NBA lottery mock draft: Teams get crazy with trades, Heat land the perfect fit
By Wes Goldberg
The NBA Draft will begin at 7 pm ET and will be televised on ESPN. Here is our final NBA mock draft before the actual draft.
1. Philadelphia: Markelle Fultz, Point Guard, Washington
The 76ers traded up in the NBA Draft to get Markelle Fultz, so it won’t be a surprise when they take him with the top overall pick. A trio of Fultz, last year’s No. 1 pick Ben Simmons and the uber-talented Joel Embiid gives Philadelphia an explosive core that could one day become one of the best teams in the league.
Fultz can do it all, from being a willing passer for his teammates, to scoring from anywhere on the court. His step back is nasty, his cross over is effective, and he can shoot off the catch or off the dribble. He didn’t win many games at Washington, but that’s because you can’t name a single one of his teammates (and his coach was stuck in the dark ages when basketball didn’t have a 3-point line). He’s one of the most complete point guards to come along in years. It’s no wonder the 76ers cashed in to grab him.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, Point Guard, UCLA
Trading D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets made way for Lonzo Ball to take over the Lakers offense. Ball is an elite, elite, passer. His ability to move the ball has been described as “contagious.” If you watched the 30 for 30 about the 80s Lakers and Celtics rivalry, you know about Magic Johnson’s and Larry Bird’s passing abilities. Ball comes from that school, and the Lakers are hoping he has a similar impact on his teammates.
His shooting is a concern, but that’s only because of his mechanics. His percentages at UCLA were solid. Of course, there’s the Big Baller Branded elephant in the room–Lonzo’s dad LaVar Ball. After getting what he’s wanted all along (Lonzo to the Lakers), hopefully he’ll cool it down.