NBA 2018 Mock Draft

2018 NBA Mock Draft: Full two-round, postseason mock
by Connor Harr

Photo by Emilio Cobos/EB via Getty Images

1) Luka Doncic
SG/SF  Slovenia   Memphis Grizzlies

Luka Doncic is currently 19 years old playing for Real Madrid in the EuroLeague. The teenager is averaging an unprecedented 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in the second-best basketball league in the world. Never has a single international draft prospect put up the kind of numbers that Doncic has.

Doncic is a thicker 6’8″ point forward with tremendous passing vision and great scoring ability. His projected role will eventually be a lead ball-handler. However, I think for the first few years with the Memphis Grizzlies, Doncic benefits from being a secondary-handler to Mike Conley. His usage rate won’t be sky high like it is currently in the EuroLeague, and he can focus on getting adjusted to playing with NBA athletes.


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2) DeAndre Ayton
C  Arizona  Phoenix Suns

DeAndre Ayton is an absolute freak of nature in every great way imaginable. The 7’1″, 250-pound big man is beyond ready physically for the NBA. He’s a great rebounder, averaging 11.6 per game at Arizona, along with being relatively quick on his feet and extremely coordinated. He’s currently developing more of a perimeter and face-up game, but the production Ayton will provide offensively just by running the floor, rim-running off screens and offensive rebounding make his floor incredibly high.

The Phoenix Suns have a very underwhelming recent history with drafting big men. Prospects such as Alex Len, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss were all selected or acquired by the Suns on draft night. Unfortunately, none of these players have lived up to their lottery selections. Ayton is a whole new level of talent though. The addition of Ayton will improve the Suns offensively, but could make a team that gave up the most points in the league even worse defensively.


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3) Jaren Jackson Jr.
PF/C  Michigan State  Orlando Magic

Jaren Jackson Jr is by far the best defensive prospect in the entire class. The combination of switch ability on the perimeter, rim protection and team defense is a rare combination. His defensive IQ is even more impressive, considering he’s one of the youngest players in the class. His perimeter game is still extremely raw, but I’m betting on his awkward mechanics to a least become a respectable 3-point shooter. He showed signs of encouragement with his shooting touch as well, shooting 39.6 percent from the 3-point line and 79.7 percent from the foul line.

The thought of having the most athletic frontcourt in the NBA by pairing Jackson with Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac could be extremely interesting. The Orlando Magic seem like a solid fit here since Jackson probably won’t be a starter right away. He can develop playing spot minutes while Nikola Vucevic is still under contract next season. Jackson’s fit with the Magic will also be heavily dependent on when they can obtain a quality point guard.


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4) Marvin Bagley III
PF/C  Duke  Dallas Mavericks

Marvin Bagley III has always been in the spotlight. Being a No. 1 recruit all throughout high school and then being unquestionably the best player on a Duke team with all five of their starters entering the draft is impressive. Bagley’s constant motor combined with his budding perimeter game make him a special prospect. He might also have a quicker second jump than anyone on the planet. The Duke freshman demolished Jabari Parker’s double-double record with ease, averaging a double-double on the season with 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game on 61.4 percent shooting.

The Dallas Mavericks’ roster is an absolute mess right now and just need to acquire talented players. They have received the most out of less talented young players like Yogi Ferrell, hopefully they can do even better with a prospect with unbelievable talent like Bagley. The key ingredient to Bagley’s development will be his defense. Rick Carlisle is probably one of the best guys to try and teach Marvin Bagley how to become a serviceable defender. So he can stay on the court and show off his amazing offensive talent, and not become a complete defensive liability.


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5) Wendell Carter Jr.
C  Duke  Atlanta Hawks

There’s a ton of things to like about the fellow Duke big man Wendell Carter Jr. Carter may not be a crazy athlete like Bagley or Jaren Jackson, but he’s extremely polished on both ends of the court. At 6’10” and 260 pounds, Carter is physically as ready for the NBA as any prospect other than DeAndre Ayton. Carter’s offensive game is highlighted by his ambidextrous finishing ability, to go along with his high IQ, great passing vision, and developing jump shot. On the other side of the ball Carter should be a serviceable rim protector and a quality team defender.

