2018 NBA mock draft - Teams for Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic and Trae Young after lottery
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2018 NBA mock draft - Teams for Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic and Trae Young after lottery
by Jonathan Givony on (original: http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/23509884/2018-nba-mock-draft-teams-deandre-ayton-luka-doncic-trae-young-lottery)The Phoenix Suns have won the NBA draft lottery.
Who will they take, and where will the rest of the top prospects land?
Our mock draft differs in two crucial ways from our recently updated top 100 prospect rankings. It uses the NBA's official draft order, and it's adjusted for NBA team needs accordingly. It also attempts to project which players will end up declaring and keeping their names in the draft.
Editor's note: This mock draft, published immediately after the lottery results, will continue to update with the latest information and analysis throughout Tuesday night and into the draft combine on Wednesday.
1. Phoenix Suns
Deandre Ayton
Arizona
Age: 19.8
C
Height: 7-foot | Weight: 243 pounds
Ayton was beginning to answer some of the questions scouts have had about him since high school with a string of dominant performances down the stretch, before finishing the college season on a poor note in an early NCAA tournament exit.
Physically, he's one of the most gifted prospects we've seen in the draft in the past few years, and he has an impressive skill level, to boot.
Phoenix, the worst defensive team in the NBA, will be right to question Ayton's impact on that end of the floor, but his sheer productivity and overall talent level makes it difficult to not slot him at the top of this class.
Starting salary: $8,095,680
2. Sacramento Kings
Luka Doncic
Real Madrid
Age: 19.1
PG
Height: 6-foot-8 | Weight: 228
Doncic hit a bit of a wall after playing 18 straight months without a break. He still found a way to help Real Madrid qualify for the EuroLeague final four and will attempt to re-establish his candidacy as the potential No. 1 pick in the draft with a strong showing in Belgrade later this week.
Starting salary: $7,243,440
3. Atlanta Hawks
Marvin Bagley III
Duke
Age: 19.1
PF/C
Height: 6-11 | Weight: 234
While Bagley has some positional concerns defensively, his athleticism, motor, rebounding, finishing ability and overall productivity will be very attractive here.
Starting salary: $6,504,600
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Michigan State
Age: 18.6
PF/C
Height: 6-11 | Weight: 240
The Hawks will be in best-player-available mode, but it helps to be able to complement their existing roster with a building block that fits with the surrounding talent.
Jackson would be the ideal big man to pair with promising rookie John Collins. The youngest projected first-rounder, Jackson might have the highest ceiling in terms of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. He has enviable physical tools, including a 7-4 wingspan and tremendous mobility.
Jackson's ability to space the floor (40 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the line), block shots (5.7 per 40 minutes), switch on every screen and, increasingly, put the ball on the floor from the perimeter makes him an ideal fit for the modern NBA.
Starting salary: $5,864,640
5. Dallas Mavericks
Mohamed Bamba
Texas
Age: 19.9
C
Height: 7-foot | Weight: 207
Bamba's rare combination of length, shot-blocking instincts and offensive promise gives him one of highest ceilings of any prospect in this draft.
Starting salary: $5,310,720
6. Orlando Magic
Trae Young
Oklahoma
Age: 19.6
PG
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 176
Young is a deadly pull-up shooter with deep range who loves transition quick hitters. He would add a much-needed scoring punch to Orlando's backcourt.
Starting salary: $4,823,520
7. Chicago Bulls
Wendell Carter Jr.
Duke
Age: 19.0
C
Height: 6-10 | Weight: 263
Small forward is a definite position of need, but Robin Lopez and Bobby Portis are entering the final year of their contracts, so it also makes sense to think about drafting a big man who complements Lauri Markkanen on both ends of the floor.
Carter's feel and versatility are promising in a number of ways. He is a physically mature big man with a 263-pound frame and 7-3 wingspan, which will allow him to play center in the NBA with ease.
He is a polished player with excellent hands and touch around the basket and has demonstrated a nice blend of passing, shot-blocking and perimeter shooting, despite being overshadowed at times by fellow Bagley at Duke.
Starting salary: $4,403,280
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets)
Michael Porter Jr.
Missouri
Age: 19.8
SF/PF
Height: 6-10 | Weight: 214
Porter came into the season with hopes of making a run at being the No. 1 pick in the draft. He wasn't able to build his case, however, because of a back injury. Porter's size, shot-creation skill and scoring instincts will nevertheless make him a coveted prospect in June. He is a playmaker on both ends of the floor and is just starting to figure out how to put his talent to full use.
Starting salary: $4,033,800
9. New York Knicks
Collin Sexton
Alabama
Age: 19.3
PG
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 183
Frank Ntilikina has had some nice rookie moments, but the Knicks are finding out that the long-armed, 6-5 guard seems better suited playing alongside a more dominant ball handler and shot creator who can take some of the scoring responsibilities off Ntilikina's shoulders.
