Post by tadster00 on Jun 21, 2018 14:54:19 GMT -5
The 2018 NBA Draft class is top heavy with NBA-ready, multi-talented big men. Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Mo Bamba, and Jaren Jackson Jr have all shown the ability to play and impact at the next level. In today's NBA, big men have to have guard qualities to succeed in the league. Guys like Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Dwight Howard, Joel Embiid, and Tim Duncan have all shown those qualities and all are guys that will be stars in the league for a long time.
While many are focused on these 7 foot wonders, others fail to realize this is discretely one of the deepest drafts in this century. Many of the guys drafted on Thursday could shake up the dynamic of the NBA for years to come.
WITH THE FIRST PICK IN THE 2018 NBA DRAFT, the Phoenix Suns Select..
1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona; Fr.
Ayton was a formidable force for the Wildcats winning Pac-12 Freshman AND Player of the Year honors. Standing 7'0" and weighing 260lbs, he was an impossible matchup at the college level. He averaged 20.1ppg, 11.6rpg, and shot a whopping 61.2% from the floor. Scouts have been drooling over this guy since he was in junior high. He has a truly solid all-around skillset. He can roll to the basket off of pick and rolls, or slip and spot up and shoot. Either way, if you're the defender, you're wrong. He'll put the entire city of Phoenix on his shoulders as he tries to get the Suns into the playoffs for the first time since 2010 when Nash and Stoudemire will still running the hottest show in the desert(had to look that up to make sure I was talking about cake).
2. Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Duke; Fr
We're not exactly sure where the other 2 Marvin Bagley's are, but no one ever questioned Trey's presence. MG3 truly believes he should've been the first overall pick, especially because he's from Phoenix, and he is gonna be PISSED his whole career. I predict he'll average a whole 22ppg career vs the Suns. Really though, I watched a lot of this guy and unfortunately Duke played way too much 2-3 zone to really get a grasp on how good/bad this guy is defensively. The first things I noticed about him is his motor, especially on the offensive glass. He's a quick jumper and a great decision maker. As his outside shooting improves, so will his overall effectiveness in the league. If he can score at all three levels--watch out NBA. Bagley averaged 21ppg, 11.1 rpg, and shot 61.4% from the floor in his one year at Duke.
3. Atlanta Hawks: Mo Bamba, C, Texas; Fr
I know what you're thinking, What about that white guy who's name I can't pronounce?. Well first of all, that's racist, Bbills. And secondly, that's right, 3 big men are being drafted in the top 3 since I don't know when...really I don't know and have 27 more picks to go so I'm not looking it up. One expert called Mo Bamba a mix of Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid..slow your role, Jeff. However, Mo Bamba is 7'0" tall and 240lbs, but his wingspan is a whopping 7'10"!! As someone who aligned myself more geographically this year and watched nearly every Texas Tech basketball game, I can say that I was also worried when my Raiders were about to go toe-to-toe with Bamba and the Longhorns. He seemed grow every game, physically and skillfully. He could block just about any shot at the college level and his offensive game because more outstanding with every game. All I've heard about him is that Shaka Smart misused him offensively. Supposedly, Mo is a nightmare as a face-up post player. We'll see. But the Hawks, at the very least, land a defensive centerpiece that many playoff teams are built around such as Rudy Gobert, Joel Embiid, DeAndre Jordan, and Dwight Howard(hey, we're talking defense here, not baby mommas)
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Luka Doncic, G, Real Madrid; 19
Memphis at 4 is in both the best and worst place they've been in a long time. While they finally have a top 5 pick, they also don't have any cap space, and even if they did--who really wants to play in Memphis? Memphis has made some very questionable signings, specifically Conley and Parsons. This pick may be the most important for any of the teams in the top 5 this year. It needs to be a home-run. Doncic is the most complete wing in this draft. While he's not an elite athlete, he can do so many things with the ball. His playmaking is what will get him into the league, improving his shooting is what will keep him in the league. At 6'8" 220lbs, he has an NBA ready body and his skillset is barely scratching the surface according to many. He averaged just 14.9ppg, 5.2rpg, and 4.6apg this year in all competitions(Phil can explain how all this weird Euroleague stuff works), so he'll have to prove he can play against the best. I hope he comes over for the summer league.
