From the annual bottom dwellers to the NBA champions, each team is looking to add to their arsenal of weapons during the NBA draft. Rarely a team decides to sell its pick (or as more commonly stated, trade it for cash considerations). This is a good time to add an exciting young star for the teams picking among the first and usually a rotational guy or a long term prospect for the rest.
Every team has different needs, making the selection process more than just a list of players from best to worst. I’ll take a look at what is the biggest need for each NBA franchise picking 15th or earlier, without speculations about future moves, rumors or plans what to do with their other picks. By the biggest need I’m also assuming that the team would select it with their highest pick, if a player of a sufficient quality projects is to be available by the time the team is going to pick. Therefore, the drafting order will be used for this list.
NBA Lottery Teams
Philadelphia 76ers – top pick: #1
Not considering the prospects that have applied for the NBA Draft 2017, the Sixers most glaring need is at the shooting guard position. Moving up two spots makes little sense as the two best players are point guards, so it’s unlikely they’ll fill the position. With all the ho-hum about Fultz at No. 1, it has been forgotten that Philly already has Bayless and McConnell at the position.
Bayless is signed through the 2018-19 season and is actually the team’s highest paid player (although his cap hold is somewhere between a starter’s and a backup’s money compared to the rest of the league). Additionally, they’ve reportedly spent much time to train Ben Simmons into the position, so Fultz is far for an ideal fit. The Sixers have been taking the best player available for quite some time, even if it meant drafting three centers in three years, so I don’t expect them to utilize the first overall pick on a shooting guard, except if they don’t believe Fultz can be as successful without the ball (which would be a tragedy for his development).
The position that currently has Gerald Henderson or a player playing out of his position to fill the starter’s spot (like Stauskas, either of Bayless or Fultz or Covington) will more likely be addressed in the free agency or later in the draft.
LA Lakers – top pick: #2
Lakers were in similar position as Philly, but they decide to create a biggest need by trading away starting point guard Russell and Mozgov’s idiotic contract to the Nets for Brook Lopez’s expiring contract and one-year services. This deal opened up space and created a much better fit for the Ball-Lakers pairing, so the Lakers will indeed fill their biggest positional need in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Boston Celtics – top pick: #3
The Celtics most glaring weakness is their rebounding and the postseason has made obvious that the one position they need to change from the starting five is their power forward. They have Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko playing the four (Olynyk is more of a four than a center but he backs up Horford), and while these two are good players to have off the bench, they are at replacement level for most of the teams, let alone one that plans contending.
Crowder is not the solution there either, so instead of flirting with popular targets of George and Butler, the Celtics should look for a serious improvement at the four spot. Wake Forest’s John Collins is possibly the most natural fit from the draft as he can crash the glass, but he’s not at the required level, and neither is any of the green room invitees.
The Celtics should look to add the starting PF via trade or free agency as they can’t fill their biggest need in the draft. They’ll just use the pick to get a player they like the most, regardless of a position, or use it as a bargaining chip in future trades.
Phoenix Suns – top pick: #4
With Bledsoe, Booker and Barbosa, Knight and Ulis backing them at guards, Warren and Dudley at the wing, and the investment they made in the last draft at the four spot by taking Bender and Chriss with high picks, the biggest need at this moment is at the center position, where the Suns have only veteran Chandler signed for the next season.
Obviously, they’ve tried to figure out whether Alex Len can handle the spot by giving him the starter’s role, but he’s a free agent now and it’s 50-50 at best that he’ll return. But that’s a position they can easily fill, even if they don’t resign either of their free agents. Bender pick has flopped so far, but he has to be given more time. Chriss shown some signs of advancing his game, but is the weakest link in the lineup. Still, I’d entertain an idea of using T.J. Warren as a sixth man in either wing role and in the small lineups and find a stronger small forward that can play both ways.
If the Suns are thinking the same way, they could fill the need by drafting Kansas forward Josh Jackson or take a gamble by selecting Seminoles combo forward Jonathan Isaac, who could also serve as a guarantee at both four and five positions.
Sacramento Kings – top pick: #5
The Kings don’t have any NBA caliber starter on their roster for the next season so anything would do. But let’s say they plan to start Cauley-Stein, Hield, Gay and probably Afflalo (or Temple), leaving the largest hole at the point. The shortsightedness of Cousins trade leaves them with regrets as they could have tried to send him to the Celtics for the no. 1 pick and came up with either Fultz or Ball, but they’ll probably have to settle for Kentucky’s freshman DeAaron Fox.
It’s not the worst match either, as Fox can be an NBA starter comparable to many other ball dominant point guards, as his elusiveness and dribbling skills go extremely well with the size and quickness he has, so I doubt the Kings would pass on him. Well, nobody knows what the Kings’ front office is going to do next, but they could fill their biggest need in the 2017 NBA Draft with Fox.
