National Basketball Association

2017 NBA Draft: 5 potential first round sleepers

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:45 p.m. ET

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Mar 4, 2017; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) drives to the basket as Kansas Jayhawks forward Landen Lucas (33) defends during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Kansas won 90-85. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports

Every team is hoping come time for the 2017 NBA Draft, they find a sleeper that puts them light years ahead of their front office peers.

The word "sleeper" is a hot reference around the NBA Draft, especially with just three weeks remaining until the 2017 NBA Draft. In a lot of cases, sleepers or steals have a correlation to diamonds in the rough.

In recent years, that conversation has manifested itself in the form of second round picks who became All-Stars. From Manu Ginobili to Draymond Green, these players take the center stage of this narrative.

However, those are rarer cases. Most steals on draft night come in the first round. Think Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Devin Booker. All three players were strong prospects and now we can't figure out how they fell into the teens.

When it comes to draft sleepers, it's not just the second-rounders or players who fall outside the lottery. Often it's those who made the right decision in the lottery. This holds especially true to this draft class. On paper there are 10-12 remarkable prospects with little separating the 2-10 range, at least relative to most drafts. That means players are going to slide. Teams are going to make better calls on their lottery selection than others.

That's why when looking at potential first round sleepers this year, we need to look through a vacuum of the entire first round, not just players who may go in the teens or 20s. With that in mind, here are five potential sleepers for the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Mar 16, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) during practice the day before the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

5. Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State

The deepest position in the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery is at point guard. Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Dennis Smith Jr., De'Aaron Fox and Frank Ntilikina are all projected to go in the lottery. Even though the quality and quantity of point guards certainly decreases after those five are off the board, don't sleep on Jawun Evans.

Evans spent two years at Oklahoma State, where he was the conductor and orchestrator as a sophomore. He averaged 19.2 points, 6.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting well from three-point and free throw line. In addition, Evans assisted on over 40 percent of his team's baskets when on the floor in both seasons. Despite being under six feet tall, he's a pick-and-roll maestro who lived in the paint.

He'll need to maintain his good shooting numbers, but needs to improve his finishing. According to Hoop-Math, Evans shot just 50 percent at the rim, a very poor mark for a point guard. He'll have to overcome his lack of height, but has an abnormally long wingspan to compensate.

Teams looking for point guard help would be smart to buy in on Evans after the big names are off the table. He projects to be a strong backup point guard with the potential to even be a lower quality starter.

Potentially good fits: Pistons (12th), Bulls (16th), Pacers (18th), Jazz (24th)

Los Angeles Lakers

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

4. Lauri Markkanen, PF/C, Arizona

It may seem odd to see Lauri Markkanen on this list, but bear with me. Most mock drafts have Markannen as the last big name off the board or even sliding to the end of the lottery. Justifiable questions remain over what he can do besides stretch the floor. Still, it feels like Markkanen is being written off more so than most high lottery picks.

Why is a player who cannot shoot at this stage — like De'Aaron Fox — easier to defend than a sniper like Markkanen? It's not to say Fox isn't a better prospect, but for all the talk about room for him to improve, there's rarely been a conversation about Markkanen's upside.

He's not the worst when it comes to lateral agility and even if he's a train wreck on defense, why can't his game transform beyond a spot-up shooter? Markannen could develop into a offensive juggernaut that can shoot and score from all over the floor and attack closeouts.

We're still talking about probably the best shooting big man prospect in NBA draft history. Markkanen put up 15 points and seven rebounds per game, and shot over 42 percent from three despite playing with another big man and without sharpshooting guards.

There's a very good chance Markkanen's floor is Ryan Anderson, and Markkanen should be better on defense. Once he gets stronger there's no reason he can't be a deadly scorer from all three levels. He could really thrive next to an excellent defensive 4. If we're going to examine upside, let's not sell Markkanen short of his potential.

Potentially good fits: Magic (6th), Mavericks (9th), Kings (10th), Hornets (11th)

Mar 25, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Jordan Bell (1) goes after a loose ball with Kansas Jayhawks center Landen Lucas (33) during the first half in the finals of the Midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Oregon defeated Kansas 74-60. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

3. Jordan Bell, PF/C, Oregon

Jordan Bell is very much in that first round/second round range. It could really go either way. The knock on him, like many players who are in this area, is age. He'll be nearly 23 when next season starts. Add that to the fact that he's a tweener who cannot shoot and you see the skepticism. But that's not Bell's game. He's never going to be a shooter or a major scoring threat. Bell should be a first-rounder because of his defense.

