With the 2017-18 season coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking about the draft. Here’s a look at what to expect from each team on draft night with a full, two-round 2018 NBA Mock Draft.
With the 2018 NBA Playoffs getting underway over the weekend, 14 fanbases have already turned their attention to the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft. From the draft combine to pre-draft workouts to draft night itself on June 21, the prospect of adding a game-changing rookie weighs heavily on the minds of several bottom-feeder organizations.
In such a top-heavy draft class, it was no surprise to see so many teams join an epic tank race, especially since this will be the last year where the NBA Draft Lottery odds reward the most diligent tankers, thanks to draft lottery reform set to kick in for 2019.
The question is, as the odds currently stand, what does the upcoming draft look like in mid-April? To sort it out, it’s time for another 2018 NBA Mock Draft
Before I start out this mock, I would just like to make a few statements. First, the lottery order is simulated courtesy of the Tankathon website. Second, this mock is based on no personal intel with NBA teams. Sadly, I am not connected in the basketball world like that. Rather this mock is based on who I think each team should select.
With that being said, let’s dive into the first two picks of our 2018 NBA Mock Draft.
Luka Doncic is currently 19 years old playing for Real Madrid in the EuroLeague. The teenager is averaging an unprecedented 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in the second-best basketball league in the world. Never has a single international draft prospect put up the kind of numbers that Doncic has.
Doncic is a thicker 6’8″ point forward with tremendous passing vision and great scoring ability. His projected role will eventually be a lead ball-handler. However, I think for the first few years with the Memphis Grizzlies, Doncic benefits from being a secondary-handler to Mike Conley. His usage rate won’t be sky high like it is currently in the EuroLeague, and he can focus on getting adjusted to playing with NBA athletes.
DeAndre Ayton is an absolute freak of nature in every great way imaginable. The 7’1″, 250-pound big man is beyond ready physically for the NBA. He’s a great rebounder, averaging 11.6 per game at Arizona, along with being relatively quick on his feet and extremely coordinated. He’s currently developing more of a perimeter and face-up game, but the production Ayton will provide offensively just by running the floor, rim-running off screens and offensive rebounding make his floor incredibly high.
The Phoenix Suns have a very underwhelming recent history with drafting big men. Prospects such as Alex Len, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss were all selected or acquired by the Suns on draft night. Unfortunately, none of these players have lived up to their lottery selections. Ayton is a whole new level of talent though. The addition of Ayton will improve the Suns offensively, but could make a team that gave up the most points in the league even worse defensively.
Jaren Jackson Jr is by far the best defensive prospect in the entire class. The combination of switch ability on the perimeter, rim protection and team defense is a rare combination. His defensive IQ is even more impressive, considering he’s one of the youngest players in the class. His perimeter game is still extremely raw, but I’m betting on his awkward mechanics to a least become a respectable 3-point shooter. He showed signs of encouragement with his shooting touch as well, shooting 39.6 percent from the 3-point line and 79.7 percent from the foul line.
The thought of having the most athletic frontcourt in the NBA by pairing Jackson with Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac could be extremely interesting. The Orlando Magic seem like a solid fit here since Jackson probably won’t be a starter right away. He can develop playing spot minutes while Nikola Vucevic is still under contract next season. Jackson’s fit with the Magic will also be heavily dependent on when they can obtain a quality point guard.
Marvin Bagley III has always been in the spotlight. Being a No. 1 recruit all throughout high school and then being unquestionably the best player on a Duke team with all five of their starters entering the draft is impressive. Bagley’s constant motor combined with his budding perimeter game make him a special prospect. He might also have a quicker second jump than anyone on the planet. The Duke freshman demolished Jabari Parker’s double-double record with ease, averaging a double-double on the season with 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game on 61.4 percent shooting.
The Dallas Mavericks’ roster is an absolute mess right now and just need to acquire talented players. They have received the most out of less talented young players like Yogi Ferrell, hopefully they can do even better with a prospect with unbelievable talent like Bagley. The key ingredient to Bagley’s development will be his defense. Rick Carlisle is probably one of the best guys to try and teach Marvin Bagley how to become a serviceable defender. So he can stay on the court and show off his amazing offensive talent, and not become a complete defensive liability.
