The 2018 NBA draft will be held on June 21, 2018 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams will take turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. It will be televised nationally by ESPN. This draft will be the last to use the original weighted lottery system that gives teams near the bottom of the NBA draft better odds at the top three picks of the draft while teams higher up had worse odds in the process; the rule was agreed upon by the NBA on September 28, 2017, but would not be implemented until the 2019 draft.[1] With the last year of what was, at the time, the most recent lottery system (with the NBA draft lottery being held in Chicago instead of in New York), the Phoenix Suns won the first overall pick on May 15, 2018, with the Sacramento Kings at the second overall pick and the Atlanta Hawks at third overall pick.[2] The Suns' selection is their first No. 1 overall selection in franchise history.

Mock Draft

1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona

I have Doncic as my top-rated player in this class, but it's hard to argue with the logic of taking Ayton. He's a fluid 7-footer with range that should stretch out to the three-point line consistently, and he has elite potential on the defensive end.

While his defensive IQ is low at this point like most 19-year-olds, Ayton has all the skills on paper to be an incredible stopper. His length and leaping ability project him to be a strong force in the middle, and he has the side-to-side speed to be fine in most pick-and-roll switches.

Ayton is exactly what you'd want in a modern center.

2. Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Duke

This pick just feels Kingsy. There's nothing wrong with Marvin Bagley III; he's about as safe as you're going to get in this class. There's a 10-year career awaiting him as soon as he steps on an NBA court. His athleticism and hustle, especially on the offensive end, should get him a ton of easy buckets near the rim on offensive rebounds. I'd be surprised if we don't see a 16-8 line from him during his rookie season.

But it feels like there is a ceiling on his potential. Is Bagley an All-Star someday? Maybe. But is he going to be the type of multidimensional star who transforms an organization? I really don't think so. He's not the type of player who I would invest in with the second pick of this draft—not with Doncic and Mohamed Bamba still on the board.

3. Atlanta Hawks: Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, Michigan State

Color me among the people lower on Jaren Jackson than most. I'm not sure how it's become a borderline lock that Jackson goes ahead of Bamba in this class, but I'm positive I'm going to be perplexed as it happens.

Jackson is a ball of raw energy who does not have much offensive skill to speak of. His shot is awkward and will probably need to be reworked in the pros. His potential on the defensive end is unlimited; his potential on the offensive end might just be "roll guy."

What is it that separates Jackson from Robert Williams, who will be on the board 10 picks later? Not all that much, really. Jackson is a top-10 player based on potential, but his top-five resume feels lacking.

4. Memphis Grizzlies: Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF, Missouri

Health is the key for Michael Porter Jr., whose medicals remain concerning. All signs are OK for now. After a brief cancellation, Porter did allow teams to examine him Friday in Chicago. It's just tough to feel especially enthused about back and hip issues, which are right up there with feet in the recurring-issues pile for basketball players.

If Porter's healthy, he's a good fit in Memphis. The Grizzlies have needed a true score-first star for years, and Porter is the best pure scorer in this class. Missouri fans never got to see the true breadth of his game; he's a 6'11" swingman who can put the ball on the deck and lead the break, stretch out to three-point range and crash the glass.

Grizzlies fans with Rudy Gay PTSD might not love Porter right now—he's got a little bit of that black hole in his game. But with the right coaching, he could be something special offensively.

5. Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic, PG/SG, Slovenia

If the Mavs somehow land Doncic at No. 5, the remaining 25 teams should band together and sue the first four for giving Mark Cuban such good fortune.

Doncic is incredible. That is all.