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1. 76ers
Markelle Fultz
Point guard, Washington
Grade: A • Fultz is a low-risk, high-ceiling prospect who doesn't have many weaknesses. He can shoot from range, he can drive inside, he can pass and rebound and defend. While question marks surround his Huskies team from last year. Considering it only cost Philadelphia one extra first-round pick to grab him, it's a savvy move to get someone who could finally help The Process crank out results.
2. Lakers
Lonzo Ball
Point guard, UCLA
Grade: A • We're all tired of LaVar Ball's antics, but Lonzo's game is dynamic. In one year with the Bruins, he completely changed the way UCLA played and elevated the play of his teammates. He could have a similar impact in Los Angeles as long as the franchise is willing to let his high-tempo, pass-first style fly. Oh, Luke Walton is the coach there? Yeah, that could work.
3. Celtics
Jayson Tatum
Small forward, Duke
Grade: B-minus • The Celtics won the lottery, but they traded down for the chance to take this very polished wing. Tatum isn't the most athletic "freak" of the draft class, but he can score, rebound and is considered an extremely heady player who evolved into arguably Duke's best player last year. Boston gets docked a bit here for not getting as much value as they probably could out of the trade of the top pick.
4. Suns
Josh Jackson
Small forward, Kansas
Grade: B • In another draft class, Jackson probably could've been a top overall pick. He has tremendous athleticism and a frenetic energy on the court, particularly on defense. In one year at Kansas, he was dynamic. He needs to be a better shooter and polished offensive player, and he had some troubling character issues in his year in college. But the Suns have a very nice wing to pair with Devin Booker and potentially a star.
5. Kings
De'Aaron Fox
Point guard, Kentucky
Grade: C • By all accounts, Fox has the fastest feet in the draft, which he showed speeding coast-to-coast for the Wildcats. He also has a vibrant personality, and is by all accounts a great teammate. Sacramento needs a leader in the backcourt, and they may have landed on the next John Wall. But among some of the great point guards in this draft, he still needs to be a better shooter and a better passer.
6. Magic
Jonathan Isaac
Small forward/power forward, Florida State
Grade: B • Isaac could be a huge impact in Orlando, among a roster of somewhat raw, athletic talents. Isaac needs to get stronger and more polished after not posting huge numbers at Florida State, but the materials are there for an agile, long defender and scorer. The Magic could've looked for more polish, perhaps, like Lauri Markkanen's perimeter shooting. But Isaac could be a better finished product in the end.
7. Bulls (via trade with Timberwolves)
Lauri Markkanen
Power forward, Arizona
Grade: D • The grade isn't a reflection of Markkanen's talent, which is tremendous. He's a very polished shooter, a well-built athlete, and while he needs to add strength and toughness, what one-and-done doesn't? But the grade for the Bulls reflects a trade that cost them their star, as well as getting a player that might've been a better complementary piece on a team than a cornerstone for a rebuild.
8. Knicks
Frank Ntilikina
Point guard, France
Grade: B • As the future of their current European star seems tenuous in New York, the Knicks draft another in the backcourt. Ntilikina has great potential on both sides of the ball, and has extraordinary length with his 7-foot wingspan. The Knicks are in flux in a lot of ways right now, but length in the backcourt is usually a good bet.
9. Mavericks
Dennis Smith Jr.
Point guard, North Carolina State
Grade: A • Smith's highlights pop with star quality and athleticism that reminded a lot of people of Stevie Francis. Dallas grabs the star frosh who has shown an amazing ability to drive, dish and dunk. He fills a huge need in the backcourt, and potentially gives the Mavs a post-Dirk star. If Smith fulfills his potential, this could be one of the best steals of a deep draft in a few years.
10. Trail Blazers (via trade with Kings)
Zach Collins
Power forward/center, Gonzaga
Grade A • An underwhelming front court in Portland gets a huge addition in Collins, arguably one of the biggest-out-of-left-field draft prospects before his coming out party last March for the Bulldogs. Collins has a classic feel to his game, as a putback guy and gritty rebounder. He has the physical frame to get the strength he needs for the NBA, and his shooting form is solid. Not a polished guy, but there's a lot of promise at a position of need for Portland.
