Yao Presents: Way Too Early 2017 Mock Draft
Jan 30, 2017 18:41:01 GMT -5
billy, Allan Houston, and 7 more like this
Post by Yao Ming on Jan 30, 2017 18:41:01 GMT -5
Not even at the halfway mark, here is a way too early 2017 mock draft. The draft order’s based on the overall ratings in the latest power rankings. Upcoming free agent signings have not been considered. Here we go!
1.
Toronto Raptors – Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington.
Fultz is only 18 years old, yet he seems like one of the safer picks of the draft. Being featured on Toronto’s roster, which is not quite ready to contend, should give him plenty of time to develop into a star player. Solid player for Scalabrine to build around.
2.
New Orleans Pelicans (from Dallas Mavericks) – Dennis Smith, PG, NC State.
Mocking Josh Jackson here was an option. But with Avery Bradley, JR Smith, and DeMarre Caroll all under contract for a bit, a point guard here seems to make more sense. Dennis Smith brings with himself the potential of a great scoring option, who could effectively take away some defensive pressure away from Anthony Davis.
3.
Atlanta Hawks – Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA.
The combination of Lonzo Ball and Ben Simmons may be too much for the other teams to handle in a few years. The Hawks would excel at ball movement and finding the open man, or Bradley Beal. Ball might be a better long term option than Terry Rozier and Dante Exum, and would a safer choice to fill that true point guard hole on Brown Cobb’s roster.
4.
Washington Wizards (from Los Angeles Clippers) – Josh Jackson, SG/SF, Kansas.
A power forward like Markkanen may be considered for this pick, but I think Pistol Pete will go with who he thinks has the higher ceiling here. Jackson and Capela could be great fundamental pieces to rebuild around. Jackson would probably also be the best option for starting shooting guard out of everyone on the roster.
5. Washington Wizards – Harry Giles, PF, Duke.
The first stunner in this draft. I’m expecting Washington to trade this pick to a team who have an eye on one of the top prospects, but I think Giles could make sense if Washington keeps this pick. Giles hasn’t shown much at the college level so far through 10 games, but he still presents plenty of upside. With so much young not-fully proven talent on their roster, the Wizards have time to wait for the raw Giles to develop, and can afford to take a gamble at this pick.
6.
Portland Trailblazers – Frank Ntilikina, PG, Strasbourg.
The Trailblazers already have a nice young core of Dunn, Devin Booker, Fournier, Porzingis, and Nerlens Noel. Drafting Jayson Tatum would allow Theodore Duncan to have either Booker or Fournier move to a Sixth Man role, but drafting Ntilikina would provide another young option at point guard in case Dunn does not develop into the player many envisioned him to be.
7. New Orleans Pelicans (from Chicago Bulls) – Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, FSU.
The rich keep on getting richer, and also younger. Scouts have begun comparing 6’10 Isaac to a smaller Kevin Durant, and his position flexibility may be too much for Billy King to pass up on. In a year or two, he could even end up starting over Will Barton at the small forward spot.
8.
Sacramento Kings – Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky.
Center and shooting guard seem to be the positions Baron Davis and the Kings need the most help at. Big guys like Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, and Justin Patton could go here, but Monk seems to make the most sense. Under the impression that Taj Gibson does not resign, Baron can opt to have Chriss and Amir Johnson in the front court instead of drafting a big man. Monk would be in a good position to inherit the starting shooting guard role in a few years.
9.
Philadelphia 76ers – Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke.
I personally think Tatum is at least the second best prospect in this year’s draft class. But in this mock, I have him falling to our new GM Isiah Thomas. With Conley and Enes Kanter locked up until 2020, a hope to keep Harden under contract, and Sabonis the heir apparent for the starting power forward, Tatum would be a great fit for IT and the Sixers. At 6’8, Tatum has the size and athleticism to develop well and succeed in Philly.
10.
Indiana Pacers – De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky.
The top minds in basketball are still not sure what has gone wrong for the Indiana Pacers, who are 1-9 in their last 10 games. Fox would fit well with them though, as he could either be a solid backup point guard behind Jeff Teague, or even be the starting point guard if Jeff Teague decides to sign elsewhere this upcoming offseason. De’Aaron is certainly a better long term option than current backup PG Rodney Stuckey, and could provide that missing spark Reggie has yearned for this year.
