With the playoffs heating up, let’s reevaluate the top 30 prospects in the 2018 NBA Draft class.
The Philadelphia 76ers are *clears throat* IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE NBA PLAYOFFS. That doesn’t mean the 2018 NBA Draft isn’t important, though.
There’s plenty of talent in this year’s class, and the Sixers will have the chance to add another lottery-level player with the Lakers’ pick, assuming it doesn’t move up to second or third. That’s a rare opportunity for a team that has a legitimate shot at winning their conference.
As always, this big board is different from our mock drafts. This is not a predication of where certain players will be drafted. This is a straight-up ranking of who I believe the best prospects are, counting down from 30. We might expand beyond 30 prospects once the draft gets closer.
So, without holding you up on this introduction any longer, let’s dive into the best of the best from the 2018 class.
Brown’s decision to return for his sophomore season — especially at 21 years of age — is looking more and more like a mistake. After cracking the lottery discussion last year, the Miami comboguard is barely hanging onto first round status in 2018.
The reason for Brown’s tumble is pretty simple. He just didn’t look good, struggling as the lead ball handler and dealing with nagging injuries throughout the season.
Still, at 6-5 with a strong frame and long arms, Brown remains an explosive athlete with obvious two-way potential on the perimeter. If he can get his spot-up jumpers to fall consistently, he should have success at the next level.
Another two-way comboguard, Melton’s stock dropped for a different reason: he didn’t play. As the FBI investigation made its rounds through the NCAA last season, Melton was one of the most notable casualties, spending his entire season on the sidelines.
Still, Melton showed enough in his freshman campaign to garner first round consideration. He’s a staunch defender with excellent physical tools, while his offensive game should come along in time.
He needs to tighten his handles and work his his jumper, but he’s a strong slasher with excellent passing instincts. The tools for success are undoubtedly there.
Evans was one of the defensive anchors for a Cincinnati team that ranked toward the top of college basketball on that end of the floor. His length, instincts and versatility should keep him firmly in the late-first round conversation.
Last season was also a solid offensive year for Evans. He moved around the floor quite a bit, scoring at all three levels and averaging 3.1 assists per game from the wing. He has the makings of an immediate impact player off the bench.
With the increasing importance of wings that can play both sides of the ball, expect to hear Evans’ name quite a bit as the draft edges closer. He could potentially be on the Sixers’ radar.
Wagner had some rough stretches during the NCAA Tournament, but his stellar junior season should earn him first round consideration. His combination of shooting and athleticism at the five spot is a valuable weapon at this point in the draft.
Moe Buckets shot 39.4 percent from deep on 4.1 attempts per game, emerging as one of the most dynamic scorers in the Big 10. He doesn’t project as a plus defender in the NBA, but his mobility could serve him well.
This is higher than most boards have him, but Wagner’s continued excellence — which started in the 2017 NCAA Tournament — gives me confidence that he’ll find a way to contribute in the NBA.
This is a mildly hot take. But I still have confidence in Duval as somebody whose tools and talent can translate into production under the right circumstances.
Another year at Duke might have benefited Duval, but he didn’t have much of a choice. He isn’t much of a shooter, and that can be hard to overcome for modern day point guards. Still, he did make improvements over the course of the season, shooting 35.3 percent from deep in conference play.
As an elite athlete and advanced passer, Duval still has the package that made him a top-10 favorite coming into the season. His 6-9 wingspan should allow him to wreak havoc defensively, while any semblance of a reliable jumper would make him one of the better guard prospects in this class.
Holiday will join his brothers in the NBA next season, emerging as a likely first round pick after a stellar year with the Bruins. His high-octane scoring and improved playmaking helped UCLA fill the void left by Lonzo Ball and Bryce Alford.
Averaging 20.3 points per game and shooting 42.9 percent from deep, Holiday would have gotten Player of the Year love if he had a better team around him. His three-level scoring should translate as an immediate spark off the bench in the NBA.
Last year, with Lonzo and Alford heading the backcourt, Holiday thrived in a sixth man role. That might be where he’s best utilized at the next level.
In a class that lacks wing depth, Hutchison should stand out as one of the best seniors in the draft. Standing 6-7, he’s capable of playing two or three positions, while his solid combination of scoring instincts and playmaking should make him a servicable contributor from day one.
Along with his offensive talent, Hutchison gave the Broncos a nice reboounding lift, averaging 7.7 boards per game. His versatility gives him some defensive upside as well.
If he can consistently knock down shots on the perimeter, Hutchison should find ample success at the next level. Contenders who are looking for a proven, NBA-ready player will likely be keeping an eye on the Boise State product.
