2018 NBA Mock Draft: Way too early edition
By Chris Stone
The 2018 NBA Draft will be here soon enough. Here’s a first look at it.
The 2017 NBA Draft is in the rearview mirror, but the 2018 NBA Draft is just on the horizon. To get us going on a (way too early) look at how the next class of prospects might shake out, we’ve put together our very first 2018 mock draft.
The draft order was determined simply by using the 2016-17 season’s standings, but it does account for pick transfers, so you’ll notice the Boston Celtics have both the No. 1 pick (from the Brooklyn Nets) and the No. 3 pick (from the Los Angeles Lakers, via the Philadelphia 76ers). However, because everything will obviously be in flux over the course of the offseason and next year, team needs have not been taken into account and each franchise has been assigned the “best player available.”
Here’s a look at how things shook out, including quick introductions to each prospect you’ll hear about in 2017-18.
Luka Doncic
SF, Real Madrid
Doncic has an absurdly high basketball IQ, is capable of running an offense and can score from anywhere on the floor. At 18-years old, Doncic already plays controlled and measured on the floor. While he made just 33.3 percent of his 3s this season, he shot better than 80 percent from the foul line and projects as a solid 3-point shooter. That jump shot will make him a lethal threat both on and off the ball.
If there’s one question surrounding Doncic it’s his lacking athleticism, but his elite skill level should help him override that concern in the NBA. It’s difficult to overstate how important it is that he is already putting up these numbers in a competitive league and against grown adults. This isn’t someone putting up big numbers in college because they outclass their peers. It’s a boy among men delivering both stats and tape that suggest he’s the top prospect in the 2018 draft class.