11.
Phoenix Suns (from Detroit Pistons) – Ivan Rabb, PF/C, California.
The Suns have no glaring positional weakness, and no flight-risk players. So JT and the Suns go Rabb here at 11. Rabb is one of the more polished guys out of the available top prospects here, and will provide a solid rebounding presence to let top team rebounders Draymond and MKG focus their efforts elsewhere. A wing player like Dwayne Bacon or Terrance Ferguson may surprise us and be drafted here to round out Phoenix’s bench, but Rabb seems like the safer pick.
12.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Luke Kennard, SG, Duke.
Louis Williams may not have too many years left in him to start at shooting guard for Milt and the Wolves, so I think Milt will draft Kennard here to be Williams’ successor. Most consensus draft boards have the top remaining prospects at this point of the draft to be big men, but Kennard would be the better fit with DeMarcus Cousins, Kenneth Faried, and Jakob Poeltl already on the Timberwolves roster.
13. Phoenix Suns (from San Antonio Spurs) – Terrance Ferguson, SG, Adelaide.
Ferguson’s experience in Australia’s National Basketball League makes him a good fit with the Suns who will presumably again contend for the championship in 2018. Dwayne Bacon could go here as well, but Ferguson at 185lbs brings a shifty element to a team with many large forwards and centers. With Jamal Murray, Gordon Hayward, and MKG all available to play the wing spots, Ferguson could be easily eased into the rigors and pace of the NBA.
14.
Los Angeles Lakers – Dwayne Bacon, SG/SF, FSU.
Tony Parker is 34, and his inevitable decline will force GM Blake Bowman to either draft a point guard, or move Bledsoe to play point guard and draft a wing to compliment Klay Thompson. There does not seem to be an available point guard worth taking at 14 in this mock, so look for the Lakers to draft the athletic Bacon. He may not be very NBA ready, but could be brought along slowly as Bledsoe and Klay Thompson soak up all the wing minutes.
15.
Miami Heat – Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona.
Despite Miami’s front office and GM Kylo Ren’s strong desires to tank this season, they have been performing better than expected. Coach controversy aside, Ren should be pleased to have top prospect Markkanen fall right onto his lap. Lauri would become a 7’0, three-point shooting weapon for Ren and the Heat. He would be a good fit on a roster where only Gallinari is able to play the stretch 4 position.
16.
Charlotte Hornets – Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M.
Robert Williams can’t really shoot, but that shouldn’t be too big of a problem for a roster with Brook Lopez, Jimmy Butler, and Luol Deng. Williams projects to be a solid defensive player at the NBA level, and could potentially help fill a gap if Serge Ibaka leaves in free agency. This could be a good pick for Colin and the Hornets, and could promote some healthy competition between Williams and Trey Lyles.
17.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Isiaiah Hartenstein, PF/C, Zalgiris Kaunas.
Olynyk, Antetokounmpo, and Julius Randle are the Cavaliers’ tallest players. Appearing in only 5 of 27 games this year, it may be that GM Keith Van Horn does not see Kelly Olynyk in his future plans. German Isiaiah Hartenstein is 7’0, and can provide a solid post presence on both offense and defense. Hartenstein could low key end up being one of the better picks of the draft.
18.
New York Knicks – Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina.
Despite currently being 7th in the East, Allan Houston and the Knicks are projected to finish with the 12th best overall record. In championship winning mode, Allan can afford to make a riskier pick in Justin Jackson. Jackson has flashed his potential, and could be a lethal scorer if everything clicks together for him. Jackson has the potential to overtake Courtney Lee’s starting SF role eventually, or play meaningful minutes as the 6th man for New York.
19.
Golden State Warriors – Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State.
The Golden State Warriors have 4 solid starters for the foreseeable future, 5 if Stephen Curry resigns. Even in the event that Curry leaves Golden State, Jordan Clarkson could start at point guard and Shumpert could move into the starting lineup. I could see Kwame trading down to take a point guard later in the draft, or even drafting Grayson Allen. But in order to keep the fans at bay, I think Bridges will be the selection here. Bridges is pretty well-rounded, who could play a part in turning Golden State into one of the top rebounding teams in the league.
