The NBA Draft always throws up plenty of discussion points. Last night, the 2018 edition didn’t disappoint. There were some great moments, lots of suspense, a few surprises, and a whole heap of stuff to talk about.
Now that the draft is over, it’s time to draw a breath and try to figure out what just happened. Who were the big winners? Who were the big losers? How did the draft affect the expectations for the upcoming season?
We have the whole summer to try to answer these questions, and many more besides. But why wait? We’ve all been talking about the draft in the office here, so I got a few members of the team together for a more formal look at what we witnessed last night.
And so I present to you the official GamblingSites.com take on the 2018 NBA Draft.
Which Team Had the Best Overall Draft?
Jerry Summer: There are a couple of franchises that will be very happy after last night, and it’s hard to select one that had the best overall draft.
Still, I would probably go for the Atlanta Hawks. Acquiring Luka Doncic and trading him for Trae Young plus a 2019 first-round pick was a masterclass.
According to the rumors, this is the guy they wanted in the first place, and that draft pick just adds a lot of extra value, especially since it’s only 1-5 protected.
And of course, Trae Young is the best passer and shooter in the 2018, in my opinion.
Noah Davis: Several teams had strong drafts, including the Hawks. Jerry isn’t wrong here, but one could argue that letting go of a possible generational talent like Luka Doncic was a massive mistake.
Doncic has been compared to James Harden, after all, while some have likened Trae Young to (gulp) Jimmer Fredette.
Will the Hawks regret trading Luka Doncic?
That being said, the Suns truly crushed this draft. They probably chose right with a pure brute in DeAndre Ayton at the top spot, especially considering they haven’t had a true answer at center in years.
Phoenix didn’t stop there, though, as they swung a trade to land a second lottery talent in Mikal Bridges. They even picked up France sensation Elie Okobo, potentially giving them three difference-makers at three different positions.
If these picks pan out, the Suns just expedited their rebuilding process and made a slew of players expendable for future deals.
Michael Wynn: Jerry and Noah already made some great points. Considering that Atlanta was targeting Trae Young all along, to be able to snag him while simultaneously picking up a 1st-round pick next year was very savvy.
On the flip, Doncic could end up being the star of this draft, and passing on him may haunt them. Only time will tell.
I’d like to mention the Chicago Bulls as a team that got a lot better last night. Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine are the two guys they envision running their backcourt for the next 10 years or so. Lauri Markkanen was a sensational rookie PF last year.
Adding Wendell Carter (big man from Duke) and a really talented hybrid stretch forward like Chandler Hutchison is going to help this ball club immediately. I’ve seen a lot of Hutchison’s play while he was at Boise State, and he has ALL the tools to exceed at the next level.
Which Team Had the Worst Overall Draft?
ND: Technically, I could just say the Toronto Raptors, who didn’t have a single pick in the draft and have yet to improve on a team that hit a wall in the playoffs.
That’s too easy, so I’ll say the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clips absolutely landed two talented players with the 11th and 13th picks in this draft, but one is a bit of a project, and the other was arguably a mild reach.
The Clips had two picks inside the lottery, yet they allowed Michael Porter Jr., Lonnie Walker, and a few other tantalizing prospects to slip through their grasp.
For me, it’s not that the Clips had a terrible draft, but that they failed to maximize it. At the point where they were, taking a stab on MPJ with one of those picks was an easy call, and they got scared away.
That, or the Clippers could have packaged these picks to trade up and land a potential superstar. I think Jerome Robinson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are fine prospects, but it’s quite possible L.A. blew a golden opportunity in this draft.
JS: Noah stole my Raptors joke, so I’m not sure how to start. On a more serious note, this one is a bit tough. I agree with Noah, and I think the Porter argument is valid for other teams as well.
They were wrong before with Porzingis, but I feel Knicks fans are probably right to be disappointed this time around. I think Kevin Knox is a risk at number 9. Sure, he is a solid player, but Michael Porter Jr. was the more obvious choice, despite his back problems.
Their other pick, Mitchell Robinson, is also a gamble. He decided to train on his own for a full season, and I’m not sure what to expect.
Robinson is a risky pick for the Clips.
Taking one risk would’ve been fine, especially with Robinson, but two are too many, if you ask me.
MW: Wow, these guys are good! Noah was spot-on with his point, and I agree with Jerry as well.
Come on, Clips, you got two picks in the top 13, and you pass on Michael Porter not once but twice?
I certainly think the Knicks had a plethora of better options than Knox, who hasn’t shown the enthusiasm on defense and doesn’t make anyone around him better.
