Top 6
1. Boston Celtics – Jayson Tatum
(Original Pick – Jayson Tatum)
We’ll assume that the Boston Celtics decide not to make the trade with the Philadelphia 76ers because in order for them to draft their star forward, they’ll have stay here at pick number one.
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Donovan Mitchell
(Original Pick – Lonzo Ball)
If the Lakers had the chance to do this over, Mitchell is clearly one of the best players left on the board. Looking for another guard for their future, perhaps drafting Mitchell would’ve led them to keep their point guard D’Angelo Russell to create a dynamic duo in their backcourt.
3. Philadelphia 76ers – De’Aaron Fox
(Original Pick – Markelle Fultz)
The 76ers were looking for a guard to play with their ginormous lineup of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Fox has not been the excellent shooter that would pair greatly with their franchise players, but Fox is a good enough scorer to make it work. Fox shot 37% from three last year, but this year that has dipped back to 30%.
4. Phoenix Suns – Bam Adebayo
(Original Pick – Josh Jackson)
Bam Adebayo is the perfect player for the Suns in this draft. Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss didn’t show anything in their first seasons, so the Suns would be better off picking the top player available. Adebayo leads the 2017 class in win shares at 18.1, and has been named an All-Star this year for the first time in his career.
5. Sacramento Kings – Lonzo Ball
(Original Pick – De’Aaron Fox)
Ball has struggled shooting the ball through his first three seasons, but he has been exceptional defensively, and shows his passing ability often. Ball leads the class in assists per game, and is getting better with his three point shot, currently shooting 36% in 2019-20.
6. Orlando Magic – Jonathan Isaac
(Original Pick – Jonathan Isaac)
Isaac doesn’t necessarily jump off the page with his statistics, but he is a tenacious defender, extremely switchable, and is the perfect big to have in today’s game. At 6-foot-11, Isaac can defend many positions, and was having a career season for the Magic before he suffered a severe sprain and bone contusion in his knee.