2018 NBA Mock Draft: Full Two Rounds Version 1
Now that we have the draft order and knowing what college players are staying in the Draft, it’s time for a mock draft. Now, we still have some movement as trades will happen and picks will get swapped, so this is the first of the official mock drafts until that happens. As I’ve done the past two years with these it will be a combo of guessing, what I’m hearing and figuring out team needs. I also will continue to put out my top-30 big board, which is strictly just that – a big board. This will be the true mock draft.
1. Phoenix Suns – Deandre Ayton (Arizona)
This feels like a no-brainer. Ayton is the best prospect in this draft for me and gets to stay close to his college home. Ayton became the first player in 25 years to average at least 19.5 points, 11 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting more than 60 percent from the field. You hope the year with Tyson Chandler turns into a mentor session on the defensive side of the ball. However, he’s way too polished to pass up here
2. Sacramento Kings – Marvin Bagley (Duke)
It does feel weird to see the Kings not take a Kentucky big here as they seem to always end up with one, but the Kings need someone to anchor that frontcourt. Oh, now imagine him running that fastbreak and pick and roll with him and Fox? You have a bunch of speed and athleticism on the court. The question will be can he adapt defensively at the next level.
3. Atlanta Hawks – Jaren Jackson Jr. (Michigan State)
This is where it gets interesting for me. The Hawks are in a weird spot because of the development of John Collins. Taking someone like Doncic is possible here. You also have the Dennis Schroder situation happening and need to figure out their point guard spot. Instead I have them taking Jackson here who can step away and help stretch the floor with Collins playing in the post. You also add someone who can protect the rim here.
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4. Memphis Grizzlies – Luka Doncic (Slovenia)
The Grizzlies take Doncic here simply because they seem set on playing with Conley and Gasol going forward. That’s not to say they could take someone like Bamba here to provide some help alongside Gasol, but the Grizzlies need wing help. Right off the bat he’s able to step in and you have three guys to play around as Doncic can play on the wing with his size.
5. Dallas Mavericks – Mo Bamba (Texas)
It looks like Nerlens Noel will be out of Dallas after this year, opening up a spot up front for a player like Bamba. He’s going to provide the type of defense that many thought Noel would bring and you can use him in pick and rolls with Dennis Smith. He’ll have a year to play with Nowitzki as well filling out the front court. The Mavericks have had success with a defensive-minded big like Bamba in Tyson Chandler. The question will be how much his shot develops to stretch the floor too.
6. Orlando Magic – Trae Young (Oklahoma)
The Magic are desperate for someone who can create for himself. That’s what Trae Young can do and will be able to step in and contribute right away. I know people like to shit on Young, especially for how the late part of the season went, but with more space and better help around him, I like him a lot at the next level. It also gives the Magic someone they can market as Young does have that ability.
7. Chicago Bulls – Mikal Bridges (Villanova)
John Paxson talked about how the Bulls are looking for size and length at the wing spot. Well, that’s what Bridges brings here, plus he fits in really nice next to Lauri. You can play Bridges at the three with his ability to catch and shoot and guard multiple positions. He brings that versatility that everyone is looking for and with Dunn’s ability to drive and kick he now has two guys in Lauri and Bridges on the wing.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Brooklyn Nets) – Michael Porter Jr. (Missouri)
This actually may be worst case scenario for the Cavs. You hope that Porter or Sexton fall here if the Magic take Young at 5, but for the Cavs they are going to look for offense here. Porter is a 6’10” stretch player that can handle the ball, protect the rim a little bit and rebound well. If LeBron stays you can slide him there with LeBron and Love and you have three scorers out there now that can switch a bunch of screens.
9. New York Knicks – Collin Sexton (Alabama)
The decision here for the Knicks will be to take best player available in Sexton or fit with someone like Miles Bridges or Wendell Carter. I see them going with Sexton though and rolling out more lineups with Frankie Smokes off the ball and Sexton being the lead guard. You also have a solid starting point for a great defense – something that Fizdale wants to focus on with two defensive-minded guards.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Los Angeles Lakers) – Miles Bridges (Michigan State)
The Sixers would love for Mikal to go here, but instead end up with Miles Bridges. To me it’s just debating between Miles Bridges or Kevin Knox – because the Sixers need to go with a wing here. Bridges is someone who improved from the free throw line and his outside shot looks better after his sophomore year and can run with Simmons on the fastbreak. Here’s also that athletic wing that can defend someone like Jayson Tatum, which we saw they needed during the playoffs.
