Empire of the Suns post-lottery NBA Mock Draft: Josh Jackson to Suns at No. 4

The 2017 NBA Draft Lottery. The Phoenix Suns will pick fourth overall in the June 22 draft.

With the order set, let’s put it to use with a full first-round mock draft.

(Note: Selections made are entirely based on my opinion. They are not predictions.)

1. Boston Celtics (via BKN) – Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington (19 years old)

A team led by Isaiah Thomas is on the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Thomas is also an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2018 when he will be 29 years old. Fultz is the best prospect in this class by a comfortable margin and Boston has enough young pieces in place to make a move like this feasible.

2. Los Angeles Lakers – Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA (19 years old)

The match everyone was talking about for months is here. Ball fits well in Luke Walton’s system and with D’Angelo Russell playing some two-guard toward the end of the season. The Lakers could have a lethal offensive backcourt for quite some time.

3. Philadelphia 76ers (via SAC) – Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke (19 years old)

Despite there being a gap between Josh Jackson and whoever the fourth-best prospect is, the Sixers cannot afford to take Jackson and have him be unable to shoot with Ben Simmons, a future core member of the team who himself has massive red flags as a shooter from anywhere, let alone three-point range. The Sixers also have Robert Covington, one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. While his efficiency is a question mark, Tatum would give the Sixers a primary perimeter scorer, something they really need. Kentucky shooter and scorer Malik Monk is definitely in play here as a secondary ball-handler with Simmons. A trade back in the lottery is also possible.

4. Phoenix Suns – Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas (20 years old)

The Suns get the man who would have been in consideration at No. 2. Jackson fills the big hole on the roster as a defensive stopper on the perimeter and most importantly, is a pick that keeps the team winning around Eric Bledsoe running the show. He also has the potential to be a legitimate threat offensively after he became a better shooter over the course of the season at Kansas. He already has some nice skills off the dribble.

5. Sacramento Kings (via PHI) – De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky (19 years old)

Ideally, you put a point guard like Fox around shooters and rim-runners while also getting maximum value out of him defensively with a two-guard who struggles on that end. Both check out with Sacramento’s shooting guard of the future in Buddy Hield, plus their big man rotation of Willie Cauley-Stein, Skal Labissiere and Georgios Papagiannis. Great fit here.

6. Orlando Magic – Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Florida State (19 years old)

Isaac and Aaron Gordon at the forward spots would make a mouthwatering pair defensively. Shooting would be a concern but the overwhelming athleticism combination of the two is too much to pass up.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves – Lauri Markkanen, PF/C, Arizona (20 years old)

When you have Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, you need to space the floor. That’s what Markkanen would do, being a consistent threat to shoot right over the top of closeouts from anywhere on the floor. He has the motor and floor sense to not be a wreck defensively, and even if he still might be, the combination of Towns, Gorgui Dieng and Cole Aldrich committed to Minnesota long-term is a solid situation for Markkanen to not have a wealth of defensive responsibility.

8. New York Knicks – Dennis Smith Jr., PG, North Carolina State (19 years old)

Smith is a player made to play on the big stage and there’s no bigger one in basketball than Madison Square Garden. He’s the best talent on the board and is in the top-3 of the draft when it comes to upside.

9. Dallas Mavericks – Frank Ntilikina, PG, France (18 years old)

The Mavericks really need young talent and they could build their next core around Ntilikina, who could develop very nicely under Rick Carlisle. They’ve also scouted Ntilikina the most of any team, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford.

10. Sacramento Kings (via NO) – OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana (19 years old)

Monk is the best prospect available but the Kings in this scenario already have Fox and Hield in the backcourt. Anunoby has a sky-high defensive ceiling with his agile 6-foot-8, 232-pound frame along with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. A terrific way to support Hield’s flaws as a defender would be sandwiching him with Anunoby and Fox.

11. Charlotte Hornets – Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky (19 years old)

The Hornets have eight players signed through the 2019 season and are sort of stuck with that group unless they make some moves. Monk would provide instant offense and shooting to Charlotte’s bench and form a potentially fantastic duo with Frank Kaminsky.

12. Detroit Pistons – Zach Collins, C/PF, Gonzaga (19 years old)

The Pistons are the first of a handful of teams we will get to that have good players in their primes on their roster, but probably aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. That calls for a best talent available selection and that’s absolutely Collins. A traditional two-way big man, Collins can stretch the floor with a nice looking jumper that he occasionally showcased from three-point range this past season. It would take a lot, but there is a best-case scenario where he and 23-year-old center Andre Drummond (13.6 points and 13.8 rebounds a game last season) work as a pair.

13. Denver Nuggets – Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville (20 years old)

The Nuggets need wings of the larger variety and they also need defense. I’m guessing they’ll be on their hands and knees for Anunoby to be available at 13. Denver has a glut of guards but you can never have enough 3-and-D wings, and Mitchell is the best candidate to become one in this draft. This is the most obvious spot for a team to either trade up or down besides Philly, as Denver has an overfilled roster with very specific needs.

