The 8 Points, 9 Seconds 2018 NBA Mock Draft 1.0
By Jacob Lane
No. 11: Philadelphia 76ers (from LA Lakers) — Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
Due to the Lakers pick falling out of the top 3, the 76ers make the selection here.
There’s not a hotter player in all of college basketball right now than Collin Sexton, coming off the best buzzer beater of the season.
Collin Sexton is a point guard in the mold of guys like John Wall, and De’Aaron Fox to his ability to get north-south and attack the basket at a high level.
With a former NBA head coach at the helm in Alabama, Sexton should be extremely prepared to make the jump into the NBA.
While I’m not sure about the fit next to Ben Simmons, with both being “true point guards,” Sexton has the ability to score at a high level off the ball.
No. 12: Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky
The Clippers make their first of two lottery selections.
Standing at 6’6 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the size you want at the point guard position to go along with a great skillset.
Gilgeous-Alexander was a relatively unknown commodity coming into the ’17-’18 season, and wasn’t even being talked about as a potential first rounder, but has burst onto the scene averaging 13.6 points and 5 assists.
The freshman point guard has been the best player on the UK team that features 3 or 4 potential first rounders, including Kevin Knox, and likely will be an even better pro.
No. 13: Utah Jazz — Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State
The Jazz struck gold last season with the 13th pick (trading with Denver for Donovan Mitchell) so why can’t they do it again?
Miles Bridges likely would have been a top 10 selection had he come out after his freshman season, but instead, the 6’7 forward made the decision to go back to Michigan State and come out in this year’s draft.
While he’s not made the jump in his second season in East Lansing, Bridges is still an absolute steal at 13 and very well could develop into a starting forward and maybe even an all-star player.
Bridges projects to be a combo forward at the next level, who does well on both ends of the floor. He scores at a nice level (16.9 points per game), mostly around the rim, but does occasionally step out and knock down three’s.
The area I worry about is his ability to create for himself. While he’s an extremely athletic college player, I’m not sure how that will translate at the next level. Nonetheless, the rebuilding but not so-rebuilding Utah Jazz get another nice piece to go along with Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Mitchell.
No. 14 Los Angeles Clippers — Gary Trent Jr., SG, Duke
C.J. Williams, Jamil Wilson, Sean Kilpatrick, Tyrone Wallace, and Sindarius Thornwell… Those are the players who have started at shooting guard for the Clippers this season.
Shall I say more?
With their second pick, the Clippers get another dynamic, young player for their back court. Just like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Gary Trent Jr. has great size for his position (6’6) and has been extremely productive in his freshman season (14.3 ppg, 42% shooting from 3)
What hurts Trent Jr. at the next level is his lack of explosiveness and speed. Will he be able to beat NBA athletes off the dribble? I wouldn’t be overly worried about it, as the Duke guard has consistently found a way to score all season long.
No.15: Phoenix Suns (from Miami) — Lonnie Walker IV, SG, Miami
Lonnie Walker IV hasn’t been as dynamic this year as many expected him to be coming into the season, but that shouldn’t stop him from being a top 20 pick in the 2018 draft.
Walker is athletic as all get out, has great length for only being 6’4, is a nice shooter, and has the ability to create off the dribble. All of these traits and skills combine to make him a potential starter.
However, he’s not ready to contribute just yet, which I think we saw this season. In his freshman season, Walker IV averaged 11.5 points per game on 41% shooting (35% from 3), and struggled with consistency.
Walker will need a year or two of growing and learning, paired with some time in the G-League, which makes Phoenix the perfect fit.