2018 Mock Draft 1.0

Trae Young, Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic, Marvin Bagley,

or maybe even Mike Porter.

Here's your first look at the upcoming draft, Beantown style.

1. Phoenix Suns

Deandre Ayton (C)

The Suns are in need of solid big men, especially with the sputtering starts to Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss's careers. In comes Ayton who is far more than a solid big. He's proven himself to be a rebounding machine with a high motor on both ends, excellent athleticism, a budding post game, and decent range. Ayton is the ideal new age do-it-all Inspector Gadget-type center. His play is the same breed as the most dominant young bigs, such as Kristaps Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, and Anthony Davis. Put his dominating presence in with elite shooter Devin Booker, talented playmaker Eflrid Payton, versatile scorer T.J. Warren, and freakish athlete Marquese Chriss and you have a starting lineup that could be near unstoppable offensively when it clicks on all-cylinders. The product could almost be comparable to a young Spurs or Warriors model.

2. Atlanta Hawks

Marvin Bagley (PF)

The Atlanta Hawks are not quite as far along in their rebuild as the Suns, so they need a real high reward player, even if that means high risk as well. Bagley fits that bill perfectly as he is an extra young player who reclassified to this year's class so he's not quite as developed as some of his top peers. However watching his gameplay he is an absolute force to be reckoned with offensively, throwing down alley-oops, gobbling up boards, and nailing contested three pointers with ease. The main hindrances for Bagley at this stage in his development are his relatively weak defensive presence with only 1.o SPG and 1.0 BPG, as well as his reliance on his left hand. Seriously, watching him play at times watching a high schooler as far as his refusal to be ambidextrous. This is probably because he was supposed to be a high schooler this year which is why it really isn't much of a concern; his production is still astronomical and he is early in his development. Plant him next to Schroeder and John Collins and you get a very solid pick and roll/ pop game going.

3. Dallas Mavericks

Michael Porter (F)

Oh, Michael Porter, what a shame it is you've sat out the majority of this season with a back injury and we couldn't see your greatness unfold as you reigned dominant over college basketball. Porter was projected to be the number one pick in this class for years until he went out in November with a back injury. Now questions have been raised about his health and of course his NBA-readiness since he didn't get to develop this year. The latter at least will fortunately soon be answered as he was just cleared for return. While he might have a little bit of a rocky start or rocky season even, since he's just adjusting to the college game, he should still stand as a top prospect due to his freakish athleticism, guard-like handle, deep range, and mature feel for the game. If he headed to Dallas to develop alongside Dennis Smith Jr., he could learn from one of the best scorers of all time in Dirk and Dallas could have a modern small ball lineup with Porter and Barnes at the forwards. Considering Coach Carlisle has always run a jumpshot reliant system, it seems like a match made in heaven.

4. Sacramento Kings

Luka Doncic (G)

Luka Doncic has all the intrigue, as well as all the question marks as top overseas for the past few years. The fact is, since Dirk Nowitzki and Manu Ginobli took the league by storm, NBA teams have been fascinated with European prospects. The last few years do not necessarily seem encouraging as far as the overseas crop taken in the top 10, with Kristaps Porzingis being the only prospect coming from an overseas team that panned out so far, whilst Dragan Bender, Mario Hezonja, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Frank Ntilikina have frankly not lived up to their expectations. That being said, overseas busts have not fazed NBA teams thus far and the situation will remain the same. The fact is, while shrouded in mystery, Doncic has still proved himself to be a versatile, explosive combo guard who Vlade Divac would likely take the risk on.

5. Orlando Magic

Trae Young (PG)

We've all heard of Trae Young- the supreme scorer/ playmaker set to take the league by storm and being called the next Steph Curry. Leading the NCAA with 28.3 PPG and 9.1 APG, the first to do so, he is a versatile offensive guard that NBA team are drooling over. As he specializes in shooting deep threes and running the pick and roll he looks like the ideal modern guard. Unlike Curry, Young has played a lot of top schools with cream-of-the-crop prospects, such as Wichita State, Kansas, West Virginia, Texas, and USC. As a proven point guard and scorer, Trae Young would fit in great with Orlando, who have been left in great need in the playmaking department after dealing Elfrid Payton away, and have been in need of perimeter scoring for quite a while.