There’s a ton of things to like about the fellow Duke big man Wendell Carter Jr. Carter may not be a crazy athlete like Bagley or Jaren Jackson, but he’s extremely polished on both ends of the court. At 6’10” and 260 pounds, Carter is physically as ready for the NBA as any prospect other than DeAndre Ayton. Carter’s offensive game is highlighted by his ambidextrous finishing ability, to go along with his high IQ, great passing vision, and developing jump shot. On the other side of the ball Carter should be a serviceable rim protector and a quality team defender.
Carter can play an Al Horford type of role in Mike Budenholzer’s offense (assuming he stays with the Atlanta Hawks). You can involve Carter in dribble handoffs and make important passing reads playing out on the perimeter and in the high or mid-post. Carter would also be a quality complement to John Collins. He is so versatile offensively because of his skill level, and can play out on the perimeter when Collins is rim-running, looking for lobs to throw down. Carter also provides an element of rim protection that Collins does not. Expect Wendell Carter to be a quality NBA player for a long time.
Mohamed Bamba has unique length at his position. Standing at 7’0″ with a 7’9″ wingspan, this elite length makes Bamba an intriguing defensive prospect with a ton of upside if he can work on his slight frame. Bamba averaged 3.7 blocks this year at Texas and even though he is not as polished of a defender as Jaren Jackson, he still has a ton of upside.
The Chicago Bulls select Bamba here looking for a rim protector to pair with Lauri Markannen. Bamba is viewed as a project big man as his offensive game will be highly dependent on how his body continues to develop. With two years spent in an NBA strength program, Mo Bamba can develop into a high quality rim-runner rolling to the hoop for Kris Dunn.
Michael Porter Jr. suffered from a disappointing freshman season at Missouri. Porter injured his back after two minutes in the first game of the season, and came back to play two postseason games looking like a shell of his former self. The hope is that Porter was just rusty and this back injury has not effected his explosiveness and burst as an athlete. Prior to the injury, Porter was expected to be as dominant, if not more dominant than any freshman in college basketball this season. He was the second-ranked recruit in the class next to Marvin Bagley. His ability to handle and shoot at his 6’10” size really sets him apart from most players in his class on a talent level.
I like what the Sacramento Kings are doing with their backcourt right now. It’s time they address their frontcourt and give De’Aaron Fox a high quality offensive weapon. Hopefully Porter’s medical report from the combine comes back all clear. However, if it does not, expect Porter to fall below the top 10. The Kings desperately need a versatile scorer like Porter in their frontcourt. Their two main starters this year, Zach Randolph and Willie Cauley-Stein, will not be high quality players on a team hoping to turn its franchise into a future contender after years of mediocrity.
Trae Young came into the college basketball season relatively off all NBA radars. The star freshman dominated through college basketball early in the season. Young ended the season leading the NCAA in scoring and assists, averaging 27.4 points and 8.7 assists per game. Despite his late season struggles, Young still proved he’s the best point guard prospect in the class. Combining his high level passing, vision and knockdown shooting ability, Young could develop into a real offensive threat.
Even though Young could eventually become an offensive threat, I think he’s better suited in an off-ball, secondary handler role. Playing off of LeBron James will give Young the opportunity to knock down open catch-and-shoot shots, which is something he never had the luxury of doing in college. LeBron has already expressed interest in Young, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will do anything to keep LeBron happy and have him re-sign this summer.
Bridges has enjoyed solid progression each year at Villanova and has emerged as the best 3-and-D prospect in this class. His elite length, lateral quickness, and strong team defense all project him to become a high quality defender. Bridges also shot 43.5 percent from the 3-point line this season. He needs to get a little stronger, particularly in his upper half, if he wants to maximize his defensive potential, along with improving his shot diversity rather than just catching and shooting to maximize his offensive potential.
The great thing about drafting Bridges is that he can fit into any scheme. The New York Knicks in particular need consistent 3-point shooting along with wing defenders. Bridges is the first older prospect to be selected at 21 years old. However, his relatively low floor should make him an immediate starter on this Knicks team given their poor roster.
