2018 NBA Mock Draft: The standings are set
PG. Oklahoma. Trae Young. 4. player. 125.
For those of you who care, Young is No. 2 on my personal board, between Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton. One thing that has been lost in the constant rebuttals to those who compared Young to Steph Curry early in the season is that Young could be a step below Curry and be incredibly valuable.
As our own Chris Stone noted two weeks ago, Young is at the top of the list in terms of one-and-done point guards’ passing productivity. He averaged an entire assist more per 40 minutes than Lonzo Ball, who we all collectively lost our minds about last June. He also made his teammates better collectively in a manner similar to the effect Ball had on the Bruins last season, and did so with inferior talent.
Young is a beat ahead of the game like the most cerebral chess masters to ever play the game, fishing for quick buckets and open 3s from all directions. He makes the right pass-shoot decision more often than not, and feels the pace of a basketball game unlike anyone in this year’s class. If you trust that intangible, gut feeling stuff that makes you just sure this guy is the one, it’s tough not to love Young.
The Hawks need a GUY, despite having lots of guys. The opportunity to draft Young may be there, with the teams projected to draft at two and three set at point guard.