I’ll go with the Washington Wizards as my choice for the team that had a chance to get better next year and may have dropped the ball. Their best players are John Wall, Brad Beal, and Otto Porter, guys that play the 1, 2, and 3.
So you’d think they would target some help inside with starting center Marcin Gortat already “99% out the door” according to all credible sources.
Instead, they inexplicably took a shooting guard (Troy Brown Jr.) who shot 29% from 3 last year and struggled to score around the basket.
They could have added a shot-blocking presence like Robert Williams or a shooting big man like Mo Wagner that could have stepped in and helped right away.
Then, with their other pick, they took an 18-year-old guard from Ukraine that likely won’t even come to America and join them for the next two years.
I think some fans in the DC area are scratching their heads for sure…
Which Pick Surprised You the Most?
MW: The Troy Brown pick to Washington made little sense to me for the reasons I listed above. I think they needed to add a big man, and failing to do so was a mistake.
But since that point was made, I’ll say the Magic taking Mohamed Bamba was surprising to me. I’m not saying this is the worst pick. I am saying it is the most surprising because it seems that the Magic’s 4/5 combo of Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic is the one thing the team has going for them.
I assumed they would have added a guard, considering D.J. Augustin and Shelvin Mack are the only two PGs on their roster.
ND: I’m with Michael all the way here.
I won’t call Troy Brown a bad prospect, because he’s a good defender and has virtually everything you look for. He was just a really weird pick at 15 for the Wiz and for all of the reasons he went over.
That is high up there for me as far as surprising picks go, but the cream of the crop is Donte DiVincenzo to the Bucks at 17.
First off, I love this kid. People are down on him due to a lack of experience, but he went nuts in the national title game, and when given a chance, he was very productive for the best team in the country.
Beyond that, he’s a freak athlete that can fill it up from outside, is a willing defender, and rebounds very well for a guard.
He’s actually a great pick, but he’s also a shocking one.
Milwaukee’s biggest need was a big man, and with both Robert Williams and Mitchell Robinson available, I was shocked to see them go here.
I’m actually excited about it (can you tell I’m a Bucks fan yet?) because DiVincenzo is a shamefully underrated talent, but the Bucks made a move I 100% did not expect them to make.
JS: Guys, you really nailed this one, and there’s not much left for me. This is why I’m going to cheat and add a different angle here.
What surprised me the most was what happened with the 76ers and Mikal Bridges. A home boy, an excellent prospect, his mother works for them, and was in tears. It looked like a match made in heaven when he was picked.
You could see how excited the boy was, and I think you can’t buy the genuine loyalty and desire to play for your home club.
And of course, the 76ers then traded him. I feel for the boy, and this is a side of the sport I don’t like too much.
Which First-Round Pick Is Most Likely to Fail?
JS: I hope this is not where I get embarrassed by picking the next Michael Jordan!
I would have to pick Jerome Robinson for this one. He was able to show an excellent offense in an American Coast Conference stacked with talent.
However, there are big question marks about his athleticism and ability to defend. I think he will struggle on both ends in the NBA.
ND: I can honestly see both of the L.A. lottery picks being busts, but I won’t pick on the Clippers here by calling out both of their guys.
Instead, I’ll aim higher at Trae Young, who has a lot of work ahead of him if he’s to become the next Stephen Curry.
Trae Young – the next Jimmy Fredette?
To me, he’s a little more Jimmer Fredette than Curry, as he benefited from a ton of usage in college, and once defenses keyed in on him, he and his team struggled.
NBA players are going to eat up the opportunity to try to stop this kid, while exploiting him on the defensive end won’t just be a pleasure but fairly easy to accomplish.
Young can shoot and create, but he’s not strong, he doesn’t defend well, and he’s not an elite NBA athlete.
There is a path for him to be great, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he goes down the road that leads to bust central instead.
MW: I’ll go with Anfernee Simons.
Selected by the Portland Trailblazers with the 24th pick of the draft, the 6’3” 183-lb kid didn’t even play college ball, instead opting for the “5th year of high school” route at the IMG Academy. It’s already been stated that he needs time to develop, and that will likely come via the G League for the next two seasons.
The scouts have said that Anfernee struggled to dominate his lesser competition at the high school level a season ago, which doesn’t bode well for a transformation into and towards the NBA. He can score the basketball, but the Blazers already have pair of guards who excel at that.