Miles Bridges passed on a surefire lottery selection last year. Even though Bridges did not improve his draft stock, he still has cemented himself as a lottery pick yet again. His shooting percentages and rebounds were down, but Bridges played out of position at Michigan State on the wing this year. He was forced to take on more of a secondary creator role, and showed tremendous strides in his shot diversity and playmaking.
The 76ers find themselves in the lottery once again this year, but this time via trade only (shoutout Sam Hinkie). They’re stockpiling their team with another young and talented asset. Bridges is a small-ball 4 in the NBA, and would fit nicely along the perimeter with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. His unselfish play combined with his quality 3-point shooting should make Bridges a valuable offensive threat in a low-usage role.
The Mitchell Robinson saga has been extremely interesting along with being well-documented. Robinson left the Western Kentucky program before the first game, then was denied entry into the G League. He screams out physical and athletic upside. Standing at 7’0″ with a 7’4″ wingspan and quick leaping ability, Robinson has the potential to become quality rim protector.
I’m not a fan of anything the Charlotte Hornets are doing right now. Personally, I believe they will be a lottery mainstay for the next few years. This is why they swing for the fences selecting Robinson. Taking a big in the first round is nothing new to the Hornets. However, taking a big with as much upside as Robinson is something they are not familiar with at all.
As the brother of Michael Porter Jr., Jontay Porter has made quite a name for himself as a prospect this season. In an unexpected rise, Porter became a quality prospect in his own right after re-classifying to play college basketball a year early. Jontay is easily the best passing big man in the class with great court vision. Also Porter is a wonderful team defender with a high defensive IQ, constantly making quality rotations.
The Los Angeles Clippers are really missing Daniel Gafford not declaring here. The good news is they can settle for another quality big man. Other than DeAndre Jordan, their other center is Boban Marjanovic. Also, with DeAndre Jordan having a player option on his contract this summer, it is unclear if he will return. Porter should provide the Clippers with quality bench minutes and will bring a different element as a center. Playing almost exclusively on the perimeter offensively, Porter could open up some interesting ideas for the Clippers bench unit.
Another unexpected one-and-done, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the top prospect on a Kentucky team always loaded with talent. Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed tremendous success in a high-usage, lead ball-handler role at Kentucky. He’s a quality defender with great length for his position at 6’6″ with a 6’10” wingpsan. His ability to change speeds helps him get into the lane and he is an underrated playmaker.
Even though Shai played in such a high-usage role constantly handling the ball at Kentucky, he probably projects better as a secondary ball-handler. He should fit in well next to a ball-dominant Lou Williams. His potential to succeed in the league is highly dependent on the development of his shooting consistency, both pulling up and off the catch, along with working on his extremely skinny frame. If both of those elements improve, Alexander should be able to become a productive starter.
Zhaire Smith is NBA Draft Twitter royalty and I might hate myself for buying in. There’s easy athletic and defensive appeal with Smith though. His progression over his freshman season at Texas Tech as been phenomenal as well. A quality team defender, explosive leaper and a multi-positional defender, Smith has a lot of quality traits to bank on.
The Denver Nuggets select Smith because their wing spot is rather depleted, and they need quality defenders. Smith will get spot minutes immediately because of his defensive value. He is just so far away from having NBA skill offensively. He shot 45 percent this year from the 3-point line. Unfortunately, he only attempted just over one per game, but I do believe in his shooting development, even with his unorthodox shot. The Nuggets get a quality wing, lead ball-handler defender, and possibly a future Slam Dunk Contest champion.
Unfortunately, Sexton did not do enough to solidify himself as the top point guard prospect he was coming into the season. However, he did enough to be the second-best true point guard prospect in the class. Sexton plays with a mindset unlike any player I have ever seen. He’s relentless attacking the rim and has more passing vision than he gets credit for. He’s not the uber-athlete that everyone projected, but he’s no slouch athletically, and is an absolute pest defensively.
The Washington Wizards draft room would be going bananas if Sexton fell outside the lottery to them. Their desperate need for a backup point guard is more than clear. John Wall is locked up long-term, but after the end of the lottery you are looking for players that can continue contribute in any way. Sexton may not be a long-term piece for the Wizards because he will probably outplay his back up point guard slot, but wherever Sexton ends up, eventually his coaches will love his gym rat mentality and nonstop desire to compete.