Shamet is a plus shooter, smart passer and gritty defender, all while boasting one of the highest basketball I.Q.s in this year’s draft. That combination normally bodes well at the next level.
While not the most impressive athlete, Shamet does have nice tools at the point guard spot. His spot-up ability makes him functional off the ball, while he should be capable of heading an NBA offense right away.
That, combined with his aforementioned defensive prowess, makes Shamet one of the best lead guards outside of the lottery. This class isn’t overly deep at point guard — or on the perimeter in general — so expect Shamet to get a steady dosage of first round looks.
Despite being somewhat undersized for a two-guard, Thomas’ long arms and excellent defense more than makes up that ground. He emerged as one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball, something he should be capable of translating to the next level.
Thomas is a beast at the point of attack, using his length to swallow up opposing ball handlers and weave his way into passing lanes. He’s also a smart passer and decent slasher, turning those turnovers into productive possessions on the other end.
While not a true lead guard, Thomas can put the ball on the floor and thrives as a spot-up shooter. He’s the kind of 3-and-D asset NBA teams want.
Musa is one of the most polished individual scorers in this year’s class, something that should lock him into the first round. He’d be locked into the lottery if he was anywhere close to passable defensively.
With short arms and not enough athleticism (or effort) to overcome that, Musa is a defensive negative at 6-9. He still has the size needed to guard a handful of different positions, but even that is questionable until he adds more bulk to his frame.
Still, somebody who can create his own shot at all three levels is valuable. Whoever drafts Musa will be getting an instant bucket-getter off the bench, if nothing else.
Robinson initially commited to Western Kentucky, but decided to drop out over the summer and pursue the NBA full-time. That means pre-draft workouts and the combine will be especially important in determining his draft stock.
The 7-1 center, boasting a 7-4 wingspan, has all the athletic tools of a top-20 pick, though. His rim protection potential is up there with some of the best bigs in this class, while he’s plenty capable of functioning as a rim-runner offensively.
If there’s anybody with the potential move rapidly up (or down) draft boards between now and June, it’s Robinson.
Bates-Diop broke out as arguably the best player in the Big 10 this season, leading Ohio State to an unexpected NCAA Tournament berth. He thrived as a mismatch-creator at the four spot, a role he’ll likely take on at the next level.
Standing around 6-8 with long arms and plenty of craft offensively, Bates-Diop is capable of creating his own shot at a high clip around the basket. He’s also a solid shooter, spacing the floor and causing problems aplenty for bigger power forwards.
His defensive potential should play into his stock as well. His rangy frame and solid athleticism should allow him to switch around the court and cause issues in any system.
Simons was a top-10 prospect in the 2019 class before reclassifying to 2018. Currently going through a post-graduate season at IMG Academy, the explosive comboguard will forogo college altogether and enter the draft a year early.
There’s an inherent risk in drafting somebody who lacks experience like Simons. He’s not mature physically and we’re likely a few years away from him realizing his potential. Still, he has the upside of one of the best guards in this class.
Standing around 6-4, Simons is a smooth isolation scorer who can create his own shot with ease. He needs to develop his passing and basketball I.Q. more, but there’s plenty of time for him to do so. That’s especially true if a team with the proper patience (probably a contender) rolls the dice.
Brown flew under the radar at Oregon, but he’s somebody who should get some late-lottery looks. With a long, strong 6-7 frame, Brown has the tools needed to be one of the better two-way wings in this draft.
3-point shooting will be a sticking point for Brown, both in the pre-draft process and at the next level. He’s a capable secondary ball handler on the wing, but lacks the consistent spot-up shooting that some of his counterparts possess.
Still, his offensive versatility — combined with equal versatility on the defensive end — is something that should leave scouts enamored. Long defenders who can spend time both on and off the ball have plenty of value.
Walker got off to a slow start before hitting a groove in conference play. With Bruce BRown struggling all season, however, it didn’t take long for Walker to establish himself as the Hurricanes’ best prospect.
At 6-4 with a 6-9 wingspan, Walker’s defensive tools and athleticism pop whenever you watch him. He does an excellent job of using his length to disrupt passing lanes and force turnovers.
That translates to the offensive end as well, where his athleticism makes him a dangerous off-ball cutter. If he can add more to his game off the dribble, Walker easily has lottery-level upside.
Smith was one of several breakout stars this season, helping to transform Texas Tech into the best team in the state. Despite being raw on the offensive end, Smith’s high-end athleticism and defensive profile has made him a lottery-range favorite.