20.
Milwaukee Bucks (from Utah Jazz) – Bam Adebayo, PF/C, Kentucky.
The Bucks are currently 20-8 despite being the one team in the league without a GM. They also own the 20th and 21st picks of this talented draft class. I think the right move here is to draft a big man, and Bam fits that bill. Resembling a young Bismack Biyombo, Adebayo could provide both rebounding and shot blocking to a team whose second top rebounder is Rudy Gay.
21. Milwaukee Bucks – Jarrett Allen, C, Texas.
I expect the next Bucks GM to take a pair of big men at 20 and 21, 6’10 Jarrett Allen would be a nice fit here for a team needing rebounding and post defense. Allen has been solid so far in Texas with 12 PPG and 8.4 RPG.
22.
Brooklyn Nets – T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA.
Many view the Nets as a favorite to win the conference with a 22-5 record, as they have defied all expectations set out for them so far. Leaf has done the same at UCLA this year, and could be a good match for Kareem and the Nets. Leaf is an all-around solid power forward with a 27 PER, and could eventually challenge Terrence Jones for the starting power forward spot. If Derrick Williams does not resign in Brooklyn, Leaf would provide some power forward depth as Dragan Bender matures.
23.
Boston Celtics – Rodions Kurucs, SF, FC Barcelona B.
Another serious title contender in the East, Boston’s rotation and roster may be full for a few years. The only team with an MLE Exception this year, the Celtics are already on the books for $86 million in 2017-18 before resigning Westbrook. Red Auerbach and the Celtics could look to draft a true small forward in Latvian Rodions Kurucs, and stash him overseas while he gains basketball experience in Spain.
24.
Memphis Grizzlies – Kostja Mushidi, SG, Mega Leks.
Hailing from the same team of fellow 2016 draftees Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Ivica Zubac, and Rade Zagorac, Mushidi may be the next Mega Leks to come over to D720 and play for Logan and the Grizzlies. If the Grizzlies have all of their player and team options accepted in 2017, their 2017-18 payroll could be the highest in the league. The athletic Mushidi would fit well on Logan’s team behind Lavine and the aging Afflalo.
25. Atlanta Hawks (from Orlando Magic) – Justin Patton, C, Creighton.
Patton’s fall ends at 25, and could be a worthwhile investment for Cobb and the Hawks. Patton may not be the most NBA ready prospect, but he will have time to develop with the other young players on the Hawks who will also need more experience before being able to make a run at the championship title.
26.
Los Angeles Clippers (from Houston Rockets) – Zach Collins, PF/C, Gonzaga.
In 2017, the Clippers will need more depth at the big men positions, and at shooting guard. Collins, who is 6’10 and can shoot 3’s, will be able to play next to Caulie-Stein at either of those positions. He has been extremely efficient at Gonzaga with a 34.6 PER, and would be a good value pick here late in the first round.
27. New Orleans Pelicans – Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State.
After drafting Dennis Smith and Jonathan Isaac, Billy could go with Jawun Evans to provide more point guard Depth. He’s only 6’0, but can play defense and also shoot well. He would be a fine point guard to develop alongside Dennis Smith.
28. Phoenix Suns – Josh Hart, SG, Villanova.
There’s not much urgency at the Shooting Guard position for the Suns, but having Jamal Murray, newly drafted Terrance Ferguson, and Josh Hart would provide some security over the position if anything was to happen to MKG or Gordon Hayward. Hart would be more ready than Ferguson, and possibly even Murray. He could find himself in the rotation in his first year with Phoenix.
29.
Seattle Supersonics – Edmond Sumner, PG/SG, Xavier.
The Golden State Warriors of D720, Stockton and the Supersonics have the option of either going with a player who could help out right away, or a player to develop for the future. I think here, Stockton will go with a player who is a bit of both, combo guard Edmond Sumner. Sumner would be in a great position to succeed, being granted mentors in Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, and Lebron James.
30.
Detroit Pistons (from Oklahoma City Thunder) – Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana.