Unless the Blazers are hellbent on shipping C.J. McCollum out of town, I would think that along with Damian Lillard, their backcourt is set for the time being. That means Simons is going to have a hard time finding minutes in the rotation—and that’s if and when he makes the official roster.
If he is going to end up contributing to the Blazers’ franchise, he has a lot of work ahead of him.
Who Was the Biggest Steal in Round 1?
ND: I feel exactly the same about Simons, so kudos to Michael on his previous answer.
Flipping the switch to the other side of things, the biggest steal was obviously Michael Porter Jr., and you could make an argument the Mavs stole Luka Doncic since they originally were picking from the 5 spot, too.
I’ll go one step further and suggest the next-biggest steal in the first round is actually Robert Williams.
I hate that so many people compare him to Stromile Swift, because that insinuates he’ll be a bust and/or that he can’t be special.
In reality, Williams is a dominant shot-blocker, can get easy buckets down low, and will clean the glass at a high rate. If he can develop a jumper and be more consistent, the Celtics may have found a serious steal at the end of round one.
JS: Noah is once again spot-on. Michael Porter Jr. is the logical choice here, and Doncic, to an extent, is as well. Outside of those two, it’s hard to pick.
I’m inclined to select Lonnie Walker IV. Spurs expected for him to be picked earlier than 18 and were prepared to trade for him. Considering their record, I would certainly trust Pop and the guys around him.
He is a bit raw but has good shooting and handling. The potential is there, and he is in the right organization.
MW: Great, and tremendously valid points.
The talent and youth in Boston combined with the exceptional coaching from Brad Stevens means that Robert Williams has everything he needs to succeed at the next level. An aging Al Horford as a mentor should work out famously.
I was planning on gushing about Lonnie Walker and the situation he wound up in, but Jerry covered that already!
My biggest steal in round 1 is Mikal Bridges, who the Suns essentially got with the 16th pick. First of all, Bridges was picked 10th overall by the 76ers, and the Suns traded their 16th pick for him by simply adding in a 2019 first-round pick that wasn’t even theirs in the first place.
They have a young star guard in Devin Booker and added the big man Ayton with their first pick. Adding a confident and capable wing player like Bridges, who is athletic and a great shooter, was a great move and one that should serve them well down the road.
Who Was the Biggest Reach in Round 1?
MW: I’ll go with Jaren Jackson Jr., the 4th pick by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jackson averaged less than 11 points per game last year at Michigan State and just 5.8 rebounds per game. Much less than the 17 points/7 rebounds per game averages of his teammate Miles Bridges, who was selected 12th (then traded to Charlotte).
Not too impressive to a top 5 pick in the NBA Draft when you consider the wealth of talent that was sitting behind him.
Jackson seems a bit soft in the interior and has one ugly-looking jumper. There isn’t a lot to love in Memphis, and I could certainly see Jackson struggle, especially in the early going.
ND: Michael, I’m really glad you picked Jaren Jackson because everywhere I look, people love this kid. I see a raw project that could easily be a bust, so it’s comforting to know I’m not alone.
Is Jaren Jackson over-hyped?
Jackson is one reach, but he at least is immensely talented and can learn behind Marc Gasol.
For me, the biggest reach is Jerome Robinson. There is also a mild argument for Collin Sexton, but Robinson felt more like a 20-25 pick, and the Clippers grabbed him at 13, two picks after getting a guard.
DeAndre Jordan is probably on his way out, which to me put Robert Williams directly in L.A.’s line of sight. I’ve also already vocalized my disdain for L.A. passing on Michael Porter Jr., Lonnie Walker, and others.
It’s not just about who the Clips passed up, though. Robinson is certainly skilled, but he’s largely a scorer who isn’t even amazing at isolation scoring, nor is he a freak athlete.
That’s potentially an awful combination, while the Clips took him at a position where Austin Rivers just opted back in, they just signed Lou Williams to an extension, and they have a slew of backups.
By all accounts, this was a mild reach in terms of talent and a big reach in terms of need and who the Clippers wound up passing up.
JS: Jaren Jackson is certainly a reach for a top 5 pick. He has the potential, but there’s a real danger for him to fail to reach his ceiling. I think you two talked enough about that already.
I think Troy Brown Jr. is a reach at 15. As Michael already said, he’s inconsistent and didn’t shoot well enough to convince me that he belongs that high.
Do Any 2nd-Round Picks Stand Out as Potential Stars?
JS: There are a couple of players that caught the eye in the second round, but I will go with Jalen Brunson. Honestly, he could end up being one of the top points guards from this generation.
