing together. He’s a fluid athlete that sees the court very well which
makes doubling him a problem. Very good pull up game as well and just as
dangerous finishing at the rim. The Hawks take him at 1 and that’s the end of
story.
2 Ht/Wt: 6' 8"/202 lbs.
Mavericks could go Ball at number 2, but I
think they still believe in Mudiay so here we see Josh Jackson as second off
the block. At 6’8 and playing at Kansas, he immediately gets comparisons to
Andrew Wiggins, but I don’t think that’s entirely accurate. Jackson is a very
good passer for someone his size and has a solid handle which makes him a
potential playmaker from the wing. He moves very well off the ball and is an
explosive athlete and has a toughness about him that makes him absorb contact
well at the hoop and finish. The Mavericks bring in the best wing in the draft
at number 2. 3 * Ht/Wt: 6' 6"/190 lbs.
With questions about Russell’s leadership
qualities the Clippers snap up Ball at pick 3. Lonzo is a pass first point
guard that possesses great size and speed. It’s hard not to compare him to
Jason Kidd which I’m sure GM Andrew would love to add to his up and coming
squad. He has an ugly jump shot that surprisingly works though as he shot over
40% from three in college. The only downside with Lonzo is the baggage that is
his father LaVar Ball… But once GM Andrew gets in his ear and tells him to
“shut upâ€, the Clippers will unearth a franchise Point Guard.
4 Ht/Wt: 6' 2"/190 lbs.
Wait… what? Didn’t the Clippers just draft
Lonzo Ball? Yep, but it’s no secret the GM Andrew rates Dennis Smith as not
only the best PG in the draft, but the best player period. It’s hard to argue
with his assessment as Smith is outrageously explosive, think Russell Westbrook
like explosiveness (and if you don’t believe me go watch footage of Smith at NC
State and then of Westbrook at UCLA) and an ability to finish at the rim at a
high percentage. Not only can he score the ball but he’s also quite unselfish
and willing passer and has the tools to be an elite perimeter defender in the
league. What holds him back is the question marks surrounding his surgically
repaired knee, which he tore the ACL in high school.
5 Ht/Wt: 6' 8"/204 lbs.
Memphis are rubbing their hands together
with this one, Tatum fits the bill perfectly here at number. Memphis would be
filling a need and arguably grabbing the BPA at this spot. Tatum will get you
buckets, he plays a smooth game with the potential to be an inside outside
threat. He reminds me a little of Danny Granger, who in his prime was a 23ppg
scorer, something I’m sure GM jessedunne would be wrapped with. He has the
physical tools to be good defender if he puts his mind to it, what he might
lack in lateral quickness he could easily make up for in hustle and size.
Adding Tatum to Exum (Who is expected to take a jump in production this year),
Chriss and big Papa, the Grizzlies have a foundation to build on for years to
come. 6* Ht/Wt: 6' 4"/171 lbs.
GM Laddas number 1 target in this draft is
likely to fall to the Pistons at number 6. Elite level speed, quickness on a
6’4 body is the 19-year old’s biggest strength. Fox is faster than most players
and knows himself as much that he loves to push the ball in transition. His
size and speed make him such a good finisher around the hoop and can finish
over almost anyone but also possesses an underrated mid-range game which would
serve him well in the NBA. Defensively, he is an excellent on ball defender and
has quick hands capable of ripping the ball away at any moment. He does have a
skinny frame though and strength work will be his immediate need a long with a
consistent outside J. After trading away Chris Paul, this young man will come
in as a direct replacement.
7* Ht/Wt: 6' 5"/180 lbs.
I think the Pacers take the first “reachâ€
here at number 7 with the French point guard. Now for me, I don’t believe it be
a reach, Pacers need a PG and Frank in any other draft would probably go top 5.
6’5 possessing a 7-foot wing span he could be a real handful defensively. The
scary part is scouts say he still has to room to grow into his body which could
turn him into a physical specimen. He has above average basketball IQ and is
very unselfish with the ball which every coach loves from their point guard. He
still has work to do on his jump shot and creating offense for himself, but
with time we could be looking at a “Greek freak†like player, not equal in
size, but more like nothing we’ve seen at the PG position before.
8* Ht/Wt: 6'11"/205 lbs.