11. Hornets
Malik Monk
Shooting guard, Kentucky
Grade B-minus • Charlotte's trade for Dwight Howard created some space for a scorer in the backcourt. Monk is definitely a scorer — he shot the nets off the rims at Kentucky, including a 47-point game against North Carolina. The knock against him that might've sent him out of the top 10 was his modest athleticism and his volume shooting. Having enough shots to go around might be an issue with Kemba Walker as his backcourt mate.
12. Pistons
Luke Kennard
Shooting guard, Duke
Grade A • In terms of need, the Pistons needed a guy who could hit shots. Kennard can do that, but as a sophomore at Duke, he showed the ability to do that and a lot more as a dynamic and ruthlessly efficient scorer. He plays with an edge and energy that could help give a jolt in Detroit, and at Duke, he played at the highest level of competition.
13. Jazz (via trade with Nuggets)
Donovan Mitchell
Point/shooting guard, Louisville
Grade A • On one hand, the trade shut the door on a former lottery pick in Trey Lyles. But on the other hand, the Jazz turned a player who was inconsequential on last year's playoff team and used it to move up 11 spots in one of the deepest drafts in years. Mitchell's demeanor, length, athletic ability and dynamic playmaking is a great match for the organization and the way Quin Snyder wants to play, and it adds support (or a possible contingency plan) for George Hill.
14. Heat
Bam Adebayo
Center, Kentucky
Grade D • Adebayo had a good year for a good Kentucky team, though he wasn't the centerpiece. He has great length, even if he's shorter than you might like (6-foot-9) for a center. The issue: Does he work with Hassan Whiteside? His best value might be as a rebounder and defender in the NBA — the same as the Heat's star center. Miami might've looked for another need here.
15. Kings (via trade with Trail Blazers)
Justin Jackson
Small forward, North Carolina
Grade C • Jackson is definitely a winner, going to back-to-back NCAA finals with the Tar Heels and winning it all in April. He was a good shooter as a junior, and he has solid length. But athletically, he might not be up to par on the NBA level. He'll have some polish and be able to contribute early, but he doesn't read as a foundational piece for the perennially rebuilding Kings.
16. Timberwolves (via trade with Bulls)
Justin Patton
Center, Creighton
Grade B-minus • Great height, great wingspan and an intriguing athlete. Patton has the tools to be an NBA center, even though his rebounds and blocks might not have been quite up to some of the other bigs in this draft after one year at Creighton. He'll have to navigate a bit of a crowded frontcourt in Minnesota, and it may take him a while to be ready to play at the pro level.
17. Bucks
D.J. Wilson
Power forward, Michigan
Grade B • A guard/small forward who hit a growth spurt, he fits Milwaukee's tendency to seek out length and size wherever they can get it. Wilson really hit the gas as a sophomore at Michigan, and he improved as a scorer and defender. He could bring those same qualities to the Bucks, who are trying to add pieces to a team that went to the playoffs last season.
18. Pacers
T.J. Leaf
Power forward, UCLA
Grade A • Now looking to a potentially post-Paul George world, Indiana brings in an explosive scorer and tenacious rebounder in Leaf. While he was the second banana on the Bruins squad last year, he has a skill set that sings by itself. He can score from near or far, he has energy, and he has basketball intellect (his father was a pro player). At 6-foot-10, he needs more strength, but there's a lot to like already.
19. Hawks
John Collins
Power forward, Wake Forest
Grade B • With Dwight Howard gone, you need some big man help. Collins was productive in college, averaging nearly 20 and 10 and drawing comparisons to another Wake Forest great in Tim Duncan. That comparison may be a very high bar for his NBA career, but he can definitely help the Hawks' frontcourt as long as he improves defensively.
20. Kings (via trade with Trail Blazers)
Harry Giles
Power forward/center, Duke
Grade A • The concerns are his knees: His ACLs to this point have been as frail as tissue paper. But when he was healthy, Giles was seen as one of the best prospects of his generation: a big, lanky phenomenal athlete who could do everything. He was definitely not up to his billing at Duke, but his recovery encompassed much of that season. As a gamble for the Kings, it could be a great one.