This mock draft is a little different, because I play the role of GM for every team and decide who the team should take.
This is what every team should do to earn an A from me when I grade the draft.
Every year I produce roughly 10 versions of my Big Board and mock draft as a way of reporting how NBA scouts and GMs rank various players in the draft and what each individual team is thinking about doing with its draft picks. They are reported pieces that examine what NBA teams think and what they're likely to do. This is different.
Last year, my final "Grade: A" mock made some better calls than the GMs on draft night (Skal Labissiere to the Orlando Magic at No. 11 and Dejounte Murray to the Utah Jazz at No. 12). And also made a few questionable ones (Wade Baldwin IV to the Suns at No. 13 and Henry Ellenson to the Raptors at No. 9).
Before digging in, here are the ground rules:
1. At each slot, I make a pick in the best interest of only the team with the pick. I won't pass on a player at No. 4 just because I like the team fit better at No. 5.
2. No trades unless they're already completed.
3. Team needs are taken into account, but value can and often will supersede need. If there's clearly a best player available on the board, I won't pass on him just to fill a need.
4. I'm not reporting or predicting who will go where. This is my opinion about what should happen -- not what will happen.
After the team-by-team breakdown, you can get the full first round below.
Philadelphia 76ers
Top needs: guards, shooting
No. 1: Markelle Fultz, G, Washington
Fultz is the perfect fit for Philly and the best complement to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. He's a guard who can thrive at either the 1 or the 2. He can play on or off the ball and can defend both guard positions. He's also a scorer who doesn't need the ball in his hands to make an impact.
With Simmons running the point, he's the ideal wing man. The Sixers paid a high price to get Fultz, but I think it was worth it. Embiid, Simmons and Fultz could be terrorizing the league for years.
Los Angeles Lakers
Top needs: superstar, defense, PG
No. 2: Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
No. 27: D.J. Wilson, PF, Michigan
No. 28: Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon
I can see why the Lakers are flirting with Josh Jackson. He would add a defensive intensity that the club sorely lacks. I'm a huge Jackson fan and think if they go that way, they'll be happy.
But I think Ball has the talent to be a superstar, and I think Luke Walton is the right sort of coach to get it out of him. Yes, he struggles defensively and may have problems getting his shot off at the next level. And I worry a bit about how he'll handle being anointed the savior of his hometown team.
Sometimes the obvious fit is the best fit.
Boston Celtics
Top needs: Superstar, depth
No. 3: Josh Jackson, G, Kansas
I think you could make a strong argument for two players for the Celtics: Jackson and Jonathan Isaac.
I detailed Jackson's fit in my latest intel column Thursday. In short, he's the type of prospect team president Danny Ainge loves: He's long, athletic, aggressive, has a high basketball IQ and plays both ends. But he's also an awkward fit with Jaylen Brown and Jae Crowder already there.
Isaac has the most upside of anyone left on the board. He's a super-skilled 7-footer who can score in a variety of ways and guard three to four positions on the floor. He's the type of versatile player Ainge has coveted in the past. To me he's right on par with Jackson as a prospect, and perhaps has a higher ceiling.
Phoenix Suns
Top needs: SF, defense
No. 4: Jonathan Isaac, F, Florida State
I think Isaac has the most upside of anyone left in the draft at No. 4. He's far from being ready, but so are Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender. Putting Isaac out there with those two and Devin Booker gives the Suns a terrific young core to build around.
De'Aaron Fox was the only other real choice here, but I think they'd be slightly better off drafting Isaac and keeping Eric Bledsoe around for another year or two.
Sacramento Kings
Top needs: PG, defense
No. 5: De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
No. 10: Harry Giles, PF, Duke
Fox is a clear fit for the Kings. Not only do they need a young point guard, they need this young point guard.
He brings more than elite speed and quickness. He brings toughness, a commitment to defense and leadership to a team that has largely been devoid of it. I think he and Buddy Hield have the potential to be a very good backcourt.
As for Giles, he's a risk, but the Kings can afford to take it. If his knees hold up, he has a chance to be one of the two or three best players in this draft. And he's another leader. That's a good risk at No. 10.
Orlando Magic
Top needs: shooting, SF
No. 6: Dennis Smith, PG, North Carolina State
No. 25: Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse
I agree with Kevin Pelton that Smith has probably been underrated thanks to playing on a poor North Carolina State team this past season. He's an elite athlete who can get his shot off from anywhere and has good passing instincts. He's a nice change of pace from Elfrid Payton, and I think the two could share a backcourt together at times.
Lydon might have been a lottery pick last year but didn't show any real dramatic improvement this season. Still, he can shoot and protect the rim. The Magic can use a little of both.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Top needs: shooting, PF
No. 7: Zach Collins, F/C, Gonzaga
Everyone talks about the Wolves' need for a stretch-4 to pair with Karl-Anthony Towns. I think Lauri Markkanen is a good choice, but Collins might be even better.
