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

There’s usually at least one guy in every draft nowadays that’s just unconscious from long range, so much so that it vaults him into lottery consideration. This year, that guy just so happens to be seven feet tall. Yes, Lauri Markkanen is a white seven-footer from another country, much like Dirk Nowitzki. Let’s just get that lazy comparison out of the way, seeing as many analysts will use it as their entire basis for placing Markkanen here. However, there are more legitimate reasons why the Mavericks should look at him.

Markkanen is capable of playing the four next to a rim-running center like Nerlens Noel as well as playing stretch-five and allowing Rick Carlisle to have five shooters on the floor at once. The problem? Shooting is basically all Markkanen has at this point. He’s a subpar rebounder and his defense is currently an eyesore. Noel’s presence should soften that blow for Dallas, though, and Markkanen is just too good a shooter to ignore.

The Kings have enough big men, and this pick could help to solidify their backcourt of the future by finding a shooting guard to pair with De’Aaron Fox. Donovan Mitchell would fit that bill quite nicely.

Mitchell is wickedly athletic with the potential to become an elite defender. If everything breaks right, he and Fox could be the best defensive backcourt in the league someday. Mitchell projects to be an effective shooter from long range as well and shows encouraging flashes as a playmaker.

Like Malik Monk, Mitchell is just a little too short to be a pure shooting guard, although his length helps to compensate for it. His finishing at the rim also leaves something to be desired, but that’s at least fixable. Things might just be turning around in Sacramento.