2018 NBA Lottery Mock Draft

The 2018 NBA Draft is one of the most anticipated classes in recent years. The prospects include many potential future impact players in the coming years. As tanking becomes more and more prominent in the league, the draft has never been this popular and draft picks have never been this valuable. Here’s where I see each prospect heading and what each player has to offer their new team:

1. Phoenix Suns - DeAndre Ayton (C/Arizona)

Ayton is one of the most offensively polished big men to come out of college in recent years. He’s massive, great in the post, can put the ball on the floor, is absolute money on his 15–17 foot jump shots, and can step out and knock down an open 3. Him and Devin Booker are going to be a lot to handle for opposing teams for years to come on the offensive side. Ayton can use a lot of work on the defensive side, however he has the athleticism and genetic tools to have potential as an elite rim protector.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Karl-Anthony Towns

2. Sacramento Kings - Marvin Bagley III (PF/Duke)

While this isn’t the pick I would take if I were the Kings, reports out of their camp seem to indicate that this is the direction that they’re headed. Even though this isn’t the pick I would make, I still think this would be a good selection for them. Bagley is a highly athletic and highly mobile 4 with many offensive skills in the post, plus has shown potential for developing a solid jump shot. Him and DeAaron Fox will be a huge problem in transition with both of them being ridiculously fast and Bagley’s ability to rise above the defense on lobs and the potential to put the ball on the floor. Same as Ayton however, Bagley struggles on the defensive side of the ball but also has the athleticism and motor to potentially be solid or even above average on that end of the floor.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Blake Griffin

3. Atlanta Hawks - Luka Doncic (PG-SG-SF/Real Madrid)

Euroleague MVP. Euroleague Final 4 MVP. FIBA European Cup Champion. Luka Doncic is the most accomplished European prospect ever and my number one ranked prospect in this class. Luka has one of the highest BBIQs we’ve ever seen for a player entering the league for the first time. Playing in the best league in the world outside of the NBA, Luka dominated, winning MVP and carrying his team to the Euroleague championship. Luka has the size to guard 1–3 and while he might not be the best defender, he gives effort on that end and can have at least some level of impact. On offense he is an absolute gamechanger. He has the size as a primary ballhandler to see over the defense and make passes a smaller guard can’t. He has the range on his shot to spread out a defense and open up more space for his teammates, and most importantly, he has the BBIQ to make the right plays for his team that leads to winning basketball.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Bigger Manu Ginobili, Slower/Less-Athletic James Harden

4. New York Knicks* - Michael Porter Jr. (SF-PF/Missouri)

• (NY sends 2018 pick(9th overall), Courtney Lee, 2 future 2nd round picks for MEM 2018 pick(4th overall), Chandler Parsons)

Unfortunately we were not able to see much of Porter this year due to a back injury suffered at the beginning of the NCAA season. However, the 2017 Gatorade HS Player of the Year should not be slept on. Coming in at 6'10" with high mobility, a good handle, and an absolute sniper shooting the ball, MPJ has all the tools to be an elite talent in this new era of the NBA. He should enter the league being able to put up 15–17 ppg in his rookie season and has the potential to be a number one scoring option on a team contending for a championship. Pairing him with KP could end up as one of the deadliest scoring duos the NBA has ever seen. With a new coach in the building and the new management’s first draft, it’s time for the Knicks to finally make a splash. Trading away their pick and Courtney Lee to move up and take on the horrific contract that Memphis gave Chandler Parsons, the Knicks secure a potential superstar to pair with Porzingis for many years to come.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Poor Man’s Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler

5. Dallas Mavericks - Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF-C/Michigan St.)

Jackson fits absolutely perfectly as a big in the modern NBA. Jackson is an elite rim protector, averaging 5 blocks per game per 40 min, with the ability to switch out and defend players on the perimeter at a high level, all while being able to catch lobs out of the pick and roll and step out and knock down shots from the 3 point line. Pair that with the electric playmaking from Dennis Smith Jr. and you could have one of the most fun to watch duos in the league. Jackson showed some problems staying on the floor, averaging almost 6 fouls per 40 min, but as one of the youngest prospects in the class this should be corrected quickly and the Mavs will add a great piece in their quest to rebuild after Dirk.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Clint Capela with a jump shot

6. Orlando Magic - Mo Bamba (C/Texas)

Entering the league with the longest wingspan ever recorded in NBA history, Mo Bamba has the tools to be an All-Defensive team candidate for the next decade. Bamba, like Jackson, is an elite rim protector and can switch out on guards on the perimeter in a pick and roll. He’ll be able to have an impact on offense in the pick and roll as well as a solid screen setter and he’s highly athletic running toward the rim. Bamba will have to develop his jump shot more if he wants to be one of the leagues best centers, but he will be a DPOY candidate for many years based on what he showed in college.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Rudy Gobert

7. Chicago Bulls - Mikal Bridges (SF/Villanova)

Probably one of the safest picks in this draft, Mikal will be an impact player right out of the gate for whichever team he ends up landing with. As prototypical 3&D prospect, Mikal offers teams elite defensive tools combined with elite accuracy from long range. Mikal is also a great cutter off the arc and is very athletic running toward the rim. This will open up a lot for any offense that he is apart of. He most likely will never be a number 1 option but he will be an elite number 2 in the right system and has the ability to shut down the opposing teams number one each night. Chicago will need to find an elite primary ballhandler if they ever want to compete, but Bridges is one of the pieces every team absolutely needs to compete in the modern NBA.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Khris Middleton, Rich Man’s Robert Covington