11. Charlotte Hornets – Kevin Knox (Kentucky)
A run of wings as the Hornets do need some help at the forward spot. Knox really came on strong where he started to run off screens more, getting into the motion of the offense and really found his shot. He became one of the two go-to guys for Kentucky as he scored over 15 per game. He developed a nasty floater on the baseline that he likes to use after one dribble and at 6’9″ has great size to get it over most defenders.
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12. Los Angeles Clippers (via Detroit Pistons) – Wendell Carter (Duke)
DeAndre Jordan is in the final year of his contract, which means the Clippers will be looking to take a big with one of these two picks. They get a bit of luck as Carter falls to 12 here and gives them one of the highest IQ guys in the draft at the big spot. Carter is someone who can pick and dive to the rim or pick and pop as he showed his ability to step out and shoot.
13. LA Clippers – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Kentucky)
Another spot that the Clippers could be looking at in this draft is a point guard. Here they get the best one on the board in Gilgeous-Alexander who comes in with great size at 6’6? and can guard multiple positions. He’s not unbelievably athletic or anything like that, but he does an excellent job of finding spots and attacking that way. During his run late in the year he started to show his ability to pull up off the dribble from three, adding that to his game. Pairing him with Carter gives you a pick and roll combo right off the bat.
14. Denver Nuggets – Lonnie Walker (Miami)
The Nuggets were one of the worst defensive teams in the league this year while also having a lack of wing depth. Here they get to address both problems as Walker should be a great defender at the next level. He can guard multiple positions and is starting to figure it out offensively, especially when he was one of the go-to options once Brown got hurt. At 6’4? with a 6’10” wingspan though he’s going to be enticing to most teams.
15. Washington Wizards – Troy Brown (Oregon)
The Wizards have a couple of options here as they could take a big to play next to Marcin Gortat or take a combo forward to help with the rotation on the wing/forward spot. I’m incredibly high on Troy Brown, someone who can step in and do a little bit of everything. If he can get more consistent with his outside shot he’ll be one of the best players in this draft.
16. Phoenix Suns (via Miami Heat) –Zhaire Smith (Texas Tech)
The Suns were the worst defensive team in the league this year and this pick address defensive needs. Smith is quickly climbing up draft charts and is one of the most athletic players in this class. He can step in and defend on the wing. You hope he develops a more consistent shot and provides some depth on the wing spot behind Booker and Jackson.
17. Milwaukee Bucks – Robert Williams (Texas A&M)
Now, hear me out. The Bucks have a type They like to draft guys that are longer and especially can protect the rim. Robert Williams is just that as he has a 7’5? wingspan and is an excellent shot blocker – blocker over 2 shots per game. He’s someone that can play at the four spot due to playing next to Tyler Davis at A&M, but is made to be a five at the NBA.
18. San Antonio Spurs – Khyri Thomas (Creighton)
The Spurs are known for being defensive minded. Here they get a guy in Thomas who can defend both guard spots while also providing a bit of offense. There will be a need for some wing rotation and Thomas is someone that can step in and fill in that spot. He’s upped his free throw shooting and points per game so far this year. With the game getting a bit ‘smaller’ Thomas is an intriguing prospect because of his wingspan and ability to play both on and off the ball.
19. Atlanta Hawks (via Minnesota Timberwolves) – Kevin Huerter (Maryland)
The fastest riser since the Combine is now a top-20 pick. Huerter is a 6’7″ wing that can shoot the hell out of the ball and is also an excellent passer. He’s also relatively young for his class, which is something the Hawks can look at here as they are in complete rebuild mode. The Hawks can add someone on the wing here as he’s versatile enough to play a couple of different positions there.
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20. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Oklahoma City Thunder) – Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State)
The Wolves need to add depth on the wing/forward spot and Bates-Diop has that and can play both at the four or three spot due to his length and ability to rebound. Bates-Diop is someone coming off a year shooting 36% from three, most of which he created for himself.
21. Utah Jazz – Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova)
DiVincenzo who has great size can come in and play both on or off the ball. Granted, he needs to work on his handle some and cut down on turnovers, he has the ability to spell guys at times at the point guard spot. The Jazz have done a good job of developing wings and players like Donte (see; Mitchell, Donovan) and it provides more offense at that spot.
22. Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans Pelicans) – Chandler Hutchison (Boise State)
The Bulls are notorious for taking an experienced college player and they get that here with Chandler Hutchison. He’s the first senior off the board as he can do a bit of everything – although he does need to get more consistent shooting the ball. With a lack of wings in the draft, the Bulls need to add depth here.
23. Indiana Pacers – Aaron Holiday (UCLA)
Pairing Aaron Holiday with Oladipo just makes sense on both sides of the ball. You immediately have a backcourt that can really defend the hell out of the ball and bother guards. Throw in Holiday’s ability to create and an excellent catch and shoot guy from three you can spread the floor with him as Oladipo drives.
