2018 NBA Mock Draft: Who’s moving at the top?

In a special mock draft broadcast Tuesday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Porter could potentially fall out of the lottery on draft night. While he clarified that it was unlikely based on his talent and reputation before an opening-night back injury at Missouri, it’s certainly intriguing to consider a reality in which Porter falls so far.

Back injuries are as bad as they sound for high-level athletes. As with hamstring and foot problems, movement in the back is involved in every twist and turn a player makes while on the court. Considering a lot of Porter’s value will derive from the physical advantages he possesses over his competition, it’s realistic to believe that his draft stock would suffer as a result of his injury.

He played in just three games for Missouri this season, so NBA teams will have to rely greatly on his high school tape to buy into his potential as a dominant scorer. That doesn’t bode well for him.

However, it also means the Mavericks could be in position to scoop someone who falls for the wrong reasons. Just as Dennis Smith Jr. fell because of the overwhelming failures of his NC State team and questions about his overall team basketball mentality, Porter could fall based on concern over the injury and make teams look silly in the near future. Dallas, amidst a never-ending rebuild, could strike while the coals are cold.

If they shy away from Porter, they could move onto someone like Mohamed Bamba.