As the rest of the NBA world watched the Warriors vs. Cavaliers Round 4 – almost like an Avengers sequel we never asked for – the remaining 28 franchises were left to sit at home yet again, waiting for the NBA Draft.
As we finally get closer to the offseason, it’s important to point out the most exciting part of it, the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft. The draft will be later this week (Thursday, June 21st) and will most likely be more exciting than the entirety of the NBA regular season.
Not that the regular season didn’t have its moments. Also, the idea of repeating another NBA Finals isn’t a very attractive scenario to most of the leagues’ fans, so its a lose-lose.
Here at Dunking with Wolves, we mainly post about the Minnesota Timberwolves and their pressing news and rumors. Although, the NBA Draft gives all fans and writers a chance to have a voice and project who will get drafted to what team.
This mock draft will contain only the teams that currently have picks and who we believe will pick what player, not including any possible trade scenarios in the near future for moving up or down in the draft order. Although, with several trades happening every year, you can assume that there will most likely be some sort of mix up pertaining to the order in the future.
Disclaimer: Every Timberwolves’ fan knows how bad the Wolves are at drafting, we try and solve that here, but you really can’t be sure anymore.
Hope you enjoy, here’s the 30 projected picks of the first round.
Height: 6’2”, Weight: 185, Age: 23
Statistics: 17.3 PPG, 7.2 APG
Right away from this picture of Devonte’ Graham and his Head Coach for Kansas, you should be able to tell that this point guard actually cares about the game. Showing emotion seems to be a characteristic that a lot of the new NBA players seem to lack, luckily Graham doesn’t fall short in that category.
The Atlanta Hawks are in dire need of young depth on their team, but not prospects, there is a difference. Leaders that stay at their school until they graduate so they can win for their University is the exact type of player the Hawks are desperate for.
Not everyone can find a Malcolm Brogdon type player this late in the draft, but the Hawks would have that here with, Graham. This 6’2″ 185 pound guard has the ability to do it all on the court and leave no regrets as he leaves it.
What he lacks in intangibles and athleticism, Graham makes up for it by bringing experience that creates a winning foundation and culture around him. Unlike a certain point guard for the Atlanta Hawks that seems to just want out.
Dennis Schröder told a press conference in Germany that @Pacers (he has a good relationship with Victor Oladipo) and @Bucks would be teams he could imagine being traded to: pic.twitter.com/9d9QxBQ8Pj
— David Hein (@heinnews) May 14, 2018
Guard, Dennis Schroder felt compelled to name other teams that may have it all together, while the Hawks continue to rebuild their roster. It may be time for some new scenery for this guard, and for Devonte’ Graham to help build a new culture in Atlanta with Taurean Prince.
Time will tell, but the Atlanta Hawks have the ability to get this steal in the draft while still having the no. 19 and no. 3 pick.
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.
Height: 6’9″, Weight: 245, Age: 20
Statistics: 10.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 43.3% 3FG
This draft pick is a stretch for the Golden State Warriors and GM Bob Meyers, after they took a similar type player in Jordan Bell last year. By height and weight, Bell and Spellman look similar on paper, but they play completely different.
Although, the Warriors are always looking for the next type of player, and an athletic stretch-four prototype seems to be the hottest commodity at the moment.
While Bates-Diop screams production right now, the Warriors need some potential young prospects they can work with while their core four leads them to the playoffs for the coming seasons, Spellman epitomizes their needs.
Players like Patrick McCaw, Jordan Bell, Quinn Cook, and now Omari Spellman, could be the future bench of the historic Warriors. A young bench and four All-Star starters would automatically preserve Golden State’s legacy for years to come.
Not only does the acquisition of 20-year-old, Omari Spellman, make sense from a roster perspective; Spellman would only add to the winning culture of Golden State after coming from a National Title win as a Freshman big man.
With Spellman shooting a 43.3 3-point percentage, you can imagine the excitement from Golden State’s management and coaching staff for the potential death lineups that they could create.
While most mock drafts have this big man going in the second round, expect Golden State to do their digging into their picks, because they haven’t had many high ones over the past five years.
Height: 7’0″, Weight: 240, Age: 20
Statistics (High School): 25.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 6.0 BPG
The Boston Celtics surprised the league this year going to the Eastern Finals without both of their newly acquired All-Star’s. Having a chance to add to the amazing depth they already have is a godsend in itself.
If you’re the Boston Celtics, you know that Greg Monroe and Ayon Baynes aren’t going to cut it for the near future.. A young prospect like, Mitchell Robinson, would give the Celtics some more depth at the big man position.
