Pippen Ain’t Easy’s 2017 NBA Draft: Mocking the first round for every team

Feb 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) and Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) guard each other during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. UCLA won 107-66. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) and Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) guard each other during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. UCLA won 107-66. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Luke Kennard could be the pick for the Chicago Bulls at No. 16 in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Mar 9, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) shoots over Louisville Cardinals forward Mangok Mathiang (12) during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sportsat Barclays Center. /

The Portland Trail Blazers have three (!) first-round picks in this draft, so don’t be surprised if they look at a potential project or two with one of their picks. UCLA’s Ike Anigbogu fits that mold and could help the Portland defense tremendously. Although Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are one of the league’s best tandems, Portland’s defense struggles. Jusuf Nurkic’s addition helped the Blazers down the stretch, but moving into next year, the Blazers need help defensively. Anigbogu is one of the youngest players in the draft, a hard-working rebounder and possesses one of the draft’s most ridiculous wingspan at 7-foot-6.25.

RELATED: Our own Michael Whitlow on the what the mock drafts are saying about the Bulls at No. 16, along with a look at UCLA’s Ike Anigbogu

16. player. 24. . SG. Duke. Luke Kennard

If you’ve been following us closely, you’ve noticed that we’ve done a bunch on potential Bulls draft situations and that Luke Kennard has been one of more focal points in our analysis here at PAE. He’s not only the projected pick for the Bulls at No. 16 for Draft Express, many mock drafts have the sophomore guard from Duke as the pick for the Bulls right outside of the lottery. Ever since the days of Keith Bogans starting next to a younger and healthier Derrick Rose, the Bulls have been looking for a guard that could knock down shots. Although Jimmy Butler has become the face of the franchise, he’s seen more as a 3 than a shooting guard. With Butler, Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade all likely to be back plus the front court depth (before free agency begins), the Bulls could look to address their well-documented shooting issues. Kennard can help fix that.

RELATED: Our own Willie Lutz on Luke Kennard’s ability to score in bunches

Our own Michael Whitlow on Luke Kennard and the rest of the potential picks for the Bulls

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