2018 NBA Draft: 5 best perimeter defenders available

Every NBA team needs athletic wing defenders to stymie an opponent’s best scorer. Who are the best perimeter defenders in the 2018 NBA Draft?

Offense has taken over the NBA. One-dimensional players are getting run off the court left and right once the postseason starts. If a player is unable to put the ball in the hoop they get ignored or have a plodding big man switched on them. Yet, for all the scoring and glitz that outside shooting has become in today’s game the Golden State Warriors proved that defense still wins championships.

Defense often gets put on the back burner, besides LeBron James chase-down blocks, playing good defense doesn’t usually hold the same value to fans and viewers as dunks, ball handling, and three-pointers. In this year’s draft class there are several prospects with the defensive skill set to allow them to contribute on that end immediately–it doesn’t hurt that all five are also plus perimeter shooters.

With the pace-and-space era spreading out the floor being able to guard your opponent mano a mano is the first step to slowing down these all-time great offenses we have in the game now. While no one person is stopping Kyrie Irving from dribbling into the lane, or Kevin Durant from getting a shot off, there can be enough done to bother them into tough shots or help defense. At their highest potential, these five players can develop into the type of defender that teams lean on to try and slow down the premier stars of today.

For teams looking to unseat the Warriors as back-to-back champions, it starts with adding as much defensive talent as one can. Getting one of these five on your roster is a great start. These names are likely to dominate the backend of the first round (ATTN: Tom Thibodeau) and getting the right one is crucial.