Not only is he the perfect small-ball center for the modern NBA, but he'd also thrive as a tough power forward next to a center that can shoot threes. Bell is a game-changer on the defensive end who can protect the rim and switch everything.

He carried Oregon for much of their Final Four run after having a sensational season defensively. For the 2016-17 season, Bell led the Pac-12 in blocks, defensive rating, defensive win shares, and Box Plus-Minus, per sports reference.

With the way the NBA is going smaller, a player like Bell holds incredible value. It's why OG Anunoby may go in the lottery despite recovering from a torn ACL. No one should ever compare another player to Draymond Green, but that's the type of versatility you'd hope for from Bell.

He's also shown a knack for playmaking, which can compensate for his limits on offense. Bell is ready to be plugged in and do his thing on defense right now, making him a top option for teams in the first round not interested in drafting a project.

Potentially good fits: Raptors (23rd), Jazz (24th), Lakers (28th), Spurs (29th)

Chicago Bulls

Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

2. Dennis Smith Jr., PG, NC State

Fitting the same argument as Markkanen, Dennis Smith Jr. is being slept on as we approach the 2017 NBA Draft. Many writers and analysts have him low on both mock drafts and big boards. In a deep point guard class, someone is likely to fall on draft night. But it doesn't seem like Smith Jr. is falling for the right reasons.

Smith Jr. is getting slammed for a poor season at NC State. The Wolf Pack missed the NCAA Tournament and their point guard was often not locked in on defense. Poor body language followed, which has led to criticism similar to what Ben Simmons experienced last year.

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And yet, so many of these concerns haven't been accompanied by a plethora of sources or first hand accounts. He may have a ceiling as a leader, but it seems too many are scrutinizing a kid who suffered from a poor coach, awful spacing and worse teammates (skill wise).

Yes, Smith Jr. needs to answer questions about that season by NBA teams. Yes, they need to do their homework and talk to those around him. But unless major red flags come up, and not ones generated from just watching film, we're looking at a player who might have the highest ceiling besides Markelle Fultz.

Smith Jr. can score at all three levels, set up his teammates very well, and he made plays on defense when he was engaged. There's no reason he can't rise to become a productive player in the class of a Damian Lillard. That's an All-Star caliber point guard.

De'Aaron Fox has gotten a lot of love lately, and rightfully so, but he's also been assessed more fairly than Smith Jr. Even if Smith Jr. is a total liability on defense, as many top point guards are, it's important not to focus too much on a kid who was in a bad program. He absolutely has the talent to be a top-five, or even a top-three pick.

Potentially good fits: Sixers (3rd), Kings (5th), Knicks (8th), Mavericks (9th)

Dec 7, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Derrick White (21) during the first half against the Xavier Musketeers at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

1. Derrick White, PG/SG, Colorado

I am extremely late and fully aboard the Derrick White bandwagon. Like Jordan Bell, White is likely a late first-rounder or an early second-rounder due mostly to age. He's over 23 once the 2017-18 season begins. The fact that White is even in this conversation is incredible given he only played one season of Division I ball.

After multiple years in D-II, White got a chance at Colorado and made it count. He put up a line of 18-4-4, while recording over a block and a steal per game. White also shot it well from virtually everywhere on the court. Per Hoop-Math, White shot 68 percent at the rim, nearly 44 percent on two-point jumpers, almost 40 percent from three and over 81 percent at the line. That's absurd no matter how old you are.

White has first round talent just based off of that arsenal of scoring methods, but he's even better. He can make play for others, so he offers the ability to play either guard position at the next level. That means it'll be hard to find a team he can't fit on. He's a solid defender too.

When it comes to fit, he'll need to fall to a team that is looking for immediate help and isn't interested in grooming a teenager's flaws. The only thing possibly hurting his stock is age. It's certainly not his game.

Potentially good fits: Heat (14th), Bulls (16th), Thunder (21st), Spurs (29th)