The NBA season came to its merciful end on June 8th, with the Golden State Warriors celebrating the title in a dominant fashion, sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers with 4-0. And while the Warriors are still dealing with the Hangover from celebrating the title and enjoying the championship parade through Bay Area, the NBA world seems more intrigued by the future of LeBron James and which team he might choose to play for this summer. “The Decision” is still weeks away, and it will not be the only hot topic talked about this summer, as we get ready for the upcoming NBA draft, which, by many, should be the strongest one since the 2003 Draft.
The 2017 NBA Draft proved to be pretty strong, showcasing the talents of future stars such as Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell, who made an immediate impact on their teams, the Boston Celtics, and the Utah Jazz. Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Lauri Markkanen, Dennis Smith Jr., and Markelle Fultz, are also projected to play key roles for their teams in future, which only confirms that even the last years draft could be considered as a strong one.
However, the upcoming draft scheduled for June 21st at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn seems to have it all, from dominant big men to extraordinary guards, all of who should become the real thing in years to come, especially the top-5 players expected to be drafted in the first round, which we will cover in this article:
1. PHOENIX SUNS – Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
The Suns are elected to pick first in the upcoming NBA draft. Last year, the team from Arizona chose Josh Jackson with the 4th overall pick, and it is safe to say that they could have done much better (Mitchell was picked at no. 13), despite the fact that Jackson made the All-Rookie 2nd team. However, all odds are suggesting that this year, the Suns will not gamble as they are expected to go with the big-man, Deandre Ayton (7’1″, Arizona).
Ayton is exactly the type of a player that the Suns are looking for, knowing that Tyson Chandler (35) is their starting center, while Alex Len is more likely to see minutes coming off the bench. Ayton is very athletic with a strong physical body, completely ready to go against the more seasoned NBA centers, while at the same time, he should be able to provide more stability inside the paint. In addition, his mid-range jumper is very solid, while the recent videos of him working out, show that he can stretch out his game from even behind the arc.
While he has proved his offensive game, his pick&roll defense and transition defense, are certainly segments that he should be working on improving during the summer. In his lone year playing for the Wildcats, Ayton recorded 20.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg, while shooting 61.2 % from the field, and 34% from behind the arc.
2. SACRAMENTO KINGS – Marvin Bagley, C, Duke or Luka Doncic, SF, Real Madrid
The lottery was very kind to the Sacramento Kings, handing them the 2nd overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft. However, it is certain that Vlade Divac and the Kings will not have it easy when it comes to selecting their pick. Few names pop up in the discussion for the players who might be drafted 2nd, but as it seems right now, Marvin Bagley and Luka Doncic are shortlisted.
Bagley (6’11”, Duke) has been, alongside Michael Porter Jr., considered as the top prospect in the class, and is entering the draft after an impressive year spent with Duke University, where he averaged 21 ppg and 11.1 rpg. He is very agile and has quick feet for his hight. His athleticism and his shooting ability are very impressive as well, while the only potential setback could be the fact that he is stuck between the PF and C positions.
Although his inside game is solid, we saw Bagley more than often being pushed around or out of the paint by his stronger opponents. He likes to use his left hand when finishing around the basket, which allows the defense to read his movements pretty well. Still, Bagley plays with his head and uses his athletic abilities very wisely, which should be enough to justify the projected high pick.
On the other side, Luka Doncic (6’8″, Real Madrid), has long been considered as the No.1 pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, especially after his unbelievable performances during the European Basketball Championship, when he led team Slovenia to the title in 2017, while most recently he even lifted the Euroleague title with Real Madrid. With only 19 years of age, Luka Doncic has conquered Europe, winning every title there was to win, an accomplishment rarely seen, especially knowing that Doncic was the leader of both, his National team and Real Madrid.
Simply put, Doncic is the full package, as he possesses great shooting abilities, playmaking and leadership abilities, offensive and defensive skills. The only minor flow to his game is his quickness when defending 1on1 against a more explosive opponent. Even though he might not end up as the top pick, he is locked for the spots 2 or 3.
3. ATLANTA HAWKS – Marvin Bagley, C, Duke or Luka Doncic, SF, Real Madrid
The Hawks will have the privilege to go 3rd and by all means, their choice might be the easiest one. Namely, the Atlanta Hawks will, most likely, go with either Bagley or Doncic, depending who the Sacramento Kings select. Either way, the Hawks could use either one of the two, as they are finding themselves in the rebuilding mode and Bagley or Doncic are perfectly fit to accelerate that process.
4. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES – Jaren Jackson, PF, Michigan State
Jaren Jackson (6’11”, Michigan State) is steadily climbing the ladders and improving his stock at the NBA Draft. One of the best two-way players in this years draft class will probably get the chance to showcase his talents wearing the Memphis Grizzlies uniform in the next season. His long hands, solid defensive skills, and great heart are the things that characterize this young talent. His presence in the paint is impressive, which was seen during the last season when he recorded 3.2 blocks per game while playing for MSU.
In addition, Jackson has posted 11.3 ppg and 5.8 boards per contest in 33 games played. One of the things he should look to improve is his physical strength and explosiveness. Still, if he gets picked in the top 5, Jackson will certainly prove his worth and establish his presence immediately.
5. DALLAS MAVERICKS – Mo Bamba, C, Texas
The final pick of our Top-5 Draft preview is one of the most talked about players over the recent days. Namely, as the draft night approaches, the stocks are rapidly increasing for Mo Bamba (7’1″, Texas). Bamba, who is often compared to Utah Jazz’s starting center Ruby Gobert, is projected to become one of the best rim protectors in the years to come, using his incredible 7’10” wingspan.
While playing for Texas, Bamba recorded 12.9 ppg, 10.5 rpg, and unreal 3.7 rejections. His potential is sky-high, and should he manage to put on some body mass during the summer and in his first season, he should have no problems in making his presence known immediately.
Michael Porter Jr. has also seen his stocks increase over the last couple of days, despite the fact that he missed the entire season due to injury and the fact that he canceled some workouts due to his hip spasms. Trae Young has had some solid workouts during the summer, especially with Orlando Magic, who could turn out to be his next destination. Mikal and Miles Bridges, along with Wendel Carter, are also players that could end up among the top-10 first-round picks.
Expect to see some teams trading their high picks for some lower picks and some additional assets. Namely, according to some inside reports, some teams are already negotiating trading the high picks in hope to gain some a 2 for 1 deal. Dallas and Atlanta might end up switching their picks, which could be a perfect win-win scenario for both, especially for the Hawks, who could end up selecting Mo Bamba and get some experienced players, picks or cash. Even the Philadelphia Sixer are reportedly looking to squeeze in among the top-5 picks, but are expected to target, either Luka Doncic or Michael Porter Jr.
With less than a week to go, one thing is certain, we are up for another great Draft night which is loaded with talent. As always, you can follow more NBA related news by visiting our NBA page, and should you decide to place some wagers on the draft night, or some other sports, visit BetDSI Sportsbook for the best and latest odds.
