Tom Oates: Buckle up, NBA draft could be a wild ride
The NBA playoffs might have been the most boring on record, but the offseason has been anything but.
In the 10 days since Golden State eliminated Cleveland in the one-sided NBA Finals, the trades, rumored trades, free-agency speculation and power plays by players and agents have generated more discussion than the two months of playoff games that preceded it.
The crazy thing is that it's not run-of-the-mill players who are being discussed. Great players are available for the right price. Great teams are exploring all options as they try to catch Golden State.
Dwight Howard has already been traded from Atlanta to Charlotte and 2017 All-Stars Paul George of Indiana, Jimmy Butler of Chicago, Kevin Love of Cleveland and DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers reportedly are being shopped around. Kristaps Porzingis, New York's rising young star, has also been the subject of trade rumors.
Fortunately, there should be some clarity after tonight, when the NBA holds its two-round draft, one that most experts are calling one of the strongest ever. If the last 10 days are any indication, it also could be one of the wildest ever.
Keeping in mind that trades will shake up the order, here is one guess as to how the first round might go:
1. Philadelphia - Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
The Sixers wanted Fultz so badly they traded up two spots to get him.
2. Los Angeles Lakers - Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
Can't wait until LaVar Ball rips Luke Walton for not playing his son.
3. Boston Celtics - Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
Josh Jackson declined to work out for the Celtics, tipping the scales toward Tatum.
4. Phoenix Suns - Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
Devin Booker needs a runningmate on the wing and, with Tatum gone, Jackson is it.
5. Sacramento Kings - De'Aaron Fox, PG, KentuckyÂ
Point guard is No. 1 on Kings' list of needs and Fox is draft's best athlete.
6. Orlando Magic - Jonathan Isaac, SF, Florida State
New general manager John Hammond favors long, athletic players with upside.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves - Lauri Markkanen, PF, ArizonaÂ
Timberwolves need a stretch four and Markkanen could be a young Dirk Nowitzki.
8. New York Knicks - Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
The triangle offense favored by Phil Jackson functions best with tall guards.
9. Dallas Mavericks - Dennis Smith, PG, North Carolina State
Mavericks need a point guard, get lucky when Smith is still available.
10. Sacramento Kings - Zach Collins, PF, Gonzaga
Collins didn't start as a freshman, but he's a potential NBA star in time.
11. Charlotte Hornets - Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
Monk and Kemba Walker would form a small backcourt, but Hornets need firepower.
12. Detroit Pistons - Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
Stan Van Gundy craves outside shooters and Kennard is one of the best in the draft.
13. Denver Nuggets - OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
Knee injury will slow Anunoby early, but length, athleticism, versatility are there.
14. Miami Heat - Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville
Mitchell looks like poor man's Dwyane Wade and that's all right with the Heat.
15. Portland Trailblazers - Harry Giles, PF, Duke
Due to surgically repaired knees, he's the draft's biggest high-risk, high-reward pick.
16. Chicago Bulls - John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
Bulls headed toward rebuild mode and Collins has raised his stock in workouts.
17. Milwaukee Bucks - Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
Jon Horst, elevated to general manager by the Bucks just this week, follows Hammond's blueprint by taking long, athletic player with upside.
18. Indiana Pacers - Terrance Ferguson, SF, Australia
A point guard is needed, but adding a shooter to replace George makes sense.Â
19. Atlanta Hawks - Justin Patton, C, Creighton
After somehow finding a taker for Howard, Hawks opt for Patton's potential.
20. Portland Trailblazers - Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA
Guard-dominated Blazers add another athletic, young body to their frontcourt mix.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
Thunder get a versatile scorer to play alongside Russell Westbrook.
22. Brooklyn Nets - Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Latvia
He's not as talented as his countryman Porzingis is, but not many players are.
23. Toronto Raptors - T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA
Raptors looking for players who can come off the bench and provide instant offense.
24. Utah Jazz - Bam Adebayo, C, Kentucky
With no point guard worthy of this pick, Jazz take the best big man still available.
25. Orlando Magic - Jonah Bolden, PF, Australia
He took a roundabout route to NBA, but talent is driving him up draft boards.
26. Portland Trailblazers - Isaiah Hartenstein, C, Germany
If Blazers don't trade this pick, they'll draft and stash a European player.
27. Los Angeles Lakers - D.J. Wilson, PF, Michigan
Wilson's not ready for the NBA, but he's a big man who can shoot it.Â
28. Los Angeles Lakers - Tyler Lydon, SF, Syracuse
Lakers stock up on shooters to give the slick-passing Ball some options.
29. San Antonio Spurs - Frank Jackson, PG, Duke
Villanova SG Josh Hart or Colorado PG Derrick White are other possibilities.
30. Utah Jazz - Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State
Jazz might need point-guard help next season and Evans looks NBA-ready.
As featured on
A 6-foot-10, 234-pound forward who had a breakthrough junior season for the Wolverines, Wilson is an athletic, long, versatile big man whose game has plenty of room for growth.
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