NBA Mock Draft: Ayton Headlines a Class Deep With Potential
Photo via Sporting News
With the NBA Draft just one week away, here's my educated, yet non-expert attempt at predicting how things will play out in the early stages.
1. Phoenix Suns: Center Deandre Ayton (Arizona)
Igor Kokoskov, the team's brand-new coach, loves Luka Doncic, and he'll likely be a solid player. However, the Suns have greater areas of need than point guard. After all, they have the option to keep Elfrid Payton, who is a restricted free agent, and Devin Booker has already shown growth as a playmaker.
Phoenix hasn't had a dominant big man since Amar'e Stoudemire. The organization hasn't gotten what it hoped for from Dragan Bender and Marquese Criss, its two selections in the top ten of 2016. It's time to find a new physical presence. With a guy from just down the road with All-NBA ability sitting in their laps, this pick should be a slam dunk for the Suns.
2. Sacramento Kings: Guard Luka Doncic (Real Madrid)
This is a less natural fit. The Kings already have De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Bodgan Bogdanovic as young building blocks within their backcourt. They also believe in Frank Mason as a backup point guard and Justin Jackson at small forward.
That's all great, but Luka Doncic is a different kind of talent. While European leagues are notoriously stingy when it comes to giving young guys playing time, the 19-year-old averaged 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across 25 minutes per game in his most recent campaign. Doncic also made 80 percent of his free throws. Like a free throw, he's a gimme for this selection.
3. Atlanta Hawks: Center Jaren Jackson Jr. (Michigan State)
Marvin Bagley III is tempting here, but he's incredibly similar to John Collins. They're both sound post players who aren't great in transition and won't offer much defensively. Neither one is a true center, and forcing them into switches defensively could also be problematic.
Jackson, on the other hand, is the polar opposite. Still only 18 years old, he's 6-foot-11 and possibly still growing. He doesn't have the college statistics of other prospects, due to the fact that he played fewer than 22 minutes per game, yet he still averaged three blocks an outing. He's also a solid three-point shooter, knocking down a tick under 40 percent of his attempts, and showed the ability to guard inside and on the perimeter.
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Center Mohamed Bamba (Texas)
Another athletic big man comes off the board here. Bamba averaged a double-double and nearly four blocks per game in his lone season with the Longhorns. His length (he possesses a ridiculous 7-foot-10 wingspan) and speed (he ran a 3/4 court sprint in 3.02 seconds, faster than Russell Westbrook and John Wall) also raise his value.
If you're looking for a player comparison, Bamba is a lot like Clint Capela. With Mike Conley running the show and Marc Gasol around to help groom him, the transition could be seamless.
5. Dallas Mavericks: Power forward/center Marvin Bagley III (Duke)
At some point, Dirk Nowitzki is going to have to hang up his cleats (well, more like shoes really). Bagley can be the replacement down the road, and he can also help take the load off the graybeard in the post.
Even if he never becomes a consistent defensive presence, he should also fit nicely with Dennis Smith, Jr. as a pick and roll piece.
6. Orlando Magic: Point guard Trae Young (Oklahoma)
The Magic should be swinging for the fences. They haven't been playoff contenders since Dwight Howard's heyday. Quite frankly, they don't have much to lose if they whiff.
Trae Young has a Steph Curry-like effect on the game. When he's in a rhythm, he can't be stopped. Orlando needs a guy with that ability, even if he isn't the most physically gifted player on the board.
7. Chicago Bulls: Power forward Michael Porter Jr. (Missouri)
Picture this: a front court featuring Lauri Markkanen, Bobby Portis, and Porter (the top prospect in his high school class). Markkanen can stretch the defense, Portis is an energizer and enforcer, and Porter could become a matchup problem, based on his athleticism. That sounds pretty formidable, especially with Kris Dunn (and potentially Zach LaVine) back and healthy.
Additionally, Portis, who will be a restricted free agent in 2019, could be used as a bridge to Porter, also allowing him to fully recover from the back injury that forced him to miss almost all of his freshman season.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Point guard Collin Sexton (Alabama)
The Cavs will have to hedge their bet with this pick. There's no assurance that LeBron James will be back, but they should prepare with it as a possibility. With Sexton, they get an alpha offensively that should be able to co-exist with LeBron, if he opts to return.
If there's a Donovan Mitchell in this draft, it's probably Sexton. He's undersized (his 6-foot-3 listing might be generous) but he averaged over 19 points per game at Alabama, and was a dominant driver through the lane. He has a knack for making plays that fire himself and others up.
9. New York Knicks: Small forward Mikal Bridges (Villanova)
His path to stardom was much different than the college players taken ahead of him, who all went "one-and-done," but his skill-set merits being selected here. Shooting is at a premium, and Bridges converted on over 43 percent of his three-point attempts in his junior season.
Placing him with a coach like David Fizdale, who seems to embrace the underdog role, and Kristaps Porzingis could allow him to become a steal down the road.
10. Philadelphia 76ers: Small forward Miles Bridges (Michigan State)
Many experts thought Bridges could/should have left school last year, when he was a lock to be a lottery pick. Hindsight is always 20–20, but it's hard to say that returning hurt his stock much, if at all.
Whereas Mikal is a true wing, Miles feels more like a "small four" than a shooter. The 76ers were among the highest-volume three-point shooting teams last season, but Bridges would be a welcome addition as a power player. He has a chance to improve as a shooter, as well, because his form isn't broken.
Among the top players to miss out on a top ten selection are big man Wendell Carter (Duke), athletic wing player Lonnie Walker IV (Miami), and strong forward Kevin Knox (Kentucky).
The NBA Draft will take place on Thursday, June 21 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The event will start at 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN.