2018 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: DeAndre Ayton and Luka Doncic Top Of The Class Author : Andrew Parrish The upcoming 2018 NBA draft is one of the most intriguing in recent memory, with multiple franchise- changing players entering into the league. Those players have the potential to alter the course of the league upon their arrival, but they’ve got to live up to the hype that is being laid out for them in college. Today, we’ll take a look at my prediction for how this draft is going to look when June rolls around. Here is my 2018 NBA Mock Draft 2.0 1. Atlanta Hawks – DeAndre Ayton, C, Arizona, Freshman Ayton is a dominant low-post big on both ends of the floor who will fit in perfectly with John Collins as Atlanta builds their frontcourt of the future. Ayton brings down a lot of rebounds, which is something that the Hawks have always struggled with, so finding a long-term rebounding solution is important for the future of the next great Hawks team. 1 / 7 2. Phoenix Suns – Luka Doncic, G/F, Real Madrid, 18 years old If Ayton falls to the Suns, they almost certainly will take him, but I think the Suns will take the best player available, and Doncic’s fit in Phoenix as a creator next to Devin Booker will be dynamic for years to come. 3. Dallas Mavericks – Marvin Bagley III, F, Duke, Freshman Another “best available” pick, but Bagley is a very intriguing prospect as Dallas looks to replace Dirk in the next few seasons. Bagley is an extremely talented offensive prospect and pairing him with Dennis Smith Jr. could provide a lethal combination that terrorizes the Western Conference in a few years. 4. Orlando Magic – Trae Young, G, Oklahoma, Freshman One of the most dynamic scorers in the NCAA, Young provides whatever team drafts him with a lethal perimeter shooter from almost anywhere inside of half court. Pair that with his distribution skills and Orlando is getting their point guard of the future after the trade of Elfrid Payton at the deadline. 5. Sacramento Kings – Michael Porter Jr., F, Missouri, Freshman Porter Jr. is currently battling a back injury that has sidelined him all season, but the talent is undeniable for Porter, who was the consensus top-ranked recruit coming out of high school. Porter’s game is very unique, and provides a new dynamic for the Kings, who are building a young nucleus around De’Aaron Fox. 6. Memphis Grizzlies – Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas, Freshman Bamba is the best defensive center in the draft, and with Marc Gasol aging, the Grizzlies need to bring in the new age of defense-first basketball in the form of Bamba. Bamba also has a capable low-post game that can stretch out into the midrange, which makes this an intriguing spot for Bamba to go as his game rounds out. 7. Cleveland Cavaliers – Jaren Jackson Jr., F/C, Michigan State, Freshman The biggest non-injured wildcard in this class, Jackson does a lot of things well, which makes him a very intriguing prospect for the Cavaliers as they begin to brace themselves for a potential post-LeBron James world. Picking Jackson with this pick might not be the swing-for-the-fences selection, but it provides a solid center option to potentially keep LeBron, or to build for the future if LeBron leaves. 8. Chicago Bulls – Wendell Carter Jr., F, Duke, Freshman The Bulls are looking to acquire more talent to put around Zach LaVine and Lauri Markannen, and picking the best available player is what the Bulls will probably do here. Carter is very well-rounded coming out of playing with Marvin Bagley III, and with the Bulls not really having a long-term option at the center position (sorry Bobby Portis), look for them to take a swing on a potential option down low for the long term. 2 / 7 9. New York Knicks – Collin Sexton, G, Alabama, Freshman With the Knicks trading for Emmanuel Mudiay for the rest of the season, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Frank Ntilikina is not the long-term option as the lead guard for the Knicks. Insert Collin Sexton into the picture, and it opens up a multitude of options for the Knicks to build around for the future. Add in the bright lights of New York City, which Sexton would thrive in as an ultra-competitive player, and the Knicks might have their next franchise point guard. 