5. Dallas Mavericks: Trae Young, G, Oklahoma; Fr
Young is undoubtedly the best guard in the draft. He's not a very big guy, to say the least, at 6'1" and 180lbs, but his skillset is unmatched in this draft. Unlimited shooting that hasn't been seen in college basketball since Jimmer, and playmaking that hasn't been seen since Kemba Walker. He's somewhat of a liability on defense, but NBA teams hope his positives on offense outweigh the negatives on the other end. Nobody thinks Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, or Steph Curry are exactly defensive stoppers. Young will be an intriguing guy to follow in the NBA. He could be the best NBA point guard in the league in 5 years, or could be remembered just like Jimmer is.
6. Orlando Magic: Michael Porter Jr, G/SF, Missouri; Fr
6'10" small forwards are taking over the NBA, and Porter has the talent to continue that trend. He's built almost exactly like Ben Simmons, but Porter is much more of a scorer than a playmaker. However, if you told me his real name is Brandon Roy Jr, I'd believe you. This guy as the most broken body of any potential lottery pick this year. Some teams have reported that their medical personal has told the front office to stay far away from him. A healthy Porter would go #1 in this draft without a doubt. But when arguably the most important quality of a franchise player is health/longevity, his health concerns could make him fall further than 6. Cuban is optimistic though and will take what he can get with Porter. Porter played in only 3 games for Missouri this year.
7. Chicago Bulls: Jarren Jackson Jr, PF/C, Michigan State; Fr
The rebuilding continues in Bull City, and those 90's banners are getting closer to the court every year with the patience of Chicagoans(Chicagonites? Chicagans? Chics?) growing very thin. Since Tyrus Thomas isn't available, Chicago will have to settle with the stud freshman from Sparty. Jaren Jackson Jr has championship pedigree in his blood. His pops, JJ Sr, won a chip with the San Antonio Spurs in '99(And it took me all of 10 months to realize THAT Jaren Jackson was his poppa). Jackson might be the most versatile defender out of these bigs and arguably the best athlete.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Wendell Carter Jr, PF/C, Duke; Fr
Newly named GM LeBron James will decided to stay in Cleveland and trade Wendell in a package for other talent. Wendell is the best available player with the most complete low-post game since Jahlil Okafor(hey, no one's doubted that right?). He's probably got the highest floor of any freshman in the draft. He can impact teams immediately.
9. New York Knicks: Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama; Fr
The Knickerbockers have been the worst big market team for what seems like forever. The Unicorn was hurt last year, so that didn't help, but the timing couldn't have been better. The Knicks lucked out here and drafted Collin Sexton, the most complete and true point guard in the draft. I don't personally believe Avery Johnson used him correctly at Bama. Sexton was an elite defender at the college level and will surprise everyone with how good he is offensively. The Knicks get a franchise point guard here at 9.
10. Philadelphia 76ers: Mikal Bridges, SF, Villanova; Jr
One of the things that makes the 76ers so dangerous going forward is how versatile their stars are. Embiid can guard nearly every position, and most at an elite level. He can also score from every level. Ben Simmons is a 6'10" point guard. The 76ers could draft the most versatile wing defender in this year's draft by taking Bridges at 10. He may be the most pro-ready with his all around game. He's a career 3 and D guy at the least. He'll look like a steal right away.
11. Charlotte Hornets: Kevin Knox, SG/SF, Kentucky; Fr
Kevin Knox is my sleeper pick this year, although a lot of mocks have him continuing to rise. He's a 6'9" swingman that can really score. He'll be exciting to watch in the space of the NBA. He can really shoot it from deep and also has a knack of creating off the dribble for himself and teammates. Remember the name.
12. Los Angeles Clippers: Lonnie Walker, PG, Miami; Fr
Walker is a 6'5" scoring point guard who loves to attack the basket and is an above-average finisher around the rim. He's also an underrated outside shooter. He's the most athletic point guard in the draft that did things in college that reminded people of Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook. His 2 assists per game seem like a big dent in his ability to play right away, but we've seen other athletic point guards dominate at the NBA level.