Enter Sexton, with his tremendous aggressiveness driving the lane, taking off-the-dribble jumpers and putting defensive pressure on opposing guards. NBA teams have some concerns about Sexton's decision-making and reckless style of play. Fiercely competitive, Sexton has shown enough flashes in the right areas to be comfortably projected as a starting-caliber point guard, with plenty of upside.
Starting salary: $3,708,120
10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers)
Mikal Bridges
Villanova
Age: 21.6
SF
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 200
The 76ers have gotten great production out of JJ Redick and Marco Belinelli, but with both players approaching free agency -- and their mid-30s -- it makes sense to think about drafting a wing who can complement their building blocks of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz.
Bridges is an easy player to slot on almost any NBA roster, thanks to his multipositional defensive versatility, 3-point shooting and role-player potential. He isn't as gifted a shot creator as you'd like from a top-10 pick, but on this roster, he won't need to be.
Starting salary: $3,522,480
11. Charlotte Hornets
Miles Bridges
Michigan State
Age: 20.1
SF/PF
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 226
Charlotte continues to search for long-term solutions at both forward positions and will likely look to add athleticism to what has become a fairly disappointing roster.
Bridges is a freakish athlete who struggled at times to make the full-time transition to small forward, but he has potential as a two-way wing who can guard all over the floor and give you enough shooting, ballhandling and passing to get by at one of the most important positions in today's NBA.
Starting salary: $3,346,560
12. LA Clippers (via Pistons)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Kentucky
Age: 19.8
PG/SG
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 171
The Clippers could be looking at point guard as a position in need of supplementing, and the size, length and versatility of Gilgeous-Alexander could be attractive here considering the type of lineup flexibility he brings.
The fact that he is 6-6 (with a 7-foot wingspan), instinctual defensively and unselfish makes him easy to slot in alongside virtually any type of player. His offense has made significant strides as the season has moved on, helping him surprisingly emerge as arguably Kentucky's best long-term prospect.
Starting salary: $3,179,280
13. LA Clippers
Lonnie Walker IV
Miami
Age: 19.4
SG
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 206
Walker didn't have a consistent or efficient freshman season, but his talent, combined with the lack of depth at his position, is keeping his name in the lottery conversation. His youth, strong frame, 6-10½ wingspan and ability to shoot with his feet set or off the dribble make him a candidate to rise during the pre-draft process as teams search for upside and diamonds in the rough.
The Clippers' wing rotation is a major work in progress and could certainly use some more shooting, length and perimeter-defensive prowess.
Starting salary: $3,020,280
14. Denver Nuggets
Robert Williams
Texas A&M
Age: 20.5
PF/C
Height: 6-10 | Weight: 237
Williams reminded everyone why he was such a highly touted prospect entering the season with an impressive run to finish the year, helping Texas A&M reach the Sweet 16.
Despite playing out of position all season, he has shown that his game is tailor-made for the NBA as a rim-running, pick-and-roll-finishing, shot-blocker/offensive rebounder in the Clint Capela mold. The Nuggets could use a big man like Williams to pair with defensively challenged Nikola Jokic. Both are centers, but Jokic and Williams complement each other quite well on both ends of the floor.
Starting salary: $2,869,320
15. Washington Wizards
Kevin Knox
Kentucky
Age: 18.7
SF/PF
Height: 6-9 | Weight: 205
With Markieff Morris approaching the final year of his contract, the Wizards could very well start thinking of supplementing their power forward position with a player who fits the modern game.
Knox didn't have an efficient freshman season, partially due to playing out of position, but there's a significant market in the NBA for combo forwards in his mold who can make an open shot, defend multiple positions and offer offensive versatility. He's one of the youngest players in this draft, so he still has plenty of room to grow.
Starting salary: $2,725,680
16. Phoenix Suns (via Heat)
Zhaire Smith
Texas Tech
Age: 18.9
SF
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 195
Phoenix could continue to add length, athleticism and energy on defense with the long-armed, explosive Smith.
Originally expected to be more of a 2019 draft candidate, Smith accelerated that timeline by helping Texas Tech reach the Elite Eight. Smith needs to continue to develop his ballhandling and perimeter shooting, but he's one of the best athletes in this draft, and his trajectory as a prospect suggests he has considerable upside.
Starting salary: $2,589,480
17. Milwaukee Bucks
Aaron Holiday
UCLA
Age: 21.6
PG
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 187
With Eric Bledsoe approaching the final year of his contract, the Bucks could look at finding a point guard who complements their existing pieces and whom they can build around for the long term.
Holiday had an outstanding junior season, and he would bring a number of attractive traits with his microwave scoring ability, long wingspan and toughness. The fact that he can space the floor and play off the ball is important considering the building blocks the Bucks already have in place.
