NBA Today: 4 Teams regretting their 2017 draft choices

The NBA Draft is an unpredictable thing, a sure lock for number one can become a bust overnight, while a late first-rounder can evolve into a two-time NBA Finals MVP, just like Kawhi Leonard.

The only sure thing when it comes to the draft is to know that nothing is a sure thing. Whether it is an injury set back, lack of motivation or a poor attitude from the player, it is almost impossible to tell if the person you draft will become an All-Star, a role player, or be out of the league by the end of his rookie deal.

Today we look at four teams who would love to change their choices in the 2017 NBA Draft.

#4 Detroit Pistons

Donovan Mitchell was still available on the board when the Pistons' pick was due

Pick 12: Luke Kennard (SG)

Pick 13: Donovan Mitchell (SG)

Nobody could have predicted just how good Donovan Mitchell was going to be in his first two seasons in the NBA. He was never projected as a top 10 talent on the draft board so while he is clearly a top-three player in this draft class it would be hard to say people regret not taking him with a top pick as at the time it wasn't even questioned.

That being said, most mock drafts at the time had him sitting between the 12th to 14th pick, with the Detroit Pistons holding the 12th pick in the 2017 draft. While desperately needing a scoring guard, the Pistons selected Luke Kennard from Duke. His two-year college career set him up nicely as he averaged 19.5 points with 43.8% shooting from three. Unfortunately, for Kennard and the Pistons, he has not even come close to Donovan Mitchell's output over the past two seasons.

Kennard has only started 19 games for the Pistons, with most of his 21.3 minutes coming off the bench to achieve an average of 8.6 points per game in his career so far. The thought of Detroit having Mitchell, Griffin, and Drummond in their starting five and not doing so despite having the chance is something they will most likely regret for a long time.

#3 New York Knicks

Knicks did land Dennis Smith Jr eventually but could have easily picked him in the draft

Pick #8: Frank Ntilikina (PG)

Pick #9: Dennis Smith Jr (PG)

The New York Knicks haven't found much luck in the recent years in the draft and the 2017 NBA Draft was no different.

At pick number 8, New York decided to take the 6'6 point guard from France, Frank Ntilikina, over the higher prospect going into the draft in Dennis Smith Jr. Not only would Dennis Smith Jr go on to have a much better rookie year than Frank, who many have already written off as a massive bust, but the Knicks would end up trading their only All-Star of recent times in Kristaps Porzingis to acquire Dennis Smith Jr in a deadline day trade last season.

There is no doubt that if given the chance, New York would take back this pick and use the eighth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft to take Dennis Smith Jr first, which would have allowed them to acquire more young talent in that Porzingis trade.

#2 Phoenix Suns

Pick #4: Josh Jackson (SF)

The fourth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Josh Jackson had a poor start to his NBA career with his time at the Phoenix Suns coming to an abrupt end as they traded him to Memphis for Kyle Korver and Jevon Carter, with Phoenix waiving Korver shortly after.

Averaging 12.3 points per game on only 29% three-point shooting for his career, Jackson was supposed to be the wing to flourish alongside star Devin Booker and help the Suns rise from the bottom of the Western Conference. Unfortunately for both him and Phoenix, this didn't come close to happening with them still having the worst record in the conference in Jackson's two seasons in the league.

Phoenix have been desperate for a point guard since the end of the Steve Nash era, a hole they have attempted to fill in this offseason with Ricky Rubio. It's no question if the Suns could have this pick back they would take De'Aaron Fox who went just one pick later and has flourished in his role at the Kings and looks set for a long career.

#1 Philadelphia 76ers

Fultz's shoulder injury got the better of him

Pick #1: Markelle Fultz (PG)

To anyone who clicked on this article, this should come to no surprise. Not only did Fultz barely step on the court for the 76ers but they actually traded up the draft to select him with the number one pick.

The trade involved sending the #3 pick to Boston as well as what turned out to become the 14th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Romeo Langford. So much was wrong with this move that it's hard to find a place to begin.

Usually, teams get a pass on #1 picks becoming a bust as they are most of the time the consensus choice where anybody would have made the same decision. This was not the case for Fultz as plenty of mock drafts had him anywhere between 1-4 back in 2017.

With Ben Simmons set to finally start his NBA career that too as a point guard and ending up having his breakout year, it seemed silly to draft another point guard when there were so many other wing options. There was the obvious choice in Jayson Tatum at the 3 spot, which was the 76ers' original pick and that would have fit much nicer in the 76ers lineup.

Fultz did not even make it through two seasons with the 76ers as they traded him to the Orlando Magic for basically nothing in return.