Lonnie Walker had a disappointing freshman season at Miami. He flashed his potential in spurts throughout the season, and may not even hurt his draft stock at all. The 6’4″ explosive leaping wing with a 6’10” wingspan has a good amount of upside. Even though he shot 34.6 percent from the 3-point line, he has very projectable form on his jump shot. He has flashed aggressive defense and shot diversity from deep as well.
The Suns select Walker here trying to upgrade their team on both sides of the ball. Walker seems to have a clear cut path to becoming a 3-and-D role player with potential development. Obviously if his shot does not progress it’s hard to imagine Walker sticking around in the league for too long. With an improved handle and shooting consistency, he could become a real offensive weapon and more than just a role player.
Shake has been on NBA radars for awhile now. He has clear appeal as a larger combo guard and an extremely impressive shooter. Milton shot at least 42 percent from the 3-point line throughout his three years at SMU. He’s also a quality ball-handler that has no problem attacking a closeout or pulling up off the dribble. Milton had an injury late in the season and it prevented him from playing in the last 11 games of SMU’s season. Hopefully, he is fully healed for pre-draft workouts.
It’s no secret the Milwaukee Bucks have been terrible 3-point shooters for a while now. Here, they look to find a guard that can complement the Greek Freak better than Eric Bledsoe. There’s a lot of offensive similarities in Shake Milton and current Bucks guard Malcom Brogdon. Both are combo guards that can shoot the ball well and perform ball-handling duties if needed, with Shake maybe even being a better scorer and shot creator than Brogdon.
Keita Bates-Diop enjoyed one of the most improved seasons any college player had this season. The redshirt junior saw his scoring average go up from 9.7 points per game to 19.8 per game this season. Diop is a multi-faceted scorer with an array of mid-range moves in the high post area, combined with his 35.9 percent 3-point shooting. His absurd length will allow him to play the 4 with a 7’4″ wingspan at only 6’7″.
The San Antonio Spurs need to add a youth scoring punch here with the over-30-year-old combination of Rudy Gay and Pau Gasol being two of their three leading scorers this season. Even their fourth-leading scorer Patty Mills will turn 30 before next season. Diop is a high-IQ player that would have no problem fitting into the Spurs’ offensive scheme even if his role is nothing more than coming off the bench.
Kevin Knox completed an immediate resurgence to his draft stock late in the season. There’s a lot to like about the long, young, Kentucky forward. He’s a major-upside selection as well, and he is one of the younger players in the class. His shot seemed to be going down more consistently toward the end of the season, and shot 77.4 percent from the free throw line, which is an encouraging sign. He showed enough of a handle to attack a closeout, but may need to add more burst to consistently get to the rim attacking.
The Hawks look to stockpile young talent here even it is another frontcourt selection. There should be serious questions about how such a low IQ player like Knox will fit into Mike Budenholzer’s system if he stays in Atlanta. However, Knox is easily the most talented player available here and may eventually develop some positional versatility to play as a larger wing. At a young age, with plenty of room to grow, and the Hawks stellar developmental system, it’s not crazy to think Kevin Knox will outplay his selection here.
Jacob Evans is another Draft Twitter favorite. However, he’s probably a much safer prospect than most Draft Twitter stars. Evans enjoyed a solid all-around year at Cincinnati. The junior proved that he is a legitimate 3-point threat even though his percentages were down from last season. Also, Evans showed more playmaking equity handling the ball this year. Evans is a good athlete who takes pride on the defensive end of the floor, and that is where his value skyrockets as a prospect.
As long as Tom Thibodeau is coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves, their first and almost only priority will be on the defensive side of the ball (on paper, at least). They do not have much wing depth either. Their only non-starting wing that saw solid minutes was the 38-year-old Jamal Crawford. Evans should be a coach’s pet and fit in immediately with Minnesota with his on- and off-ball defensive ability, along with his ability to score offensively without demanding a high usage rate.