13. Los Angeles Clippers: Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M; Fr
The Clippers have been rumored to have been high on Williams for some time due to the fact that DeAndre Jordan will most likely test free agency this off-season. Williams was inconsistent though in his one year at A&M. At times, he carried the Aggies to wins, and at other times he watched his team lose games. When he plays hard, he's an energy guy who goes after every rebound and flies through the air to block shots. Doc will try to bring out the beast every night.
14. Denver Nuggets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky; Fr
The Nuggets are building something very interesting. If they were in the Eastern conference, many believe they'd be right there with the 76ers. The Nuggets know who their star is in Nikola Jokic. Murray and Harris are a backcourt the Denver front office believes in, but neither one is necessarily a true point guard. SGA is the choice here. He's a 6'6" true point guard who can do a little bit of everything. He's only 180lbs so he'll need some time, but he looks like he could be a great piece to help run the show and complement Murray and Jokic for years to come.
15. Washington Wizards: Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State; So
Here's that word again: versatility. Bridges may embody that more than anyone drafted so far. He's a guy who's quick enough to guard backcourt players, but has the size and strength to hold his own against frontcourt players. With Jarren Jackson in the middle for the Spartans this year, Bridges played a lot more on the perimeter and his shooting percentage slipped. Personally, I think he's a guy that will need to hang his hat on the defensive end to make it into the league right away. He's a guy that's played in big pressure moments and had to carry his team at times. He's a guy that could play right away for the Wizards and possibly slip to the stretch 4 and allow the Wizards to run.
16. Phoenix Suns: Donte Divincenzo, G, Villanova; So
The Suns don't necessarily have a direction yet, but they know they need to build a winning culture. DD is the reigning Final Four MOP and can really shoot it. he was the super 6th man for the Wildcats this year. One thing we know for sure about Nova guys is that when they get into the pros, they're ready to be pros. Diincenzo brings toughness and, again, versatility to the Suns backcourt. He can play the point and allow Booker to run through screens, or he can play the 2 and hit the ground running. He's not a starter right away, but he's a great locker room guy and someone you want around when you're building something special.
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Jerome Robinson, G, Boston College; Jr
Robinson is one of the older guys drafted so far, and the most pro-ready scorer. He's a 6'4" guard that can play both backcourt positions. He'll be a career role player, but a good one. The Greak Freak needs shooters around him and that's where Robinson hangs his hat. He's a safe play here and someone that will complement your star. That's what picks in the teens are for.
18. San Antonio Spurs: Zhaire Smith, G, Texas Tech; Fr
Smith is THE BEST pound for pound athlete in the draft. Let's fade it, I could've had Smith going in Phoenix, but I wanted my team to get my favorite player in the draft. Smith has the most upside of anyone mentioned so far. He's a 6'4" guard who can go up and guard SF's in this league. When Texas Tech's center got hurt, Smith was the one asked to go out and win the opening tips..and he did. This kid can fly. Ball Handling is going to be his biggest hurdle followed by shooting. He'll be as good as he wants to be in this league. The Spurs may or may not have big shoes to fill this off-season, but it's clear that Tony and Manu are on their last legs, and Danny Green should've been dealt two years ago.
19. Atlanta Hawks: Kevin Huerter, SG, Maryland; So
I really don't know anything about this guy, but he's a 6'7" guard who can shoot lights out. These guys are must-haves in today's game.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Troy Brown, SF, Oregon; Fr
Brown is one of the youngest players in the draft still being 18 years old. Brown is a 6'7" wing that came on a little bit late in the season as he figured out the college game. He'll need to improve his shooting to solidify a role in the league, but defensively he's there. Thibs doesn't play rookies though, so this guy may be helping his G-League team win a championship this year.
21. Utah Jazz: Aaron Holiday, PG, ULCA; Jr
It's clear the Utah Jazz are changing gears into contending, and what they need is a pick who can come in and help right away. Holiday fills the backup point guard hole that was clear when Rubio went down this off-season. Holiday is a scoring point guard who can be a great asset coming off the bench.
