- Phoenix: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
Would rather see Luka Doncic go here, since new Suns head coach Igor Kokoškov used to coach him overseas, but Ayton is a good fit here as well.
- Sacramento: Luka Doncic, G, Real Madrid
The Kings have depth at every position so the best option here is to take the best player available. I don’t see why Doncic wouldn’t go top 2 in this year’s draft unless Bamba is in the conversation. He’s great in nearly every aspect of basketball besides defense, and is a rare talent.
- Atlanta: Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas
There is too much potential not to take Bamba here.
- Memphis: Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Duke
Not a big fan of Bagley, but someone is going to draft him high regardless. It might as well be Memphis.
- Dallas: Jaren Jackson Jr., C, Michigan State
Not a fan of Jackson Jr. either, but he has a lot of hype coming into this draft, so he’s going to get picked high regardless as well.
- Orlando: Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma
Not only does Orlando need a point guard, they need shooters, and Young helps with both of those needs.
- Chicago: Michael Porter Jr., F, Missouri
The Bulls need a small forward and Porter Jr. fits that need.
- Cleveland: Wendell Carter Jr., C, Duke
Cleveland need a big man, because Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson aren’t cutting it.
- Knicks: Mikal Bridges, Villanova, SF, 6-7, 210
The Knicks are at a tough spot here because this is where the talent and potential pool falls off. But Bridges should still be a decent player regardless.
- Philadelphia (via Lakers): Lonnie Walker, SG, Miami
The Sixers need shooters and Walker has been raved about in his workouts. It wouldn’t be much a reach if he were taken here.
- Charlotte: Kevin Knox, SF/PF, Kentucky
I could see Miles Bridges here as well, but Charlotte could opt to take the forward with more potential.
- L.A. Clippers (via Pistons): Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
Sexton gives the Clippers the point guard they need ever since they lost Chris Paul.
- L.A. Clippers: Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State
The Clippers already filled their need in the draft so they might as well take the best player available.
- Denver: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
This is a player that Denver can use all over the floor.
- Washington: Robert Williams III, C, Texas A&M
Williams III fits Washington’s need in the frontcourt.
- Phoenix (via Heat): Zhaire Smith, SG, Texas Tech
The Suns get the best player available in Smith.
- Milwaukee: Jerome Robinson, SG, Boston College
The Bucks get the scorer they need in Robinson.
- San Antonio: Elie Okobo, G, France
The Spurs get their new point guard and he can replace Tony Parker hopefully.
- Atlanta (via Timberwolves): Troy Brown, F, Oregon
The Hawks draft a player from Oregon for the second straight year and get to fill their need at small forward.
- Minnesota (via Thunder): Chandler Hutchinson, F, Boise St
Tom Thibodeau could try to be petty here and take the player that his old team in the Bulls are coveting so much. Hutchinson is a great underrated player regardless, and should be taken a lot higher than what he likely will be taken at. He looks to be this year’s Kyle Kuzma.
- Utah: Kevin Huerter, G, Maryland
The Jazz could use more shooters for Donovan Mitchell.
- Chicago (via Pelicans): Aaron Holiday, G, UCLA
The Bulls get to pair Holiday with his older brother Justin, but it’s doubtful that he falls this far.
- Indiana: Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State
Bates-Diop is a wing with great size, but it isn’t clear if he can create as much offense as he did in college, on the NBA level.
- Portland: Donte DiVincenzo, G, Villanova
This is a player who can perform well on both floors for Portland. It’s likely that he gets drafted higher than this.
- L.A. Lakers (via Cavaliers): Josh Okogie, SG, Georgia Tech
The Lakers get a solid shooter in Okogie.
- Philadelphia: Grayson Allen, G, Duke
As mentioned previously, Philly needs shooters, and Allen would be a steal at this spot and is a great player who’s underrated in this draft.
- Boston: Mitchell Robinson, C, Chalmette High School
The Celtics need a center so might as well use a low pick for a possible high reward.
- Golden State: De’Anthony Melton, G, USC
Melton can be a solid backup guard behind Steph Curry.
- Nets: Moritz Wagner, C, Michigan
Wagner would be a great compliment to Jarret Allen. He’s a very underrated big man in this draft, and has potential to be a great starter in this league.
- Atlanta: Dzanan Musa, G, Bosnia
With the last pick in the first round, Atlanta might as well take a risk here and pick Musa as he’s good at creating his own offense, but he just needs time to develop
2018 NBA Mock Draft
By Honcho Knickels