Similar to top-10 selection Miles Bridges, Williams passed up on a surefire lottery selection last year too. Williams did not benefit from staying at Texas A&M, failing to show any real improvement from his freshman campaign. The athletic ability and rim-running role on offense and clear rim protector role on defense are what still make Robert Williams a very relevant NBA prospect though.
It’s hard trying to tell what the Utah Jazz do with this pick. I think they should look to add frontcourt depth with Derrick Favors likely not returning for next season. Williams is an extremely risky pick here. The role that he will play in the NBA both offensively and defensively will be highly dependent on his motor. Unfortunately, Williams’ lack of motor is one of the larger flaws in his game.
Khyri Thomas also flew onto NBA draft radars out of nowhere this season. His tenacious defense along with catch-and-shoot ability give Thomas an easy possible future role to fit in. He is a bit undersized for his position standing at only 6’3″, even though his wingspan has been reported to be near 6’10”. Thomas will have to guard high quality lead ball-handlers effectively if he hopes to achieve meaningful NBA minutes.
The Chicago Bulls are horrible at two things: shooting the ball from 3 and defending. Those are the two main selling points on Thomas as a prospect. Thomas needs to also improve his shot diversity and work on becoming a more complete scorer to maximize his potential offensively.
After capturing a national championship this season, Brunson will be leaving for the NBA. He was overly efficient shooting the basketball this season and it’s easy to overlook his athletic shortcomings. Brunson is a proven winner, exceptional leader, and almost always makes the right play with the ball in his hands.
With Darren Collison in a contract year and Cory Joseph having a player option for the upcoming season, it’s not totally impossible for the Pacers’ only point guard on their roster to be Edmund Sumner and whoever they can scrape up with mid-level exception money at the last minute. Brunson should benefit from not being relied on to do too much with emergence of Victor Oladipo. Brunson will be a point guard in the league for a long time, even though he almost certainly will never be a great one.
After a strong sophomore season, Shamet came back his junior season and continued to shoot the lights out. Shamet is probably the best shooter in the entire draft class next to Trae Young. Shamet can shoot from a spot-up off the catch, coming off a screen or pulling up. He’s a high-IQ player and his height as a ball-dominant player for Wichita State this season helped him see the court tremendously and average 5.2 assists per game.
Even with Shabazz Napier finally coming into his own this season, the Portland Trail Blazers still need more shooters on the wing to complement Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. This dynamic duo paired with Landry Shamet would be something for Blazers fans to be excited about next season. Shamet needs to work on his frame and improve his on-ball defense, which is kind of overrated in my opinion, but these are easy fixes for a player as smart as he is.
Musa is a prospect I’ve been watching a ton of for my future international scouting guide. He’s definitely a talented scorer, but his offensive position is hard to peg. Musa can handle the ball exceptionally well for his size and is a talented scorer, but he’s not quick enough to get past elite wing defenders. Most likely Musa will be playing more of a small-ball 4 role in the NBA. Musa plays for KK Cedivita of the Adriatic League, which is arguably the third-best league in the world. In league play, Musa averages 10.5 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting in only 20.2 minutes per game.
Even though Musa has been extremely productive in such a high-level league, the Los Angeles Lakers can probably persuade him to stay overseas. It makes sense for the Lakers to stash here, as they always want to be a player in free agency. Musa has great height but not elite length, and has a hunched-over posture that makes him play shorter than he really is. Musa is still a player I’m very intrigued by, but he will have to improve his 3-point shooting consistency and score a ton of points to stay on the floor. His atrocious defense may just be too much to overlook.
De’Anthony Melton never had a chance to play in his sophomore season at USC. He was a victim of the ongoing FBI investigation in college basketball. He’s a smaller combo guard who needs to improve his outside shooting, but may be one of the best on-ball perimeter defenders in this class. He’s a smart team defender with incredible lateral quickness and a solid 6’8″ wingspan.
Even though Markelle Fultz has resurfaced recently, the Philadelphia 76ers still need some guards to play alongside Ben Simmons. Melton’s defense-first mentality could be a huge pickup for the Sixers and give them a go-to point-of-attack on-ball defender. His shooting will be the biggest development of how well he really plays alongside Ben Simmons.