He has solid shooting, and getting him alongside Doncic seems like a smart move. The Mavericks could build around those two in the future, and Dirk seems like an exceptional mentor.
ND: Nice call on Jalen Brunson, Jerry.
I’m a bit concerned his upside will be curbed, as he’ll surely be stuck behind both Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr., but I do think he could be a star if he ever winds up somewhere else.
He probably heads the list for round two, but I might prefer Elie Okobo, who lands in a better spot with the Suns.
Not only is the France product looking at a shot at a starting gig in Phoenix, but he’s actually a first-round talent that just slid into the second round.
Not a freak athlete by any means, Okobo is still fluid and packages solid playmaking with good court vision and a scorer’s mentality.
I don’t see a superstar, but he could be a quality starter down the road, which is all you can ask for in round two.
MW: When I am looking at 2nd-round picks that could turn out to be all-stars, it’s okay if the player needs a little grooming.
A guy like Melvin Frazier stands out to me as a player who may fit that mold. After emerging as one of the top – if not the top – perimeter defenders in this draft, the 6’6” player with a 7-foot wingspan has an incredible motor and will chase around the other team’s best player all game long.
The fact that he significantly improved his offensive game, namely his shooting percentages and ball handling skills this past season at Tulane, makes him a candidate as someone who may end up exceeding expectations.
The Magic may end up looking back at this pick as a huge steal.
I like Jalen Brunson a lot as well, by the way, and he is as proven as any player in this draft. But as Noah points out, with Dennis Smith and Luca Doncic, where are the minutes?
JS: It’s a good point. I guess I’m just thinking in terms of talent alone. If he gets the game time, he’s definitely got the ability to shine. Maybe he will eventually need a move for that to happen, though.
Which One Pick Would You Have Done Differently?
ND: This one is easy. Luka Doncic over Marvin Bagley.
Nothing against Bagley, as he projects like a Chris Bosh type of player, but he was not impressive defensively, and he will need to rely more on his shooting at the next level.
Doncic’s only realistic flaw is that he’s not some freak athlete. Neither is James Harden, yet he’s always found a way to look amazing.
This is the case for a lot of high-level NBA talents, as their actual skill-set tends to get them a lot further than their explosiveness.
Doncic gives you everything else: playmaking ability, outside shooting, creativity, leadership, and clutch ability.
The craziest part? The Kings already have some viable big men to work with. Meanwhile, the jury is still out on their perimeter talent.
Doncic was a game-changer, and the Kings passed on him.
If I’m running the Kings organization, I don’t commit that gaffe. I probably don’t draft Ben McLemore, Nik Stauskas, and freaking Georgios Papagiannis, either. But hey, that’s just me.
MW: So, Noah, is it safe to say that you wouldn’t have drafted Bismack Biyombo with the 7th pick and immediately swap him for Jimmer Fredette like Sacramento did in 2011??!!
ND: I can’t say I’d be that wise, no. I actually was a fan of The Jimmer coming out of college. Whoops!
MW: Haha. I’m all over your points here, though. I love Doncic and what he brings to the table. I think you can make a case that all four teams that essentially chose before Dallas passed on him, and maybe wrongly.
Without reiterating my point about the Wizards selecting a guard at 15 overall and passing on a crop of talented big men, I’ll opt for another pick I would have chosen differently.
If I was the Knicks at 9, no way I take a player who hasn’t shown the desire to compete on defense and doesn’t make any players around him better. The Knicks need to improve on all fronts, and I think a foundation piece like Mikal Bridges or Michael Porter made much more sense than Knox.
JS: Doncic over Bagley is my pick as well.
That one aside, I probably have to go for Troy Brown. Nothing personal against the guy, and we probably mentioned him too many times.
Was Brown a bad pick for the Wizards?
However, Wizards simply don’t need a player like him. A big guy would’ve made so much sense, and there were options out there.
Michael already mentioned it, but Robert Williams seems like a much better fit. He could improve the team instantly and take the place of Gortat if he really goes.
Which Rookie Improves His Team’s Title Hopes the Most?
MW: Well, this one is tricky. If you are legitimately talking about title hopes, then Robert Williams would have to be the answer, as the Celtics are without a doubt in a position to strike this year.
I’ll go a bit outside the box here and go with the 26th pick, Landry Shamet.
I love what the 76ers have in place moving forward, especially if they can lock up J.J. Redick for at least the short term. I’m obviously not sold on the Markelle Fultz project, and after watching the 76ers compete in this past postseason, I thought there was just way too much pressure on Ben Simmons to constantly be handling the ball and making decisions.