22. Chicago Bulls: Chandler Hutchinson, SF, Boise State; Sr
And there we have it, the first senior taken. Hutchinson is pro-ready and has all the tools to be an immediate impact. Think Kyle Koozma but at the SF position. His offensive game far outweighs what he can do defensively, but he's a great pick here.
23. Indiana Pacers: Mitchell Robinson, C, Western Kentucky; Fr
By Taking Robinson here, the Pacers get an athletic shotblocking big man to play next to Myles Turner. He averaged 25ppg, 12rpg, and 6 blocks in his last year of high school. He didn't play a single game at Western Kentucky. Meaning he hasn't played a game of basketball in over a year. That's the major risk here. He also was invited to the NBA combine, but withdrew his name the day of the combine. He's got commitment issues that compare to Mrs. Gr8. At 7'0" 223 lbs, he's built a lot like Anthony Davis was coming in, and has similar athleticism and defensive abilities. There's not a more unstable guy in this draft, but it's also hard to find someone this late with star potential.
24. Portland Trailblazers: Josh Okogie, SG, Georgia Tech; So
What the Blazers have desperately been missing is that third guy that can score. Preferably off the bench. That's not who Okogie is, but he could be. He's a 6'4" guard that could potentially play both guard positions.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State; Sr
I don't really know anything about this guy, but Magic loves him. He's already got a diss track about the Ball family. He'll fit in perfectly.
26. Philadelphia 76ers: De'Anthony Melton, G, USC; So
Melton was unable to play this season due to being a "victim" of the FBI's investigation into tampering in college basketball. Melton has been called a Swiss Army Knife at guard. He's a guy that could add even more depth to the 76ers front court. And depending on whether or not the 76ers are able to trade Fultz+picks, this may not even be their pick here.
27. Boston Celtics: Grayson Allen, G, Duke; Sr
The Celtics roster doesn't look to have a lot of obvious holes, especially with their two highest paid players coming back from season-ending injuries. What the Celtics need to do is draft the best available player. Grayson Allen has shown an ability to trip even the best players. But he's also shown that he has a complete offensive game that is built around his shooting ability and his athleticism. He has become more adept at shooting off the dribble as his career in college progressed. Antics aside(yeah that's big), and Allen is probably the most refined player in the draft. He could be a sixth man right away for a lot of teams, but he'll look to add depth right away for Brad Stevens.
28. Golden State Warriors: Jalen Brunson, G, Villanova; Jr
The Warriors are in a similar situation as the Celtics, just looking to add depth. Although they did just sign Quinn Cook to a 2 year deal, Cook is not a true point guard who can be relied upon to run an offense. Brunson is a jack of all trades at point guard. He showed the ability to post up weaker guards, blow past slower guards, and shoot over bigger guards. He can do a little bit of everything. And in last year's championship game, he showed that he wants to win more than anything--he sat on the bench the entire second half watching his team win the National Championship. His role, however, can be diminished because of that.
29. Brooklyn Nets: Dzanan Musa, SF, KK Cedevita; 18
I know literally nothing about this guy, but is the second highest rated European prospect. Cool.
30. Atlanta Hawks: Moritz Wagner, C, Michigan; Jr
Mo Wagner is the definition of stretch big. The Hawks have their third pick here and are looking to take the best available. Wagner can come in and fill a role right away. At 6'11" his energy is going to produce a lot of rebounds as well. His major weakness will be defending the pick and roll, but his shooting ability may make him less of a liability.
Now for my 2nd round sleepers:
Trevon Duval, PG, Duke; Fr: This guy has been over-criticized IMO. He played with 2 7-footers clogging the paint. He is a guy that could be scary in open space. He's an elite athlete at the PG position who will need to improve his shooting. I don't think he was truly able to showcase himself this year at Duke due to the fact that Duke was mostly a halfcourt team(and why not with those giants?). I'm eager to see how many people he could surprise in the coming years.
