Reed HunnicuttBy: Reed Hunnicutt
6/18/18
For Top 100 prospects, click here.
| Pick | Team | Name: | Position: | Year: | College/Country: | Height: | Weight: |
| 1 | Phoenix Suns | DeAndre Ayton | C | FR | Arizona | 7’1 | 250 |
| Ayton is the guy Phoenix wants. I’m not bought into the Kobe-Shaq reincarnation with Devin Booker, but the Arizona big man has star upside. He has all the tools to be one of the league’s best offensive bigs but his effort and energy will decide if he reaches that point. | |||||||
| 2 | Sacramento Kings | Luka Doncic | SG | 1999 | Slovenia | 6’8 | 228 |
| This pick will come down to Doncic, Marvin Bagley, and Michael Porter. Sacramento needs a player that can bring out the best in their young pieces. Even as a teenager, Doncic makes the game easier for his teammates with his playmaking ability, big shot-making, and invaluable win-first mentality. | |||||||
| 3 | Atlanta Hawks | Marvin Bagley | PF | FR | Duke | 6’11 | 225 |
| There is no player more likely to be a double-double threat from day one in the NBA. The combination of energy, athleticism, and skills will mesh well with John Collins, even if neither is a lockdown defender. Bagley could be the face of the Hawks. | |||||||
| 4 | Memphis Grizzlies | Jaren Jackson | PF | FR | Michigan State | 6’11 | 236 |
| Memphis is wise to shop the Chandler Parsons contract to move down a few picks. If they stand pat, Jackson makes a lot of sense as a hard-working big that has serious two-way potential. | |||||||
| 5 | Dallas Mavericks | Mo Bamba | C | FR | Texas | 7’1 | 225 |
| Bamba’s improved shooting form is drawing substantial attention, as it should for a 7-footer that will have the biggest wingspan in the NBA and the speed of a perimeter player. Dallas is weak on the interior so this would be an easy choice to pick an anchor like Bamba. | |||||||
| 6 | Orlando Magic | Trae Young | PG | FR | Oklahoma | 6’2 | 180 |
| As a team without a point guard and in desperate need of playmaking, Young is the best option given the freedom he could have in Orlando. With plenty of active wings and forwards, the Magic need a lead guard to set everyone up and create space for drives. Young does both. | |||||||
| 7 | Chicago Bulls | Michael Porter Jr. | SF | FR | Missouri | 6’11 | 211 |
| I would love Wendell Carter too, but there seems to be a sense that the Bulls will take Porter if he’s still here. With one of the worst small forward situations in the league, Chicago hasn’t been shy about addressing the issue. If Porter’s health meets expectations, his upside as a huge scoring wing is too good to pass up. | |||||||
| 8 | Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets) | Wendell Carter Jr. | PF/C | FR | Duke | 6’10 | 250 |
| Carter is both security and immediate production for a LeBron decision. Had Bagley not reclassified, Carter would be a top-5 pick. He has a mature, patient game with the inside-out scoring to make an impact. | |||||||
| 9 | New York Knicks | Collin Sexton | PG/SG | FR | Alabama | 6’1 | 183 |
| Sexton would bring some swagger that New York hasn’t seen in years. He’s a scoring point guard that could make a fearsome defensive backcourt with Frank Ntilikina. | |||||||
| 10 | Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers) | Mikal Bridges | SG/SF | JR | Villanova | 6’7 | 210 |
| I would expect the Sixers to either try to move up into the top five or trade for a starting-caliber player. Barring any agreements, Bridges is a guy ready-made to be a role player in the NBA as a skilled 3-and-D wing. | |||||||
| 11 | Charlotte Hornets | Kevin Knox | SF | FR | Kentucky | 6’9 | 205 |
| The different levels of Knox’s game are being noticed in workouts. As such a young freshman, he has the body and smoothness to grow into an effective wing scorer for a team in Charlotte that has nothing close to that. | |||||||
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers (via Pistons) | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | PG | FR | Kentucky | 6’6 | 180 |
| The Clippers overperformed last year, without a complete roster. Gilgeous-Alexander is destined to be a solid contributor due to his multi-positional defense and feel. With the injuries in their backcourt, he could have an opportunity to gain Doc Rivers’s trust early. | |||||||
