SIXERS EXPECTED TO SNAG FULTZ AT NO. 1
Ball is near-lock at No. 2; Celtics confident at No. 3
How Thursday’s NBA draft could go: 1. Philadelphia 76ers: PG Markelle Fultz, Washington
There was only one player the 76ers would have traded up to No. 1 to get. Fultz projects to be a lead scoring guard in the mold of James Harden or Brandon Roy. He and future teammate Ben Simmons could launch a stirring competition for the Rookie of the Year award. 2. Los Angeles Lakers: PG Lonzo Ball, UCLA
The unceremonious trade of D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets in a salary cap-saving move stunned many around the NBA. It also put the writing on the wall: The Lakers were drafting the hometown kid, and the first wave of Magic Johnson’s executive career would be staked on a big pass-first point guard. 3. Boston Celtics: SF Jayson Tatum, Duke
Tatum told USA TODAY Sports that his meeting with the Celtics was a bit impromptu. It came immediately after Boston had completed its trade down with the 76ers and team President Danny Ainge explained that his pick at No. 1 would still be available at No. 3. The fact that the Lakers were considering Ball, Josh Jackson and De’Aaron Fox and hadn’t worked out Tatum makes the math pretty simple, but Jackson still profiles as an ideal Ainge draft target. 4. Phoenix Suns: PG De’Aaron Fox, Kentucky
The Suns have been trying to get Fox in for a workout. Phoenix already has two Kentucky point guards (Eric Bledsoe and Tyler Ulis, along with star shooting guard Devin Booker). But Bledsoe’s status within the team’s rebuild seems tenuous, and the Suns (like everyone) love Fox’s passion and intelligence. 5. Sacramento Kings: SF Josh Jackson, Kansas
Fox has been the pick here for most of the draft process on many mocks. It was hard to imagine Jackson slipping this far until recently, and a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick that the Kings would be thrilled to land him at No. 5. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of draft information. 6. Orlando Magic: PF Jonathan Isaac, Florida State
The theory that the Magic would draft a point guard at any cost disappeared when they hired Jeff Weltman and John Hammond, two of the NBA’s best and most risk-taking executives. Both are well known to love long, athletic and versatile players, and Isaac fits that bill perfectly.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: G Frank Ntilikina, France
Ntilikina has been rising as fewer teams view him as a project. His polish, commitment to defense and rapid learning curve have turned heads. The Timberwolves should be praying that
Isaac falls here, but if not, they’re stuck without an ideal fit no matter whom they take. Ntilikina can play both guard positions and has increased trade value with the Knicks and Mavericks highly interested. 8. New York Knicks: SG Malik Monk, Kentucky
The Knicks are interested in Ntilikina, too, and ESPN reported they worked out Donovan Mitchell on Wednesday. A guard seems to be the clear direction. 9. Dallas Mavericks: PF Lauri Markkanen, Arizona
The Mavericks have a lot of options because of some roster instability. Markkanen is the most intriguing because he plays like a poor man’s Dirk Nowitzki, and the 39-year-old might be entering his final NBA season. The Mavericks would love Ntilikina — a swap with the Timberwolves might make sense here, if Minnesota wants Markkanen.
10. Sacramento Kings: PG Dennis Smith Jr., North Carolina State
This couldn’t work out much better for the Kings, who could have considered Smith at No. 5 at one point. He is talented enough to play on or off the ball and has a killer instinct, to the point that he has a reputation as headstrong. The worst scenario for the Kings if they don’t get Fox fifth would be that Smith and Ntilikina are already off the board here. A trade is a real possibility. 11. Charlotte Hornets: SG Luke Kennard, Duke
The Hornets traded Marco Belinelli as part of their deal to get Dwight Howard, which makes their team’s biggest need quite obvious: shooting. Kemba Walker is now the only player on the Hornets to make more than 35% of his three-pointers (minimum 100 attempts). Kennard fits the franchise’s drafting preferences as a strong college performer, and he might be the best shooter in the draft. 12. Detroit Pistons: G Donovan Mitchell, Louisville
among Mitchell top-10 has teamsnew interest because even of his toughness, athleticism and versatility. Not many guards in this class would feel comfortable playing point or the two on both sides of the ball, and Mitchell still has a lot of untapped offensive potential. 13. Denver Nuggets: F OG Anunoby, Indiana
The Nuggets need defense and might need a forward. They’re known for their high-level European scouting, but the best Europeans still on the board are 7-footers who probably slot better 10 spots down the board. 14. Miami Heat: C Zach Collins, Gonzaga
The Heat’s best player is Hassan Whiteside, a shot-blocking center, so the fit might seem weird. But Miami is known to be looking for another big man, and Collins’ shooting ability means he probably could slot into power forward when necessary.