Jevon Carter, G, West Virginia; Sr: He'll be a rookie that can play right away. Hangs his hat on full-court defense. He put the Press in Press Virginia this year. He offensive numbers went up every single year. He's a suitable outside shooter as well. I could see him playing alongside a ball dominant star such as KD, LeBron, Harden, or Giannis.
While many are focused on these 7 foot wonders, others fail to realize this is discretely one of the deepest drafts in this century. Many of the guys drafted on Thursday could shake up the dynamic of the NBA for years to come.
WITH THE FIRST PICK IN THE 2018 NBA DRAFT, the Phoenix Suns Select..
1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona; Fr.
Ayton was a formidable force for the Wildcats winning Pac-12 Freshman AND Player of the Year honors. Standing 7'0" and weighing 260lbs, he was an impossible matchup at the college level. He averaged 20.1ppg, 11.6rpg, and shot a whopping 61.2% from the floor. Scouts have been drooling over this guy since he was in junior high. He has a truly solid all-around skillset. He can roll to the basket off of pick and rolls, or slip and spot up and shoot. Either way, if you're the defender, you're wrong. He'll put the entire city of Phoenix on his shoulders as he tries to get the Suns into the playoffs for the first time since 2010 when Nash and Stoudemire will still running the hottest show in the desert(had to look that up to make sure I was talking about cake).
2. Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Duke; Fr
We're not exactly sure where the other 2 Marvin Bagley's are, but no one ever questioned Trey's presence. MG3 truly believes he should've been the first overall pick, especially because he's from Phoenix, and he is gonna be PISSED his whole career. I predict he'll average a whole 22ppg career vs the Suns. Really though, I watched a lot of this guy and unfortunately Duke played way too much 2-3 zone to really get a grasp on how good/bad this guy is defensively. The first things I noticed about him is his motor, especially on the offensive glass. He's a quick jumper and a great decision maker. As his outside shooting improves, so will his overall effectiveness in the league. If he can score at all three levels--watch out NBA. Bagley averaged 21ppg, 11.1 rpg, and shot 61.4% from the floor in his one year at Duke.
3. Atlanta Hawks: Mo Bamba, C, Texas; Fr
I know what you're thinking, What about that white guy who's name I can't pronounce?. Well first of all, that's racist, Bbills. And secondly, that's right, 3 big men are being drafted in the top 3 since I don't know when...really I don't know and have 27 more picks to go so I'm not looking it up. One expert called Mo Bamba a mix of Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid..slow your role, Jeff. However, Mo Bamba is 7'0" tall and 240lbs, but his wingspan is a whopping 7'10"!! As someone who aligned myself more geographically this year and watched nearly every Texas Tech basketball game, I can say that I was also worried when my Raiders were about to go toe-to-toe with Bamba and the Longhorns. He seemed grow every game, physically and skillfully. He could block just about any shot at the college level and his offensive game because more outstanding with every game. All I've heard about him is that Shaka Smart misused him offensively. Supposedly, Mo is a nightmare as a face-up post player. We'll see. But the Hawks, at the very least, land a defensive centerpiece that many playoff teams are built around such as Rudy Gobert, Joel Embiid, DeAndre Jordan, and Dwight Howard(hey, we're talking defense here, not baby mommas)
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Luka Doncic, G, Real Madrid; 19
Memphis at 4 is in both the best and worst place they've been in a long time. While they finally have a top 5 pick, they also don't have any cap space, and even if they did--who really wants to play in Memphis? Memphis has made some very questionable signings, specifically Conley and Parsons. This pick may be the most important for any of the teams in the top 5 this year. It needs to be a home-run. Doncic is the most complete wing in this draft. While he's not an elite athlete, he can do so many things with the ball. His playmaking is what will get him into the league, improving his shooting is what will keep him in the league. At 6'8" 220lbs, he has an NBA ready body and his skillset is barely scratching the surface according to many. He averaged just 14.9ppg, 5.2rpg, and 4.6apg this year in all competitions(Phil can explain how all this weird Euroleague stuff works), so he'll have to prove he can play against the best. I hope he comes over for the summer league.