8. Cleveland Cavaliers - Trae Young(PG/Oklahoma)

With the impending departure of Lebron James this summer, the Cavs need to start the search for their next franchise cornerstone. Enter Trae Young. Possibly the biggest boom or bust prospect in this class, Trae Young offers the upside that the Cavs need to be looking for at this juncture. With range out to the parking lot, Young offers the kind of floor spacing that a coach dreams of. His ability to make his teammates better from the space that he creates is what makes him an especially intriguing prospect. While carrying the entire offensive load at Oklahoma, Young faced many double and triple teams in the latter part of the season, but now in the NBA the floor will open back up for him and he should be able to get back to what made him so popular in the earlier stages of the year. That being said, there’s clear downside with him. He will enter the league as possibly the worst defender in the NBA with a defensive rating of 111.8 at Oklahoma. He also struggled heavily with bigger and more athletic defenders on him during Big 12 conference play. That being said he offers too much upside here for the Cavs to pass up and so they go ahead and take him with the number 8 selection.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Damian Lillard

9. Memphis Grizzlies* - Kevin Knox (SF/Kentucky)

In this scenario, this Grizzlies trade down and are still able to grab a player similar to that of Michael Porter Jr. While Knox is probably more of an approximation to what Porter can do, he still possesses many of the skillsets that Porter offers. He is a bigger wing who can handle the rock and knock down shots at will. He’s not close to the defender that Porter is, but if Knox is making shots, he can have a huge impact and take over games.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Taller CJ McCollum

10. Philadelphia 76ers- Lonnie Walker (SG/Miami)

Walker started off kind of slow at Miami, but became a go-to scoring threat for them toward the end of the season. With elite athleticism, quality shot creation, and a decent jumpshot, Walker could be a nice addition to this 76ers young core as an off-ball scorer for Ben Simmons. He’s also effective on the defensive end and can help turn the 76ers into the best defensive teams in the league with Simmons, Embiid and Covington already proving to be great on that end and Fultz who showed a lot of potential on that end in college. Not the flashiest pickup in this draft, but definitely a piece that the Sixers could be looking to add on draft night.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Victor Oladipo

11. Charlotte Hornets- Wendell Carter Jr. (C/Duke)

There are so many intriguing prospects in this class, which means that one of them is bound to slip. Carter has been talked about going as high as the 4 to 7 range from a report this week, but I’m not sure if there is a good enough fit at that point in the draft for him to really go that high. With the departure of Dwight Howard, the Hornets now have a hole at the 5, which will allow Carter to fit right in here. Carter showed a lot of NBA ability in his one year at Duke on both sides of the floor. Great with his back to the basket and a solid jump shot, Carter will be able to find himself 12–15 ppg a few years down the line. On defense he can protect the rim and has quick feet so he can develop into a decent defender off switches in the pick and roll. He’s also a solid rebounder and screener showing he has a high motor and that he brings intensity to the floor every night. He’s not the highest flyer but he can compete athletically and plays the game the right way. He has a pretty high floor and should be an impact player relatively early into his NBA career.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Al Horford

12. Los Angeles Clippers - Collin Sexton(PG/Alabama)

With the mentality similar to Russell Westbrook, the Young Bull brings a level of toughness and edge that every team in the league needs. Sexton doesn’t just want to win, he wants to bury whoever is in front of him on each and every play. The Clippers have been searching for their new PG since the departure of CP3 and Sexton will become the answer to their problems at the 1. Sexton has a great handle, a jumpshot, and is the most athletic PG in this class. He has the athleticism and competitive edge to be a great defender as well. Sexton may come into the league and get people to start asking questions about why he wasn’t picked higher in this draft.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Poor Man’s Russell Westbrook, Rich Man’s Eric Bledsoe

13. Los Angeles Clippers - Miles Bridges(SF-PF/Michigan St.)

If Miles had entered the draft last year, he would have gotten consideration to be selected in the first 5–7 picks. After going back and not showing much improvement in terms of numbers, his stock has fallen a bit and it looks like he’ll be selected in the latter part of the lottery. Bridges is quite possibly the most athletic prospect in this class. His high flying dunks will make the Sportscenter Top Ten many times in his NBA career. On top of that, he showed a developed shot creating ability in his second year under Michigan St and more ability to dictate an offense. He still sometime forces the issue too often or is sometimes too passive, but some good coaching from Doc Rivers can fix that right up. His athleticism and size will allow him to guard multiple positions and will be huge for creating mismatches on the offensive end.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: More athletic Tobias Harris, Paul George

14. Denver Nuggets- Zhaire Smith (SG/Texas Tech)

If Miles Bridges isn’t the most athletic player in the draft, Zhaire Smith is. Smith came into school last year pretty low among the recruit rankings. He went on to lead Texas Tech to a 3 seed birth in the tournament, which nobody saw coming at the beginning of the season. Smith is great in the open floor as he is lightning quick and is a great finisher at the rim. On defense, he is absolutely lockdown, using his long wingspan, high defensive IQ, and quickness to keep guards at bay throughout the course of a game. He may not make an impact right away, but give him time to develop some more NBA-ready skills on the offensive end and he could be one of the best players in this class.

Pro Comparison Ceiling: Dwyane Wade