Frank Reynolds and the Pistons get a candidate for future franchise center in Thomas Bryant. He’s a good rebounder and decent scorer for Indiana, and has solid measurables to make it in the NBA. Current center Pau Gasol is 36, and there is no guarantee that he’d want to play in Detroit if he keeps on playing in the NBA.
Yao's 2017 D720 Mock Draft (v1.0)
1.
Toronto Raptors – Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington.Fultz is only 18 years old, yet he seems like one of the safer picks of the draft. Being featured on Toronto’s roster, which is not quite ready to contend, should give him plenty of time to develop into a star player. Solid player for Scalabrine to build around.
2.
New Orleans Pelicans (from Dallas Mavericks) – Dennis Smith, PG, NC State.Mocking Josh Jackson here was an option. But with Avery Bradley, JR Smith, and DeMarre Caroll all under contract for a bit, a point guard here seems to make more sense. Dennis Smith brings with himself the potential of a great scoring option, who could effectively take away some defensive pressure away from Anthony Davis.
3.
Atlanta Hawks – Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA.The combination of Lonzo Ball and Ben Simmons may be too much for the other teams to handle in a few years. The Hawks would excel at ball movement and finding the open man, or Bradley Beal. Ball might be a better long term option than Terry Rozier and Dante Exum, and would a safer choice to fill that true point guard hole on Brown Cobb’s roster.
4.
Washington Wizards (from Los Angeles Clippers) – Josh Jackson, SG/SF, Kansas. A power forward like Markkanen may be considered for this pick, but I think Pistol Pete will go with who he thinks has the higher ceiling here. Jackson and Capela could be great fundamental pieces to rebuild around. Jackson would probably also be the best option for starting shooting guard out of everyone on the roster.
5.
Washington Wizards – Harry Giles, PF, Duke.The first stunner in this draft. I’m expecting Washington to trade this pick to a team who have an eye on one of the top prospects, but I think Giles could make sense if Washington keeps this pick. Giles hasn’t shown much at the college level so far through 10 games, but he still presents plenty of upside. With so much young not-fully proven talent on their roster, the Wizards have time to wait for the raw Giles to develop, and can afford to take a gamble at this pick.
6.
Portland Trailblazers – Frank Ntilikina, PG, Strasbourg.The Trailblazers already have a nice young core of Dunn, Devin Booker, Fournier, Porzingis, and Nerlens Noel. Drafting Jayson Tatum would allow Theodore Duncan to have either Booker or Fournier move to a Sixth Man role, but drafting Ntilikina would provide another young option at point guard in case Dunn does not develop into the player many envisioned him to be.
7.
New Orleans Pelicans (from Chicago Bulls) – Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, FSU.The rich keep on getting richer, and also younger. Scouts have begun comparing 6’10 Isaac to a smaller Kevin Durant, and his position flexibility may be too much for Billy King to pass up on. In a year or two, he could even end up starting over Will Barton at the small forward spot.
8.
Sacramento Kings – Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky.Center and shooting guard seem to be the positions Baron Davis and the Kings need the most help at. Big guys like Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, and Justin Patton could go here, but Monk seems to make the most sense. Under the impression that Taj Gibson does not resign, Baron can opt to have Chriss and Amir Johnson in the front court instead of drafting a big man. Monk would be in a good position to inherit the starting shooting guard role in a few years.
9.
Philadelphia 76ers – Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke. I personally think Tatum is at least the second best prospect in this year’s draft class. But in this mock, I have him falling to our new GM Isiah Thomas. With Conley and Enes Kanter locked up until 2020, a hope to keep Harden under contract, and Sabonis the heir apparent for the starting power forward, Tatum would be a great fit for IT and the Sixers. At 6’8, Tatum has the size and athleticism to develop well and succeed in Philly.
10.
Indiana Pacers – De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky.The top minds in basketball are still not sure what has gone wrong for the Indiana Pacers, who are 1-9 in their last 10 games. Fox would fit well with them though, as he could either be a solid backup point guard behind Jeff Teague, or even be the starting point guard if Jeff Teague decides to sign elsewhere this upcoming offseason. De’Aaron is certainly a better long term option than current backup PG Rodney Stuckey, and could provide that missing spark Reggie has yearned for this year.
11.
