2018 NBA Mock Draft: Knicks go big with Mo Bamba

We consider the latest coaching and personnel decisions and how they may impact this year’s draft, in the latest edition of our 2018 NBA Mock Draft.

For each pick, team needs are taken into consideration, as well as fit.

It’s just difficult to imagine Brunson making it out of the first round, considering his reputation and production as a college player. The Hawks are in a position with the last pick of the round to simply add him as a talent play.

Brunson had a hand in just about every play put together by Jay Wright and Villanova this past season on their way to a national championship. He learned to be effective creating offense as a driver and play-maker, as well as spotting up or moving off the ball when he shared the court with Dante DiVincenzo. As is true for all of the Wildcats’ prospects, Brunson’s college role makes it easier to imagine his development in the pros.

While Atlanta’s recent decision to move on from coach Mike Budenholzer makes it difficult to know for sure what direction they move with personnel decisions, as it stands now they have ball-movers at every position, from Dennis Schroder to Kent Bazemore to Taurean Prince to Mike Muscala. That was a core tenet of Budenholzer’s offense. Brunson fits if they continue to build that way.

If not, he also has a claim to being the most talented option at 30. The Hawks have so many picks that maybe at this point, taking the most productive and talented guy is appealing.