As noted on ESPN this morning
1. Phoenix Suns
Deandre Ayton
Arizona
Age: 19.9
C
Height: 7-foot | Weight: 243
The Suns appear to be locked in on Ayton with the top pick, which makes sense considering the way he dominated the Pac-12 while playing at Arizona. Physically, he's one of the most gifted prospects we've seen in the draft in the past few years, and he has an impressive skill level to boot.
Phoenix, the worst defensive team in the NBA, will be right to question his impact on that end of the floor, but his sheer productivity and overall talent level make it difficult to not slot him at the top of this class.
2. Sacramento Kings
Marvin Bagley III
Duke
Age: 19.2
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 | Weight: 234
The Kings showed progress this season and appear to have some strong building blocks in place, particularly in the backcourt. Word around the NBA is they are not high on Luka Doncic and have their sights set firmly on Bagley. The strength of this draft is in the frontcourt, and the Kings are reportedly looking to take advantage of that due to the lack of progress shown by Willie Cauley-Stein.
While Bagley has some positional concerns defensively, his athleticism, motor, rebounding, finishing ability and overall productivity are reportedly attractive to the Kings. Bagley has terrific scoring and rebounding instincts and likely brings better shot-making potential than he showed in college with more spacing around him at the NBA level.
3. Atlanta Hawks
Luka Doncic
Real Madrid
Age: 19.3
PG
Height: 6-foot-8 | Weight: 228
The Hawks will be in best-player-available mode, and there's a growing movement within the organization that they should go with Doncic here, though nothing is decided yet.
Doncic hit a bit of a wall after playing 18 straight months without a break for Real Madrid and the Slovenian national team, souring some scouts with a handful of underwhelming performances in March and April. He still found a way to help Real Madrid win the Euroleague Final Four and was awarded MVP honors for his effort.
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Michigan State
Age: 18.7
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 | Weight: 240
The Grizzlies like the top four of this draft and will take the best player available, then figure out the fit later.
As the youngest player projected to be drafted, Jackson might have the highest ceiling in terms of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. He has enviable physical tools, including a 7-foot-4 wingspan and tremendous mobility. Jackson's ability to space the floor (40 percent from 3-point territory and 80 percent from the line), block shots (5.7 per 40 minutes), switch on every screen and, increasingly, put the ball on the floor from the perimeter makes him an ideal fit for the modern NBA.
5. Dallas Mavericks
Mohamed Bamba
Texas
Age: 20.1
C
Height: 7-foot | Weight: 207
With Nerlens Noel unlikely to be in Dallas' long-term plans and Dirk Nowitzki now 40, the Mavs will be looking for a frontcourt player to build around.
Bamba's rare combination of length, shot-blocking instincts and offensive promise gives him one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in this draft. Every team in the NBA is looking for a big man like him who can anchor a defense.
1. Phoenix Suns
Deandre Ayton
Arizona
Age: 19.9
C
Height: 7-foot | Weight: 243
The Suns appear to be locked in on Ayton with the top pick, which makes sense considering the way he dominated the Pac-12 while playing at Arizona. Physically, he's one of the most gifted prospects we've seen in the draft in the past few years, and he has an impressive skill level to boot.
Phoenix, the worst defensive team in the NBA, will be right to question his impact on that end of the floor, but his sheer productivity and overall talent level make it difficult to not slot him at the top of this class.
2. Sacramento Kings
Marvin Bagley III
Duke
Age: 19.2
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 | Weight: 234
The Kings showed progress this season and appear to have some strong building blocks in place, particularly in the backcourt. Word around the NBA is they are not high on Luka Doncic and have their sights set firmly on Bagley. The strength of this draft is in the frontcourt, and the Kings are reportedly looking to take advantage of that due to the lack of progress shown by Willie Cauley-Stein.
While Bagley has some positional concerns defensively, his athleticism, motor, rebounding, finishing ability and overall productivity are reportedly attractive to the Kings. Bagley has terrific scoring and rebounding instincts and likely brings better shot-making potential than he showed in college with more spacing around him at the NBA level.
3. Atlanta Hawks
Luka Doncic
Real Madrid
Age: 19.3
PG
Height: 6-foot-8 | Weight: 228
The Hawks will be in best-player-available mode, and there's a growing movement within the organization that they should go with Doncic here, though nothing is decided yet.
Doncic hit a bit of a wall after playing 18 straight months without a break for Real Madrid and the Slovenian national team, souring some scouts with a handful of underwhelming performances in March and April. He still found a way to help Real Madrid win the Euroleague Final Four and was awarded MVP honors for his effort.
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Michigan State
Age: 18.7
PF/C
Height: 6-foot-11 | Weight: 240
The Grizzlies like the top four of this draft and will take the best player available, then figure out the fit later.
As the youngest player projected to be drafted, Jackson might have the highest ceiling in terms of his ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor. He has enviable physical tools, including a 7-foot-4 wingspan and tremendous mobility. Jackson's ability to space the floor (40 percent from 3-point territory and 80 percent from the line), block shots (5.7 per 40 minutes), switch on every screen and, increasingly, put the ball on the floor from the perimeter makes him an ideal fit for the modern NBA.
5. Dallas Mavericks
Mohamed Bamba
Texas
Age: 20.1
C
Height: 7-foot | Weight: 207
With Nerlens Noel unlikely to be in Dallas' long-term plans and Dirk Nowitzki now 40, the Mavs will be looking for a frontcourt player to build around.
Bamba's rare combination of length, shot-blocking instincts and offensive promise gives him one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in this draft. Every team in the NBA is looking for a big man like him who can anchor a defense.