Carter can play an Al Horford type of role in Mike Budenholzer’s offense (assuming he stays with the Atlanta Hawks). You can involve Carter in dribble handoffs and make important passing reads playing out on the perimeter and in the high or mid-post. Carter would also be a quality complement to John Collins. He is so versatile offensively because of his skill level, and can play out on the perimeter when Collins is rim-running, looking for lobs to throw down. Carter also provides an element of rim protection that Collins does not. Expect Wendell Carter to be a quality NBA player for a long time.


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6) Mohamed Bamba
C  Texas  Chicago Bulls

Mohamed Bamba has unique length at his position. Standing at 7’0″ with a 7’9″ wingspan, this elite length makes Bamba an intriguing defensive prospect with a ton of upside if he can work on his slight frame. Bamba averaged 3.7 blocks this year at Texas and even though he is not as polished of a defender as Jaren Jackson, he still has a ton of upside.

The Chicago Bulls select Bamba here looking for a rim protector to pair with Lauri Markannen. Bamba is viewed as a project big man as his offensive game will be highly dependent on how his body continues to develop. With two years spent in an NBA strength program, Mo Bamba can develop into a high quality rim-runner rolling to the hoop for Kris Dunn.


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7) Michael Porter Jr.
PF/SF  Missouri  Sacramento Kings

Michael Porter Jr. suffered from a disappointing freshman season at Missouri. Porter injured his back after two minutes in the first game of the season, and came back to play two postseason games looking like a shell of his former self. The hope is that Porter was just rusty and this back injury has not effected his explosiveness and burst as an athlete. Prior to the injury, Porter was expected to be as dominant, if not more dominant than any freshman in college basketball this season. He was the second-ranked recruit in the class next to Marvin Bagley. His ability to handle and shoot at his 6’10” size really sets him apart from most players in his class on a talent level.

I like what the Sacramento Kings are doing with their backcourt right now. It’s time they address their frontcourt and give De’Aaron Fox a high quality offensive weapon. Hopefully Porter’s medical report from the combine comes back all clear. However, if it does not, expect Porter to fall below the top 10. The Kings desperately need a versatile scorer like Porter in their frontcourt. Their two main starters this year, Zach Randolph and Willie Cauley-Stein, will not be high quality players on a team hoping to turn its franchise into a future contender after years of mediocrity.
 

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8) Trae Young
PG  Oklahoma  Cleveland Cavaliers

Trae Young came into the college basketball season relatively off all NBA radars. The star freshman dominated through college basketball early in the season. Young ended the season leading the NCAA in scoring and assists, averaging 27.4 points and 8.7 assists per game. Despite his late season struggles, Young still proved he’s the best point guard prospect in the class. Combining his high level passing, vision and knockdown shooting ability, Young could develop into a real offensive threat.

Even though Young could eventually become an offensive threat, I think he’s better suited in an off-ball, secondary handler role. Playing off of LeBron James will give Young the opportunity to knock down open catch-and-shoot shots, which is something he never had the luxury of doing in college. LeBron has already expressed interest in Young, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will do anything to keep LeBron happy and have him re-sign this summer.



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9) Mikal Bridges
SG/SF  Villanova  New York Knicks

Bridges has enjoyed solid progression each year at Villanova and has emerged as the best 3-and-D prospect in this class. His elite length, lateral quickness, and strong team defense all project him to become a high quality defender. Bridges also shot 43.5 percent from the 3-point line this season. He needs to get a little stronger, particularly in his upper half, if he wants to maximize his defensive potential, along with improving his shot diversity rather than just catching and shooting to maximize his offensive potential.

The great thing about drafting Bridges is that he can fit into any scheme. The New York Knicks in particular need consistent 3-point shooting along with wing defenders. Bridges is the first older prospect to be selected at 21 years old. However, his relatively low floor should make him an immediate starter on this Knicks team given their poor roster.


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10) Miles Bridges
PF  Michigan State  Philadelphia 76ers

Miles Bridges passed on a surefire lottery selection last year. Even though Bridges did not improve his draft stock, he still has cemented himself as a lottery pick yet again. His shooting percentages and rebounds were down, but Bridges played out of position at Michigan State on the wing this year. He was forced to take on more of a secondary creator role, and showed tremendous strides in his shot diversity and playmaking.

