[FuqdatassParticipant]

 Here is my pre-lottery and pre-combine mock draft. It is definitely subject to change. I put down some players who haven’t signed with agents yet. If any of those players withdraws, I will change my mock accordingly. Also, if a player, who is currently testing the waters, decides to sign with an agent AND I think he is draftable, I will put him in my mock. If that happens, the player whom I am most likely to replace is Isaiah Briscoe.

I did not list the the teams. Just assume that the team order is the same as the "2017 Mock Draft" here in the "Mocks" section.

1. Markelle Fultz

2. Josh Jackson

3. Lonzo Ball

4. Dennis Smith Jr

5. Jayson Tatum

6. Jonathan Isaac

7. Malik Monk 

8. De’aaron Fox

9. Zach Collins

10. Lauri Markkanen

11. Frank Ntilikina

12. Jarrett Allen

13. Justin Jackson

14. Jonah Bolden

15. Justin Patton

16. Terrance Ferguson

17. Bam Adebayo

18. Isaiah Hartenstein

19. TJ Leaf

20. Ike Anigbogu

21. Dwayne Bacon

22. Cameron Oliver

23. OG Anunoby

24. Rodions Kurucs

25. Anzejs Pasecniks

26. Donovan Mitchell

27. Semi Ojeleye

28. Tyler Lydon

29. John Collins

30. Luke Kennard

31. Johnathan Motley

32. Ivan Rabb

33. Jawun Evans

34. Monte Morris

35. Caleb Swanigan

36. Antonio Blakeney

37. Jordan Bell

38. PJ Dozier

39. Kobi Simmons

40. Devin Robinson

41. Tyler Dorsey

42. Frank Mason

43. Harry Giles

44. Wesley Iwundu

45. Jaron Blossomgame

46. Kostja Mushidi

47. Josh Hart

48. Edmond Sumner

49. Nigel Williams Goss

50. Jonathan Jeanne

51. Alec Peters

52. Sindarius Thornwell

53. Andrew White

54. Dillon Brooks

55. Mathias Lessort

56. Trevon Bluiett

57. Marcus Keene

58. Melo Trimble

59. VJ Beachem

60. Isaiah Briscoe

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 Could you explain Jonah Bolden going lotto?

[JordanC20Participant]

 Georgios Papagiannis was drafted 13th last year so anything is possible I guess

[FuqdatassParticipant]

 He has a lot of attractive tools: his shooting ability, ball-handling, his defense, his versatility. Not to mention he is a pretty damn good athlete.

 

[tblazer_NZParticipant]

I think he could be like a lite version of a Young Josh Smith with a better Jumper.

[llperez]

Jonah bolden was a bench player at ucla fighting for minutes just 1 year ago. I’m not hating, he had a solid all around skill set but he would have had trouble getting minutes again if he returned for his jr season this last year so I have hard time believing he has improved to lotto level talent

[FuqdatassParticipant]

 I am not sure why he struggled at UCLA. I bet he did not get as much freedom, among other factors.

Perhaps the system was a poor fit, who knows?

I like how he has been producing against legitimate pros. That says a lot about his work ethic, talent level, and his adaptability.

 

[Anton123Participant]

He did play in the pros, but it’s not like he played in a good league or on a quality team – he played on a team that lost most of its games in the ABA league. Isaiah Austin is starting next to him and averaging almost 10 ppg, and I highly doubt Isaiah is anything close to an NBA player right now.

Ante Zizic left the ABA because he was dominating too hard, and he is younger than Bolden right now and went 23rd

[FuqdatassParticipant]

 Markelle Fultz is a subpar prospect cause Washington played poorly and his teammates were not that talented (in terms of being viable NBA prospects).

My point is that Jonah has viable NBA talent and has very attractive skills that any NBA team would find useful. I believe he is a lottery level talent.

 

[Anton123Participant]

That is not the same logic at all. Jonah Bolden is a 21 year old who scored 13 ppg on a poor team in a poor league and failed to show much in his two years in college. Fultz is an 18 year old who absolutely dominated subpar competition and showed teams everything he can do at every stage he played.

I only mentioned Bolden’s low competition level because you used it as a reason why he is a good prospect.  

[FuqdatassParticipant]

 I never used low competition as a reason for why Jonah is a good prospect. As I previously mentioned, he is a very enticing prospect cause he has NBA level tools and an NBA skillset.

Technically, he only played one year in college. He was ineligible for what would have been his true freshman year.

It is still the same logic. If you are going to de-value a player based on the quality of his team, the quality of his teammates, his surroundings, etc, at least be consistent.

I am not comparing the two players. Fultz is obviously the superior NBA prospect with more upside but Jonah is still an enticing NBA level talent. I do not care what you or anyone else thinks. 

 

[jerb2011Participant]

to OKC? Explain 

[FuqdatassParticipant]

 He has good size, strength, and athleticism for the shooting guard position. He also has a budding skill set: he has good handles and can score from all three levels. His three point shot needs to get more consistent but it is far from broken. His defense isn’t great but if he applies himself, he can be at least decent.

He will most likely start off the bench (if OKC were to pick him at 21), but I would not be surprised if he turns out to be a better fit next to Russell than Olapido. Dwayne is more polished offensively than Dipo was at the same age. Dwayne also has better size. If Bacon improves his defense substantially and is willing to work cohesively with Russell, he could be a very good fit as the team’s starting shooting guard. Or he could at least be a very solid bench piece, if he applies himself and works hard at his craft.

I like him a lot.  

[SubZeroParticipant]

The idea of Dwayne Bacon on the Thunder excites me and scares me at the same time. I feel like I still haven’t figured him out

[jerb2011Participant]

 He seems like a high-risk, high reward player. I see the old Kobe/Joe Johnson comparisons but he’s not a 3-D guy, worst case scenario 

[FuqdatassParticipant]

 In every mock I have seen (except for mine of course), Giles has still been in the first round. That is ludicrous!

IMO he is in no way shape or form, a serious first round candidate.

[BallerScriptParticipant]

If I were in charge I would not touch Giles at all in any round but I do my mock based on what will likely happen so that is why I have him going mid-first round.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Anybody care to explain why you disagree with this mock draft other than Jonah Bolden? This is a very good mock draft. I have Bolden in the 1st round as well, mayve not late lotto more likely in the 20’s but to see him get drafted in the teens wouldnt surprise me. He didnt get minutes at UCLQ but its easy to tell hes worked on his body and gained an extra burst from that alone. Seems like he has put in the work to get on the court. 

Bacon is also a great fit on OKC. Watching them in the playoffs its easy to see they need another player that is aggressive in looking for thier own offense and can make quick decisions too score. 

 

 

[FuqdatassParticipant]

 I believe some people are disagreeing with some of my predictions cause they differ from what many of the top scouts/experts have. When I make my mocks I do not rely on anyone else’s opinion, only my own. 

 

 

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