Here is my ninth edition of my 2018 NBA Mock Draft.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: After slotting Luka Doncic here last mock draft, I switched back to Ayton, who is perhaps the drafts best prospect due to his size, soft touch at the rim, and his promising jump shot. He's drawn comparisons to Joel Embiid and Patrick Ewing and the Suns, who don't really have a long term true center, won't want to pass on him.
2. Sacramento Kings- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Porter barely played college hoops due to back surgery which makes him a risky selection here for the Kings. He has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Kings can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and have a need for versatile forwards, although it'd trade down here if your Sacramento and you want Porter.
3. Atlanta Hawks- Jaren Jackson Jr, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: Jackson is a bit of a wild card in this lottery portion of the draft considering he exceeded expectations as a freshman in college and played his way to this position. Although he struggled in the Big Dance, his rim protecting as well as his perimeter game were excellent.
4. Memphis Grizzlies- Luka Doncic, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Real Madrid: Doncic will be the most proven player in the draft due to his success overseas. He is an ideal fit for the perimeter-oriented league and should have a long, productive NBA career. There are reports out there that Doncic does not want to play in Sacramento, so don't be shocked if Doncic drops this far.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Marvin Bagley, Power Forward/Center, Duke: Bagley could very well end up the best player from this draft class. He has great athleticism and can shoot it from three and the Mavs would be getting a huge steal in this spot.
6. Orlando Magic- Mohamed Bomba, Center, Texas: Bomba doesn't have much of an offensive game, but his defensive presence with his height and shot blocking should appeal to any team. The Magic have a surplus of big men, but some of them are older and don't have the upside of Bomba, at least from a defensive standpoint.
7. Chicago Bulls- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Young's stock is trending up and the Bulls may not think Kris Dunn is a starting point guard in this league so they go with Young. Young is very polarizing because of how his season went and how defenses started figuring him out in conference play. That said, he has a Steph Curry type of ceiling and the Bulls may not pass on it.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn Nets via Boston Celtics)- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Cavs can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor. Carter could possibly replace Kevin Love if they decide to move on from him.
9. New York Knicks- Kevin Knox, Small Forward, Kentucky: Knox hasn't been as consistent as a shooter as the Wildcats hoped, but he still projects as a solid defender and can rebound very well. If he develops a shot, he could end up as a rotation piece or even a starter for the Knicks.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix Suns)- Mikal Bridges, Small Forward, Villanova: Bridges took a massive leap this year for the Wildcats. Due to his three-and-D capability, Birdges is one of the drafts safest bets. The Sixers would be a nice landing spot for him as he can begin off the bench and can eventually start.
11. Charlotte Hornets- Miles Bridges, Small Forward, Michigan State: Although, Bridges might end up becoming a small ball power forward in the future due to his average ball handling, he is a great shooter on the wing and provides great athleticism. Bridges would be a nice fit on this rebuilding Hornet team as they can view him as a building block.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Collin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: Sexton at this spot would be a steal for the Clippers. He is super-fast, super-quick and forever aggressive -- all of which are great qualities for anybody entering the NBA. He puts pressure on the defense basically every possession.
13. Los Angeles Clippers- Robert Williams, Power Forward/Center, Texas A&M: Williams could have been a lottery pick last year, but decided to come back to school for one more season. Williams isn't known for his offense, but he's great at rebounding and defending the rim. He could be a poor mans D'Andre Jordan.
14. Denver Nuggets- Lonnie Walker, Shooting Guard, Miami: Walker didn't have the greatest freshman season due to coming off his meniscus tear, which provided an interesting case for him to return to Miami for his sophomore season. That said, Walker is worth taking in this spot due to his pure talent and potential.
