The 2018 NBA Draft is top-heavy, but there is a plethora of two-guards that could be had late in the first round that are good enough to be stick around in the league for many years.
This year’s draft takes place next week on June 21st, but it looks like the first pick in the draft is already off the board. The Phoenix Suns is expected to draft Arizona Wildcats center DeAndre Ayton. Many thought Slovenian star Luka Doncic or Duke’s Marvin Bagley III would have been the first off the board.
The NBA draft pool this year is full of players who made a name for themselves in the NCAA Tournament. Villanova could have as many as four players taken in the first round.
Here is the ‘America’s White Boy’ 2018 NBA Mock Draft.
1. Phoenix Suns – C DeAndre Ayton (Arizona Wildcats) – This is pretty much a given as Ayton may have already received a verbal guarantee that he’s being taken first overall. He put up crazy numbers in his lone season at Arizona. I’m sure the Suns had scouts at nearly every one of his home games last season. He averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds last season.
2. Sacramento Kings – PF Michael Porter Jr. (Missouri Tigers) – This is a curveball as most mock drafts have the Kings selecting Marvin Bagley III or Luka Doncic. The Kings often don’t do what is predicted. Porter had some medical red flags heading into the draft, but he recently underwent an MRI and it was clean. The Kings don’t have a very good NBA Draft track record, but they did hit a home run last year with De’Aaron Fox. Porter was best high school player in the country as a senior. He was injured in his first game at Missouri and wasn’t 100% when he returned late in the year. He does have all the potential in the world and he would be the most outside-of-the-box pick Vlade Divac could make.
3. Atlanta Hawks – PF Marvin Bagley III (Duke Blue Devils) – The Hawks have three first round picks this year. The Hawks have been tied to both Bagley and Doncic, so this will be a hard pick for them to make. The Hawks need help at every position and are in for a long rebuilding process. Doncic is young and talented, but I have a feeling the Hawks will take a traditional NBA talented big man. Bagley had about the same stats as Ayton and can play in the post or facing the basket. The big difference between Bagley and Doncic is scheme and if you trust that Doncic’s abilities will transfer to the NBA right away.
4. Memphis Grizzlies – SG/SF Luka Doncic (Real Madrid – Slovenia) – Memphis would be ecstatic if Doncic falls to them at number four. The Grizzlies are in need of a shot-creator and should be ready to play right away. He was the MVP of the second-best league in the world. I feel confident that he will be able to start and be a game changer in his first game in the league. He’s only 19 and many think he could have already hit his ceiling as they don’t think he’s a top-tier elite athlete. If I were an NBA general manager, Doncic would be the first player I would take in this draft. The Suns, Kings and Hawks could come to regret passing on Doncic.
5. Dallas Mavericks – C Mohamed Bamba (Texas Longhorns) – Bamba is the best defensive center in this draft. His offensive skills are still underdeveloped, but many think that will come when he puts on some more muscle. He has a crazy wingspan at 7’10, which would put him tops in the entire NBA. The Mavericks have always been enamored with signing/drafting a dominant center and many of those draft picks and signees have been busts. Bamba is a sure thing defensively, but could have issues against a stretch center. He should be able to adjust as he faces that more often in the NBA.
6. Orlando Magic – PG Trae Young (Oklahoma Sooners) – I’m only luke-warm on Young. I’m not a huge fan of undersized college scorers. They they have a low success rate in the NBA. I compare Young to another former Oklahoma guard, Buddy Hield. It looks like he’s finally finding his NBA stroke, but it has taken a couple years and two different teams. The Magic needs backcourt help and their last few of their backcourt draft picks haven’t worked out for them. They either failed to develop (Elfrid Payton & Mario Hezonja) or they weren’t patient enough (Victor Oladipo). I’m not completely sold on Young, but he will be an upgrade over their current backcourt.
7. Chicago Bulls – PF Wendell Carter Jr. (Duke Blue Devils) – Carter was the ‘other frontcourt guy’ at Duke. He was often overshadowed by Marvin Bagley III, but Carter is a stud as well. He averaged 13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in his lone season at Duke. He can play in the post and facing the basket. He’s not as polished on the defensive end as Bagley, but comparing him to one of the best players in the draft is a bit unfair. The Bulls do have defense concerns as a team, but I don’t think they should pass on what I deem as the best player available at number seven.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers – PG Collin Sexton (Alabama Crimson Tide) – The Cavaliers come into this draft with one huge, gigantic question mark, will LeBron James sign up for another year? You should always prepare for the worst possible outcome. They need a backcourt player that can handle the ball. You saw how poorly the Cavs played without George Hill for a portion of the playoff series against Indiana. Sexton doesn’t shoot for a high percentage from the perimeter, but he’s not afraid to drive the ball and attack. They need a player like that regardless of LeBron’s decision.
9. New York Knicks – PF Jaren Jackson Jr. (Michigan State Spartans) – Some have Jackson coming off the board earlier than at number nine. I believe he could be selected as high as #5 to Dallas, but if Bamba is there, I think they take him. Jackson was arguably the best player on a very good Michigan State team. He’s a physical marvel, can shoot from the perimeter, and is great on defense. His college numbers didn’t jump off the page, but he can help you in many ways. The Knicks need a Swiss army knife like Jackson.
