Mavs Lottery Watch: Top Prospects In The 2017 Draft

By: Josh Clark

DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - An injury filled season has the Mavericks in unfamiliar territory. Dallas has the worst record in the NBA at 4-17 after getting blown out by the Sacramento Kings at home, and are headed for a top pick in the 2017 Draft.

While the Mavs might be tough to watch right now, there's a lot to get excited about when thinking about next season. Yes, I know they are only a fourth of the way into the season, but Dallas is on pace to win 15 games right now. By comparison, the worst record in the NBA last season was held by the Philadelphia 76ers at 10 wins, while the Timberwolves finished last with 16 wins the year before that. So, that leaves the Mavs headed right into May's lottery with a good chance to get at least a top-3 pick. If Dallas does end up finishing last, then they'll have a 25% chance at the number one overall pick. Say Dallas doesn't win the lottery... they'll then get no worse than the 3rd pick.

This will be the first lottery Mavericks' fans will be interested in since 2013, when Dallas traded down from the 13th pick to select Miami guard Shane Larkin with the 18th pick. Prior to that, Dallas hadn't made a lottery selection since 1998 when they selected Robert "Tractor" Traylor with the sixth overall pick. As you all know, Dallas sent Traylor to Milwaukee in a deal that netted them Dirk Nowitzki.

Mark Cuban and general manager Donnie Nelson are now looking for their next star to play alongside blossoming forward Harrison Barnes.

You may wonder why I'm bringing this up so early? Well, as many basketball insiders have noted...this is the best NBA draft class to come out since the 2003 draft that saw LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh selected in four of the first five picks (Darko Miličić was the other).

With that said, who are those players in contention for picks at the top of the draft? I've constructed a list of the players you may want to pay close attention to over the next few months. Sure, the list will change numerous times until the lottery in May and the draft in June, but it gives Mavs fans something to look forward to the rest of the way.

Here are the potential players Dallas could select with their first pick.

1. Markelle Fultz: PG/Washington/6'4''/195 lbs. 

Stats: 8 games: 23.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 5.9 APG

Upcoming game: 12/11 at 7:00 p.m. vs Nevada. TV: PAC 12 Network

2. Josh Jackson: SF/Kansas/6'8''/203 lbs.

Stats: 9 games: 14.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.6 APG

Upcoming game: 12/10 at 2:15 p.m. vs Nebraska. TV: ESPN

3. Lonzo Ball: PG/UCLA/6'6''/190 lbs. 

Stats: 9 games: 14.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 9.3 APG

Upcoming game: 12/10 at 7:00 p.m. vs Michigan. TV: ESPN2

4. Dennis Smith: PG/NC State/6'3''/195 lbs.

Stats: 8 games: 18.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.9 APG

Upcoming game: 12/10 at 3:00 p.m. vs Tennessee State. TV: RSN

5. Malik Monk: PG/SG/Kentucky/6'4''/185 lbs.

Stats: 9 games: 19.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.2 APG

Upcoming game: 12/10 at 2:00 p.m. vs Hofstra. TV: ESPN

6. De'Aaron Fox: PG/Kentucky/6'4''/171 lbs.

Stats: 9 games: 15.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 7.4 APG

Upcoming game: 12/10 at 2:00 p.m. vs Hofstra. TV: ESPN

7. Jayson Tatum: SF/Duke/6'8''/204 lbs.

Stats: 2 games: 16 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.0 APG

Upcoming game: 12/10 at 4:15 p.m. @ UNLV. TV: ESPN

8. Jonathan Isaac: SF/FSU/6'11''/205 lbs.

Stats: 7 games: 15.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG

Upcoming games: 12/08 at 8:00 p.m. vs Nicholls State. TV: ESPNU,  12/11 at 3:00 p.m. vs Florida. TV: ESPNU