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NBA Draft: The Complete and Final 2018 Mock Draft

By Trey Flynn

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 13: Luka Doncic, #7 guard of Real Madrid during the Liga Endesa game between Real Madrid and Kirolbet Baskonia at Wizink Center on June 13, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Sonia Canada/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 13: Luka Doncic, #7 guard of Real Madrid during the Liga Endesa game between Real Madrid and Kirolbet Baskonia at Wizink Center on June 13, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Sonia Canada/Getty Images) /
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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Deandre Ayton #13 of the Arizona Wildcats handles the ball in the first half against Ikenna Smart #34 of the Buffalo Bulls during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Deandre Ayton #13 of the Arizona Wildcats handles the ball in the first half against Ikenna Smart #34 of the Buffalo Bulls during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. C. Arizona. 2. Pick Analysis. Deandre Ayton. player. 84

Height: 7’0″, Weight: 260 pounds, Age: 19
Statistics: 20.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 1.9 BPG

Wait, wait, wait, why the heck is Deandre Ayton not the 1st overall pick?

Because Deandre Ayton is a top five player in this draft, but there is an obvious best player in this draft not named Deandre. Ayton has the potential to do everything Joel Embiid is accomplishing right now, just like Mo Bamba has, but Ayton is a lot more ready than any big man in this draft.

The Kings have a couple pretty good big men, but this choice would help their young team become a playoff contender, just like the Chicago Bulls with their choice of Wendell Carter Jr. – you can quote me on the playoff contenders.

You can name every characteristic of a great big man and Ayton has all of that times two, heck, times three.

Ayton pretty much plays bully ball for most of his scouting tape above, and that pretty much shows what he’ll be doing in the NBA – because literally only a few centers will be able to keep up with his intangibles and size.

Only Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert, Deandre Jordan, and maybe Clint Capela will be able to keep up with Ayton from day one in the league.

What separates Ayton from Bamba and most of the players around the draft, is that he has a guards touch around the rim, he has a certain roll lay-up that big men aren’t highlighted for.

Moreover, Ayton defends like a guard from the perimeter, and his help defense is out of this world. In actuality, you could talk yourself into drafting Ayton with the first pick – but he may not be worth the consequence of not choosing our next boy wonder.