Boston also has the ability to draft some young backcourt players next summer, with two projected lottery picks in the first round.
To get a guy who forgo’d high school that could’ve gone to any college of his choice, makes for an interesting pick at no. 27. Most mock drafts are picking guards to go to Boston due to the mystery surrounding the injuries of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. But, with the young backcourt that led Boston to the Eastern Finals, it’s obvious they need help elsewhere next season.
Mitchell Robinson is capable of having explosive plays around the rim, which would add another attribute to this already diverse basketball team. Robinson also brings a talent on the defensive end, averaging 6 blocks a game in a competitive high school district.
While most centers like Mitchell Robinson look like they are becoming expendable, it does add an interesting addition to an already great roster – therefore making the pick an obvious one. The only downside here would be an unfortunate Greg Oden situation, except there aren’t high expectations for a 27th pick.
Height: 6’5”, Weight: 200, Age: 20
Statistics: 13.0 PPG, 37% 3FG
Jacob Evans out of Cincinnati is the perfect rotation player for the Philadelphia 76ers, and while they may be able to snag Evans in the 2nd round, nothing is guaranteed.
This guard has every physical attribute that the sixers need off their bench, along with the fact that he would keep defenses at bay by using his size with Fultz off the bench. Evans also has the chance to learn from players like Robert Covington and J.J. Redick on what it means to be a true role player/leader off the bench or even in the starting lineup.
Even though Cincinnati had bigger hopes during March Madness, it was easy to tell how well Evans would fit on any team in the league. In a way, aside from the stetch-four position, a Jacob Evans type player is the future of the NBA.
A 6’5″ wing player that is suitable on defense and can knock down the three. And while most of his threes are from NBA range, he has a ridiculous quick catch and shoot release. If defenses catch on to his long range shots, he also presents difficulties by driving to the post and releasing beautiful floaters, as you can view below.
Ironically, Jacob Evans resembles a young Robert Covington, for better or worse. What this video shows in Evans’ game is that he lacks an ability to create separation, a lot like Covington, which makes him almost immediately a bench player on the 76ers – which is all they need.
Even though the Sixers have multiple picks, Jacob Evans needs to be a priority for them, especially with Redick’s deal being almost up and Marco Bellineli most likely not resigning.
Height: 6’5″, Weight: 200, Age: 22
Statistics: 15.5 PPG, 4.6 APG, 37.0% 3FG
Grayson Allen is obviously a highly debated player to choose in the first round for numerous reasons – mostly emotional. There isn’t a question of his athleticism, experience, basketball play, or even leadership.
In fact, if Allen was measured up by all of those characteristics he may be a lottery pick, but unfortunately his ‘on the court actions’ have led to major criticisms. Therefore, the perfect place for a player like Grayson Allen to be appreciated would be the Los Angeles Lakers, where drama is turned into fame.
Allen would work perfectly in their young rotation and would help this deep squad of potential grow even more. A small-ball lineup of Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, and Grayson Allen would make any NBA fan excited for a new type of showtime Lakers. Not only the young guys, but the Lakers have been in rumors for numerous free agents this summer – like Paul George and LeBron James.
The Lakers obviously need some type of leader that isn’t always making jokes on SnapChat, or has his Dad do most of the talking for him. Grayson Allen comes from a winning tradition at Duke and has some of the hottest fire we’ve seen in a player in a long time – for better or worse. Allen screams the type of potential Magic Johnson would want for his roster and would be an exciting fit.
Allen can be seen here in this video working out for the Lakers this past week, while the majority of the starting lineup witnesses his consistency. Allen has an insane work ethic and showed the Lakers through his play on this day, although it wasn’t against a defense, it was still impressive to watch the stamina and relentlessness in Allen.
With all the drama that surround the name, Grayson Allen, expect him to fall to the Lakers and for them to get one of the biggest steals in any draft over the past several years.
Height: 6’7″, Weight: 210, Age: 18
Stats: 11.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG
With a near 7-foot wingspan, Troy Brown can pretty much play the 1 through the 3 at an efficient level. Brown is an 18-year-old prospect with a ton of upside for the near future as a rotation player.
His film does have hints of a Donovan Mitchell type wing player, which is a favorable comparison. This would also be a steal for Portland, who really just needs a versatile player to come off the bench to help on both ends of the floor, and Troy Brown would fill that roll.
Brown made some pretty big moves at Oregon but will most likely be overlooked due to their lack of success in March Madness and his low stats. Although Brown’s film may look like Donovan Mitchell, the obvious comparison here would be Tennessee’s Josh Richardson.