Phoenix Suns (from Detroit Pistons) – Ivan Rabb, PF/C, California.The Suns have no glaring positional weakness, and no flight-risk players. So JT and the Suns go Rabb here at 11. Rabb is one of the more polished guys out of the available top prospects here, and will provide a solid rebounding presence to let top team rebounders Draymond and MKG focus their efforts elsewhere. A wing player like Dwayne Bacon or Terrance Ferguson may surprise us and be drafted here to round out Phoenix’s bench, but Rabb seems like the safer pick.
12.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Luke Kennard, SG, Duke.Louis Williams may not have too many years left in him to start at shooting guard for Milt and the Wolves, so I think Milt will draft Kennard here to be Williams’ successor. Most consensus draft boards have the top remaining prospects at this point of the draft to be big men, but Kennard would be the better fit with DeMarcus Cousins, Kenneth Faried, and Jakob Poeltl already on the Timberwolves roster.
13.
Phoenix Suns (from San Antonio Spurs) – Terrance Ferguson, SG, Adelaide.Ferguson’s experience in Australia’s National Basketball League makes him a good fit with the Suns who will presumably again contend for the championship in 2018. Dwayne Bacon could go here as well, but Ferguson at 185lbs brings a shifty element to a team with many large forwards and centers. With Jamal Murray, Gordon Hayward, and MKG all available to play the wing spots, Ferguson could be easily eased into the rigors and pace of the NBA.
14.
Los Angeles Lakers – Dwayne Bacon, SG/SF, FSU.Tony Parker is 34, and his inevitable decline will force GM Blake Bowman to either draft a point guard, or move Bledsoe to play point guard and draft a wing to compliment Klay Thompson. There does not seem to be an available point guard worth taking at 14 in this mock, so look for the Lakers to draft the athletic Bacon. He may not be very NBA ready, but could be brought along slowly as Bledsoe and Klay Thompson soak up all the wing minutes.
15.
Miami Heat – Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona.Despite Miami’s front office and GM Kylo Ren’s strong desires to tank this season, they have been performing better than expected. Coach controversy aside, Ren should be pleased to have top prospect Markkanen fall right onto his lap. Lauri would become a 7’0, three-point shooting weapon for Ren and the Heat. He would be a good fit on a roster where only Gallinari is able to play the stretch 4 position.
16.
Charlotte Hornets – Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M.Robert Williams can’t really shoot, but that shouldn’t be too big of a problem for a roster with Brook Lopez, Jimmy Butler, and Luol Deng. Williams projects to be a solid defensive player at the NBA level, and could potentially help fill a gap if Serge Ibaka leaves in free agency. This could be a good pick for Colin and the Hornets, and could promote some healthy competition between Williams and Trey Lyles.
17.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Isiaiah Hartenstein, PF/C, Zalgiris Kaunas.Olynyk, Antetokounmpo, and Julius Randle are the Cavaliers’ tallest players. Appearing in only 5 of 27 games this year, it may be that GM Keith Van Horn does not see Kelly Olynyk in his future plans. German Isiaiah Hartenstein is 7’0, and can provide a solid post presence on both offense and defense. Hartenstein could low key end up being one of the better picks of the draft.
18.
New York Knicks – Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina.Despite currently being 7th in the East, Allan Houston and the Knicks are projected to finish with the 12th best overall record. In championship winning mode, Allan can afford to make a riskier pick in Justin Jackson. Jackson has flashed his potential, and could be a lethal scorer if everything clicks together for him. Jackson has the potential to overtake Courtney Lee’s starting SF role eventually, or play meaningful minutes as the 6th man for New York.
19.
Golden State Warriors – Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State.The Golden State Warriors have 4 solid starters for the foreseeable future, 5 if Stephen Curry resigns. Even in the event that Curry leaves Golden State, Jordan Clarkson could start at point guard and Shumpert could move into the starting lineup. I could see Kwame trading down to take a point guard later in the draft, or even drafting Grayson Allen. But in order to keep the fans at bay, I think Bridges will be the selection here. Bridges is pretty well-rounded, who could play a part in turning Golden State into one of the top rebounding teams in the league.
20.
