In the midst of the wildly emotional NBA Conference Finals, the NBA Draft Lottery has taken place, and the combine has begun in Chicago. Now that we know the draft order for later this June, it’s time to assess the talent pool and consider where each of the top 14 players will start their NBA careers.
Mock Draft 1.0 (where they’ll end up):
Suns: Luka Doncic
Kings: DeAndre Ayton
Hawks: Marvin Bagley III
Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson, Jr.
Mavericks: Mo Bamba
Magic: Trae Young
Bulls: Michael Porter, Jr.
Cavaliers: Mikal Bridges
Knicks: Miles Bridges
76er’s: Wendell Carter, Jr.
Hornets: Kevin Knox
Clippers: Collin Sexton
Clippers: Robert Williams
Nuggets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Big Board 1.0 (raw player ranks):
Luka Doncic (↔ from mock)
DeAndre Ayton (↔)
Michael Porter, Jr. (↑4)
Jaren Jackson, Jr. (↔)
Collin Sexton (↑7)
Marvin Bagley III (↓3)
Kevin Knox (↑4)
Mo Bamba (↓3)
Trae Young (↓3)
Mikal Bridges (↓2)
Wendell Carter, Jr. (↓1)
Miles Bridges (↓3)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (↑1)
Khyri Thomas (N/R in mock)
Player Profiles (in order of mock):
Luka Doncic
Shades of LeBron James, James Harden, Manu Ginobili
Though I have barely seen him play, all reports indicate that Doncic is a transcendent passer and especially deadly in the fast break. Also, his reported feel for the game, handles, and maturity are off the charts. He has the potential to be a less athletic version of LeBron James.
DeAndre Ayton
Shades of DeMarcus Cousins, Karl-Anthony Towns
The 50-year-old-looking offensive beast averaged 20.1 PPG and 11.6 RPG on 62.5% (eFG%). Boasting a strong, wide frame, Ayton has demonstrated the ability to dominate in the post. However, despite his solid shooting in the mid-range, his 3-point shot is fairly undeveloped. His one downside is his poor defense, which could be an issue--especially if he’s not producing offensively.
Marvin Bagley III
Shades of Michael Beasley
Like Ayton, Bagley put up monster numbers in his lone collegiate season: 21 PPG and 11.1 RPG on 64% (eFG%). His explosive athleticism and skilled scoring moves will make him an immediate contributor in the Association. His defense, though, is also his main weakness. If the Atlanta Hawks do take him at No. 3, he’ll join fellow freak athlete John Collins.
Jaren Jackson, Jr.
Shades of Myles Turner
When I first saw this kid play on TV, he stood out like a man among boys. Standing just over 6’11” with a nearly 7.5-foot wingspan, Jackson averaged 3 blocks per game at Michigan State. His ability to shoot from the outside makes him a very promising prospect.
Mo Bamba
Shades of Rudy Gobert, Clint Capela, Tyson Chandler
Speaking of standing out with height and wingspan, Bamba is almost 7’1” with a whopping 7’10” wingspan! In fact, his standing reach is 9’7.5”, meaning that without jumping, his fingers are just 4.5 inches under the rim. Though he is thin and may not adjust to the NBA’s pace and space style quickly, this thunderous dunk displays his unbelievable length and potential.
Trae Young
Shades of Stephen Curry, Trey Burke
Likely the most polarizing player in college hoops this season not named Grayson Allen, Young’s highlights were jaw-dropping and his lowlights horrific. He led all of Division I in scoring and assisting, but he fizzled out down the stretch of the season. His limitless range and quick release give him the potential to be great, but his all-too-frequent turnovers and poor defense could find him exposed early on.
Michael Porter, Jr.
Shades of Kevin Durant, Otto Porter, Jr., Harrison Barnes
If he hadn’t missed all but two games this season due to a back injury, I think that Porter would be a top-3 pick. He’s roughly 6’11” and has mature offensive moves--stepbacks, fadeaways, pull ups, etc. Based on his smooth, assassin-like arsenal of moves, he has great potential to be the next Kevin Durant.
