2018 NBA Mock Draft: Enter the madness

As we move through the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, 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 March 15. For each pick, team needs are taken into consideration, as well as fit.

This pick comes from the Rockets, who own the league’s best record.

One thing I can’t help but value in the league today, despite the relatively plentiful supply of productive young point guards, are efficient ball-handlers who can shoot and possess the size to adequately defend multiple positions. It’s still a rare archetype to find in the draft, regardless of how many players look the part.

Graham actually reminds me a bit of Dennis Schroder, the Hawks’ point guard of the present. However, Graham is a better 3-point shooter with a nearly 3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and four years of college experience leading one of the better programs in the nation. Atlanta should quietly be looking for its next point guard, and Graham is a safe bet at the end of the first round.

He scored 29 points (along with six rebounds and six assists) in Kansas’ opening-round victory over Pennsylvania.