NBA Draft 2018: Latest Mock Draft for the Best Prospects Atop Round 1
The NBA playoffs are officially underway.
That means that all kinds of postseason highlights and legendary performances are piling up for fans to enjoy.
"Playoff Rondo" anyone?
Elsewhere, it means that regular-season standings have been solidified and the 2018 NBA draft pick order, with the exception of the draft lottery, is set.
With the deadline for players to declare for the draft drawing near, most of the top prospects have already thrown their hat in the ring.
And for those that haven't but are thinking about it, they have until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, to declare (college players that have declared but haven't signed with an agent have until May 30 to withdraw).
Since the draft scenarios are starting to become clearer, here's another mock draft to review.
2018 NBA Mock Draft
1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Luka Doncic, SG, Slovenia
3. Dallas Mavericks: Marvin Bagley III, PF, Duke
4. Atlanta Hawks: Jaren Jackson Jr., PF. Michigan State
5. Orlando Magic: Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas
6. Chicago Bulls: Wendell Carter, PF/C, Duke
7. Sacramento Kings: Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Brooklyn): Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma
9. New York Knicks: Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, Villanova
10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M
11. Charlotte Hornets: Kevin Knox, SF, Kentucky
12. Los Angeles Clippers (via Detroit): Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
13. Los Angeles Clippers: Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State
14. Denver Nuggets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
15. Washington Wizards: Lonnie Walker IV, SG, Miami
16. Phoenix Suns (via Miami): Zhaire Smith, SG, Texas Tech
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Dzanan Musa, SG, Bosnia and Herzegovina
18. San Antonio Spurs: Troy Brown, SG, Oregon
19. Atlanta Hawks (via Minnesota): Mitchell Robinson, C, United States
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Oklahoma City): Anfernee Simons, SG, Unattached
21. Utah Jazz: Chandler Hutchison, SF, Boise State
22. Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans): Jontay Porter, PF/C, Missouri
23. Indiana Pacers: Bruno Fernando, C, Maryland
24. Portland Trailblazers: Jerome Robinson, G, Boston College
25. Los Angeles Lakers (via Cleveland): Rawle Alkins, G, Arizona
26. Philadelphia 76ers: Khyri Thomas, PG/SG, Creighton
27. Boston Celtics: Aaron Holiday, PG, UCLA
28. Golden State Warriors: Bruce Brown, G, Miami
29. Brooklyn Nets (via Toronto): De'Anthony Melton, G, USC
30. Atlanta Hawks (via Houston): Jalen Brunson, PG, Villanova
Deandre Ayton: Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns ended the 2017-18 season with the worst record in the league at 21-61 and missed the postseason for the eighth year in a row.
That's not going to cut it anymore for the team's young star, Devin Booker, who pledged that this was the last season he would be missing the playoffs.
Sure, that means Booker plans on working on his game this summer, but it's also a jab at the Suns' front office.
Translation: if you don't build up a good team around Booker this off-season, he's gone with the wind.
Outside of the Suns' need for a point guard to pair with the current Three-Point Shot Champion, their biggest need is at the center position.
There are some raw big men in the draft, but there's no getting around it: Deandre Ayton is a man among boys down on the low block.
He's strong, he's quick and he's deadly with the inside-out game.
That means he can contribute right away and help pull Phoenix out of the doldrums.
When you're in last place like the Suns, the only way to go is up.
Ayton won't deliver miracles, but for this team, adding the Arizona standout, plus a few key veterans, will help them rise like a Phoenix from the ashes.
Luka Doncic: Memphis Grizzlies
A once proud and hard-nosed franchise, the Memphis Grizzlies are starting to fall apart like a wet sandwich.
They ended the season with the second-worst record in the Association at 22-60 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
That can't happen.
The Grizzlies need to turn things around fast, and that means they need to draft an impact player.
Luka Doncic is that player.
Zach Randolph and Tony Allen are gone, so this team won't be "gritty" anymore, but it can be a clone of the San Antonio Spurs.
They already have two elite passers in Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, so if they bring on Doncic, it could foster a new "share the ball" mindset that can help this team quickly recapture that winning culture.
The 6'8" playmaker is already a polished ball-handler and has the bravado that comes with playing and winning in big games like last year's FIBA EuroBasket.
He's only 19, but he's got three years of experience playing professional basketball on his CV, and for this team, he's a can't-miss prospect.
Marvin Bagley III: Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks got it right with their last draft pick: Dennis Smith Jr.
Now, they're going for two in a row.
With Ayton and Doncic already off the board, the Mavs have to select Marvin Bagley III.
While at Duke, Bagley averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Those are definitely impressive numbers, but the ACC Player of the Year still needs some polish on his offensive game and needs to improve quite a bit on the defensive end.
What really stands out is Bagley's thirst to be great. He reclassified himself to an earlier year, meaning if he hadn't, he'd just be getting ready for his freshman campaign in Durham.
As it stands, he stepped up, faced the competition and came out on top.
With that kind of mettle, the Mavs could really add to their somewhat corrosive culture, and Bagley could get some pointers from one of the best to ever do it in Dirk Nowitzki.
Maurice Bobb covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@ReeseReport)
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