15. Washington Wizards- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended up after he had a great season for the Wildcats. He has great size and finishing craft, defensive versatility, and maybe even quickness. Gilgeous-Alexander would be a nice piece for the Wizards, who need more depth at the guard positions.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week to go until the draft. He went from a three-star recruit to a likely first-round pick thanks to elite athleticism and ultra aggressive two-way play at Texas Tech. His freshman season was full of highlight reel plays, with tip-dunks and chasedown blocks becoming nightly occurrences.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday's stock is trending upward with a week to go until the draft. He's one of my sleepers and is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Troy Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oregon: Brown is an interesting prospect considering that he had a solid season at Oregon, but has a reputation of disappearing in games. Brown's size and ball-handling ability is what makes him worth a selection at this spot and I like this spot for Brown.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Elie Okobo, Point Guard, France: Okobo has suddenly become one of the draft's most fascinating prospects, particularly after going for 44 points on 17 shots in a Pro A playoff game last week, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Sixers could use a backup guard to come off the bench and he can provide that.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Donte DiVincenzo, Shooting Guard, Villanova: DiVincenzo broke out in a major way at the combine and fortified the strong impression he left in March and over the course of Villanova’s season. It’s clear he’s not a flash in the pan, as his consistent level of focus, instincts for forcing turnovers and grabbing rebounds and ability to hit open jumpers build in a degree of safety.
21. Utah Jazz- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter was a fast riser on peoples mock boards and than he just got hand surgery that could hurt his draft stock. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Chandler Hutchinson, Small Forward, Boise State: Hutchinson is one of my sleepers in this draft class. Hutchinson isn't a great shooter, but has a nice all-around game with his ability to attack the rim, rebounding, and he's a solid off the ball defender.
23. Indiana Pacers- Josh Okogie, Shooting Guard, Georgia Tech: Okogie's stock is soaring with a week to go until the draft. He's had great workouts and a good showing at the combine and a team like the Pacers can use him and his good three-point shooting off the bench.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Khyri Thomas, Shooting Guard, Creighton: Thomas is interesting because he doesn't have much upside. What Thomas does have though, is a two-way presence with is great shooting and perimeter defending. This pick would be a solid one for the Blazers and he would probably come off the bench for them.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- De'Anthony Melton, Shooting Guard, USC: Melton was held out the entire season by USC following the program’s role in the FBI investigation. What the Trojans missed was a bulldog defender and a skilled passer who found ways to impact the game even without a dependable jump shot. He has a Swiss Army Knife-type of skill set that would fit well on any bench.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- Kieta Bates-Diop, Power Forward, Ohio State: Bates-Diop had an outstanding junior collegiate season. What hurts Bates-Diop is his lack of athleticism, but his season cannot be ignored due to his outstanding shooting and providing match-up problems for the opposition.
27. Boston Celtics- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a steal considering that Robinson has the talent of a lottery pick. He had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience beyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
28. Golden State Warriors- Jacob Evans, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Cincinnati: Evans's upside is limited though because he's an erratic shooter and isn't aggressive at the rim. His defense is his strength and he can guard both wing positions very well.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto Raptors)- Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, Villanova: Brunson has shown first round potential throughout his time in college. The Nets need more point guard depth behind Spencer Dinwiddie since Jeremy Lin has been injury prone.
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets via Los Angeles Clippers)- Dzanan Musa, Small Forward, Cedevita: Musa is an intriguing international prospect that is motivated to play in the NBA. Musa is a great scorer on the wing and his play making skills are improving. The Hawks love international prospects so this pick makes a lot of sense.
Monday, June 18, 2018
Thursday, June 14, 2018
2018 NHL Mock Draft: Sixth Edition
Here is the sixth edition of my 2018 NHL Mock Draft.
1. Buffalo Sabres- Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): Dahlin is the consensus best player in this draft class and Dahlin gets the chance to go to a young team that needs more transcendent talent other than Jack Eichel. He will pair on the top pair with Rasmus Ristolainen for the foreseeable future.
2. Carolina Hurricanes- Andrei Scechnikov, Wing, Barrie (OHL): The Canes have an up and coming defense, so here they address their biggest need which is scoring. He has elite scoring touch but can also play a power forward game.