The 76ers find themselves in the lottery once again this year, but this time via trade only (shoutout Sam Hinkie). They’re stockpiling their team with another young and talented asset. Bridges is a small-ball 4 in the NBA, and would fit nicely along the perimeter with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. His unselfish play combined with his quality 3-point shooting should make Bridges a valuable offensive threat in a low-usage role.


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11) Mitchell Robinson
C  USA  Charlotte Hornets

The Mitchell Robinson saga has been extremely interesting along with being well-documented. Robinson left the Western Kentucky program before the first game, then was denied entry into the G League. He screams out physical and athletic upside. Standing at 7’0″ with a 7’4″ wingspan and quick leaping ability, Robinson has the potential to become quality rim protector.

I’m not a fan of anything the Charlotte Hornets are doing right now. Personally, I believe they will be a lottery mainstay for the next few years. This is why they swing for the fences selecting Robinson. Taking a big in the first round is nothing new to the Hornets. However, taking a big with as much upside as Robinson is something they are not familiar with at all.


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12) Jontay Porter
C  Missouri  Los Angeles Clippers

As the brother of Michael Porter Jr., Jontay Porter has made quite a name for himself as a prospect this season. In an unexpected rise, Porter became a quality prospect in his own right after re-classifying to play college basketball a year early. Jontay is easily the best passing big man in the class with great court vision. Also Porter is a wonderful team defender with a high defensive IQ, constantly making quality rotations.

The Los Angeles Clippers are really missing Daniel Gafford not declaring here. The good news is they can settle for another quality big man. Other than DeAndre Jordan, their other center is Boban Marjanovic. Also, with DeAndre Jordan having a player option on his contract this summer, it is unclear if he will return. Porter should provide the Clippers with quality bench minutes and will bring a different element as a center. Playing almost exclusively on the perimeter offensively, Porter could open up some interesting ideas for the Clippers bench unit.


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13) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
PG/SG  Kentucky  Los Angeles Clippers

Another unexpected one-and-done, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the top prospect on a Kentucky team always loaded with talent. Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed tremendous success in a high-usage, lead ball-handler role at Kentucky. He’s a quality defender with great length for his position at 6’6″ with a 6’10” wingpsan. His ability to change speeds helps him get into the lane and he is an underrated playmaker.

Even though Shai played in such a high-usage role constantly handling the ball at Kentucky, he probably projects better as a secondary ball-handler. He should fit in well next to a ball-dominant Lou Williams. His potential to succeed in the league is highly dependent on the development of his shooting consistency, both pulling up and off the catch, along with working on his extremely skinny frame. If both of those elements improve, Alexander should be able to become a productive starter.


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14) Zhaire Smith
SG  Texas Tech  Denver Nuggets

Zhaire Smith is NBA Draft Twitter royalty and I might hate myself for buying in. There’s easy athletic and defensive appeal with Smith though. His progression over his freshman season at Texas Tech as been phenomenal as well. A quality team defender, explosive leaper and a multi-positional defender, Smith has a lot of quality traits to bank on.

The Denver Nuggets select Smith because their wing spot is rather depleted, and they need quality defenders. Smith will get spot minutes immediately because of his defensive value. He is just so far away from having NBA skill offensively. He shot 45 percent this year from the 3-point line. Unfortunately, he only attempted just over one per game, but I do believe in his shooting development, even with his unorthodox shot. The Nuggets get a quality wing, lead ball-handler defender, and possibly a future Slam Dunk Contest champion.


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15) Collin Sexton
PG  Alabama  Washington Wizards

Unfortunately, Sexton did not do enough to solidify himself as the top point guard prospect he was coming into the season. However, he did enough to be the second-best true point guard prospect in the class. Sexton plays with a mindset unlike any player I have ever seen. He’s relentless attacking the rim and has more passing vision than he gets credit for. He’s not the uber-athlete that everyone projected, but he’s no slouch athletically, and is an absolute pest defensively.

