Projecting Where Trae Young Will Be Selected After 2018 NBA Draft Lottery
Following the results of Tuesday's NBA draft lottery, Oklahoma star Trae Young is among the top prospects in this class who can start preparing for his future destination.
Even though Young won't officially know where he will play until the draft takes place on June 21, there is a window where the 19-year-old can expect to be selected.
There was a time during the college season when Young appeared to be in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick. In January, The Undefeated's Martenzie Johnson wrote he was having one of the best seasons ever "for any player in the past two decades."
Things fell apart for the Sooners, who were 12-1 at that point, after Johnson's article came out. They lost 13 of their final 19 games. Young, despite his own struggles during that stretch, still had a historic season by leading all Division I players with 27.4 points and 8.7 assists per game.
B/R's Jonathan Wasserman listed Young as the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2018 draft class, though he noted there have been mixed opinions from NBA scouts about his potential in the pro game:
"His ability to break down defenses, create shots and make them should still hold plenty of value in the pros. Young's quickness, craftiness off the dribble and passing IQ aren't going anywhere, and he should fare better with less of a workload (he led the NCAA in usage), more space and superior NBA teammates.
"He doesn't have to be Stephen Curry or Steve Nash to justify being a top-10 pick.
"The main questions are how much of a defensive liability he'll be against explosive point guards, and whether he'll get his shot off as cleanly, both as a shooter and finisher at the rim."
Using that scouting report and ranking, there are two teams that stand out as ideal landing spots for Young on draft night.
Orlando Magic
The Magic, who own the No. 6 overall pick, have been in a constant state of rebuilding since they traded Dwight Howard after the 2011-12 season. They've won fewer than 30 games in five of the past six seasons.
On a roster in need of an upgrade at virtually every position, point guard is the biggest problem in Orlando heading into next season. Elfrid Payton was traded to the Phoenix Suns last February.
Payton was a solid passer who has averaged more than six assists per game in each of his four NBA seasons. His shooting gradually improved to a career-high 49.3 percent in 2017-18.
Young is a more explosive version of Payton with a better shot and basketball IQ. The Magic haven't finished higher than 21st in offensive efficiency since Howard's final year with the team.
With a new head coach taking over in Orlando, the first order of business should be to find a point guard who can run the offense before building up the rest of the roster.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are in an interesting position for this draft because they are coming off their first year of rebuilding with a roster that was the NBA's fourth-youngest by average age (25) last season.
Kris Dunn was one of the players Chicago acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Jimmy Butler trade. He showed promise with averages of 13.4 points and six assists in 52 games.
If the Bulls think Dunn can be a starting point guard on a playoff team, they could opt to look for a versatile wing player or someone who can help protect the rim.
The Bulls finished 28th in offensive efficiency last season, and Young is a playmaker extraordinaire who brings a unique scoring prowess with him that will make them immediately better.