| 13 | Los Angeles Clippers | Robert Williams | PF/C | SO | Texas A&M | 6’9 | 240 |
| Similar to DeAndre Jordan, a fellow Texas A&M product, Williams is an uber-athletic big that can control a game without scoring. Expect the Clips to target him. | |||||||
| 14 | Denver Nuggets | Miles Bridges | SF | SO | Michigan State | 6’7 | 220 |
| In an up-tempo system, drafting a transition finisher like Bridges makes a lot of sense. If Wilson Chandler tests free agency, Bridges could challenge for a starting role as a defensive-minded guy in a lineup full of scoring weapons. | |||||||
| 15 | Washington Wizards | Lonnie Walker | SG | FR | Miami | 6’5 | 196 |
| Walker could go as high as 10 based largely on his potential to develop into a dynamic scorer. Washington could use his offensive punch off the bench, even if it takes him a little while to adjust. | |||||||
| 16 | Phoenix Suns (via Heat) | Donte DiVincenzo | SG | SO | Villanova | 6’5 | 200 |
| DiVincenzo has that dog in him that every team needs. Phoenix is in dire need of backcourt depth and the Final Four MVP can play both guard spots effectively. He can be a microwave off the bench that brings a competitive fire on both ends. | |||||||
| 17 | Milwaukee Bucks | Zhaire Smith | SG | FR | Texas Tech | 6’4 | 198 |
| As much as the Bucks could use a big, most of the posts at this point would be a reach. Instead, they should look to add to a weak wing group. Smith is more than just the best athlete in the draft. He has good instincts, rebounds especially well for his size, and could become a shutdown defender. | |||||||
| 18 | San Antonio Spurs | Gary Trent | SG | FR | Duke | 6’6 | 204 |
| The whole Kawhi situation could lead to this pick being shipped elsewhere. Assuming they keep their pick, Trent is a good outside shooter who projects as a scoring specialist. | |||||||
| 19 | Atlanta Hawks (via Timberwolves) | Kevin Huerter | SG | SO | Maryland | 6’7 | 194 |
| The growing belief is that the Lakers promised Huerter. Plenty of teams ahead of them will consider picking the best pure shooter in the draft, including the Hawks who worked him out early in the process. Huerter’s combination of size, passing, and outside stroke would be a plus for Atlanta. | |||||||
| 20 | Minnesota Timberwolves (via Thunder) | Keita Bates-Diop | SF/PF | JR | Ohio State | 6’9 | 223 |
| Minnesota’s bench is going to need some work. Tom Thibodeau loves defensive-minded guys and Bates-Diop should be able to guard two or three spots with his length. He is efficient with his offensive touches and should blend into any roster. | |||||||
| 21 | Utah Jazz | Troy Brown Jr. | SF | FR | Oregon | 6’7 | 208 |
| Utah wasn’t able to trust their bench last year. Brown can function as a big playmaker with the two-way versatility that will give Quin Snyder options in his second unit. | |||||||
| 22 | Chicago Bulls (via Pelicans) | Chandler Hutchison | SG/SF | SR | Boise State | 6’7 | 200 |
| Even if the Bulls pick Porter at 7, Hutchison would give depth to Chicago’s weakest position. He’s more of a 2/3 than a 3/4 like Porter, but he has the complete game that should fit well all over the court. | |||||||
| 23 | Indiana Pacers | Dzanan Musa | SF | 1999 | Bosnia | 6’9 | 187 |
| Musa can fill it up on the perimeter and has the size and length to be a solid defender down the road. While he wouldn’t be the most NBA-ready player at this point, he fits Indiana’s need for a 3-and-D wing. | |||||||
| 24 | Portland Trail Blazers | Bruce Brown | SG | SO | Miami | 6’5 | 195 |
| Brown is one of the top perimeter defenders in the draft and offers good vision that will allow him to serve as a nice complementary piece when either Damian Lillard or C.J. McCollum sit. | |||||||
| 25 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Cavaliers) | Mitchell Robinson | C | FR | N/A | 7’1 | 225 |
| The center position is going to be an issue for the Lakers next year and free agency doesn’t offer a lot of viable options. Robinson is sort of a mystery man after skipping college basketball, but he is one of the most athletic bigs in recent memory with rim-protecting potential. | |||||||
