2018 NBA Draft: Top 60 big board, Part 1

Tier 3

The third tier is really the last tier that I feel barring injury, every single player will earn a second deal after their rookie-scale contract and hold some kind of long-term role in the NBA. I anticipate most of these players will immediately add value to their team, while others made need a year or two to develop. Coincidentally, this tier is also made up of six prospects, and it rounds out my lottery rankings.

9. Mikal Bridges, SG/SF — Villanova 

Mikal Bridges enjoyed steady improvement throughout his career at Villanova. The long wing has been billed as an NBA-ready, high IQ, 3-and-D wing that every NBA team covets today.

Mikal’s offensive appeal is tremendous for a low-usage NBA role. He is not a very good handler and has relatively zero shot creation equity, but he does not need to. Bridges makes smart decisions, plays with a tremendously high IQ and can be an offensive threat without the ball in his hands. With an sky-high release, Bridges is one of the better spot-up shooters, as well as one of the better shooters off movement in the class.

Defensively, Bridges has been billed as on-ball stopper. After recently going through his film, I reject this theory. Bridges struggles reacting on his opponents’ first step once they get the ball in their hands. In college, Bridges’ 7’2″ wingspan made up for quite a few of those mistakes, but I am skeptical about how much time he will get to recover once he gives up blow-bys to elite NBA scorers. Overall, this tiny flaw in Bridges game was not enough to move him down on my board. However, it is definitely something to be concerned about.

10. Miles Bridges, PF/SF — Michigan State 

After electing to return to Michigan State, Miles Bridges really did nothing to hurt or help his draft position. I do think that him coming back with another solid shooting season makes people much more confident in Bridges as a prospect.

Bridges is a tremendous and explosive leaper off of two feet. He combines his leaping ability and ox-like strength. When you throw in Bridges’ perimeter skills into the mixing pot, you end up with a pretty effective option to attack close-outs and finish above the rim at a high level. In order to attack these close-outs, Bridges must shoot efficiently from the 3-point line. I am not buying Bridges’ shot from deep off of movement, but I do like it off the catch, which is why he should be a unique option at the 4 offensively.

On the other side of the ball, Bridges is a solid on-ball defender. He should have strength to muscle up with most 4s and the foot speed to defender on the wing.  Off the ball though, Bridges still has a tendency to fall asleep and not make quality rotations enough for me to consider it a projectable strength in his game.

Miles Bridges has a lot of potential, but in order for him to still realize his complete ceiling as a prospect, he must shoot the ball consistently both on and off movement, along with continuing to improve as a passer so he can be relied upon to make quick reads against NBA defenses when he gets into the lane.

11. Lonnie Walker IV, SG — Miami 

Lonnie Walker probably did not have the productive freshman year that he hoped for. Nevertheless, Walker boasted his overall athletic package, picture-perfect shot mechanics and on-ball defensive prowess to make me feel confident in him as a prospect.

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Despite Walker’s underwhelming shooting percentages, it is hard to believe that he will not shoot the ball at a high level during his career, even if it is not immediately. He has beautiful and compact shooting mechanics that should translate to quality shooting.

Once Walker finds his footing on his jump shot, he will be able to attack close-outs, where is a strong driver that can finish above the rim. He will run into trouble making quick reads immediately in the NBA once he attacks a close-out. Walker will not have much equity outside of spot-up shooting and straight line drives to the hoop off close-outs.

Lonnie Walker has all the tools that you want out of a perimeter defender. He is just missing that constant motor and aggression to irritate the ball-handler. He moves his feet a lot quicker than he gets credit for and is going to be one of the better complementary scorers in the NBA one day — if he can consistently shoot the ball well and improve his ball-handling and decision-making.

Walker is not the type of player that is immediately ready for NBA minutes. He needs time to develop and whatever team selects him needs to patient. I have fallen hard for Walker’s potential combined with betting on him as a person based on all the positive publicity he has received from college coaches throughout the season.

12. Shai Gilegous-Alexander, PG/SG — Kentucky

Shai Gilegous-Alexander is my first Kentucky player on the big board, and he was probably one of the least likely Kentucky prospects to be a one-and-done player at the start of the season.

While Gilgeous-Alexander does not have blazing speed, he is able to make plays with the ball in his hands and consistently get into the lane. He has an exceptional handle and excels at both changing directions and changing speeds. Snaking his way into the lane, Gilgeous-Alexander has good passing vision and is able to make plays for others. He’s a solid finisher at the rim too. Gilgeous-Alexander moves pretty well without the ball, but will need to improve on how quickly he pulls up off the dribble and with his shooting off the catch.

He has exceptional height and length for his position, standing at 6’6″ with a seven-foot wingspan. This elite height helps Gilgeous-Alexander offensively, but gives him an added value defensively. Once he eventually gets stronger, he could have a good amount of positional versatility between the lead guard and wing positions. Gilgeous-Alexander likely will not make an immediate impact, but once his body and jump shot improve, he will be a unique two-way, playmaking combo guard that should be a valuable asset to any NBA team.

13. Collin Sexton, PG — Alabama 

Collin Sexton is flawed, but he still has a tremendous amount of value in my opinion and made the best out of a sticky situation on an Alabama team that did not have a consistent creator or scorer on offense other than him.

Sexton’s offensive prowess stems from his attitude. He is an in-your-face, energizing player and it shows with how relentlessly he attacks the rim. This will allow Sexton to shoot a tremendous number of free throws and he should only have more opportunities to attack in a faster-paced, spaced out game. Sexton normally likes to attack offensively with a phenomenal hesitation move.

However, I’d like to see him get a few counter moves in his dribbling package. Sexton’s jumper is very unorthodox and while I’m comfortable with him pulling up from mid-range, he needs to be much more consistent from the 3-point line.

Defensively, Sexton is extremely aggressive on ball and I do not think you should expect anything less from him. Off of the ball, Sexton shows that same tenacity when attempting to jump passing lanes. While he sometimes can get beat off the ball over-gambling, I’d rather have my young prospect constantly engaged even though he may gamble too often.

Sexton will likely play immediate minutes wherever he ends up. He likely will struggle in his rookie season, but give him time to develop and consistently get better because of his freakish mentality and drive to improve and good things will eventually happen. He should have a fringe starter role, but will have more value as an energizer off the bench.

14. Kevin Huerter, SG/SF — Maryland 

Kevin Huerter has been a prospect that I have been aware of for a long time. He appeared on my big boards many times throughout the beginning of the season, hovering around the 50-60 range. Huerter’s had a tremendous push from NBA franchises along with the draft community and I’m all in on it.

Huerter is the perfect complement to a high-usage scorer, which is what championship NBA teams usually have two or three of now. He is the best shooter in this class and it is not even close. Whether it is pulling up with a deadly step-back or just off the dribble, off the catch or off of movement, he may be one of the better NBA players in that area from day one.

Huerter adds major offensive value without needing the ball in his hands. My favorite underrated trait with Huerter though is just how well he makes reads running full speed off an off-ball screen. He has some creation value in that area with his lightning-quick decision-making and that is a very unique attribute for a prospect.

Huerter’s appeal does not really come on the defensive end of the floor. He’s a smart off-ball and team defender, but certainly will not excel on the ball. His exceptional 6’7″ height for his position will make it easier to really hide him against the opposing teams’ worst offensive player at positions 2-4.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft - Final edition

I’m all in on Kevin Huerter and think he has the ability to be one of the better complementary scorers in this draft. It’s time for the NBA to acquire a new and improved Red Rocket (still love you, Matt Bonner).