Post by Ian Noble on Apr 10, 2018 7:54:53 GMT
11 Charlotte Hornets
Miles Bridges Michigan State Age: 20.0 SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 226
Charlotte continues to search for long-term solutions at both forward positions and will likely look to add athleticism to what has become a fairly disappointing roster.
Bridges is a freakish athlete who struggled at times to make the full-time transition to small forward, but he undoubtedly has potential as a two-way forward who can guard all over the floor and give you enough shooting, ballhandling and passing to get by at one of the most important positions in today's NBA.
Starting salary: $3,346,560
12 LA Clippers (via Pistons)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Kentucky Age: 19.7 PG/SG
Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 171
The Clippers could very well be looking at point guard as a position in need of supplementing, and the size, length and versatility of Gilgeous-Alexander could be very attractive, considering the type of lineup flexibility he brings.
He is 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, highly instinctual defensively and he brings the unselfishness needed to operate alongside a variety of guards, making him an easy player to slot in alongside virtually any type of running mate. His offense made significant strides as the season moved on, helping him surprisingly emerge as arguably Kentucky's best top long-term prospect.
Starting salary: $3,179,280
The Clippers will receive Detroit's pick if it falls outside the top four.
13 LA Clippers
Robert Williams Texas A&M Age: 20.4 PF/C
Height: 6-foot-10 | Weight: 237
Williams reminded everyone why he was such a highly touted prospect entering the season with an impressive run to finish the year, helping Texas A&M reach the Sweet 16.
Despite playing out of position all season, he showed that his game is tailor-made for the NBA as a rim-running, pick-and-roll-finishing, shot-blocker/offensive rebounder in the Clint Capela mold. With DeAndre Jordan in the final year of his contract, the Clippers could certainly look to Williams as a potential successor.
Starting salary: $3,020,280
14 Denver Nuggets
Lonnie Walker IV Miami Age: 19.3 SG
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 206
Walker didn't have a consistent or efficient freshman season, but his talent, combined with the lack of depth at his position, is keeping his name in the top-20 conversation. His youth, strong frame, 6-foot-10½ wingspan and ability to shoot with his feet set or off the dribble make him a candidate to rise during the pre-draft process as teams search for upside and diamonds in the rough.
The Nuggets' wing rotation is a major work in progress and could certainly use some more shooting, length and perimeter-defensive prowess.
Starting salary: $2,869,320
15 Washington Wizards
Kevin Knox Kentucky Age: 18.6 SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-9 | Weight: 205
With Markieff Morris approaching the final year of his contract, the Wizards could very well start thinking of supplemeting their power forward position with a player who fits the modern game.
Knox didn't have an efficient freshman season, partially due to his playing out of position, but there's a significant market in the NBA for combo forwards in his mold who can make an open shot, defend multiple positions and offer some offensive versatility. He's one of the youngest players in this draft, so he still has plenty of room to grow.
Starting salary: $2,725,680
16 Phoenix Suns (via Heat)
Zhaire Smith Texas Tech Age: 18.8 SF
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 195
Phoenix could look to continue to add length, athleticism and energy on the defensive end of the floor with the long-armed and explosive Smith.
Originally expected to be more of a 2019 draft candidate, Smith accelerated that timeline by helping Texas Tech reach the Elite 8 and has already announced that he will be testing the NBA waters. Smith needs to continue to develop his ballhandling and perimeter shooting, but he's one of the best athletes in this draft, and his trajectory as a prospect suggests he has considerable upside left.
Starting salary: $2,589,480
Phoenix will receive Miami's pick if it is outside the top seven.
17 Phoenix Suns (via Bucks)
Aaron Holiday UCLA Age: 21.5 PG
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 187
With Eric Bledsoe shipped off to Milwaukee, the Suns could very well use the pick they acquired in that trade to attempt to find a point guard who complements their existing pieces and whom they can hopefully build around long-term.
Holiday had an outstanding junior season, and he would bring a number of attractive traits with his scoring ability, long wingspan and toughness. The fact that he can space the floor and play off the ball some is important, considering the building blocks the Suns already have in place.
