2017 NBA Draft: How-To-Watch, First Round Order & Pac-12 Preview

How-To-Watch

• When: Thursday, June 22nd at 4 PM PT
• Where: Barclays Center (Brooklyn NY)
• Coverage: ESPN, WatchESPN

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First Round Order (With Projected Pac-12 Picks)

[All projections used are taken from DraftExpress.com]

1. Philadelphia 76ers - Markelle Fultz (Washington) G

Even with the 76ers swapping with Boston for the top pick in the draft, it’s still expected that Washington’s Markelle Fultz goes off the board first. Fultz is a natural scorer who’s improving his all-around game and he has arguably the highest ceiling of this draft class.

2. Los Angeles Lakers - Lonzo Ball (UCLA) G

The best play-maker in the field by far, UCLA’s Lonzo Ball is a dynamic type of talent who can immediately change the structure of any NBA team’s roster. The Lakers keeping the California kid home would be a fitting story that also fills a glaring need with D’Angelo Russell headed to Brooklyn.

3. Boston Celtics

4. Phoenix Suns

5. Sacramento Kings

6. Orlando Magic

7. Minnesota Timberwolves - Lauri Markkanen (Arizona) F

One of the best pure shooters in the draft class, Markkanen’s unique mix of size and skill (with a bit of his international intrigue as well), makes him a legitimate lottery pick. Continuing to develop at the next-level and finding a role that fits will be his skill set will be the seven-footer’s biggest challenges.

8. New York Knicks

9. Dallas Mavericks

10. Sacramento Kings

11. Charlotte Hornets

12. Detroit Pistons

13. Denver Nuggets

14. Miami Heat

15. Portland Trailblazers

16. Chicago Bulls

17. Milwaukee Bucks

18. Indiana Pacers

19. Atlanta Hawks - Ike Anigbogu (UCLA) F

Anigbogu looks like the prototypical modern trend of “hustle forwards”, who can both do the dirty work for an NBA team and chip in offensively when needed. He’s a strong defender with limited offensive skills, that first need to improve with a higher rate at the free-throw stripe.

20. Portland Trailblazers

21. Oklahoma City Thunder - T.J. Leaf (UCLA) F

A skilled perimeter forward who can also rebound, Leaf is a gifted offensive talent that fits the growing “stretch four” trend in the NBA. Defensively, he has a way to go in terms of on-ball defense in the post, but at just a few months over 20 years old, NBA scouts like his potential to improve.

22. Brooklyn Nets

23. Toronto Raptors

24. Utah Jazz

25. Orlando Magic

26. Portland Trailblazers

27. Los Angeles Lakers - Derrick White (Colorado) G

White was a high-scoring college guard who could transition to the NBA just due to his sheer ability to put the ball in the basket. Some NBA teams are fairly high on him and some just aren’t believing the hype, leaving him as an intriguing late-first round prospect.

28. Los Angeles Lakers - Kyle Kuzma (Utah) F

Kuzma seems to be a trending draft enigma, who’s draft stock literally keeps rising by the day. Like White, the feeling around Kuzma is that some teams wouldn’t be afraid to reach for him early in the first round, but it wouldn't be farfetched to think he could also free-fall into the second round.

29. San Antonio Spurs

30. Utah Jazz - Ivan Rabb (California) F

Once upon a time, Rabb was conceived as a probable lottery pick and he’s still one of the most talented non-college freshman in the draft class, with an extra year of college development under his belt. He could be a nice late-first round grab for a contending team.

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Projected Second Round Pac-12 Picks

34. Sacramento - Jordan Bell (Oregon) F

The first of the Oregon trio expected to be taken in the second round, Bell’s performances late during the college basketball season literally speak for themselves. He’d probably be a first round pick with more consistency but for now, most teams seem to like him early in the second round.

35. Orlando - Dillon Brooks (Oregon) G

Brooks was right there along with Fultz and Ball as one of the best all-around players in the Pac-12 last season, but his game doesn’t necessarily project as well at the next-level as the freshman duo. A few teams with picks in this range have already shown some fairly public interest in the former Ducks guard.

49. Denver - Tyler Dorsey (Oregon) G

If Dorsey can keep his March momentum up at the next level, he’ll have a solid shot to make an NBA roster as a role player from day one. Dorsey can hit shots, play strong defense and make key plays in critical moments, all things that NBA scouts feast on. He could be a nice late-second round steal.

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Other Prospects To Watch

• Kadeem Allen (Arizona) G
• Chris Boucher (Oregon) F
• Chance Comanche (Arizona) F
• Lorenzo Bonam (Utah) G
• Jabari Bird (California) G
• Josh Hawkinson (Washington State) F
• Kobi Simmons (Arizona) G