2018 NBA Mock Draft: Full Predictions for 1st-Round Prospects Prior to Lottery
The 2018 NBA draft order won't be determined until May 15, but there's already a good idea as to which players will be selected at the top of the first round.
Phoenix and Memphis hold the best chances to obtain the No. 1 overall pick, but the lottery could award it to a team that performed better than the Suns and Grizzlies in the regular season.
As for the prospects, plenty of intriguing stories will emerge in the weeks leading up to the draft, with one of them potentially involving a historic achievement.
There are five teams with multiple first-round picks at the moment, which means they'll be some added pressure on the quintet to make the right calls and immediately improve their squads.
2018 1st-Round NBA Mock Draft
1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Luka Doncic, SG/SF, 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: Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri
7. Sacramento Kings: Wendell Carter Jr., PF/C, Duke
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn): Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma
9. New York Knicks: Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers): Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, Villanova
11. Charlotte Hornets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit): Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M
13. Los Angeles Clippers: Lonnie Walker IV, SG, Miami
14. Denver Nuggets: Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State
15. Washington Wizards: Aaron Holiday, PG, UCLA
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami): Kevin Knox, SF/PF, Kentucky
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Zhaire Smith, SG, Texas Tech
18. San Antonio Spurs: Dzanan Musa, SF, Bosnia and Herzegovina
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota): Keita Bates-Diop, SF, Ohio State
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City): Anfernee Simons, SG, Unattached
21. Utah Jazz: Troy Brown, SG, Oregon
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans): Jontay Porter, PF, Missouri
23. Indiana Pacers: Khyri Thomas, SG, Creighton
24. Portland Trailblazers: Jacob Evans, SF, Cincinnati
25. Los Angeles Lakes (from Cleveland): Jalen Brunson, PG, Villanova
26. Philadelphia 76ers: Chandler Hutchison, SF, Boise State
27. Boston Celtics: Shake Milton, SG/PG, SMU
28. Golden State Warriors: Mitchell Robinson, C, United States
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto): Rawle Alkins, SG, Arizona
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston): Hamidou Diallo, SG, Kentucky
Could Porter Brothers End Up On Same Team?
It's already unique enough to see brothers Michael and Jontay Porter in the same draft class, which was made possible by Jontay's reclassification to the high school class of 2017 to join his older brother at Missouri.
Now the pair are taking on the NBA draft after an up-and-down season at Missouri in which Michael missed the majority of games due to a back injury.
Despite the injury, Michael never drifted out of the view of teams in the lottery, while Jontay moved into first-round territory with his performances throughout the year.
Given the amount of teams with multiple picks in the first round, the Porter brothers could end up on the same team.
The Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers are the most likely destinations for that to occur at the moment, since Michael isn't expected to drop out of the top 10.
The possibilities could grow after the lottery if the Los Angeles Clippers surge into the top three, or if the Atlanta Hawks go after Michael with their high selection.
Jontay could go anywhere from No. 10 to No. 25, which puts the Hawks, Bulls and Sixers in contention.
If Phoenix loses the draft lottery and picks third, it could come into play for the brothers as well, as it also holds the Miami Heat's first-round selection.
Even if the Porters don't go to the same team, it's still an incredible accomplishment for brothers to be selected in the first round, which would be the first time since Marcus and Markieff Morris were picked with back-to-back choices in 2011.
Is Atlanta Under Most Pressure To Make The Right Picks?
Trades over the last three years put the Hawks in position to take three players in the 2018 first round.
Atlanta holds the Minnesota Timberwolves' first-round selection from the Adreian Payne trade in 2015, and it picked up the Houston Rocket's pick through the three-way trade with the Denver Nuggets that included Jamal Crawford and Danilo Gallinari in 2017.
With two selections late in the first round in addition to their usual selection, which could end up being in the top three, the Hawks are poised to make a massive upgrade to their roster.
Next season should put more pressure on the Hawks, as they'll have a marquee talent and a new head coach ready to get to work.
The Hawks aren't in as bad of a situation as other contenders for the No. 1 pick, as they contain some nice assets in Dennis Schroder, John Collins and Kent Bazemore.
What Atlanta needs is an impact superstar and a pair of first-rounders who can contribute immediately.
A projected haul of Jaren Jackson, Keita Bates-Diop and Hamidou Diallo would add some solid parts to each area of the court, with Jackson expected to be the star of the group in the frontcourt.
Atlanta's found success with its draft picks in recent years in the form of Schroder and Collins, while it's traded away Kelly Oubre and Shane Larkin.
As long as the Hawks take players in positions of need, and find a way for them to contribute right away, they could end up having the best draft class.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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