Hate City’s Mock Draft: Volume 1
Jun 6, 2018 11:31:27 GMT 2
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Post by Portland TrailBlazers on Jun 6, 2018 11:31:27 GMT 2
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Here’s our first Mock Draft of the season with a lot of great insights that don’t normally make it into mocks.
The 2018 NBA Draft, taking place on Thursday, June 21, is similar to that of 2017. There are players throughout the top ten that all show superstar potential while the back end of the first round has a promising amount of 3-and-D role players and a few wild cards. There has been a lot of debate of who the top prospect should be in this draft between DeAndre Ayton and Luka Doncic.
Ayton is a physical freak, athletic, do-it-all center while Doncic is a 6’7” guard from Europe that won EuroLeague MVP and the EuroLeague Final Four MVP at just 19 years old. There has been a lot of chatter about how Doncic could slip due to his inefficient play during the EuroLeague playoffs, but the talk could just be smokescreens.
It would be a big surprise if Doncic were to fall past pick No. 2, but the stigma regarding EuroLeague players leaves things up in the air – even though the EuroLeague is a better league than the NCAA.
Outside of the top two players, there still exists loads of potential. Michael Porter Jr. was the original top prospect of this class before missing essentially the entire season with a back injury, Mo Bamba broke the combine record for longest wingspan at 7’10”, and the amount of players that carry positionless talent is the highest we may have ever seen. Without further ado, Phoenix, you’re on the clock.
Note: All listed ages are for the start of the 2018-19 season
1. Phoenix Suns
DeAndre Ayton | C | Arizona
Height: 7’0” | Weight: 243 lbs | Age: 20 | Wingspan: 7’5”
The consensus at this point seems to be that Phoenix will take the hometown big man. Ayton played in-state at the University of Arizona and was an absolute beast. Just seeing him on the court makes it look like he was playing with kids years younger than him despite being a freshman.
Ayton possesses all of the physical and athletic traits you could want in a current center. He’s fast, quick, tall, strong and can do it all. Ayton has a clean looking jumper and should be an immediate threat from beyond the arc. He also has solid vision, passing and dribbling for a center and should fit perfectly into the NBA. The only knock on Ayton is his lack of effort and instincts on defense. We’ve seen other players that have not tried hard in college but came in immediately and defended very well, but this has been a problem for Ayton since high school. We could be looking at Karl-Anthony Towns 2.0 if everything breaks right for Ayton.
2. Sacramento Kings
Luka Doncic | G/F | Real Madrid
Height: 6’7” | Weight: 228 lbs | Age: 19 | Wingspan: N/A
The European prodigy has been playing professional basketball since he was 13 years old. Doncic signed with Real Madrid at 13 and worked his way through the younger levels of competition with ease. Going into his first year in the EuroLeague he became a name to know for a future NBA draft and the time has come for America to see what this kid is all about.
Doncic is 6’7” but will most likely play point guard in the NBA. He’s got fantastic vision, passing, ball control and finishing ability and can knock down a jump shot from anywhere. There are a lot of skeptics that have knocked him for his play in the EuroLeague playoffs, but he has played basketball year-round for almost his entire teenage life.
The one knock on Doncic is that he is not an elite athlete. This is where his first summer with an NBA team could be vital. With the amount of skill he has shown against players 10 years his senior, a few months off to work on his athleticism would be extremely beneficial. It would not be surprising to see Doncic sit out Summer League in favor of working with a trainer to give him a break from basketball and to improve his athleticism. Doncic should be an electric playmaker from anywhere on the floor.
3. Atlanta Hawks
Mo Bamba | C | Texas
Height: 7’0” | Weight: 226 lbs | Age: 20 | Wingspan: 7’10”
Bamba is one of the most intriguing prospects in this class and has arguably raised his stock more than anyone else since the college season ended. He broke the NBA combine record for wingspan at 7’10”, beating Rudy Gobert’s record by two inches. Bamba has the potential to be a defensive anchor for any team while also being able to stretch the floor on offense.
Bamba was second in the NCAA in blocks per game at 3.6 while averaging a double-double and showing some touch from outside. His 27.5% from beyond the arc and 68.1% from the free throw line shows some promise that he could develop into a threat from deep, but he still needs to work his shooting mechanics.
Bamba is also an interesting character off-the-court as he is a dedicated learner. He has attended the Sloan Sports Analytics conference in an effort to learn more about analytics and improve his game – something that all players should do. He has taken some heat for having off-the-court interests, but if a player is dedicated to learning and improving his game like that I can only see it as a positive. If Bamba adds some muscle as his body continues to develop he could be a force in the league for a long time.
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Marvin Bagley | F/C | Duke
Height: 6’11” | Weight: 234 lbs | Age: 19 | Wingspan: 7’1/2”
One of the younger prospects in this draft, Bagley was originally a 2018 recruit before reclassifying to 2017. He immediately became the top prospect and showed why at Duke. He put up 21 points and 11 rebounds per game with a 64% effective field goal percentage. His incredible bounce at his size was seen with many highlight dunks.
