This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
With the NBA draft a little over a week away, the top five picks of the lottery are pretty much set, even if the order isn't.
After that, as is the case with most drafts, it becomes a bit of a mystery. Teams send out smokescreens in the media. They hold private workouts. They make promises behind the scenes. Anything to throw off the scent of the people they truly like.
This is a deep draft, one full of point guards and big men. It's a draft that should yield viable talents well into the second round. It's a draft that could have twists and turns, and teams trading up and down.
It could get wild.
Without further delay, here is The Salt Lake Tribune's initial NBA mock draft. It will be followed by another next week, prior to Thursday's draft. The Jazz hold two first round picks, one at number 24 and one at number 30.
1. Boston Celtics
Markelle Fultz, 6-foot-4, 190, point guard, Washington
The skinny • Maybe the best point guard prospect to come into the NBA since Kyrie Irving. Offensively, Fultz has the entire package. He can score from all three levels, he's a fantastic playmaker, and has all-star upside. There's been talk of the Celtics trading this pick. Their best play is to keep the pick and draft Fultz.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Josh Jackson, 6-foot-8, 205, shooting guard, Kansas
The skinny •The talk here is Los Angeles drafting Lonzo Ball. But Jackson, simply, is the second best talent in this draft. Here's another thing: The best players in the NBA are wings, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kwahi Leonard. Wings help you win in this league, and Jackson has the chance to be a very good two-way player.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Jayson Tatum, 6-foot-8, 205, small forward, Duke
The skinny • Tatum has the ability to be a dominant scorer in the NBA, and that's precisely what the Sixers need: A guy from that small forward spot who can light it up. He also fits very well with Ben Simmons, who the Sixers drafted last year. Tatum can score inside or out.
4. Phoenix Suns
Lonzo Ball, 6-foot-6, 190, point guard, UCLA
The skinny • A fantastic point guard prospect, and one of the best passers to enter the NBA in years. There are questions. Can he defend? Can he actually score? Will his father, Lavar Ball, ever stop talking? Don't let that distract you from the fact that this kid can really play. If Phoenix drafts him, expect Eric Bledsoe to become available.
5. Sacramento Kings
De'Aaron Fox, 6-foot-4, 170, point guard, Kentucky
The skinny • The Kings should be doing backflips. For once, they are in such good draft position, they won't be able to draft poorly. Fox, like Ball, is a fantastic point guard prospect. He and Ball are different. Fox is much more of a scorer. He's a superb athlete, and the Kings, after trading DeMarcus Cousins, get themselves a new potential franchise piece.
6. Orlando Magic
Jonathan Isaac, 6-foot-10, 210, small forward, Florida State
The skinny •The Magic should be drooling over the prospect of pairing Isaac with Aaron Gordon. That would give a young team two versatile, athletic forwards who can do a lot on both ends. Isaac has some concerns. He's been injury-prone in the past, and he plays a little too lax at times. But small forwards with his physical measurements don't grow on trees. If he hits his ceiling, he can be a star.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
Lauri Markkanen, 7-foot, 230, power forward, Arizona
The skinny • This is a great fit. The Timberwolves need desperately need two things: A power forward, and a knockdown perimeter shooter. Markkanen checks both boxes. He would step in with Towns, Wiggins and Dunn and Lavine right away.
8. New York Knicks
Dennis Smith, 6-foot-2, 195, point guard, North Carolina State
The skinny • Forget that Smith had terrible physical measurements. Forget that he's a point guard that doesn't run an offense all that well. Smith can be a terrific scorer, and is an elite athlete. The Knicks need a guy their fan base can rally behind, and Smith is that guy.
9. Dallas Mavericks
Frank Ntilikina, 6-foot-5, 190, point guard, France
The skinny • The Mavericks need a point guard they can build around. Good thing the draft has a lot of them. Ntilikina isn't yet a great offensive talent. But he's already the best defensive point guard in the draft and has good playmaking instincts. He would represent the future in Dallas.
10. Sacramento Kings
Malik Monk, 6-foot-3, 200, shooting guard, Kentucky
The skinny • For the second time in the lottery, the Kings do backflips. Monk and Fox comprised a terrific backcourt at Kentucky. They would do the same in the NBA. Monk can simply fill it up, whether it be from the 3-point line, or driving to the basket. Sacramento basketball is looking up.
11. Charlotte Hornets
Donovan Mitchell, 6-foot-2, 210, shooting guard, Louisville
The skinny • Mitchell doesn't have great size. But his 6-foot-10 wingspan and terrific athleticism makes up for that. He can play both guard spots, and is dynamic on both ends of the floor. The Hornets need that. And they need someone who can shift Nic Batum back to the small forward spot. Mitchell would be a very good get here.
12. Detroit Pistons
Luke Kennard, 6-foot-6, 195, shooting guard, Duke
The skinny • Detroit didn't have a ton of backcourt depth, or a ton of shooting this season. Kennard helps with both of those needs. Not only is he a very good shooter, he can handle the ball and make plays. He's a scorer.
13. Denver Nuggets
Zach Collins, 6-foot-11, 230, power forward, Gonzaga
The skinny • Collins eventually pairs with Nikola Jokic to form a supremely skilled frontcourt. Collins can play next to Jokic, and it's a good bet he develops his perimeter game. The Nuggets also get the best player available here.