| 26 | Philadelphia 76ers | Khyri Thomas | SG | JR | Creighton | 6’4 | 200 |
| Thomas is a tenacious defender that will be useful in a spot-up shooting role. He should be a good fit playing in an off-ball role in Philadelphia. | |||||||
| 27 | Boston Celtics | Jerome Robinson | PG/SG | JR | Boston College | 6’5 | 188 |
| Boston has a solid core but they could improve with shot-making on the bench to avoid those long scoring droughts. Robinson can get his own shot when called upon and has the size to play in lineups with multiple guards. | |||||||
| 28 | Golden State Warriors | Grayson Allen | SG | SR | Duke | 6’5 | 198 |
| The draft has been a great way for Golden State to fill their needs at a low price. Allen is a league-ready shooter that plays with energy and can handle the ball as a secondary ball-handler. A lot of college basketball fans will continue to despise him in Golden State. | |||||||
| 29 | Brooklyn Nets | Chimezie Metu | PF/C | JR | USC | 6’10 | 220 |
| Brooklyn has a lot of weaknesses, but interior scoring should be near the top of their wish list. Metu, Moe Wagner, or Ray Spalding would make sense. Metu is a little raw offensively but his activity around the rim is impressive. He should be a decent defensive presence as well. | |||||||
| 30 | Atlanta Hawks (via Rockets) | Jalen Brunson | PG | JR | Villanova | 6’2 | 198 |
| Atlanta lacks backcourt depth. Brunson will be a rotation guard for a long time with his pace, IQ, and shooting instincts.
SECOND ROUND |
|||||||
| 31 | Phoenix Suns | Anfernee Simons | SG/PG | HS | IMG Academy | 6’3 | 183 |
| Simons was a 5-star recruit for a reason. A team could take a look at him in the mid-to-late first round for his explosiveness and perimeter skills. He’s probably a G-League guy for next year but the upside is there for this to be a steal. | |||||||
| 32 | Memphis Grizzlies | Elie Okobo | PG | 1997 | France | 6’2 | 180 |
| Okobo’s experienced in a pick-and-roll game and has the athleticism to make it work. It could be a little bit of an adjustment to the American game, but he is a capable backup. | |||||||
| 33 | Atlanta Hawks | Aaron Holiday | PG | JR | UCLA | 6’1 | 187 |
| Holiday would be a solid insurance policy if Dennis Schroder gets his wish to leave Atlanta. | |||||||
| 34 | Dallas Mavericks | Jacob Evans | SG | JR | Cincinnati | 6’6 | 200 |
| The Mavs could use a wing player like Evans that defends and is comfortable in a low usage role as a floor spacer. | |||||||
| 35 | Orlando Magic | Josh Okogie | SG | SO | Georgia Tech | 6’4 | 215 |
| Okogie is a strong, aggressive wing scorer whose defense would be a welcome addition to the Magic. | |||||||
| 36 | Sacramento Kings | Moritz Wagner | PF/C | JR | Michigan | 7’0 | 240 |
| The Kings lack consistent post play, so adding Wagner after drafting Doncic in the first would check off key areas of improvement in Sacramento. | |||||||
| 37 | New York Knicks (via Bulls) | Raymond Spalding | PF | JR | Louisville | 6’10 | 215 |
| Without a clear timeline on Porzingis’s recovery timeline, Spalding could compete for minutes early on. Of all the bigs in this draft, Spalding is the one who will probably go lower than his talent suggests. | |||||||
| 38 | Philadelphia 76ers (via Nets) | Rodions Kurucs | SF | 1998 | Latvia | 6’9 | 200 |
| Kurucs would have gone in the first round last year. He is a lanky wing that would be low risk for the Sixers here. | |||||||
| 39 | Philadelphia 76ers (via Knicks) | Omari Spellman | PF/C | FR | Villanova | 6’9 | 253 |
| As a stretch four/five, Spellman would be an interesting player who could compete for second unit minutes early in his career. | |||||||
| 40 | Brooklyn Nets (via Lakers) | Hamidou Diallo | SG | FR | Kentucky | 6’6 | 197 |
| Diallo will be a better pro than college player. The fast pace and spacing will give him more chances to excel. Brooklyn would get a high-upside player if he falls this low. | |||||||
| 41 | Orlando Magic (via Hornets) | De’Anthony Melton | PG/SG | SO | USC | 6’3 | 193 |