10. Philadelphia 76ers – SG Mikal Bridges (Villanova Wildcats) – The Sixers are another team with a lot of question marks. They could try to shed some roster space and go after Kawai Leonard or even make a play for LeBron James. They have a couple of the best young players in the NBA in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. My guess is they will draft someone with size that can shoot from the perimeter. Simmons and Markelle Fultz haven’t shown the ability to shoot from distance yet (mostly due to injuries). Bridges is a great catch-and-shoot prospect that can be a better overall version of Nik Stauskas.
11. Charlotte Hornets – SF/PF Miles Bridges (Michigan State Spartans) – Bridges is a good small-ball power forward, but teams could try to use him as a wing. I think he’s better suited at power forward as he can make a difference on the glass. He’s an explosive athlete and he has a high ceiling. He can defend multiple positions, but as I said before, he’s a bit of a tweener when it comes to positions in the NBA. A team would need to be patient with him while he finds a niche.
12. Los Angeles Clippers – SF/PF Kevin Knox (Kentucky Wildcats) – Knox was expected to be picked in the early Lottery back in April, but he allegedly had an awful pro day. Teams left wondering about his focus and toughness. He’s a prototypical power forward in today’s NBA as he can stretch the floor. Scouts think he could develop into a consistent shooter, but his percentage was not great in college. Knox will be selected based on his ceiling, which is high due to his versatility.
13. Los Angeles Clippers – SG Lonnie Walker IV (Miami Hurricanes) – The Clippers basically have two swings at hitting a home run. They can take a chance on Knox and take an even riskier gamble on Walker. He’s raw, but is physical and can already contribute on defense. He’s also not afraid to attack the basket. As I said earlier, there are plenty of two-guards in this draft that will stick around in this league for many years. I think Walker will find his niche and be one of those players.
14. Denver Nuggets – PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Kentucky Wildcats) – Gilgeous-Alexander had a great March. He could be a ball handler building block for any NBA team. The Nuggets could use a player like him to get the ball to Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Nikola Jokic. Gilgeous-Alexander could also play multiple positions since he has the size (6’6) to play small forward or wing in a small ball lineup.
15. Washington Wizards – C Robert Williams (Texas A&M Aggies) – The Wizards are paying their centers (Ian Mahinmi and Marcin Gortat) nearly $30 million next season. Williams could be a cheap replacement when the team moves on from them the next two years. He’s an athletic big that can run the floor well and does well in the post. The Wizards will jump on Williams if he’s available here.
16. Phoenix Suns – SG Zhaire Smith (Texas Tech Red Raiders) – Smith is an upside pick and allegedly did well in his workout with the Suns. They need a point guard, but would probably be better suited to find a veteran to fill that role this offseason. Smith will learn behind Devin Booker and can come off the bench. He could even fill-in as a small-ball three due to his elite athleticism. His comp would be J.R. Smith, but without the off-court antics.
17. Milwaukee Bucks – SG/SF Troy Brown (Oregon Ducks) – The Bucks really have their choice of a lot of players that fill their need at the wing. I think they’ll take (nearly) 6’8 Brown, which would go with their love of long players. He came in as a freshman with high expectations, but his draft stock fell as he didn’t produce as well as many thought he would. The Bucks will have defensive mismatches all over the court with a guy like Brown paired with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
18. San Antonio Spurs – PG Elie Okobo (Pau-Orthez – France) – The last time the Spurs drafted a French point guard (Tony Parker), it paid off. San Antonio failed to make a deep postseason for the first time in many years. They don’t have the luxury of taking a foreign player and letting them slowly develop while still winning tons of games. The Spurs are getting old and they need some new blood in the backcourt. Okobo led his team in scoring and helped his stock by playing his best basketball of the year in the French LNB Pro A playoffs. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was already off the board by the time the Spurs pick at #18.
19. Atlanta Hawks – SF Dzanan Musa (Cedevita – Bosnia & Herzegovina) – This is Atlanta’s second of three picks in the first round. I’m a bit higher on Musa than most. He won the 2018 EuroCup Rising Star award. The Hawks have the luxury of taking a chance with at least one of these draft picks. Musa has been getting mentored by Portland center Jusuf Nurkic. Musa has confidence as he’s claiming that he’s a lottery pick-level talent. Atlanta needs assets and I think he could develop into something special.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves – SG Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova Wildcats) – DiVincenzo was a huge reason why Nova won the NCAA Tournament. Soon after cutting down the nets, he performed well at the NBA Combine. He’s a high-motor guy who can create his own shot. He can also push the pace and finish at the rim. Minnesota just needs to keep adding young talent and hope they continue to develop. DiVincenzo would immediately be a rotational asset off the bench.