6. Memphis Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson (PF)

After losing Zach Randolph in free agency, the Grizzlies were left with a gaping hole at PF, which they've tried filling with JaMychal Green, but are still lacking at. The Grizzlies, being a historically defensive and gritty team, would be a perfect fit for Jaren Jackson, who averages a whopping 5.9 blocks per 40 minutes along with a solid 1.1 steals per 40 minutes. To go along with this tremendous defensive play, Jackson has also averaged 20.8 points per 40 minutes, so he would be a great two way threat to fit in with the offensively lacking Grizzlies. Additionally, shooting 60.1% from 2pt range and 43.4% from 3pt range, Jackson is the prime stretch four to fit in alongside shot creator Mike Conley and fellow stretch bigs Chandler Parsons and Marc Gasol. Ultimately, Jackson is a perfect fit for the Grizzlies and this is perhaps the most suited player-team combo.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

Mohamed Bamba (C)

Speaking of defensive bigs, enter Mo Bamba! As seen in the picture above he has freakish athleticism for someone his size, nearly able to reach the top of the backboard. Bamba uses his athleticism, mobility, and incredible god-given timing to amount a massive 3.8 BPG, to go along with 10.6 RPG. Bamba also has shown himself to be an extremely efficient player with a PER of 27.7, which would rank 8th in the NBA behind Harden, Antetokounmpo, Davis, Curry, James, Durant, and Capela. The Cavaliers only real weak position after their deadline frenzy is the center with undersized rebounder Tristan Thompson and developing prospect Ante Zizic. Cue 6'11" Bamba to fill the center role and bolster the 3rd worst defensive team in the league.

8. Chicago Bulls

Kevin Knox (SF)

Kevin Knox is probably the least polished and highest risk of a player in the top ten, however that is just what the Bulls need at this point. With second and third year players Kris Dunn and Zach Lavine, as well as rookie Lauri Markkanen having standout seasons, the small forward is clearly the team's biggest weakness with no starting caliber player at the position. At 6'9", 215 pounds, with a wingpspan of nearly 7 feet, Knox certainly has an NBA ready body that can both take hits and shut down multiple positions. Additionally, he had a 34 point outing against the top tier defense of West Virginia to flash the scoring potential he holds. Overall Knox's two way potential and athleticism are just what this medium paced Bulls team needs to revitalize their pace to match the modern NBA.

9. New York Knicks

Miles Bridges (F)

It's simple, although he isn't the most premier perimeter threat, Miles Bridges is one of the most, if not the most, explosive athletes in this draft class. The Knicks have been in dire need of a small forward since trading away Carmelo Anthony, as they attempted to move natural shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to the 3. Bring in Bridges and his slashing potential and relatively solid jump shooting with the Knicks young point guards and their sharpshooters of Porzingis and Hardaway, and New York will have a very capable spread offense. Weighing 230 pounds, at 6'7", Miles Bridges is able to finish through contact and could be a destructive finisher in the league, especially considering his freakish vertical as demonstrated below:

10. Philadelphia 76ers

Mikal Bridges (SG/SF)

Mikal Bridges is, to be blunt, the answer to Philadelphia's prayers. With J.J. Redick reentering free agency, last year's number one pick Markelle Fultz out indefinitely as he relearns how to shoot, and Robert Convington proving himself completely ineffective scoring with the ball in his hands, the team needs a versatile scorer. Bridges isn't just a versatile scorer though, however, he's a mature, polished offensive juggernaut that can score in a variety of ways; off the dribble, catch and shoot, pull-up, athletic finishes, and monster jams- he can do it all. At this point as the 76ers are looking to ideally contend soon, or at least be an unquestioned playoff team, it may finally be time to abandon "the process" as they should look to draft polished skill players to fill the remaining holes in their strong core. Bridges fits that bill well and he could be the piece to take their 13th rated offense into the top tier.

11. Charlotte Hornets

Colin Sexton (PG)

12. Los Angeles Clippers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (G)

13. Utah Jazz

Wendell Carter (PF/C)

14. Los Angeles Clippers

Robert Williams (PF/C)

15. Phoenix Suns

Troy Brown (SG/SF)

16. Denver Nuggets

Dzanan Musa (SF)

17. New Orleans Pelicans

Hami Diallo (SG)

18. Philadelphia 76ers

Lonnie Walker (SG)

19. Portland Trailblazers

Chandler Hutchinson (SF)

20. Minnesota Timberwolves

Anfernee Simons (G)

21. Indiana Pacers

Killian Tillie (F)

22. Milwaukee Bucks

Isaac Bonga (SF)

23. Washington Wizards

Daniel Gafford (C)

24. Atlanta Hawks

Trevon Duval (PG)

25. San Antonio Spurs

Omer Yurtseven (C)

26. Los Angeles Lakers

Khyri Thomas (G)

27. Boston Celtics

Keita Bates-Diop (F)

28. Brooklyn Nets

Mitchell Robinson (C)

29. Golden State Warriors

Landry Shamet (G)

30. Atlanta Hawks

Rodions Kurucs (F)