Alex's 2017 Mock Draft

Are you excited yet Kings fans!? The time is coming! The draft is here, and I for one couldn't be anymore excited and nervous. I feel like a kid on Christmas having great excitement to open their presents. Hopefully, our presents will bring us a bright future full of winning that we as fans deserve to finally have. Without further ado, I bring you my top ten mock draft. This mock draft will surely be wrong once the draft comes around, and that's okay. I have already accepted this unfortunate reality.

(Note: I did not put hypothetical trades that could occur during this draft. Let's just say everyone is happy with their team and doesn't want to trade their whole team. Sounds good? Okay, let's do this).

1. Philadelphia 76ers (From Boston via Brooklyn): Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington

The 76ers recently traded up from the third pick in order to get up to the first pick. With that being said, Fultz is the best prospect and the most complete guard at this moment. He can shoot, make his teammates better with his playmaking, and very explosive. Fultz is no doubt the best player in this draft. The 76ers will certainly take him and be incredibly happy with their choice.

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA

Oh, Lonzo. Arguably the most criticized prospect in this draft, and he's not even the reason for it. Many people have reported that Lakers love Fox more than Ball, but I don't believe those reports. I can't imagine a world where Lonzo doesn't go to LA. Lonzo has been criticized greatly due to how much LaVar keeps running his mouth, but Lonzo the player is very good. His jump shot mechanics definitely is a huge problem with me, and it will be interesting to see how well defenders can guard his jump shot at the next level. Lonzo is an all-around great player who will fit in LA nicely.

(Am I the only one secretly rooting for Lonzo to go to the Kings so we can somehow get LaVar on the Sac Throne Show? Just imagine how great that would be).

3. Boston Celtics (From Philadelphia via Sacramento): Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke

This is where the draft starts to get a little hard to predict exactly what could happen. Boston has been flirting with many options ever since they traded their first pick overall with Philadelphia. Maybe they could trade this pick to try and get a Paul George or a Kristaps Porzingis. But since i don't believe in trades in this mock draft, the player that makes the most sense here is Jayson Tatum. Boston could easily get Josh Jackson as well, but Tatum fills a more offensive need for the Celtics. He is the better offensive player than Jackson and that is something that Boston desperately needs to add.

4. Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas

Speaking of Josh Jackson, he is certainly one of the top prospects in the draft. Many have criticized his attitude issues, but it is hard to ignore how talented Jackson is, especially on the defensive side. Phoenix could easily take De'Aaron Fox at this pick as well, but with the log jam they have a point guard and lack of quality small forwards, Jackson is the best small forward available and would fit perfectly with the Suns.

5. Sacramento Kings (From Philadelphia): De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky

What does the Fox say? Hopefully, if my prediction is right, he'll be saying he is Sacramento Proud. De'Aaron Fox reminds me so much of Mike Conley in terms of play style. Fox has to get stronger and work on his jump shot, but he has the character that the Kings have been preaching about over the past few months. Most importantly, he actually wants to play here! Kings fans will love him and he will love the city.

6. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Issac, SF, Florida State

The Magic can go a number of directions here. Malik Monk also makes a lot of sense due to their inconsistency at shooting guard, but Issac is a prospect that has been rising dramatically in people's mock drafts. He fills a need for the Magic at small forward. His inability to shoot can raise red flags to many, but half of this draft can't shoot right now, so he is certainly not too much behind.

(Maybe new front office executive and former Kings GM Pete D'Alessandro can give us a treat and give us this pick for Alex Oriakhi? That would be pretty nice of him to do).

7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky

If Orlando decides to listen to me and take Issac, Malik Monk certainly has to be an option for the Timberwolves here. Many have also said that Lauri Markkanean would be another option here, which also makes a lot of sense and would fit really well. However, Monk provides better shooting to a team that was one of the worst in the league last season. Monk would also help fill a need while Zach LaVine recovers from injury suffered from the end of the season.

8. New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina, PG, France

Lately, New York has been as dysfunctional as the Kings were the last few years. It's nice seeing this from the outside for once. Anyways, the Knicks can go so many directions here, but one player I find very intriguing and personally in love with is Frank Ntilikina. Frank is coming off an incredible U-18 Euro's performance in which he averaged around 22 points and 6 assist a game during the tournament, while fighting the stomach flu throughout. Knicks need to be patient with this prospect since Frank is barely 18 years old and must need time to transition to the NBA game. Phil Jackson does love his European guys and drafting the Frenchman here would solidify this.

(I bet many Knicks fans will lose their minds that they would draft Frank Ntilikina over Dennis Smith Jr. don't be surprised if we see disappointed reactions like we did when the Knicks chose Kristaps Porzingis).

9. Dallas Mavericks: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona

Many have said that Dallas needs a point guard and will take one here with the ninth pick. I don't believe the position is completely urgent right now, especially with the rising game of Yogi Ferrell. However, I believe Dirk Nowitzki has one year left, MAYBE two. So who can they replace him with? Enter Lauri Markkanean. Lauri style of play is very identical to Dirk's with a little more athleticism. Many say that his defense could use some work, but his offense, especially his three point game, is a rare talent for his size. Dirk would be an excellent mentor to Lauri as Dirk begins to move on from his basketball career.

10. Sacramento Kings (From New Orleans): Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina

Ah, here we are. Rounding off the top ten with our beloved Kings. We have already drafted the point guard of the future, so what's next? The Kings definitely could trade this pick, but we don't believe in trades. The Kings need a small forward, and Justin Jackson is one that is very polished offensively and is certainly the best one available. OG Anunoby is another option here, and I personally love him. But the knee injury he suffered this past January is something that is very risky, and something the Kings may find too much to risk on. Expect the Kings to take the "safer" pick here and take Justin Jackson from North Carolina.

(Note: I expect the Kings to take Frank Mason, PG, Kansas at pick 34. He is a player that the Kings have loved enough to work him out twice so far. Mason would be an incredible backup to Fox. Mason is an incredible shooter and a proven leader. He is short at exactly six feet. but I don't see that as a huge problem. Also, look for the Kings to look at a power forward that is defensive-minded. More specifically, Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon, or possibly Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue, who is a prospect a personally love).

There we have it. The draft is quickly approaching, and I for one can not wait at all. I know many of you will explode over this mock draft, especially since I most notably left off Dennis Smith Jr. I think very highly of him and he will be a steal wherever he goes, but the pieces may not work on his favor when draft night comes. Nonetheless, the Kings will hope to establish a winning team for the future with this draft, and taking players like De'Aaron Fox and Justin Jackson will certainly set the tone in terms of establishing a winning team for years to come.

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Alex Daniels