Richardson was a swing man with a large wingspan who had similar stats and was called ‘average’ on both sides of the ball by many scouts, falling to the Miami Heat in the second round. Now Richardson makes over $10 million a year and is questionably the Miami Heat’s best player with Goran Dragic.
This highlight tape shows the amount of diversity this sleeper has on both sides of the court. Ironically, the only thing holding Brown out of the top-14 picks (lottery) is the age of Brown – which makes no sense with the direction the NBA is heading to.
If you can, take the time to YouTube some of Josh Richardson’s highlight tapes at Tennessee, and you would find an alarming comparison between the two wings.
This is my favorite steal of the draft thus far, don’t be surprised if a lottery team steps up to the plate and takes Brown – he’s an all around guy.
Height: 6’9″, Weight: 190, Age: 18
Statistics: 12.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 47.6% FG
Dzanan Musa is a really intruging pick at no. 23 for the Indiana Pacers. Playing with KK Cedevita against European talent has been Musa’s life over the past few years – and easily the best international prospect next to Luka Doncic.
His height at the shooting guard or small forward position will create problems for opposing defenders, and it’s possible he’s still growing. Size won’t be the problem for this offensive star though, it’ll be the weight issue and his struggle to keep up against NBA defenders.
Musa played extremely well in Europe, so maybe we can cut him some slack here. The ceiling for the type of player Musa could turn into would be a – breathe for me – Kevin Durant type player. Musa has the talent and size to outsize his opponents, but most likely he’ll turn out to play like a Bojan Bodganovic type, which isn’t bad at all.
Before you go to the comment section and complain that I compared Dzanan Musa to a Kevin Durant type player, go ahead and watch this film of Musa at 18 years old and then watch Durant or Paul George, eerily similar.
The Pacers offense needs a guy to come off the bench while Oladipo is resting, and this could be a great way to start building that bench, Musa is a must pick for Indy. Musa could go earlier, possibly around 18-22, but hopefully he can fall enough to this franchise.
Could this be the international surprise of the decade?
Height: 6’7″, Weight: 200, Age: 22
Statistics: 20.0 PG, 7.7 RPG, 3.5 APG
Chandler Hutchison is a 22-year-old prototypical small forward who has incredible intangibles. He is already 22 years of age so therefore it might drop his spots, possibly even out of the first round (insanely enough).
But after Hutchison worked out once with the Chicago Bulls, he cancelled all of his later combines for other franchises – meaning we may see this guy coming off the Bulls bench this fall.
Chicago already has the 7th pick in the draft and is projected to take a guy with a similar size to Hutch, but two wings that can play pretty well on both sides of the ball may be the best thing for the Bulls. After trading Jimmy Butler and acquiring three young assets (Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and Lauri Markkanen), the Bulls just want to add more potential to their already young roster.
Hutch averaged exactly 20 points per game, and even if Boise State’s competition wasn’t the ‘best’, it’s still a quietly impressive 20 points a game. Hutchison even showed signs of being able to be a playmaker in the full-court, which is surprising for a wing of his size – although it could do with his experience.
From this scouting video, it’s obvious that Hutchison has deceptive speed and can even play off the ball – if you play him to tight he’ll drive you to the basket and embarrass you near the basket. A lot like Zach LaVine, Hutch may overwork himself on the offensive end, which is something the Bulls may have to watch out for.
Overall, Hutch has an obvious comparison to a Jabari Parker type player, which would be more than a surprise for the Chicago Bulls.
Height: 6’1″, Weight: 185, Age: 21
Stats: 20.3 PPG, 5.8 APG, 42.9% 3FG
Aaron Holiday is a steal in the 2018 NBA Draft. Barely measuring in at 6’1″, Holiday scared a lot of scouts at his combines where he didn’t impress due to a lack of size.
With players like Trae Young getting a lot of flack for their physical intangibles, or lack-thereof, Aaron Holiday may fall in that category. I believe he is a top-ten pick in the draft, but ultimately is being overlooked by far too many.
Not only was Holiday a great play maker for UCLA, but also one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, shooting close to 43 percent from the arc. The Utah Jazz would have to use Holiday off the bench and they’ll definitely need the firing power without having Rodney Hood come off and help next season.
With Holiday and Dante Exum playing the back court off the bench for the Jazz, you can expect a lot of fun lineups in the future.
Aaron Holiday can be seen here playing as a Damian Lillard type point guard for the Bruins, coming off screens and shooting deep-3’s and pulling up from 30 feet. Not only the shooting ability, Holiday seems to have the IQ of a Goran Dragic type player, being able to take defenders to the basket and give them thousands of fakes.
