2017 NBA Mock Draft: Who will the Indiana Pacers select at No. 18?

Draft season is in full swing as we wait for the Finals to mercifully begin. To throw our two cents into the ever-growing pot, we present our first mock draft of the 2017 season.

The draft is a wonderful night in the NBA calendar. For one night, we’re allowed to dream of the possibilities uninhibited by better judgement or playing it safe. New beginnings abound, and we get to watch the ESPN guys squirm while Woj alerts viewers of those new beginnings earlier than they would like. What more could you ask for? A mock draft, that’s what.

Making a mock draft is a great way to pass the time while we wait for the big night to arrive. Upside, risk factors and team needs all factor into the selections that you’re about to read. This may be our first mock draft of the year, but that doesn’t mean it’s the final one you’ll see here before June 22. After all, rumors inevitably change, and guys will move up and down big boards.

We’ve only plotted out the first round here, partially because the second round is exponentially harder to predict and partially because I’m tired and this is a lot of words already. Scouting reports from Draftexpress.com and The Ringer were consulted while writing this post. Strap in, here we go.