NBA Mock Draft: 3 more weeks until NBA Draft

With the NBA Draft being almost three weeks away from today (June 22nd), everyone has reached a point where they wanted to start doing Mock Drafts. So I will do my own.

1. Boston Celtics - G Markelle Fultz (Washington)

*The Celtics don't necessarily need to keep this pick nor do they really need to draft another point guard. This could become a lure for a trade for a star player such as Paul George or Jimmy Butler. However, if the Celtics do decide to keep this pick then Markelle Fultz is the safest pick. It's not really impossible for Fultz to play alongside Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics could use both the offense they provide but with Thomas not really being a great defender and him set to join free agency after next season, Fultz is very well the best pick for Boston at the #1 spot. The last lottery pick the Celtics had was last year when they selected Jaylen Brown #3. Brown currently comes off the bench but his potential is really high.

2. Los Angeles Lakers - G Lonzo Ball (UCLA)

* The Lakers are up next and with their sights on one particular player throughout the whole season, it's pretty easy to see who the Lakers will select with this pick. Because the Lakers feel they need another point guard who can facilitate, Lonzo Ball would be the smartest option to go with - no Lakers fans this does not mean that the Lakers have given up on D'Angelo Russell. Drafting Ball is smart if you want D'Angelo Russell to excel and get better. For one it moves Russell to the shooting guard position, a spot where he feels he does better at, then you have a playmaking point guard in Ball. What makes this even more intriguing is that both Russell and Ball are very good off ball players, very good shooters and very good passers (Yes Defense will become a problem eventually). Ball would also make the likes of Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle better.

3. Philadelphia 76ers - G Malik Monk (Kentucky)

*The Sixers are kind of in an odd spot. From the stand point of Brett Brown wanting to play Ben Simmons at the point which he can very likely do, the Sixers don't necessarily need to draft another point guard unless they were looking for backups. But because this draft is so rich with quality starting guards that seems a far fetched plan. But what the Sixers do need is a scorer and what better scorer in this draft not named Markelle Fultz than Malik Monk? Monk is a shooting guard with an elite offensive skill set. He can shoot, drive, dunk with the best of them, and he can run the floor, this is a perfect setting for a unselfish player like Ben Simmons. The Sixers also have Joel Embiid downlow for inside and outside action.

4. Phoenix Suns - F Josh Jackson (Kansas)

*The Suns get lucky with this pick and actually nab a top 3 talent in Josh Jackson. In really no need to look at anymore guards because they have Tyler Ulis on the rise and Devin Booker who is a clear lock at their shooting guard. Drafting Josh Jackson would be a perfect scenario for the Suns. For one, after trading away PJ Tucker to the Raptors, the Suns lacked wing perimeter defense and you can't really trust T.J Warren with his health. Jackson provides the Suns with that desperate defense they need. Jackson is also no pushover on offense. He can break down opponents in many different ways. The only problem Jackson faces is that he is not a great shooter but the Suns already have a couple of marksmen shooters particularly Devin Booker. Josh Jackson could also bold well playing alongside Marquese Chriss.

5. Sacramento Kings - G De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky)

*As the Kings sit here possibly being the second most dysfunctional franchise in the NBA right now. I wouldn't be surprised if they get this wrong. But if they don't then De'Aaron Fox is the way to go with them. The Kings are in desperate need of a point guard now that Darren Collison is set to hit free agency and Ty Lawson not being the most effective point guard anymore. Fox brings a new level of athleticism to the Kings that could do wonders for Buddy Hield and Skal Labissiere. Whether or not the Kings decide that Fox or Hield will be their cornerstone piece going forward is up to them.

6. Orlando Magic - F Jayson Tatum (Duke)

*Jayson Tatum and the Magic makes the most sense. I don't know what it is, it just does. The Magic possibly could be looking at a point guard with this pick with the rumors of Elfrid Payton being discussed in trade talks surface but if the rumors aren't true then Tatum is the best available player you go for. Let's look at the depth the Magic have right now: Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier as your two starting guards, then Terrence Ross and Aaron Gordon as your forwards, then either Bismack Biyombo or Nikola Vucevic as your starting center. Whether or not that is intriguing, you can't trust Terrence Ross as your permanent starting forward and because Aaron Gordon still has some upside, Tatum should be easily become another version of Tobias Harris for the Magic. (Not sure if that is a good thing or not).

