# 2027 NBA Mock Draft Top Picks

> Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith Jr. and Stefan Joksimovic headline 2027 NBA Mock Draft before season starts.
- Title: 2027 NBA Mock Draft Top Picks · CBS Sports | Shortify
- Summary: Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith Jr. and Stefan Joksimovic headline 2027 NBA Mock Draft before season starts.
- Keywords: 2027 nba mock draft, tyran stokes, jordan smith jr, stefan joksimovic, nba draft, lottery reform, 3-2-1 lottery system, nba, sports, 2027, Mock, Draft
- Source: CBS Sports — https://cbssports.com/nba/news/2027-nba-mock-draft-tyran-stokes-jordan-smith-jr-stefan-joksimovic
- Published: 2026-10-17T11:29:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: 2027 nba mock draft, tyran stokes, jordan smith jr, stefan joksimovic, nba draft, lottery reform, 3-2-1 lottery system, nba, sports
## 2027 NBA Draft Unpredictable
The 2027 NBA Draft will be more unpredictable than previous years due to college basketball's NIL market and the league's new lottery system.
## New Lottery System Begins
The 2027 NBA Draft uses the '3-2-1' lottery system with 16 teams in the lottery, up from 14 teams in previous years.
## Tyran Stokes First Pick
Tyran Stokes, a big, powerful prospect from Kansas, is the most naturally talented player in the draft but faces questions about consistency.
## Jordan Smith Jr. Second Pick
Jordan Smith Jr., a defender from Arkansas, is loaded with competitive intangibles but lacks glaring natural talent.
## Stefan Joksimovic Third Pick
Stefan Joksimovic, a Slovenian player from Baskonia, won MVP of the EuroCamp and FIBA European U18 Championship but has questions about shooting and defense.
## Round 1 Pick 4
Caleb Holt, a long, strong athlete from Arizona, is a defensive threat but has questions about his playmaking ability.
## Round 1 Pick 5
Bruce Branch III, a wing player from BYU, has a solid skill set but may profile as a role player due to lack of dynamic creation.
## Round 1 Pick 6
Amari Allen, a sophomore from Alabama, elected to return for his sophomore season and could play his way up the draft board.
## Round 1 Pick 7
Motiejus Krivas, a big defender from Arizona, has tremendous size and was one of the best defenders in college basketball last year.
## Round 1 Pick 8
Braylon Mullins, a shooter from Connecticut, has a chance to establish himself as the best shooter in the draft.
## Round 1 Pick 9
Patrick Ngongba II, a big player from Duke, is a vertical spacer and frontcourt passer but needs to stay healthy to play a featured role.
## Round 1 Pick 10
Thomas Haugh, a versatile player from Florida, returned for a major NIL payday but has improved three-point shooting potential.
## Round 1 Pick 11
Ivan Kharchenkov, a defender from Arizona, has a strong defensive game but needs to improve his offense to be a top prospect.
## Round 1 Pick 12
Alijah Arenas, a polarizing prospect from USC, has great perimeter size but needs to prove his more tertiary parts of his game are translatable.
## Round 1 Pick 13
Dame Sarr, a defensive standout from Duke, has improved three-point shooting potential but needs to be a reliable floor spacer.
## Round 1 Pick 14
Arafan Diane, a big man from Houston, has raw power and size but needs to improve his physical conditioning to maximize his tools.
## Key takeaway

Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith Jr. and Stefan Joksimovic are projected as top picks in the 2027 NBA Draft under the new lottery system.