Who The First Round Picks Are And How They Fit

There were 30 basketball players drafted into the first round last night, here is who they are and how they fit onto their new team.

Markelle Fultz- 76ers

Fultz is a rare top pick who is surrounded by plenty of other talent. He won't have the pressure to develop into a star quickly and he really only needs to improve on defense. He fits very well with the current construct of the Philadelphia roster and should be the missing piece to The Process.

Ball lands in the perfect spot, especially after the D’Angelo Russell trade. Ball will be the lead guard on the Lakers. He's only projected limitations are his lateral quickness on defense and maybe his awkward shot form. If his shot doesn't need to be changed and he is an effective enough shooter from deep at the NBA level he might be the star of LA this season. If his shot doesn't translate then Ball becomes much easier to guard and he might bust.

Tatum is probably the most polished scorer in the draft. The Celtics will likely ask him to be a scorer off the bench and carry some offensive load for a contender. Boston can afford to bring Tatum along slowly, but he should fit in right away with one of the best statistically reserve units in the league.

Jackson could have gone in the top 3 of the draft, but between team fits and refusing to workout with the Celtics the Suns get the talented and athletic swingman at pick 4. Jackson needs to make some simple tweaks to his shot form and develop consistency in his outside shooting. His handle could also use some tightening up at the NBA level, but he comes into a good situation playing with Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe. Jackson has tools to develop into a really good two-way player.

Fox will step in right away as Sacramento’s starting point guard. He's lightening quick, has a solid frame for his position and can defend other point guards right away. Fox’s best attribute on the offensive end is his ability to get into the lane and finish around the basket. He needs to improve his perimeter shooting, but he has already started working on his form and should develop nicely in time.

Isaac has great size and skill for his height at 6’11”. He projects to be a good shooter and defender right away. If he can develop an all-around offensive game and fill out his frame he could turn into a special player. 

Markkanen is the best stretch 4 entering the draft and it's good because Chicago needs shooting. At 7 feet tall Markkanen provides size and shooting. He will need to figure out how to play defense at the NBA level, but he should be a key piece toward the Chicago rebuild.

Ntilkina is a project, but he helps defensively right away. He's a young player that doesn't really fit the typical mold of a point guard or a shooting guard. He can shoot from outside the paint, but has trouble finishing around the rim. The Knicks youth movement started with Porzingis and will continue with Ntilikina. While the dysfunction of the Knicks might lead fans to be upset with the pick, Ntilikina will be a good piece for the future in New York.

Dennis Smith Jr. is exactly what Dallas needed with the 9th pick. He's a score first point guard with highlight reel athletic ability. There are questions about his ability to defend multiple positions and his overall point guard polish will need work, but the Mavericks and their fans should be excited about a player that should make them better offensively right away.

Collins is a good fit with the Blazers in their quest to build a versatile front court. He can shoot it a little and finish around the rim. He’ll have plenty of opportunities as a screen setter and read the defense that will be more focused on Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Collins will likely need to be an energy player off the bench to start his career.

Monk is a great athlete, but he doesn't have the physical tools to play the traditional shooting guard position in the NBA. He's a great shooter and has scoring instincts. Monk should learn how to navigate into open space using screens and losing his defender to create scoring opportunities. He is a good defender, but again lacks physical tools to defend the typical opposing shooting guard.

Kennard has high role player potential and low star potential. He's a safe pick and should be a great shooter at the NBA level. He's not particularly athletic and doesn't really defend well, but he makes up in those areas with basketball IQ and poise. As long as Kennard is shooting effectively and stays in shape he should have a spot in the NBA.

Mitchell plays a combo guard game. At 6’3” with a 6’10” wingspan and a strong 210 lbs frame he fits the NBA guard physical profile. He can score, but he's not quite polished as a playmaker for others. The Jazz may have a lot of ball handling opportunities for Mitchell if Hayward and Hill leave this summer so Mitchell’s NBA success may depend on his ability to develop as a point guard. 

Miami is looking for depth at the center position with this pick. Adebayo will have to play behind Hassan Whiteside, which puts him in a good position to come along slowly and play against second unit bigs the Heat should hope Adebayo will eventually be better than. He is a project prospect, but has all the physical tools to be a strong center in the NBA.

Jackson is an NBA ready player. He is a 3 and D guy that can guard multiple positions. He doesn't project to be an all-star, but he brings attributes to the table that are needed on winning teams.

Patton is the physical prospect you want at the center position. He has elite size and natural talent. He lacks all around basketball skill, but being the more traditional big man finishing around the rim and cleaning up rebounds is exactly what Minnesota needs with Nikola Pekovic retiring.