It is officially draft week for the NBA and with that teams will be slimming down their draft targets as we inch closer to the 2018 NBA Draft. This season was filled with many teams shamelessly tanking their way to get the best odds but it was the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings that came out the biggest winners scoring the first two picks.
The Lakers do not own their first round pick as it was sent to Philadelphia, officially ending the Steve Nash trade ramifications. However, they were able to trade for a first-round pick at the trade deadline and they will select 25th.
Take a look at our latest mock draft.
*These picks will be what I would do as each team, not necessarily what I think will happen on draft night.
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Phoenix Suns – Luka Doncic, G, Real Madrid
In my eyes, the prospect rankings go Doncic at the top, then a noticeable gap, then the rest of the field. The Suns are likely to select Arizona big man DeAndre Ayton here but Doncic is a do-it-all point forward who will thrive in the modern NBA.
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Sacramento Kings – Marvin Bagley III, F, Duke
Bagley had a chance to end up as the best player in the draft and he was phenomenal in his lone year at Duke. The Kings get a bona fide blue chip prospect to build around.
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Atlanta Hawks – Jaren Jackson, Jr., F, Michigan State
Jaren Jackson Jr. has the prototypical size and skills of a modern NBA big man. At 6-10 with length, mobility, and great defensive instincts he has all the tools to be a terrific player in the league.
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Memphis Grizzlies – DeAndre Ayton, C, Arizona
Ayton is likely going to be off the board by this point but I genuinely like the other three prospects a little more than him. However, in this scenario, Memphis gets a gifted big who can put the ball in the hoop in a myriad of ways and be the face of their future.
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Dallas Mavericks – Mo Bamba, C, Texas
The Mavericks get their center of the future that Mark Cuban won’t have to drive around Dallas frantically trying to get a hold of.
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Orlando Magic – Trae Young, G, Oklahoma
Young was arguably the best player in the country last year and the Magic need a piece to pair with Aaron Gordon.
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Chicago Bulls – Wendell Carter, Jr., C, Duke
The Bulls landed a good young piece at this spot last year in Lauri Markkanen and this year they get another big who should be able to play alongside him.
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Cleveland Cavaliers – Collin Sexton, G, Alabama
The Cavaliers second post-LeBron era will again start with a freshman guard. Hopefully, for them, it turns out as good as the last time…before he demanded a trade, that is.
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New York Knick – Michael Porter, Jr., F, Missouri
The Knicks will likely be without Kristaps Porzingis for most of the year so Michael Porter, Jr. will have an opportunity to be the guy early on. If both Porter, Jr. and Porzingis can remain healthy they have as high of a ceiling as any young big tandem.
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Philadelphia 76ers – Mikal Bridges, F, Villanova
The Sixers will be able to add to their already talented young core with a perfect 3-and-D wing in Bridges.
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Charlotte Hornets – Zhaire Smith, G, Texas Tech
Smith is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. He is rather raw on both ends but showed flashes of unlimited potential and elite athleticism as a freshman at Texas Tech.
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LA Clippers – Lonnie Walker IV, G, Miami
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LA Clippers – Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State
The Clippers will be able to land two talented young players this year if they don’t use these picks to move up. In this scenario, getting Walker and Bridges give LAC a pair of players who should be able to impact the game right away as the team doesn’t want to fully rebuild.
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Denver Nuggets – Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky
I’m not a huge fan of Knox and I’m not a huge fan of the Nuggets, so it’s a match made in heaven.
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Washington Wizards – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Kentucky
SGA is one of the best guards in the draft and showed a little bit of everything in his freshman year at Kentucky. With the ability to rebound well due to his size, create for others, and get his own shot, the Wizards get a steal here.
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Phoenix Suns – Robert Williams, F, Texas A&M
Williams had two strong seasons at Texas A&M while showing the ability to rebound, stretch the floor vertically, and block shots.
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Milwaukee Bucks – Khyri Thomas, G, Creighton
The Buck add more length to their team in Thomas who stands only 6-3 but has a 6-11 wingspan and can knock down the three as he shot 41.1% last season.
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San Antonio Spurs – Dzanan Musa, F, Cedevita
Would it really be draft night if the Spurs didn’t walk away with an international prospect?
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Atlanta Hawks – Aaron Holiday, G, UCLA
Holiday is a capable scorer and creator that should be able to use his length to become an effective defender at the next level.
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Minnesota Timberwolves – Elie Okobo, G, Pau-Orthez
The Timberwolves should do everything in their power to not bring Derrick Rose back next year, so finding a young replacement guard with high upside in Okobo just makes that easier.
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Utah Jazz – Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State
My completely unbiased favorite prospect in the draft, KBD projects to be the perfect 3-and-D forward at the next level. With a 6-7 frame and 7-3 wingspan, he can probably play some small ball center in time. KBD’s defensive instincts are terrific and he has a great feel for the game offensively as a three level scorer.
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Chicago Bulls – Kevin Huerter, G, Maryland
Huerter is a lethal shooter from deep with some solid pick-and-roll chops that could eventually be an impact defender.
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Indiana Pacers – Chandler Hutchison, F, Boise State
Hutchison has a great polish to his offensive game and with plenty of college experience under his belt, he should be able to contribute right away for Indiana.
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Portland Trail Blazers – Jacob Evans, G, Cincinnati
At Cincinnati, Evans was the coordinator of one of the best defenses in college basketball and can score without a high usage rate, he’d help Portland immediately.
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Los Angeles Lakers – Josh Okogie, G, Georgia Tech
The Lakers add another versatile player who can utilize his length (6-4 w/ 7-0 wingspan) to give opposing guards fits. In his two seasons at Georgia Tech, Okogie also shot 38 percent from deep on about three attempts per game which helps.
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Philadelphia 76ers – De’Anthony Melton, G, USC
The Sixers get a player who can impact both sides of the ball. There are questions surrounding his outside shot but that hasn’t scared them away before.
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Boston Celtics – Donte DiVincenzo, G, Villanova
Look, the Celtics are either taking DiVencenzo or Grayson Allen, no doubt about it.
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Golden State Warriors – Jerome Robinson, G, Boston College
Robinson fits the mold of what the Warriors look for; he’s smart, versatile, unselfish, and has the ability to stretch the floor. As an older prospect, Robinson should be able to contribute right away for GSW.
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Brooklyn Nets – Hamidou Diallo, G, Kentucky
The Nets are still in asset collection mode and luckily for them, they own their first-round pick next year after 846372 years of not having it.
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Atlanta Hawks – Mitchell Robinson, C, N/A
Robinson did not play college basketball last year so he’s very raw. However, he possesses potential lottery pick talent on both ends.
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