Mock Drafts
NBA AM: 60 Pick NBA Mock Draft – 4/27/17
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated09 Oct 2023
The Mock Drafts Get Serious From Here
The NBA announced the 182 players that declared themselves eligible for the 2017 NBA Draft. It includes a whopping 137 players from college and 45 players from the International side of basketball. To put that into context, 117 college players and 45 international players declared eligible in 2016. While 2015 saw just 45 college players and 43 International player declare. The NCAA requires all players wishing to return to school after “testing the waters” to do so no later than May 24th.
The 2017 NBA Draft Combine is set for May 9 to May 14 in Chicago, and those invitations are expected to be announced as early as next week.
The 2017 NBA Draft Lottery will be May 16, with the actual draft itself set for June 22 in New York.
So, with that out of the way, let’s dive into my latest NBA Mock Draft, featuring all 60 picks:
There are a few notable first-round trades to keep in mind as it pertains to where picks are currently slated based on the final regular-season standings.
The Boston Celtics have the right to swap picks with the Brooklyn Nets, who would currently hold the top overall pick if the draft lottery holds true to the final standings.
Philadelphia does have the right to swap picks with Sacramento. However, their own pick is currently more favorable.
Sacramento gets the New Orleans Pelicans’ first pick as part of the DeMarcus Cousins trade—it is top three protected for the 2017 draft and would convey to the Kings based on the final standings.
Philadelphia is currently owed a first-round pick from the Lakers, which is top-three protected. If the draft lottery holds true to the final regular season standings, it will not convey this year.
Chicago is owed a pick from Sacramento, which is currently top-10 protected. If Philadelphia passes on the swap rights on the pick, the pick will not likely convey to Chicago, based on the final regular-season standings. This mock draft currently reflects the pick staying with the Kings.
The Portland Trail Blazers will receive the Memphis Grizzlies’ first round pick for their role in the Mason Plumlee deal with Denver just before the deadline. Denver obtained the pick in the Timofey Mozgov trade with the Cavaliers in 2015.
The Brooklyn Nets will receive the Washington Wizards’ first-round pick as part of the Bojan Bogdanovic trade at the deadline.
The L.A. Lakers receive the Houston Rockets’ first-round pick as part of the Lou Williams trade to Houston at the trade deadline.
The Orlando Magic received the Los Angeles Clippers’ first-round pick as part of the Serge Ibaka deal with Toronto. The Raptors obtained the pick from the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the Greivis Vasquez trade in 2015. The Magic will receive the lesser of the two picks Toronto controls, the Clippers pick and their own. The Clippers pick is currently the least favorable.
The Utah Jazz will receive the Golden State Warriors’ pick from the Andre Iguodala salary dump that sent Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson and Brandon Rush to the Jazz to clear room to sign Iguodala in 2013.
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