3. Montreal Canadiens- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Canadiens are a team that is in dire need of young talent and Zadina would be a nice start. He is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone.
4. Ottawa Senators- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Sens have a ton of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Tkachuk has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Red Wings have a lot of needs although they do have some promising young players. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Blackhawks considering they have a need on defense. He is one of the smartest defensemen in the draft and his passing ability allows him to generate offense from all three zones of the ice while staying in great position.
9. New York Rangers- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Rangers are a team with a ton of assets heading into the draft and they can go a number of directions here. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers have a need on defense and Boqvist would be a nice fit. He is an elite puck-moving defenseman who will likely be the second one off the board, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a need on defense and Smith fits the bill. He is more known for his offensive game rather than his defensive game and is slightly undersized but as the game continues to evolve that is less and less of an issue as long as the talent is there to back it up.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Islanders take a forward here in Farabee. He possesses an elite shot for his age and is also a gifted skater and he knows how to use it to benefit himself.
13. Dallas Stars- Barrett Hayton, Center, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): People out there think Hayton is the best two way center in this draft. The one thing holding Hayton back is his production. He has all of the tools to be successful and an elite player, but his numbers just didn’t show it.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Grigori Denisenko, Wing, Lokomotiv (MHL): Denisenko projects as a high end scorer, but will need to be less generous with the puck on the attack. He has high and dangle and deception skills, and seems to be able to take games over or at very least, looks to me a cut above everyone else on the ice sheet.
15. Florida Panthers- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Panthers really don't have any needs, but passing up on a talent like Wilde will be hard. He is a complete defenseman who is talented in both ends of the ice and has a pro level shot and close to pro level skating at the age of 18.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Avalanche don't have a need on offense, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
17. New Jersey Devils- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets- Vitali Kravstov, Wing, Traktor (KHL): For Kravstov's age and the level of competition, he plays at he is a good defender. He needs to continue to grow but he has talent and uses his speed to get himself into a good position, cause turnovers and generate offense.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller will be a little bit of a project but a project that will be well worth the wait. A lot of young defensemen struggle with defensive responsibility. Not him, his best attribute is his defensive play. As he continues to develop his game he will only get better.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Isac Lundestrom, Center/Wing, Lulea (SHL): Lundestrom won’t blow past
anyone with blinding speed, but he is a talented skater. He has versatility and powerful strides that make him hard to knock off of the puck.
21. San Jose Sharks- Rasmus Sandin, Defenseman, Woo (WHL): What makes Sandin great is his ability to play in all situations. It does not matter if it is on the powerplay, penalty kill or even strength Sandin thrives in all of them.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Serron Noel, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): Noel is one of the elite wingers this year in terms of projected first round prospects. He is really strong offensively featuring good hands, and a great shot and because of his size and good hands, he can score a lot of his goals from in tight.
24. Minnesota Wild- Akil Thomas, Center, Niagara (OHL): Thomas is a center who can put up points in bunches. One of his best attributes is his work ethic with and without the puck and is responsible in all three zones and never takes a shift off.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Jared McIssac, Defenseman, Halifax (QMJHL): Due to his great skating talent, McIssac is able to carry the puck out of his zone and start the offense. He is also able to quickly recover when necessary and does well to get back into position.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Blackhawks take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock boards of late. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Calen Addison, Defenseman, Lethbridge (WHL): Addison will probably be a late round steal and could be a very nice consolation prize for a team that picks late in the first round (or early in the second). He’s a promising young player with a ton of potential and a high ceiling if he can continue to add to his offensive repertoire.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelp (OHL): The Rangers use their second first rounder to improve their defense prospect pool. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Ty Dellandrea, Center, Flint (OHL): Dellandrea is versatile and his best attribute is his skating with the puck on his stick. Some players his age have great speed but can struggle to handle the puck he is the opposite and actually gets better with the puck on his stick.
