Pippen Ain’t Easy’s 2017 NBA Draft: Mocking the first round for every team
T.J. Leaf. 21. player. 149. . PF. UCLA
Just what the Oklahoma City Thunder need: another power forward that can score, but doesn’t defend well. But seriously, UCLA’s T.J. Leaf feels like a pick that could work for OKC. Former Bull Taj Gibson is a free agent this summer and Enes Kanter will be one after this upcoming season, so the Thunder are pretty thin at the 4. That opens the door for taking someone like Leaf, who may not be a strong defender, but he’s a guy that can hurt teams offensively with his ability to score inside and outside with his shooting. Stretch-fours are popular in the NBA these days, which helps Leaf’s stock. The Thunder might be thinking this at No. 21, too.
RELATED: Our Timberwolves-based friends at Dunking With Wolves gave a good look at Leaf’s game
147. . C. Germany. Isaiah Hartenstein. 22. player
The Brooklyn Nets have almost rid themselves of quite possibly the worst trade in NBA history when they brought in a run-down Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett all those years ago. The Nets have not one, but two picks in the first round of June’s draft. As much as he’ll try to as the best Net since Jason Kidd, Brook Lopez can’t play forever. Lopez’s lower body (specifically, his foot issues) are going to wear down and the Nets need a center to take his place. A project like Germany’s Isaiah Hartenstein could do the trick with one of their first-rounders this year. Don’t think Kristaps Porzingis because he’s over 7-foot-tall and can shoot a little bit. Hartenstein works the paint, using his fluidity to cut and run to the basket as a huge target.