2017 NBA Draft: “Most Likely” Awards For Each Lottery Team

2 of 4

May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of the TD Garden before the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Boston Celtics in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Likely To…Do Anything On Draft Night

Boston Celtics

Boston could literally do anything before or on draft night.

First off, all trade talks go through Boston at the moment with the first overall pick in the draft. Names like Paul George and Jimmy Butler won’t go away while the possibility of Boston trading that pick for a star won’t go away.

Second, the most likely scenario at the moment, Boston will simply take the best player available in Markelle Fultz and be done with it. Fultz could come in and play alongside of Isaiah Thomas or be the next cornerstone of the franchise moving forward.

Third, is the possibility of moving down on draft night. With a loaded draft class with the top two picks being a position that Boston doesn’t really “need”, they could move down and still grab an impact player. Someone like Philly or Phoenix could make a lucrative offer to move up.

Boston could do anything on draft night.

Most Likely To…Do What Everyone is Predicting

Los Angeles Lakers

Everyone is releasing mock drafts around the world trying to predict what each team will do with their draft pick. Predicting what direction Los Angeles will go isn’t really that hard.

The Ball family has been vocal about their desire to stay in Los Angeles and the Lakers have the second pick in the draft. This is destiny.

Most Likely To…Shake Everything Up

Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia lands at the third pick in the draft with different holes to fill among the roster. Ben Simmons is the plan at point while Dario Saric and Joel Embiid will be back in the front court. The biggest need is shooting on the perimeter.

Malik Monk is the natural fit but could be a reach that high in the draft. Philly could look to move down for Monk while gaining another asset or look to package a young asset with their pick to move up to one or two.

Many people think the draft really starts with them.

Most Likely To…Take Jayson Tatum or Josh Jackson

Phoenix Suns

Many people said Phoenix struck out on lottery night and rightfully so. But landing Josh Jackson or Jayson Tatum, at a position of need, is a nice consolation prize.

With Fultz and Ball the likely top two picks, this will allow Phoenix to sit back and take which ever forward falls into their lap at four. Then factor in the rise of De’Aaron Fox and they could have their choice of Tatum or Jackson on draft night.

Most Likely To…Make a Stupid Decision

Sacramento Kings

Looking at the past couple of drafts, Sacramento has done some questionable things on draft night.

It was just a few years ago they drafted Nik Stauskas with the 8th overall pick. The next year, when desperately needing a point guard, they drafted Willie Cauley-Stein over Emmanuel Mudiay. Last year, they traded the 8th overall pick in Marquese Chriss to Phoenix for the 13th pick where they drafted Georgics Papagiannis.

You never know what Vlade will do on draft night.

Next: Picks 6-10