10. Philadelphia 76ers – Mikal Bridges, F, Villanova, Freshman Bridges is the local kid in Philadelphia, and he fits one of the needs for the 76ers as a combo forward that can shoot from the perimeter and defend as the typical “3-and-D” build in the modern-day NBA. Bridges will be able to slot into a bench role for the Sixers as they look to add to their young core and make a playoff push. 11. Charlotte Hornets – Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State, Sophomore Miles is a much different player than his Bridges counterpart, being a great straight-line driver and finisher around the basket. The Hornets will probably take the best player on the board, which looks to be Bridges, and will put him next to Kemba Walker as they look to retool around Walker. 12. Los Angeles Clippers – Robert Williams, F/C, Texas A&M, Sophomore A defensively-minded center is what the Clippers need to begin grooming for the eventual departure of DeAndre Jordan, which could come as soon as this offseason. Williams has a lot of defensive upside that could be very useful in the right system, and if his offense can come along more than it already has, Williams can be a piece in a championship contender down the line. 13. Utah Jazz – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Kentucky, Freshman The Jazz, while they probably won’t be picking at 13 due to their recent play, will look to pick up a guard to pair with their rookie star in Donovan Mitchell. Gilgeous-Alexander, at 6-6, will provide a lead guard to allow Mitchell to play both on and off ball, which could lead to the next great Utah backcourt in a few seasons. 14. Los Angeles Clippers – Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky, Freshman The Clippers are looking for shot creation off of the wing with their second pick after selecting Robert Williams to be a big option for the future, and Kevin Knox provides that role for the Clippers as they look to rebuild and retool post-Blake Griffin. Knox can score the ball, as evidenced by his 34-point outburst against the aggressive press defense of West Virginia, but consistency has been an issue, so if Knox can be more consistent, he can be that wing that the Clippers have lacked for a long time. 3 / 7 15. Phoenix Suns – Daniel Gafford, C, Arkansas, Freshman A late-riser in this draft, Gafford has been an impressive low post presence for Mike Anderson’s Razorback squad, which is something that the Suns are looking for in this draft to eventually replace Tyson Chandler and Alex Len. Gafford is an explosive athlete, and has an attractive physical profile that teams look for, which makes him an attractive target for the Suns in this spot. 16. Chicago Bulls – Troy Brown, G/F, Oregon, Freshman The Bulls need talent on the wings, since it doesn’t exactly look like Denzel Valentine is going to pan out into a star wing, so taking a wing like Troy Brown here is a smart pick to get another body on the wing to develop that’s young, has good size, and has a package of skills that teams would love to get their hands on and develop into a potential 3-and-D type of player. Brown possesses those skills, so look for him to go in this range. 17. Philadelphia 76ers – Lonnie Walker IV, G, Miami (FL), Freshman At this point in the draft, I think the best player remaining on the board will come off in Walker, who is a talented guard that loves to slash and has a good perimeter shot. The Sixers are looking at the impending free- agency of J.J. Redick, so finding a guy that plays the same position, even if they aren’t the same style of player, will be important for the Sixers to do either in the draft or in free agency. 18. Portland Trail Blazers – Hamidou Diallo, G, Kentucky, Freshman The Trail Blazers lack guards that can play behind Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, so picking Diallo, who has generally been utilized off-ball for Kentucky, would be ideal for the Blazers to pick up to relieve some of the pressure off Lillard and McCollum during the long season as the Blazers look to build a playoff contender. 19. Denver Nuggets – Dzanan Musa, F, KK Cedivita, 18 years old Musa is a long forward at 6’9” that can score in bunches and has a frame that can fill out with time, and with the Nuggets losing both Wilson Chandler and Will Barton potentially this offseason, the Nuggets will look to replace both of those players, starting with the draft and free agency this offseason. 20. Minnesota Timberwolves – Bruce Brown, G, Miami (FL), Sophomore Brown is an athletic defender that need to develop his offensive game to be a good NBA player, but the athleticism is too much to deny. His profile seems to be one that Tom Thibodeau would love to get his hands on and mold, and if his shot can progress like it probably should, look for Brown to become a good to even great NBA player.