At the end of the day, you’re getting an experienced competitor that has a ton of upside in Aaron Holiday, who also has family in the NBA – so he gets how the league works. This guy is another steal in the draft.
Height: 6’4″, Weight: 200, Age: 21
Statistics: 13.4 PPG, 3.5 APG, 40.1% 3FG
You may remember Donte’s inferno from the Championship game, but this guy blew up all over social media and into every GM’s phone. Donte DiVincenzo may have one of the more polarizing names in the whole draft and still might fall out of the first round.
Knowing the Timberwolves, they’ll probably take the chance on Donte and have faith that he’ll be the player he showed he can be in the championship game – which is essentially Dwyane Wade. The Wolves will probably get more of a Allen Crabbe type guy, but why not take the chance? Much like the Jazz did with Donovan Mitchell last year.
Besides his infamous Villanova game, Donte had a pretty good year at the shooting guard position. Proving he can play off the ball seemed flawless, and the fact he showed the potential of being a play maker in March Madness is possibly his best characteristic down the road.
The Timberwolves just found out from Jamal Crawford that he’s going to decline his player option, meaning that the Wolves will need a shooter off the bench. Not only that, Derrick Rose isn’t a lock in for the near future either, so having a guard that has as much potential as Donte, makes the most sense.
What surprised a lot of scouts here is that DiVincenzo had the ability to pick pocket any player of his choosing, which wasn’t something he showed during his last season with Villanova. If DiVincenzo can somehow produce anything close to his last two outings (championship and draft combine), then he’ll be a sure fire first round choice.
Hopefully the Timberwolves take the leap here.
Height: 6’4″, Weight: 210, Age: 19
Statistics: 18.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 38% 3FG
There seems to be a trend in this draft of a TON of 6’4″ shooters and 6’8″ wings that can do all of the above, nothing is different here with Josh Okogie.
What separates Okogie from our past few guards is his age – with just turning 19-years-old there is technically room for improvement. The Hawks also have the 3rd pick in the draft, which will most likely be a big man, so a shooter here makes the most sense.
Okogie was one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, a lot like Aaron Holiday, he has been able to pull up from anywhere on the court. Also, as a spot-up shooter, Okogie is unmatched in his draft – shooting 44 percent from his corner 3’s.
Although, at no. 19, Okogie could be a stetch – but his ability to knock it down from anywhere on the court will give Atlanta what they have been missing for a long time. Another big help from Okogie is his ability to play full court offense at times, rebounding at a high level for a guard and pushing up the tempo – which should be along the lines of Dennis Schroeders play.
In fact, with Atlanta lack of talent on their roster, Okogie could start right away with the Hawks.
Funny enough, Josh Okogie looks a lot like a Marco Bellineli type player – which isn’t someone that Atlanta would be mad about having back on a rookie contract.
The potential is here for Okogie, he just has to hope that a team will pull the trigger – hopefully the Atlanta Hawks will be the ones for this offensive stud.
Height: 6’7″ | Weight: 195 | Age: 19
Statistics: 14.8 PPG, 3.4 APG, 41.7% 3FG
With Manu Ginobili coming to and an to his amazing career and Kawhi Leonard literally not caring about anyone who lives in San Antonio anymore, the Spurs are desperate for a wing they can rely on. Rudy Gay isn’t going to cut it, so Kevin Huerter from Maryland will be the first option for the Spurs.
Gregg Popovich loves his wings that can shoot 3’s, play consistent defense, and most of all play with hustle. And for everything that Huerter is not, he definitely excels in those three categories and would love Pop’s system.
Although Huerter is young and doesn’t show much room for an All-Star ceiling, can still be a Nicholas Batum type player in the near future – at most. If the Spurs can keep Danny Green and Manu Ginobili in the locker room this summer, they would be a huge help for Kevin as he enters a really crazy situation in San Antonio.
The Spurs are trying to start a new dynasty now that their big three are leaving forever. Dejounte Murrary and Kevin Huerter could help Pop get over his old big three and Kawhi.
Huerter shows his insane basketball IQ, rolling around screens and picks like he was born to do it. His athleticism doesn’t jump off the page, but his ability to be a play maker definitely differentiates himself from the rest of the wings.
Can Pop help make up for his lack of guards and wings going into the 2018-19 season? Or will he choose to forgo Huerter and hope that Kawhi stays, time will tell.
