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2017 NBA Mock Draft
Guards De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk are the latest Kentucky players under coach John Calipari who will likely be lottery picks in the NBA Draft. Mark Zerof/USA TODAY Sports

2017 NBA Mock Draft

The 2017 NBA Draft crop features potential stars at the top, with plenty of big man depth later on. The following mock draft covers the first round as of June 12, 2017.

 
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1. Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz, PG

Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz, PG
Jennifer Buchanan / USA Today Sports Images

Fultz is set to go first overall to Philadelphia after the 76ers acquired the top pick from Boston. He averaged 23.2 points and 5.9 assists last season for a struggling Washington Huskies squad.

 
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2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG

Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG
Kelley L. Cox / USA Today Sports Images

Ball is the most high-profile player available, both for his flashy game on the court and the gregarious nature of his father. Despite the distraction his father LaVar presents, the Lakers tipped their hand when they traded former first-round pick D'Angelo Russell to open up the point guard spot for Ball. Trading the pick is also still a remote possibility.

 
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3. Boston Celtics: Josh Jackson, SF

Boston Celtics: Josh Jackson, SF
Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today Sports Images

Perhaps the most athletic player on the board, Jackson showed often at Kansas his ability to take over a game. He has a well-rounded game and averaged 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds with the Jayhawks. Boston traded back from No. 1 to No. 3, stating it'd likely take the same player with either pick.

 
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4. Phoenix Suns: Jayson Tatum, SF

Phoenix Suns: Jayson Tatum, SF
Bob Donnan / USA Today Sports Images

The lanky Tatum showed a strong offensive game at Duke in his one season, averaging 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds. He also has an outside shot, shooting 34 percent from three last season. Tatum could join the Suns, playing with young star Devin Booker.

 
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5. Sacramento Kings: De'Aaron Fox, PG

Sacramento Kings: De'Aaron Fox, PG
Nelson Chenault / USA Today Sports Images

Slightly undersized at 6-3, Fox still does a great job as a distributor and ran basically an NBA team at Kentucky. He could make an impressive backcourt with Buddy Hield.

 
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6. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, F

Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, F
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Isaac has the potential to be a dominant player under the hoop and would be moving from down the road at Florida State if the Magic snag him at six. He averaged 12 points and 7.8 rebounds in his freshman season.

 
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7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Malik Monk, SG

Minnesota Timberwolves: Malik Monk, SG
Thomas Joseph / USA Today Sports Images

Loaded with young talent, Minnesota has a chance to add a scorer in Monk. He's undersized at 6-3 but averaged 19.8 points last season, shooting nearly 40 percent from three.

 
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8. New York Knicks: Dennis Smith Jr., PG

New York Knicks: Dennis Smith Jr., PG
Jamie Rhodes / USA Today Sports Images

N.C. State rode Smith's all-around game in his freshman season, and he averaged 18.1 points and 6.2 assists. The Knicks could use a scorer with the likelihood that Carmelo Anthony will be traded, and young Kristaps Porzingis has also been mentioned in trade rumors.

 
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9. Dallas Mavericks: Lauri Markkanen, PF

Dallas Mavericks: Lauri Markkanen, PF
Kelvin Kuo / USA Today Sports Images

One of the most talked about prospects on the board, Markkanen's versatility draws comparisons to Mavs veteran Dirk Nowitzki. At 7-0, he shot better than 42 percent from three last season and had more than seven rebounds per game.

 
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10. Sacramento Kings: T.J. Leaf, PF

Sacramento Kings: T.J. Leaf, PF
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

An impressive scorer in his only season at UCLA, Leaf averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He doesn't have the dominant ability of former Kings star DeMarcus Cousins but should be a nice building block.

 
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11. Charlotte Hornets: Frank Ntilikina, PG

Charlotte Hornets: Frank Ntilikina, PG
Rodolfo Molina / Euroleague Basketball

A tall point guard from Belgium, Ntilikina will be a major development project at just 18 years old. The Hornets are likely looking for backcourt help after acquiring center Dwight Howard.

 
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12. Detroit Pistons: Luke Kennard, SG

Detroit Pistons: Luke Kennard, SG
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

A fierce scorer at Duke, Kennard averaged 19.5 points and shot nearly 44 percent from three in his sophomore season. He could be the most potent spot-up shooter on the board.

 
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13. Denver Nuggets: Bam Adebayo, PF

Denver Nuggets: Bam Adebayo, PF
Mark Zerof / USA Today Sports Images

Adebayo often fell into the background at Kentucky last season behind Malik Monk and De'Aaron Fox, but he has huge ability. The 6-10 forward averaged 13 points and eight rebounds last season.

 
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14. Miami Heat: Donovan Mitchell, SG

Miami Heat: Donovan Mitchell, SG
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Mitchell turned into a star in his sophomore season at Louisville, averaging 15.6 points and shooting 35 percent from three. While undersized, Mitchell does have great scoring upside.

