NBA Draft 2018: Latest Mock Draft and Teams with Most to Lose on June 21
Now that the NBA draft lottery is over, teams with selections in the top 10 can hone in on specific prospects based on where they're slated to pick.
Although there weren't too many surprises in Tuesday's lottery, the Sacramento Kings were the biggest winner, as they jumped up to the No. 2 pick.
In the month leading up to the draft, the debate surrounding which player the Phoenix Suns should take first overall will rage on.
Beyond Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic, there are a few prospects who should make an immediate impact, which is ideal for teams entering the draft with the most to lose.
However, if certain teams in the top 15 picks fail to take the right player, it could have ramifications for years to come.
2018 1st-Round NBA Mock Draft
1. Phoenix Suns: Luka Doncic, SG/SF, Slovenia
2. Sacramento Kings: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
3. Atlanta Hawks: Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Michigan State
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Marvin Bagley III, PF, Duke
5. Dallas Mavericks: Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas
6. Orlando Magic: Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma
7. Chicago Bulls: Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn): Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri
9. New York Knicks: Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, Villanova
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers): Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
11. Charlotte Hornets: Wendell Carter, PF/C, Duke
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit): Kevin Knox, SF/PF, Kentucky
13. Los Angeles Clippers: Robert Williams, PF/C, Texas A&M
14. Denver Nuggets: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
15. Washington Wizards: Lonnie Walker, SG, Miami
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami): Zhaire Smith. SG, Texas Tech
17. Milwaukee Bucks: Mitchell Robinson, C, United States
18. San Antonio Spurs: Jontay Porter, PF, Missouri
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota): Aaron Holiday, PG, UCLA
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City): Troy Brown, SG, Oregon
21. Utah Jazz: Dzanan Musa, SF, Bosnia and Herzegovina
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans): Chandler Hutchison, SF, Boise State
23. Indiana Pacers: Jacob Evans, SF, Cincinnati
24. Portland Trailblazers: Anfernee Simons, SG/PG, Unattached
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland): Khyri Thomas, SG, Creighton
26. Philadelphia 76ers: Jerome Robinson, SG, Boston College
27. Boston Celtics: Jalen Brunson, PG, Villanova
28. Golden State Warriors: Grayson Allen, SG, Duke
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto): Keita Bates-Diop, SF, Ohio State
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston): Donte DiVincenzo, SG, Villanova
Teams With Most To Lose
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland must get the No. 8 overall selection right in order to improve its roster entering next season.
Regardless of if LeBron James comes back or not, the Cavaliers depth chart is in shambles, and it needs some type of boost.
Unfortunately for the Cavs, they are at the mercy of the seven teams in front of them in the first round, which means they may not be able to get the prospect they covet the most.
The ideal situation for Cleveland is to have Missouri's Michael Porter Jr. or Oklahoma's Trae Young drop to it in order to give it a natural scorer in case James leaves.
In the situation where James returns to his hometown team, the addition of Porter or Young would be a nice complement to James and Kevin Love.
However, if the Cavs strike out on their first-round selection in a case similar to Anthony Bennett, they could drop out of the list of contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers put themselves in a terrific position to bolster their roster in the draft, but with that comes pressure to pick the right prospects.
The Clippers obtained the No. 12 overall selection from Detroit in the Blake Griffin trade, and their natural selection fell right behind that at No. 13.
Since they are expected to miss out on the elite players in the draft, even if one of them falls a bit, the Clippers must find the right fits as they revamp their roster.
Drafting a big man seems like an easy decision, and Robert Williams of Texas A&M should be available when they select.
The other pick could be used on a variety of players, with Kentucky's Kevin Knox, Miami's Lonnie Walker and Texas Tech's Zhaire Smith in the mix.
Knox may have plenty of upside, but he didn't impress at Kentucky until the second half of the season, which makes him a bit of a risky prospect.
Williams could be in the same boat, as he was inconsistent throughout SEC play at Texas A&M.
Walker might be the safest choice of the bunch, as he is one of the best shooters in the draft pool, but the Clippers could be forced to select frontcourt players if DeAndre Jordan departs in free agency.
The late lottery picks hold plenty of value for the Clippers, but with questions surrounding some of the prospects available to them, they have to dig in on their research and find the right fits as their roster takes a new shape.
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