NBA Draft 2018: Latest 1st-Round Projections and Top Prospects' Stock Watch
The best young talent in the world will soon see their lifelong dreams realized as the 2018 NBA draft inches closer and closer to June 21.
Though the playoffs are officially underway and some teams are much more focused on advancing through the first round, nearly half the league has already directed its attention to the draft and free agency, looking to add the missing pieces to their respective franchises.
This year's draft is deep with a lot of once-in-a-generation talent, particularly in the top five. Before getting into any predraft projections, it's important to remember that the NBA draft lottery has yet to take place, meaning that the first 14 picks in the draft won't be determined until May 15.
With that in mind, here's a quick look at my updated mock draft:
NBA Mock Draft (Pre-Lottery)
1. Phoenix Suns: Arizona C Deandre Ayton
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Real Madrid PG/SG Luka Doncic
3. Dallas Mavericks: Duke F/C Marvin Bagley III
4. Atlanta Hawks: Missouri SF/PF Michael Porter Jr.
5. Orlando Magic: Texas C Mohamed Bamba
6. Chicago Bulls: Michigan State F/C Jaren Jackson Jr.
7. Sacramento Kings: Oklahoma PG Trae Young
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics): Duke C Wendell Carter Jr.
9. New York Knicks: Villanova SF Mikal Bridges
10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns): Texas Tech G/F Zhaire Smith
11. Charlotte Hornets: Kentucky PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
12. Los Angeles Clippers (via Detroit Pistons): Missouri C Jontay Porter
13. Los Angeles Clippers: Alabama PG/SG Collin Sexton
14. Denver Nuggets: Ohio State SF/PF Keita Bates-Diop
15. Washington Wizards: C Mitchell Robinson (Chalmette High School)
16. Phoenix Suns (via Miami Heat): Cedevita Zagreb SF Dzanan Musa
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Texas A&M C Robert Williams
18. San Antonio Spurs: Villanova PG Jalen Brunson
19. Atlanta Hawks (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Michigan State SF/PF Miles Bridges
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Miami SG Lonnie Walker IV
21. Utah Jazz: Nevada SF Caleb Martin
22. Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans Pelicans): Boise State SF Chandler Hutchison
23. Indiana Pacers: USC PG/SG De'Anthony Melton
24. Portland Trail Blazers: Kentucky SF/PF Kevin Knox
25. Los Angeles Lakers (via Cleveland Cavaliers): Cincinnati SF Jacob Evans
26. Philadelphia 76ers: Creighton SG Khyri Thomas
27. Boston Celtics: Michigan PF/C Moritz Wagner
28. Golden State Warriors: UNLV C Brandon McCoy
29. Brooklyn Nets (via Toronto Raptors): Villanova F/C Omari Spellman
30. Atlanta Hawks (via Houston Rockets): Duke SG Gary Trent Jr.
Stock Up: Luka Doncic
It's understandable if you haven't seen Real Madrid's wonderkid play a game this season. After all, it's difficult to catch a good stream of Euroleague basketball when college basketball and the NBA are on.
But now is the time to start up those search engines, go down the rabbit hole of YouTube and watch his highlight tapes, because Doncic is a game-changer on the offensive side of the ball from his shooting, court vision and all-around game.
At 19 years of age, Doncic is currently tearing up the ACB and Euroleague as a teenager, averaging 15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. At 6'8", 228 pounds, he has elite size for a playmaker but isn't limited in his movement on the floor.
He also has one of the nicest crossovers you'll ever see.
While the Phoenix Suns might want to draft a more surefire prospect in Deandre Ayton—and who could blame them—the Memphis Grizzlies won't pass up this opportunity to pair Marc Gasol and Doncic together to create a lethal pick-and-roll.
Stock Down: Trae Young
The comparisons to Stephen Curry are duly noted, but let's set the record straight—Trae Young is no Curry, and probably never will be.
No disrespect to the Oklahoma Sooner playmaker, but it's not fair to compare Young to one of the league's all-time shooters. Young had a tumultuous season in Norman, barely making the NCAA tournament after the Sooners fell apart down the stretch of the regular season.
But it's difficult to blame Young for the team's results, as he was the only legitimate option on offense, which became predictable for opposing defenses to guard against.
He does, however, have the ability to take over games and is fearless when he has the ball in his hands.
After averaging 27.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 8.7 assists, Young is a tantalizing prospect for a number of reasons but also struggled through his freshman season shooting the ball at times. It's not fair to suggest that Young got exposed midway through his one and only collegiate season, but it is fair to point out some obvious flaws in his game, especially his lack of defensive upside.
Young would benefit being drafted by a franchise that has other pieces to build around on offense so that he's not a No. 1 option right out of the gate, which is why going to the Sacramento Kings at No. 7 could make sense.
Even if the Kings aren't that good next season, the combination of Young and Buddy Hield (both Sooners) together on offense could be a poor man's version of Curry and Klay Thompson's "Splash Brothers."
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