Height: 6’4″, Weight: 190, Age: 21
Stats: 20.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, 40.9% 3FG
Jerome Robinson screams talent that mirrors Malcom Brogdon, can the Milwaukee Bucks make another great choice at the guard position?
Robinson showed his leadership at Boston College and played through the ball, shooting close to 41 percent from three, averaging close to 21 points per game. Those stats alone would jump off the page, but not for Robinson – who seems to be under everyone’s radar. This is where the Bucks front office comes in and makes their steal draft choice.
The obvious question here is if the Bucks even need another guard? They might be losing Jabari Parker, so any scoring depth helps right now. Also, Malcom Brogdon was hurt for the majority of last season, almost stopping the Bucks from making the playoffs. Making Robinson an obvious choice at the 17th pick.
Jerome Robinson has flashes of Avery Bradley and Jeremy Lamb, both athletic guards who can play efficiently on both sides of the ball. Another guard to handle the ball and play defense, helps the Bucks take some stress off The Greek Freak and on to some other guards like Malcom.
If the Bucks don’t make this choice, there will be a lucky team to choose Robinson with one of their later picks. If the Bucks decide to go bland with his pick, expect them to have a lot of picks in the teens over the next few years.
Height: 6’4″, Weight: 195, Age: 19
Statistics: 11.5 PPG, 41.5% FG
Lonnie Walker IV is one of the biggest fan favorite players in this draft, although falling to the 16th pick isn’t exactly out of the question. The Phoenix Suns would be extremely lucky to grab Walker IV this late in the draft, but due to not many of the lottery teams needing guards, Lonnie can get here.
The Suns have had serious guard issues since letting go of Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas, and Eric Bledsoe, can this guy be the answer? That’s ultimately up to the Suns front office, but with the Suns being linked with taking Ayton or Doncic with the 1st pick in the draft – any player will help add depth at 16.
Walker IV has the potential to be a Mike Conley type player, and that is saying a lot from a guy who didn’t do much offensively this year. His flashes of an All-Star point guard are enough for any team to be intrigued, but due to his low stats, he may just fall to the Suns here.
Walker IV from this video seems like anything is possible when he has the ball in his hands, especially in the full court. His defense is predicated on his athleticism, which is enough to get him by in college, but in the pros his consistency may just be enough to grab a starting spot.
This seems like a great player to pair up with Devin Booker in the back court, and if you’re the Suns, you hope that both players can help build each other. Especially if the Suns take Ayton or Doncic with the no. 1 pick – they both seem to be guaranteed All-Star talents.
Height: 6’9″, Weight: 240, Age: 20
Statistics: 10.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.6 BPG
The Washington Wizards centers suck. I’ll say it again in case you missed it, the centers for Washington are really, really, really bad. Unfortunately for the Wizards, the centers out of the top five players are also not great.
The best big man available will be Robert Williams, who is still a stretch at the 15th pick, but its worth it. Williams almost averaged a double-double in college and close to 3 blocks a game – and for Texas A&M, those are great feats against good competition.
The problem for Williams is his lack of size, which many NBA scouts believe will hurt his production in the NBA. But if you’re the Wizards, any big man with some strength will help at this point, especially on a rookie contract.
There are signs of a brute David West in Williams and also a bit of Thaddeus Young – neither of those players are comps but Williams doesn’t have a clear comp in the league right now.
It’s not that Robert Williams doesn’t have the potential to be a good starting big man in the NBA, but as of right now, there are better options with the type of big men in 2018 basketball.
Bam Adebayo can probably be comped to Robert Williams – which is funny because this is where the Miami Heat took him in the 2017 draft. If Williams can continue to be a freak athlete above the rim, there will be a place for him to come off the bench for the Wizards and sell some tickets.
Disclaimer: If Robert Williams becomes Deandre Jordan, then this whole slide becomes void – hopefully forever.
Height: 6’3”, Weight: 200, Age: 18
Statistics: 11.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 55.6% FG
The Denver Nuggets are known for not knowing what to do with Gary Harris and Jamal Murray, hopefully grabbing another guard that essentially does the same thing as them can make this even more confusing.
The real reason the Nuggets need Smith is that Will Barton is finally leaving for better horizons, as well as Wilson Chandler, so the Denver bench needs immediate help this season.
Zhaire Smith will most likely be placed as a point guard that will play off the ball on an offense that lets every share the rock – which is perfect for his type of play. Nikola Jokic demands a fluid offense and that is pretty much what Texas Tech runs with Smith at the helm.
From this video, you can see that Smith possesses insane athleticism which mirrors a lot of Will Barton – but what separates Smith from a lot of athletic guards is his ability to show off on both sides of the court.
