The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Lottery Picks Only

By Kohl Rast

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: A general view of the NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum during the 2018 NBA Draft during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: A general view of the NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum during the 2018 NBA Draft during the NBA Draft Lottery on May 15, 2018 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 10: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils handles the ball against Kene Chukwuka #15 of the Pittsburgh Panthers at Petersen Events Center on January 10, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 10: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Duke Blue Devils handles the ball against Kene Chukwuka #15 of the Pittsburgh Panthers at Petersen Events Center on January 10, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

#3: Atlanta Hawks

Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State

“His fit alongside John Collins may be interesting and take some time to work, but there is no doubt that Jaren Jackson Jr. is going to make an impact with whichever team selects him. His rim defense will be the key to this teams success and with his ability to stretch the floor on the other end, the fit will come along.

JJJ will likely be joining the toughest situation in the top 5, as Atlanta is just starting their rebuild now. Still, at 18 years old, Jackson is a great player to kick it all off with.” –Kohl Rast

Luka Doncic, Real Madrid

The Atlanta Hawks have nothing to lose. There is barely any long term talent on the team and Denis Schroeder appears to be wanting out. The Hawks need to draft for upside and should target the European phenom at number three.

Doncic is being described as one of the most intriguing European prospects in history, and could give the Hawks a mismatch-creator at the point position. The Hawks can’t really go wrong with this decision, and shouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger on a player with an extremely high ceiling.”  –Evan Siegel

Marvin Bagley III, Duke

“I’m not enamored with Bagley the way others are. To me, he’s a stretch four in a league that doesn’t need them anymore. He’s not Jahlil Okafor by any means, but he does most of his work in the post and behind the arc. I had a hard time finding any plays where he broke down his defender off the dribble.

Maybe that’s a product of the system he’s playing in. If Coach K didn’t want him driving from behind the arc to the basket, he wasn’t going to do it. Anyway, I think Atlanta takes him here at three and slides John Henson over to center.

Bagley isn’t exceptionally long, at 6’11” with only a 7 foot wingspan (Rudy Gobert is 7’2″ with a 7’8″ wingspan, for comparison), so he’ll need someone to protect the rim behind him like Wendell Carter Jr. did at Duke. I’ll say this, however–for all my misgivings about Bagley, the dude has a motor. He competes, follows his shot, and attacks the glass. He’s got great energy.” –Ben Zajdel

Next: #4: Memphis Grizzlies