14. Miami Heat
Harry Giles, 6-foot-10, 230, power forward, Duke
The skinny • The Heat have a bunch of cap space, and young talent. They can afford to gamble here. Drafting Giles is shooting for the stars. If he pans out, he's a star talent. There aren't many better athletes at his size. But injuries are a concern, as is the fact he couldn't make an impact in his one year at Duke.
15. Portland Trail Blazers
Jarrett Allen, 6-foot-10, 235, center, Texas
The skinny • A very good prospect and athlete. The Blazers need big men and depth behind Jusuf Nurkic, their one functioning center. Allen will need a few years to develop, but he has a chance to be a good one.
16. Chicago Bulls
Justin Jackson, 6-foot-8, small forward, North Carolina
The skinny • A very good shooter and someone who can blend in with Jimmy Butler. Jackson is a mature player, someone who improved substantially in his three years at North Carolina. He can score on the move, or knock down spot-up 3-pointers. The Bulls, in case anyone hasn't noticed, need shooting.
17. Milwaukee Bucks
TJ Leaf, 6-foot-10, power forward, UCLA
The skinny • The Bucks have a bunch of athletes, and defenders. What they don't have is a lot of shooting. Leaf provides that from his power forward spot, and provides insurance in case Jabari Parker isn't himself this season after a second torn ACL. Leaf is a very good offensive talent, who would fit well here.
18. Indiana Pacers
OG Anunoby, 6-foot-8, 235, small forward, Indiana
The skinny • Anunoby had his last collegiate season derailed by injury, but he's an outstanding two-way prospect. Whether it be this upcoming season, or next summer, the Pacers are going to lose Paul George. May as well draft his potential replacement and start grooming him.
19. Atlanta Hawks
Bam Adebayo, 6-foot-10, 245, power forward, Kentucky
The skinny • A very talented athlete, who still needs to learn the game. It serves as irony that Bam lands in Atlanta, because he's been compared more than once to Dwight Howard. He offers insurance in the unlikely case Paul Millsap leaves this summer in free agency.
20. Portland Trail Blazers
Kyle Kuzma, 6-foot-10, 235, power forward, Utah
The skinny • Kuzma has a lot of fans in the lower half of the first round, but could last as late as 35-40 in the second round. He's a bit of a late bloomer, but has the skill-set scouts love as a potential playmaking power forward.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder
Derrick White, 6-foot-4, 190, point guard, Colorado
The skinny • OKC desperately needs a credible backup to spell Russell Westbrook, and allow him shooting guard possessions. This pick can either be White, or Juwan Evans from Oklahoma State. The pick is White, because he's bigger and a better defender.
22. Brooklyn Nets
Justin Patton, 6-foot-11, 230, center, Creighton
The skinny • He can shoot, he can block shots, he was projected in the top 15, but slid down this draft board. And the Nets need a center. This is a really good fit for both parties.
23. Toronto Raptors
Terrance Ferguson, 6-foot-7, 185, shooting guard
The skinny: Ferguson spent his year removed from high school overseas. He's a terrific athlete and shooter, but not much else at this point. He's a little like Terrence Ross, who the Raptors traded last season. That hurt them, because they missed Ross' scoring off the bench. Can Ferguson provide that?
24. Utah Jazz
Isaiah Hartenstein, 7-foot, 250, power forward, Germany
The skinny • The Jazz have worked out everyone except Hartenstein, but settle on him because he's the best talent available at this spot. Hartenstein has lottery pick ability, but there have been past concerns about his attitude and defense. Still, he can shoot it, he can handle the ball and is a very good athlete for his size.
25. Orlando Magic
Juwan Evans, 6-foot, 185, point guard, Oklahoma State
The skinny • Questions abound concerning Elfrid Payton's ability to run the point long term, so the Magic take Evans here. At the very least, he pushes Payton. At the most, he replaces him as the point guard of the future.
26. Portland Trail Blazers
DJ Wilson, 6-foot-10, 235, power forward, Michigan
The skinny • He'll remind Jazz fans a bit of Trey Lyles, with his shooting ability and playmaking ability from the power forward spot. Wilson is also a pretty credible athlete, and someone who can complement the offensive wizardry of Damian Lillard.
27. Brooklyn Nets
Jordan Bell, 6-foot-8, 235, power forward, Oregon
The skinny • With Trevor Booker set to hit free agency after next year, Bell brings a lot of Booker's energy and athleticism at less than half the price. Bell has to develop a bit more offensively, but defensively he has a chance to be a contributor right away.
28. Los Angeles Lakers
John Collins, 6-foot-10, 230, center, Wake Forest
The skinny • Here's a little known fact about Collins: The son of military parents, he was born in Utah. He's grown up to be a potential first round NBA draft pick. The Lakers happily snatch him up here, as his draft stock could land him as high as the late lottery.
29. San Antonio Spurs
Josh Hart, 6-foot-5, 210, shooting guard, Villanova
The skinny • Danny Green could be traded. Manu Ginobili may retire. Jonathan Simmons may leave in restricted free agency. So the Spurs may need another shooting guard. Hart is one of those under-the-radar seniors the Spurs always draft and turn into a rotation player. He can play two positions offensively, and guard all three perimeter positions.
30. Utah Jazz
Sindarius Thornwell, 6-foot-6, 215, shooting guard, South Carolina
The skinny • This kid can flat out score. He's mature after spending four years in college, and he gets after it on both ends of the floor. Whether the Jazz keep Gordon Hayward in free agency, or not, they need a guy with the talent, and attitude to the game that Thornwell brings.