With the NBA Finals over, it’s time to turn our attention towards the 2018 NBA Draft. Here we present our mock draft. A lot can still happen over the next couple of days, but here’s our best guess for how the first round will unfold.
The name of the game in the NBA draft is upside, and that’s what the 7’1’’ Ayton will bring to the suns. After averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds per game at Arizona last season, Ayton has the upside to be a difference maker on both ends of the floor.
Doncic could end up going first overall, but if not, Kings GM Vlade Divac will snatch him up without a second thought. He’s accomplished more playing in Europe that almost every other draft prospect has in college, and his skill-set combined with basketball IQ is too good to pass up.
Bagley is a fairly polished scorer for a young big man, helping him stand out among the other options Atlanta will have with this pick. His ability to score will help him start from Day One while giving the Hawks a player they can build around.
The Grizzlies are going to take whatever player has the highest upside, and assuming the other three guys are off the board, that’ll lead them to take Jackson. He’s not a lock to reach his full potential, so don’t be surprised to see him turn into a bust. But Memphis needs to take a chance on someone with his potential.
Much like Bagley, his former Duke teammate, Carter is an advanced scorer for his age. He has a well-balanced skill set, including the ability to make jump shots from deep, making him a solid pick up for the Mavericks at fifth overall.
The Magic are rebuilding, so they could go just about anywhere with this pick. However, they’ll end up with Bomba, who will immediately be a difference maker on the defensive end with his 6’11’’ game and 7’9’’ wingspan. The upside is also there with Bomba if he can continue to develop the offensive part of his game.
Porter’s health makes him too risky in to take in the top-5, but the Bulls will take a chance on him at no. 7. He only played three college games because of spinal surgery, but if he’s healthy, the sky is the limit with him.
Whether LeBron James stays in Cleveland or not, the Cavs need a point guard, and it’ll be tough to pass on Young, assuming he’s available. He has some drawbacks, but he’s an elite passer and playmaker, not to mention an excellent shooter, averaging 27 points per game at Oklahoma last season.
The Knicks would love someone with Young’s name recognition and moxie, but they’ll settle for Sexton to fill their need at point guard. He won’t put butts in the seats like Young, at least not at first, but he has the talent to be just as good of a scorer and playmaker from the point guard position.
It’ll be nice for Philadelphia to draft a former Villanova player, especially if it’s Bridges. With his defense, perimeter shooting, and ability to play multiple positions, he’ll be a perfect fit on a 76ers team that’s on the rise.
In terms of pure athleticism, Williams is off the charts. He has some growing and developing to do, but all the raw tools are there for the Hornets to develop into an impact player a couple years down the line.
With back-to-back picks, it’s foolish for the Clippers not to take a point guard, and Gilgeous-Alexander will be the best one available. He has great size for a point guard and is quicker than you might think. He’s not yet an accomplished shooter, but that won’t matter for a team that may not be ready to compete for a couple years.
If you have two straight picks, why not pick up two Kentucky Wildcats. Much like Gilgeous-Alexander, it may take a couple years for Knox to reach his ceiling. But he averaged nearly 16 points per game as a freshman in college, and so there’s little doubt he has the skills to become a dynamic scorer in the NBA.
The Nuggets aren’t hurting for backcourt help, but Smith is such an athletic freak that he’ll be hard to pass up. He’ll be fine coming off the bench for a year or two while he works to round out the rough edges of his game. There’s no doubt Smith has the upside teams picking in the lottery want.
The Wizards have a pair of athletic freaks in their backcourt with John Wall and Bradley Beal, but Trent will give them a shooter who should complement that duo. This won’t be an overly exciting pick, but it’s one that makes sense.
Some inconsistency at Michigan State will cause Bridges to drop a little from where some have projected him. Nevertheless, he’s an excellent athlete who can jump out of the gym and score with ease. At this point in the first round, the Suns will struggle to pass on his upside.
The Bucks have done well with Greek Freak Giannis, so why not take a chance on another kid from Eastern Europe? He’s still quite young, and a few of questioned his athleticism, but his skill set is impressive for a player his age. With more experience under his belt, he’s poised to blossom into a good NBA player.
Porter brings a nice combination of size at 6’11’’ and a guy who can knock down the outside shot. Perhaps more importantly, he’ll keep his mouth shut, work hard, and let Gregg Popovich mold him into a player who can help the Spurs compete in the Western Conference.
Assuming they take Bagley third overall, the Hawks will look for a guard with their second first-round pick. Walker spent just one season at Miami, so he’s not yet a finished product, but he looks like he could be another player the Hawks can build around.
With Jimmy Butler, Minnesota isn’t desperate for another shooting guard. But Brown could be a nice project for them over the next few years. He has plenty of length and athleticism, and given a few years, he could turn into something special, so he could be worth the risk at this stage of the first round.
It’s tough to go wrong taking a player like Brunson. He’s not the most athletically gifted guard available, but he had a hand in Villanova winning two national championships. He has good strength for his size and he’s a crafty left-handed guard who finds a way to get the job done. He’ll be able to contribute in the NBA, even if he’s not a star.
At 6’7’’, Bates-Diop is a little small for an NBA power forward, which is why he’ll drop to the late first round. However, he has the wingspan and strength to help make up for it. He has some work to do as a shooter and a scorer, but his ability to defend multiple positions should get him a role on an NBA team.
Hutchison is one of the rare players who spent four years in college, giving him a better chance to contribute right away. The Pacers don’t need a ton of help with much of their core intact, but Hutchison will add depth and versatility, making him a nice addition to the Indiana rotation.
The Trail Blazers could go just about any direction with this pick, but don’t be surprised if they settle on Shamet. The former Wichita State point guard has good size and a high basketball IQ. He also has a sweet shooting stroke, so he should be able to contribute right away.
Robinson didn’t actually play in college at Western Kentucky after things got complicated, to say the least. Nevertheless, the Lakers need to add some size in this draft, and at 6’11’’, Robinson fits the bill. Obviously, there is some risk to this pick after Robinson didn’t play organized basketball last year. But the talent and upside are there, making him worth the risk this late in the first round.
The 76ers boast a slew of burgeoning stars with great offensive upside, but in Thomas, they’ll add a defensive specialist, which is something they may need to take them to the next level. Thomas has developed into a nice shooter as well, but his wingspan and athleticism make him best suited for the defensive end as a player who will do all the dirty work.
The Celtics would be wise to add some backcourt depth in this draft. That’s exactly what they’ll get from Holiday. He’s a gamer and has a lot of the intangibles teams like, something you’d expect from the younger brother of two NBA players. He may not develop into a bonafide starter, but Holiday has a chance to become one of the better backup point guards in the league.
Melton is another player who didn’t play organized basketball this year because of off-court issues, but that makes him a good option for a team like Golden State that doesn’t need him to play significant minutes right away. If he can continue to work on his range and fine-tune his skill set, he can develop into a role player on a loaded Warriors team.
On the surface, he doesn’t look like an NBA player, but he proved during Villanova’s championship run what he can do. DiVincenzo is a great shooter and an underrated athlete who plays with an edge and buys into the team game. He’s not a star, but he’ll become one of those complementary players that opposing teams hate to play.
Robinson was one of the best scorers in the ACC, the best conference in college basketball. His supporting cast wasn’t that impressive, so he got a lot of attention but still managed to score 20 points per game and shoot 42% from the perimeter. He may not be a starter for Atlanta, but he’ll be able to come off the bench and score in bunches.
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