The Daily Iowan conducted a mock draft of the first round, with picks 30-20 in this issue. Parts two and three will publish on Wednesday and Thursday.
By Adam Hensley and Pete Ruden
As Thursday inches closer, the NBA Draft is only days away.
The 2017 class ranks as one of the most promising and deep drafts in the past decade. Talent can be found throughout both rounds, especially with a loaded first round.
30. Utah Jazz — Wesley Iwundu (SG/SF, Kansas State)
Iwundu led the Wildcats to an NCAA Tournament berth with his play on offense. At 6-7, Iwundu certainly has the size to be an NBA swingman. He’s a good athlete and made strides in his 3-point shooting rendering him NBA worthy.
29. San Antonio Spurs — Frank Jackson (PG, Duke)
Drawing comparisons with Corey Joseph and Austin Rivers, Jackson provides San Antonio with excellent scoring from the guard position late in the draft. His isolation scoring skills aren’t in question, but his passing is, something Gregg Popovich succeeds at in his offense.
28. Los Angeles Lakers — Isaiah Hartenstein (PF/C, Germany)
After selecting a guard earlier in the draft, a big man later makes sense for the Lakers. He might not be very consistent on any one facet of his game, but he possesses the tools for an effective inside game. He also shows flashes on the defensive side, which epitomizes his future: full of potential.
27. Brooklyn Nets — Ike Anigbogu (C, UCLA)
As terrible as the Nets were in 2016-17, they don’t have a draft pick before No. 22 in this year’s draft. Anigbogu is a solid pickup — an athletic, explosive center with a 6-10 inch, 250-pound frame who crashes the offensive glass, averaging 4.1 offensive rebounds per 40 minutes.
26. Portland Trailblazers — Semi Ojeleye (SF/PF, SMU)
Standing at 6-6, Ojeleye usually played power forward at SMU; he could play a small-ball four in Portland’s system. While his lack of size and length may hurt him defensively, his ability to knock down shots on offense will bring him back up.
25. Orlando Magic — Jawun Evans (PG, Oklahoma State)
If Evans’ freshman season hadn’t been hampered by injuries, the sophomore would have been higher in The Daily Iowan’s mock draft and could very well have been drafted last year. Evans scored 19.2 points and dished out 6.4 assists last season. Orlando needs help at guard, and by selecting Evans late in the first round, the team drafts a scorer and capable passer.
24. Utah Jazz — DJ Wilson (PF, Michigan)
Wilson is a versatile player who can help a team that needs the 4. While he may not be an aggressive rebounder, he has agility that allows him to move well, and he has shown flashes of potential in his shooting stroke, allowing him to complement Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors nicely.
23. Toronto Raptors — Anzejs Pasecniks (C, Latvia)
New York struck gold in 2015 when it drafted Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis, and they could be onto another one. Also from Latvia, Pasecniks brings a similar game as Porzingis’ — a consistent jumper for his size, and he protects the rim and thrives on put-backs on the offensive glass. With Patrick Patterson in free agency, Toronto needs a power forward/center who can extend the floor; Pasecniks fills the void.
22. Brooklyn Nets — Terrance Ferguson (SG, Australia)
Brooklyn’s franchise as a whole is in disarray, explaining why it needs help at nearly every position. The Nets don’t own a pick until No. 22. Still, Ferguson could be an instant contributor with his 3-point shooting. In one year playing pro ball in Australia, Ferguson shot 39 percent from beyond the arc, proving his strengths at the professional level.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder — Caleb Swanigan (PF/C, Purdue)
“Biggie” Swanigan could easily be the draft’s biggest steal in the 20s. The former Boilermaker thrives in the post but also has the ability to shoot from any position. While he’s not as athletic as other forwards in his class, scoring is a different story. He averaged 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in his sophomore campaign. Oklahoma needs a scoring threat with Russell Westbrook; Swanigan’s all-around game combined with his NBA readiness gives Oklahoma City a viable option at No. 21.
20. Portland Trailblazers — Jarrett Allen (C, Texas)
Portland is in need of a big man, and Allen could be perfect. A highly efficient player, he shot 68 percent around the rim in his lone year with the Longhorns, giving the Blazers another option on that end of the floor.
