1. Sacramento Kings
Luka Doncic
Real Madrid
Age: 18.9
PG
Height: 6-foot-8 |
Weight: 228 |
PER: 27.5
Although the Kings have some interesting backcourt pieces, they still have a ways to go in terms of turning into a cohesive unit capable of winning games.
Doncic has the size, skill and versatility to fit in very well alongside all their young talent, and he would pair very well with an athletic shot-creator who can defend multiple positions in
De'Aaron Fox. He's having a phenomenal season in Europe, posting historic numbers in the Euroleague and Spanish ACB for an 18-year-old.
Starting salary: $8,095,680
2. Atlanta Hawks
Deandre Ayton
Arizona
Freshman
C
Height: 7-foot |
Weight: 243 |
PER: 32.8
The Hawks are not in a position to draft based on need at this stage of their rebuilding effort, and there are question marks about how well promising big man
John Collins fits in alongside another center who doesn't protect the rim at an elite rate.
Nevertheless, Ayton has elevated himself into the conversation as a top-two pick with his incredible, natural physical tools and high skill-level. His rebounding and scoring prowess could be very attractive here, even if
Mohamed Bamba might actually be a better fit stylistically.
Starting salary: $7,243,440
3. Phoenix Suns
Mohamed Bamba
Texas
Freshman
C
Height: 7-foot |
Weight: 207
| PER: 28.2
With
Tyson Chandler on the wrong side of 30 and
Alex Len entering unrestricted free agency, shoring up the center position looks like a natural move for the Suns here. It helps that they won't be sacrificing anything in terms of talent, as Bamba will likely get some looks in the top two as well due to his rare combination of length, shot-blocking instincts and offensive promise.
Bamba is starting to make 3-pointers more consistently (6-for-17 in his past 8 games), and his unicorn potential gives him arguably the highest upside of any player in this draft.
Starting salary: $6,504,600
4. Orlando Magic
Marvin Bagley III
Duke
Freshman
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 |
Weight: 234 |
PER: 32.7
Although there are some positional concerns regarding Bagley and his fit in the modern NBA, at some point, his talent level 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 still question marks about whether
Trae Young 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. Chicago Bulls
Jaren Jackson
Michigan State
Freshman
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 |
Weight: 242 |
PER: 28.2
At 6-foot-11, 242 pounds with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, it's very likely that Jackson sees significant minutes at center in the NBA as his promising frame fills out, rather than at the 4 like he mostly does in college at the moment. Jackson's ability to space the floor (45 percent from 3, 81 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 make him an ideal fit for the modern NBA.
He would complement the promising
Lauri Markkanen well in many ways and has significant upside to grow into as well, as he's the youngest player currently projected to be drafted.
Starting salary: $5,310,720
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets)
Michael Porter Jr.
Missouri
Freshman
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. Michael Porter came into the season with the hope of making a run at being the No. 1 pick in the draft, but unfortunately, he hasn't been able to build his case due to a back injury.
The results of his medical examination will play a significant role in where he ultimately is drafted, but NBA teams don't appear to be overly concerned right now about the nature of the injury and his long-term prognosis.
Starting salary: $4,823,520
Cleveland will receive Brooklyn's first-round pick unprotected.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers)
Trae Young
Oklahoma
Freshman
PG
Height: 6-foot-2 |
Weight: 176 |
PER: 34.6
The Sixers are in line to draft in the top 10 due to the shrewd
Michael Carter-Williams trade made by Sam Hinkie three years ago, as long as the pick doesn't fall between Nos. 2-5.
If this season has shown us anything, it's that Philadelphia is still in need of help with shot-creation and shot-making, despite the promising play of
Ben Simmons at PG. Young's tremendous shooting prowess will allow him to play at different spots on the floor, even alongside
Markelle Fultz.
Starting salary: $4,403,280
Philadelphia will receive L.A.'s pick if it lands at No. 1 or Nos. 6-30. Otherwise, the pick goes to Boston. BPI projects that Philly has a 78.1 percent chance of getting this pick, with a 5.0 percent chance that it ends up No. 1.
8. Dallas Mavericks
Wendell Carter Jr.
Duke
Freshman
C
Height: 6-foot-10 |
Weight: 263 |
PER: 31.0
Carter's season got off to a slow start, but he has been Duke's best player as of late and is starting to recapture his status as a potential top-10 pick, which is where he started the season.
The Mavs could certainly use help in the frontcourt, and Carter's basketball IQ and versatility are promising in many ways.
Starting salary: $4,033,800
9. Memphis Grizzlies
Miles Bridges
Michigan State
Sophomore
SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-6 |
Weight: 226 |
PER: 25.8
With
Chandler Parsons perpetually hurt and the Grizzlies continually struggling to find firepower at the combo forward position, it could make sense for Memphis to look at Miles Bridges, who is arguably the best athlete in this draft.
He has struggled to make the full-time transition to small forward at times for Michigan State, but he undoubtedly has potential as a two-way forward who can guard all over the floor and give you enough shooting, ballhandling and passing to get by at one of the most important positions in today's NBA.
Starting salary: $3,708,120
10. New York Knicks
Collin Sexton
Alabama
Freshman
PG
Height: 6-foot-2 |
Weight: 183 |
PER: 23.8
Frank Ntilikina has had some nice rookie moments, but the Knicks are finding out that that the long-armed, 6-foot-5 guard is seemingly 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, who looks like a nice pairing 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 ability to stay healthy due to his reckless style of play, and he has seemingly been dinged up all season, which hasn't helped matters.
Starting salary: $3,522,480
11. Utah Jazz
Mikal Bridges
Villanova
Junior
SF
Height: 6-foot-7 |
Weight: 200 |
PER: 27.5
Every team in the NBA is searching for depth on the wing, and the Jazz are no exception.
Bridges' ability to make shots, defend anywhere from 1-4 and play within a system make him an easy fit on almost any team's roster, even if his overall upside is limited to an extent by his lack of shot creation.
Starting salary: $3,346,560
12. Charlotte Hornets
Kevin Knox
Kentucky
Freshman
SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-9 |
Weight: 205 |
PER: 16.4
Knox hasn't had a very efficient freshman season, partially due to his playing out of position, but there's a significant market in the NBA for combo forwards in his mold who can make an open shot, defend multiple positions and offer some offensive versatility. He's one of the youngest players in this draft, so he still has plenty of room to continue to grow.
Marvin Williams is the only true power forward on Charlotte's roster, but at age 31, he doesn't appear to be part of the impending rebuilding plans.
Starting salary: $3,179,280
13. LA Clippers
Robert Williams
Texas A&M
Sophomore
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-9 |
Weight: 237 |
PER: 25.4
Williams has had a somewhat disappointing sophomore season, partially due to his playing out of position as a power forward in traditional dual-post player lineups.
His game is tailor-made for the NBA, though, as a rim-running, pick-and-roll-finishing, shot-blocker/offensive rebounder in the
Clint Capela mold. With
DeAndre Jordan in the final year of his contract, the Clippers could certainly look to Williams as a potential successor.
Starting salary: $3,020,280
14. Denver Nuggets
Troy Brown
Oregon
Freshman
SG
Height: 6-foot-7 |
Weight: 210 |
PER: 19.1
The Nuggets have been cycling through options at the small forward position all season and could very well look to address that position in the draft and/or free agency this summer.
Brown's versatility as a big ball handler, defender and rebounder is intriguing in a league that is starved for wing players, but his inconsistency as a perimeter shooter has made it difficult for him to fully break out. Being the third-youngest player in this draft class means he still has time to address that.
Starting salary: $2,869,320
