2018 NBA Mock Draft: Who’s moving at the top?
player. 142. . G. Miami. Lonnie Walker IV. 15
In ESPN’s mock draft Tuesday, Adrian Wojnarowski claimed Missouri recruit and high school stud Michael Porter Jr. could fall as far as 15 to Washington. The franchise would be ecstatic to land such a talent outside the lottery, but Walker, a five-star recruit and the top high school player coming out of Pennsylvania last summer, is an equally huge talent to grab at 15.
People clamoring to find the next Donovan Mitchell have pointed to Walker, citing his playmaking efficiency, athleticism and quietly productive freshman season as evidence that he could make a leap as a rookie and outperform his draft position. The Wizards, desperate for talent of any shape or size, would welcome another two-way stud in the backcourt to join John Wall and Bradley Beal going forward.
The Wizards need to do a better job crafting the next version of this team with Wall’s tendencies in mind. They should not move forward with a power forward with limited shooting range like Markieff Morris or a center like Marcin Gortat who isn’t quite athletic or versatile enough to bend the defense away from Wall without a screen. Instead, playing small would be an easy way to make life easier for Wall as he goes to work on the perimeter.
While Washington has options on the wing — including Josh Okogie or Kevin Knox — to add next to Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter, adding a creative and athletic guard like Walker is a better idea. Beal can guard bigger players, leaving Wall to defend the worst opposing guard, a luxury few teams have for their best offensive player. Then, Porter can move up a position (or two in certain circumstances) and open up the lane like never before in Washington.