NBA mock draft 2018: Luka Doncic and Devin Booker are going to be incredible with the Suns

The order for the 2018 NBA Draft is finally set. The Phoenix Suns will pick first overall after cashing in on a 25 percent chance to win the lottery. The Sacramento Kings will pick second, followed by the Atlanta Hawks at No. 3.

This is considered a strong draft. It’s led by an impressive pack of big men starting with Arizona’s Deandre Ayton and Duke’s Marvin Bagley, who each put up dominant numbers in their freshmen seasons. There are five big men who could go within the top seven picks in the draft. The draft’s other star is Luka Doncic, a super skilled 6’8 guard from Slovenia who is already putting up incredible numbers for Real Madrid.

Now that we know the order, it’s time for an instant mock draft. This is how we see the first round breaking at first glance.

At 19 years old, Luka Doncic is already one of the best players in Europe. He’s so skilled offensively as a ball handler and passer, he’s a great rebounder, and eventually he should be a high-level shooter. Doncic is a magician with the ball in his hands, already showing advanced skill at making plays off ball screens. More than anything, he’s the type of player who just helps you win games.

Ayton is a physical freak in the vein of Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan, yet he comes with a rare skill level for someone with his package of extreme size and athleticism. He’s a good free throw shooter with soft touch around the rim and developing competence from three-point range. The catch here is his defensive production, which left a lot to be desired in college. Someone this big and this fast needs to be better on defense, but he didn’t showcase impressive instincts as a freshman at Arizona.

Jackson only averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game at MSU, numbers dwarfed by contemporaries Marvin Bagley and Deandre Ayton. Those relatively modest statistics obscure the fact that his skill set fits into the modern NBA better than any other big man in this class. He’s a 40 percent three-point shooter and 80 percent free throw shooter on offense, and finished top-five in the country in block rate. The NBA demands modern centers to be able to stretch the floor, block shots and defend on the perimeter. Jackson has shown the ability to do all three. He’s also one of the youngest players in this draft.

Bagley is a super athletic, high motor big man who was incredibly productive in his one year at Duke, putting up 21 points and 11 rebounds per game on 61 percent shooting from the field. He’s a monster inside scorer and a great offensive rebounder. He also flashes potential as a ball handler and shooter that could take him to the next level as an offensive force. His positional fit defensively is a concern — he doesn’t block enough shots to play the five, and hasn’t shown the perimeter defensive chops to draw the oversize wings now playing the four in the NBA. At a certain point, you have to buy into his talent and hope to put him in an environment where he can overcome his flaws.

Porter Jr. was considered by some as the No. 1 recruit in the country entering his freshman season at Missouri. Then he was immediately sidelined by back surgery that cost him all but the last two games of the season. The injury remains a big concern. It’s also going to be hard for NBA teams to evaluate where his shooting and ball handling are at since he’s hardly played over the last year. There was a time when Porter looked like a sure-thing, a three-level scorer as a 6’10 combo forward who was going to be a devastating offensive weapon. That player very well could still be within him, but there’s a lot more risk associated with him now.

Yes, Trae Young is undersized and turnover prone. He’s a below the rim athlete who will struggle to survive defensively in the league. He’s also the best shooter and second best passer in this draft, and those are important skills that will translate to the NBA. Young will be such a unique offensive threat on and off the ball that opposing defenses will have to game plan for every night. In a league that’s more three-point happy than ever, Trae Young is worth the risk.

Bamba enters the NBA with a 7’9 wingspan, which will be the longest in the league from the moment he’s drafted. He’s a potentially elite defensive talent, changing the trajectory of any shot in the paint with his sheer length. He was already a great shot blocker in his one year at Texas, finishing No. 5 in the country in block rate. His offensive game is raw right now, but he should be a quality lob target and he’s starting to develop a face-up jumper.

Gilgeous-Alexander is an oversized point guard who made a surprise turn as Kentucky’s best player this season. He created so much of the Wildcats’ offense in the half court, showcasing advanced footwork on drives to the basket and also a keen sense of playmaking. He has great positional size at 6’6 with a 7-foot wingspan, and should be able be a great fit in a league that’s becoming switch-heavy on defense. He’s not a high volume shooter from three-point range, but he has flashed a shooting stroke that could improve over time.

Carter is a strong, skilled big man who cleans the glass, scores inside, blocks some shots and has the makings of a developing face-up game. He’s not particularly quick laterally, which is a concern projecting his defense against pick-and-roll heavy offenses at the next level, but it’s possible his combination of length, strength and smarts still makes him effective on that end. This is a big man without many holes in his skill set.

Mikal Bridges should be ready to step in as a 3-and-D wing from day one. He spent four years at Villanova growing into a knockdown shooter, and learning how to use his combination of length and quickness to become one of the better perimeter defenders in this draft. He doesn’t do much as an offensive creator, but he can have a big impact simply by doing the things he already does well.

Bridges stunned the basketball world a year ago by deciding to return to Michigan State for a second season. His numbers didn’t get markedly better as a sophomore, and the Spartans failed to make the Final Four run he envisioned, but there’s still a lot to like about his game from a pro perspective. He’s an explosive athlete at 6’6, 230 pounds, a solid jump shooter and rebounder, and has flashed some playmaking ability potential. He’s one of the premier wings in this draft.