14. Miami Heat – Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina (22 years old)

Miami was in the top-half for three-point shooting but lacks that ability in the frontcourt. Jackson can play now for a team looking to win with Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside on long-term contracts. His well-noted improved shooting would give Miami some spacing at small forward and power forward in the right matchups.

15. Portland Trail Blazers – Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Lithuania (21 years old)

Portland has three first-round picks and a pretty full roster as it is. Pasecniks, who I’m quite high on, could offer Portland serious depth down low to replace Festus Ezeli and Ed Davis when their contracts expire in 2018 after a year overseas.

16. Chicago Bulls – Rodions Kurucs, SF, Latvia (19 years old)

Despite the Bulls’ predicaments, they have a roster full of young players as is. Kurucs is the best draft-and-stash player on the board. He needs to develop his offensive versatility further.

17. Milwaukee Bucks – Jarrett Allen, C, Texas (19 years old)

Milwaukee’s quest for the longest team in NBA history would be aided by Allen, who would give the Bucks the traditional center with the athleticism and length they desire. He’s going to need time, but the same was said of Thon Maker, who was great for the Bucks in his rookie year.

18. Indiana Pacers – Sindarius Thornwell, SG, South Carolina (22 years old)

Thornwell’s a prototypical selection for a playoff team, bringing defense and nice offensive skill to Indiana.

19. Atlanta Hawks – Justin Patton, C, Creighton (19 years old)

One of the most raw players in the top-25, Patton could continue to grow behind Dwight Howard and be ready by the time Howard’s contract runs out in 2019.

20. Portland Trail Blazers (via MEM) – Hamidou Diallo, SG, New York (HS) (18 years old)

Diallo offers a different skillset and long-term upside that all other guards on the board do not, which the Trail Blazers would prefer with Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe already on the bench.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder – Luke Kennard, SG, Duke (20 years old)

The Thunder desperately need shooting and offense around Russell Westbrook, and Kennard could run the second unit while also providing spacing for Westbrook when he’s on the floor with him.

22. Brooklyn Nets (via WAS) – Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA (18 years old)

Anigbogu is the least skilled first-round prospect, but he is incredibly long with a 7-foot-6 wingspan. He showed he has the great shot-blocking instincts, motor and quickness to be a serious threat around the rim on both ends like Clint Capela is for the Houston Rockets. The Nets continue to make high-upside picks with these late first-round picks and Anigbogu is certainly that.

23. Toronto Raptors (via LAC) – Josh Hart, SG, Villanova (22 years old)

Toronto goes best player available, and Hart’s balanced game would be ready for the rotation in no time.

24. Utah Jazz – Derrick White, G, Colorado (22 years old)

Utah could be short on the perimeter with Gordon Hayward, George Hill and Joe Ingles all headed to unrestricted free agency. White’s a balanced two-way player who has the potential to thrive on a structured playoff team like the Jazz.

25. Orlando Magic (via TOR) – Isaiah Hartenstein, PF/C, Germany (19 years old)

The German is one of the best upside picks in the draft. Possessing some legitimate perimeter skills while also flashing occasionally as a rim protector, Hartenstein needs a year or two to grow his basketball IQ overseas.

26. Portland Trail Blazers (via CLE) – Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State (20 years old)

Yes, the Blazers are picking again. Lillard doesn’t have a true backup and Evans is another version of Tyler Ulis, a late first round/early second round who projects as a solid backup point guard. His pick-and-roll play is no joke.

27. Brooklyn Nets (via BOS) – Tyler Lydon, PF/SF, Syracuse (21 years old)

Kenny Atkinson’s team shot over 36 threes a game — fourth in the NBA — despite not having any real shooting threats on the roster. That’s what Lydon is. He’s one of the best shooters in the draft in any situation. Whether’s it’s catch-and-shoot, pull-ups, or off the dribble, he’s money.

28. Los Angeles Lakers (via HOU) – D.J. Wilson, PF/C, Michigan (21 years old)

The Wolverine is one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s class. Measuring much better than expected at 6-foot-10 in shoes and a 7-3-wingspan gives him true positional flexibility down low. Wilson still needs to figure out what he’s good at, but his perimeter skills and athleticism could combine into the steal of this draft.

29. San Antonio Spurs – Jordan Bell, C/PF, Oregon (22 years old)

The Spurs really need athleticism and youth down low. Bell is undersized but his activity level and floor sense mixed with a pinch of skill offensively would be dynamic in San Antonio.

30. Utah Jazz (via GS) – Semi Ojeleye, SF/PF, SMU (22 years old)

Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw, unfortunately, won’t be playing forever. Ojeleye could help fill those spots long-term as a unique combo of power and shooting at the stretch spots.

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