The Washington Wizards draft room would be going bananas if Sexton fell outside the lottery to them. Their desperate need for a backup point guard is more than clear. John Wall is locked up long-term, but after the end of the lottery you are looking for players that can continue contribute in any way. Sexton may not be a long-term piece for the Wizards because he will probably outplay his back up point guard slot, but wherever Sexton ends up, eventually his coaches will love his gym rat mentality and nonstop desire to compete.


hoopshabit.com/2018/04/18/2018-nba-mock-draft-full-two-round-postseason-mock/9/

> He was in this past weekend (Sat & Sun)

He's projected in the 2nd round at #46 (see next post on Rd2). C's don't have a 2nd round pick unless they have an option on another team's pick.

Ponds led the Big East in scoring as a freshman last year, averaging 21.6 points per game, along with 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 steals.

Wanted: Modern NBA Big Men
In an NBA where centers are expected to be more versatile, several draft prospects have the chance to define the role.
By Ricky O'Donnell

The days of big men camping in the paint are over. The role and requirements of an NBA center have evolved — and quite frankly, have been marginalized — and it’s never been more apparent than in the 2018 playoffs.

Rudy Gobert is the likely Defensive Player of the Year, but he was rendered largely ineffective in Utah’s second-round loss to the Rockets due to his inability to defend high pick-and-rolls in space. When the Rockets needed to close out a game against the Warriors in the West finals, they were just as likely to put 6’4 P.J. Tucker at center as their own emerging big man, Clint Capela. When the stakes are at their highest, NBA teams are replacing traditional big men at center with oversized wings.

Take Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, who played 26 percent of his minutes at center in the playoffs after only playing seven percent of his minutes there in the regular season, or Golden State’s Kevin Durant, who has spent 28 percent of his minutes at center in this postseason after spending only 14 percent of his time there during the 82-game grind. Both underscore the core skills important to a modern center.

Today’s centers need to be able to switch onto a guard defensively. They need to be able to stretch the floor with legitimate three-point range. Ball handling and passing ability are becoming essential, and bigs still have to protect the rim, rebound, and finish inside, too.

So, it’s within that context that we view the new fleet of young big men who could be five of the first seven picks in the 2018 NBA Draft. (This doesn’t even include Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr., a wing who measured 6’11 at the combine and is bound to spend plenty of time at the power forward and center spots as a pro.)


You can make the argument that Deandre Ayton is one of the most precociously talented big men to enter the draft in NBA history. That’s not hyperbole.

Ayton is a 7’1, 260-pound physical freak: At just 19 years old, he already has the muscular frame to dominate most NBA centers; he runs the floor like a wing; he allegedly has a 43-inch vertical jump; he has a soft touch around the rim; and has proven to be a dependable free throw shooter. His three-point shot has the potential to grow into a weapon, too.

Ayton put up monster numbers during his one season at Arizona, averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds per game on 61 percent shooting from the field. He was automatic as an inside scorer by overwhelming opponents with his size and strength, but he also showed deft touch stepping away from the basket. That combination of elite physicality and undeniable production should make him a no-brainer.

Yet Ayton enters the draft with real questions about his ability to handle the defensive responsibilities of a modern center.

He often showed poor instincts at Arizona, struggling to diagnose plays and make proper rotations. A big man with his physical gifts should have been forcing turnovers all over the floor, but Ayton rarely racked up blocks and steals. Part of that was because Ayton played out of position at power forward much of the season next to a slow, plodding senior center in Dusan Ristic, but the smaller players he was asked to guard in college will be similar to his assignments in the pros as teams continue to downsize their front courts.

In an era when even the best defensive centers in the league, like Gobert and Capela, are becoming part-time players in the playoffs, can a big man who struggles so much defensively live up to being a No. 1 pick?

There’s no doubt Ayton is going to put up big numbers on offense. The question is how much he actually helps a modern NBA team win.

If Ayton’s lack of defensive awareness makes him an awkward fit in today’s NBA, Mohamed Bamba’s defensive potential is the biggest part of his appeal as a likely top-5 pick.

Bamba has the physical tools NBA GMs dream of: He will have the longest wingspan (7’10) in the league, which he leveraged to block 3.7 shots per game — second in all of college basketball.

But how valuable will Bamba’s rim protection be when he’s guarding a shooter out to the three-point line? And if Bamba’s shot blocking is mitigated by being pulled out to the perimeter, how much will he be able to do offensively?

