2018 NBA Mock Draft: March is finally here

I saw Walker referred to as the “next Jimmy Butler” on some sort of YouTube highlight compilation recently, and while I don’t quite understand that comparison, Walker moves up in this week’s mock draft and finds an interesting fit in Denver.

The freshman may not quite be a No. 13 pick type of player at first glance, but I believe his increased opportunity after Bruce Brown went down with injury, coupled with his unique modern skill set, will mean he gets taken earlier than most expect. Walker is also someone NBA scouts have gotten to see since high school, meaning they might feel more comfortable taking him after a productive freshman season than someone like De’Anthony Melton.

The modern skill set derives mostly from Walker’s ability to make pull-up jump shots and his defensive length. However, Walker’s 2.0 steal rate is underwhelming for a guard who defends on the ball and has a long wingspan. He does not create defensive events as often as elite defensive prospects generally do.

For the Nuggets, he would be something of a Will Barton replacement, giving Denver another ball-handler to join Jamal Murray and Gary Harris. The three could easily play together, giving Nikola Jokic three excellent offensive guards around him.