POST’S MOCK GIVES JAX FRENCH PG
The Knicks pick No. 8, the Nets pick 22nd and 27th. That’s what New York really cares about. But here is one stab at what the top of the draft might look like after Tuesday’s pingpong-ball extravaganza. 1. Celtics: Markelle Fultz 6-4 Point guard, Washington Yup, Boston has Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley, but as this freshman said Tuesday, “I can fill up the stat sheet any way.”
2. Lakers: Lonzo Ball
6-7 Point guard, UCLA And Daddy Dearest LaVar comes along with the guy dubbed the next Jason Kidd.
3. 76ers: Josh Jackson
6-8 Small forward, Kansas Sacramento’s loss is Philadelhia’s gain. Endless motor. Louisville coach Rick Pitino picked him as the early Rookie of the Year favorite.
4. Suns: Jayson Tatum
6-8 Small forward, Duke Guard-heavy Suns slipped from No. 2 in seeding and need a scorer. This guy fills that need.
5. Kings: De’Aaron Fox
6-4 Point guard, Kentucky Speed comparable to John Wall. With two lottery picks, Sacramento looks to uPoint guard,rade the point with first pick.
6. Magic: Malik Monk
6-4 Shooting guard, Kentucky An explosive scorer, SEC Player of the Year fits for the team that needs just about everything, especially shooting.
7. Timberwolves: Lauri Markkanen
7-0 Power forward, Arizona ESPN college analyst Jay Bilas, at the lottery, called Markkanen “the best big man shooter in the draft,” mobile with a quick release.
8. KNICKS: Frank Ntilikina
6-5 Point guard, France Monk is gone. Fox is gone. Ntilikina needs time to grow, but the last time the Knicks took a chance on a foreign guy — last name of Porzingis — it worked out well.
9. Mavericks: Dennis Smith Jr.
6-3 Point guard, N.C. State One rap was his team did not do well. But neither did Fultz’s Huskies. Explosive player who came back from ACL injury, but had dreadful exit game
in ACC Tournament.
10. Kings: Jonathan Isaac
6-11 Power forward, Florida State Only averaged 12.0 points, but offense showed improvement. But his strength is defense, where he’s a solid rim protector.
11. Hornets: Zach Collins
7-0 Center, Gonzaga Another considerable rim protector and a shooter who can play center or power forward.
12. Pistons: Donovan Mitchell
6-3 Shooting guard, Louisville With questions concerning its own free agents and Reggie Jackson, Detroit could look for backcourt help and would find it in Mitchell, a terrific two-way athlete. Not a great shooter, but shot improved.
13. Nuggets: OG Anunoby
6-8 Small forward, Indiana Made tremendous strides in all aspects of his game as a sophomore, but suffered knee injury, underwent surgery and Indiana went 5-9 without him. Considered a good two-way player and enough are convinced he will overcome the injury.
14. Heat: Justin Jackson
6-8 Small forward, North Carolina He can score. Can he defend? Well, he can really score. Can step out for the 3-pointer and, with airplane wings for up.arms,can also post up. —FredKerber