7. Minnesota Timberwolves - F Jonathan Isaac (Florida State)

*This is easy for the Timberwolves. Jonathan Isaac should be their primary target and for very good reasons. Playing Isaac alongside Karl-Anthony Towns is a god gift for Minnesota. Being that both are very long and lengthy, both are excellent defenders, both can shoot, both can put the ball on the floor, and both are extremely versatile. Imagine a future lineup that consisted of Kris Dunn, Zach Lavine, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Isaac and Karl-Anthony Towns. Yikes.

8. New York Knicks - G Dennis Smith Jr (NC State)

*As I sit here smoking some water and drinking a burger, I begin to ponder what the Knicks should do with this pick (yes that's how dysfunctional they are and no I don't smoke, just a little side joke). Well for one, no one knows what exactly Derrick Rose plans to do, rumors of the Timberwolves and the Spurs being interested in him have surfaced. Therefore you go for another guard. Knowing Phil Jackson, he would probably go after another European player that would turn out to be a boom or bust - Kristaps Porzingis turned out to be a boom. But what the Knicks really need is an another athletic point guard like Dennis Smith Jr. If the Knicks plan to keep Carmelo Anthony, they need someone to keep the ball out of his hands and set him up, but if they don't, they need someone that can be another building block with Kristaps Porzingis.

9. Dallas Mavericks - F Lauri Markkanen (Arizona)

*Dirk Nowtizki will be entering his 20th and most likely his last NBA season with the Dallas Mavericks and they could use a young replacement for the future. No one will ever replace the legend that is Dirk Nowitzki but at his position, Lauri Markkanen would be my pick to become the next star in Dallas. Markkanen is almost the exact replica of both Dirk and Kristaps Porzingis. He can shoot (probably not well as Dirk), he can put the ball on the floor, he's a decent rebounder, the only thing is that he is not really a great defensive big but when you have Nerlens Noel as your counterpart, you are pretty much straight.

10. Sacramento Kings - G Frank Ntilikina (France)

*Not sure what really goes on with this pick but the Kings do have a lot of options on the table. By already drafting a point guard in De'Aaron Fox they could view Frank Ntilikina as backup. Ntilikina is definitely a project player for any team. He's slowly emerging as a good shooter, he has a very good handle, and he's an underrated defender. However the Kings decide to use him beats me.

11. Charlotte Hornets - C Zach Collins (Gonzaga)

*The Hornets are a weird team right now. They do have a lot of depth at every except the guard position so why would they want to draft a center? For one, their starting center for the future appears to be Frank Kaminsky who does show a lot of promise but then you look down the rest of the depth: Miles Plumlee, Spencer Hawes, Christian Wood, and Cody Zeller. Really only Cody Zeller out of that list is most noteable. Zach Collins adds more depth to their front court. He can stretch the floor a little bit, he's a solid rebounder, and he's a pretty good post presence. Certainly what Kemba Walker could use.

12. Detroit Pistons - G Luke Kennard (Duke)

*This is extremely difficult because no one knows what exactly the Pistons could want. However, they do need bench depth. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope entering free agency as a restricted free agent, the Pistons are ready to match any contract that is thrown at him only if it's not one overpaying him. If they do keep KCP, Their bench is in desperate need of shooting and that could very well point them in the direction of Luke Kennard. Kennard is a very good shooter who is skilled at penetrating and kicking out to the open man. Basically, he's a combo guard. You can use him in many different ways.

13. Denver Nuggets - F O.G Anunoby (Indiana)

* The Nuggets most likely have Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler coming off the books sometime soon so they could be interested in drafting a small forward like O.G Anunoby. Anunoby reminds me a lot like Stanley Johnson, pesky defender with offensive potential. With Nikola Jokic now the clear star in Denver, the Nuggets need to surround him with players with toughness.

14. Miami Heat - F Justin Jackson (North Carolina)

*Justin Jackson is a player I wish will fall to the Lakers late first round pick but I would understand if he was picked this early by the Miami Heat. Jackson could be a very intriguing prospect for the Heat and you can either start him with Justise Winslow or play behind. Both Winslow and Jackson are very capable defenders but what Jackson doesn't do, Winslow does and what Winslow doesn't do, Jackson does. Unlike Winslow, Jackson is a very good shooter and able to put the ball on the floor almost point forward like.