Brown had an extremely disappointing and injury-riddled season in his sophomore year at Miami. He played only 19 games and played himself out of a possible lottery selection last season. Brown was forced to take on the lead ball-handler role for his team this season. Even though Brown ended up shooting well below his field goal and 3-point percentages from last year, he still showed some elements to his game. He still has the potential to be a quality defender and he showed off better passing vision than initially anticipated.
Everybody already knows this Boston Celtics pick will be the poor man’s Marcus Smart selection. With all the young talent and star players Boston has on its roster, it is easily the deepest team in the league. Therefore, the Celtics probably do not pay Smart and settle on either Bruce Brown on Rawlee Alkins to play his role. Unfortunately, neither of them will probably be as good in that role as Smart was.
Aaron Holiday has basketball running through his veins. His brothers Jrue and Justin both play in the NBA. Aaron will join his two brothers this year after an impressive junior campaign at UCLA. Holiday is more of an off-ball point guard offensively where he can take advantage of his quality 3-point shooting. He already has NBA range and can shoot off movement, the dribble or just spotting up.
Holiday is the perfect complement to play spot minutes with the Golden State Warriors’ stars like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. He will have an extremely simplified role where all he must focus on is knocking down shots and trying to play quality defense.
Kurucs’ situation has been extremely interesting this season with his professional team overseas. He plays for Barcelona, which is in the EuroLeague and is normally one of the best teams in that league. However, Barcelona is not giving Kurucs any minutes with their top team because they do not want him to be seen by NBA scouts. Kurucs has been clear though that he wants to be in the NBA. He is an impressive shooter at 6’9″ and can put the ball on the floor as well. He has a ton of offensive skill to his game.
It’s hard telling what the Brooklyn Nets do with this pick. It really depends on how invested they are in their guards and wings like Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris Levert and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. If they believe these guys can continue to grow, the Nets probably end up taking another forward for the future to try and pair with Jarrett Allen. Kurucs may not be that guy, but there are not a lot of surefire contributors left at this point in the draft.
Troy Brown has the potential to become Evan Turner in my opinion, which is the reason I am not nearly as high on Troy Brown as most. The physical tools are intriguing, but I have a hard time seeing him scoring or shooting from 3 at a level to make him a lottery pick or even mid-first round selection. I like Brown’s rebounding, court vision and believe with his physical attributes, he can become a solid defender.
The late first round seems like the position in the draft where you want to get a guy like Brown. Hopefully the Hawks can develop his shooting, finishing at the rim and ball-handling. However, that’s asking for a lot for them to do with Brown in a short amount of time. There’s definitely potential to grow into a much better player and outplay his competition like Kevin Knox though.
The Suns take Elie Okobo with the first selection in the second round. Okobo will most likely come over right away. He’s a score-first point guard that could provide a nice skill change off the bench if Elfrid Payton re-signs (unlikely, but still). Okobo played for Pau-Orthez in the professional league in France. He averaged 12.8 points in 25.6 minutes per game on an extremely efficient 47.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.3 percent from the 3-point line.
Tyus Battle is a 6’6″ guard that could provide a scoring punch of the bench for the Grizzlies. However, he must become a more consistent scorer rather than just scoring off of volume shooting. Syracuse prospects are always tough to peg on how they will fit in defensively coming out of the 2-3 zone.
Melvin Frazier was another player who was relatively unknown until this college basketball season. He made impressive strides as a shooter, raising his 3-point percentage from 26.4 percent to 38.5 percent. His incredible quick twitch fibers and long arms could make him an incredible defender. The Hawks look to develop another wing, but Frazier still needs major work on his frame and must prove he’s a consistent 3-point shooter.
The Mavericks add more youth on the wing position. With Doug McDermott on a contract year, the Mavericks have no real backup wings. Hutchison was an early riser, but fell recently. His lack of tight ball-handling, burst and explosion at the rim are definitely very real concerns, along with his shooting consistency.
The Magic take a gamble here early in the second round. We will learn a lot more about how NBA-ready Simons is if he participates in 5-on-5 at the combine. Right now, he’s a combo guard with a ton of upside because of his incredible athletic ability. He needs to prove he can handle the ball against NBA defenses and knock down the 3 consistently. Simons is a major project, so expect to see him in the G League all year.