Starting salary: $2,460,000
18. San Antonio Spurs
Keita Bates-Diop
Ohio State
Age: 22.2
PF
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 235
With the uncertainty about Kawhi Leonard -- along with Rudy Gay, Kyle Anderson and Danny Green all potentially entering free agency -- the Spurs could use some depth at the forward spots.
With that in mind, drafting a versatile player like Bates-Diop makes sense. He increased his stock dramatically with a breakout season, moving among all of the frontcourt positions for an overachieving Ohio State team. He looks like an ideal fit for the modern NBA if he can find a way to rev his motor into higher gear.
Starting salary: $2,337,000
19. Atlanta Hawks (via Wolves)
Troy Brown
Oregon
Age: 18.7
SG
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 210
With the second of their three first-round picks, the Hawks might look to add some depth on the wing.
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Brown's size, multipositional defense and upside could be intriguing at this stage of the draft. He's one of the youngest players in this class and has the type of character and intangibles that bode well for his chances of achieving his full potential. Becoming a better shooter will be a major key for him.
Starting salary: $2,231,760
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Thunder)
Dzanan Musa
Cedevita
Age: 19.0
SF
Height: 6-9 | Weight: 195
The Wolves have little depth at the forward spots and might not have the financial flexibility to keep Nemanja Bjelica if his restricted free-agency offers get out of hand.
Musa's size, scoring instincts and aggressiveness could be intriguing at this stage of the draft. He's one of the youngest players in this class but already productive in Europe, playing at a fairly high level.
Starting salary: $2,142,360
21. Utah Jazz
Anfernee Simons
IMG Academy (HS)
Age: 18.9
SG
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 183
The Jazz might look for a versatile guard who can operate in different lineups without dominating the ball alongside Donovan Mitchell. Simons is one of the least NBA-ready players in the draft, but he's intriguing because of his combination of youth, explosiveness and shot-making prowess.
He's a few years away from panning out, but at this stage of the draft, there isn't much risk, and adding a prospect with his upside would be intriguing.
Starting salary: $2,056,680
22. Chicago Bulls (via Pelicans)
Jacob Evans
Cincinnati
Age: 20.8
SG/SF
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 210
Shooting and depth at the wing spots will likely be priorities for the Bulls this offseason (not unlike most teams in the NBA).
Evans is an ultra-versatile player who guards all over the floor, played on and off the ball for Cincinnati and sports a career 38 percent mark from 3-point territory at the college level.
Starting salary: $1,974,480
23. Indiana Pacers
Khyri Thomas
Creighton
Age: 22.0
SG
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
Unless a major upgrade at point guard presents itself, shooting and depth at the wing/combo forward spots will likely be priorities for the Pacers.
Thomas is one of the better defenders in college basketball, capable of guarding three positions with his 6-11 wingspan. He's also a willing ball-mover and a promising spot-up shooter and has exactly the type of grit and unselfishness the NBA covets in role players.
Starting salary: $1,895,520
24. Portland Trail Blazers
Chandler Hutchison
Boise State
Age: 22.0
SG/SF
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 193
Portland's wing rotation could use some added depth.
Hutchison made significant strides with his game as a senior. He looks primed to take advantage of the lack of wings in the draft -- and the NBA in general -- this June. He has outstanding physical tools and is a much-improved ball handler and perimeter shooter.
Starting salary: $1,819,800
25. Los Angeles Lakers (via Cavs)
Mitchell Robinson
College: None
Age: 20.1
C
Height: 6-11 | Weight: 20.1
The Lakers don't have anything in the way of a rim-protector on their roster, with all of their centers being of the skilled-but-lumbering variety. The contract of their starting center, Brook Lopez, is also expiring this summer.
Robinson is one of the most talented prospects in the draft physically -- with impressive length, athleticism and shot-blocking instincts -- but is far away from contributing. The fact that he elected not to play college basketball this season won't help his NBA readiness, but at some point in the draft, he's worth taking a gamble on as a developmental project.
Starting salary: $1,746,840
26. Philadelphia 76ers
Bruce Brown
Miami
Age: 21.7
SG
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200
The Sixers are loaded at most positions and might not be looking to add as many rookies to their roster as they have draft picks. If they keep this pick, they'll want to add someone who brings toughness, versatility and defense, and who doesn't need to dominate the ball to be effective, all characteristics Brown seems to possess.
Although he had a disappointing season that ended with an injury, Brown is a willing passer, lockdown defender and gritty rebounder, and he has shown enough promise with his jump shot at times to lead you to believe he will become adequate there eventually. There's a significant market for players in his mold, provided he has a strong pre-draft process.
