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NBA mock draft: Best picks for Bulls, Cavs, 76ers and more
2018 NBA mock draft - Picks for Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers
by Jonathan Givony on 2017-12-27 05:05:19 UTC (original:
NBA mock draft: Best picks for Bulls, Cavs, 76ers and more)
How has our 2018 mock draft changed after six weeks of NBA action and illuminating matchups for some of the top prospects?
Here's our new look at the full first and second rounds, including a shake-up in the top five.
ESPN's BPI was used to project draft order.
1. Chicago Bulls
Luka Doncic
Real Madrid
Age: 18.7
PG
Although Doncic is starting to feel some heat from a pair of collegiate big men making strong cases for No. 1 overall pick consideration, he's still in the midst of a historic season for an 18-year old international, averaging 25 points, nine rebounds and seven assists per 40 minutes with a 62 percent true shooting percentage.
He would be able to help the hapless Bulls immediately at both the guard and the wing spots while likely manning the point full time. He looks like a good fit alongside the team's existing young pieces.
Starting salary: $8,095,680
2. Phoenix Suns
Marvin Bagley III
Duke
Freshman
PF/C
The Suns haven't gotten the type of results they hoped to see from their two top-10 big men drafted in 2016. They might start thinking about stockpiling more frontcourt talent, considering the options available to them here.
Bagley is putting up historic numbers for an 18-year-old thus far while carrying No. 1 Duke to an undefeated record. His toughness, scoring instincts, budding skill set and upside make him a strong contender for the No. 1 pick.
Starting salary: $7,243,440
3. Sacramento Kings
Deandre Ayton
Arizona
Freshman
C
The Kings are still figuring out just how good their young frontcourt prospects are and might not be in a situation to pass on a "best talent available" type due to positional considerations.
Ayton has adjusted quickly to college basketball. He is putting up huge numbers so far for an underachieving Arizona team. There are some concerns about his work ethic and defensive instincts, but there is no doubt about how talented he is overall.
Starting salary: $6,504,600
4. Atlanta Hawks
Michael Porter Jr.
Missouri
Freshman
SF/PF
The Hawks have rotated among starting the likes of
Luke Babbitt,
Ersan Ilyasova and
Mike Muscala at power forward, which indicates that an upgrade could certainly be imminent.
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Michael Porter's ability to create offense and make shots from the perimeter will be attractive for a team that often struggles to score. His fit alongside promising youngsters
John Collins and
Taurean Prince is intriguing as well.
Starting salary: $5,864,640
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets)
Mohamed Bamba
Texas
Freshman
C
The Cavs don't have a real center on their roster and are in desperate need of young talent, which could lead them to swing for the fences on a prospect such as Bamba.
He projects as an elite-level rim-protector with strong instincts as a rebounder. His offensive game is raw but shows promise.
Starting salary: $5,310,720
Cleveland will receive Brooklyn's first-round pick unprotected.
6. Dallas Mavericks
Robert Williams
Texas A&M
Sophomore
PF/C
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.
The Texas A&M sophomore is one of the best athletes in this draft, and he shows significant upside as a rim-protector, rebounder and finisher, while even flashing glimpses as a passer and shooter.
Starting salary: $4,823,520
7. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers)
Jaren Jackson
Michigan State
Freshman
PF/C
The Sixers don't appear to have any glaring needs at the moment, which could lead them to shop this pick for more established talent.
Every team could use another long, athletic, rim-protecting, pick-and-roll-switching, 3-point-shooting big man such as Jackson, though, and his long-term upside is probably too high for him to fall much further than this.
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 71.5 percent chance of getting this pick, with a 6.4 percent chance that it ends up No. 1.
8. Memphis Grizzlies
Miles Bridges
Michigan State
Sophomore
SF/PF
The Grizzlies will be disappointed to find themselves among the 10 worst teams in the NBA, but they certainly have some needs to address with a high draft pick. One of them is the combo forward position, which has been a rotating cast of characters in Memphis for some time now.
Bridges brings the type of athleticism, toughness and physicality the team could fall in love with.
Starting salary: $4,033,800
9. Orlando Magic
Collin Sexton
Alabama
Freshman
PG
The Magic have invested four years in incumbent starter
Elfrid Payton, but his inability to shoot 3-pointers or free throws means it still isn't clear that he is a long-term answer at the position.
Enter Sexton, the clear-cut best point guard prospect in the draft, who has been terrorizing NCAA defenses all season. (Doncic can play either backcourt position). His toughness, aggressiveness and competitiveness could fit in well on this roster.
Starting salary: $3,708,120
10. LA Clippers
Kevin Knox
Kentucky
Freshman
SF/PF
On a roster completely devoid of young talent, the Clippers won't be in a situation to think too much about positional needs.
Knox has established himself as one of the best combo forward prospects in the draft, with his multi-positional defensive versatility, ability to stretch the floor and athleticism in the open court.
Starting salary: $3,522,480
11. New York Knicks
Dzanan Musa
Cedevita
Age: 18.5
SF
The Knicks have a glaring hole at small forward, which could possibly be filled by a big scoring wing such as Musa, who has been putting up points at a historic rate, relative to his age, this season in the Adriatic League.
Although his defense is a question mark, his ability to create his own shot, find the open man and make jumpers from all over the floor gives him a clear-cut niche as a bucket-getter at the NBA level.
Starting salary: $3,346,560
12. Charlotte Hornets
Mikal Bridges
Villanova
Junior
SF
The Hornets are still searching for long-term answers on the wing, where they've rotated a number of players in and out of the starting lineup all season, partially due to injuries.
Bridges is an easy player to slot on almost any NBA roster, thanks to his multi-positional defensive versatility, 3-point shooting and role-player potential.
Starting salary: $3,179,280
13. Phoenix Suns (via Heat)
Trevon Duval
Duke
Freshman
PG
After trading
Eric Bledsoe to the Bucks, the Suns have a clear-cut hole at point guard, which they'll be looking to fill this summer.
Duval came into the season projected as the second-best point guard prospect in the draft, and he has yet to relinquish that standing. He has the size and length to defend either guard spot. He's also a dangerous weapon in the open floor and a willing passer who has been making the NCAA's most efficient offense flow, despite a clear-cut lack of spacing.
Starting salary: $3,020,280
Phoenix will receive Miami's pick if it is outside the top seven. BPI projects that Phoenix has a 92.4 percent chance of landing this pick.
14. Indiana Pacers
Lonnie Walker IV
Miami
Freshman
SG
The Pacers are exceeding expectations this season but still have some holes in their roster that they might look to fill long-term by drafting wisely.
One of them is on the wing, where Walker could draw some interest with his combination of length, perimeter shooting and budding versatility on both ends of the floor. Walker has gotten off to a slow start coming off a knee injury and will need to play better to maintain this lofty projection.
Starting salary: $2,869,320
15. New Orleans Pelicans
Bruce Brown
Miami
Sophomore
SG
The Pelicans have one of the NBA's strongest frontcourts and could look to bolster their backcourt, where they've been far too reliant on
Jrue Holiday and
E'Twaun Moore.
Brown isn't ultra talented, but he has won over NBA folks with his toughness, aggressiveness, two-way versatility and improving perimeter shooting. He started the season slowly, though he has been better as of late.
Starting salary: $2,725,680