Orlando Magic – top pick: #6
You don’t have to be a cap guru to see all sorts of problems former Magic GM Henningan has left behind, but it is what it is. There are likely be changes where they can be made, but as of now, the Magic would have to improve the small forward position. In fact, they could probably think of improving either forward spot as Gordon doesn’t seem to be a long term solution in either slot, but they’ll probably give another chance to him at the four before they decide what to do with it.
At the three, the Magic have a decent option in Terrence Ross, but the depth chart starts and end there, so drafting Duke’s Jayson Tatum makes perfect sense, unless Boston takes him first. Alternatively, they could reach with Kennard or Anunoby, or trade down, but I believe that only Tatum would be an ideal solution to fill the position. If he’s gone, Magic should explore trades and packages that could free their roster spots and salary cap from below average, overpaid players.
Minnesota Timberwolves – top pick: #7
If you can put Rubio rumors aside, the Minnesota Timberwolves are set on the each position in the starting five, with the weakest position probably at the two guard. They need more depth as they had one of the weakest bench units so they’ll have no problem addressing it via draft. However, if you consider LaVine’s contract year as a signal that he shouldn’t be relied much, the Wolves could add a good wing to pair with Wiggins (who is between the positions himself).
Top prospects at the position will likely be gone by then, so it’s better for Minny to draft the best player available or to use the relatively high pick in a trade. The problem is, they have very few players they can say goodbye to and not touch the core, so they’ll likely remain passive.
New York Knicks – top pick: #8
I promised not to speculate anything, so the complex Knicks situation get unknotted by that approach – Derrick Rose’s contract has expired, the Knicks don’t have a natural successor within their players, so they should go after a playmaker. It’s an unenviable situation by any rook, but it’s likely going to be the faith of either Malik Monk or Dennis Smith, as at least one of them should be available at the Knicks time to pick. Some pundits linked Knicks with Ntilikina, but I don’t think they can afford to wait up for his development and that they’ll be more definite in addressing the need.
Dallas Mavericks – top pick: #9
The Mavericks really need a big man. Nowitzki will play out his contract, but could use a replacement to get to retirement with peace. Noel could be re-signed to a long term contract, but they could still use an offensive weapon who can stretch out the defense like Dirk did and play with the smaller units. Fortunately for Dallas, there should be at least a few options that are worth a look.
Arizona’s Markkanen and Gonzaga’s Zach Collins have been dubbed a top 10 prospects, but Mavericks could consider Caleb Swanigan, Boilermaker’s top guy, or others, as plenty of solid options arise in the second part of the first round. Whomever they pick, they’ll address the need and with the options they’ll have at their disposal, I believe they could do very well too.
Charlotte Hornets – top pick: #11
With most of their cap space tied up to the current squad in the next couple of seasons and by acquiring Dwight Howard, the Hornets have clearly expressed the desire to win now, which is a rare situation for a lottery team.
They could use some youth influx at the power forward position and probably one of the more traditional back-to-basket type, so they’ll hope that Dallas doesn’t take their guy. Still there are quite a few option for them as well and they’ll probably go that route.
Detroit Pistons – top pick: #12
It does seem that everything the Pistons had been doing in recent years is fill glaring hole. But as they fill one and by the address another, the previous patch turns out to be leaking. I’m not sure whom, if anyone, do they see as an important piece of their future. Drummond, Harris and Jackson are their three top players judging by the money commitment, and they are happy with Morris, so they will probably look to improve at the off guard position, especially as Kennard and Louisville’s Mitchell project to be among the best remaining options by the time Detroit’s clock starts ticking.
Denver Nuggets – top pick: #13
Denver are deep and young, but could possibly lose starting small forward Gallinari if he signs with another team as a free agent. Chandler and Barton could fill in admirably, but the Nuggets could take a look at some combo-forward who could back up Faried as well.
Taking OG Anunoby wouldn’t be much of the reach here and the Nuggets can afford to wait for him to fully recover from an injury, so it’s a perfect fit.
Miami Heat – top pick: #14
Miami didn’t do themselves a favor by the late season winning. They have a solid group of average players and they need more stars, not more players who will play 15 minutes and hinder each other’s development. With Bosh’s salary coming off the books, they’ll likely try to address that in the NBA free agency or with the trade. Whomever they draft at No. 14 will not be a long term solution for any position.
Portland Trail Blazers – top pick: #15
The Blazers are certainly set at the guards, have traded for a good fit at the center and would like to pretend they are in good situation with their forwards. They invested much in them by extending them with above market contracts, and have gotten very little in return. It has left them very little wiggle room, but at least the guys they have committed to are mostly young, yet to reach their prime.
What Portland needs is a couple of know-how NBA veterans, possibly ones with the experience of playing at a high level. This certainly can’t be addressed in the draft, but they could possibly look to use this pick to get one. One of the oldest teams in the league, the LA Clippers, are desperate to add some young blood and have not picks in the draft, so that’s the phone number I’d dial first.
