The Boston Celtics will pick No. 1 overall for the first time in the NBA Draft Lottery era (1985 to the present) after winning Tuesday night’s lottery, beating out rivals the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers.
The C’s have plenty of options with this pick. Unlike most lottery teams, Boston is close to being a legitimate NBA Finals contender. The Celtics will host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night, so it’s possible they could trade the No. 1 pick for another star player rather than add an unproven prospect to the mix.
This draft is loaded with high-end talent, though, and passing on a potential franchise building block in Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball could be a huge mistake.
Here’s our 13th 2017 NBA mock draft of the season.
1. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn Nets): Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
3. Philadelphia 76ers (via Sacramento Kings): De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
4. Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
5. Sacramento Kings (via Philadelphia 76ers): Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
6. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, PF, Florida State
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
8. New York Knicks: Dennis Smith Jr., PG, NC State
9. Dallas Mavericks: Lauri Markkanen, C, Arizona
10. Sacramento Kings (from New Orleans Pelicans): Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
11. Charlotte Hornets: Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
12. Detroit Pistons: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
13. Denver Nuggets: Justin Patton, C, Creighton
14. Miami Heat: Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
15. Portland Trail Blazers: Ivan Rabb, PF, California
16. Chicago Bulls: John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
17. Milwaukee Bucks: TJ Leaf, PF, UCLA
18. Indiana Pacers: P.J. Dozier, SG, South Carolina
19. Atlanta Hawks: Harry Giles III, PF, Duke
20. Portland Trail Blazers (from Memphis Grizzlies): Dwayne Bacon, SG/SF, Florida State
21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Terrance Ferguson, SF, Australian League
22. Brooklyn Nets (from Washington Wizards): Bam Adebayo, PF, Kentucky
23. Toronto Raptors: Tyler Lydon, PF, Syracuse
24. Utah Jazz: Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
25. Orlando Magic (from Toronto via Los Angeles Clippers): Sindarius Thornwell, SG, South Carolina
26. Portland Trail Blazers (from Cleveland Cavaliers): Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville
27. Brooklyn Nets (from Boston Celtics): Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA
28. Los Angeles Lakers (from Houston Rockets): Johnathan Motley, PF, Baylor
29. San Antonio Spurs: Marques Bolden, C, Duke
30. Utah Jazz (from Golden State Warriors): Jordan Bell, C, Oregon
Thumbnail photo via Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
