NBA Mock Draft 2018: Post-Lottery Projections for 1st-Round Prospects

The age-old question that many professional sports executives face during draft time every year is whether to pick a player based on value or need. In other words, do you take the best player on your board, or do you take the best player who also happens to fill your most prominent need?

The mock draft below is based more on team needs rather than picking the best player available. It will be interesting to see what general managers decide to do on draft night (June 21), but until then, here's a look at a full mock and quick analysis of the top 10.

NBA Mock Draft

1. Phoenix Suns: Arizona C Deandre Ayton

2. Sacramento Kings: Duke F Marvin Bagley

3. Atlanta Hawks: Michigan State F Jaren Jackson Jr.

4. Memphis Grizzlies: Real Madrid G Luka Doncic

5. Dallas Mavericks: Duke F Wendell Carter

6. Orlando Magic: Missouri F Michael Porter Jr.

7. Chicago Bulls: Texas C Mohamed Bamba

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

9. New York Knicks: Alabama G Collin Sexton

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

11. Charlotte Hornets: Texas Tech G Zhaire Smith

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

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

14. Denver Nuggets: Cedevita Zagreb F Dzanan Musa

15. Washington Wizards: Missouri F Jontay Porter

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

17. Milwaukee Bucks: Chalmette High School C Mitchell Robinson

18. San Antonio Spurs: Michigan State F Miles Bridges

19. Atlanta Hawks: Miami G Lonnie Walker

20. Minnesota Timberwolves (originally via Oklahoma City Thunder): Kentucky F Kevin Knox

21. Utah Jazz: Boise State G Chandler Hutchison

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

23. Indiana Pacers: USC G De'Anthony Melton

24. Portland Trail Blazers: Creighton G Khyri Thomas

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

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

27. Boston Celtics: Villanova F Omari Spellman

28. Golden State Warriors: UCLA G Aaron Holiday

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

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

1. Phoenix Suns: Arizona C Deandre Ayton

This seems like a choice between Arizona center Deandre Ayton and Real Madrid guard Luka Doncic, but the Suns' more pressing need is down low. Center Alex Len is a free agent, and Tyson Chandler has one year left on his deal. Power forwards Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss have shown promise at times, but both have been inconsistent as well.

Of course, those two are still young and developing, but passing on a talent like the 7'1", 250-pound Ayton is too hard.

2. Sacramento Kings: Duke F Marvin Bagley

If the Kings wanted to take the best player available at No. 2 provided Ayton goes to the Suns, then the pick here is Doncic, but the Kings need someone who can score and rebound down low.

Therefore, Duke big man Marvin Bagley, who can make the case for being a top-three player in this draft, is the selection. Bagley earned ACC Player of the Year honors thanks to averages of 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

3. Atlanta Hawks: Michigan State F Jaren Jackson Jr.

If the Hawks don't take Doncic and decide to fill the biggest need, then finding someone to pair with 2017 first-round pick John Collins down low should be the top priority.

Enter Jaren Jackson Jr., the 18-year-old Michigan State forward who blocked 3.0 shots per game. He should immediately make a big defensive impact for the Hawks, who allowed 108.8 points per game last year, which ranked 23rd in the league.

4. Memphis Grizzlies: Real Madrid G Luka Doncic

There is virtually no chance Doncic falls below No. 4. Not only is he the clear best player on the board at this point, but the Grizzlies need help in the backcourt alongside point guard Mike Conley.

The 6'8" Doncic, who has led a 30-3 Real Madrid team to the top of the Liga ABC table and a Euroleague final appearance, may develop into a triple-double threat every night thanks to his multi-faceted skill set.

5. Dallas Mavericks: Duke F Wendell Carter

The Dallas Mavericks need to find scorers and rebounders, and they can help meet both needs by taking Duke big man Wendell Carter. In his one season in Durham, Carter averaged 13.5 points and 9.1 rebounds in just 26.8 minutes per game.

The efficient 6'10" freshman is just 19 years old and has room to develop. He could also form a great partnership with Mavs point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who shined in his rookie campaign.

6. Orlando Magic: Missouri F Michael Porter Jr.

The Orlando Magic are in rebuilding mode and do not even have a head coach. At No. 6, they should just take the player with the most upside and hope to hit it big. If Missouri forward Michael Porter Jr. is on the board, that should make the decision rather easy.

Porter missed almost all of his one season in school after suffering a back injury, but he's a 6'10" forward who can shoot the lights out and was ranked second in his high school class, per ESPN. If not for the injury, we could be talking about him as a surefire top-three pick.

7. Chicago Bulls: Texas C Mohamed Bamba

Per Basketball Reference, none of the six Chicago Bulls' championship teams from the 1990s had a defensive rating worse than seventh in the league.

The Bulls won't have Michael Jordan in any attempt to build a new dynasty, but they need to shore up a defense that allowed the fourth-most points in the league last year. The 7'0" Mohamed Bamba, who blocked 3.7 shots per game last year, will do just that.

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

The Cleveland Cavaliers are having trouble finding consistent scoring in this year's playoffs outside LeBron James and Kevin Love, and only one other player (Kyle Korver) is averaging in double digits.

It's clear Cleveland needs some complementary help on the offensive end, which is where Oklahoma guard Trae Young comes in. Young averaged 27.4 points per game in his one season at Oklahoma.

9. New York Knicks: Alabama G Collin Sexton

Many may be clamoring for Villanova wing Mikal Bridges if he falls this far, and that certainly wouldn't be a bad choice. But the Knicks need a guard to pair alongside Frank Ntilikina, and they will hope the new backcourt jells and operates as part of the backbone of the team for years. Alabama guard Collin Sexton, who posted 19.2 points per game in his one season at Alabama, could be that player.

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

If Bridges falls to Philadelphia at No. 10, it may take the 76ers all of two seconds to make this pick. Bridges is an excellent "three-and-D" prospect who looks a good fit for a present-day NBA game that heavily involves shooting (and defending) the three ball. He'd immediately make the 76ers' bench one of the best in the league.