Mikal Bridges
Shades of Tayshaun Prince, Tony Snell
When I got to see this kid play in person at the East Regionals in Boston, I noticed one thing with him right away: His arms go on forever. In fact, his wingspan is 7’2”, 7 inches longer than his height. He’s a good team player who shuts down opposing competitors on defense and can make timely 3-point shots. Watch here as he throws down a massive dunk and then blocks a shot on the defensive end.
Miles Bridges
Shades of Justin Anderson, Justise Winslow, Tobias Harris
This Bridges received much more of the national spotlight, but I project him to go closely after Mikal in my mock and two spots behind him on my big board. His energy and athleticism--which would benefit him on a big-market team like the Knicks--are his main selling points, but he quietly has a respectable 3-point shot for a guy that doesn’t look like a very good shooter. If he can improve his ball handling and passing, he’ll be a terrific versatile wing in today’s NBA.
Wendell Carter, Jr.
Shades of Mo Speights, Al Horford
If it weren't for Bagley III reclassifying in 2017, Carter would’ve been the main guy at Duke this past season. Carter, Jr. stands in at 6’10” but possess a 7’4.5” wingspan, far better than his former teammate. Though he doesn’t have eye-popping athleticism, he is a strong rebounder with soft hands and a nice jumper. In my mock, I have him going to the Sixers with the thinking that he’ll be a better backup big than Amir Johnson.
Kevin Knox
Shades of Jayson Tatum, Tobias Harris
When I first saw him play, I thought, This guy looks and plays just like Jayson Tatum. Unfortunately for him, though, he’s not as good as Tatum (yes, maybe a little Celtics bias). Nonetheless, he already has a mature and savvy offensive skill set (similar to Porter, Jr.), but he is a subpar passer and defender. I think he’ll go to the Hornets at No. 11 because Charlotte is known for acquiring talented wings (Batum, Lamb, Kidd-Gilchrist, Monk).
Collin Sexton
Shades of Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Beverly, Donovan Mitchell
If anybody has the chance to be next year’s Donovan Mitchell, Sexton is the guy. I really loved watching him play because of his intensity and resolute mindset. He’s about 6’2” (similar to Mitchell) and also possesses a long wingspan (6’7.25”). Though Sexton’s wingspan is not as impressive as Mitchell’s absurd 6’10” reach, his style of play draws comparisons as well: both are fearless drivers, underrated 3-point shooters, and play on-ball defense with their palms facing the ground. As someone who has adopted the palm-down defense in my own game, I can say that it improves lower body balance and deflection percentage. Plus, he can carry a less talented team on his back (*cough* ‘Bama) just like Mitchell did this year with Utah. To me, Sexton should be a top-5 player in this draft class.
Robert Williams
Shades of DeAndre Jordan, Clint Capela
Williams is 6’9” but has a 7’5” wingspan that combines with elite athleticism to throw down massive dunks and block shots. Considering that his shot is awful, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Clippers take him at either 12 or 13 as a potential replacement or complementary player to DeAndre Jordan. Watch here as he hammers a windmill dunk.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shades of Michael Carter-Williams, Shaun Livingston, Patrick McCaw
Gilgeous-Alexander quickly emerged as the lead PG at Kentucky this past season, and for good reason. He’s a crafty ball handler with great length and good game management skills. His main area of improvement is his shot.
Khyri Thomas
Shades of Kawhi Leonard, Victor Oladipo, Marcus Smart
This man makes defense look fun. With a wingspan almost 7 inches longer than his height, Thomas can swarm offensive players and (often) rip the ball out of their hands. He has great technique and balance on defense and picks up a ton of deflections and steals, which he uses to spring an easy fast break bucket. He has a decent 3-point stroke, so if he can become a better ball handler, he’ll turn into a key piece on a good NBA team. Take a look at some of his defensive highlights.
(Stats via The Ringer)
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