15. Portland Trail Blazers: F-C John Collins, Wake Forest
The Blazers probably aren’t going to keep all three of their firstround picks. But Collins might be a keeper. He might be the most offensively talented big man in this draft, and his lack of defensive awareness could stem as much from coaching as ability — he’s a solid-enough shot-blocker when put in position for it. 16. Chicago Bulls: SF Justin Jackson, North Carolina
Jackson makes sense for a lot of teams, especially those looking for someone ready to play now or soon. The Bulls tend to prefer proven prospects and have a massive need for wings and shooting with the recent trades of Tony Snell and Doug McDermott. 17. Milwaukee Bucks: C Jarrett Allen, Texas
What new general manager Jon Horst plans to do after taking over a week before the draft is up in the air. Allen would be a traditional choice. With no ideal point guard available, taking another ri-
diculously long, athletic big man could fit with the existing plan in Milwaukee. 18. Indiana Pacers: F-C Harry Giles, Duke
The talk around the Pacers is that they want to find an ideal player to put next to burgeoning star Myles Turner. Whether or not they do that by trading Paul George, Giles has massive upside as a formerly presumed top pick whose history of knee surgeries will cause him to drop. 19. Atlanta Hawks: C Bam Adebayo, Kentucky
Adebayo’s stock is rising because teams love his ability to switch on defense. 20. Portland Trail Blazers: C Anzejs Pasecniks, Latvia
Pasecniks is a known commodity who needs to add strength but has a massive frame and serious potential.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder: SG Terrance Ferguson, USA
Ferguson has the potential to become an elite 3-and-D player. On that talent alone, he’d be a lottery pick. But questions linger about his pro year in Australia, which he chose instead of attending Arizona. 22. Brooklyn Nets: C Justin Patton, Creighton
There are questions about Patton’s limitations, in that he might be a bit of a traditional center in a league that values specialists at the position. But the Nets are looking for talent, and a player like Patton would have been in consideration for a top-10 pick a decade ago. 23. Toronto Raptors: F Semi Ojeleye, SMU The Raptors’ future is unclear
with Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka hitting free agency, but Ojeleye can help them either way. His fit as a small-ball power forward who can help guard small forwards has made him a popular riser after he entered the draft process as an expected secondrounder. 24. Utah Jazz: PF T.J. Leaf, UCLA
The Jazz have been linked to power forwards for most of this process after a disappointing season from 2018 free agent Derrick Favors. It’s not precisely a need — they haven’t given up on Trey Lyles — but Leaf would be a tremendous value here. 25. Orlando Magic: PG Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State
Evans is underrated a bit, a step down from the four point guards in the top 10 but still an excellent playmaker. His only issue is his height, which the Magic hardly lack as a team. 26. Portland Trail Blazers: SG Josh Hart, Villanova
Hart is a ready-made contributor. He’s a very smart and efficient player who brings to mind Jimmy Butler in that regard. 27. Los Angeles Lakers: C Ike Anigbogu, UCLA
Anigbogu was the one UCLA player whose offensive game wasn’t fully unleashed by Lonzo Ball, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a second try. Injured to start the year, Anigbogu played only 377 minutes in college and scored 137 points. 28. Los Angeles Lakers: PF D.J. Wilson, Michigan
NBA scouts hadn’t even bothered considering Wilson until December or January, and it wasn’t until his stunning run in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments that he emerged as a potential early-entry candidate. 29. San Antonio Spurs: PF Jordan Bell, Oregon
Bell is an intense competitor who has the capacity to defend all five positions if necessary. He had a remarkable combine and surged into the first round, but he’s come down to earth a bit because his lack of offensive skills are glaring. 30. Utah Jazz (via Warriors): G Frank Jackson, Duke
Jackson’s Provo-area roots might make Jazz fans take to him more quickly than other prospects here, but he also really fits a team that has needed backcourt scoring since Alec Burks’ knee injury two years ago.