31. Washington Capitals- Alexander Alexeyev, Defenseman, Red Deer (WHL): Alexeyev is a big Russian import who has really improved the pace at which he plays in all phases. He's a rangy defender with footwork, who can transport through the neutral zone in a few strides.
1. Buffalo Sabres- Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): Dahlin is the consensus best player in this draft class and Dahlin gets the chance to go to a young team that needs more transcendent talent other than Jack Eichel. He will pair on the top pair with Rasmus Ristolainen for the foreseeable future.
2. Carolina Hurricanes- Andrei Scechnikov, Wing, Barrie (OHL): The Canes have an up and coming defense, so here they address their biggest need which is scoring. He has elite scoring touch but can also play a power forward game.
3. Montreal Canadiens- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Canadiens are a team that is in dire need of young talent and Zadina would be a nice start. He is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone.
4. Ottawa Senators- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Sens have a ton of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Tkachuk has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Red Wings have a lot of needs although they do have some promising young players. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Blackhawks considering they have a need on defense. He is one of the smartest defensemen in the draft and his passing ability allows him to generate offense from all three zones of the ice while staying in great position.
9. New York Rangers- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Rangers are a team with a ton of assets heading into the draft and they can go a number of directions here. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers have a need on defense and Boqvist would be a nice fit. He is an elite puck-moving defenseman who will likely be the second one off the board, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a need on defense and Smith fits the bill. He is more known for his offensive game rather than his defensive game and is slightly undersized but as the game continues to evolve that is less and less of an issue as long as the talent is there to back it up.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Islanders take a forward here in Farabee. He possesses an elite shot for his age and is also a gifted skater and he knows how to use it to benefit himself.
13. Dallas Stars- Barrett Hayton, Center, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): People out there think Hayton is the best two way center in this draft. The one thing holding Hayton back is his production. He has all of the tools to be successful and an elite player, but his numbers just didn’t show it.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Grigori Denisenko, Wing, Lokomotiv (MHL): Denisenko projects as a high end scorer, but will need to be less generous with the puck on the attack. He has high and dangle and deception skills, and seems to be able to take games over or at very least, looks to me a cut above everyone else on the ice sheet.
15. Florida Panthers- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Panthers really don't have any needs, but passing up on a talent like Wilde will be hard. He is a complete defenseman who is talented in both ends of the ice and has a pro level shot and close to pro level skating at the age of 18.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Avalanche don't have a need on offense, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
17. New Jersey Devils- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets- Vitali Kravstov, Wing, Traktor (KHL): For Kravstov's age and the level of competition, he plays at he is a good defender. He needs to continue to grow but he has talent and uses his speed to get himself into a good position, cause turnovers and generate offense.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller will be a little bit of a project but a project that will be well worth the wait. A lot of young defensemen struggle with defensive responsibility. Not him, his best attribute is his defensive play. As he continues to develop his game he will only get better.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Isac Lundestrom, Center/Wing, Lulea (SHL): Lundestrom won’t blow past
anyone with blinding speed, but he is a talented skater. He has versatility and powerful strides that make him hard to knock off of the puck.
21. San Jose Sharks- Rasmus Sandin, Defenseman, Woo (WHL): What makes Sandin great is his ability to play in all situations. It does not matter if it is on the powerplay, penalty kill or even strength Sandin thrives in all of them.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Serron Noel, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): Noel is one of the elite wingers this year in terms of projected first round prospects. He is really strong offensively featuring good hands, and a great shot and because of his size and good hands, he can score a lot of his goals from in tight.
