Lonzo Ball has gotten more headlines than any other player in the 2017 NBA Draft but where does he rank compared to the others in the class?
15. Markelle Fultz
The Philadelphia 76ers took Markelle Fultz first overall out of Washington and it did not pan out for them in any way, shape or form. He is averaging a career-best 9.8 points per game this season, which tells you a lot. Fultz played in a grand total of 33 games for the Sixers before winding up in Orlando.
14. Josh Jackson
Josh Jackson went to Phoenix fourth overall out of Kansas. He found all sorts of trouble in the desert and was dealt to Memphis over the summer. All you need to know about how this pick has gone awry is Jackson is currently with the Memphis Hustle of the G League. Ouch.
13. Zach Collins
Zach Collins went 10th overall to Portland out of Gonzaga. He is currently out four months with a dislocated shoulder. That doesn’t help his overall resume, which has seen him start one game and average less than six points and four rebounds since turning pro.
12. Frank Ntilikina
The darling of New York media, Frank Ntilikina has been the focus of so much controversy simply because of the lack of opportunity the Knicks have given him. Is he better than what he has shown or is the Knicks’ brass correct? This feels like a player who may need to move to a new locale to show what he truly can do in the NBA.
11. Justin Jackson
Justin Jackson loves gaming. Thus far, he appears to be stronger at that than playing in the NBA. Jackson was selected with the 15th pick and was traded on draft day to the Sacramento Kings. Portland sent Jackson and 20th pick Harry Giles to the Kings in exchange for 10th pick Zach Collins. He has ordinary stats and is currently with the Dallas Mavericks and injured. Jackson lost much of last season to injury, too. Time is running out for him to prove he is more than a role player.
10. Malik Monk
Malik Monk went from a star at Kentucky to coming off the bench in Charlotte after being chosen 11th overall. He has yet to make his first NBA start. There is something to being a big-time bench player but at some point, Monk may have to find his way into the starting unit to justify his lottery selection. He is finally averaging double-digits in points and has seen his minutes eclipse 20 per game in 2019-20.
9. Dennis Smith
Dennis Smith was drafted by Dallas and wound up in the quagmire known as the New York Knicks via the trade that included DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and two future first-round draft picks in exchange for Kristaps Porziņģis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke and Courtney Lee. He’s had a rough go this season as he lost his stepmom early in the season. It’s difficult for any young player to seemingly find their way at the Garden. Smith has to hope he doesn’t become another casualty of MSG.
8. Jonathan Isaac
Jonathan Isaac came to the Magic fifth overall from Florida State. He has found his game big time in his third season, now averaging double figures in points and better than 6.5 rebounds. He is working off a sprained ankle suffered in a bizarre manner. The injury happened during the Magic’s event to unveil their new “City Edition” uniforms on Thursday night. Anything can happen and usually does in the weird world of the NBA.
7. Luke Kennard
Luke Kennard is finally coming into his own in Detroit after being chosen 12th overall out of Duke. After averaging about 20 minutes per game in his first two seasons, he is above 33 minutes per game and is at career-highs in points, rebounds and assists. Sometimes all it takes is patience and opportunity for a player to show his stuff.
6. Lauri Markkanen
The seventh overall pick out of Arizona, Lauri Markkanen was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves. On draft night, his rights were traded to the Chicago Bulls along with Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn for Jimmy Butler and the rights to Justin Patton. He was a double-double machine last season but is having a lot of trouble finding his game in 2019-20. Something isn’t right with a player who looked like a star on the rise until this season.
5. Lonzo Ball
There is no player who has grabbed more of the spotlight from this draft than Ball. Much of it was not because of him but rather his father and the hype and headlines that came with being the second overall pick out of UCLA. Things did not work out in Los Angeles and Ball is onto New Orleans. Is he a generational point guard or a solid one? He has yet to play more than 52 games in a season. Playing outside of LA should allow him to simply do his basketball job and stay out of the glare created by one of the most polarizing families in sports.
4. Bam Adebayo
Bam Adebayo went 14th overall to the Heat from the NBA player factory known as the University of Kentucky. He continues to blossom with Miami and is averaging a double-double to this point in 2019-20. Excellent choice.
3. De’Aron Fox
De’Aaron Fox went fifth overall from Kentucky to the Sacramento Kings. The guard continues to blossom with an all-around sharp game. He’s averaging around 18 points per game in 2019-20, which was a career-best before his recent injury. Throw in seven assists per game and you have a maestro in the backcourt.
2. Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum went to Boston third overall and he has proven to be a stellar selection. The former Duke star averages better than 15 points per game while corralling about six rebounds a game. A perfect fit for the Celtic green.
1. Donovan Mitchell
An absolute superstar is Donovan Mitchell, who Denver selected 13th to deal him to Utah for the 24th pick (Tyler Lydon) and Trey Lyles. The deal has worked out perfectly for the Jazz, who have one of the best young players in the game. Mitchell has averaged better than 20 points per game each season and chips in with about four assists and rebounds per contest.