Bagley does have his concerns though. He was a defensive liability and does not have the length or athleticism to match up well with some of the star big men right now. His shot is also a problem as his mechanics are not quite there yet. He can’t shoot off the dribble and frequently misses badly left or right. He shot 39% from three, but his 62% from the free throw line is discouraging (free throw shooting is a better predictor for 3-point shooting in the NBA).
Bagley is an impressive athlete that can run the floor, rebound with the best, and finish through contact. His ball-handling in the open court should allow him to run on fast breaks and when he gets going not many people will try to get in the way. He needs to refine multiple parts of his game, but the potential is immense. He’s my least favorite prospect in the top tier due to both how raw he is and his similarities to other athletic stretch-fours in draft history. Raw athleticism is always coveted and Bagley could go as high as two in this draft. He may not be as effective as Memphis wants right away, but he provides them a superb athlete and long-term potential.
5. Dallas Mavericks
Jaren Jackson Jr. | C/F | Michigan State
Height: 6’11” | Weight: 236 lbs | Age: 19 | Wingspan: 7’5”
Jackson is one of the few prospects still 18 years old right now and is a lot of people’s favorite. He has a great knack for shot-blocking with either hand as well as a great touch on his shot. Jackson averaged 3.0 blocks per game to go with nearly 40% 3-point shooting and nearly 80% from the charity stripe.
Jackson is not the most ferocious rebounder and needs to add muscle. He was playing out of position at Michigan State as he was mostly at the four while he projects to be a five in the NBA. He is thought to be one of the safest prospects in the class as he can block and shoot at the very least, but still holds potential to be a star. He has a somewhat unusual shooting motion that may need to be tweaked, but he shot well from deep and at the free throw line so he may be able to make it work.
He does not have the post-up game or self-creating offense that some centers have in today’s NBA, but he does a lot of little things very well. He’s smart and makes good cuts, can switch screens and hold his own on the wing, and his ability to finish and protect the rim with either hand are great skills to come into the league with. Expect Jackson to fit right in as a center in the current NBA landscape. He’d pair nicely with Dennis Smith Jr. in what could be the start of a great young core.
To read the rest, bookmark this site www.hoop-ball.com/ and go here
www.hoop-ball.com/articles/hoop-ball-fantasy-basketball-features/hoop-balls-mock-draft-volume-1/
Here’s our first Mock Draft of the season with a lot of great insights that don’t normally make it into mocks.
The 2018 NBA Draft, taking place on Thursday, June 21, is similar to that of 2017. There are players throughout the top ten that all show superstar potential while the back end of the first round has a promising amount of 3-and-D role players and a few wild cards. There has been a lot of debate of who the top prospect should be in this draft between DeAndre Ayton and Luka Doncic.
Ayton is a physical freak, athletic, do-it-all center while Doncic is a 6’7” guard from Europe that won EuroLeague MVP and the EuroLeague Final Four MVP at just 19 years old. There has been a lot of chatter about how Doncic could slip due to his inefficient play during the EuroLeague playoffs, but the talk could just be smokescreens.
It would be a big surprise if Doncic were to fall past pick No. 2, but the stigma regarding EuroLeague players leaves things up in the air – even though the EuroLeague is a better league than the NCAA.
Outside of the top two players, there still exists loads of potential. Michael Porter Jr. was the original top prospect of this class before missing essentially the entire season with a back injury, Mo Bamba broke the combine record for longest wingspan at 7’10”, and the amount of players that carry positionless talent is the highest we may have ever seen. Without further ado, Phoenix, you’re on the clock.
Note: All listed ages are for the start of the 2018-19 season
1. Phoenix Suns
DeAndre Ayton | C | Arizona
Height: 7’0” | Weight: 243 lbs | Age: 20 | Wingspan: 7’5”
The consensus at this point seems to be that Phoenix will take the hometown big man. Ayton played in-state at the University of Arizona and was an absolute beast. Just seeing him on the court makes it look like he was playing with kids years younger than him despite being a freshman.
Ayton possesses all of the physical and athletic traits you could want in a current center. He’s fast, quick, tall, strong and can do it all. Ayton has a clean looking jumper and should be an immediate threat from beyond the arc. He also has solid vision, passing and dribbling for a center and should fit perfectly into the NBA. The only knock on Ayton is his lack of effort and instincts on defense. We’ve seen other players that have not tried hard in college but came in immediately and defended very well, but this has been a problem for Ayton since high school. We could be looking at Karl-Anthony Towns 2.0 if everything breaks right for Ayton.
