2018 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions, Prospects Who Are Safest Bets

Once in a while, an NBA prospect comes along who is as close to a sure thing as possible to succeed on the next level. LeBron James was one example in 2003, while Tim Duncan was another in 1997.

None of the players in the 2018 draft approach that range, but that's less of a commentary on their abilities and more based on the fact that James and Duncan are two of the best players of all time.

A handful of picks this year seem to be safe bets off the bat, and we'll take a look at three of them below in addition to a mock draft.

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

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: Chalmette High School C Mitchell Robinson

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 F 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

Prospects Who Are Safest Bets

Arizona C Deandre Ayton

Centers who top seven feet and average over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in their first year in a power conference don't emerge all the time. Granted, the Pac-12 had a down year, but Arizona center Deandre Ayton proved why he should be the front-runner for this year's No. 1 pick.

At 7'1" and 250 pounds, Ayton has drawn tremendous praise, including a note from NBADraft.net that said he "figures to be among if not the top center in the league in his prime."

Ayton is the only prospect to have received a score of 100 or better from the website—NBADraft.net grades prospects in 12 areas and gives them scores out of 10, meaning the best possible result is 120.

For context, no prospect has received a 101 since New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis, and no one has surpassed 101 since Washington Wizards point guard John Wall. Per Sports Reference, Ayton was also third in all of NCAA Division I men's basketball in offensive win shares (5.5).

Ultimately, it's hard seeing his floor being anything lower than a solid big man who finds a home in the league for a decade-plus. His ceiling is becoming one of the best, if not the best post players in the NBA.

Real Madrid PG/SG Luka Doncic

Per ESPN Stats & Info, Real Madrid's Luke Doncic pulled off this incredible triple-double on May 9 in a Liga ACB (the top Spanish professional league) contest:

As Russell Steinberg of SLAM Online noted, Doncic became just the seventh player in Liga ACB history to earn a triple-double and the first in 11 years to do so. To put that honor into consideration, former collegiate head coach and current ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla ranked Liga ACB as the second-best basketball league in Europe.

It's easy to get caught up in one performance, but Doncic has been fantastic all season long, averaging 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in just 24.9 minutes per game (those stats combine Euroleague and Liga ACB contests).

If there's one criticism about his offensive skill set right now, it's that he needs to develop a more consistent outside shot (he's only made 30.6 percent of his three-pointers this year), but he's a 6'8" guard who won't turn 20 years old until February 2019. Doncic is a fantastic talent who could become an All-Star soon after he arrives in the NBA.

Villanova SF Mikal Bridges

Villanova forward Mikal Bridges is the perfect fit for today's NBA. The two-time NCAA national champion is an adept three-point shooter, as he knocked down 43.5 percent of his shots from beyond the arc last year—a vast improvement from his 29.9 and 39.3 percent marks from the previous two seasons.

He's also an efficient scorer, having never shot below 51.4 percent from the field in any of his three years with the Wildcats.

On the other end, Bridges is tough to contend with, as he blocked 1.1 shots per game and accumulated 1.5 steals a night. Per DraftExpress, the 22-year-old has a wingspan of 7'0½", which certainly helped him in college and should on the next level.

Bridges should have a long and prosperous NBA career. It's possible that he lands with a team that may not be the best fit for him—he'd be an excellent addition to the Cleveland Cavaliers or Philadelphia 76ers but perhaps less so for young teams in the middle of massive rebuilds—but even then, Bridges should still excel given his polished game on both ends of the floor.