24. Minnesota Wild- Akil Thomas, Center, Niagara (OHL): Thomas is a center who can put up points in bunches. One of his best attributes is his work ethic with and without the puck and is responsible in all three zones and never takes a shift off.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Jared McIssac, Defenseman, Halifax (QMJHL): Due to his great skating talent, McIssac is able to carry the puck out of his zone and start the offense. He is also able to quickly recover when necessary and does well to get back into position.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Blackhawks take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock boards of late. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Calen Addison, Defenseman, Lethbridge (WHL): Addison will probably be a late round steal and could be a very nice consolation prize for a team that picks late in the first round (or early in the second). He’s a promising young player with a ton of potential and a high ceiling if he can continue to add to his offensive repertoire.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelp (OHL): The Rangers use their second first rounder to improve their defense prospect pool. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Ty Dellandrea, Center, Flint (OHL): Dellandrea is versatile and his best attribute is his skating with the puck on his stick. Some players his age have great speed but can struggle to handle the puck he is the opposite and actually gets better with the puck on his stick.
31. Washington Capitals- Alexander Alexeyev, Defenseman, Red Deer (WHL): Alexeyev is a big Russian import who has really improved the pace at which he plays in all phases. He's a rangy defender with footwork, who can transport through the neutral zone in a few strides.
2018 NBA Mock Draft: Eighth Edition
Here is my eighth edition of my 2018 NBA Draft.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: After slotting Luka Doncic here last mock draft, I switched back to Ayton, who is perhaps the drafts best prospect due to his size, soft touch at the rim, and his promising jump shot. He's drawn comparisons to Joel Embiid and Patrick Ewing and the Suns, who don't really have a long term true center, won't want to pass on him.
2. Sacramento Kings- Marvin Bagley, Power Forward/Center, Duke: Bagley could very well end up the best player from this draft class. He has great athleticism and can shoot it from three and it would be interesting to see what the Kings would do with Willie Cauley-Stein if they were to pick Bagley or Jaren Jackson Jr over Luka Doncic.
3. Atlanta Hawks- Jaren Jackson Jr, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: Jackson is a bit of a wild card in this lottery portion of the draft considering he exceeded expectations as a freshman in college and played his way to this position. Although he struggled in the Big Dance, his rim protecting as well as his perimeter game were excellent.
4. Memphis Grizzlies- Luka Doncic, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Real Madrid: Doncic will be the most proven player in the draft due to his success overseas. He is an ideal fit for the perimeter-oriented league and should have a long, productive NBA career. There are reports out there that Doncic does not want to play in Sacramento, so don't be shocked if Doncic drops this far.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Mohamed Bomba, Center, Texas: Bomba doesn't have much of an offensive game, but his defensive presence with his height and shot blocking should appeal to any team. Bomba would learn from Dirk Nowitzki for at least one if not seasons and Rick Carlisle would love someone like Bomba.
6. Orlando Magic- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Although Porter
Pbarely played college basketball, he's still worth picking here at 6. Porter has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Magic can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and have a need for versatile forwards.
7. Chicago Bulls- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Young's stock is trending up and the Bulls may not think Kris Dunn is a starting point guard in this league so they go with Young. Young is very polarizing because of how his season went and how defenses started figuring him out in conference play. That said, he has a Steph Curry type of ceiling and the Bulls may not pass on it.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn Nets via Boston Celtics)- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Cavs can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor. Carter could possibly replace Kevin Love if they decide to move on from him.
9. New York Knicks- Mikal Bridges, Small Forward, Villanova: Bridges took a massive leap this year for the Wildcats. Due to his three-and-D capability, Birdges is one of the drafts safest bets. The Knicks pretty much have needs everywhere on their roster and Bridges would be a nice fit with Kristaps Porzingis once he comes back from his ACL surgery.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix Suns)- Lonnie Walker, Shooting Guard, Miami: Walker didn't have the greatest freshman season due to coming off his meniscus tear, which provided an interesting case for him to return to Miami for his sophomore season. That said, Walker is worth taking in this spot due to his pure talent and potential.
11. Charlotte Hornets- Miles Bridges, Small Forward, Michigan State: Although, Bridges might end up becoming a small ball power forward in the future due to his average ball handling, he is a great shooter on the wing and provides great athleticism. Bridges would be a nice fit on this rebuilding Hornet team as they can view him as a building block.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Collin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: Sexton at this spot would be a steal for the Clippers. He is super-fast, super-quick and forever aggressive -- all of which are great qualities for anybody entering the NBA. He puts pressure on the defense basically every possession.
