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SI 'POST COMBINE' 2018 NBA Mock Draft


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SI 'POST COMBINE' 2018 NBA Mock Draft
 

 
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1. Ph0enix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona | Fr.
Ayton has become the consensus top pick around the league, fits neatly into the Suns’ situation, and appears set to remain in Arizona on draft night and in the foreseeable future. The top-rated prospect on our Big Board since the start of the season, Ayton has elite physical traits, a developing inside-out ski1l set and a superstar ceiling if all goes according to plan. He’ll immediately be one of the most athletic centers in the league. Ph0enix is developing a youthful roster and conveniently has a hole at center, where Ayton would be able to step in immediately. He needs to get better defensively but has all the tools to be a quality rim protector. There’s a sense he may need to be pushed harder than some to reach his full potential, but Ayton has the best chance of anyone in the draft to become a franchise player.



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2. Sacramento Kings: Luka Doncic, G, Real Madrid
After moving up to No. 2, the Kings are in an enviable spot here and will have their pick of the remaining big men and Doncic, who is fresh off a Euroleague championship and MVP award at the ripe age of 19. Doncic’s aptitude for moving the ball, ability to make reads as a ball-handler and overall developed ski1l set make him a safe bet to become a quality contributor, and his unselfishness should help set the tone for the rest of the team. It’s fair to be concerned about his ability to create shots for himself, particularly in isolation situations where he’s unlikely to be a blow-by scorer. While the outcome of this pick is far from clear cut, Doncic would actually benefit from playing off of De’Aaron Fox, whose ability to penetrate defenses will generate favorable secondary playmaking opportunities.


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3. Atlanta Hawks: Jaren Jackson Jr., C, Michigan State | Fr.
The Hawks leapfrogged one spot to No. 3 via the lottery, which ironically came after initially losing a tiebreaker with the Mavericks for third-best odds. Atlanta already has John Collins in place as an athletic, rim-running big, but will take who they deem the best player available. While this will be close with Marvin Bagley and potentially Mo Bamba, Jackson’s relative youth and potential on both ends of the floor are appealing, and make him an attractive, flexible piece to build around for a team still in the early stages of its rebuild. Jackson is probably a couple seasons away from making consistent contributions, but possesses a critical duality for modern bigs: he can step out and shoot from outside, while also defending in space and protecting the rim. He showed intriguing flashes of perimeter ski1l and touch and is at a very early stage of his learning curve.


4. Memphis Grizzlies: Marvin Bagley III, F/C, Duke | Fr.
The lottery results hit Memphis the hardest, dropping them two spots at a key juncture for the franchise following a down year. The Grizzlies will still be able to find a quality prospect here, and Bagley makes the most sense in this situation. He has a low-maintenance game and should be able to help them win now, given he’s an extremely productive rebounder and manufactures easy baskets. Bagley also has enough of a ski1l level that he could eventually help stretch the floor as a four-man as he grows. Undoubtedly there are major strides he needs to make defensively, and in expanding his offensive arsenal, but Bagley still does plenty of things well at this stage and will make a difference with his athletic ability and energy around the basket.


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5. Dallas Mavericks: Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas | Fr.
Dallas needs to fill a long-term void in its frontcourt, and Bamba’s high-end defensive potential makes him a worthwhile player to invest resources in long-term. His wingspan measured in an inch longer than expected at the combine, at an absurd 7'10". Provided he can fill out a bit physically, Bamba is almost certain to impact the game as a rim protector with his sheer, difference-making verticality. His offensive game is rudimentary, but his ski1l level and touch around the basket continues to improve and he might be able to space the floor as he becomes more confident in his jumper. It’s still unlikely Bamba becomes someone you run offense through, but if he becomes as dominant as he could be defensively, you’ll take what you can get. Chief concerns from NBA teams have centered on his competitiveness, which he can help address during the pre-draft process, and he’s begun to impress teams and fans alike with his personality.




6. Orlando Magic: Wendell Carter, C, Duke | Fr.
Orlando will be looking for the best player on the board here, and with last year’s first-rounder Jonathan Isaac still in his early stages of development, the Magic will want to ensure they get a bankable return with this pick. Carter is widely viewed around the league as a prospect with a high chance of reaching his full potential, and with few holes in his ski1l set. At Duke, Carter was often overshadowed by Bagley, but wasn’t actually that far behind him in terms of productivity and was also forced into a more flexible support role in order to help the team run. He has a clean jump shot that projects to three-point range, good touch and footwork on the inside, and is a good (though not elite) athlete. Carter offers a nice mix of talent and intangibles, with his main knock being a lack of elite vertical lift.



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7. Chicago Bulls: Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri | Fr.
Porter’s situation remains a bit cloudy, and a lot will hang on how his medical information checks out. Given the level of doubt surrounding his back after having surgery, a top-five landing spot feels like a stretch. Some of his luster has worn off in the past six months, but Porter was well-regarded in high school and his ability to score the ball could be a long-term boost for Chicago, who were said to be high on him coming into the season. Guys with his size and ski1l level will always warrant opportunities. There are concerns beyond his long-term health—his lack of interest in playmaking for others as well as his mobility on the defensive end are worth questioning.