5. Dallas Mavericks: Trae Young, G, Oklahoma; Fr
Young is undoubtedly the best guard in the draft. He's not a very big guy, to say the least, at 6'1" and 180lbs, but his skillset is unmatched in this draft. Unlimited shooting that hasn't been seen in college basketball since Jimmer, and playmaking that hasn't been seen since Kemba Walker. He's somewhat of a liability on defense, but NBA teams hope his positives on offense outweigh the negatives on the other end. Nobody thinks Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, or Steph Curry are exactly defensive stoppers. Young will be an intriguing guy to follow in the NBA. He could be the best NBA point guard in the league in 5 years, or could be remembered just like Jimmer is.
6. Orlando Magic: Michael Porter Jr, G/SF, Missouri; Fr
6'10" small forwards are taking over the NBA, and Porter has the talent to continue that trend. He's built almost exactly like Ben Simmons, but Porter is much more of a scorer than a playmaker. However, if you told me his real name is Brandon Roy Jr, I'd believe you. This guy as the most broken body of any potential lottery pick this year. Some teams have reported that their medical personal has told the front office to stay far away from him. A healthy Porter would go #1 in this draft without a doubt. But when arguably the most important quality of a franchise player is health/longevity, his health concerns could make him fall further than 6. Cuban is optimistic though and will take what he can get with Porter. Porter played in only 3 games for Missouri this year.
7. Chicago Bulls: Jarren Jackson Jr, PF/C, Michigan State; Fr
The rebuilding continues in Bull City, and those 90's banners are getting closer to the court every year with the patience of Chicagoans(Chicagonites? Chicagans? Chics?) growing very thin. Since Tyrus Thomas isn't available, Chicago will have to settle with the stud freshman from Sparty. Jaren Jackson Jr has championship pedigree in his blood. His pops, JJ Sr, won a chip with the San Antonio Spurs in '99(And it took me all of 10 months to realize THAT Jaren Jackson was his poppa). Jackson might be the most versatile defender out of these bigs and arguably the best athlete.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Wendell Carter Jr, PF/C, Duke; Fr
Newly named GM LeBron James will decided to stay in Cleveland and trade Wendell in a package for other talent. Wendell is the best available player with the most complete low-post game since Jahlil Okafor(hey, no one's doubted that right?). He's probably got the highest floor of any freshman in the draft. He can impact teams immediately.
9. New York Knicks: Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama; Fr
The Knickerbockers have been the worst big market team for what seems like forever. The Unicorn was hurt last year, so that didn't help, but the timing couldn't have been better. The Knicks lucked out here and drafted Collin Sexton, the most complete and true point guard in the draft. I don't personally believe Avery Johnson used him correctly at Bama. Sexton was an elite defender at the college level and will surprise everyone with how good he is offensively. The Knicks get a franchise point guard here at 9.
10. Philadelphia 76ers: Mikal Bridges, SF, Villanova; Jr
One of the things that makes the 76ers so dangerous going forward is how versatile their stars are. Embiid can guard nearly every position, and most at an elite level. He can also score from every level. Ben Simmons is a 6'10" point guard. The 76ers could draft the most versatile wing defender in this year's draft by taking Bridges at 10. He may be the most pro-ready with his all around game. He's a career 3 and D guy at the least. He'll look like a steal right away.
11. Charlotte Hornets: Kevin Knox, SG/SF, Kentucky; Fr
Kevin Knox is my sleeper pick this year, although a lot of mocks have him continuing to rise. He's a 6'9" swingman that can really score. He'll be exciting to watch in the space of the NBA. He can really shoot it from deep and also has a knack of creating off the dribble for himself and teammates. Remember the name.
12. Los Angeles Clippers: Lonnie Walker, PG, Miami; Fr
Walker is a 6'5" scoring point guard who loves to attack the basket and is an above-average finisher around the rim. He's also an underrated outside shooter. He's the most athletic point guard in the draft that did things in college that reminded people of Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook. His 2 assists per game seem like a big dent in his ability to play right away, but we've seen other athletic point guards dominate at the NBA level.
