Sources in Los Angeles say that the Lakers have been “moving closer and closer” in recent days to making Lonzo Ball their man at No. 2, ESPN’s Chad Ford writes in his latest mock draft (Insider-only link). However, the Suns also have legitimate interest in Ball, and have had conversations with both the Lakers and Celtics about trading up, says Ford. Phoenix has interest in Josh Jackson too, but if both Jackson and Ball come off the board in the top three and the Suns don’t move up, Ford expects Jayson Tatum to be the team’s choice.
Here are several more interesting tidbits from Ford’s latest mock:
- The Kings have explored moving up to No. 2 or No. 3, with De’Aaron Fox as their target. Ford’s mock suggests Sacramento will have a chance to nab Fox with the No. 5 pick though.
- The Magic have shown “serious interest” in Jayson Tatum, but Ford thinks he’ll be off the board at No. 6, and has Orlando picking Jonathan Isaac instead.
- The Knicks and Mavericks both appear to be very high on French point guard Frank Ntilikina. Ford says not to be surprised if Dallas attempts to leapfrog New York by trading up to No. 6 or No. 7 to secure Ntilikina.
- Ford’s newest mock forecasts a potential fall out of the top 10 for Malik Monk. ESPN’s draft guru suggests that if Monk makes it past the Timberwolves and Knicks, he could slip to the Hornets at No. 11.
- There has been “a lot of buzz” about the possibility of OG Anunoby landing with the Nuggets, Ford writes. The injured Indiana forward is receiving interest as high as No. 10 (Kings), but Denver would be a good fit, since the Nuggets wouldn’t need him to play right away.
- The Trail Blazers, who hold three first-round picks, continue to shop around No. 20, per Ford.
Tatum to Suns would be perfect
Ball and Fultz booth are Busts and Jackson is next Aminu
Dude you are all about the suns and you are crazy to think anything you have put out there is true all your crazy trades and now this ya Ball will be a bust but fultz no way and Jackson will be better than Aminu
Say no to drugs
as a Mavs fan I would love to c Malik monk fall to them at 9th pick. I think he has huge upside and potential
If Monk drops to 11 Charlotte shouldn’t even think twice about picking him. Exactly the kind of playmaker the Hornets need behind Kemba Walker
Here’s a crazy trade idea, which means it has zero percent chance of happening – but who says no?
Kings get: #2 pick – They seem to covet De’Aaron Fox, and most mock drafts (Ford’s notwithstanding) suggest he’s going to be off the board by then. This guarantees they get their player.
Lakers get: #5 pick; Rajon Rondo – Rondo’s contract is worth #13 million on the trade market. But he can be waived this summer at a cost of $3 million on this year’s cap. The logic here is that the Lakers know Paul George wants to play in LA, but LA doesn’t currently have the cap flexibility to offer George anywhere near a max deal in 2018. There are ways for LA to get to that point, but they involve multiple moves that will likely cost the Lakers Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. Doing this would allow LA to clear $16.5 million off the cap for 2018 (Mozgov’s contract + the difference of the 2nd year salary for the #2 pick vs the #5 pick.) You get all the way there in one swoop at the cost of trading down three spots in a draft.
Bulls get: #3 pick; #10 pick; 2018 Lakers pick/2019 Kings pick (whatever the hell Boston just acquired from Philly); Jaylen Brown; Timofey Mozgov – The Bulls have been adamant in their desire to get four assets in return for Butler. In this scenario, they do just that. Granted, they have to take on the guaranteed salary of Mozgov to do so, but salary cap isn’t really a concern for a team entering a rebuild.
Celtics get: Jimmy Butler. So let’s get this straight. The Celtics, who drafted a defensive-minded SF with the 3 pick a year ago, just traded the top pick so they could take another defensive-minded SF with the 3 pick this year – and their big FA quest is to bring in another SF? And oh yea, they already have an above-average SF in Jae Crowder? This sounds like a cluster to me… The Celtics should just get Butler and call it a day. I understand why they were hesitant at the deadline this year. The Bulls wanted two high lottery picks. Boston only had two, and they didn’t want to give up both of them. Well, now they have three, and it just makes sense to finally pull the trigger on the deal.
Wouldn’t the Bulls rather just have the #3, the Lakers/Kings pick, Crowder and Brown (in the made-up world where Boston is willing to trade Brown, who was one of their best players against Cleveland)?
Kings ain’t giving up 5 and 10 for 2 or 3 picks. Get that out your minds
Celtics are not trading 3 lottery picks for Butler….
This will be the order people and lets move on
1. Sixers- Fultz
2. Lakers- Ball
3. Celtics- Jackson
4. Suns- Tatum
5. Kings- Fox
6. Magic- Monk
7. Wolves- Isaac
8. Knicks- Ntikilina
9. Mavericks- Markannen
10. Kings- Smith Jr
U have the kings taking two point guards
Yea so what? They could play both jn the same backcourt in case Hield can’t hold down the 2.
