The Sixer Sense
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2018 NBA Mock Draft 9.0

By Christopher Kline

TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 21: Arizona Wildcats forward Deandre Ayton (13) during the a college basketball game between Connecticut Huskies and Arizona Wildcats on December 21, 2017, at McKale Center in Tucson, AZ. Arizona leads at half over Connecticut 30-24. (Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 21: Arizona Wildcats forward Deandre Ayton (13) during the a college basketball game between Connecticut Huskies and Arizona Wildcats on December 21, 2017, at McKale Center in Tucson, AZ. Arizona leads at half over Connecticut 30-24. (Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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BELGRADE, SERBIA – MARCH 30: Luka Doncic of Real Madrid reacts during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season game between Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade and Real Madrid at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on March 30, 2018 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
BELGRADE, SERBIA – MARCH 30: Luka Doncic of Real Madrid reacts during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season game between Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade and Real Madrid at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on March 30, 2018 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images) /

player. 125. . PG. Real Madrid. Luka Doncic. 3

Assuming Ayton and Bagley are foregone conclusions, the draft really starts at No.3, where the Hawks are reportedly shuffling between Jaren Jackson Jr. and Doncic, with the latter gaining steam. After leading Real Madrid to the ACB title, Doncic should be the favorite here.

At 6-foot-8, Doncic is the best offensive prospect in the draft. With dynamic handles, NBA range and unreal vision, the 19-year-old can shred defenses in the pick-and-roll. What he lacks in elite athleticism, he makes up for it with craft and basketball I.Q.

The Hawks seem prepared to move past the Dennis Schroder era, meaning they’ll need a primary facilitator and an offensive identity. Doncic checks both boxes, giving Lloyd Pierce an elite facilitator to build an up-tempo attack around.