FanSided Network 2018 NBA Mock Draft

The Sacramento Kings selection at pick No. 2 was a no-brainer after the Phoenix Suns selected DeAndre Ayton. There are plenty of talented players in this draft class, but Luka Doncic stands out as a potential superstar.

Choosing Doncic presents questions about how he will deal with the cultural barriers of coming over from Europe. But that should not be a significant issue as Doncic is from Slovenia, but has played professionally in Spain since age 15. He also stars for Real Madrid at age 19 in arguably the second best league in the world.

Doncic’s unique abilities on the court are what make him worthy of the selection though. He is 6-foot-6 with the playmaking abilities of a point guard. The Slovenian is also deadly in late game situations. Doncic’s combination of scoring and ball-handling makes him difficult to deal with for any opposition.

Some experts will question his fit in Sacramento, but that seems ludicrous. Doncic can play with anyone. Sure, he is likely best with the ball in his hands, but Doncic’s shooting is underrated. Pairing De’Aaron Fox and Doncic in the backcourt means finding creative ways to share the ball.

Doncic also lacks elite quickness and needs to improve his shot selection to reach his NBA ceiling. He makes up for the lack of foot speed with a high basketball IQ. Also, Doncic’s shooting should improve as he gets comfortable facing NBA competition on a nightly basis.

Drafting the best available player is always the best policy in the top-two, and that player is Luka Doncic this season.

— Tyler Watts

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