With long arms and insane hops, Smith has a knack for blowing things up on the defensive end. He can then translate that defensive prowess into transition offense, providing a dangerous open-court weapon.
We’ve seen plenty of raw, two-way wings outperform their draft stock in recent years. Expect Smith to be a steady riser all summer.
Williams took a big risk in returning to A&M for his sophomore season. He wasn’t put in the best position to succeed, while his lack of tangible growth had some draftniks questioning his draft stock late in the year. Then the NCAA Tournament happened.
A&M made a surprise run to the Sweet 16, dominating North Carolina behind an offensive explosion and Williams’ defensive exellence. At 6-10 with a 7-5 wingspan, Williams is a freak athlete with one of the highest rim protection ceilings in the draft. That alone should garner lottery consideration.
He’s also a capable rim-runner who can crash the glass and play above the rim. He didn’t add a reliable jumper — something many scouts were hoping to see — but his ability to impact things defensively should keep his stock trending upward.
Bridges, like Williams, made the questionable decision to return to school for a second season. He didn’t have the strongest start to the year, but locked himself into the lottery conversation after a strong finish.
At this point, it’s tough to envision Bridges not playing the four. He’s a bit undersized at 6-6, but can offset that to some extent with his freakish athleticism and strong frame. His defensive versatility is something teams will covet.
Offensively, Bridges made major strides as a passer late in the year. His spot-up shooting and off-ball cutting, however, will be his best skills until he adds a more reliable off-the-dribble game.
A flurry of production in the SEC and NCAA tournaments led some to dub Sexton the best point guard in this year’s class. That’s just not the case; in fact, I might be taking a bit of a gamble in placing him 12th.
Nonetheless, the potential is certainly there. Sexton’s strong frame and explosive athleticism makes him a dangerous scorer, especially in transition. He has the ability to get hot and carry an offense, something that can’t be said for many players in this class.
His defensive hustle, while there is spurts, wasn’t an impressive as many hoped coming into the season. His competitiveness on that side of the ball should shine through at the next level, though. He also needs to work on his passing, which was a relative weakness compared to other lead guards.
Knox is raw compared to his lottery counterparts, but his upside should have scouts talking. He’s already a strong cutter, using a wide array of moves to finish off shots around the paint.
If he can shoot the deep ball consistently, it’s not hard to imagine Knox developing into a legitimate go-to option. He’ll need to clean up his handles and might be a few years away from taking on that kind of role, but his developmental curve is something teams should be willing to invest in.
He also has some promising tools defensively, which should translate given his work ethic and high character. He shouldn’t drop out of the top 15 come June.
Gilgeous-Alexander was a bit of a surprise this season, with the four-star freshman emerging as Kentucky’s most relaible player. His steady playmaking and crafty scoring played a big role in lifting the Wildcats to the Sweet 16.
While not an elite athlete, Gilgeous-Alexander can counteract that with shifty ball handling and finesse around the rim. He finishes well in traffic, while his passing chops stood out late in the season on a Kentucky team that lacked capable creators.
His length should bode well defensively, although he needs to add more strength to his frame. Expect him to draw plenty of lottery consideration in the coming months.
Bridges epitomizes everything teams want on the wing nowadays. He’s the ultimate 3-and-D guy, maximizing his long frame on the defensive end and thriving off the ball offensively. His growth this season, though, is what should lock him into the top 10.
With Josh Hart and Ryan Arcidiacono in the NBA, Bridges was forced to take on a bigger role next to National Player of the Year Jalen Brunson. That resulted in him doing more off the dribble, an area he rarely explored earlier in his collegiate career.
Bridges in the only true wing worth listing in the top 10, so expect teams like Chicago, New York and Philadelphia to put serious consideration into drafting him, even if he lacks the ultra-high upside that some of his counterparts boast.
Carter has drawn comparisons to Al Horford for his unique skill set and physical tools. He’s already a polished post threat, combining advanced footwork with solid passing on the block. He didn’t shoot much at Duke, but hit 41.3 percent of his threes with a projectable stroke.
A solid frame and long arms should make Carter a plus defender as well. Duke’s combination of bad defense and heavy reliance on the zone made it difficult to adequately judge Carter’s ability on that end, but his tools and instincts would make me lean toward him performing above expectations in the NBA.
Carter, in most years, would rank higher than this. 2018 just happens to be full of high-level bigs.
As soon as Young started to struggle, the media tore him down just as quickly as they built him up. The Sooners were so heavily reliant on Young’s creation, though, that basing your analysis entirely on those struggles would be misguided.