There is a Zach LaVine somewhere in Zhaire Smith, and hopefully the Denver Nuggets can pull that out of him, maybe even creating a better player. If not, just being a big help off the bench on a rookie contract would help most teams around the Nuggets spot, but especially Denver as they hope to get to the playoffs for good over the next few seasons.
Time will tell.
Height: 6’7″, Weight: 225, Age: 20
Statistics: 17.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 36.4% 3FG
The Los Angeles Clippers need new faces around Cali, and Miles Bridges is a good first step. Deandre Jordan is most likely out of LA this summer and now they’ll need a new face of the franchise.
Luckily, they can take a chance on a guy like Miles Bridges being a stud right away in the league – a lot like Aaron Gordon or Jabari Parker. Bridges proved a lot of scouts wrong at Michigan State who said that he couldn’t produce on a consistent level, and not only did he impress in that perspective, but he gained a 3-point shot.
Bridges will get to go to LA and learn from hustlers and gamers like Patrick Bevelry, Austin Rivers, and Tobias Harris. And no matter what you think of those guys, one thing is for certain, they can groom competitors.
Bridges and his 7’0″ wingspan will surprise a lot of LA fans that miss Blake Griffin, you may get something close here.
Luckily, the Clippers have two picks in a row, who’s next?
Height: 6’1”, Weight: 185, Age: 19
Statistics: 19.2 PPG, 3.6 APG
Sexton is a conglomerate of current point guards in the league, and is a great mix of all of them. What’s holding Sexton back is possibly the lack of winning Alabama had going into March Madness, which isn’t a lot to say about his character or potential of being an All-Star in this league.
Sexton averaged good all-around numbers and could be seen picking his teammates up throughout the entirety of last season. Which is a big help for the Los Angeles Clippers who just need a leader at this point, hopefully Doc Rivers can groom another Rajon Rondo here.
Regardless, Bridges and Sexton would be an amazing duo to start a new team with for the Clippers.
This guy acts like the better version of Patrick Beverley, I guess he can find out for sure in Los Angeles.
Height: 6’10”, Weight: 215, Age: 18
Statistics: 15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 34.1% 3FG
Kevin Knox is a freak of nature, and he knows it. Keeping him out of the top ten with his potential just shows the lack of faith I have in these bottom tier team picking over the next ten spots.
At only the age of 18, Knox was close to leading North Carolina to a historic March Madness and showed everyone his ability to do everything on the court – mostly due to his athletic ability. His 6’9″ frame and 7’0″ wing span will easily impress all over the league, especially in Charlotte is just looking for their next big time player (that isn’t named Kemba Walker, I guess).
Nicholas Batum is on an asinine contract, Marvin Williams barely plays basketball, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the non-shooting Ben Simmons before Ben Simmons. Kevin Knox solves all of those problems for the Hornets and if he has a great season it could help keep Kemba Walker of Dwight Howard in the near future.
Knox seems to mirror his play off Carmelo Anthony or Paul George, while also having the ability to play extremely great help defense under the basket. Also, Knox seems to know his opponents ability when playing on defense and never takes too much of a chance, which again makes guys like Paul George a ‘great’ defender.
Can the Hornets make the first great pick in over five years?
Height: 6’6″, Weight: 180, Age: 19
Statistics: 14.4 PPG, 5.1 APG, 1.6 SPG
After paying Robert covington and findnig out Ben Simmons won’t ever take an outside shot, the 76ers need a new project at the forward position that shows potential.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fills that void and it will be a lot of fun for this team to work on something that isn’t named Colangelo … too soon? Shout out Philly.
Not only can Shai play incredible defense by using his length and IQ, but as you can see above, he’s a knock down threat from the arc – shooting 40 percent from three. Much like our past wings, his length presents his opponents with an issue, but specifically here we have one of the best pick pocketers in the country.
All of these young wings can be taught a lot about basketball once being drafted, but you can’t teach passion, which is something this guy doesn’t lack. As a 76ers fan, you probably feel your roster has it all figured out, but this is definitely a plus.
Height: 6’7″, Weight: 210, Age: 21
Statistics: 17.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 43.5% 3FG
New York doesn’t want to admit it, but they miss Carmelo Anthony. We may have a close substitute for you and Kristaps porzingis to have some help in the near future.
Mikal Bridges is a Villanova hero looking for a home, New York could be the place. The Knicks were looking pretty good until Prozingis got hurt last season, and Michael Beasley will be a free agent, therefore Batman is looking for his robin, Bridges may be able to help.
