NBA 2017 Draft, picks 1 and 2 Who, When, Why, What, Where, and How.

With the draft just 15 days away, the top 2 prospects basically have found out where they will be heading after the NBA draft on June 21st. The number 1 pick, obviously belonging the the Boston Celtics, and the number 2 belonging to the Los Angeles Lakers. The 2 players projected 1 and 2 are both Guards, Washington's Markelle Fultz who went for a workout with the Celtics, and has spent a lot of time visiting the facility as well as the city. UCLA's Lonzo Ball, who has been all over the news, whether it has been his father Lavar, or the player himself, has worked out with the Lakers. Lonzo has already publicly announced the ideal landing spot for him, which is LA. Fultz has not publicly announced it, but he has spent much of his free time in Boston with Celtics GM, Danny Ainge. These players are a good fit for the teams looking to draft them, and I am gonna explain why they are.

LONZO BALL:

Lonzo Ball is a different player, and a difference maker. He is unlike most Point Guards in the league, his way of making everyone around him better, and his way of playing off ball has changed the teams for which Lonzo has played for. UCLA coming off of a season under .500 with a record of 15-17, obviously did not have the season they had hoped for. Then Lonzo Ball came and changed the organization, not only did he change the record, he changed the players. The record changed from 15-17, to 31-5, and T.J. Leaf, has seen his draft stock rise to the middle of the first round. Lonzo who averaged just about 15 points, just about 8 assists, 6 rebounds, shot 55%, added to the defense with just about 2 steals, as well as just about 1 block (according to http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/). Lonzo added to the team in every aspect and his off ball play has been phenomenal, he is one of the only Point Guards that will be in the league that does not need the ball in his hands to make plays.

WHAT THE LAKER'S COULD DO:

The lakers who have been struggling as of recent, have players such as D'angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle. None of these players are stars, but they do have potential. Now I give you option 1. Keep the young players that are already on the team, draft Lonzo Ball, play him at point, now, this only works if D. Russell can improve his off ball play, so he can be a worthy Shooting Guard, Lonzo needs to be at the 1, he needs to be the floor general for him to be able to play at his full potential. Jordan Clarkson seems as if he could be a killer 6th man, the option is there to start him, but I think they need D. Russell's shooting for 35 minutes a game (if he can last that long). That lineup would be extremely young, with outstanding potential. Option 2 involves trading D. Russell, as he has caused trouble off the court, and although is supposed to be a "shooter" he has only shot 35% from the 3, and 40% as his FG% (Google), but I believe at Shooting Guard that percentage can improve (so that is why I said they're gonna need his shooting), but trading D Russ could bring in an already proven player to join this young team and work with Lonzo.

WHY THE LAKERS NEED LONZO:

The Lakers need someone to change their franchise, and Lonzo is the perfect fit for that, they do not need some specific category to be increased, they need a player who can turn their franchise around. Lonzo makes everyone around him better, and as some players (Brandon Ingram) have not played up to their full potential, Lonzo can get everyone the ball, get them open, Lonzo is a superb passer, great shooter, good defender, and can even play off-ball, the Lakers need to draft this young man, because he is someone who turns your whole franchise around.

MARKELLE FULTZ:

Markelle's team may not have had the record, but unlike Lonzo (not that Lonzo can't score), Markelle is a pure scorer, it is what he does. Averaging 23 points, around 6 assists, around 6 rebounds, around 2 steals, around 1 block, shooting 41% from 3, and 48% as his FG% (according to http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb). Markelle fits in with the majority group of PG's in the NBA, he is a pure scorer who needs the ball to preform at his full potential. Some argue that he did not make the tournament and yes his team did struggle, but if you look back, Paul George (Fresno State) never made the tournament, and neither did Damian Lillard (Weber State University), those 2 players are obviously having a very successful career, and if you look back, there are some great players who haven't made the tournament, which can be found here (https://www.si.com/nba/photo/2017/03/23/nba-players-who-never-made-ncaa-tournament). His team may have not done well, and the record may not be an upside, this man has talent. His ability to shoot is undeniably great, he is an amazing shot creator, his fast break abilities are outstanding, he can get to the hoop, and he adds some competitive defending to the floor.

WHAT THE CELTIC'S COULD DO:

If the Celtic's choose Markelle, they will have a surplus of Guards. Players like Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, and Terry Rozier, all play the Guard position. The Celtic's have been in multiple trade talks over the years with multiple different teams, have yet to land one of these block buster deals that have been supposedly "in the works". Option 1 would be to trade away some of the key pieces of the team, players such as Jae Crowder, Isaiah Thomas, or Avery Bradley. 2 out of those 3 in a package deal, with possibly a draft pick or two, could land one of those blockbuster deals we always hear about from any Boston fan's idol, Brian Scalabrine. Trading Al Horford would not be an ideal move as the Celtics owe him some cash. Option 1 is a must, with the way the offseason could potentially go, acquiring a scoring forward such as Gordan Hayward in Free Agency, and possibly either using the idea of trading key assets for a post presence on both sides of the floor to play alongside Horford, or signing one in Free Agency, could be a huge move to put this Celtics team in Championship talks. Option 2 would be to just keep this "bridge team", until Markelle has reached his peak and, wait out The King, Lebron James which it may take a long time for that man to slow down (assuming he stays with the Cavs). Obviously the ideal option is to trade away the assets and to bring in a young big man if possible.

WHY THE CELTICS NEED MARKELLE:

I am most likely going to hurt Boston fans feelings with this, but the Celtics need Markelle for the sole reason that he is a normal size PG, unlike Isaiah, and can score like Isaiah, he is a shot creator and while Isaiah had an undeniably amazing season, he most likely will not do that again. I am a Boston fan myself, and I love IT, he is a hustler, he is the definition of a Boston player, he is a straight up grinder, but, his lack of size and his inability to play defense (because of size) is not going to get us over this bridge. Markelle Fultz adds on both sides of the ball, he may not shoot quite as well as IT, but he definitely is a better defender and in my opinion, almost just like IT but with normal size (and a little less of a shot). Like I said, IT is a grinder and I give credit where credit is due, if IT had his height he would be a top 3 player in the league, and his amazing abilities allow him to make an All NBA 2nd team, at his height. I love the King of the 4th quarter, but to get us over the bridge we need the size and D of Markelle, and we don't to lose too much scoring.

Let me know what you guys think, and how you thing this draft is gonna go on twitter @Sfalzano1212!

Just in case you couldn't get the links in the article to work:

https://www.si.com/nba/photo/2017/03/23/nba-players-who-never-made-ncaa-tournament.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb.