TPSG 2017 NBA Mock Draft

The 2017 NBA Draft is coming up on Thursday, I think it's probably a good time for a mock draft.  A little disclaimer here, having grown up near the Twin Cities and having since moved to Phoenix, I'm a big fan of the Suns and the Timberwolves.   Anyways, here's my mock:

1. Philadelphia 76ers - Markelle Fultz - PG - Washington 
2. Los Angles Lakers - Lonzo Ball - PG - UCLA 
3. Boston Celtics - Josh Jackson - SF - Kansas 
4. Phoenix Suns - Jonathan Isaac - F - Florida State 
5. Sacramento Kings - De'Aaron Fox - PG - Kentucky
6. Orlando Magic - Jayson Tatum - SF - Duke
7. Minnesota Timberwolves - Malik Monk - OG - Kentucky
8. New York Knicks - Dennis Smith - PG - North Carolina State
9. Dallas Mavericks - Frank Ntilikina - PG - International 
10. Sacramento Kings - Lauri Markkanen - PF - Arizona
11. Charlotte Hornets - Zach Collins - PF - Gonzaga
12. Detroit Pistons - Luke Kennard - OG - Duke 
13. Denver Nuggets - John Collins - PF - Wake Forest
14. Miami Heat - OG Anunoby - SF - Indiana 
15. Portland Trail Blazers - Justin Patton - C - Creighton
16. Chicago Bulls - Jarrett Allen - C - Texas
17. Milwaukee Bucks - Bam Adebayo - C - Kentucky 
18. Indiana Pacers - Justin Jackson - SF - North Carolina
19. Atlanta Hawks - Harry Giles - C - Duke
20. Portland Trail Blazers - T.J. Leaf - PF - UCLA
21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Ivan Rabb - PF - California 
22. Brooklyn Nets - Isaiah Hartenstein - PF - International 
23. Toronto Raptors - Semi Ojeleye - F - SMU 
24. Utah Jazz - D.J. Wilson - PF - Michigan 
25. Orlando Magic - Donovan Mitchell - SF - Louisville 
26. Portland Trail Blazers - Jordan Bell - PF - Oregon 
27. Brooklyn Nets - Anzejs Pasecniks - C - International 
28. Los Angeles Lakers - Tyler Lydon - PF - Syracust
29. San Antonio Spurs - Josh Hart - OG - Villanova 
30. Utah Jazz - Frank Jackson - G - Duke

Josh Jackson seems like he'd be an ideal fit for the Suns, I don't see him falling to number 4 though.  I doubt that Fultz or Ball do either, if any of them did, I suspect that the Suns would pounce on them.  Outside of those 3, I have heard they like Jonathan Isaac, Jayson Tatum and De'Arron Fox.  I don't see the need for a PG, so I'd rule out Fox.  I'd probably go with Tatum if I was making the pick, he would slot very nicely into the SF spot for them.  I'm guessing they go with Jonathan Isaac though, he could potentially play anywhere in their front court and seems to fit perfectly into the direction that the NBA is moving towards (his game is very similar to Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss though).  

The Timberwolves look to be targeting shooters and defenders.  Malik Monk would certainly give them a shooter, as would Lauri Markkanen, both have their faults though, namely defense.  Dennis Smith or Frank Ntilikina would perhaps offer more complete players, but they both play primary at the PG spot and unless the Wolves swing a deal or two, I just can't see them selecting another PG.  If Jonathan Isaac were to fall to them, I'm guessing he'd be their pick, I doubt that happens though.  I'd put my money on Monk or Markkenan.  Or how about packaging #7 along with Ricky Rubio & Zach LaVine to the Bulls for Jimmy Butler and #16?  

Royce Lewis

The Minnesota Twins selected high school SS/OF Royce Lewis on Monday with the first pick of the 2017 Major League Draft.  He's probably not the guy I would have selected, but he did seem to be a pretty consistent top 4-5 prospect on most prospect lists, he just may be the best athlete in the draft too.  They seemed really worried about grabbing a pitcher that early.  I will hope for the best

TPSG 2017 MLB Mock Draft

The 2017 MLB Draft is tomorrow and my 2 favorite teams (the Twins & Diamondbacks) will be selecting in the top 7, so I've been paying particular attention this year.  Here's how I predict it plays out:

1. Minnesota Twins - Brendan McKay - LHP/1B - Louisville 
2. Cincinnati Reds - Hunter Greene - RHP - Notre Dame HS (CA)  ***
3. San Diego Padres - Royce Lewis - SS - J Serra Catholic HS (CA)
4. Tampa Rays - Kyle Wright - RHP - Vanderbilt  
5. Atlanta Braves - MacKenzie Gore - LHP - Whiteville HS (NC) 
6. Oakland A's - Pavin Smith - 1B - Virginia 
7. Arizona Diamondbacks - J.B. Bukauskas - RHP - North Carolina
8. Philadelphia Phillies - Adam Haseley - OF - Virginia  *** 
9. Milwaukee Brewers - Jordon Adell - OF - Ballard HS (LA) 
10. Anaheim Angels - Shane Baz - RHP - Concordia Lutheran HS (TX) 
11. Chicago White Sox - Alex Faedo - RHP - Florida 
12. Pittsburgh Pirates - Austin Beck - OF - North Davidson HS (NC)
13. Miami Marlins - D.L. Hall - LHP - Houston County HS (GA) 
14. Kansas City Royals - Trevor Rogers - LHP - Carlsbad HS (NM)
15. Houston Astros - Nick Pratto - 1B - Mater Dei HS (CA) 
16. New York Yankees - Jake Burger - 3B - Missouri State
17. Seattle Mariners - Jeren Kendall - OF - Vanderbilt 
18. Detroit Tigers - Tanner Houck - RHP - Missouri 
19. San Francisco Giants - Evan White - 1B - Kentucky
20. New York Mets - Sam Carlson - RHP - Burnsville HS (MN)
21. Baltimore Orioles - Logan Warmoth - SS - North Carolina 
22. Toronto Blue Jays - Keston Hiura - SS - UC Irvine
23. Los Angeles Dodgers - Griffin Canning - RHP - UCLA 
24. Boston Red Sox - Alex Lange - RHP - Louisiana State
25. Washington Nationals - David Peterson - LHP - Stanford 
26. Texas Rangers - Bubba Thompson - OF - McGill Toelen HS (AL)  *** 
27. Chicago Cubs - Nick Allen - SS - Francis Parker HS (CA) 

I'm heard the Twins linked to a half dozen or so prospects and could see them going a number of different directions.  The latest buzz has the Twins selecting Brendan McKay with the top pick, so I went with him there in my mock.  He seems like a relatively safe pick.  I'm not sure that he has the upside of Hunter Greene or Kyle Wright though, so I wouldn't rule them out either.  Given that the Twins also pick 35 & 37 in the draft, I wouldn't be shocked to see them use the underslot strategy on the first pick either (in which case they could very well work out a deal with someone like Royce Lewis, MacKenzie Gore or Pavin Smith).  Personally, I'd prefer they don't play games at 1-1 and just select the best player.  I'd go with Hunter Greene, his upside is unlimited and you do have the fallback of playing him elsewhere if for some reason he falters as a pitcher (of course you could make that same case for Brendan McKay).  In other words, who knows which direction the Twins go.

I think the Diamondbacks go the college route, with J.B Bakauskas, Pavin Smith or Adam Haseley being the most likely pick, but if someone else drops them I'm guessing they wouldn't hesitate to pounce (i.e. Royce Lewis, MacKenzie Gore).

  *** = Correct Predictions