2017 NBA Mock Draft: New York Knicks And All 30 First-Round Picks
By Yazen Abed
9. Dallas Mavericks – Frank Ntilikina (France)
The Dallas Mavericks should be in a position to take the best player available at No. 9. Should one of the top point guards be available at the time, the Mavericks will have to decide whether to take their point guard of the future or find a replacement big to learn under Dirk Nowitzki in the twilight of his career.
Conventional wisdom points to Lauri Markkanen of Arizona, a near carbon copy of Nowitzki. But Ntilikina holds as much, if not more potential to be a franchise player. Assuming the Mavericks are able to re-sign Nerlens Noel, a core of Ntilikina, Harrison Barnes, and Noel may be too good to pass up on.
That’s especially true for a team that’s been devoid of a franchise point guard since Jason Kidd at the tail-end of his career.
10. Sacramento Kings – Lauri Markkanen (Arizona)
The Kings played it safe by taking De’Aaron Fox with the fifth overall selection. At No. 10, all of the top point guard prospects are gone. The aforementioned Markkanen will always get the Kristaps Porzingis comparison despite not having the same athleticism as KP, but he can still be a dangerous seven-footer with a 3-point stroke.
Markkanen will be a favored target for Fox and will allow bigs such as Skal Labissiere and Willie Cauley-Stein to operate down low.