2018 NBA Mock Draft: Luka Doncic could accelerate the Hawks’ rebuild
player. 142. . C. Chalamette High School. Mitchell Robinson. 15
Robinson is one of the higher ceiling players in this whole draft, and with Washington finally having their pick in 2018, they have to shoot for the stars to add talent to an expensive team.
We’ve seen what just one above-average depth piece like Kelly Oubre can do for a shallow roster like that of the Wizards. It allows them to cut back on minutes for their star backcourt players, and putting Robinson into their rotation could decrease their reliance on aging starters Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat. We haven’t seen him this season since he left Western Kentucky during the summer, but he is the most athletic big man available outside the lottery.
The Washington Post’s Candace Buckner reported late last week that Gortat is pondering retirement following his current contract, which expires after next season. The Wizards have Ian Mahinmi signed through 2020, but he has been unproductive during his season-plus with the team. Robinson has tremendous upside that could eventually push Washington further than they have gotten during this era.