2017 NBA Mock Draft: New York Knicks And All 30 First-Round Picks

27. Brooklyn Nets – Anzejs Pasecniks

Slowly becoming a sleeping giant among the mock draft community, the second Latvian (what have you started, Kristaps Porzingis?) comes off the board and into the laps of the Brooklyn Nets, which took a swing with Hamidou Diallo earlier.

Brooklyn takes another swing with the 7’0″ big man here. He reminds me of a young Jonas Valanciunas, who has worked his way into being one of the top centers in the league. Should Pasecniks reach that same potential, the Nets could be righting the ship.

28. Los Angeles Lakers – Jordan Bell (Oregon)

Oregon’s run to the Final Four helped vault Bell’s draft stock. He will be fighting to get into the first round. He’ll have a lot of competition, but his versatility and winning track record may be enticing enough for the young Lakers to add to their rotation.

Bell’s game is similar to that of Thomas Robinson during his time at Kansas, who ironically enough is a free agent who last played for the Lakers. Bell could provide more depth behind Julius Randle and become another target for Lonzo Ball.