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8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma | Fr.
The specter of LeBron James’ future will hang over this pick whether warranted or not, but the Cavs simply could use some young talent regardless. Cleveland can nab a successor to Kyrie Irving in this spot, where Trae Young and Collin s3xton, the draft’s two top point guards, could be available. Young’s high-end shooting ability and unique flair for the game give him some real upside despite a lack of standout physical traits. He’s slippery off the dribble and showed flashes of special talent early in the season, able to score from deep, initiate offense and find teammates off the drive. Defensively, Young will be a question mark, but if he maximizes his ability to shoot and playmaker, it could mitigate that issue.


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9. New York Knicks: Mikal Bridges, SF, Villanova | Jr.
The Knicks’ bra$s has said publicly that they want the best player available at this spot, but given the wings available here, going that direction appears sensible unless another player slips into this range. While he lacks starry upside, Bridges is a pretty safe bet to become a useful defender and perimeter shooter. He’s a smooth athlete whose ability to space the floor and guard multiple positions makes him an easy theoretical fit in any lineup. He‘s not perfect—creating his own shot off the dribble is a weakness, and some around the league feel the actual caliber of his man-to-man defense may have been oversold somewhat over the course of Villanova’s title run. But as a supporting scorer and versatile cog with his degree of athletic gifts, Bridges should be able to carve out a substantial place for himself and become a starting-caliber player.


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10. Philadelphia 76ers: Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State | So.
Bridges’ unique game won’t make sense with every personnel group, but may be an ideal fit for the Sixers, who play more of a fluid positional style with Ben Simmons at the point and could use another athlete to run the floor. He’s a strong, powerful player who thrives in tr@nsition and can knock down open shots. He’s physically competent, a good rebounder and ski1led enough to provide a baseline level of utility. Questions remain about how legitimate a floor-spacer Bridges will be and how much of a defensive plus he can become but he has the tools to be a valuable combo forward if he puts his mind to it. He seemed to view himself as more of a finesse scorer at Michigan State, but reinventing himself as a two-way standout would make him a much more intriguing player for the long-term.


11. Charlotte Hornets: Collin s3xton, PG, Alabama | Fr.
With Mitch Kupchak running the front office and James Borrego in place as head coach, the Hornets will chart their direction with personnel changes over the next couple months. There was trade talk surrounding Kemba Walker last season, and his deal will be up next summer, making s3xton a candidate in this spot as a long-term successor at the point. He’s known as a worker off the court, and has a knack for getting downhill and into the paint despite a lack of great size. He’ll be able to score at the NBA level, but the concerns stem from how much he can make his teammates better, something that didn’t emerge much in his year at Alabama.


12. Los Angeles Clippers: Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky | Fr.
Los Angeles doesn’t have many long-term pieces on the roster and is trying to rebuild on the fly, with the fate of these consecutive first-rounders pivotal to their hopes for the next few seasons and beyond. Knox is still figuring it out, but has a lot of appealing tools and should be able to impact games as a scorer as he matures physically and learns the game. Athletic players in his mold are in demand right now, and he offers an appealing blank slate at a valuable position. He appears to still be getting used to his body and is one of the youngest players in the draft, which leaves room for optimism as he builds out his offensive ski1l set and gets used to putting the ball on the floor more often.


13. Los Angeles Clippers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky | Fr.
In this scenario the Clippers grab two Kentucky players and get much younger, with Gilgeous-Alexander’s intriguing, unique profile becoming a long-term backcourt piece. He’s not ready for big minutes, but given L.A.’s current setup wouldn’t be forced into major minutes. Given his size, length and instincts as a defender, Gilgeous-Alexander should become a valuable player in today’s league, able to help move the ball, match up against bigger wings and help space the floor as his shooting improves and his confidence grows. He showed major improvement over the course of the season at Kentucky, and that capacity to adjust quickly and deal with adversity should play in his favor.


14.Denver Nuggets: Robert Williams, C, Texas A&M | So.
The Nuggets are facing some short-term pressure to get over the hump and into the playoffs, but there also may not be many immediate-help options worth reaching for at No. 14. Williams drew some scrutiny from teams after skipping the combine entirely, but he’s a big-time athlete and natural fit into a rim-running, energy role if he can up the consistency of his effort. As someone who doesn’t need heavy touches, he could thrive playing off of Nikola Jokic along the baseline and help clean up misses. Williams can be frustrating, and there are questions about his drive to max out his ability, but he’s physically ready for the league and with the right level of nurture and growth could become a legitimate starter at center.


15. Washington Wizards: Lonnie Walker, SG, Miami | Fr.
Washington will feel a cap crunch next season and brings back almost its entire rotation at cost, barring any major moves. There may not be much immediate help worth reaching for at this spot, and investing in the best talent available is the prudent choice. Walker was a mixed bag this season and hasn’t figured out how to consistently impose himself on games yet, but his explosiveness and ability to get to the rim should keep him from falling too far out of the lottery, if at all. That coupled with the fact he can shoot and is a theoretically useful defender has some added appeal. The hope would be that he becomes a capable scorer and rotation piece in a couple of seasons.


Last edited by Southpaw; 05-21-2018 at 10:24 PM..



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