The NBA draft is right around the corner! So of course like NBA fan that keeps a close eye on everything occurring in the league, I couldn't help but make my own mock draft. This is Part One of my Three part mock draft, projecting the first seven prospects to be selected in the 2018 NBA Lottery.
1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, Center
Honestly to me, this a no-brainer. I know a lot of people are going to ask "Well what about the fact that the Suns just hired European prospect, Luka Doncic's past coach Igor Kokoskov in the Euro League?" There are two points that can easily counteract that question. 1st – You CAN NOT teach 7'1. Ayton is a 7'1 Center with an NBA body and a plethora of ways to get a bucket. With his frame, his post presence and his developing three-point shot (shot over 30% from the 3pt line this past year) it is almost impossible to pass on. 2nd – He is a hometown kid. The Suns have been a declining franchise since the departure of Steve Nash and Mike D'Antoni and they need a spark to get the fan base back behind them. By adding Ayton, who just recently played his freshman season at Arizona University and pairing him with the young talent of Devin Booker and Josh Jackson, the fans will have a strong young core to rally around. Deandre Ayton = Definitely #1.
2. Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley, Power Forward
I feel like the Kings need a Small Forward/Power Forward badly. Besides Demarcus Cousins, the last time the Kings had a really talented frontcourt player was Chris Webber and that was over a decade ago. Zach Randolph and Willie Cauley Stein are good players, but they need some who can really contribute in the frontcourt to help rookie Point Guard De'aaron Fox, take a huge leap in Year Two. Marvin Bagley is the answer. Luka Doncic is/could possibly be a better player, but he is a ball dominant player who is used to playing the Point Guard/Shooting Guard positions in the Euro League. Bagley is active in the post and you can almost definitely pencil him in for 15+ points and 8 – 10 rebounds a game.
3. Atlanta Hawks: Luka Doncic, Point Guard/Shooting Guard
A perfect fit and the best available player hands down. With their current point guard, Dennis Schroder, actively showing on social media that he wants out of Atlanta, Luka is the perfect player to plug in his place. Luka is naturally a Point Guard and is a 19 year old pro who has been playing pro basketball for Real Madrid in the Euro League, considered the 2nd best league in the world. Luka is a playmaker, which regardless of position, the Hawks need a playmaker to go get them buckets on a consistent basis.
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson, Power Forward
The Grizzlies have openly expressed that don't look to start a rebuild. Considering all the injuries, it looks like they're planning to stick with their main stars, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. When the Grizzlies were contending like the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder, they relied on a dominating post presence from the Power Forward and Center positions. Jackson could be a really good addition alongside Gasol with his length and developing mid-range game that could help the Grizzlies turn back the clock to when they dominated the low block.
5. Dallas Mavericks: Mo Bamba, Center
With the Mavericks in rebuild mode and Dirk Nowitzki going into his 21st season, they need to work on ushering in a new big man to step in and anchor the paint. Bamba's 6'11 stature and 8'0 wingspan could easily make him a Rudy Gobert 2.0 type player by being an active center defensively and on the boards. He also gives their young star Point Guard, Dennis Smith Jr. a big guy to throw the ball to in the paint and a defensive presence that the Mavericks have not have not had since Tyson Chandler in their 2011 championship season.
6. Orlando Magic: Michael Porter Jr., Small Forward
Despite the injury-riddled freshman season at Missouri, Porter is simply too good of a talent to let slip too far out of the Top Five. Prior to his injury, he was considered a Top Two prospect if not the consensus #1 overall pick and he is the standard for "position-less players in this upcoming draft. With perimeter ball skills like ball handling, three-point shooting, and a mid-range game that's on par with a player like Paul George in combination with a Blake Griffin-like level of athleticism in the paint, Porter simply is too skilled and too talented for a struggling team like the Magic to pass on considering all the holes they have talent wise on the roster. The Magic will hopefully be getting a healthy, NBA ready Michael Porter Jr. and not another Grant Hill type player who's potential is through the roof when healthy, but unfortunately underachieve due to nagging injuries.
7. Chicago Bulls: Wendell Carter Jr., Power Forward
As a Bulls fan it would really pain me to miss out on Michael Porter Jr. by being one pick too late, but this draft is meant to be realistic. Carter may not be considered a better player than Porter, but for the Bulls, he definitely is a perfect fit for their needs at the Power Forward and Center positions. The only big man they have under contract going into next year is Robin Lopez and that's not saying much considering his lack of production. Carter provides length, low post scoring, and proficient passing from the low post that they have not had since the glory days of Joakim Noah. Definitely a great fit and a great piece to the developing young core of Bobby Portis, Denzel Valentine, Zach Lavine, Kris Dunn, and Lauri Markkanen.
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