The NBA playoffs are underway, which also means the collection of teams hoping to land the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft via the lottery is set. So, it seemed like the perfect time to roll out a new Mock Draft.
A series of coin flips on Friday helped lock in the draft order after the lottery and locked in odds for some of the teams hoping to land the No. 1 pick.
Assuming nothing changes on lottery night, here's a look at how the draft could go down in June...
1. Suns — Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
Age: 19.7 | Height: 7-1 | Weight: 260
Ayton's college career didn't end exactly as planned when his Arizona squad was upset in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats were routed by Buffalo, 89-68. Still, on the basis of his season-long performance, Ayton figures to be a top-two pick come June.
The 19-year-old has the potential to be a dominant offensive force at the next level. He is a capable midrange shooter with 3-point upside, a beast on the offensive glass and an improving post-up threat.
Although Real Madrid's Luka Doncic sits atop the Sporting News Big Board, NBA teams have historically prized prospects like Ayton. The 7-footer possesses an intersection of size and athleticism that can't be taught, and front offices will likely trust their development systems to smooth out Ayton's rough edges.
Read more about Deandre Ayton here.
2. Grizzlies — Luka Doncic, G, Real Madrid
Age: 19.1 | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 218
Despite a difficult February and a couple of weeks off to rehab a thigh injury, Doncic continues to put up monster numbers for Real Madrid. Between EuroLeague and Liga ACB play, he's averaging 21.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists per 36 minutes on a 60.4 true shooting percentage. The 19-year-old will come to the NBA with an argument as the top European prospect in history.
In Memphis, Doncic can bridge eras. He should be able to contribute immediately in some capacity alongside (hopefully) healthy versions of Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol next season while giving the Grizzlies a future franchise cornerstone.
Read more about Luka Doncic here.
3. Mavericks — Jaren Jackson Jr., C, Michigan State
Age: 18.6 | Height: 6-11 | Weight: 242
The Mavericks won a coin flip against the Hawks for the third spot on Friday. The two teams will split ping pong balls and have virtually equal lottery odds, but if things fall in line, it'll be Dallas who selects first on draft night.
Jackson is one of the youngest prospects in the 2018 draft class and his statistical profile — in part due to his age — is one of the most promising. The 18-year-old averaged 5.5 blocks per 40 minutes as a freshman while shooting 39.6 percent from behind the arc. He has legitimate unicorn potential. Turning him into a long-term ball screen partner with Dennis Smith Jr. would be a terrific move for a franchise looking to bring back its glory days.
Read more about Jaren Jackson Jr. here.
4. Hawks — Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Duke
Age: 19.1 | Height: 6-11 | Weight: 234
Pairing John Collins with a prospect who might be best described as "a better version of John Collins" may not be the smartest front office decision given some of the potential defensive deficiencies a Bagley-Collins frontcourt would face, but it's tough to turn down the Duke big man's talent.
Bagley has the potential to be the best player in the class if his skill level catches up with his athleticism and motor. The 19-year-old averaged 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per contest as a freshman. His second and third jumps make him a dominant force on the offensive glass, and he should be a dangerous pick-and-roll threat.
More enticing, though, is his potential short roll play-making. Bagley's ability to pass a bit on the move gives him a leg up on some of the draft's other elite bigs.
Read more about Marvin Bagley III here.
5. Magic — Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma
Age: 19.6 | Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Need and fit intersect here at No. 5 with the Magic, who managed to somehow win the final game of the season and blow their chances at equal odds for the No. 3 pick. Orlando shipped out point guard Elfrid Payton at the trade deadline, so the front office will need a long-term replacement.
It's easy to highlight Young's end-of-season numbers as a reason to avoid him on draft night, but he still managed to put up historic numbers as a freshman. Young averaged 27.4 points and 8.7 assists per game. He shot 36.0 percent from behind the arc, is one of the best young pull-up jump shooters in recent memory and can facilitate an offense with his passing. There's risk here, but the upside is too great.
Read more about Trae Young here.
6. Bulls — Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas
Age: 19.9 | Height: 6-11 | Weight: 225
It's tempting to slot Villanova's Mikal Bridges here, as Chicago has a history of selecting college upperclassmen, and the team has a glaring need at small forward. But the upside of Bamba is too much to pass up. The 19-year-old's skill set would fit perfectly alongside Lauri Markkanen in the frontcourt.