13. Los Angeles Clippers: Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M; Fr
The Clippers have been rumored to have been high on Williams for some time due to the fact that DeAndre Jordan will most likely test free agency this off-season. Williams was inconsistent though in his one year at A&M. At times, he carried the Aggies to wins, and at other times he watched his team lose games. When he plays hard, he's an energy guy who goes after every rebound and flies through the air to block shots. Doc will try to bring out the beast every night.
14. Denver Nuggets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky; Fr
The Nuggets are building something very interesting. If they were in the Eastern conference, many believe they'd be right there with the 76ers. The Nuggets know who their star is in Nikola Jokic. Murray and Harris are a backcourt the Denver front office believes in, but neither one is necessarily a true point guard. SGA is the choice here. He's a 6'6" true point guard who can do a little bit of everything. He's only 180lbs so he'll need some time, but he looks like he could be a great piece to help run the show and complement Murray and Jokic for years to come.
15. Washington Wizards: Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State; So
Here's that word again: versatility. Bridges may embody that more than anyone drafted so far. He's a guy who's quick enough to guard backcourt players, but has the size and strength to hold his own against frontcourt players. With Jarren Jackson in the middle for the Spartans this year, Bridges played a lot more on the perimeter and his shooting percentage slipped. Personally, I think he's a guy that will need to hang his hat on the defensive end to make it into the league right away. He's a guy that's played in big pressure moments and had to carry his team at times. He's a guy that could play right away for the Wizards and possibly slip to the stretch 4 and allow the Wizards to run.
16. Phoenix Suns: Donte Divincenzo, G, Villanova; So
The Suns don't necessarily have a direction yet, but they know they need to build a winning culture. DD is the reigning Final Four MOP and can really shoot it. he was the super 6th man for the Wildcats this year. One thing we know for sure about Nova guys is that when they get into the pros, they're ready to be pros. Diincenzo brings toughness and, again, versatility to the Suns backcourt. He can play the point and allow Booker to run through screens, or he can play the 2 and hit the ground running. He's not a starter right away, but he's a great locker room guy and someone you want around when you're building something special.
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Jerome Robinson, G, Boston College; Jr
Robinson is one of the older guys drafted so far, and the most pro-ready scorer. He's a 6'4" guard that can play both backcourt positions. He'll be a career role player, but a good one. The Greak Freak needs shooters around him and that's where Robinson hangs his hat. He's a safe play here and someone that will complement your star. That's what picks in the teens are for.
18. San Antonio Spurs: Zhaire Smith, G, Texas Tech; Fr
Smith is THE BEST pound for pound athlete in the draft. Let's fade it, I could've had Smith going in Phoenix, but I wanted my team to get my favorite player in the draft. Smith has the most upside of anyone mentioned so far. He's a 6'4" guard who can go up and guard SF's in this league. When Texas Tech's center got hurt, Smith was the one asked to go out and win the opening tips..and he did. This kid can fly. Ball Handling is going to be his biggest hurdle followed by shooting. He'll be as good as he wants to be in this league. The Spurs may or may not have big shoes to fill this off-season, but it's clear that Tony and Manu are on their last legs, and Danny Green should've been dealt two years ago.
19. Atlanta Hawks: Kevin Huerter, SG, Maryland; So
I really don't know anything about this guy, but he's a 6'7" guard who can shoot lights out. These guys are must-haves in today's game.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Troy Brown, SF, Oregon; Fr
Brown is one of the youngest players in the draft still being 18 years old. Brown is a 6'7" wing that came on a little bit late in the season as he figured out the college game. He'll need to improve his shooting to solidify a role in the league, but defensively he's there. Thibs doesn't play rookies though, so this guy may be helping his G-League team win a championship this year.
21. Utah Jazz: Aaron Holiday, PG, ULCA; Jr
It's clear the Utah Jazz are changing gears into contending, and what they need is a pick who can come in and help right away. Holiday fills the backup point guard hole that was clear when Rubio went down this off-season. Holiday is a scoring point guard who can be a great asset coming off the bench.
