Pippen Ain't Easy
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Pippen Ain’t Easy’s Post-Lottery 2017 NBA Draft Big Board

By Michael Whitlow

Feb 23, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins guard T.J. Leaf (22) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Wells-Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins guard T.J. Leaf (22) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Wells-Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Other names that could be available that you should know:

  • D.J. Wilson, Michigan

During a look around at other mock drafts, Michigan’s D.J. Wilson came up. Although his production basically came at the end of the season when the Wolverines got hot, Wilson looked like a guy that could make it at the next level. DX has Wilson as the last pick in the first round of their mock draft and there’s a good chance he could go higher than that.

A 6-foot-10 forward with a 7-foot-3 wingspan is bound to get a lot of people’s attention, especially when Wilson was showing versatility on both ends of the floor in Michigan’s run from plane crash to Sweet 16 participants.

  • Hamidou Diallo, Kentucky

Although Diallo didn’t play at Kentucky after reclassifying to the 2017 season and joining the Wildcats in the middle of the year, there’s still a ton to like about one of the draft’s bigger question marks. In typical John Calipari recruit fashion, Diallo is one of the freakiest and most explosive athletes in the entire class. His jumper is a work-in-progress, but his size, length and athleticism could have teams thinking about taking him in the first round. If he pans out, there’s a good chance someone could get a 2018 draft lottery pick outside of the lottery in the 2017 draft.

  • Semi Ojeleye, SMU

Before I say anything about Semi Ojeleye being DX’s projected pick for the Bulls at No. 38 via the Kings pick they’re owed this year, just watch this play.

I honestly had no idea what he really did until I saw the replay and then I couldn’t stop watching the dunk on Twitter when videos were uploaded. Ojeleye was a key reason SMU had such a successful season despite an early tournament exit and his strength and athleticism are why he could be getting a call on draft night. He’s already 22 years old, but he’s built like a brick house.

  • Monte Morris, Iowa State

You didn’t think I was going to leave off Fred Hoiberg‘s former point guard at Iowa State, did you? If you did, shame on you.

For some reason, the Bulls have this weird connection to Iowa State and New Mexico anything, so to say that the Bulls wouldn’t take Monte Morris at No. 38 (or if they trade up or down with this pick) is nonsense. It would be so Bulls to draft Morris and get Hoiberg his “downhill point guard” that Bulls vice president John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman claimed they needed during the end-of-season press conference.

  • Frank Jackson, Duke

When Frank Jackson stayed in the 2017 NBA Draft class, it came as a bit of a surprise, but after his performance in Chicago at the combine, it makes sense.

Next: Celtics win the draft lottery, so now what?

Jackson was one of the more impressive prospects that participated and with his 6’7.5″ wingspan in his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, Jackson’s stock could be on the come-up in the weeks leading into the draft.

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