2018 Mock NBA Draft, Version 2.0: Post-Regular Season Edition

The NBA regular season is now over and the playoffs are underway, meaning the 2018 NBA Draft order is pretty much set. The lottery can still shake things up at the top of the draft, but for now, we're going with how has the best odds of obtaining each pick. 

This class may not be as deep as the stacked 2017 class, but there are a number of star players at the top that all look like franchise players. Oklahoma freshman point guard Trae Young is set the college basketball world on fire, leading the country in points and assists, and has drawn comparisons to Stephen Curry. However, the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick centers around three players in Arizona's Deandre Ayton, Duke's Marvin Bagley III, and Real Madrid's Luka Doncic, who is doing things in Europe no player his age has ever done before.

So, without further ado, here is Version 2.0 our 2018 Mock NBA Draft with the order based on the current draft order:

1) Phoenix Suns - Deandre Ayton, Fr., C, Arizona Wildcats
7'1", 250 lbs. - 20.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 1.9 bpg

The best true center prospect we've seen in some time, Ayton is a highly skilled big man who still has plenty of upside. He's a physical beast that is dominant in the post and has range stretching out to the three-point line. I rank Bagley as the better player, but given Ayton's physical stature, he may have the highest ceiling of anyone in this class. Phoenix needs a center and needs a star. Ayton can check both boxes while helping their defense.

2) Memphis Grizzlies - Luka Doncic, SG, Real Madrid (Spain)
6'8", 225 lbs. - 15.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.5 apg

Doncic has a legitimate case to be the No. 1 overall pick. His all-around game made him the youngest player to ever record a triple-double in ACB history and has great size and vision for the position. There are some questions about his athleticism but he's the most skilled player of this group right now.

3) Atlanta Hawks - Marvin Bagley III, Fr., PF, Duke Blue Devils
6'11", 234 lbs. - 21.0 ppg, 11.1 rpg

Atlanta is in a position to take the best player available regardless of position, and while they'll also seriously consider Doncic, I think they'll go with Bagley's upside. At 6-11, Bagley is a silky smooth athlete who can bring the ball up the court and shoot from the outside, but he's lethal in the post and a terror on the glass thanks to his quick second and third jumps. There are some questions about his skinny frame but he projects to be the perfect four man - or stretch five - in today's NBA.

4) Dallas Mavericks - Jaren Jackson Jr., Fr. PF/C, Michigan State Spartans
6'11", 242 lbs. - 10.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.0 bpg

An excellent addition to any NBA team, Jackson has a 7-foot-4 wingspan and is a great athlete, giving him a ton of defensive upside as a shot blocker who can defend every position on the court. He's competitive on the glass, runs the floor well and is a good finisher with a growing offensive skill set, though he needs to improve his shooting. Dallas will flirt with Mo Bamba, but Jackson is also an excellent shot-blocker who has much more offensive upside.

5) Orlando Magic - Mohamed Bamba, Fr., C, Texas Longhorns
6'11", 225 lbs. - 12.9 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 3.7 bpg

Orlando needs talent. Period. They're hitting the reset button on their current roster but are keeping Jonathan Isaac, who is likely to similar position-wise to Michael Porter Jr. for them to take him. As such, they'll go with Bamba, who should anchor their defense for the next decade.

6) Sacramento Kings - Michael Porter Jr., Fr., SF/PF, Missouri Tigers
6'10", 215 lbs. - 10.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg

Porter was in the running for the No. 1 pick in the draft before he suffered a hip injury that required back surgery and ended his season before it really started. He's a good, fluid athlete who excels on the perimeter and around the basket with his smooth skill set - and would be the perfect prospect for the Kings, who need help on the wing.

7) Chicago Bulls - Wendell Carter, Fr. PF/C, Duke Blue Devils
6'10", 259 lbs. - 13.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.1 bpg

After taking Lauri Markkanen in the first round last year, the Bulls will look to find his long-term frontcourt partner in Carter. He is big and strong enough to play center, yet is also athletic enough and has enough touch on his jumper to play power forward. Fundamentally sound, he can do everything he wants on the court. If he didn't play alongside Bagley at Duke, we'd be talking about Carter as a potential top-five pick.

8) Cleveland Cavaliers (from Boston Celtics via Brooklyn Nets) - Trae Young, Fr., PG, Oklahoma Sooners
6'2", 180 lbs. - 27.4 ppg, 8.7 apg, 3.9 rpg

Cleveland will likely look to trade this pick, but if they keep it for what could be the post-LeBron era, they'll want to take someone they can build their future around. That would lead them to Young, who has incredible quickness, vision, and ability to create shots for himself. There are some major defensive questions about having him, but his offensive upside is tremendous.