Milwaukee Bucks (from Utah Jazz) – Bam Adebayo, PF/C, Kentucky.The Bucks are currently 20-8 despite being the one team in the league without a GM. They also own the 20th and 21st picks of this talented draft class. I think the right move here is to draft a big man, and Bam fits that bill. Resembling a young Bismack Biyombo, Adebayo could provide both rebounding and shot blocking to a team whose second top rebounder is Rudy Gay.
21.
Milwaukee Bucks – Jarrett Allen, C, Texas.I expect the next Bucks GM to take a pair of big men at 20 and 21, 6’10 Jarrett Allen would be a nice fit here for a team needing rebounding and post defense. Allen has been solid so far in Texas with 12 PPG and 8.4 RPG.
22.
Brooklyn Nets – T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA.Many view the Nets as a favorite to win the conference with a 22-5 record, as they have defied all expectations set out for them so far. Leaf has done the same at UCLA this year, and could be a good match for Kareem and the Nets. Leaf is an all-around solid power forward with a 27 PER, and could eventually challenge Terrence Jones for the starting power forward spot. If Derrick Williams does not resign in Brooklyn, Leaf would provide some power forward depth as Dragan Bender matures.
23.
Boston Celtics – Rodions Kurucs, SF, FC Barcelona B.Another serious title contender in the East, Boston’s rotation and roster may be full for a few years. The only team with an MLE Exception this year, the Celtics are already on the books for $86 million in 2017-18 before resigning Westbrook. Red Auerbach and the Celtics could look to draft a true small forward in Latvian Rodions Kurucs, and stash him overseas while he gains basketball experience in Spain.
24.
Memphis Grizzlies – Kostja Mushidi, SG, Mega Leks.Hailing from the same team of fellow 2016 draftees Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Ivica Zubac, and Rade Zagorac, Mushidi may be the next Mega Leks to come over to D720 and play for Logan and the Grizzlies. If the Grizzlies have all of their player and team options accepted in 2017, their 2017-18 payroll could be the highest in the league. The athletic Mushidi would fit well on Logan’s team behind Lavine and the aging Afflalo.
25.
Atlanta Hawks (from Orlando Magic) – Justin Patton, C, Creighton.Patton’s fall ends at 25, and could be a worthwhile investment for Cobb and the Hawks. Patton may not be the most NBA ready prospect, but he will have time to develop with the other young players on the Hawks who will also need more experience before being able to make a run at the championship title.
26.
Los Angeles Clippers (from Houston Rockets) – Zach Collins, PF/C, Gonzaga.In 2017, the Clippers will need more depth at the big men positions, and at shooting guard. Collins, who is 6’10 and can shoot 3’s, will be able to play next to Caulie-Stein at either of those positions. He has been extremely efficient at Gonzaga with a 34.6 PER, and would be a good value pick here late in the first round.
27.
New Orleans Pelicans – Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State.After drafting Dennis Smith and Jonathan Isaac, Billy could go with Jawun Evans to provide more point guard Depth. He’s only 6’0, but can play defense and also shoot well. He would be a fine point guard to develop alongside Dennis Smith.
28.
Phoenix Suns – Josh Hart, SG, Villanova.There’s not much urgency at the Shooting Guard position for the Suns, but having Jamal Murray, newly drafted Terrance Ferguson, and Josh Hart would provide some security over the position if anything was to happen to MKG or Gordon Hayward. Hart would be more ready than Ferguson, and possibly even Murray. He could find himself in the rotation in his first year with Phoenix.
29.
Seattle Supersonics – Edmond Sumner, PG/SG, Xavier.The Golden State Warriors of D720, Stockton and the Supersonics have the option of either going with a player who could help out right away, or a player to develop for the future. I think here, Stockton will go with a player who is a bit of both, combo guard Edmond Sumner. Sumner would be in a great position to succeed, being granted mentors in Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, and Lebron James.
30.
Detroit Pistons (from Oklahoma City Thunder) – Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana.Frank Reynolds and the Pistons get a candidate for future franchise center in Thomas Bryant. He’s a good rebounder and decent scorer for Indiana, and has solid measurables to make it in the NBA. Current center Pau Gasol is 36, and there is no guarantee that he’d want to play in Detroit if he keeps on playing in the NBA.
Phoenix Suns
Indiana Pacers
Chicago Bulls