Starting salary: $1,689,000
27. Boston Celtics
De'Anthony Melton
USC
Age: 19.9
PG/SG
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
The Celtics have a tough decision in front of them with Marcus Smart entering restricted free agency and Terry Rozier eligible for an extension, and they might need to find a less expensive backcourt option to avoid luxury-tax issues.
Melton looked to be on the verge of a breakout season for USC before the FBI's investigation into recruiting shut him down indefinitely. His defensive versatility, toughness and intangibles make him a prospect worth investing in.
Starting salary: $1,640,400
28. Golden State Warriors
Jalen Brunson
Villanova
Age: 21.6
PG
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200
The Warriors are way over the luxury tax and will want to find contributors on cheap rookie contracts.
Villanova's NCAA tournament run and the efficient play of their floor general might cause the Warriors to take a look at the versatility and shot-making prowess of the Wooden Award winner. His leadership, toughness and intangibles could be attractive on a roster that already has quite a bit of talent. The fact that he has shown the ability to operate off the ball certainly helps.
Starting salary: $1,630,320
29. Brooklyn Nets (via Raptors)
Moritz Wagner
Michigan
Age: 21.0
C
Height: 6-11 | Weight: 231
The Nets don't have much in the way of shooting in the frontcourt and aren't really committed to any 4s or 5s long term besides promising rookie Jarrett Allen and the dead-weight contract of Timofey Mozgov.
Wagner brings floor spacing and a high-energy style of play. He was one of the breakout players of March, leading Michigan to a Big Ten title and a surprise run to the NCAA championship game.
Starting salary: $1,618,320
30. Atlanta Hawks (via Rockets)
Grayson Allen
Duke
Age: 22.5
SG
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 185
With their third and final first-round pick, the Hawks might look to add some backcourt depth, specifically someone who can play behind or alongside incumbent starters Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore.
Allen is a big-time shot-maker who should be ready to contribute fairly soon as one of the lone NCAA seniors projected to be picked in the first round.
Starting salary: $1,606,680
Second round
31. Suns
Elie Okobo | PG | Age: 20.5 | Pau-Orthez
32. Grizzlies
Tyus Battle | SG/SF | Age: 20.6 | Syracuse
33. Hawks
Jontay Porter | C | Age: 18.4 | Missouri
34. Mavericks
Donte DiVincenzo | PG | Age: 21.2 | Villanova
35. Magic
Shake Milton | PG/SG | Age: 21.6 | SMU
36. Kings
Melvin Frazier | SF | Age: 21.6 | Tulane
37. Knicks (from Bulls)
Gary Trent Jr. | SG | Age: 19.3 | Duke
38. 76ers (from Nets)
Jerome Robinson | PG | Age: 21.2 | Boston College
39. 76ers (from Knicks)
Chimezie Metu | PF/C | Age: 21.1 | USC
40. Nets (from Lakers)
Hamidou Diallo | SG | Age: 19.7 | Kentucky
41. Magic (from Hornets)
Jevon Carter | PG | Age: 22.6 | West Virginia
42. Pistons
Landry Shamet | PG | Age: 21.0 | Wichita State
43. Nuggets (from Clippers)
Devonte' Graham | PG | Age: 23.2 | Kansas
44. Wizards
Malik Newman | PG/SG | Age: 21.2 | Kansas
45. Nets (from Bucks)
Rodions Kurucs | SF/PF | Age: 20.2 | Barcelona 2
46. Rockets (from Heat)
Justin Jackson | SF/PF | Age: 21.2 | Maryland
47. Lakers (from Nuggets)
Isaac Bonga | SF | Age: 18.5 | Frankfurt
48. Wolves
Devon Hall | SG | Age: 22.8 | Virginia
49. Spurs
Tony Carr | PG | Age: 20.5 | Penn State
50. Pacers
Trevon Duval | PG | Age: 19.7 | Duke
51. Pelicans
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk | SG | Age: 20.9 | Kansas
52. Jazz
Kevin Hervey | SF | Age: 21.8 | Texas Arlington
53. Thunder
Rawle Alkins | SG | Age: 20.5 | Arizona
54. Mavericks (from Blazers)
Brandon McCoy | C | Age: 19.9 | UNLV
55. Hornets (from Cavaliers)
Jalen Hudson | SG | Age: 21.9 | Florida
56. 76ers
Kostas Antetokounmpo | SF | Age: 20.4 | Dayton
57. Thunder (from Celtics)
Issuf Sanon | PG/SG | Age: 18.5 | Olimpija Ljubljana
58. Nuggets (from Warriors)
Kenrich Williams | PF | Age: 23.4 | TCU
59. Suns (from Raptors)
Karim Jallow | SF | Age: 21.0 | Bayern Muenchen
60. 76ers (from Rockets)
Amine Noua | PF | Age: 21.1 | Villeurbanne
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, don't the Knicks have pick #36, instead of #37?