Originally, I would’ve said Malik Monk,
but the Mavericks recently brought in KCP… So, they snap up one of the most
tantalizing players in the draft, Jonathan Isaac. At almost 7 feet tall and
wiry 205lb frame Isaac gets up and down the court like guard would and he’s
very light on his feet which gives him great agility on the court. He possesses
a 7’1 wingspan and whopping 9’1 reach allow him to be a real menace on the
defensive end from the wing position. Like most freshman though he will need to
add strength and while he is a very good ball handler for a man his size, he
will need to work on his ability to create shots. With comparisons ranging from
studs like Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett to busts like Channing Frye and lesser
players like Al-Farouq Aminu… the gap between his best and worst-case scenario
is what makes Isaac the most intriguing prospect.
9* Ht/Wt: 6' 3"/185 lbs.
The Magic gave up Boogie Cousins for a top
10 picks as they appear to be rebuilding the once promising squad now and see
them taking the explosive Malik Monk at pick 9. His elite level athleticism
sees him finish at the rim at a high percentage and his jump shot is one of the
best in the class but his shot selection needs to be his main focus of work.
Some scouts think he can develop into an NBA point guard due to the fact he can
indeed make plays passing the ball, but it would be an almost complete
transformation from his natural game. Maybe a Kyrie like PG role could be in
his future. With Monk, the Magic move Middleton to SF and add in Valanciunas,
things are still looking promising in Orlando. 10 * Ht/Wt: 7' 0"/230 lbs.
What a draft this would turn out to be for
the Hawks. They land the best player in Markelle Fultz and then at pick 10 land
arguably the best center in the draft. Collins plays hard and with a chip on
his shoulder and you add that with his broad shoulders, long arms and solid
body frame he has the potential to be a really solid NBA player. He has great
mechanics on his jump shot with an almost perfect release and is quite a fluid
runner in transition. His hard play can lead to some silly fouls which he will have
to get better at but the Hawks are potentially looking at a Collins, TT,
Winslow, Fultz, Holiday starting 5 to start the 2017/18 season. Well done
Frahm.
11* Ht/Wt: 6' 3"/210 lbs.
After filling the team’s biggest weakness
at pick 5 with Jayson Tatum, they get to fill another here with Mitchell.
Wasn’t really that much talked about as a lottery pick early in the year but
has really gained steam recently with impressive workouts and has shown a great
ability to put the ball in the hole. His best asset though is his jump out of
the gym athleticism and first step as explosive as the best. His superior
athleticism helps him defensively as well as he is a pest and strong. He is
undersized but his strength and athleticism make up for what he lacks in
height. With Mitchell, the Grizzlies draft 2 very talented players and things
look good in Memphis.
12 Ht/Wt: 7' 0"/230 lbs.
Some may see this as a slip for Markkanen
but for me, it seems just about right. Lauri is a legit outside threat from the
4/5 spot and with his size will be hard man to contest on the perimeter. He’s a
very fluid athlete and his jump shot is wet whether it be off the dribble or
catch and shoot. He’s had comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki and Kristaps Porzingis
and while his offensive game does mimic these two, scouts say he lacks the
toughness to compete at times. His poor rebounding numbers are a reflection of
why some call him “soft†but at the end of the day he is a great talent and I’m
sure GM Smokey has no worries taking him at pick 12. Jackson, Isaac and
Markkanen? Smokey says thank you very much! 13 Ht/Wt: 6'10"/218 lbs.
Charlotte have so much young talent it’s
hard to see what they would go for. They could take the risk on Harry Giles
sure, or even snatch board riser Jonah Bolden… But I think they will take John
Collins here at 13. Turner, Porzingis, Maker and Collins? There’s your front
court set for the next few years (until they all demand a pay rise). Collins
was super effective and productive in his time in college and sported a
ridiculous PER of 36.3 in his sophomore season. Right now, though a lot of his
game is based on his high-level athleticism so he will need to figure out other
ways to be productive in the NBA as his game grows. He has great hands and has
a great motor on the boards which makes him a rebounding fiend. I think Collins
will be a solid addition for the Hornets. 14* Ht/Wt:
6'10"/227 lbs. Who?
What? Jonah has been flying up mock drafts since workouts opened up. Not a lot
is known about the Australian but recently he was seen on a Clippers mock draft
list that showed him being the last pick of the lottery. Though he’d been on
the radar for some time, no one really expected him to be any more than a late
second round pick… fast forward to now and there is legit interest in him going
in the top 20 in the NBA. He can stretch the floor and blow by slower defenders
at the four spots and has a strong body to body up defensively. Call me crazy
but don’t be surprised to see his name called at 14 on Saturday night. |
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