| Melton can disrupt an offense with his physical gifts. He is a jump shot away from being a key contributor for a team. | |||||||
| 42 | Detroit Pistons | Melvin Frazier | SG | JR | Tulane | 6’6 | 198 |
| If Frazier is available at this point, the Pistons should jump at the opportunity to bring in some help on their underperforming perimeter. | |||||||
| 43 | Denver Nuggets (via Clippers) | Trevon Duval | PG | FR | Duke | 6’3 | 191 |
| Duval is criticized a lot for his lacking jumper, but he is just scratching the surface as a point guard who can create scoring opportunities consistently. | |||||||
| 44 | Washington Wizards | Brandon McCoy | C | FR | UNLV | 7’0 | 250 |
| Without a lot of long-term options at center, McCoy is a project worth investing in this late. | |||||||
| 45 | Brooklyn Nets (via Bucks) | Jevon Carter | PG/SG | SR | West Virginia | 6’2 | 196 |
| This late, Carter is the one guy with a defined role in the NBA as a lockdown defender. | |||||||
| 46 | Houston Rockets (via Heat) | Kevin Hervey | SF | SR | UT Arlington | 6’8 | 211 |
| Hervey isn’t the best athlete but he can stretch the court in small lineups and rebounds well for his size. | |||||||
| 47 | Los Angeles Lakers (via Nuggets) | Landry Shamet | PG | SO | Wichita State | 6’5 | 188 |
| Shamet is one of the top shooters in the draft. The Lakers lack outside threats, especially from their guard positions. | |||||||
| 48 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Goga Bitadze | C | 1999 | Georgia | 6’11 | 250 |
| Bitadze may stay overseas for a few more years to hone his skills before joining a team like the Timberwolves. | |||||||
| 49 | San Antonio Spurs | DeVonte’ Graham | PG | SR | Kansas | 6’2 | 186 |
| Graham is a hard-nosed point guard that should have value in San Antonio’s system. | |||||||
| 50 | Indiana Pacers | Shake Milton | PG/SG | JR | SMU | 6’6 | 207 |
| Milton has size and shooting for a guard. He could go higher if teams like his playmaking potential. | |||||||
| 51 | New Orleans Pelicans | Malik Newman | PG/SG | SO | Kansas | 6’3 | 189 |
| The Pelicans could use perimeter scoring. Newman is going to be a spark plug no matter where he ends up. | |||||||
| 52 | Utah Jazz | Yante Maten | PF | SR | Georgia | 6’9 | 245 |
| Maten added layers to his game over four years and should outplay his draft position. | |||||||
| 53 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Joel Berry | PG | SR | North Carolina | 6’0 | 195 |
| Berry could be a backup point guard with the Thunder. | |||||||
| 54 | Dallas Mavericks (via Trail Blazers) | Isaac Bonga | SF | 1999 | Germany | 6’9 | 200 |
| Bonga’s style of play as a point forward continues to draw attention. Some team will draft-and-stash and hope for the best. | |||||||
| 55 | Charlotte Hornets (via Cavaliers) | Theo Pinson | SF | SR | North Carolina | 6’7 | 211 |
| Pinson can guard, pass, and rebound at a high level. Despite not being a great scorer, he has the look of a role player. | |||||||
| 56 | Philadelphia 76ers | Tryggvi Hlinason | C | 1997 | Iceland | 7’1 | 250 |
| Hlinason is very raw but the right training could turn him into a forceful interior player. | |||||||
| 57 | Oklahoma City Thunder (via Celtics) | Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk | SG/SF | SR | Kansas | 6’8 | 211 |
| Mykhailiuk’s size and shooting excellence were highlighted at Kansas. OKC has been in need of shooting for years. | |||||||
| 58 | Denver Nuggets (via Warriors) | Tony Carr | PG | SO | Penn State | 6’5 | 198 |
| Carr’s draft range is borderline first-round to undrafted. His gifts as a shot-maker for such a big lead guard could entice a team much higher. | |||||||
| 59 | Phoenix Suns (via Raptors) | Bonzie Colson | PF | SR | Notre Dame | 6’5 | 220 |
| Colson would go higher if he never broke his foot. Going undrafted is a real possibility, but the Suns have a lot of picks and got to see him workout since he has returned. | |||||||
| 60 | Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets) | Arnoldas Kulboka | SF | 1998 | Lithuania | 6’9 | 200 |
| Kulboka has a sweet outside stroke that will translate to any level of basketball. | |||||||
| …………………………………. | |||||||
