With March Madness in full swing, a great many of the NBA’s 2017 first round picks have more important things to think about — for the moment at least — as the push for a national championship shifts into high gear for some of the nation’s top college programs. That’s no problem. We can think about it for them.
Here’s an updated guess at how things will go in the first round of June’s NBA draft — keeping in mind that a month of NBA action and the NBA draft lottery could change everything between now and then: 1. Boston Celtics: Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
2. Los Angeles Lakers:Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
3. Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
4. Orlando Magic: De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
5. Philadelphia 76ers:Malik Monk, SG, Kentucky
6. Sacramento Kings: Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
7. Dallas Mavericks:Dennis Smith, PG, NC State
8. Portland Trail Blazers:Jonathan Isaac, SF, Florida State
9. Sacramento Kings:Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
10. Minnesota Timberwolves:Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
11. New York Knicks:Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State
12. Charlotte Hornets:Harry Giles, PF, Duke
13. Milwaukee Bucks:Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
14. Miami Heat:Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
15. Denver Nuggets: Terrance Ferguson, Austrailia
16. Detroit Pistons:Justin Patton, C, Creighton
17. Chicago Bulls:Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
18. Indiana Pacers:Bam Adebayo, PF, Kentucky
19. Atlanta Hawks:Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
20. Oklahoma City Thunder:John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
21. Portland Trail Blazers:Johnathan Motley, PF, Baylor
22. Toronto Raptors:Tyler Lydon, PF, Syracuse
23. Orlando Magic:TJ Leaf, PF, UCLA
24. Utah Jazz: Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Germany
25. Brooklyn Nets: Ivan Rabb, PF, California
26. Brooklyn Nets: Dillon Brooks, SG, Oregon
27. Los Angeles Lakers: Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State
28. Portland Trail Blazers: Robert Williams, PF, Texas A&M
29. San Antonio Spurs: Caleb Swanigan, Purdue
30. Utah Jazz: Josh Hart, SG, Villanova