2018 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions for Landing Spots of Top Prospects

The Chicago Bulls entered the 1987 NBA draft needing complementary pieces around superstar Michael Jordan, and they hit the jackpot by trading for future Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and picking Horace Grant at 10th overall. Pippen and Grant served as the Chicago Bulls' second and third leading scorers, respectively, for the team's three championships in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Five teams have multiple first-round picks in this year's draft, and perhaps one of them strikes gold like the Bulls did in 1987. You can find analysis on three of those teams below in addition to a new mock.

NBA Mock Draft: 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: Michigan State F/C Jaren Jackson Jr.

5. Orlando Magic: Missouri SF/PF Michael Porter Jr.

6. Chicago Bulls: Texas C Mohamed Bamba

7. Sacramento Kings: Duke C Wendell Carter Jr.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics): Oklahoma PG Trae Young

9. New York Knicks: Alabama PG/SG Collin Sexton

10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns): Villanova SF Mikal Bridges

11. Charlotte Hornets: Texas Tech G/F Zhaire Smith

12. Los Angeles Clippers (via Detroit Pistons): Texas A&M F Robert Williams

13. Los Angeles Clippers: Kentucky PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

14. Denver Nuggets: Cedevita Zagreb SF Dzanan Musa

NBA Mock Draft: Picks 15-30

15. Washington Wizards: Missouri C Jontay Porter

16. Phoenix Suns (originally via Miami Heat): Villanova PG Jalen Brunson

17. Milwaukee Bucks: C Mitchell Robinson (Chalmette High School)

18. San Antonio Spurs: Michigan State SF/PF Miles Bridges

19. Atlanta Hawks: Miami SG Lonnie Walker IV

20. Minnesota Timberwolves (originally via Oklahoma City Thunder): Kentucky SF/PF Kevin Knox

21. Utah Jazz: Boise State SF Chandler Hutchison

22. Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans Pelicans): Ohio State SF/PF Keita Bates-Diop

23. Indiana Pacers: USC PG/SG De'Anthony Melton

24. Portland Trail Blazers: Creighton SG Khyri Thomas

25. Los Angeles Lakers (originally via Cleveland Cavaliers): Oregon G Troy Brown

26. Philadelphia 76ers: Duke SG Gary Trent Jr.

27. Boston Celtics: Villanova F/C Omari Spellman

28. Golden State Warriors: UCLA G Aaron Holiday

29. Brooklyn Nets (originally via Toronto Raptors): IMG PG Anfernee Simons

30. Atlanta Hawks (originally via Houston Rockets): Villanova SG Donte DiVincenzo

Atlanta Hawks

The young Atlanta Hawks have a point guard (Dennis Schroder), wing (Taurean Prince) and big man (John Collins) to build around in the near future, but they need more players who can put the ball in the bucket. Atlanta was just 25th in field-goal percentage and points per game last season, and it was 26th in the NBA in offensive efficiency.

Miami guard Lonnie Walker IV and Villanova guard Donte DiVincenzo could help fill those voids. Walker was fantastic in ACC play from January 13 through March 3, averaging 15.1 points in 15 games, per Sports Reference.

DiVincenzo made a name for himself in the national championship game by dropping 31 points against Michigan, but he also was third on the Wildcats in scoring behind one potential lottery pick (Mikal Bridges) and another potential first-rounder (Jalen Brunson).

Elsewhere, the Hawks should look to find a big man to pair with Collins, and that player could be Jaren Jackson Jr., a 6'11" big man out of Michigan State who blocked 3.0 shots per game in his lone year with the Spartans. Jackson can also stick it from long range, as he made 39.6 percent of his three-pointers.         

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers' roster is loaded with talent, led by point guard Ben Simmons and center Joel Embiid. Those two positions are locked down for the long-term future.

Markelle Fultz, who was the first overall pick in the 2017 draft, will someday join Simmons in the starting backcourt, and small forward Robert Covington has a long-term deal through 2022. Power forward Dario Saric is under team control through at least 2020.

The future starting lineup seems set, then, so the 76ers may have the luxury of trying to find the best player available regardless of position to boost the bench with its lottery pick. If Villanova forward Mikal Bridges is sitting there at No. 10, then he's the obvious choice.

The two-time national champion knocked down 43.5 percent of his three-pointers last year en route to posting 17.7 points per game, and Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated praised his defensive efforts, saying, "His impactful perimeter defense should translate nicely, given his 7'0" wingspan and foot speed that lets him ably defend both guards and wings."

At No. 26, the 76ers could continue to add more firepower to the bench, so perhaps Duke guard Gary Trent Jr. may find his way to Philadelphia. Trent posted 14.5 points per game in his one season in Durham, and he knocked down 40.2 percent of his three-pointers and 87.6 percent of his free throws. He and Bridges could help form one of the NBA's best benches.

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns seem largely set on the wing with Devin Booker, Josh Jackson and T.J. Warren holding down the fort, but point guard, center and power forward are big question marks.

Point guard Elfrid Payton came over from the Orlando Magic in a midseason trade and flashed some potential in the early going, but he eventually lost playing time to Tyler Ulis down the stretch. The Suns could bring in some extra competition at the position, which is why Villanova guard Jalen Brunson seems like a possibility at No. 16.

The Naismith Player of the Year isn't in the teens on many big boards (he's 29th on Sports Illustrated's), as his size and athleticism pales in comparison to his peers. However, Brunson is the type of player you want on your team in crucial moments, and he's a proven winner, as evidenced by Villanova's dominant national championship run. Brunson could bring a level of toughness the Suns need going forward.

At center, Alex Len is an unrestricted free agent, and 35-year-old Tyson Chandler is on the back end of a great career. Therefore, if the Suns get the first pick in the draft, then selecting Arizona center Deandre Ayton seems like the logical move.

The 7'1" Ayton dominated in his one year in Tuscon, averaging 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. He's the clear top big man in this year's draft, and it's hard seeing him fall any further than No. 2 overall.