NBA mock draft: New lottery order and top-10 picks
Jonathan Givony
ESPN INSIDER
Which teams will land the best prospects in the 2018 NBA draft?
Let's look at where the top players -- including Trae Young, Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton, Mohamed Bamba, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Marvin Bagley III -- might end up.
Our mock draft differs in two crucial ways from our recently updated top 100 prospect rankings. It uses ESPN's BPI to project the draft order, and it's adjusted for NBA team needs accordingly. It also attempts to project which players will end up declaring and keeping their names in the draft.
1. Phoenix Suns
Deandre Ayton
Arizona
Age: 19.7
C
Height: 7-foot | Weight: 243
Ayton was beginning to answer some of the questions scouts have had about him since high school with a string of dominant performances down the stretch before he finished the season on a poor note in an early NCAA tournament exit. Physically, he's one of the most gifted prospects we've seen in the draft in the past few years, and he has impressive skill level to boot.
Phoenix, the worst defensive team in the NBA, will be right to question Ayton's impact on that end of the floor, but his sheer productivity and overall talent level make it difficult to not slot him at the top of this class.
Starting salary: $8,095,680
2. Memphis Grizzlies
Luka Doncic
Real Madrid
Age: 19.1
PG
Height: 6-foot-8 | Weight: 228
Doncic hit a wall in early March after playing 17 straight months without a break for Real Madrid and the Slovenian national team. A two-and-a-half-week break might help rejuvenate him as Real Madrid approaches the final three months of the season and Doncic attempts to re-establish his candidacy as the potential No. 1 pick in the draft.
Considering their aging core, financial woes and precarious ownership situation, the Grizzlies will likely be looking to return to playoff contention as quickly as possible. Doncic would be a dream selection for the Grizzlies because he has the size, skill and versatility to fit in well alongside all their existing talent while possessing star potential in his own right.
Starting salary: $7,243,440
3. Atlanta Hawks
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Michigan State
Age: 18.5
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 | Weight: 240
The Hawks will be in best-player-available mode, but it helps to be able to complement their existing roster with a building block that fits with the surrounding talent. Jackson would be the ideal big man to pair with promising rookie John Collins.
The youngest projected first-rounder, Jackson might have the highest ceiling in terms of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. He has enviable physical tools, including a 7-foot-4 wingspan and tremendous mobility. Jackson's ability to space the floor (40 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the line), block shots (5.7 per 40 minutes), switch on every screen and, increasingly, put the ball on the floor from the perimeter makes him an ideal fit for the modern NBA.
Starting salary: $6,504,600
4. Orlando Magic
Marvin Bagley III
Duke
Age: 19.0
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 | Weight: 234
Although there are some positional concerns regarding Bagley and his fit in the modern NBA, at some point his talent and sheer production are likely too great to pass on.
Although the Magic could very well be in the market for a point guard, there are questions about whether any guard is worthy of being picked this high. Bagley is likely best suited for the center spot, and his scoring instincts, rebounding prowess and athleticism would make for an interesting fit alongside Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac.
Starting salary: $5,864,640
5. Dallas Mavericks
Mohamed Bamba
Texas
Age: 19.9
C
Height: 7-foot | Weight: 207
With Nerlens Noel unlikely to be in Dallas' long-term plans and Dirk Nowitzki turning 40 in June, the Mavs will definitely be looking for a frontcourt player to build around.
Bamba's rare combination of length, shot-blocking instincts and offensive promise gives him one of highest ceilings of any prospect in this draft. Every team in the NBA is looking for a big man who can anchor a defense.
Starting salary: $5,310,720
6. Sacramento Kings
Wendell Carter Jr.
Duke
Age: 18.9
C
Height: 6-foot-10 | Weight: 259
None of the Kings' big men has emerged as a franchise cornerstone at this stage, meaning it would be foolish to pass on a top-tier talent due to positional concerns.
Carter's basketball IQ and versatility are promising in a number of ways. He is a physically mature big man with a 259-pound frame and a 7-foot-3 wingspan, which will allow him to play the center position in the NBA with ease.
He is a polished player with excellent hands and touch around the basket, and he has demonstrated a nice blend of passing, shot-blocking and perimeter shooting, despite being overshadowed at times by fellow big man Marvin Bagley III.
Starting salary: $4,823,520
7. Chicago Bulls
Trae Young
Oklahoma
Age: 19.5
PG
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 176
Kris Dunn has had a breakout season for the Bulls, but he could certainly use some backcourt help due to his inconsistent jump shot and shaky decision-making.
Young looks like a nice backcourt pairing, with his ability to navigate pick-and-rolls, make shots off the dribble and find the open man with impressive creativity. Having the luxury of hiding him defensively will be a key to his early success, and Dunn can defend either guard spot.
Starting salary: $4,403,280
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets)
Michael Porter Jr.
Missouri
Age: 19.7
SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-10 | Weight: 214
With an uncertain future on the horizon due to LeBron James' free agency, the Cavs will need to stockpile as much talent as they can, regardless of their hopes of keeping the King at home.
Porter came into the season with hopes of making a run at being the No. 1 pick in the draft. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to build his case because of a back injury. Porter's size, shot-creation skill and scoring instincts will nevertheless make him a coveted prospect next June. He is a playmaker on both ends of the floor and is just starting to figure out how to put his talent to full use.
Starting salary: $4,033,800
Cleveland will receive Brooklyn's first-round pick unprotected.
9. New York Knicks
Collin Sexton
Alabama
Age: 19.2
PG
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 183
Frank Ntilikina has had some nice rookie moments, but the Knicks are finding out that the long-armed 6-foot-5 guard seems better suited playing alongside a more dominant ball handler and shot creator who can take some of the scoring responsibilities off his shoulders.
Enter Sexton, with his tremendous aggressiveness driving the lane, taking off-the-dribble jumpers and putting defensive pressure on opposing guards. NBA teams have some concerns about Sexton's decision-making and reckless style of play. Fiercely competitive, Sexton has shown enough flashes in the right areas to be comfortably projected as a starting-caliber point guard with plenty of upside to grow into.
Starting salary: $3,708,120
10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers)
Mikal Bridges
Villanova
Age: 21.6
SF
Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 200
The 76ers have gotten great production out of J.J. Redick and Marco Belinelli, but with both players approaching free agency and their mid-30s, it makes sense to think about drafting a wing who can complement the building blocks of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz.
Bridges is an easy player to slot on almost any NBA roster, thanks to his multipositional defensive versatility, 3-point shooting and role player potential. He isn't as gifted a shot creator as you'd like from a top-10 pick, but on this roster, he won't need to be.
Starting salary: $3,522,480
Philadelphia will receive the Lakers' pick if it lands at No. 1 or Nos. 6-30. Otherwise, the pick goes to Boston.
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NBA Mock Draft: New Lottery Order & Top-10 Picks
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Originally Posted by jjgold
