The 8 Points, 9 Seconds 2018 NBA Mock Draft 1.0
By Jacob Lane
It’s never too early to take a look at the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft, especially with the NCAA tournament underway. Here is our first mock draft with the Indiana Pacers currently selecting at 21.
March Madness is here, the Indiana Pacers are third in the Eastern Conference, and the NBA draft is still months away.
So instead of keeping all of those things in separate boxes, why don’t we combine them all like a mid-90s Miller Light commercial?
That’s right, let us present to you 8 Points, 9 Seconds first mock draft of the season. A few months ago we might have been talking about just how high in the draft the Pacers would be selecting, but now Indiana is looking to hold on to home court advantage in the first, and maybe even in the second round.
Obviously, not every pick here is taking part on March Madness (see No.1), but if you are looking for a guide for who to watch in the Big Dance then Dylan Hughes has you covered.
Without further delay, here’s how the 2018 NBA Daft might play out.
No.1: Memphis Grizzlies — Luka Doncic, SG/SF, Real Madrid
A lot of people out there are 1000% against taking foreign players with the top 2-3 picks (thanks, Darko). But this isn’t just another unknown foreign player with “potential.”
Luka Doncic has been on the NBA radar for the last two years or so, and in my opinion is the best player available in this year’s draft.
This kid can literally do it all. He scores, he passes, he rebounds, he defends, he’s athletic, he’s long, and most importantly he is a winner.
Doncic has played at the highest level in Spain for the last couple of years and has been the Euroleague’s leader in player efficiency this past season. He’s also in the top 10 in assists per game, and the second-best scorer, in what many would consider the premier basketball league outside of the NBA. Did I also mention he’s just 18 years old?
Doncic projects to be a wing in the NBA, and primarily will play off the ball if the Grizzlies chose to keep Mike Conley Jr. But just like Giannis Antetokoumpo and LeBron James (not comparing him to these players, just pointing out their abilities to play PG) Doncic can play make at a high enough level to be a team’s starting point guard.
Memphis is desperate for a star to rejuvenate their franchise, which has been abysmal (injuries have plagued them) since the ol’ grit & grind days with Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol.
Doncic will be a franchise changing talent, and I fully expect him to develop into a superstar in this league for many years to come.