9) New York Knicks - Collin Sexton, Fr., PG, Alabama Crimson Tide
6'3", 190 lbs. - 19.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.6 apg

New York is realizing that Frank Ntilikina is probably better playing off the ball, so they won't be afraid to go point guard here. Sexton could easily go higher than this, but I think he'll fall a bit because of his size. Still, he's a dynamic athlete who is exciting to watch because of his quickness, vision, finishing ability and defensive quality. He's also perhaps the most competitive player in this class.

10) Philadelphia 76ers (via Los Angeles Lakers) - Mikal Bridges, Jr., SF, Villanova Wildcats
6'6", 210 lbs. - 17.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 spg

Though he plays a lot of power forward for the Wildcats, Bridges' NBA upside is as a defender. He's very quick for someone who is 6-foot-7, and with a wingspan over seven feet, he is an impact player on that end of the floor. Bridges is the ultimate 3-and-D prospect.

11) Charlotte Hornets - Miles Bridges, So., SF/PF, Michigan State Spartans
6'7", 225 lbs. - 17.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.7 apg

The Hornets need to figure out which direction they're going with their future, and without one right now (and a seeming unwillingness to trade Kemba Walker), they'll go with the best player available in Bridges. The preseason favorite to win National Player of the Year, Bridges was going to be a lottery pick in the 2017 draft before opting to return to school. He hasn't really helped himself with the gamble, but he is a freak athlete who is excellent finishing around the rim and has shown somewhat of an improved jumper. The Hornets also need another long-term solution on the wing, which Bridges would provide.

12) Los Angeles Clippers (via Detroit Pistons) - Robert Williams, So., PF/C, Texas A&M Aggies
6'10", 241 lbs. - 10.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.6 bpg

Like Bridges, Williams is a super athlete who may have been a first-round pick if he stayed in the 2017 draft but opted to return to school to work on his consistency. That has also been a failure as he has struggled to find his place in Texas A&M's big lineup, but his game is perfect for the modern NBA. He is an elite athlete, rebounder, and shot blocker who will best utilize those skills in the wide-open NBA game. For a Clippers team that just parted with Blake Griffin and is expected to do so with DeAndre Jordan as well, Williams would be a great replacement.

13) Los Angeles Clippers - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Fr., PG, Kentucky Wildcats
6'6", 180 lbs. - 14.4 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.1 rpg

Gilgeous-Alexander has been the most consistent player for Kentucky this season, and his size and vision give him good upside as an NBA point guard. The Clippers need a long-term answer at point guard, making Gilgeous-Alexander a good fit.

14) Denver Nuggets - Kevin Knox Jr., Fr., SF, Kentucky Wildcats
6'9", 215 lbs. - 15.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg

There's a reason why Knox was one of the top prospects in the country this year. Despite a lack of aggression and the need to get stronger, Knox can fill it up with the best of them. The Nuggets have been trying to find a solution at small forward for years, and they'll take the game here with Knox, who might be the best pure scorer in this class.

15) Washington Wizards - Mitchell Robinson, C
6'11", 215 lbs.

Robinson is not playing this season due to a weird series of events that ultimately led to him leaving Western Kentucky for a third and final time to spend the year preparing for the NBA Draft. A freak athlete and shot-blocker, Robinson is still very raw at this point in his career - but the upside is obvious. For a team that needs a long-term replacement for Marcin Gortat, the Wizards could be the team that gambles on Robinson - even if it is a bit of a reach.

16) Phoenix Suns (via  Milwaukee Bucks) - Zhaire Smith, Fr., SG/SF, Texas Tech Red Raiders
6'5", 195 lbs - 11.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg

Perhaps no one has seen their draft stock soar more in the NCAA Tournament than Zhaire Smith. His outstanding athleticism has always been his greatest attribute, yet he showed flashes of his immense potential during Texas Tech's run. Smith is still raw - his shooting and ball-handling need to improve - but that incredible athleticism makes him a very intriguing prospect.

Many believe he'll be a lottery pick if he returns to school next year yet will still likely be a top-20 pick should he stay in this draft.

17) Phoenix Suns (via Miami Heat) - Lonnie Walker, Fr., SG, Miami Hurricanes
6'4", 192 lbs. - 11.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg

Phoenix needs backcourt depth so don't be surprised to see them take two wings with these picks. Walker could very easily find his way into the back end of the lottery, as he has all of the physical tools and athleticism to be a star in the NBA. However, he needs the ball in hands to be effective and can improve his consistency and shooting. He'd be a quality pick at this point in the draft.

18) Atlanta Hawks (via Minnesota Timberwolves) - Anfernee Simons, SG, IMG Academy
6'3", 165 lbs.

Simons is the No. 7 overall prospect in the 2018 recruiting class and but is making the jump straight to the NBA out of prep school. For one of the league's worst teams in Atlanta, they can afford to gamble on a prospect like Simons and hope he delivers on his upside.

