2018 NBA Mock Draft: Promises, promises

I imagined all season long, back when the Grizzlies had the No. 2 seed in the draft lottery, how things might look if Doncic were to fall into Memphis’ lap after their bizarre first season in a post-Grit n’ Grind world. Now, despite the Grizzlies falling to the fourth slot in the draft, they could end up with Doncic anyway.

To catch up on Doncic, I went back and watched his performance in the EuroLeague Final, the game that clinched his Final Four MVP honors and gave him his second championship before his 20th birthday.

In the high-pressure atmosphere of a championship game, things did not flow smoothly for Real Madrid’s offense. The “beautiful game” stuff they can get away with running against a nobody in the regular season bogged down, and simple plays became the main means of producing points. In that environment, Doncic’s crazy dribbling motor and controlled handle became important against extra ball pressure. When he has the ball, he understands the patience necessary to coax the defense a step or two in the wrong direction and then beat them with an easy pass.

It’s impossible to imagine him staying overseas — it’s time to turn Gustavo Ayon into Marc Gasol, catching those passes and making plays. His game is tailor-made for the NBA, with incredible shot creation in transition bolstered by his ability to make pull-up 3s and see the floor well.

Memphis is searching for its next identity following the departure of both Tony Allen and Zach Randolph. Doncic’s exciting, graceful offensive game could become the core of their new way of playing.