A lot like Kevin Knox, Bridges shows his ability to play anywhere on the court and his ability to pull up from three better than anyone his size in this draft – making him the ideal 2018 piece to any NBA roster. Being a great player is one thing, but being a great player under the greatest of circumstances is another, and hopefully it separates Bridges from the rest so the Knicks can be happy.
Bridges has a highlight tape that almost mirrors Brandon Ingram’s from years back, and I think the Knicks would love an emotional Brandon Ingram – I also think the Lakers would love an emotional Ingram (zinger).
Overall, I would take Bridges with a top-five pick, so this one is obvious.
Height: 6’10”, Weight: 215, Age: 19
Statistics: 10.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 33% FG
Even though Ben Simmons could get away with not playing much at all any still being drafted as the 1st pick, that was solely because everyone saw the stardom in him.
Michael Porter Jr. (MPJ) is a questionable star, at best. He has the confidence, but really no one can tell if he’s a future All-Star or a glorified big man that is essentially Marvin Williams.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have to hope for the ladder and take MPJ with the 8th pick, hoping to convince LeBron they are planning for the future. This 19-year-old may be many things, but I can guarantee he won’t change LBJ’s mind, so Porter might be the future of Cleveland.
Porter Jr. literally looks like a Paul George/Kevin Durant hybrid, so maybe the Cavaliers should take a chance. Where Porter thrives is on the defensive end, he shows up all of his opponents, but seems to struggle where to take a shot on offense.
His body has grown over a rapid pace over the past two years so his offensive game has become a bit awkward, so expect the Cavaliers to hone in and helping him with that.
Overall, the Cavaliers are hoping to get another LeBron James with Michael Porter Jr., so who knows?
Well, everyone knows the answer to that one – except maybe Michael Porter Jr.
Height: 6’10”, Weight: 250, Age: 19
Statistics: 13.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 BPG
The Bulls may have my new favorite starting lineup with this pick. Consisting of Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, Wendell Carter Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and Bobby Portis, that lineup makes my NBA League Pass tingle.
This 19-year-old screams Blake Griffin potential, but with no injury concerns (mainly having to do with his young age). With his height and weight, Carter Jr. could even slide over to the center position , if need be.
In this case, we get a guy like Blake Griffin who can shoot spot-up 3’s with ease, something Griffin has been trying to do for years.
Not that this is fair, but Carter Jr. even has signs of a ceiling Antetounkoumpo type player – which would be insane on this Bulls roster when Markkanen looks like he may be the next Dirk Nowitizki.
What he lacks is his timing as a defender, it seems like he needs a good defensive coach to help him decide when to make certain jumps under the basket – mostly not to foul others too quickly or give up any easy baskets.
Overall, the Chicago Bulls just need life, and if Wendell Carter Jr. is anything, he is life for an organization.
Height: 6’11”, Weight: 235, Age: 18
Statistics: 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.0 BPG
Jaren Jackson Jr. is like the Michael Porter Jr. we all thought we were going to get. Jackson Jr. has exemplified what it means to be a workhorse. And if one team deserves a workhorse to help other players grow, it’s the Orlando Magic.
The question is, can you play Jonathon Issac, Aaron Gordon, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all at the same time? I don’t know, but if anyone can figure that out, it’s a losing franchise such as Orlando. A lot like Wendell Carter Jr., this guy has tendencies to run all up and down the court with ease and have the ability to read the court for several plays on the offense.
Something the Magic don’t have out of any of their guards, nonetheless a 7’0″ stud.
What were starting to see out of a lot of these wings/big men in this draft is that every guy is built like Kawhi Leonard and tries to go hard on both sides of the court.
In this case, I believe the comp is a larger Kawhi Leonard, which is like a video game.
This is an obvious pick for the Orlando Magic, especially if they decide not to spend the cap space on Aaron Gordon – even though they should considering no one wants to play for the Magic. Jackson Jr. is projected to be the 3rd overall pick, and having him on here as the 6th pick isn’t a shot at him, it’s more so a shot at the future teams.
Height: 7’0″, Weight: 225, Age: 19
Statistics: 12.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.7 BPG
Despite having one of the best-selling rap songs named after him, Mo Bamba will look to surprise the league with being the biggest upset not taking as the number one pick.
A lot like the surprise of Jayson Tatum being the best player out of the top five picks of last years draft, we may see that with Bamba not being taken with the 1st pick. Bamba averaged close to 13 points per game, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks, and that’s an insane stat line for a Texas big man.
