Who is going first in the 2018 NBA draft?!
- May 21, 2018
- 4 min read
The Phoenix Suns can finally celebrate something this season, they have the first pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
With the help of some ping pong balls on Tuesday night, the Suns,Kings and Hawks will be the first three teams to pick from this very talented draft pool.
While these teams are the winners, the Dallas Mavericks consider themselves to be one of the losers, even thought they have been awarded the 5th pick behind the Memphis Grizzlies.
Here’s a list of the complete order for the first and second round, and a snapshot on three of the most exciting prospects in the 2018 draft pool.
2018 NBA Draft Order 1. Phoenix Suns 2. Sacramento Kings 3. Atlanta Hawks 4. Memphis Grizzlies 5. Dallas Mavericks 6. Orlando Magic 7. Chicago Bulls 8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Brooklyn Nets) 9. New York Knicks 10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Los Angeles Lakers) 11. Charlotte Hornets 12. Los Angeles Clippers (via Detroit Pistons) 13. Los Angeles Clippers 14. Denver Nuggets 15. Washington Wizards 16. Phoenix Suns (via Miami Heat) 17. Milwaukee Bucks
18. San Antonio Spurs 19. Atlanta Hawks (via Minnesota Timberwolves) 20. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Oklahoma City Thunder) 21. Utah Jazz 22. Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans Pelicans) 23. Indiana Pacers 24. Portland Trail Blazers 25. Los Angeles Lakers (via Cleveland Cavaliers) 26. Philadelphia 76ers 27. Boston Celtics 28. Golden State Warriors 29. Brooklyn Nets (via Toronto Raptors) 30. Atlanta Hawks (via Houston Rockets) 31. Phoenix Suns 32. Memphis Grizzlies 33. Atlanta Hawks 34. Dallas Mavericks 35. Orlando Magic 36. Sacramento Kings 37. New York Knicks (via Chicago Bulls) 38. Philadelphia 76ers (via Brooklyn Nets) 39. Philadelphia 76ers (via New York Knicks) 40. Brooklyn Nets (via Los Angeles Lakers) 41. Orlando Magic (via Charlotte Hornets) 42. Detroit Pistons 43. Denver Nuggets (via Los Angeles Clippers) 44. Washington Wizards 45. Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee Bucks) 46. Houston Rockets (via Miami Heat) 47. Los Angeles Lakers (via Denver Nuggets)
48. Minnesota Timberwolves 49. San Antonio Spurs 50. Indiana Pacers 51. New Orleans Hornets 52. Utah Jazz 53. Oklahoma City Thunder 54. Dallas Mavericks (via Portland Trail Blazers) 55. Charlotte Hornets (via Cleveland Cavaliers) 56. Philadelphia 76ers 57. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Boston Celtics) 58. Denver Nuggets (via Golden State Warriors) 59. Phoenix Suns (via Toronto Raptors) 60. Philadelphia 76ers (via Houston Rockets)
Prospects of Note Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona
The Arizona centre is a tank, he could (and might) run on diesel and looks like he eats steel beams for breakfast.
Standing at 7’1, and weighing in at 250-pounds Ayton was one of the most dominant players in the college basketball scene last season, averaging 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
And to make him even more dangerous, he can shoot.
The freshman hit 42.9 percent of his shots for inside the arc while hitting 34.3 percent from the outside, and as something to build on, that’s a good starting point.
His coach at Arizona, Sean Miller said that the potential number one pick is ‘’mind boggling’’ and has ‘’uncanny fundamentals’’alongside a ‘’pure jump shot stroke.’’ Phoenix Suns fans are and should be excited, because he will be coming their way on draft night.
Luka Doncic, G, Real Madrid
Doncic is my pick of the draft, I’m so excited to see how he adapts to the NBA, and how other teams adapt to him.
The big guard already has 172 games of Ligament ACB and EuroLeague experience under his belt and managed to average 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists for Real Madrid in the 2017-2018 season while picking up the EuroLeague Rising Star Award, EuroLeague MVP, EuroLeague Final Four MVP and won a EuroLeague Championship.
He plays the game like an older, more experienced player, and is polished in the pick and roll thanks to his European style of play.
Some NBA fans are quick to diminish his talents because he isn’t flashy like Trae Young. But Doncic has experience playing against men. Not teenagers, and this will make him much more prepared to plug in and play for any team.
The Kings look like they are the favourite to take him as the second pick, and just thinking of a Fox/Doncic partnership has got me excited for their upcoming season.
Trae Young, G, Oklahoma
Trae Young is a volume scorer who will shoot any shot and break down defenders with iso-ball.
But is this what NBA teams are looking for?
Although Trae Young is very popular, I personally don’t see the appeal. Yes, he made his one season for the Oklahoma Sooners count while posting the stats that get the attention of scouts, but does this game transfer over to the NBA?
The league is moving away from iso artists and teams are looking for ball handlers who have a diverse portfolio of scoring options.
With all this being said, I can see him being successful in the league, if he is given the right amount of coaching, off the court, and spacing on the court.
The 27.4 ppg guard could be a valuable option alongside a more experienced floor general who looks to spread the play to the wings, giving Young the ability to catch and shoot.
Although he's being touted as a top ten pick (potentially by the Cleveland Cavaliers), I see Young being taken by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 12th or 13th pick.
He would be a great option to get fans talking about their team again and would be a solid player to put alongside other talents like Tobias Harris and DeAndre Jordan.
Let me know who you think will go number one, and who is going to pick Trae Young?
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