The Kings need a wing defender and grab one with Rawle Alkins. He’s a willing and physical defender. The question remains where he fits in offensively and how he can create space against NBA athletes without being a knockdown shooter.
The Knicks have a decent frontcourt pairing with Kristaps Porzingis and Enes Kanter, but no real depth despite Luke Kornet playing well when called up on a two-way contract. Metu will provide them with a more athletic big man option to go to. He has a budding face-up game and could develop the potential to become a rim-running threat with added strength.
Philly adds another wing shooter as a weapon to have at Ben Simmons’ disposal. Trent is an extreme liability defensively and is not a great athlete. However, he is one of the best shooters in this class and moves very well off ball. It’s hard to imagine a player with Trent’s pedigree just busting out of the league.
The 76ers have enough players stashed but they are going to stash another one. Kulboka is an intriguing offensive prospect with his shooting ability at 6’10”. He currently plays for Capo D’Orlando in the top league in Italy. He averaged 8.3 points per game while shooting 37.6 percent from 3-point range, but only shot 36.5 percent from the field. Most likely, Kulboka never finds a permanent home. Unfortunately, there’s not much else the Sixers could do with this pick.
The Queens native comes back home to Brooklyn and will give the Nets the opportunity to have a very athletic, young wing. Diallo still needs to make humongous strides offensively. He could end up finding a place in the league for awhile though if teams can get him to be constantly engaged on the defensive end.
After selecting Anfernee Simons, the Magic look for more immediate point guard help. Carter may have the quickest hands on defense out of any prospect in the class, averaging 3.0 steals per game in his senior season. Carter will never be seen as an offensive threat, but needs to prove he can consistently knock down open shots and create for others when necessary. This is a tough task for Carter to take on a ball-dominant backup point guard role.
With the Detroit Pistons’ first selection in this draft, they try to add a scoring punch to their poor offensive roster. Jerome Robinson is just that. This 6’5″ combo guard has solid passing vision and can score off the dribble. There is a chance Robinson could play his way on to the Pistons’ roster full-time with their lack of quality scoring wings and guards.
Isaac Bonga is a 6’9″ point forward and with a few years of polishing, could become a valuable secondary handler for the Nuggets. If he develops a jump shot as well, this could be an awesome fit. Do not look for Bonga to come over immediately, but when he does, keep an eye on whatever organization he is with.
The Wizards are going to hope that Wagner’s lack of defensive ability will not be as much of a problem as anticipated. The Wizards need frontcourt depth and Wagner definitely fits the bill of an extremely modern offensive big. Even though he is not an explosive athlete, he can handle the ball incredibly well for being 6’11”. His great tournament run may lead to a higher draft selection, but I’m not fully buying into that notion yet.
Kevin Hervey is a player that did not receive nearly as much publicity as he should have. Having fought through major injuries during his career, Hervey was fully healthy this season and did not disappoint. He stands at 6’8″ with a reported 7’3″ wingspan. He could develop into small-ball 4 scoring threat being able to put the ball on the deck and pull up or use his physicality to finish in the lane. None of this matters if Hervey’s medical at the combine is flagged though.
With Chris Paul only on a one-year deal and no real backup point guard, the Rockets could use Ponds to fill a need at point guard. This score-first point guard is a fearless and extremely creative ball-handler. The biggest question is can he consistently shoot and does he have enough burst to consistently create enough space for his shot and drive to the hoop?
The Lakers continue to work on their frontcourt depth adding freshman center Brandon McCoy from UNLV. McCoy’s draft stock was a victim of a steady decline throughout the season. He may not be quick enough for the modern NBA. He’s also severely underskilled in the post. Even though his numbers looked good this season, his skill just was not that impressive on film.
The Timberwolves look to take their time with Duval. With Jeff Teague still under contract for next season the Wolves could have Duval play backup point guard minutes. They could bring in a veteran to back up Teague and have Duval play in the G League too. Duval has a ton of upside given his athleticism, but will not be able to do anything with it if he cannot shoot from the perimeter. This pick also happens assuming Minnesota shoots down the Derrick Rose-Tom Thibodeau love connection this offseason.