2. Sacramento Kings
Luka Doncic | G/F | Real Madrid
Height: 6’7” | Weight: 228 lbs | Age: 19 | Wingspan: N/A
The European prodigy has been playing professional basketball since he was 13 years old. Doncic signed with Real Madrid at 13 and worked his way through the younger levels of competition with ease. Going into his first year in the EuroLeague he became a name to know for a future NBA draft and the time has come for America to see what this kid is all about.
Doncic is 6’7” but will most likely play point guard in the NBA. He’s got fantastic vision, passing, ball control and finishing ability and can knock down a jump shot from anywhere. There are a lot of skeptics that have knocked him for his play in the EuroLeague playoffs, but he has played basketball year-round for almost his entire teenage life.
The one knock on Doncic is that he is not an elite athlete. This is where his first summer with an NBA team could be vital. With the amount of skill he has shown against players 10 years his senior, a few months off to work on his athleticism would be extremely beneficial. It would not be surprising to see Doncic sit out Summer League in favor of working with a trainer to give him a break from basketball and to improve his athleticism. Doncic should be an electric playmaker from anywhere on the floor.
3. Atlanta Hawks
Mo Bamba | C | Texas
Height: 7’0” | Weight: 226 lbs | Age: 20 | Wingspan: 7’10”
Bamba is one of the most intriguing prospects in this class and has arguably raised his stock more than anyone else since the college season ended. He broke the NBA combine record for wingspan at 7’10”, beating Rudy Gobert’s record by two inches. Bamba has the potential to be a defensive anchor for any team while also being able to stretch the floor on offense.
Bamba was second in the NCAA in blocks per game at 3.6 while averaging a double-double and showing some touch from outside. His 27.5% from beyond the arc and 68.1% from the free throw line shows some promise that he could develop into a threat from deep, but he still needs to work his shooting mechanics.
Bamba is also an interesting character off-the-court as he is a dedicated learner. He has attended the Sloan Sports Analytics conference in an effort to learn more about analytics and improve his game – something that all players should do. He has taken some heat for having off-the-court interests, but if a player is dedicated to learning and improving his game like that I can only see it as a positive. If Bamba adds some muscle as his body continues to develop he could be a force in the league for a long time.
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Marvin Bagley | F/C | Duke
Height: 6’11” | Weight: 234 lbs | Age: 19 | Wingspan: 7’1/2”
One of the younger prospects in this draft, Bagley was originally a 2018 recruit before reclassifying to 2017. He immediately became the top prospect and showed why at Duke. He put up 21 points and 11 rebounds per game with a 64% effective field goal percentage. His incredible bounce at his size was seen with many highlight dunks.
Bagley does have his concerns though. He was a defensive liability and does not have the length or athleticism to match up well with some of the star big men right now. His shot is also a problem as his mechanics are not quite there yet. He can’t shoot off the dribble and frequently misses badly left or right. He shot 39% from three, but his 62% from the free throw line is discouraging (free throw shooting is a better predictor for 3-point shooting in the NBA).
Bagley is an impressive athlete that can run the floor, rebound with the best, and finish through contact. His ball-handling in the open court should allow him to run on fast breaks and when he gets going not many people will try to get in the way. He needs to refine multiple parts of his game, but the potential is immense. He’s my least favorite prospect in the top tier due to both how raw he is and his similarities to other athletic stretch-fours in draft history. Raw athleticism is always coveted and Bagley could go as high as two in this draft. He may not be as effective as Memphis wants right away, but he provides them a superb athlete and long-term potential.
5. Dallas Mavericks
Jaren Jackson Jr. | C/F | Michigan State
Height: 6’11” | Weight: 236 lbs | Age: 19 | Wingspan: 7’5”
Jackson is one of the few prospects still 18 years old right now and is a lot of people’s favorite. He has a great knack for shot-blocking with either hand as well as a great touch on his shot. Jackson averaged 3.0 blocks per game to go with nearly 40% 3-point shooting and nearly 80% from the charity stripe.
Jackson is not the most ferocious rebounder and needs to add muscle. He was playing out of position at Michigan State as he was mostly at the four while he projects to be a five in the NBA. He is thought to be one of the safest prospects in the class as he can block and shoot at the very least, but still holds potential to be a star. He has a somewhat unusual shooting motion that may need to be tweaked, but he shot well from deep and at the free throw line so he may be able to make it work.
He does not have the post-up game or self-creating offense that some centers have in today’s NBA, but he does a lot of little things very well. He’s smart and makes good cuts, can switch screens and hold his own on the wing, and his ability to finish and protect the rim with either hand are great skills to come into the league with. Expect Jackson to fit right in as a center in the current NBA landscape. He’d pair nicely with Dennis Smith Jr. in what could be the start of a great young core.
To read the rest, bookmark this site www.hoop-ball.com/ and go here
www.hoop-ball.com/articles/hoop-ball-fantasy-basketball-features/hoop-balls-mock-draft-volume-1/