NBA mock draft
Who will Suns select at No. 1?
With the NBA draft Thursday night, USA TODAY offers a final projection for how the first round will go.
1. Suns: Deandre Ayton, Arizona, center, freshman, 7-1, 250 — Between his physical gifts and offensive tools, no player in the draft has a better chance at becoming a franchise cornerstone than Ayton.
2. Kings: Marvin Bagley III, Duke, forward, freshman, 6-11, 211 — Michael Porter Jr. would likely be the pick if the Kings were drafting lower, but the medical concerns relating to his back appear to have scared them off. Bagley’s ability to contribute immediately makes him less risky, with an outside chance that they go with Luka Doncic.
3. Hawks: Luka Doncic, Real Madrid, guard, 6-8, 220 — The EuroLeague MVP has excellent size, vision and range. At minimum he’s a savvy distributor for years; at maximum he’s an All-Star.
4. Grizzlies: Michael Porter Jr., Missouri, forward, freshman, 6-11, 211 — The heralded prospect was in the mix for the Kings, but due to the risk of drafting a combo-forward coming off back surgery, Porter slipped a bit. For what it’s worth, he’s handled the uncertainty of the pre-draft process with composure.
5. Mavs: Mo Bamba, Texas, center, freshman, 7-1, 225 — In addition to his tremendous on-court attributes — length, agility and timing — teams have been impressed with his approach to learning and studying the game.
6. Magic: Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State, forward, freshman, 6-11, 236 — Jackson’s pro potential — length, timing, ability to stretch the floor and defensive versatility — was always evident even if not necessarily showcased at Michigan State.
7. Bulls: Wendell Carter, Duke, forward, freshman, 6-10, 251 — High basketball IQ, sturdy frame, polished interior moves, it’s tough to see Carter being anything less than a steady, productive pro. His 3-point shooting could be a bonus.
8. Cavaliers: Trae Young, Oklahoma, guard, freshman, 6-2, 177 — One of the most polarizing prospects in the draft, it’s fun to project his jitterbug finishes and rainbow 3-pointers at the next level as he benefits from more spacing. It’s also vital to ask how his size could handicap a team defensively.
9. Knicks: Collin Sexton, Alabama, guard, freshman, 6-2, 183 — Bullish and aggressive, Sexton plays downhill, and he’ll need a team that wants to run with him. The Knicks could sorely use scoring out of their backcourt.
10. 76ers: Mikal Bridges, Villanova, guard, junior, 6-7, 210 — Teams are constantly in search of versatile, two-way wing players. Bridges can stretch the floor and switch on defense, essential fixtures in today’s modern NBA.
11. Hornets: Kevin Knox, Kentucky, forward, freshman, 6-9, 215 — As the NBA becomes more positionless, players such as Knox become even more coveted. As a stretch-four, Knox could present matchup nightmares from the perimeter and off the bounce.
12. Clippers: Lonnie Walker, Miami (Fla.), guard, freshman, 6-5, 196 — Not many freshmen are built like Walker, one of the best athletes in the draft. He’ll never be a lead guard, but his defensive versatility coupled with his potential on offense make him intriguing.
13. Clippers: Robert Williams, Texas A&M, center, sophomore, 6-10, 241 — Few prospects are as tantalizing as Williams in terms of his athleticism and agility. There’s significant value if he can become more consistent.
14. Nuggets: Miles Bridges, Michigan State, forward, sophomore, 6-7, 220 — An explosive athlete with 3-point range, the biggest question for Bridges is oncourt fit. He could be a valuable asset if teams feel comfortable in his ability to defend two through four.
15. Wizards: Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech, guard, freshman, 6-4, 198 — An exceptional athlete with a good motor, Smith could develop into a steal as a high-flying, transition-oriented guard.
16. Suns: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky, guard, freshman, 6-6, 180 — He has excellent length and size for his position, and he’ll become even more dangerous once he develops more of an offensive repertoire farther away from the basket.
17. Bucks: Jerome Robinson, Boston College, guard, junior, 6-5, 188 — He flew under the radar, but Robinson is an athletic, efficient scorer who can hit from outside or drive the lane and finish.
18. Spurs: Troy Brown, Oregon, forward, freshman, 6-7, 208 — Wings are always at a premium, and though Brown isn’t known as a scorer, it’s his multitude of other skills — defensive versatility, rebounding — that could offer value in the NBA.
19. Hawks: Elie Okobo, Pau-Orthez (France), guard, 6-3, 180 — The lefty isn’t afraid to let it fly. He’s a shifty scorer from numerous levels, equally comfortable among the trees in the lane or out on the perimeter.
20. Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova, guard, sophomore, 6-5,
200 — His aggressive, three-level scoring approach won’t necessarily follow him to the NBA, but he’s athletic and hungry enough on defense to make an impact.
21. Jazz: Kevin Huerter, Maryland, forward, sophomore, 6-7, 190 — There’s a lot to like about the smooth-shooting forward. He moves extremely well without the ball, is comfortable attacking on his own and has a sound 3-point stroke that should translate well to the NBA.
22. Bulls: Chandler Hutchison, Boise State, guard, senior, 6-7, 197 — The fouryear wing thrives in the open court and is comfortable taking it end-to-end. He is believed to have secured a first-round promise.
23. Pacers: Aaron Holiday, UCLA, guard, junior, 6-1, 185 — Crafty and heady, Holiday has excellent vision and doesn’t come with a ton of risk.
24. Blazers: Josh Okogie, Georgia Tech, guard, sophomore, 6-4, 213 — If he can become more selective in his shots and more consistent from outside, he has good two-way potential coupled with his bulky frame.
25. Lakers: De’Anthony Melton, Southern California, guard, sophomore,
6-3, 193 — A versatile, in-your-face defender, Melton can cause mistakes with his effort on that end of the floor.
26. 76ers: Keita Bates-Diop, Ohio State, forward, junior, 6-8, 223 — A good athlete with defensive versatility, Bates-Diop might have an adjustment as he tries to find his spots on offense at the next level.
27. Celtics: Grayson Allen, Duke, guard, senior, 6-4, 198 — His stock rose with an impressive combine showing, and Boston’s depth gives him time to develop other areas of his game beyond his 3-point shooting.
28. Warriors: Mitchell Robinson, Chalmette High School, center, 7-0, 233 — Perhaps no player has a wider range than Robinson, who passed on his lone year in college. Robinson’s size and agility make him worth a first-round gamble.
29. Nets: Dzanan Musa, Cedevita (Croatia), forward, 6-9, 195 — A quicktrigger wing with good range, he’ll need to add bulk to compete on the defensive end.
30. Hawks: Jacob Evans, Cincinnati, guard, junior, 6-6, 210 — A wing with good size and versatility, Evans made his mark as a relentless on-ball defender with a knack for blocking shots.