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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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 22: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans is seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on January 22, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 22: Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans is seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on January 22, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

#7: Chicago Bulls

Mohamed Bamba, Texas

“I hate having Mo Bamba drop this far in the draft because I think he is going to be really good. Between his size and athleticism and his obvious coachability, the Bulls would be ecstatic to land this pick. Bamba is also one of the most unpredictable players in the draft. I have seen him being picked as high as 2 and as low as 9 in different drafts and any of those are believable scenarios.

If the Bulls do land Bamba, it seems like they would be getting back-to-back first round picks that dropped throughout the all the pre-draft hubbub. With a big steal in Lauri Markkanen last year, the Bulls are hoping to do the same thing with this year’s 7th pick.” –Kohl Rast

Trae Young, Oklahoma

“The Bulls have been devoid of shooting for years now. Lauri Markkanen got them going in the right direction with a red hot shooting performance in his rookie season, but the team has almost no outside shooting threat from the guard position.

Ideally the Bulls can add a bigger player who’s better defensively, but the team is in need of more shooting than anything else, which is exactly what Young did so well at Oklahoma. Young could be the next Isaiah Thomas in that he’s an undersized guard who can still score at will against strong defenders.” –Evan Siegel

Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State

“I think it’s a shame that Jackson will drop this far, because I believe he’s one of the safest picks in the draft. He’ll protect the rim and can spread the floor with his shot. He’s the perfect compliment to Lauri Markkanen. And he’ll have Omar Asik to tutor him on how to be a mobile, efficient center. Just kidding.

I don’t think Asik has actually played basketball in five years. He’s just been on a basketball team. That’s kind of hard to do, if you think about it. Anyway, one of the knocks on Jackson is his lack of size. But he’s one of the youngest players in the draft, and he’ll develop the necessary size once he matures and gets into an NBA caliber strength program. I think you’ll see Jaren Jackson Jr. patrolling the paint in the NBA for the next fifteen years.” –Ben Zajdel

Next: #8: Cleveland Cavaliers