19) San Antonio Spurs - Chandler Hutchison, Sr., SF, Boise State Broncos
6'7", 197 lbs. - 20.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.5 apg

The Spurs always take smart players and need some insurance at the small forward position with Kawhi Leonard's murky future with the franchise. Hutchison won't replace Leonard (he's much better as his backup) but he's a good player with a quality shooting stroke and excellent passing ability.

20) Indiana Pacers - Aaron Holiday, Jr., PG, UCLA Bruins
6'1", 185 lbs. - 20.3 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.7 rpg

The Pacers need a point guard and Holiday has the most all-around upside of the multitude of the point-guard prospects that could go late in the first round. He was the unquestioned leader for UCLA this season and shouldn't have a hard time making the adjustment to the NBA because of his high basketball IQ.

21) Minnesota Timberwolves (via Oklahoma City Thunder) - Troy Brown, Fr., SF/SG, Oregon Ducks
6'7", 215 lbs. - 11.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.2 apg

Brown has great size for a wing player and can do a little bit of everything on the court, especially as a smart passer and defender. However, he's just an average athlete and needs to improve his consistency, yet for a Timberwolves team that needs wing depth, he's a good fit.

22) Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans Pelicans) - Dzanan Musa, SF, Cedevita (Croatia)
6'9", 195 lbs. - 10.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg

Another international prospect who needs to get stronger, Muza has a high basketball IQ and is an aggressive scorer who can fill it up from anywhere on the court. Chicago needs more wing scoring and shooting.

23) Utah Jazz - Keita Bates-Diop, Jr., SF, Ohio State Buckeyes
6'7", 235 lbs. - 19.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg

Utah is in a position where they can take the best player available, which happens to be the Big Ten Player of the Year. Bates-Diop's size, length, and versatility give him a lot of defensive upside at the next level, as does his scoring ability. The Jazz will be hoping they can turn him into a 3-and-D guy at the next level.

24) Portland Trail Blazers - Bruce Brown Jr., So., SG, Miami Hurricanes
6'5", 190 lbs. - 11.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.0 apg

Brown is small for a shooting guard at 6-foot-3 but makes up for it with a 6-foot-9 wingspan and elite athleticism. He's a very versatile offensive player who would give the Blazers an asset for their bench.

25) Los Angeles Lakers (via Cleveland Cavaliers) - Jalen Brunson, Sr., PG, Villanova Wildcats
6'3", 190 lbs. - 18.9 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3.1 rpg

Brunson isn't a super athlete but is an extremely smart, skilled player with the highest basketball IQ in the class. The Lakers need a backup point guard if they let Isaiah Thomas walk (as expected) and, given the way the Lakers franchise loves Josh Hart, they won't hesitate to take another Villanova player. It helps he's the National Player of the Year, too.

26) Philadelphia 76ers - Khyri Thomas, Jr., PG/SG, Creighton Bluejays
6'3" 210 lbs. - 15.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 apg

Thomas is a great perimeter defender, and that ability alone will likely ensure that he's a first-round pick. Philadelphia would like more guard depth and don't have a lockdown perimeter defender on their roster, meaning they'll likely take Thomas if he's on the board.

27) Boston Celtics - Bruno Fernando, Fr., PF/C, Maryland Terrapins
6'10", 245 lbs. - 10.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg

Like Zhaire Smith, Fernando will likely be a lottery pick next year should he decide to return to school for his sophomore season. NBA teams are very intrigued by his explosive athleticism and mobility at his size even though his skill set is still raw. Boston has gambled on players like this in the past and has shown they can develop them.

28) Golden State Warriors - Landry Shamet, So., PG, Wichita State Shockers
6'4", 180 lbs. - 14.9 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.2 rpg

The Warriors signed backup point guard Shaun Livingston to a three-year deal last offseason, but he's a perfect trade candidate for them this summer if they want to save some on the luxury tax. Enter Shamet, who I think is a shorter version of Livingston (and a better shooter). Both are smart, smooth, have good vision, and are effective scorers when they pick their spots.

29) Brooklyn Nets (via Toronto Raptors) - Trevon Duval, Fr., PG, Duke Blue Devils
6'3", 186 lbs. - 10.3 ppg, 5.6 apg

The Nets need to gamble with their pick given their current situation and Duval has the biggest upside of the players available. He is an elite athlete with outstanding quickness, vision, and a good feel for the game, but his skill set is still developing and in its early stages. He has gotten by in his career due to his superior athleticism and needs to improve his shooting and finishing ability.

30) Atlanta Hawks (via Houston Rockets) - Grayson Allen, Sr., SG, Duke Blue Devils
6'5", 205 lbs. - 15.5 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3.3 rpg

If Atlanta gambles on Simons earlier in the draft - or even if they don't - they could use something resembling a sure thing to help their young roster. They also need scoring and shooting, both of which we know Allen (an underrated athlete) will be able to provide.

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