Adding a true point guard that actually rated higher than Trae Young as the top offensive player in this draft should do wonders for Philly’s young squad. The attention will certainly be on Simmons and Embiid, so having a lock-down shooter who can be trusted like Shamet is the perfect fit.
JS: For a start, a team has to have title hopes in the first place. This is why I would go with Robert Williams III. Michael already suggested him, and I think this is the right answer here.
Some probably will be surprised to see a second-round pick here, but the ceiling of this guy is pretty solid, and Boston needs such a player.
He will help the frontcourt and was picked with defense in mind. Considering the whole roster of the Celtics, he could be a piece that makes the team a bit better, which could be enough to win the title.
ND: I can’t knock the Robert Williams or Landry Shamet picks, so Jerry and Michael get points there.
Boston is already very close to competing for a title, and had Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward both been healthy last year, perhaps we’d be having a very different conversation.
My pick is two-fold. If LeBron James stays in Cleveland, Collin Sexton could be just what the doctor ordered. Everyone says the Cavs are awful around King James, but the main thing he lacks is a second creator that can score on his own and set up other guys.
This would open things up for Cleveland, and if they also found a way to add one more guy, they could remain the favorite out of the Eastern Conference, and who knows – maybe give the Warriors a fight.
If James bolts, then I’ll just go with Jacob Evans. He’s a stingy defender that could be used right away, while we’re probably kidding ourselves by suggesting that anyone but Golden State is winning next year.
Who Is Your Early Pick for Rookie of the Year?
JS: It has got to be Luka Doncic. The guy has been playing against grown men ever since he was a kid.
He led Slovenia to win Eurobasket, was MVP of the final four this year with Real Madrid in the Euroleague, and looks like a generational talent.
On top of that, I feel the Mavericks are a great place for him. They already have a European superstar in Dirk, and he will help him settle.
I can easily see him getting a lot of minutes and contributing to a possible return to the playoffs.
Of course, he’s not that athletic, and the level in Europe is different, so he might have a bit of a tough start. Still, I feel he is just too talented to ignore.
ND: Jerry stole our Thunder, I’m sure, as Luka Doncic is the fun favorite right away for Rookie of the Year.
However, Bovada actually gives bettors insane value with DeAndre Ayton (+265) leading the way.
DeAndre Ayton for ROTY?
I don’t see much reason to stray from that. The only true knocks on Ayton are that his drive/focus aren’t always where they need to be, and he isn’t a proven defender.
Last time I checked, neither were needed to beat out what amounts to a fairly weak rookie class.
On the flip side, Ayton is a man-eater on offense and has developing range on his jumper. Whether he’s Anthony Davis, Boogie Cousins, Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, or something else, he’s going to be amazing, and he’s probably going to win this thing.
There are other threats like Doncic, Kevin Knox, Wendell Carter, Marvin Bagley, and Trae Young, but why get cute with it?
MW: My pick for Rookie of the Year isn’t necessarily who I think is the best player…
But if Atlanta ships out Dennis Schroder (which at this point is looking like a near certainty), then Trae Young will have been handed the keys to the entire offense. The efficiency and wins might not be there, and as Noah mentioned, opposing guards should be able to attack him with ease.
But if he is playing 32+ minutes a game and chucking up tons of 3s, it’s not out of the question that he could average 20 points and 7 assists per game. That could be more than enough to take home ROY honors.
Summary
So, there you have it. There was plenty of consensus among our NBA experts here, but a few differences of opinions, too. I certainly enjoyed listening to these guys, and I hope you enjoyed reading what they had to say.
The excitement of the draft is still very fresh, but it seems like a long time now until the season starts. Don’t worry, though, as we’ll help you to fill the time by adding numerous NBA-themed posts on the blog between now and October.
You can expect more insight and analysis from our experts, and they’ll be looking at the various betting opportunities, too.
Another good use of the offseason is to think about where you’re going to place your wagers once the new season comes around. If you live in the US, the recent changes in betting laws mean you may have more options than ever before.
However, this all depends on whether the state you live in moves quickly enough to introduce the necessary legislation.
Regardless of where you live, you’ve always got the option of betting online. Just make sure that you stick to reputable and trustworthy sites. You can always to refer our list of the top NBA betting sites if you need to.
For now, why not let us know what YOU made of the 2018 NBA Draft? We always like to know what our readers are thinking, so please feel free to submit your comments below and share your opinions.
The post Talking Points from the 2018 NBA Draft – What Happened and What It All Means appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