24. Portland Trail Blazers – De’Anthony Melton (USC)
Adding in someone like Melton can help with the defensive side of the ball, especially at the guard spot. The Blazers are loaded with offensive guards in Lillard, McCollum and even Napier, but Melton can step in off the bench and be that defensive-minded guard. He’s someone that doesn’t need the ball to impact the game and can play alongside one of those two during the rotation.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (via Cleveland Cavs) – Mitchell Robinson (High School)
The Lakers can take a shot here with Robinson late in the first round. Robinson is someone that can protect the rim and is athletic enough to step in and run high ball screens with. The biggest thing is how he does during private workouts as he didn’t play this last season and skipped the Combine. But pairing him with Lonzo Ball gives you a young point-big combo to work with.
26. Philadelphia 76ers – Jacob Evans (Cincinnati)
The Sixers go with another wing here. Look, we saw what their weakness was during the playoffs and now you bring in two wings that are different types of players, but both can shoot and defend. Evans is someone who can come in and defend at an elite level thanks to his history at Cincinnati. He also shot 37% from three this past season and can be that 3-and-D catch and shoot type of guy playing off of Simmons, Fultz and Embiid.
27. Boston Celtics – Josh Okogie (Georgia Tech)
The Celtics will have to make decisions on the backcourt over the next two seasons, so they are going to go with a guard here. Okogie is a guy who can play both positions in the backcourt and brings that versatility that the Celtics love. Okogie had a real strong combine and at 6’4″ had good size to play within the Celtics system.
28. Golden State Warriors – Jalen Brunson (Villanova)
The Warriors take another guy that is used to playing this sort of system. Spread teams out, switch everything and be incredibly smart on the floor, that would be Brunson. Brunson has a past of playing with another lead guard like he did with Acidiacono so you can play him with Curry on or off the ball. He’s someone who will be in the rotation for years no matter where he goes.
29. Brooklyn Nets (via Toronto Raptors) – Anfernee Simons (IMG Academy)
The Nets continue to take somewhat of a gamble due to not having a top pick. Simons is a younger guy who is skipping college to go right to the NBA. They can afford to take the risk here and take someone like Simons who can be a scoring guard as he develops into an NBA player. With the Nets in full on rebuild mode, take someone like Simons and build with him as he turns 19 during the year
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30. Atlanta Hawks (via Houston Rockets) – Dznan Musa (Croatia)
The Hawks have three first round picks, so it won’t be a surprise to see them draft and stash one here. Musa filed paperwork to enter the draft and he’s someone who is young enough that you can be patient with, especially as the Hawks rebuild.
Second Round
31. Phoenix Suns – Jerome Robinson (Boston College)
32. Memphis Grizzlies – Shake Milton (SMU)
33. Dallas Mavericks – Elie Okobo (France)
34. Atlanta Hawks – Grayson Allen (Duke)
35. Orlando Magic – Bruce Brown (Miami)
36. New York Knicks – Melvin Frazier (Tulane)
37. Sacramento Kings – Moe Wagner (Michigan)
38. Philadelphia 76ers – Rodions Kurucs (Barcelona)
39. Philadelphia 76ers – Devonte Graham (Kansas)
40. Brooklyn Nets – Omari Spellman (Villanova)
41. Orlando Magic – Gary Trent (Duke)
42. Detroit Pistons – Jevon Carter (West Virginia)
43. Denver Nuggets – Hamidou Dialli (Kentucky)
44. Washington Wizards – Justin Jackson (Maryland)
45. Brooklyn Nets – Rawle Alkins (Arizona)
46. Houston Rockets – Devon Hall (Virginia)
47. Los Angeles Lakers – Landry Shamet (Wichita State)
48. Minnesota Timberwolves – Kevin Hervey (UT-Arlington)
49. San Antonio Spurs – Malik Newman (Kansas)
50. Indiana Pacers – Chime Metu (USC)
51. New Orleans Pelicans – Tony Carr (Penn State)
52. Utah Jazz – Isaac Bonga (Frankfurt)
53. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ray Spalding (Louisville)
54. Dallas Mavericks – Jarred Vanderbilt (Kentucky)
55. Charlotte Hornets – Trevon Duval (Duke)
56. Philadelphia 76ers – Kostas Antetokounmpo (Dayton)
57. Oklahoma City Thunder – Kenrich Williams (TCU)
58. Denver Nuggets – Brandon McCoy (UNLV)
59. Phoenix Suns – Amine Noua (ASVEL)
60. Philadelphia 76ers – Svi Mykhailiuk (Kansas)