Starting salary: $2,460,000
Phoenix will receive Milwaukee's pick if it lands in Nos. 11-16.
18 Atlanta Hawks (via Wolves)
Troy Brown Oregon Age: 18.6 SG
Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 210
With the second of their three first-round picks, the Hawks might look to add some depth at the wing position.
Thanks to his strong frame and 6-foot-11 wingspan, Brown is a Swiss-army knife who can play anywhere from 1-4. He's a good passer, ball handler and defender with a competitive streak and good feel for the game. He lacks elite athleticism and is a streaky shooter but is one of the youngest prospects in this draft, giving him plenty of upside to grow into.
Starting salary: $2,337,000
Atlanta will receive Minnesota's pick if it is outside the lottery.
19 Chicago Bulls (via Pelicans)
Mitchell Robinson College: None Age: 20.0 C
Height: 6-foot-11 | Weight: 215
With Robin Lopez approaching the final year of his contract, the Bulls could certainly be in the market for an athletic center who can protect the rim and make plays around the basket.
Robinson is one of the most talented prospects in the draft physically -- with impressive length, athleticism and shot-blocking instincts -- but is far away from contributing. The fact that he elected not to play college basketball this season won't help his NBA readiness, but at some point in the draft, he's worth taking a gamble on as a developmental project.
Starting salary: $2,231,760
The Bulls will receive New Orleans' pick if it falls outside the top five.
20 Minnesota Timberwolves (via Thunder)
Keita Bates-Diop Ohio State Age: 22.2 PF
Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 235
The Wolves have very little depth at the forward spots and might not have the financial flexibility to keep Nemanja Bjelica if his restricted free agency offers get out of hand. With that in mind, drafting a versatile player such as Bates-Diop makes sense.
He increased his stock dramatically with a breakout season, moving among all of the frontcourt positions for an overachieving Ohio State team and looking like an ideal fit for the modern NBA if he can find a way to rev his motor into higher gear at the professional level.
Starting salary: $2,142,360
Minnesota will receive Oklahoma City's pick if it is outside the lottery.
Miles Bridges Michigan State Age: 20.0 SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 226
Charlotte continues to search for long-term solutions at both forward positions and will likely look to add athleticism to what has become a fairly disappointing roster.
Bridges is a freakish athlete who struggled at times to make the full-time transition to small forward, but he undoubtedly has potential as a two-way forward who can guard all over the floor and give you enough shooting, ballhandling and passing to get by at one of the most important positions in today's NBA.
Starting salary: $3,346,560
12 LA Clippers (via Pistons)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Kentucky Age: 19.7 PG/SG
Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 171
The Clippers could very well be looking at point guard as a position in need of supplementing, and the size, length and versatility of Gilgeous-Alexander could be very attractive, considering the type of lineup flexibility he brings.
He is 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, highly instinctual defensively and he brings the unselfishness needed to operate alongside a variety of guards, making him an easy player to slot in alongside virtually any type of running mate. His offense made significant strides as the season moved on, helping him surprisingly emerge as arguably Kentucky's best top long-term prospect.
Starting salary: $3,179,280
The Clippers will receive Detroit's pick if it falls outside the top four.
13 LA Clippers
Robert Williams Texas A&M Age: 20.4 PF/C
Height: 6-foot-10 | Weight: 237
Williams reminded everyone why he was such a highly touted prospect entering the season with an impressive run to finish the year, helping Texas A&M reach the Sweet 16.
Despite playing out of position all season, he showed that his game is tailor-made for the NBA as a rim-running, pick-and-roll-finishing, shot-blocker/offensive rebounder in the Clint Capela mold. With DeAndre Jordan in the final year of his contract, the Clippers could certainly look to Williams as a potential successor.
Starting salary: $3,020,280
14 Denver Nuggets
Lonnie Walker IV Miami Age: 19.3 SG
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 206
Walker didn't have a consistent or efficient freshman season, but his talent, combined with the lack of depth at his position, is keeping his name in the top-20 conversation. His youth, strong frame, 6-foot-10½ wingspan and ability to shoot with his feet set or off the dribble make him a candidate to rise during the pre-draft process as teams search for upside and diamonds in the rough.
