NBA Draft 2018: The Top 10 Prospects This Year

The NBA Finals are in the annals and the free agency does not officially begin until next month, which means it's time to focus on the NBA Draft.

The 2018 Draft takes place at Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center on June 21, when the Phoenix Suns will select the No. 1 overall pick for the first time in their history.

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Real Madrid's Slovenian Luka Doncic celebrates his team's 85-80 win in the EuroLeague Final Four finals basketball match between Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul at the Stark Arena in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 20. Andrej Isakovic/AFP/Getty Images

Arizona center Deandre Ayton and Real Madrid's point guard Luka Doncic are widely expected to be the first two players chosen, followed by Duke power forward Marvin Bagley III and Michigan State big man Jaren Jackson Jr.

Missouri forward Michael Porter Jr. has recovered well after having surgery to his back and is expected to be a top 10, although it remains unlikely he will land in any of the teams holding one of the first five picks.

Here, Newsweek has picked the potential top 10 picks.

Deandre Ayton—center (Arizona, freshman)

The draft's likely No. 1 overall pick, the 19-year-old ticks virtually all the boxes for a center at the offensive end of the court. The 7-footer can post up or face the basket, has a good midrange shot and is already a proficient passer.

Defensively, however, he is not as refined, but his size and physicality give him a solid starting platform nevertheless. He has averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game during his only season with Arizona, and the Suns are expected to make him their No. 1 pick.

"I know I'm going No. 1,'' ESPN reported him as saying. "Nobody told me. That's just me. I think I deserve that. I've worked hard.''

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Deandre Ayton of the Arizona Wildcats handles the ball against the Buffalo Bulls during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho, on March 15. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Luka Doncic—point guard (Real Madrid)

A European champion for club and country and a EuroLeague Final Four MVP, at just 19 years of age Doncic has a résumé that some of his older counterparts can only dream of. The Slovenian is arguably the best player in the draft and perhaps the best European player to ever declare himself for an NBA draft.

However, he will have to adjust to a whole different reality in the NBA, which could expose an outside shot that is at times inconsistent. The potential is there and is enormous, but Doncic will need the right team around him to fulfill it.

Marvin Bagley III—power forward/center (Duke, freshman)

The 19-year-old has to expand his offensive arsenal, particularly given that his jump shot is still too unreliable for a power forward. Defensively, he has struggled at times, largely because he's not yet learned how to dominate inside.

However, he has a very high ceiling. Quick and surprisingly nimble for a man of his size, Bagley is an effective scorer in the paint and put up 21.2 points shooting on 61.4 percent from the field last season.

He's described Ayton's comments about being selected as No. 1 as disrespectful. "It's disrespectful, and I use it as drive every single day," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

"At the end of the day, this is all talk right now. Eventually, we'll have to go on the court, and we'll have to play. That's where all the talking ends."

Jaren Jackson—center (Michigan State, freshman)

Another big man in a draft class packed with them, Jackson is already a very solid shooter and very mobile, despite his 6-foot-11-inch frame. Despite not being as physically dominant as Ayton, he recorded 3.2 blocks per game during his year with Michigan State.

He will have to bulk up to be a factor at both ends in the NBA, but that shouldn't prevent him from being among the top five picks.

Mohamed Bamba—center (Texas, freshman)

In a draft class stacked with big men, Bamba is probably the most dominant of them all at the defensive end of the court. The 19-year-old's 7-foot-10-inch wingspan makes him extremely hard to score against, and if he manages to add muscles to what is a rather slender frame, few players will relish coming up against him.

Bamba scored 12.9 points per game last season, but his offensive game is far from the finished product.

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Marvin Bagley III, left, of the Duke Blue Devils and Mohamed Bamba of the Texas Longhorns go after a rebound during a game at the Portland, Oregon, Moda Center on November 24, 2017. Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Trae Young—point guard (Oklahoma, freshman)

A more traditional playmaker than Doncic, the 19-year-old is an excellent perimeter shooter. He is just at ease when it comes to creating scoring opportunities for his teammates as he is in terms of finding space for himself.

At 6 feet, 1 inches, he's at a disadvantage when it comes to defense, due to his lack of size. He showed signs of tiredness at the end of last season, which could be resolved if he continues to work on his physique.

He scored 27.4 points per game last season, adding 8.8 assists for good measure, and could thrive in the right team.

Wendell Carter Jr.—center (Duke, freshman)

Bagley's teammate at Duke, Carter is a solid scorer from the post and has developed a decent jump shot. An excellent rebounder—he averaged 9.1 per game last season—he is not as explosive as some of his counterparts when close to the rim.

His game lacks a headline-grabbing feature, which could see him drop lower down the order, but at the same time, Carter is well-rounded player who could make a good impact straight away.

Michael Porter Jr.—small forward/power forward (Missouri, freshman)

The 19-year-old is one of the best scorers in this year's draft class, thanks to his ability to score regularly from the perimeter. He missed four months of the season after undergoing surgery on his lower back last November last year but has reportedly returned to full fitness since.

However, expect NBA teams to scrutinize his medical records in detail before selecting the Missouri native, who remains a bit of a gamble, particularly given that his defense has often been found wanting.

Collin Sexton—point guard (Alabama, freshman)

In his season with Alabama, Sexton emerged as a very good scorer whose production close to the rim offset a rather inconsistent 3-point shot. Not afraid of taking clutch shots and physically impressive, Sexton is not as proficient when it comes to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.

He averaged just 3.6 assists per game last season, scoring 19.2 points per game on 33.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Mikal Bridges—small forward (Villanova, junior)

One of the best 3-point shooters among the expected top 10 picks in this year's draft—he averaged 43.5 percent last season—Bridges is a good defender and a very versatile player.

The 21-year-old defended four different positions last season for Villanova, and his 7-foot wingspan makes him a very valuable asset in the modern-day NBA. Despite scoring 17.7 points per game last season, he is unlikely to be seen as the main offensive outlet but nevertheless will interest a large number of teams.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more

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