There’s no question on who is top pick of NBA Draft
Suns are expected to select Arizona center Ayton first overall
We could just list a pick-by-pick mock draft here in anticipation of Thursday’s 2018 NBA draft, but when I make my first mistake it all just falls apart (bold prediction — it would have been the No. 2 pick, but who can predict the Kings?). So we’ll instead present all the things to look for on draft night.
But we will start with one prediction — LeBron James’ name will be spoken more on the broadcast of the event than any of the players being selected.
SO, WHO’S NO. 1? I’m going with the one expert on this that I trust: DeAndre Ayton. He worked out for the Suns and then canceled the rest of his workouts. He seems pretty sure, so I’m pretty sure. And I’m not just trusting his instincts. I’m trusting that he’s a sturdy 7-footer who already has an NBA body for a center and moves like a small forward. And it isn’t really a secret with almost every scout and pundit projecting him as the choice at the top.
OK, who’s No. 2: I told you I’m not going to do this.
But, the Kings: They should take Luka Doncic. Will they? Who knows? They are the Knicks with nicer weather.
WHO IS THE REAL RISK OF THE NBA DRAFT? There are two easy ones — Trae Young and Michael Porter Jr. Young is undersized, takes crazy shots and doesn’t defend. But, he also
has a great instinct passing the ball, crazy range on those crazy shots and while he won’t be Steph Curry, he might become a close-enough facsimile to satisfy some team. Porter Jr. is a curious case, enough talent to merit talk of being taken at the top of the draft, but that back surgery and strange questions about effort — I’d still take him very high up. Will one of those bigs fail? Almost certainly, but they are all modern bigs, athletic and versatile.
So, who will teams regret passing on: Jalen Brunson. He’s 6-foot2 and not crazy fast — and could be the fourth player to get drafted from his own college team. But at some point don’t we have to realize that a guy can just play basketball? He was the toughest player on the team even at 6-foot-2 (if he’s really that tall).
WHO HAS THE TOUGHEST LOTTERY PICK? Placing the players in order may be tough, but the hardest pick is easy — the Cavs at No. 8. LeBron James doesn’t have to announce his intentions for another week after the draft. So do you look for a player to complement the best player in the game or try to replace him? Do you trade the pick for a veteran ready to help James win now or plan for the future? Whatever James plans on doing, he would really do his hometown a solid by informing them ahead of the draft rather than blindsiding the franchise like he did eight years ago. WHAT TRADES COULD BE MADE ON DRAFT NIGHT? Watch the Clippers, who hold the No. 12 and 13 picks, to try to move up in the draft — and don’t rule out the Sixers, too, who could turn No. 10 and 26 into something slightly higher if they see a chance to get the player they want.