Expert’s Corner: The first ten picks of the 2018 NBA draft
By Travis Gibbs
Travis Gibbs and Brenden Welper break down the first ten picks of the 2018 NBA draft. Who’s in your top ten? Go to the comments section below!
As the 2018 NBA draft approaches, it was only appropriate to weigh in on the matter. The site experts from the PistonPowered staff put together a mock draft of the first ten picks in the first round. Feel free to go to the comments section with your top ten.
The Detroit Pistons aren’t in the top ten of the NBA draft. They aren’t even in the first round of the draft. That doesn’t mean we aren’t basketball fans. Travis and Brenden take every other pick for the teams in top ten of the first round of the draft.
- ( Travis) Phoenix Suns – Deandre Ayton
The Suns need to find an identity. They’re coming off one of their worst seasons (21-61) as an NBA franchise. They have some promise, however.
Devin Booker looks to be the future of the backcourt. Deandre Ayton looks to be a solid compliment to him in the frontcourt. He’s got the build of an NBA forward already and was a force to be reckoned with in his only season at the university of Arizona. Think that’s enough for now? We can add later, let’s just get through the picks first I think.
- (Brenden) Sacramento Kings – Luka Doncic
An argument can be made that 19-year-old Luka Doncic is the best prospect in this year’s draft. The 6’6” Slovenian point guard possesses serious playmaking ability in transition. He’s adept at attacking with either hand, and can stop on a dime off the dribble.
His size and skill set make him an ideal fit for any team looking to add a primary ball handler. The Kings would be wise to pair Doncic with 2017 first-round pick De’Aaron Fox in the backcourt.
Both can facilitate for their teammates, along with being able to create their own shots. Sacramento ranked 25th in assists per game last season with an average of 21.6. That number would certainly rise with the addition of Doncic.
- (Travis) Atlanta Hawks – Jaren Jackson Jr.
It seems like it’s been a century since the Atlanta Hawks were legitimate contenders. It was realistically just a couple years ago. That’s how quickly things can go south in the NBA.
Jaren Jackson put a lot of skills on display in his freshman season at Michigan State. He’s a rim protector, a great rebounder, and even showed some range while shooting the ball throughout the season.
The Hawks need help in their front court. They finished toward the bottom of the league in rebounding as a team. Jackson helps fill that need.
- (Brenden) Memphis Grizzlies – Michael Porter Jr.
There’s always one team that reaches in the lottery. This year, that’ll be the Memphis Grizzlies, whose future in the Birthplace of Rock n’ Roll is up in the air.
With all due respect to Porter, he remains arguably the biggest gamble in this year’s draft. There’s no question that, when healthy, he is one of the more explosive prospects in recent memory. Porter has combined his natural athleticism with a fundamentally sound jump shot.
The stretch-four is reminiscent of a young Carmelo Anthony: while not yet a deadly knock down shooter, his versatile scoring ability makes him an offensive powerhouse.
But Porter suffered a back injury shortly into his one season at Missouri. Porter played just three games in his collegiate career, averaging 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game on 33 percent shooting. He’s a huge risk, but the Grizzlies (whose pace of play was 29th in the league) need a go-to scorer who can run 94 feet.
- (Travis) Dallas Mavericks – Marvin Bagley
With Dirk Nowitzki playing with his best days behind him, the Dallas Mavericks should look for another big man that can stretch the floor.
Bagley has the athleticism to do that. He’s yet to develop the jump shot, but he’s a natural scorer and rebounder that can thrive in those areas for the meantime. His NBA draft stock has been really high since the beginning of the college basketball season.
Dallas drafted Dennis Smith Jr. to be the future of the backcourt. Bagley would make a great compliment to him. At this point, Dallas would be smart to not let this kind of talent fall further in the first round. It will be interesting to see where he falls in the NBA draft.
- (Brenden) Orlando Magic – Trae Young
When the Magic dealt Elfrid Payton to the Suns in mid-February, their depth at point guard became noticeably thin. D.J. Augustin is a respectable ball handler. But he’s 30 years old on a team that is filled with young players.
So why not apply the youth movement to the backcourt? Trae Young led the nation in points (27.4) and assists (8.7) last season. He is the only player in NCAA history to accomplish that feat.
Young has drawn comparisons to Steph Curry, and it’s not hard to see why. He can hit pull-up triples from well behind the long line. The 19-year-old connected on 36 percent of his 3-point shots in one season at Oklahoma.
Orlando ranked 28th in that category last season with a final tally of 35 percent. Sure, not every prospect adjusts to NBA-range 3-pointers. But Young isn’t limited to just shooting jumpers. He can slip his way inside the lane and is a solid passer off the dribble.
- (Travis) Chicago Bulls – Mikal Bridges
The Bulls were a really bad offensive team all season. Bridges is an immediate help to a team that struggled to put the ball in the basket.
Bridges played under Jay Wright at Villanova. The Wildcats are consistently one of the most efficient teams offensively in college basketball. Bridges averaged 17 points and five rebounds per game in his final season with Villanova. Bridges is an extremely efficient shooter. He shot 51 percent from the field and 43 percent from long-range last season on his way to his second national title with the Wildcats.
Bridges is a bit of a wildcard position-wise. He can play small forward. He’s still a bit undersized going into the draft. Bridges will need to develop physically before becoming a big-time threat in Chicago. Nonetheless, he’s a great pick.
- (Brenden) Cleveland Cavaliers – Collin Sexton
Whether or not LeBron James is in a Cavaliers uniform come October remains to be seen. But with or without him, the absence of Kyrie Irving loomed over the franchise all season. Starting oint guard is the most important position in the NBA today. The Cavaliers desperately need an upgrade up top.
Collin Sexton checks all the boxes. He’s a physical guard that attacks the basket and can easily draw fouls. Sexton can be a little ball dominant at times, but the Cavaliers lacked urgency from their guards all throughout the playoffs.
If LeBron is gone, the offense will run through Sexton. If LeBron stays, he can rely on Sexton to shoulder some of the offensive burden. The Alabama guard can also hold his own defensively. That bodes well for a Cavaliers team that was atrocious on that end of the floor in 2017-18.
- (Travis) New York Knicks – Mo Bamba
Ideally, the Knicks need offensive help. At this point, it’s extremely hard to let a player with Bamba’s potential slip any further. He’s gone as far as two or three in some mock drafts.
Bamba can be the rim protector to perfectly compliment Kristaps Porzingis who stretches the floor at power forward. He adds depth to the center position as well.
Bamba comes into the league with elite shot-blocking abilities. He averaged three per game last season in college. Bamba has the build of an NBA player already as well. He could possibly go much higher in the NBA draft.
- (Brenden) Philadelphia 76ers – Wendell Carter
This pick is more of an insurance policy, given that Joel Embiid’s long-term health is still a cause for concern. Wendell Carter is not Embiid, but he’s no slouch either. The 6’10” center can score from the post, in the paint, and behind the 3-point line.
He averaged 13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game on an efficient 56 percent shooting. Carter also shot 41 percent from beyond the arc. But his money is made on the block.
Once Carter has a defender on his inside hip, he spins towards the baseline and finishes at the rim. Despite being quite lanky, Carter gets low enough to establish good positioning while protecting his dribble. It’s a throwback style of play, but the 76ers are used to that with Embiid anchoring their front court.
Related Story: What should the Detroit Pistons do heading into draft day?