The NFL Draft is tonight so I figured let’s look at the NBA Draft. More specifically, a re-draft. I decided on the 2018 class because it is recently enough that we still know most of the players but far enough in the past that we sort of know what each player is. For example, we know Luka Doncic is awesome. There are still some questions however. What is number one pick DeAndre Ayton? What is number 2 pick Marvin Bagley? Let us look. (All picks will be made by the team whose hat was put on that night, for instance the Hawks will pick 3rd and the Mavericks 5th).
1. Suns: Luka Doncic
This one feels obvious. I mean imagine Devin Booker and Luka Doncic in the same backcourt. It does mean Chris Paul likely never gets to Phoenix but Luka is worth it. This one was easy.
Orignal: DeAndre Ayton
2. Kings: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
This one was not as obvious but I think Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player on the board. He is a long athletic guard who has proven he can play off the ball. The debate was him or Jaren Jackson Jr. The Kings had drafted De’Aaron Fox the previous year so Trae Young would not make sense. SGA might not make too much sense because the Kings had both Buddy Heild and Bogdan Bogdanovic but to get a player like Gilgeous-Alexander in your back court with Fox makes it worth it.
Orignal: Marvin Bagley III
3. Hawks: Trae Young
The Hawks originally traded this pick to Dallas. Trae Young is who the Hawks committed too in 2018, and they do it again here. Young has had his ups and downs throughout his career but the Hawks are married to him and his style of play. Trae Young is a great player but the Hawks made a franchise changing mistake when they traded Doncic to Dallas, you should never trade players like Luka Doncic.
Original: Luka Doncic, traded to the Mavericks
4. Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis nailed this one. Triple J as he is known, is a 4-5 split who can shoot the ball and get to the basket using his size. Also is a perfect fit with Ja Morant, who had yet to be drafted at this point. Even without the guarantee of Morant, Memphis sticks with the guy they drafted that night.
Orignal: Jaren Jackson Jr.
5. Mavericks: Michael Porter Jr.
No Michael Porter Jr. is not Luka Doncic, so breath Mavs fans, you still have Doncic. Porter Jr., or MPJ, had a rough start to his career, missing his rookie campaign and struggling in the bubble last season. However, MPJ has been awesome this year. That definitely has something to do with playing with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray but Porter has also much improved on the defensive end and is just really really good.
Original: Trae Young, traded to the Hawks
6. Magic: DeAndre Ayton
The Ayton slide ends here. I debated him at 5 but decided on Porter so Ayton heads to Orlando in our fictional universe. Nikola Vucevic had yet to break out so Orlando selected Mo Bamba in this spot. That has not worked out. So enter Ayton, there could be a lack of opportunity in the beginning but Ayton is a far better player than Bamba so you have to presume that they would enter him into their starting lineup ASAP.
Original: Mo Bamba
7. Bulls: Mikal Bridges
I love Mikal Bridges. He can shoot the ball and is really good defensively. Yes, the Bulls needed a point guard at the time and still do now but Bridges is just too good to pass up on here for Chicago.
Original: Wendell Carter Jr.
8. Cavaliers: Colin Sexton
I love Colin Sexton, this was an awesome guard class. Sexton is a dog who will give you buckets against anyone, anytime, anywhere. He is aggressive, defensive and gives the effort even if he can be a liability at points. Cleveland sticks with their original pick.
Orignal: Colin Sexton
9. Knicks: Duncan Robinson
Robinson went undrafted in this draft and that is a travesty. He is a sharpshooter who when he is hot does not miss and was a key part of the Heat’s NBA Finals run last season. The Knicks add a shooter to a team that needed a lot at the time.
Original: Kevin Knox
10. 76ers: Miles Bridges
Miles Bridges is a high flyer who can score the rock. A player that would have fit perfectly with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid with his ability to defend and score the basketball. Philadelphia really blew it when they traded back and drafted Zhire Smith.
Original: Mikal Bridges, traded to the Suns
11. Hornets: Robert Williams III
Charlotte nailed this pick, and then they traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Clippers. So ending up with Robert Williams, or the Timelord, is not that (or Miles Bridges who they ended up with). However, I love Williams, he is athletic as all hell and is a plus defender, a player that would help the Hornets a ton.
Original: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, traded to the Clippers
12. Clippers: Donte DiVincenzo
With their first pick in the lottery the Clippers go with their Gilgeous-Alexander. I like Divincenzo, he can score. LA adds a talented player here.
Original: Miles Bridges, traded to Hornets
13. Clippers: Kevin Huerter
Huerter sharpshooter, one of the best from this class. He can score the rock in many ways and the Clippers add a guy who would have really helped them over the past few years.
Original: Jerome Robinson
14. Nuggets: Jalen Brunson
I LOVE Jalen Brunson, a point guard who can help Murray with those duties and allow both Brunson and Murry to play off the ball a little bit more. No he is not Michael Porter and yes he plays a different position but Jalen Brunson is really good, and you can never have enough really good player.s
Original: Michael Porter Jr.
15. Wizards: Wendell Carter Jr.
Original: Troy Brown Jr.
16. Suns: Gary Trent Jr.
Original: Zharie Smith, traded to the 76ers
17. Bucks: Davonte Graham
Original: Donte DiVincenzo
18. Spurs: De’Anthony Melton
Original: Lonnie Walker IV
19. Hawks: Mitchell Robinson
Original: Kevin Huerter
20. Timberwolves: Marvin Bagley III
Original: Josh Okogie
21. Jazz: Landry Shamet
Original: Grayson Allen
22. Bulls: Kendrick Nunn
Original: Chandler Hutchenson
23. Pacers: Shake Milton
Original: Aaron Holiday
24.Trail Blazers: Grayson Allen
Original: Anfernee Simmons
25. Lakers: Bruce Brown Jr.
Original: Moritz Wagner
26. 76ers: Josh Okogie
Original: Landry Shamet
27. Celtics: Lonnie Walker IV
Original: Robert Williams III
28. Warriors: Kevin Knox
Original: Jacob Evans
29. Nets: Aaron Holiday
Original: Dzanan Musa
30. Hawks: Troy Brown Jr.
Original: Omari Spellman
The 15th pick is Wendell Carter Jr., I like Carter and think the fit in DC with Beal and (at the time) John Wall would have been a good one. Gary Trent at 16 gives the Suns shooting while Davonte Graham at 17 gives the Bucks a scorer off the bench. The Spurs at a guard at 18 with Melton. Back to back bigs go 19 and 20 as the Marvin Bagley fall ends at 20 to the Minnesota Timberwolves as they assemble a front court that will play zero defense. Lots of scoring is drafted from picks 21-24. Bruce Brown gives the Lakers toughness at 25 with a big LeBron James free agency about to take place. Wings rule the end of the first round as the only non wing from 25-30 is Aaron Holiday to the Nets at 29. Mo Bamba falls out of the first round, am I ready to quit on Bamba, not entirely but there are guys I would rather have over the 22-year-old big man, especially on those teams. The 2018 NBA draft was loaded and very deep looking back on it, yes a lot of teams had new draft picks, but everyone that was taken is, at worst, a serviceable player in a team's rotation.
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