Can Mo Bamba be the best Texas player since Kevin Durant?
While most of Bamba’s stats come from underneath the basket, you can’t leave this guy open – as he’ll knock down a three in your face. Not only that, he has a turn around move that is eerily similar to Joel Embiid.
What Bamba fails in, is his indecision from the perimeter, often times he takes too long to decide if he should shoot or drive on his defender, therefore creating a lane for the defender to steal the ball from him.
What Bamba lacks in his basketball IQ, he makes up for it with is inhuman strength and athleticism. The Dallas Mavericks will finally get the center they’ve been asking for and the center they hoped for with Nerlens Noel. Bamba is possibly my favorite player in the draft, just from a perspective, so I hope Dallas can pair him up with Dirk and Dennis Smith Jr. for my enjoyment this year.
Mark Cuban may finally have done it.
Height: 6’11”, Weight: 235, Age: 19
Statistics: 21.2 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 61.4% FG
You know what will solve coaching problems, player issues, and furious fans?
Marvin Bagley III.
This player is an automatic superstar in the league, no matter where he ends up. Memphis is probably on the bottom of his list, but he’ll have to deal with it. With his size and athleticism, Bagley III will show Memphis a player they’ve never seen put on a Grizzlies uniform before.
Not only is Bagley a unicorn, but he can essentially take Marc Gasol out of his job if need be. Bagley was able to switch between almost every position on Duke, while coach K sat back and enjoyed the view.
Probably the closest player to Kristaps Porzingis in this draft, this is a way too simple pick. Bagley could even be argued for the 1st pick in the draft, which really wouldn’t be unprecedented considering how close the talent is in the top ten.
At the end of the day, you can probably expect the Grizzlies to mess this one up, but I’m hoping they can snag Bagley for years to come. This might be a player we look back at and think, how the heck did we not think of him for the first pick?
Height: 6’1”, Weight: 180, Age: 19
Statistics: 27.4 PPG, 8.8 APG, 36.1% 3FG
Trae Young is a 19-year-old averaging close to 30 points a game and is projected to be the 8th pick in the draft. I think we’ve all learned from the Stephen Curry mistake of the past, but maybe not?
In this case, I have the Atlanta Hawks not taking a chance on missing out from a future Steph. Although, I don’t agree with the Stephen Curry comp, I see Trae Young as a more Kemba Walker type player. Which I think all of Atlanta would be happy with, maybe not forgoing with a lot of the incredible big men in this draft.
Atlanta does have two really great young assets in Taurean Prince and John Collins, but they still need to fill that guard spot with a talented prospect. And with most of their guards being out of a contract next season, Trae Young makes a lot of sense here, unless they want to trade down.
Remember, we also had the Hawks taking Devonte’ Graham at the guard position as well, so there is some more depth for Atlanta.
If you’ve watched college basketball, you’ve seen highlights of this sharp shooter. But, what they don’t show is the talks of Young not being appreciated by his teammates and how he doesn’t trust him.
I’m not sure how true that all is, but I do know that every team that passes on Trae Young will be nervous sleeping until the end of next season – thinking they made the Steph mistake.
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.
Height: 6’8″, Weight: 220, Age: 19
Statistics: 14.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.5 APG
I don’t know what it will take for NBA fans and media to take international players seriously (unless you’re Ben Simmons, I guess). I guess it will take a player like Doncic to change the game of basketball completely, which may be his mission.
Most NBA outlets are projecting Doncic as the 4th pick in the draft, and if you studied his tape, you’d realize you’re watching a highlight tape of a huge James Harden.
Essentially, a 6’8″ James Harden that can completely change the direction of any franchise that chooses to draft him – but we’ll act like him playing for Real Madrid somehow stunted his growth, typical NBA scouting.
If you can’t tell if Doncic is a future star or not, please go and watch a game of his online against grown adults in the second hardest basketball league in the world. ESPN making Doncic the 4th pick in the 2018 draft is just disrespectful, you can tell that from just looking at his scouting report above.
Doncic’s offensive prowess is obvious, but his defensive abilities are lacking which the NBA will catch him up really quickly, so I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Although, the Phoenix Suns could be one of the worst teams to choose for him – mainly because he can’t learn from any defensive experts on the team except maybe Tyson Chandler or Josh Jackson.
Essentially you’ll have a future star like Devin Booker shooting buckets with Luka Doncic, so this pick is a no brainer.
This future All-Star is going to have a bright future no matter where he goes, but it would be fun to see a back court of Booker and Doncic, taking turns of 40 point games (with some losses to go along with it).