2017 NBA Mock Draft: Markelle Fultz to Lakers, Celtics surprise at No. 1

Celtics boss Danny Ainge typically goes with the best available player on draft day, not thinking about being overstocked at one particular position. But Ainge’s”best available” is often different than the consensus “best available,” particularly when we’re still over three months out from selection day.

Those close to Ainge swear that he would have taken Kevin Durant over Greg Oden in 2007had the Celtics got lucky with the ping-pong balls, despite the consensus being that Oden was the better player. Many were calling for Ainge to pick Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh over Marcus Smart at No. 6 in the 2014 Draft and for him to pick Kris Dunn or Buddy Hield over Jaylen Brown in last year’s draft. In other words, Aingepisses off people like me who make up these mock drafts every year. He rarely ever matches up his actual picks with the pre-draft consensus.

This year, Markelle Fultzhas emerged as the consensus No. 1, so if the Celtics do land the No. 1 overall pick – it’ll be a no-brainer for Ainge, right? Ehhh … maybe not. It’s entirely possible that Aingelikes Lonzo Ball or Josh Jackson over Fultzand sees something the rest of us don’t.

Maybe the Celtics try to work out a Chris Webber – Penny Hardaway-like trade at the top of the draft to try and land Ball or Jackson at No. 2 or 3 if they’re not head-over-heels in love with Fultz.

Ainge has said (if you believe what he says to the media) that he thinks the 2017draft is extremelydeep. Maybe he trades back to pick No. 8 or 9, and tries to pick up a win-now piece in the process.

1. Boston Celtics: Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington

3. Phoenix Suns: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA

4. Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, SF, Florida State

5. Philadelphia 76ers: De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky

6. Sacramento Kings: Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky

7. Dallas Mavericks: Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke

8. Portland Trail Blazers: Dennis Smith, PG, NC State

9. Sacramento Kings: TJ Leaf, PF, UCLA

10. Minnesota Timberwolves: Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State

11. New York Knicks: Harry Giles, PF, Duke

12. Charlotte Hornets: Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga

13. Milwaukee Bucks: Frank Ntilikina, PG, France

14. Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo, PF, Kentucky

15. Denver Nuggets: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona

16. Detroit Pistons: Robert Williams, PF, Texas A&M

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17. Chicago Bulls: Tyler Lydon, PF, Syracuse

18. Indiana Pacers: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas

19. Atlanta Hawks: Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina

20. Oklahoma City Thunder: Justin Patton, C, Creighton

21. Portland Trail Blazers: Ivan Rabb, PF, California

22. Toronto Raptors: Allonzo Trier, SG, Arizona

23. Orlando Magic: Johnathan Motley, PF, Baylor

24. Utah Jazz: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Germany

25. Brooklyn Nets: Cam Oliver, PF, Nevada

26. Brooklyn Nets: Dillon Brooks, SG, Oregon

27. Los Angeles Lakers: Luke Kennard, SG, Duke

28. Portland Trail Blazers: Kyle Kuzma, PF, Utah

29. San Antonio Spurs: John Collins, PF, Wake Forest

30. Utah Jazz: Josh Hart, SG, Villanova

31. Atlanta Hawks: Rodions Kurucs, SF, Latvia

32. Phoenix Suns: Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue

33. Los Angeles Lakers: Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville

34. Orlando Magic: Nigel Williams-Goss, PG, Gonzaga

35. Sacramento Kings: Tony Bradley, PF, North Carolina

36. Minnesota Timberwolves: Dwayne Bacon, SG, Florida State

37. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Beachem, SF, Notre Dame

38. Houston Rockets: Melo Trimble, PG, Maryland

39. Sacramento Kings: Terrance Ferguson, SG, USA

40. Boston Celtics: Frank Mason, PG, Kansas

41. Utah Jazz: Chris Boucher, PF, Oregon

42. Charlotte Hornets: Sindarius Thornwell, SG, South Carolina

43. Milwaukee Bucks: Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon

44. Miami Heat: PJ Dozier, PG, South Carolina

45. Houston Rockets: Vlatko Cancar, SF, Slovenia

46. Utah Jazz: Marko Gaduric, SG, Serbia

47. New York Knicks: Trevon Bluiett, SG, Xavier

48. Indiana Pacers: Jawun Evans

49. Atlanta Hawks: Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana

50. Oklahoma City Thunder: Moses Kingsley, C, Arkansas

51. Oklahoma City Thunder: Rodney Purvis, PG, UConn

52. Phoenix Suns: Michael Fusek, C, Slovak Republic

53. Boston Celtics: Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Latvia

54. Utah Jazz: Jonah Bolden, SF, Australia

55. Washington Wizards: Alec Peters, SF, Valparaiso

56. Brooklyn Nets: Justin Tuoyo, PF, Chattanooga

57. New York Knicks: Alpha Kaba, PF, France

58. Boston Celtics: Jaron Blossomgame, SF, Clemson

59. San Antonio Spurs: Isaiah Hicks, PF, North Carolina

60. Utah Jazz: Monte Morris, PG, Iowa State