After last night's NBA Draft Lottery, the top-14 picks in the June 21st NBA Draft look like this:
1) Phoenix Suns
2) Atlanta Hawks
3) Sacramento Kings
4) Memphis Grizzlies
5) Dallas Mavericks
6) Orlando Magic
7) Chicago Bulls
8) Cleveland Cavaliers
9) New York Knicks
10) Philadelphia Sixers
11) Charlotte Hornets
12) LA Clippers
13) LA Clippers
14) Denver Nuggets
We're now a little over a month away from the draft, and if you're a fan of any of the aforementioned teams it's time to start getting familiar with the incoming class of players. The good news is, this draft is poised to be one of the deepest classes in recent memory, with plenty of talent to be had regardless of where your favorite team landed in the lottery.
Without further adieu, scroll down to check out 10 of the most talked about talents that you'll want to keep an eye on as we approach June 21.
DeAndre Ayton
School: University of Arizona
Position: Center
All signs point to Ayton being the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft in June, which means he won't have to travel far from campus.
As a freshman, the 7'1, 19-year old averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while leading the Wildcats to a Pac-12 Championship with a 32-point, 18-rebound performance against UCLA. In addition to earning Pac-12 Player of the Year honors, he was named a first-team AP All-American and he's expected to be an immediate game changer on both ends of the floor in the pros.
Luka Doncic
School: N/A. Real Madrid
Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard
If DeAndre Ayton's name isn't called when the Phoenix Suns make the #1 pick in the NBA Draft, it'll most likely be Luka Doncic. The 6'7 guard out of Slovenia has been playing professionally overseas since the age of 16 and he has been described as the most NBA-ready of any player in this draft.
He is widely regarded as the best passer in the 2018 draft class, who is equally as impressive in the pick & roll as he is in the open court. Doncic, 19, averaged 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists through all competitions in Europe including his time with Real Madrid in Spain.
Marvin Bagley
School: Duke University
Position: Power Forward
Marvin Bagley III is arguably the most "NBA ready" prospect coming out of the college ranks, and that's saying a lot considering the amount of highly touted big men in the 2018 class. Averaging 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game in his freshman season, Bagley is poised to make an instant impact on which ever team drafts him.
The 6'11 lefty is an instinctive scorer who shot 61.4% from the field, as well as nearly 40% from three-point range. In addition to making the AP All-American Team, Bagley was named ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Player of the Year.
Michael Porter
School: University of Missouri
Position: Small Forward
Michael Porter Jr. was one of the most talked about players heading into the NCAA season but he suffered a back injury just minutes into his collegiate career and it kept him on the sidelines for almost his entire freshman year.
When active, the 6'10 forward averaged 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 33% from the field, as well as 30% from behind the arc, which wouldn't ordinarily warrant a Top-10 selection. However, teams appear to be sold on his long-term potential. His combination of size and athleticism, along with his picturesque jumpshot, makes him a viable option as a wing player or as a stretch four at the next level.
Jaren Jackson Jr.
School: Michigan State University
Position: Power Forward
Jaren Jackson Jr. is an athletic 6'11 forward who has the ability to impact the game on the defensive side of the ball just as much as on the offensive end. The 18-year old big man averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks for the Spartans this season and he could could as high as #3 overall in the NBA Draft.
“The youngest prospect in the draft, Jackson may have the highest ceiling of anyone in this class in terms of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor,” writes ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
He's not as polished as some of the other bigs in this draft class, but has shown that he can shoot from outside, while also challenging defenders in space and protecting the paint.
Mohamed Bamba
School: University Of Texas
Position: Center
Mo Bamba, a 7'0 center with an 8-foot wingspan, averaged a double-double this season with the Longhorns, posting 12.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, en route to All-Big 12 honors. Additionally, the 20-year old Harlem native was second in the nation in blocks with a whopping 3.7 per game.
His length and ability to defend the rim are enough to put him in the Top-5 conversation, but scouts have also been impressed with his agility and explosiveness on the offensive end of the floor as well.
Wendell Carter
School: Duke University
Position: Power Forward/Center
Wendell Carter's stock continued to rise throughout his freshman season at Duke, despite the lofty expectations placed upon him. He was a 2nd-team All-ACC selection while averaging 13.5 points per game, including 41.3% from three, and ranked amongst the league leaders in rebounding with 9.1 per contest.
At 6'10" with a 7'3 wingspan, Carter is a matchup nightmare for defenses as he can get it done both inside and out. Additionally, he proved to be a better shot blocker than most anticipated, averaging more than two blocks per game at Duke.
Trae Young
School: Oklahoma University
Position: Point Guard
OU's Trae Young was one of the most exciting players in the country this season, averaging a staggering 27.4 points per game as well as 8.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds. He was first team All-Big 12 and a consensus All-American, but concerns over his size will be a reason why teams are reluctant to pull the trigger on him as a top-5 pick. Then again, he has drawn comparisons to Steph Curry.
The 6'2 guard has reportedly put on 11 pounds of muscle since declaring for the NBA Draft, which will be encouraging to teams that are weary of his size. In all, Young has the biggest "boom or bust" potential of any top prospect entering the draft.
Collin Sexton
School: University of Alabama
Position: Point Guard
Sexton, a one-and-done, 19-year-old, averaged 19.2 points, 3.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds in his 33 games as a freshman. He single handedly willed the Crimson Tide into the NCAA Tournament with a memorable SEC Tournament performance.
Avery Johnson, who both played and coached in the NBA prior to coaching Alabama, described the 6'3 guard as a lightning quick two-way player with "unbelievable potential" and a high basketball IQ.
“I think he has unbelievable potential,’’ Johnson said, according to the NY Post. “I played in the league, coached in the league. He’s as fast as anyone I’ve ever seen in my NBA career. I think he’s a little bit closer to Kevin Johnson speed. I know that’s a blast from the past but that type of speed with [Russell] Westbrook athleticism.’’
“He’s a two-way player, not a one-way player,’’ Johnson said. “He’s a small kid, but with a high basketball IQ who will be able to create his own shot anytime he wants. He’s got strong character. He’s still at school in Alabama. He didn’t drop out. His goal is to make straight A’s. He accomplished that in the first semester and he’s tried to do that in the second semester.’’
Mikal Bridges
School: Villanova University
Position: Small Forward
In a crowd of phenomenal freshman ballers, Villanova's Mikal Bridges is the elder statesman. The 6'7 junior eclipsed 1,000 points during his illustrious collegiate career and averaged 17.7 points (43.5% from three) and 5.3 rebounds a night for the national champs this past season.
Bridges may not have the star power when compared to the aforementioned players in this class, but he has established himself as both a smooth scorer and determined defender who will surely be taken in the lottery and could be the steal of the draft if he falls lower than #10.
