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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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ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 18: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) brings the ball up the court during a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines on February 18, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 18: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) brings the ball up the court during a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines on February 18, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. PF. KEITA BATES-DIOP. 147. Ohio State. 29. player

Height: 6’9”, Weight: 230, Age: 22
Statistics: 19.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 35.9% 3FG

Most mock drafts have been sending guards to Brooklyn for the 29th pick in the draft, but in this case, we have Keita Bates-Diop surprisingly dropping to the Nets for a steal at the power forward position.

The Brooklyn Nets will be overwhelmingly deep at the guard position this year with Spencer DinWiddie, D’Angelo Russell, Jeremy Lin, Allen Crabbe, Joe Harris, and Caris LeVert. The common sense pick up would be a side piece to go with their steal at the center position of last years draft, Jarrett Allen.

Allen ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the first round in 2017, being the best center to come out of the first round, while being the 22nd pick.

A possible starting lineup that comprised of, Dinwiddie/Lin, D’Angelo Russell, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Keita Bates-Diop, and Jarrett Allen has the potential to be a top-ten lineup in the East. Not to mention that surprisingly young bench and possible free agents they may acquire in the offseason, with some of the most open cap in the NBA.

Bates-Diop allows the Brooklyn Nets to be an even deeper 3-point shooting team, after finishing second in 3-point makes and attempts behind the Houston Rockets this season. Head Coach, Kenny Atkinson, has built a foundation of young, athletic, perimeter oriented specimens, that are desperately looking to end the cold streak in Brooklyn.

There is a high probability that Bates-Diop goes earlier in the draft to a team that needs a stretch-four, but we expect that Nets to get lucky here and grab him while that position is a hot commodity.