Bamba projects as a shot-erasing rim protector. He has a 7-9 wingspan and averaged 4.8 blocks per 40 minutes as a freshman for the Longhorns. Bamba remains a work in progress on the offensive end, but with Robin Lopez under contract for another season, he'll have some time to work out the kinks.
Read more about Mohamed Bamba here.
7. Kings — Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF, Missouri
Age: 19.8 | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 215
Porter didn't look great after returning from back surgery at the end of the season, but that was to be expected given his lack of conditioning. The 19-year-old remains an intriguing, high-upside play for a franchise seemingly lacking in future star power.
Porter has the potential to be a go-to scoring option on the wing. His size allows him to get his shot off over smaller opponents, and his quickness is too much for bigger defenders to handle. He's a three-level scorer with fluid athleticism and an improving jump shot. Porter would also give Sacramento a more modern look on frontline.
Read more about Michael Porter Jr. here.
8. Cavaliers (via Nets) — Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, Villanova
Age: 21.6 | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 210
Assuming LeBron James sticks around, there may not be a better marriage in the draft than Bridges with Cleveland. The 21-year-old projects as a traditional 3-and-D wing who could alleviate some of the Cavaliers' defensive troubles while giving James a potent 3-point shooter on the other side of the ball.
Bridges averaged 1.9 steals and 1.3 blocks per 40 minutes as a redshirt junior. He also possesses an excellent understanding of team defensive concepts. On offense, he's a career 40.0 percent 3-point shooter on 400 attempts. His improvement shooting off movement makes him a more versatile threat.
If James leaves in free agency, Bridges will remain a valuable part of a rebuild. Every team needs viable wing prospects, and he still may possess some untapped potential as an offensive creator.
Read more about Mikal Bridges here.
9. Knicks — Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
Age: 19.3 | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
The Knicks largely just need talent, but it's hard to ignore the glaring need to fill the point guard spot presuming Frank Ntilikina isn't viewed as a long-term solution there. Despite the late-season surge from Kentucky's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Sexton remains the draft's second-best point guard prospect.
The 19-year-old is a competitive force, and his presence alongside Ntilikina would give the Knicks an interesting defensive backcourt in time. Offensively, Sexton's game runs downhill. He's intent on getting to the rim. However, he still needs to develop into an above average 3-point shooter to be a more well-rounded offensive player.
Read more about Collin Sexton here.
10. Sixers (via Lakers) — Miles Bridges, SF/PF, Michigan State
Age: 20.1 | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 230
A Philadelphia-based reunion with Mikal Bridges was cut short a few picks ago, so a replacement Bridges will have to do. The Michigan State sophomore doesn't necessarily excel at any one thing, but he's good at a lot of them.
Adding the 20-year-old would bring another versatile defensive option to the 76ers' roster. He would also give Ben Simmons another perimeter outlet. Bridges shot 37.5 percent from behind the arc on 339 attempts in college. He's at his best in off-the-catch situations, whether shooting or attacking in a straight-line drive. Philadelphia is primarily concerned with rounding out its roster around Simmons and Joel Embiid. Bridges fits the bill.
Read more about Miles Bridges here.
11. Hornets — Wendell Carter Jr., C, Duke
Age: 19.0 | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 259
Given the quantity of bigs at the top of the draft and the league's emphasis on guards and wings, it feels inevitable that one of the frontcourt players is likely to slip a bit on draft night. Don't let that be a reflection of Carter's overall talent level, however.
The 19-year-old is an exciting playmaker on the offensive end where his ability to dribble, pass and shoot is impressive for a young center. On defense, there are more question marks. He looked like a solid rim protector playing as the middleman in Duke's 2-3 zone this season, flashing good timing and the ability to get off the ground quickly. However, he's also part of the reason the team went to a zone, as he regularly struggled defending ball screens.
Read more about Wendell Carter Jr. here.
12. Clippers (via Pistons) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
Age: 19.8 | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 170
Gilgeous-Alexander forced his way up draft boards with some impressive late-season performances. No freshman in college basketball was as crafty getting to the rim as the 19-year-old Kentucky star. Gilgeous-Alexander excelled as a pick-and-roll ball-handler and finisher at the rim. On the other end, his length offers up some interesting potential versatility should he put on strength.
After shipping out Blake Griffin earlier this season, the Clippers are looking for an influx of talent with their two late lottery picks.
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