2018 NBA Mock Draft: What if Memphis wins the lottery?
66. . G. Kentucky. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. 16. player
It seems incredibly difficult to imagine Gilgeous-Alexander falling this far now after so much hype was thrown onto him in February and March. He almost single-handedly turned Kentucky’s youngest-ever season around, and found a way to score in bunches without terrific athleticism or shooting touch.
But it remains true that players such as Collin Sexton, Troy Brown and even Lonnie Walker are flashier than Gilgeous-Alexander. Outside Luka Doncic and Trae Young, there isn’t a dominant play-maker available in this draft. This entire cluster of guys is tough to separate, though I do think in time Gilgeous-Alexander’s defensive versatility and winning reputation built during his freshman season will carry him into the lottery.
If, as I imagine this week, someone like Sexton (or spoiler alert: Aaron Holiday) busts ahead of him, the freshman is a great fit next to Devin Booker and Josh Jackson in Phoenix. The Suns are building a versatile team, with offensive smarts and defensive versatility at every position. Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t solve their spacing or scoring needs, but he gives them a much better option at the other guard spot than Tyler Ulis or Elfrid Payton offered this season.
Gilgeous-Alexander will be even more enticing once we know his official wingspan and teams see him swallow opposing scorers in scrimmages, but so too will the other guys he’s battling against for lottery position.