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2017 NBA Draft: Players who were the biggest winners and losers in the draft

By Lukas Harkins

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty first round selections in the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty first round selections in the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 23, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) watches as Oregon Ducks forward Chris Boucher (25) and Oregon Ducks trainer assist Oregon Ducks forward Jordan Bell (1) off the court following an injury at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) watches as Oregon Ducks forward Chris Boucher (25) and Oregon Ducks trainer assist Oregon Ducks forward Jordan Bell (1) off the court following an injury at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: Oregon big men Jordan Bell and Chris Boucher join the Warriors

And the rich get richer. The Golden State Warriors have been one of the top teams in the NBA for the last few seasons, taking home two championships in the past three years. After winning 73 games in the regular season and falling short of the title to LeBron James in 2016, they went out and signed Kevin Durant before winning the 2017 title. They entered the NBA Draft without any picks, but came away with two big men that fit their play style extremely well.

They were first able to secure a second round pick by way of sending cash to the Chicago Bulls. The Warriors used this 38th overall pick on Oregon big man Jordan Bell. After the draft, they took note of the fact that Bell’s teammate, Chris Boucher, went undrafted, and they were quickly able to swoop him up.

Two athletic, shot-blocking, versatile big men, Bell and Boucher fit nicely in the Golden State scheme of playing sound defense on the perimeter and around the basket while also being able to run in transition. Both of these players are amazing fits for the Warriors, and naturally, they just happened to fall right into their laps. The Warriors have been incredible on the court these past few seasons, but do not let that take away from noting how great they have been off the court.

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