NBA Draft Rankings 2017: ESPN Big Board 5.0 Unveiled

We now have a good idea of who will be in the 2017 NBA Draft.

It will include four Kentucky Wildcats, and three of them are projected as top-30 picks in the newest big board by ESPN’s Chad Ford. After a great showing in the NCAA Tournament, De’Aaron Fox now checks in at No. 5 in Ford’s latest rankings:

5. De'Aaron Fox

Previous rank: No. 9

Fox's stellar play both in the SEC and NCAA tournaments really helped his draft stock among teams.

While they are still concerned about his jump shot, he has the rest of the package for a point guard, including speed, toughness, court vision, leadership and the ability to finish at the rim.

Even though Fox smoked Lonzo Ball in their tournament matchup, it’s Ball who is still projected to go higher as he’s ranked No. 2. I think there’s a decent chance that Fox ends up being the higher pick come Draft Day.

Not far behind Fox is fellow backcourt mate Malik Monk, who checks in at No. 7 overall:

7. Malik Monk

Previous rank: No. 6

Monk was often streaky, but when hitting shots he was unstoppable.

For a league that worships the 3 and has gotten away from traditional point guards and 2-guards, he would be a great fit on a team looking to space the floor.

The only other Wildcat to crack Ford’s big board is Bam Adebayo, who checks in at No. 21:

21. Edrice Adebayo

Previous rank: No. 25

Adebayo is also testing the waters and it's unclear which way he should lean. Scouts weren't enamored with his play for much of the season. The NBA body and athleticism are clearly there, but the production, especially on the boards, didn't come until the last month of the season.

If he stays in the draft he's projected for the mid-to-late first round. If he were to return to Kentucky, dominate as a rebounder and show off his perimeter game, he could become a top-10 pick in 2018.

There’s been some debate as to whether Bam should return for his sophomore season, especially after Draft Express ranked him No. 32 on their latest big board. However, it takes just one team to tell Bam he’s a top 15-25 pick for him to stay in the draft, and you can bet at least one NBA team thinks he’s worthy of such a pick.

Here’s what the big board looks like now:

1. Markelle Fultz

2. Lonzo Ball

3. Josh Jackson

4. Jayson Tatum

5. De'Aaron Fox

6. Jonathan Isaac

7. Malik Monk

8. Dennis Smith

9. Lauri Markkanen

10. Miles Bridges

11. Frank Ntilikina

12. Zach Collins

13. Harry Giles

14. OG Anunoby

15. Jarrett Allen

16. Justin Patton

17. T.J. Leaf

18. Luke Kennard

19. Terrance Ferguson

20. Ike Anigbogu

21. Edrice Adebayo

22. John Collins

23. Tony Bradley

24. Ivan Rabb R

25. Moritz Wagner

26. Justin Jackson

27. D.J. Wilson

28. Jawun Evans

29. Andrew Jones

30. Isaiah Hartenstein