The San Antonio Spurs have the best defense in the league, but easily one of the worst offenses. That’s why they select Jalen Hudson, who was instant offense for Florida this season. Hudson shot 45.4 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from the 3-point line while averaging 15.5 points per game. Hudson has the ball-handling ability to attack a closeout in straight lines but does not have the frame to finish at the rim and is also an atrocious defender.
After selecting Jalen Brunson, the Pacers stash Goga Bitadze late in the second round. Bitadze is 18 years old, and currently plays for Mega Bemax of the Adriatic League. He averaged 11.8 points in 23.4 minutes per game. Bitadze is an extremely thick 6’11” with a good profile and moves well for a 250-pounder. He may come over eventually, but it seems unlikely he will find a real role.
The New Orleans Pelicans don’t have much backcourt depth. Taking Josh Okogie in the second round would be the best plan for them. Okogie is a player that has been on the rise lately and will most likely find himself higher in our next mock. He doesn’t have great positional size at 6’4″, but his suffocating defense and seven-foot wingspan makes him a valuable multi-positional defender.
The Jazz have almost their entire roster returning for next season. With the addition of Robert Williams already, they select the Ukrainian sharpshooter Svi Mykhailiuk. Svi is a knockdown shooter, but needs to refine his defensive skills. Teams are hoping they can convince Svi to go play overseas for a year and stash him. That is what the Jazz will most likely do as well.
It’s unlikely Vanderbilt comes out. He most likely will be a first-rounder if he decides to maintain his eligibility and play at Kentucky next season. However, if Vanderbilt comes out this year, he would be a great fit for the up-and-down pace that Russell Westbrook wants to play. Vanderbilt is a monster on the boards averaging 7.9 rebounds in only 17 minutes per game during his injury-filled season at Kentucky. He also ran some point guard in his debut game with Kentucky if that’s any indication of his ability to handle the ball at 6’9″.
Jarrey Foster said he’s looking for a second round promise and I think he gets one late in the second round even if it’s not from the Mavericks. The extremely bouncy wing has some potential to stick on roster with his functional athleticism, a high motor and an improving jump shot.
Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows I am a huge Lamar Peters fan. I was not to start the season, but his late-season emergence won me over. The 6’0″ point guard is an irritant on defense and has made tremendous strides as a playmaker. If Peters can shoot more consistently, do not be surprised to see him sticking on an NBA team if he stays in the draft.
Seriously this is insane. I do not even believe that the 76ers organization will be able to remember all the players they have stashed overseas. Sanon is one of the youngest players in the class and really burst onto the scene after the FIBA U18 European Championships where he averaged 19.3 points per game. Do not expect to see Sanon for a long time given his age, but he does have some offensive scoring talent.
Edwards is a prospect that doesn’t have much upside, but he does everything well, he’s a high IQ player and he’s been well coached. At 6’8″, Edwards can guard at least both wing positions and may be be able to guard 4s with a seven-foot wingspan. Do not be surprised if Edwards’ stock ends up rising if he has a strong pre-draft showing.
The Nuggets select Spalding here with most of their frontcourt getting older. Adding youth and a defensive prospect like Spalding could be a nice complement to Nikola Jokic, if Spalding can start shooting well. He would be valuable offensively cutting the hoop for Jokic and running the floor with incredible speed for his size.
The Suns are going to look to stash here late in the draft. Marinkovic is an outstanding shooter at 6’7″ and can shoot the ball in all three facets. He plays for KK Partizan of the Adriatic League, averaging 11.3 points in 28.4 minutes per game while shooting 36.1 percent from the 3-point line. At 21 years old already, it is unlikely Marinkovic ever finds a full-time NBA roster spot.
All right seriously, this is just getting out of hand at this point. Jallow plays for Bayern Munich, where he is unable to get good minutes with their top team. He plays for their second team though, and averages 19 points in 32.7 minutes per game.
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Jallow is a solid defender with good size and a good frame. He attacks the basket well. Jallow is also 21 years old so there will be pressure for him to come early on, but like Marinkovic, it’s hard to imagine he finds a full-time NBA destination.