Even during up-and-down conference play, Young showed the kind of skill that makes him the top point guard (outside of Luka Doncic, of course) in this draft class. It’s not just his shooting either. He’s also an advanced playmaker, making brilliant reads in the pick-and-roll and flashing passing chops that Sexton and Gilgeous-Alexander aren’t close to matching.
He’s a defensive liability whose thin frame could cause issues at the next level. That’s true. But running him off the ball and adding more variety to his offensive responsibilities should make Young one of the most impactful offensive players in this class.
A solid chunk of people had Porter at No. 1 on their boards entering the season. That talent hasn’t gone anywhere.
Porter missed most of the season with a back injury. He returned for a couple of tournament games, but struggled mightily on both sides of the ball. Given the lack of burst that comes with returning from a back injury, though, that rust was understandable.
At 6-10, Porter is a dynamic scorer who can create his own shot at any level and add some versatility on the defensive end, to boot. He’ll need to work on his passing and get cleared medically, but teams should have no hesitation when it comes to taking him in the top half of the lottery.
Despite limited minutes, Jackson emerged as one of the best rim protectors in college basketball, averaging 3.0 blocks per game. He was also a 39.6 percent shooter from range, giving Tom Izzo a dynamic pick-and-pop threat in the frontcourt.
Those are both skills that NBA teams will covet. His length, strength and instincts should make Jackson one of the better defensive bigs in a class littered with high-end frontcourt talent. His shooting is also a valuable weapon in the modern NBA.
He’s a polished scorer on the block as well, showcasing a nice set of moves around the rim. I was high on Jackson coming into the season, so I’ve been nothing short of vindicated when it comes to the preseason hype I tried to generate.
Bamba has a 7-9 wingspan. That will make him the longest player in the NBA, stealing that title from Defensive Player of the Year favorite Rudy Gobert. Averaging 3.7 blocks per game at Texas, it’s not difficult to picture Bamba joining that same tier down the road.
Adding strength should be Bamba’s primary concern at the next level. He’s somewhat limited offensively as well, doing most of his work as an at-rim finisher. He did shoot 27.5 percent from deep, though, and has seemingly improved his jumper during pre-draft workouts.
Even in a pace-and-space league, rim protection is one of the most important assets out there. Bamba has the potential to be a defensive cornerstone for whichever team drafts him, something that should keep him in the top five come June.
Bagley drew plenty of critiques for his play at Duke, despite the fact that he was one of the most productive players in the country from start to finish. His defensive struggles, albeit magnified by Duke’s general ineptitude, were chief among them.
That said, it’s tough to drop Bagley below the No. 3 spot. His athleticism alone allows him to take over games, whether it be on the offensive glass or when carving out shots on the block. He needs to improve his touch and become a consistent shooter, but he also went to school a year early. He has time to improve.
Bagley can already take bigger centers off the dribble, while his impressive mobility should eventually translate into a dynamic offensive repertoire. At the absolute worst, he’s a high-energy big whose rebounding gives him a high floor.
I’ve gone back and forth on this, but I struggle to keep Doncic out of the top spot. Ayton is a physical freak and probably has the highest upside in the draft, but Doncic’s accomplishments overseas are becoming increasingly difficult to vote against.
At 7-1 with a 7-5 wingspan and an unreal frame, Ayton has the kind of physical tools that would normally indicate a defensive cornerstone. He’s also quick on his feet, which is borderline unfair for somebody with his size. He actually struggled on that end with Arizona, though, as his instincts left much to be desired.
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Offensively, Ayton makes up some of that ground. His strength and well-versed post game should make him effective from day one. He’s a legitimate pick-and-pop threat as well. Add in solid passing on the block, and you have somebody who should be locked into the top two.
I’ve had a few too many debates over this topic, so it’s worth getting out of the way: Euroleague basketball is a significantly higher level of competition than college basketball. They’re grown men playing for their careers, and Doncic is dominating the second-best league in the world … at 19.
Doncic doesn’t have the explosive athleticism that most folks are accustomed to with top picks, but he’s not a non-athlete. He’s also 6-8 with the ability to run an offense, giving teams plenty of options both offensively and defensively.
His skill level is comparable to that of Ben Simmons and Lonzo Ball. He’ll drop some sick passes and make plenty of winning plays on both sides of the ball. Is his upside as high as Ayton? Maybe not, but it’s hard to imagine Doncic not having a long, successful NBA career. The dude is really, really good.
Read the rest of our 2018 NBA Draft content here.