NBA mock draft: Star's predictions of the first round
Star staffers predict the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft.
The Wildcaster's crystal ball of the first round
UpdatedBy Justin Spears, Dominic Baciocco / Arizona Daily Star
Tick, tick, tick.
The clock keeps ticking down, and no, we're not talking about the LeBron James free agency decision. The NBA Draft is nearing as 60 amateur players will wait to hear their name called Thursday night in New York.
While several NBA teams have concluded final workouts, some front offices are still working and could possibly create blockbuster deals either the day before or the day of draft night.
For now, a few Wildcats hope to take the next step, including potential No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton. Will he stay in Arizona? Will he be UA's first ever No. 1 pick? The Wildcaster's Justin Spears and Dominic Baciocco predict how Thursday's first round will play out.
No. 1: Phoenix Suns, Deandre Ayton, Arizona
Updated
Deandre Ayton averaged 20.1 points and 11.6 boards at UA. He said Wednesday that fans really “had my back” as a federal probe plagued the Wildcats.
Position: Center/Power forward
Height: 7-1
Weight: 260 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 20.1 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 61.2% FG, 34.3% 3FG
No. 2: Sacramento Kings, Marvin Bagley III, Duke
Updated
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-11
Weight: 235 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 21.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 61.4% FG
No. 3: Atlanta Hawks, Trae Young, Oklahoma
UpdatedPosition: Point guard
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 27.4 PPG, 8.7 APG, 42.2% FG, 36% 3FG
No. 4: Memphis Grizzlies, Luka Doncic, Slovenia
Updated
Position: Guard
Height: 6-6
Weight: 220 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 14.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.6 APG, 45.6% FG
No. 5: Dallas Mavericks, Mo Bamba, Texas
Updated
Position: Center
Height: 7-0
Weight: 225 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 12.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.7 BPG, 54.1% FG
No. 6: Orlando Magic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State
Updated
Position: Center
Height: 6-11
Weight: 235 lbs.
Age: 18
2017-18 stats: 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.0 BPG
No. 7: Chicago Bulls, Collin Sexton, Alabama
Updated
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 19.2 PPG, 3.6 APG, 44.7% FG, 33.6% 3FG
No. 8: Cleveland Cavaliers, Mikal Bridges, Villanova
Updated
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 210 lbs.
Age: 21
2017-18 stats: 18.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 43% 3FG
No. 9: New York Knicks, Michael Porter Jr., Missouri
Updated
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-9
Weight: 210 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 10.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 33% FG
No. 10: Philadelphia 76ers, Kevin Knox, Kentucky
UpdatedPosition: Small forward
Height: 6-10
Weight: 215 lbs.
Age: 18
2017-18 stats: 15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 34.1% 3FG
No. 11: Charlotte Hornets, Lonnie Walker, Miami (Fl.)
Updated
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 11.5 PPG, 2.0 APG, 34.6% 3FG
No. 12: Los Angeles Clippers, Wendell Carter, Duke
Updated
Position: Center/Power forward
Height: 6-10
Weight: 250 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 13.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 BPG
No. 13: Los Angeles Clippers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky
UpdatedPosition: Point guard
Height: 6-6
Weight: 180 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 14.4 PPG, 5.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 81.7% FT
No. 14: Denver Nuggets, Miles Bridges, Michigan State
Updated
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 220 lbs.
Age: 20
2017-18 stats: 17.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 36.4% 3FG
No. 15: Washington Wizards, Robert Williams, Texas A&M
Updated
Position: Center/Power forward
Height: 6-10
Weight: 240 lbs.
Age: 20
2017-18 stats: 10.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 2.6 BPG
No. 16: Phoenix Suns, Aaron Holiday, UCLA
Updated
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185 lbs.
Age: 21
2017-18 stats: 20.3 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.7 RPG, 43% 3FG
No. 17: Milwaukee Bucks, Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova
UpdatedPosition: Shooting guard
Height: 6-4
Weight: 200 lbs.
Age: 21
2017-18 stats: 13.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 40.1% 3FG
No. 18: San Antonio Spurs, Keita Bates-Diop, Ohio State
Updated
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 230 lbs.
Age: 22
2017-18 stats: 19.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 35.9% 3FG
No. 19: Atlanta Hawks, Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech
Updated
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 11.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 55.6% FG, 45% 3FG
No. 20: Minnesota Timberwolves, Troy Brown, Oregon
Updated
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 210 lbs.
Age: 18
2017-18 stats: 11.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG
No. 21: Utah Jazz, Jalen Brunson, Villanova
Updated
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 18.9 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.1 RPG, 40.8% 3FG
No. 22: Chicago Bulls, Brandon McCoy, UNLV
Updated
Position: Center
Height: 7-0
Weight: 250 lbs.
Age: 20
2017-18 stats: 16.9 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG
No. 23: Indiana Pacers, Mitchell Robinson
Updated
Position: Center
Height: 7-0
Weight: 223 lbs.
Age: 20
2017-18 stats: Skipped freshman year at Western Kentucky
No. 24: Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Huerter, Maryland
Updated
Position: Shooting guard/Small forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 195 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 14.8 PPG, 3.4 APG, 41.7% 3FG
No. 25: Los Angeles Lakers, De'Anthony Melton, USC
Updated
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-3
Weight: 190 lbs.
Age: 20
2016-17 stats: 8.3 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.9 SPG, 43.7% FG
No. 26: Philadelphia 76ers, Anfernee Simons, USA
Updated
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: Skipped freshman year of college
No. 27: Boston Celtics, Jerome Robinson, Boston College
Updated
Position: Combo guard
Height: 6-4
Weight: 190 lbs.
Age: 21
2017-18 stats: 20.4 PPG, 3.4 APG, 41.9% 3FG
No. 28: Golden State Warriors, Jacob Evans, Cincinnati
Updated
Position: Wing
Height: 6-5
Weight: 200 lbs.
Age: 21
2017-18 stats: 13.0 PPG, 1.3 SPG, 42.7% FG, 37% 3FG
No. 29: Brooklyn Nets, Gary Trent Jr., Duke
Updated
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-5
Weight: 205 lbs.
Age: 19
2017-18 stats: 14.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 40.2% 3FG
No. 30: Atlanta Hawks, Moritz Wagner, Michigan
Updated
Position: Center/Power forward
Height: 6-11
Weight: 245 lbs.
Age: 20
2017-18 stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 52.8% FG, 39.4% 3FG