21. Utah Jazz – SG/SF Kevin Huerter (Maryland Terrapins) – Huerter is one of the smoothest shooters in this draft. Many thought he was going back to Maryland, but some believe that he got a first round promise from a team. His comp is Kyle Korver or Mike Miller, but he is rumored to have an abrasive personality. He allegedly didn’t make friends with his teammates at Maryland. That could be an issue in the NBA, but a coach like Quin Snyder could keep him in line.
22. Chicago Bulls – SG/SF Chandler Hutchison (Boise State Broncos) – It’s no secret that the Bulls gave Hutchison a first round promise. He pulled out of the combine after securing that. He’s a senior and will be the oldest guy drafted up to this point. He has the size (6’7) and averaged 20.0 points and 7.7 rebounds last season for Boise State. The Bulls will have some depth at the wing if they re-sign restricted free agent Zach LaVine.
23. Indiana Pacers – PG Aaron Holiday (UCLA Bruins) – The Pacers drafted two UCLA players last season and I think they will take another here. They need to develop a point guard of the future. Holiday’s older brothers have had success in the NBA and it’s a bonus that he already has playing experience with last year’s first round pick T.J. Leaf. Holiday would be an improvement over Joseph Young and he could learn behind established veterans like Darren Collison and Cory Joseph. If Holiday’s off the board, look for the Pacers to add a perimeter shooter.
24. Portland Trail Blazers – PG/SG De’Anthony Melton (USC Trojans) – Melton hasn’t played in over a season due to sitting out due to the FBI college basketball corruption investigation. He’s a good athlete and his upside is intriguing. He doesn’t have a great shot right now, but will have time to develop as he would be playing behind C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard.
25. Los Angeles Lakers – SG Khyri Thomas (Creighton Bluejays) – Thomas is all over the board in mock drafts. I’ve seen him as high as #16 and some have himslipping into the second round. Thomas would give the Lakers some youth at point guard that can play both ways. He’s a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He is also a good perimeter shooter on top of that. There are just so many solid wing players in this draft that it all goes down to general manager personal preferences.
26. Philadelphia 76ers – SG Jerome Robinson (Boston College Eagles) – The Sixers could lose J.J. Redick in free agency and need a replacement. Robinson is a good perimeter shooter and it would keep the Sixers from adding a pricey free agent that could knock them out of the LeBron sweepstakes. Robinson averaged 20.7 points and shot 40.9% from behind the arc.
27. Boston Celtics – C Mitchell Robinson (High School – Louisiana) – Robinson is another with a wide range of mock draft landing spots. He committed to Western Kentucky, practiced with the team for a couple weeks and then just bolted from the team. He tried to get a waiver to transfer and not sit out a year, but he didn’t get it. He returned to Western Kentucky, but didn’t play. Teams are either interested in him or have him completely off their draft board. He’s the definition of a boom or bust player. The Celtics have enough assets the next few seasons to gamble on him.
28. Golden State Warriors – PF/C Moritz Wagner (Michigan Wolverines) – The Warriors have a stacked roster, but very little money to go around. They need some front-court youth and Wagner fits the role. He’s a good shooter and solid rebounder. He’s a smart guy and good teammate. He could flourish off the bench while he develops.
29. Brooklyn Nets – SG Josh Okogie (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets) – Okogie was a second round prospect until the NBA Combine. They took measurements and found out that he has a 7-foot wingspan on a 6’4 body. He averaged 18.2 points and shot 38% from three last season. He wasn’t highly-recruited out of high school, but has improved in a hurry at Georgia Tech. The real question is if he’s reached his peak or if he has room to develop further.
30. Atlanta Hawks – SF/PF Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State Buckeyes) – Bates-Diop had one of the biggest one season jumps in Ohio State basketball history. He had success as a sophomore, but fell out of favor and was granted a medical reshirt after an injury kept him out for an extended time in his third season. New OSU coach Chris Holtmann fell in love with him and turned Bates-Diop into the Big Ten Player of the Year. He averaged 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last season. Some believe Bates-Diop is underrated going into this draft, but many think his ceiling would be as a rotation player. I believe the latter, which is really all a team could hope for at #30 in a slightly above average draft class.
BEST TALENT AVAILABLE FOR SECOND ROUND
SG Jacob Evans III (Cincinnati Bearcats)
SG Grayson Allen (Duke Blue Devils)
PG Jalen Brunson (Villanova Wildcats)
SG/SF Melvin Frazier (Tulane Green Wave)
PF Omari Spellman (Villanova Wildcats)
SG Gary Trent Jr. (Duke Blue Devils)
PF Chimezie Metu (USC Trojans)
PF Rodions Kurucs (FC Barcelona – Latvia)
PG/SG Shake Milton (SMU Mustangs)
PF Alize Johnson (Missouri State Bears)
PG/SG Bruce Brown (Miami Hurricanes)
SF/PF Justin Jackson (Maryland Terrapins)
SF Kevin Hervey (UT-Arlington Mavericks)
PG Jevon Carter (West Virginia Mountaineers)
SG Hamidou Diallo (Kentucky Wildcats)
PG/SG Anfernee Simons (IMG Academy)
PG Landry Shamet (Wichita State Shockers)
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About the Author…
Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks, Guyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on Twitter at @Sweetbob.