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2017 NBA Draft: Which selections were the biggest surprises in the lottery?

By Daniel Benjamin

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Markelle Fultz (Washington) is interviewed after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Markelle Fultz (Washington) is interviewed after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Creighton Bluejays center Justin Patton (23) during the second half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament against the Rhode Island Rams at Golden 1 Center. The Rams won 84-72. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Creighton Bluejays center Justin Patton (23) during the second half in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament against the Rhode Island Rams at Golden 1 Center. The Rams won 84-72. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Players that were drafted higher and lower than expected

Drafted a bit too high

  1. Justin Patton, Creighton: Patton went 16th to Chicago, which was the biggest surprise pick of the draft. The nearly 7-footer was named the Big East Freshman of the Year, after averaging 12. 9 points and 6.2 rebounds a game.  Patton was highly efficient this past season, but I believed he would be a value pick at 20 or lower, due to his lack of overall polish.
  2. D.J. Wilson, Michigan: Wilson was seen as a early to late 20s pick. The Milwaukee Bucks        took him with the 17th overall. Wilson was the only player in the Big Ten to average at            least 10 points while shooting 50% from the field and 80% on free throws last season. He        also swatted away 57 shots.
  3. Caleb Swanigan, Purdue: Swanigan, the Big Ten POY, was slated to go in the second round, ended up being picked late in first at #26. Not a total surprise that he ended up late in the first round.
  4.  Wesley Iwundu, Kansas State: Iwundu went #33 to Orlando. He was ranked as the 53rd best prospect by Ford.
  5.  Frank Mason, Kansas: Mason went #34 to Sacramento. Again, this was just a little               higher than expected.

Drafted a bit too low

  1. OG Anunoby, Indiana: Anunoby was expected to be a late lottery pick. But a knee injury that cost him the last half of the season caused him to fall all the way to Toronto at #23. Anunoby is an elite athlete who can defend multiple positions.
  2. John Collins, Wake Forest: Collins slid just a little from just outside the lottery to 19th, where Atlanta snatched him up.
  3. Ike Anigbogu, UCLA: Anigbogu was a surprise early draft entrant and there was some concerns about his knee. The big man was projected between a late first round to early second round selection. He ultimately fell to 47th before being taken by Indiana.

Next: Which players should have stayed in school?

On the whole, the NBA Draft was a fun night once again, with several surprises keeping the interest level high. As we saw in this article, a lot of teams trading up or took risky selections based on team need. “Best Player Available” is a strategy that is used at times, but this year it mostly took a backseat in favor of freshman with high degrees of potential and fit.

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