10 surprises we didn’t see coming in the 2018 NBA Draft

The 2018 NBA Draft was filled with surprises — both good and bad — as the night progressed. There were players picked too early, too late, not at all, fights online, NBA personalities being themselves, and so on.

This draft won’t be remembered for its wild trades. No big-name players were exchanged like last year’s Jimmy Butler drama. But this one had its moments, featuring Joel Embiid’s shade, the Sixers’ heartlessness, a high-lottery pick in Michael Porter Jr. falling and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski winning the whole damn night.

The NBA is always going to NBA. You can try and and use law to restrict the almighty Woj, but it won’t stop him. You don’t even need Embiid to show up in person for him to make headlines.

This is what makes the NBA, the NBA.

Here are the biggest surprises of the night, ranked.

Look at this pic, it was taken with a literal potato. Who let this happen?

OK, Doncic, you do you. He wore No. 7 for Real Madrid, but Dwight Powell has that. So Doncic improvised.

The Texas A&M big was an expected lottery pick last year — AND this year. He’s 6’10 with a 7’5 wingspan with solid post moves and shooting touch. It would’ve been reasonable for him to go in the No. 10-to-No. 15 range.

Instead he dropped perfectly to the Celtics of all teams at No. 27!

Ok, Embiid going at someone is not a surprise.

Embiid going at the No. 1 pick who has not said a word to or about him is something else.

And he went IN:

Mikal Bridges’ mom, Tyneeha Rivers, is the Global VP of Human Resources for Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns the Sixers. When he got drafted No. 10 to Philly she was SO excited, and so was he.

Then Philly became the biggest bullies of the night by shipping him off in a trade to the Phoenix Suns for Zhaire Smith.

Even worse, Bridges didn’t know he got traded for the longest time.

WHY ARE YOU THIS MEAN, PHILLY?

Jerome Robinson is a guard from Boston College who had little buzz. The 6’7 wing can shoot from deep, and has an OK frame, but seemed like a reach in the lottery, and even more so because Michael Porter Jr., one of the draft’s best talents, slipped SO far down.

Hopefully the Clippers can live with this one.

Porter was thought to be one of the best talents, if not the best talent, in the draft. He and Markelle Fultz used to run the Team USA under-17 leagues. Porter is a 6’11 forward who looks the part of a star — if he stays healthy.

The 19-year-old had back surgery that cost him all but two games of his college season. His chance for re-injury is real, but not so much to get passed over this many times.

Doncic may be the most proven prospect ever to declare for the NBA Draft. He won the two biggest European champions this season, won EuroLeague MVP and has been the star for Real Madrid, the best basketball league outside the NBA. He’s really good! Like, take-over-the-reins-of-your-team-on-day-one good.

Marvin Bagley’s defense was so bad Duke had to rethink the team’s entire defensive system.

Kings, what are you doing?

The only thing wilder than drafting over Doncic, may have been Atlanta taking and then trading him. The Hawks need talent at every position. Doncic could’ve been the most confident potential star they could’ve come away with.

Instead they traded with Dallas for Trae Young, who could be great! Who knows. And they got a 2019 first-round pick protected No. 1-5. But they could’ve had Doncic.

They had Doncic.

Woj had a list of verbs he spit out so he wouldn’t get in trouble for leaking the picks during the draft. Before the event started, ESPN and Yahoo Sports agreed not to spoil draft picks. So Woj didn’t.

He used verbs like “tantalized” with. Or “enamored with.” Or “lasered in on.”

It was so brilliant.