The Nuggets' wing rotation is a major work in progress and could certainly use some more shooting, length and perimeter-defensive prowess.
Starting salary: $2,869,320
15 Washington Wizards
Kevin Knox Kentucky Age: 18.6 SF/PF
Height: 6-foot-9 | Weight: 205
With Markieff Morris approaching the final year of his contract, the Wizards could very well start thinking of supplemeting their power forward position with a player who fits the modern game.
Knox didn't have an efficient freshman season, partially due to his playing out of position, but there's a significant market in the NBA for combo forwards in his mold who can make an open shot, defend multiple positions and offer some offensive versatility. He's one of the youngest players in this draft, so he still has plenty of room to grow.
Starting salary: $2,725,680
16 Phoenix Suns (via Heat)
Zhaire Smith Texas Tech Age: 18.8 SF
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 195
Phoenix could look to continue to add length, athleticism and energy on the defensive end of the floor with the long-armed and explosive Smith.
Originally expected to be more of a 2019 draft candidate, Smith accelerated that timeline by helping Texas Tech reach the Elite 8 and has already announced that he will be testing the NBA waters. Smith needs to continue to develop his ballhandling and perimeter shooting, but he's one of the best athletes in this draft, and his trajectory as a prospect suggests he has considerable upside left.
Starting salary: $2,589,480
Phoenix will receive Miami's pick if it is outside the top seven.
17 Phoenix Suns (via Bucks)
Aaron Holiday UCLA Age: 21.5 PG
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 187
With Eric Bledsoe shipped off to Milwaukee, the Suns could very well use the pick they acquired in that trade to attempt to find a point guard who complements their existing pieces and whom they can hopefully build around long-term.
Holiday had an outstanding junior season, and he would bring a number of attractive traits with his scoring ability, long wingspan and toughness. The fact that he can space the floor and play off the ball some is important, considering the building blocks the Suns already have in place.
Starting salary: $2,460,000
Phoenix will receive Milwaukee's pick if it lands in Nos. 11-16.
18 Atlanta Hawks (via Wolves)
Troy Brown Oregon Age: 18.6 SG
Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 210
With the second of their three first-round picks, the Hawks might look to add some depth at the wing position.
Thanks to his strong frame and 6-foot-11 wingspan, Brown is a Swiss-army knife who can play anywhere from 1-4. He's a good passer, ball handler and defender with a competitive streak and good feel for the game. He lacks elite athleticism and is a streaky shooter but is one of the youngest prospects in this draft, giving him plenty of upside to grow into.
Starting salary: $2,337,000
Atlanta will receive Minnesota's pick if it is outside the lottery.
19 Chicago Bulls (via Pelicans)
Mitchell Robinson College: None Age: 20.0 C
Height: 6-foot-11 | Weight: 215
With Robin Lopez approaching the final year of his contract, the Bulls could certainly be in the market for an athletic center who can protect the rim and make plays around the basket.
Robinson is one of the most talented prospects in the draft physically -- with impressive length, athleticism and shot-blocking instincts -- but is far away from contributing. The fact that he elected not to play college basketball this season won't help his NBA readiness, but at some point in the draft, he's worth taking a gamble on as a developmental project.
Starting salary: $2,231,760
The Bulls will receive New Orleans' pick if it falls outside the top five.
20 Minnesota Timberwolves (via Thunder)
Keita Bates-Diop Ohio State Age: 22.2 PF
Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 235
The Wolves have very little depth at the forward spots and might not have the financial flexibility to keep Nemanja Bjelica if his restricted free agency offers get out of hand. With that in mind, drafting a versatile player such as Bates-Diop makes sense.
He increased his stock dramatically with a breakout season, moving among all of the frontcourt positions for an overachieving Ohio State team and looking like an ideal fit for the modern NBA if he can find a way to rev his motor into higher gear at the professional level.
Starting salary: $2,142,360
Minnesota will receive Oklahoma City's pick if it is outside the lottery.