Arrow-right Camera
Subscribe now
Gonzaga University Athletics

Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball at the top, Zach Collins at 14; projecting the NBA lottery picks

While Charlotte could use a big at No. 11, it’s possible that Zach Collins could drop to the Miami Heat at No. 14. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
By Tim Bontemps Washington Post

The world learned the order of selections for next month’s NBA draft Tuesday night, with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers winning the top three picks.

Now it’s time to take a first run at predicting the first 14 picks in the June 22 draft from a deep pool of talent.

1. Boston Celtics (from Brooklyn)

Markelle Fultz, point guard, Washington

The Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett trade continues to benefit Boston. The Celtics get the No. 1 pick a year after taking Jaylen Brown third overall. They are widely expected to take Fultz, a 6-foot-4 guard capable of playing either backcourt spot with oodles of potential.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

Lonzo Ball, point guard, UCLA

The Lakers somehow bucked the odds and wound up with the second overall pick for a third straight season. They will almost certainly select Ball.

3. Philadelphia 76ers (from Sacramento)

Jayson Tatum, small forward, Duke

With Ben Simmons playing point guard, the Sixers can look for another wing player to complement their plethora of bigs. Kansas forward Josh Jackson could be an option, but Tatum, a long, rangy wing, likely will be the selection.

4. Phoenix Suns

Josh Jackson, small forward, Kansas

The Suns were one of the big losers in the lottery, dropping from second to fourth. But while Phoenix – which has never had the No. 1 pick – would have loved to get its hands on either Fultz or Ball, getting a wing such as Jackson to pair with Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe is a pretty nice consolation prize.

5. Sacramento Kings (from Philadelphia)

De’Aaron Fox, point guard, Kentucky

In typical fashion, Sacramento moved up in the draft lottery for the first time … only to have to swap picks with Philadelphia because of a horrible cap-clearing trade (horrible for the Kings, anyway) in 2015. Still, the Kings can still get a point guard of the future in Fox, who some think is even better than Ball.

6. Orlando Magic

Lauri Markkanen, power forward, Arizona

The talent drops off after the top five players, so this is where things start to get interesting. Orlando likely will change general managers before the draft, and that may also change the direction of the team. For now, we’ll go with Markkanen, a shooter for a team lacking in them.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

Jonathan Isaac, power forward, Florida State

Tom Thibodeau would like to see his team contend for the playoffs next season, so this pick could easily be traded before or during the draft. For now, Isaac – a high-upside, though high-risk, prospect – works here.

8. New York Knicks

Frank Ntilikina, point guard, France

The higher upside prospect is Dennis Smith, the combustible point guard prospect who could be a perfect pick-and-roll partner for Kristaps Porzingis. But the 6-foot-5 Ntilikina is the more likely pick, giving Phil Jackson the big guard he has always wanted.

9. Dallas Mavericks

Dennis Smith, point guard, North Carolina State

This seems like a perfect marriage: Smith, the combustible but talented prospect, with Mark Cuban, the brash billionaire owner of Mavericks. Smith may also drive coach Rick Carlisle insane, but few landing spots would offer him a greater opportunity to blossom.

10. Sacramento Kings (from New Orleans)

Malik Monk, shooting guard, Kentucky

With Fox already going to the Kings at No. 5, filling Sacramento’s biggest need, they have flexibility here. So why not add Fox’s backcourt mate from Kentucky, potentially giving the Kings their starting backcourt for years to come?

11. Charlotte Hornets

Justin Jackson, small forward, North Carolina

A couple of bigs – including Gonzaga’s Zach Collins – could be in the mix, but owner Michael Jordan is a North Carolina alum and coach Steve Clifford loves three-point shooting, so Jackson makes sense here on the wings.

12. Detroit Pistons

Donovan Mitchell, shooting guard, Louisville

The Pistons could use some depth in the backcourt behind Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who is going to be a restricted free agent. The choice, for now, is Mitchell.

13. Denver Nuggets

OG Anunoby, small forward, Indiana

Denver has a ton of players on its roster and could use one and this pick in a deal for a veteran. But if the Nuggets keep the selection, Anunoby – a raw but toolsy prospect coming off a knee injury last season – can give the Nuggets the potential to add another defender around budding star center Nikola Jokic.

14. Miami Heat

Zach Collins, center, Gonzaga

Miami is a perfect place for Collins, assuming he drops this far. Collins can play 15 minutes a game as a rookie and spell Hassan Whiteside as an athletic big off the bench, and could possibly even play alongside him against specific matchups.