Collins is tough, protects the rim and stretches the floor. He'll have to transition to the 4 in the NBA, at least in the early going, but I think he has the talent to make that move.
New York Knicks
Top needs: PG, SG, PF
No. 8: Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
Tatum is one of the best scorers in the draft and should be able to give the Knicks instant offense.
If he develops a consistent 3-point jumper, he could resemble a young Carmelo Anthony.
Dallas Mavericks
Top needs: PG, PF
No. 9: Frank Ntilikina, PG, France
Markkanen seems like the perfect floor spacer to put alongside Nerlens Noel in the middle and Harrison Barnes on the wing.
I'm tempted, but Ntilikina would give Dallas a young point guard who could deliver big dividends in a couple of years if the Mavs are patient.
Charlotte Hornets
Top needs: depth
No. 11: Malik Monk, G, Kentucky
Monk may be a bit one-dimensional, but what he does, he does very, very well.
He gives the Hornets an elite shooter who can drop 30 points on a team when he's hot. I keep hearing Lou Williams comps. I think he can be better than that.
Detroit Pistons
Top needs: shooting, PG, SG
No. 12: Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
The best shooter in the draft might be a 7-footer.
Markkanen doesn't rebound or play defense well, but he can really stroke the basketball.
Denver Nuggets
Top needs: depth, SF
No. 13: OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana
Anunoby is probably the best 3-and-D player in the draft.
Had he not injured his ACL during the season, he'd go three or four spots higher. He provides terrific depth for the Nuggets.
Miami Heat
Top needs: PF, SG
No. 14: Donovan Mitchell, G, Louisville
There's some Dwyane Wade to Mitchell's game -- crazy length, terrific athleticism and the ability to create his own shot. He's not as good as Wade was, but he brings enough talent to the table to be worthy of a lottery pick.
There's some serious upside here if he continues to get better as a shooter and ball handler.
Portland Trail Blazers
Top needs: SF, PF
No. 15: John Collins, PF, Wake Forest
No. 20: Justin Patton, C, Creighton
No. 26: Isaiah Hartenstein, F, Germany
Collins is a year younger than most sophomores and was terrific at Wake. He's ultra-efficient; he just needs to continue to develop his 3-point jumper and rim-protection skills.
Patton is very raw, but his offensive efficiency -- combined with some raw physical tools -- makes him an intriguing pickup this late in the draft.
There's no way the Blazers are keeping all three picks. Hartenstein would give them a nice draft-and-stash option. He's offensively gifted but needs to develop more maturity.
Chicago Bulls
Top needs: C, PG, PF
No. 16: Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA
Anigbogu is raw, but the potential is there for him to be an elite rebounder and shot-blocker in the NBA someday.
Plus, he's young enough that there's time for his offense to come around.
Milwaukee Bucks
Top needs: PG, shooting
No. 17: Luke Kennard, G, Duke
Kennard is the second-best shooter in the draft.
He would give the Bucks another floor-spacer who can play both backcourt spots in a pinch.
Indiana Pacers
Top needs: PF, SG
No. 18: TJ Leaf, PF, UCLA
Leaf is one of the craftiest scorers in the draft.
His short arms and lack of strength will give him problems early, but he has the type of feel for the game that suggests he'll figure it out.
Atlanta Hawks
Top needs: PF, SG
No. 19: Terrance Ferguson, SG, Australia
Ferguson hasn't necessarily wowed in workouts, but he has the physical tools and skill set of a good 3-and-D player down the road.
If he's patient and keeps working, he has a chance.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Top needs: SF, shooting
No. 21: Jonah Bolden, SF, Australia
Bolden spent a year at UCLA and then had a successful year in Serbia. He's an athletic, versatile wing who can score and defend. He's got a high basketball IQ as well. I think he's a real sleeper in the draft.
Brooklyn Nets
Top needs: everything
No. 22: Tony Bradley, C, North Carolina
Bradley is a bit slow-footed, but he's one of the best rebounders in the draft and an intriguing long-term replacement for Brook Lopez.
Toronto Raptors
Top needs: depth
No. 23: Edrice Adebayo, F/C, Kentucky
I've struggled with Adebayo all year. He has all the physical tools to be great, but there just seems to be something missing.
At this point in the draft, I think you take a gamble on a guy with the athleticism to guard four positions on the floor.
Utah Jazz
Top needs: depth
No. 24: Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
No. 30: Josh Hart, SG, Villanova
I'm not sure the Jazz actually need anything. They have embarrassing depth on this team, but they still struggled at times when Rudy Gobert wasn't on the floor.
Allen isn't nearly as good on either end of the floor, but his athleticism at his size is intriguing.
Hart is sort of the veteran presence who doesn't look sexy on paper, yet he could develop a long career hitting shots and defending.
San Antonio Spurs
Top needs: depth
No. 29: Anzejs Pasecniks, C, Latvia
Pasecniks is one of my sleepers in the draft, which, of course, means I have to save him for San Antonio.
Spurs GM R.C. Buford now has me conditioned to help him look smart.