Well they don’t need more big guys that’s for sure.
They need Fox period, he will turn the Kings around.
I don’t think Orlando is going to take Monk.
They’ll take Isaac
And Dallas seems most likely to take a PG at 9.
Think they’ll go Markannen
Fultz, Fox, Jackson, Ball, Tatum, Isaac, Markannen, Ntilikina, Smith, Mitchell, Monk, Justin Jackson, OG, Zach Collins, Luke Kennard is pretty much my current best guess for top 15, but I’ve constantly gone back and forth on a few of those. This one is literally from maybe 20 minutes ago lol
I would be shocked if LA drafts Fox
Chad Ford is an idiot. I put zero stock in his mock draft.
Most of the people at espn are now a days
Are there any people at all left at espn??
His picks are only marginally different than any of the other leading draft predictors, and no more different than the other ones are from each other. So, basically, what you’re saying is you don’t put any stock in ANY mock drafts. Which is probably wise.
I mean, either it’s that or you trust one mock draft over another basically identical mock draft, which makes zero sense.
Four way deal… who says no:
Lakers get: #5 pick; Rajon Rondo — This deal would Mozgov’s contract off the books, and it would give them the space to make a legitimate run at George (who, despite wanting to play in LA, still needs to get paid). They move back 3 spots in the draft to do this, but if they’re not sold on Ball (they might not be), and have no need to take Jackson (he plays the same spot as George), then they’re just as good drafting at 5 imo.
Kings get: #2 pick. They package the #5 and #10 pick to move up to #2 and secure D’Aaron Fox, whom they covet. Most mocks I’ve seen have him gone at #4 to Phx. Why risk not getting your guy?
Bulls get: #3 pick, #10 pick, Jaylen Brown, the contingency pick the Celtics just acquired from Philly (2018 LA or 2019 Sac pick); and Timofey Mozgov – They’ve long held their ground that they won’t give up Butler unless they receive a major haul. Well, two guaranteed top-10 picks (one at #3), a young player like Brown, and a likely top-10 pick either in 2018 or 2019 is a major haul imo. They take on Mozgov’s salary, but that’s not really a primary concern for a team entering a rebuild.
Celtics get: Jimmy Butler – They need another star. Jackson isn’t that star. And as good as Heyward is, he isn’t either. Butler is. The Celtics balked at the Bulls’ demands in February – which reportedly included both Brooklyn picks, Jaylen Brown, and Jae Crowder. This is half that cost with only Brown and the 2017 Brooklyn pick (technically it’s the pieces Boston received by trading the 2017 Brooklyn pick.) It’s a huge coup for Ainge imo.
Bulls, who could likely get Crowder instead of Mozgov and the #10.
Celtics, who are unlikely to trade Brown, one of their best players against Cleveland
Lakers, if they are enamored with Ball.
Sacramento, if, as most do at this point, they expect Fox to fall to #5.
So… everybody?
I speculated about a potential Monk/Smith fall towards 10-11 a few days ago, but I still think they slot in there barring any trades….that being said, it’s obvious Orlando wants 1 of Tatum or Isaac at 6, so it depends on what Minnesota and the Knicks do…I think Minnesota could trade the pick or take a big, like Collins or Markannen (b/c Isaac won’t be there for them)
Assuming the Knicks take Ntilikina at 8, it’s between Smith, Monk, and Mitchell at 9 for Dallas, unless they take the other of the 2 bigs. Then at 10, I think Sacramento would go Mitchell if it’s between he and Monk, b/c they have Hield, although Monk is the type their owner probably drools over lol. That means that Charlotte might not take Justin Jackson at 11 b/c someone will be there unexpectedly. It could also mean Kennard doesn’t end up at 12 to Detroit. I always thought OG was going 13 to Denver….theoretically, someone we didn’t think would be there could fall right into the Heat’s lap at 14
I assume Charlotte would take Monk.
If Dallas were to move up to 7 to take Ntilikina, I think the Knicks then take Monk, who seems like a better triangle fit than Smith. In that scenario, Smith could drop all the way to Detroit at 12 (since it’s looking increasingly likely Sac will get Fox at 5), which is crazy because he’s one of 5 or 6 guys with a reasonable chance to be the best player in this draft (though he’s more like #5 or 6 of those guys).
If Dallas doesn’t trade up, the Knicks take Ntilikina, Dallas takes Smith, then Monk probably goes to Charlotte at 11.
The only thing Lonzo will lead the NBA in is acne
He’s going to the NBA, where you headed? Your second shift job at Burger King? Lol