Smith might be the most athletic player in the draft. He’s a 6’5 off-guard who exploded onto the national scene as a freshman for Texas Tech, establishing himself as the best two-way player on an Elite Eight team. He was one of the most impactful players in college basketball this year by BPM, regularly making above the rim plays on both ends of the floor. He needs to continue to develop as a shooter and ball handler.

Sexton is a pure scorer at point guard. He’s a downhill attacker who thrives getting into the paint and drawing fouls. He needs to get better as a three-point shooter and facilitator.

Walker has so much pure talent, but it might be hard to tell looking at his statistics. The McDonald’s All-American tore his meniscus in the preseason, and didn’t always score efficiently when he returned. At his best, he’s a long (6’10 wingspan) and athletic off-guard who can hit three-pointers and score at the rim with creative finishes.

Williams could have been a lottery pick last year, but decided to come back for his sophomore season at Texas A&M. It was never a perfect situation for him because he had to share the front court with another traditional big man in Tyler Davis. Williams’ stats weren’t overwhelming (10 points and nine rebounds per game), but he has a skill set that will work in the NBA. He’s a super athletic shot blocker and finisher with a 7’5 wingspan. Washington could use a youth and talent infusion in the front court.

Knox is an athletic 6’9 combo forward who might just be scratching the surface of his skill level. He was Kentucky’s leading scorer and second leading rebounder as a freshman. He’s not much of a creator with the ball in his hands yet, but his three-point shot (34 percent on 57 makes) appears to be projectable.

Simons is the mystery man of this year’s draft. He shot up national recruiting rankings over the past year, putting him in position to enter this draft as a fifth-year high school player. The 6’4 combo guard is an explosive leaper who projects long-term as a three-level scorer. This is a gamble on a high-upside pick for a Bucks team that needs a new lead guard to groom.

Porter is a high IQ player who can hit three-pointers and pass on offense and block shots defensively. He isn’t an explosive athlete like his older brother Michael, but he has all the makings of a dependable role player. His game feels like an ideal fit in San Antonio.

Evans has some serious 3-and-D potential. He was a key member of one of the best defenses in the country with Cincinnati, and also led the team in scoring. He doesn’t do a ton off the dribble, but is a catch-and-shoot threat who doesn’t need the ball to make an impact.

Bates-Diop grew into a star in his fourth year at Ohio State. He’s a strong 6’7 combo forward who can rebound and defend. His biggest improvement this past season was as a three-point shooter, knocking down 36 percent of his 5.4 attempts per game from three-point range. He’d give Minnesota some additional lineup versatility around Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins.

The 6’9 forward is a great offensive talent who hits shots from three-point range and can also slash a little bit. He’d be a nice floor spacing option next to Donovan Mitchell in Utah.

Brown spent his formative years as a point guard, laying the foundation for a versatile playmaking wing when he was eventually moved off the ball. He’s a gifted and unselfish passer, a good rebounder and a multi-position defender. The Oregon freshman isn’t a pure scorer and needs to improve his jump shot, but he has some rare skills at a young age that should make him a useful player in the league for a long time.

Okobo is a 6’3 lead guard with a 6’8 wingspan, plus athleticism and the ability to hit jumpers off the dribble. Indiana needs a long-term option to groom at point guard and he has more upside than anyone left at the position.

Melton is a jack-of-all-trades guard. He’s a tough and versatile defender, a secondary playmaker and a great rebounder. He was ruled ineligible this season at USC because of rumors about his involvement in the FBI scandal, but the NBA will remember his breakout freshman season. He’d give the Portland backcourt a defensive component it desperately needs.

The McDonald’s All-American was headed to Western Kentucky, until he wasn’t. The bizarre situation left Robinson training all season for the draft, where he enters as a high-upside shot blocker and lob catcher. He’s an elite athlete for a 7-footer, and that’s why he should be a first rounder despite his limited offensive skill level.

The Sixers need shooting and supplemental ball handling next to Ben Simmons. That makes Milton a perfect fit. The 6’6 lead guard can play on or off the ball thanks to his shooting ability. He hit better than 40 percent of his three-pointers all three years at SMU.

Huerter is a 6’7 guard who can make it rain from three (41 percent), is a smart decision maker and an OK enough defender. Most expect him to return to school, but if he stays in, he’d be a smart gamble for a team looking for a knockdown shooter.

Okogie is a long, athletic wing who plays with a high motor. He’s also hit 38 percent of his threes in two seasons at Georgia Tech. He’s not an offensive creator, but he checks a lot of boxes as a role player.

Brunson’s a high IQ point guard who can hit threes, bully smaller defenders in the post and take care of the basketball. He might not be an elite athlete, but this is one of the most accomplished players to come out of college basketball in the last decade.

Thomas could go 10 spots higher than this. The two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year is a lockdown perimeter defender thanks to his 6’10 wingspan, quick feet and great instincts. He’s also a quality outside shooter. Thomas isn’t much of an offensive creator, but he can be effective in the league as long as he stays in his lane.