Michael Porter Jr.: 2018 NBA Draft player profile

Overall outlook

Overall, Michael Porter Jr. is easily one of the hardest prospects for to gauge in this year’s draft, mainly because of the lack of college play and how it’s impossible to take his college play for anything since he was nowhere near fully healthy. It is extremely hard to feel confident about any prospect — especially defensively — just based on high school film.

Also it was extremely difficult because of just how unique Michael Porter Jr. is as a player. It’s not every year (even though it is starting to feel like it) that you have the opportunity to draft a 6’10” player with wing scoring ability and perimeter skill.

Ultimately, pending any bad medical reports, it would be insane for Porter to slide outside of the top 5-8 picks. His combination of size and perimeter skill is just too deadly of a combination to pass up.

However, I do think Porter is very fit-dependent as well. I think he needs to be willing to go to a system where the coach will be willing to play Porter solely at the four offensively, and eventually as a small-ball 5 when he adds muscle onto his body.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft - Doncic still No. 1 in post-lottery edition

He could potentially struggle playing out of position as a wing, especially if a team throws him into the fire as a wing immediately. Porter’s defense is still a complete toss-up for me to gauge. While it most likely will never be good, it can definitely become serviceable. There is no doubt that his ability to possibly become a unique offensive big man is why you draft Porter so highly though.