Bamba’s immediate offensive value will come as a lob target diving to the hoop out of the screen-and-roll. He’s also flashed some potential as a shooter, which could eventually make him the type of stretch five every NBA team wants. For now, Bamba’s shooting ability is more theoretical than tangible. He only hit 27.5 percent of his 51 three-point attempts at Texas.

There’s a chance Bamba becomes a shot-blocking, three-point shooting unicorn who can change the complexion of any scheme with his historic length. But if he doesn’t reach his full potential, he could be an offensively limited center in a sport making those kinds of players useless. His value as a shot blocker could become marginalized when he’s forced to defend a nominal wing playing on the perimeter in opposing small-ball lineups.

Gobert is the easy comparison for Bamba, but Gobert is quicker and stronger, and even he was ineffective at times in the playoffs.

Marvin Bagley III doesn’t have Bamba’s defensive potential, but if you want an offensive workhorse, he’s your man.

Bagley should have been a senior in high school this past season. Instead, he reclassified in August, enrolled at Duke and immediately turned into one of the most explosive players in college basketball.

Bagley’s production was unassailable from the jump. He was immediately an automatic inside scorer and tireless rebounder, overwhelming opponents with raw athleticism, soft touch around the basket, and surprisingly advanced footwork. It was not uncommon to see Bagley jump three times before his opponents could even jump once, a testament to both his explosion and a motor that never stops running. His numbers — 21 points and 11 rebounds per game — only reinforced his natural ability.

In the past, the league treated these offensive big men like gold, but not anymore. What good are those numbers if Bagley gives them back on the other end?

He was so bad at defending high ball screens that Duke switched to a zone in part to protect him. He averaged less than one block and one steal per game. Right now, he’s a big man who can’t protect the rim and hasn’t shown the capacity to guard on the perimeter. In today’s NBA, those are two massive handicaps.

It’s possible he’s just scratching the surface as a shooter and ball handler. If he maximizes his potential on both, it will skyrocket his offensive value. He certainly has the quickness to theoretically defend smaller players, so maybe he finds some defensive role with more development and greater focus.

But at the moment, Bagley is a high-motor big man caught between the four and the five — too slow for the former, too small for the latter. He will be targeted on defense relentlessly until he proves he can hold his own on that end.
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

If Bagley didn’t decide to skip a year of high school, Wendell Carter Jr. would have been the Duke big man getting all the attention this season. Carter doesn’t have Ayton’s size and explosiveness, Bagley’s agility, or Bamba’s length, but he’s still as dependable as any big man in this class.

Carter’s game is more functional than flashy. At 6’10 and 251 pounds, he’s a bruising big man who can finish inside and clean the glass. He already has nice touch on his face-up jumper, hitting 19 of 46 threes (41 percent) this year for Duke. There’s a good chance he becomes the best shooter out of the Ayton, Bagley, Bamba group. He also proved he could block shots in the middle of Duke’s zone.

The catch with Carter is his lateral quickness, which will be a problem in a league that demands its bigs to switch onto guards defensively. A team like the Rockets would try to switch him onto James Harden defensively every possession. It’s possible he can be an adequate switch defender with his combination of length (7’4 wingspan) and basketball IQ by positioning himself in the right place to deter shots and cut off passing lanes. That said, it’s hard to watch a series like Warriors-Rockets and think Carter would thrive in that setting.

Carter’s skill set is well-rounded and he’ll be fine as a role player, but can you close a playoff game in today’s climate with Carter on the floor? And if not, why draft him high?

In a league that’s reducing traditional bigs to role players, Carter can do all the little things.
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jaren Jackson Jr. posted per-game numbers (10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds) that were essentially half of what Ayton and Bagley put up. But if you’re looking for a center with a skill set that fits the modern game to a tee, the Michigan State freshman is the choice.

Jackson can shoot with range, hitting 40 percent of his threes on 96 attempts this year. Jackson can protect the rim, posting a better block rate than even Bamba. He’s quick enough to slide his feet with guards and smart enough to make proper rotations on defense. He also might be just scratching the surface with his ball handling ability.

This is a mobile, agile center with great length (7’5 wingspan) and shot blocking instincts who doubles as the most dependable shooter of anyone in this group. He played out of position at power forward for MSU all season and will only benefit from the added spacing in the NBA game.

It's Greek so, about Giannis?

Looks like the claws will be killer next year.