 
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15. Portland Trail Blazers: Zach Collins, PF

Portland Trail Blazers: Zach Collins, PF
Stan Szeto / USA Today Sports Images

Collins really helped his draft stock with a great showing during the NCAA Tournament. He has a polished game in the paint and shot better than 65 percent during the regular season for Gonzaga. He wouldn't be going far if drafted by Portland.

 
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16. Chicago Bulls: Ike Anigbogu, C

Chicago Bulls: Ike Anigbogu, C
Kelley L. Cox / USA Today Sports Images

The other big man for UCLA last season, Anigbogu averaged only 13 minutes per game. He will need at least a couple years to ride the bench before he's ready to play serious minutes.

 
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17. Milwaukee Bucks: Justin Patton, C

Milwaukee Bucks: Justin Patton, C
Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports Images

Patton emerged as an under-the-radar prospect at Creighton, averaging 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. His versatility in the paint could push him up draft boards.

 
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18. Indiana Pacers: Justin Jackson, SF

Indiana Pacers: Justin Jackson, SF
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

No player in college basketball improved more than Jackson last season, showing great versatility as a scorer fro the Tar Heels. It remains to be seen if he can be more than a scorer in the NBA, however.

 
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19. Atlanta Hawks: OG Anunoby, F

Atlanta Hawks: OG Anunoby, F
Steven Branscombe / USA Today Sports Images

Anunoby averaged only 25 minutes per game last season for an Indiana squad that missed the NCAA Tournament. His projection and length still make him an attractive player, averaged 11.1 points and shooting nearly 56 percent from the field.

 
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20. Portland Trail Blazers: John Collins, PF

Portland Trail Blazers: John Collins, PF
Anthony Grupposo / USA Today Sports Images

Collins' per-minute production was spectacular in his sophomore season. The 6-10 forward averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds while playing less than 27 minutes per game. The ACC simply didn't have an answer for him in the paint.

 
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21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Harry Giles, F/C

Oklahoma City Thunder: Harry Giles, F/C
Mark Dolejs / USA Today Sports Images

Giles missed much of his freshman season at Duke due to injuries and played limited minutes when he was available. An elite recruit in last year's class, Giles still shows big upside if he can be more durable.

 
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22. Brooklyn Nets: Anzejs Pasecniks, C

Brooklyn Nets: Anzejs Pasecniks, C
Srdjan Stevanovic / Getty Images

A 7-2 center from Latvia, Pasecniks could be more ready to contribute than big men drafted earlier due to his experience at age 21. It still remains to be seen if he will be more than bench depth, but the Nets have minutes to give him after trading Brook Lopez.

 
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23: Toronto Raptors: Jarrett Allen, F/C

23: Toronto Raptors: Jarrett Allen, F/C
Mark D. Smith / USA Today Sports Images

An inside force at Texas last season, Allen averaged 13.4 points and 8.5 rebounds for the Longhorns. He lacks major scoring versatility but has the potential to become a starter down the line and fills a position of need for Toronto.

 
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24. Utah Jazz: Tony Bradley, C

Utah Jazz: Tony Bradley, C
Rob Kinnan / National Basketball Association

Bradley is still a development project, averaging only 14.6 minutes during his rookie season at North Carolina. He was still very productive in those minutes, averaging 7.1 points and 5.1 rebounds.

 
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25. Orlando Magic: Terrance Ferguson, SG

Orlando Magic: Terrance Ferguson, SG
Mike Dinovo / USA Today Sports Images

Ferguson played in Australia last season, and he has the potential to be a scorer with more development time. The upside will be attractive for a Magic team that should be desperate.

 
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26. Portland Trail Blazers: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF

Portland Trail Blazers: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF
Sam Forencich / National Basketball Association

Hartenstein brings impressive size and some scoring versatility with his 7-1 frame. He's an attractive upside play late in the first round.

 
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27. Los Angeles Lakers: Josh Hart, G

Los Angeles Lakers: Josh Hart, G
Adam Hunger / USA Today Sports Images

Perhaps the most accomplished college player in the entire draft, Hart averaged 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds in his senior season at Villanova after winning the National Championship the previous year. He's a safe bet to at least be an NBA role player.

 
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28. Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Bell, PF

Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Bell, PF
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Bell has huge defensive ability, which he put on full display in three seasons at Oregon. He averaged 8.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game last season, adding 10.9 points.

 
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29. San Antonio Spurs: Caleb Swanigan, PF

San Antonio Spurs: Caleb Swanigan, PF
Mitch Stringer / USA Today Sports Images

Swanigan was able to take over games while at Purdue, averaging 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in his sophomore season. His lack of physical talent has pushed him down the draft, however.

 
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30. Utah Jazz: D.J. Wilson, F

Utah Jazz: D.J. Wilson, F
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Wilson's offensive versatility makes him an attractive late first-round or early second-round prospect. He shot better than 37 percent from three last season and could be a nice offensive piece off the bench in the NBA.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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