22. Chicago Bulls: Chandler Hutchinson, SF, Boise State; Sr
And there we have it, the first senior taken. Hutchinson is pro-ready and has all the tools to be an immediate impact. Think Kyle Koozma but at the SF position. His offensive game far outweighs what he can do defensively, but he's a great pick here.
23. Indiana Pacers: Mitchell Robinson, C, Western Kentucky; Fr
By Taking Robinson here, the Pacers get an athletic shotblocking big man to play next to Myles Turner. He averaged 25ppg, 12rpg, and 6 blocks in his last year of high school. He didn't play a single game at Western Kentucky. Meaning he hasn't played a game of basketball in over a year. That's the major risk here. He also was invited to the NBA combine, but withdrew his name the day of the combine. He's got commitment issues that compare to Mrs. Gr8. At 7'0" 223 lbs, he's built a lot like Anthony Davis was coming in, and has similar athleticism and defensive abilities. There's not a more unstable guy in this draft, but it's also hard to find someone this late with star potential.
24. Portland Trailblazers: Josh Okogie, SG, Georgia Tech; So
What the Blazers have desperately been missing is that third guy that can score. Preferably off the bench. That's not who Okogie is, but he could be. He's a 6'4" guard that could potentially play both guard positions.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State; Sr
I don't really know anything about this guy, but Magic loves him. He's already got a diss track about the Ball family. He'll fit in perfectly.
26. Philadelphia 76ers: De'Anthony Melton, G, USC; So
Melton was unable to play this season due to being a "victim" of the FBI's investigation into tampering in college basketball. Melton has been called a Swiss Army Knife at guard. He's a guy that could add even more depth to the 76ers front court. And depending on whether or not the 76ers are able to trade Fultz+picks, this may not even be their pick here.
27. Boston Celtics: Grayson Allen, G, Duke; Sr
The Celtics roster doesn't look to have a lot of obvious holes, especially with their two highest paid players coming back from season-ending injuries. What the Celtics need to do is draft the best available player. Grayson Allen has shown an ability to trip even the best players. But he's also shown that he has a complete offensive game that is built around his shooting ability and his athleticism. He has become more adept at shooting off the dribble as his career in college progressed. Antics aside(yeah that's big), and Allen is probably the most refined player in the draft. He could be a sixth man right away for a lot of teams, but he'll look to add depth right away for Brad Stevens.
28. Golden State Warriors: Jalen Brunson, G, Villanova; Jr
The Warriors are in a similar situation as the Celtics, just looking to add depth. Although they did just sign Quinn Cook to a 2 year deal, Cook is not a true point guard who can be relied upon to run an offense. Brunson is a jack of all trades at point guard. He showed the ability to post up weaker guards, blow past slower guards, and shoot over bigger guards. He can do a little bit of everything. And in last year's championship game, he showed that he wants to win more than anything--he sat on the bench the entire second half watching his team win the National Championship. His role, however, can be diminished because of that.
29. Brooklyn Nets: Dzanan Musa, SF, KK Cedevita; 18
I know literally nothing about this guy, but is the second highest rated European prospect. Cool.
30. Atlanta Hawks: Moritz Wagner, C, Michigan; Jr
Mo Wagner is the definition of stretch big. The Hawks have their third pick here and are looking to take the best available. Wagner can come in and fill a role right away. At 6'11" his energy is going to produce a lot of rebounds as well. His major weakness will be defending the pick and roll, but his shooting ability may make him less of a liability.
Now for my 2nd round sleepers:
Trevon Duval, PG, Duke; Fr: This guy has been over-criticized IMO. He played with 2 7-footers clogging the paint. He is a guy that could be scary in open space. He's an elite athlete at the PG position who will need to improve his shooting. I don't think he was truly able to showcase himself this year at Duke due to the fact that Duke was mostly a halfcourt team(and why not with those giants?). I'm eager to see how many people he could surprise in the coming years.
Jevon Carter, G, West Virginia; Sr: He'll be a rookie that can play right away. Hangs his hat on full-court defense. He put the Press in Press Virginia this year. He offensive numbers went up every single year. He's a suitable outside shooter as well. I could see him playing alongside a ball dominant star such as KD, LeBron, Harden, or Giannis.
