2018 NBA Mock Draft: Mohamed Bamba could be the Suns’ last building block

As we ramp up toward March Madness, the prospects in the draft are starting to separate themselves into tiers in the latest edition of our 2018 NBA mock draft.

The order for this mock draft is based upon 538’s CARM-Elo projections as of Feb. 5. For each pick, team needs are taken into consideration, as well as fit.

If Matthew Dellavedova was the key to the Cavaliers competing with the Warriors in 2015, perhaps drafting his identical twin will be a good way to prolong their dynasty.

Carter has a ton of the tools you want from a defender — bulldog strength, quick feet and incredible instincts. I swear to you he has not been called for a single reach-in foul all season, despite games like his six-steal performance against Oklahoma on Monday becoming a regular occurrence.

His shooting plummeted this week in West Virginia’s two games, but the defense was still there and his team won both. You wouldn’t expect Carter to go 0-of-8 from distance all that often, and he isn’t a very streaky player to begin with. His free-throw shooting has spiked this season alongside his 3-point shooting, a trend that hopefully means he’d fit even better as an offensive piece for Golden State.

They may lean toward a project on the wing after hitting the guard and big positions quite a bit in the last few drafts, but the Warriors would get a useful player if they took Carter.