13. Los Angeles Clippers- Kevin Knox, Small Forward, Kentucky: Knox hasn't been as consistent as a shooter as the Wildcats hoped, but he still projects as a solid defender and can rebound very well. If he develops a shot, he could end up as a rotation piece for the Clippers.
14. Denver Nuggets- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended up after he had a great season for the Wildcats. He has great size and finishing craft, defensive versatility, and maybe even quickness. Gilgeous-Alexander would be a nice piece for the Nuggers, who need more depth at the guard positions, especially if they lose Will Barton in free agency.
15. Washington Wizards- Robert Williams, Power Forward/Center, Texas A&M: Williams could have been a lottery pick last year, but decided to come back to school for one more season. Williams isn't known for his offense, but he's great at rebounding and defending the rim. He could be a poor mans D'Andre Jordan.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week to go until the draft. He went from a three-star recruit to a likely first-round pick thanks to elite athleticism and ultra aggressive two-way play at Texas Tech. His freshman season was full of highlight reel plays, with tip-dunks and chasedown blocks becoming nightly occurrences.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday's stock is trending upward with a week to go until the draft. He's one of my sleepers and is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Troy Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oregon: Brown is an interesting prospect considering that he had a solid season at Oregon, but has a reputation of disappearing in games. Brown's size and ball-handling ability is what makes him worth a selection at this spot and I like this spot for Brown.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter is a fast riser on peoples mock boards, although he just got hand surgery that could hurt his draft stock. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Donte DiVincenzo, Shooting Guard, Villanova: DiVincenzo broke out in a major way at the combine and fortified the strong impression he left in March and over the course of Villanova’s season. It’s clear he’s not a flash in the pan, as his consistent level of focus, instincts for forcing turnovers and grabbing rebounds and ability to hit open jumpers build in a degree of safety.
21. Utah Jazz- Khyri Thomas, Shooting Guard, Creighton: Thomas is interesting because he doesn't have much upside. What Thomas does have though, is a two-way presence with is great shooting and perimeter defending. This pick would be a solid one for the Spurs and he would probably come off the bench for them.
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Chandler Hutchinson, Small Forward, Boise State: Hutchinson is one of my sleepers in this draft class. Hutchinson isn't a great shooter, but has a nice all-around game with his ability to attack the rim, rebounding, and he's a solid off the ball defender.
23. Indiana Pacers- Josh Okogie, Shooting Guard, Georgia Tech: Okogie's stock is soaring with a week to go until the draft. He's had great workouts and a good showing at the combine and a team like the Pacers can use him and his good three-point shooting off the bench.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Jacob Evans, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Cincinnati: Evans's upside is limited though because he's an erratic shooter and isn't aggressive at the rim. His defense is his strength and he can guard both wing positions very well.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a steal considering that Robinson has the talent of a lottery pick. He had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience beyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- Elie Okobo, Point Guard, France: Okobo has suddenly become one of the draft's most fascinating prospects, particularly after going for 44 points on 17 shots in a Pro A playoff game last week, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Sixers could use a backup guard to come off the bench and he can provide that.
27. Boston Celtics- Dzanan Musa, Small Forward, Cedevita: Musa is an intriguing international prospect that is motivated to play in the NBA. Musa is a great scorer on the wing and his play making skills are improving. The Celtics can afford go the draft-and-stash route if they would like with Musa.
28. Golden State Warriors- Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, Villanova: Brunson has shown first round potential throughout his time in college. The Warriors could use more point guard depth with Shaun Livingston aging although Quinn Cook has shown enough promise.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto Raptors)- Kieta Bates-Diop, Power Forward, Ohio State: Bates-Diop had an outstanding junior collegiate season. What hurts Bates-Diop is his lack of athleticism, but his season cannot be ignored due to his outstanding shooting and providing match-up problems for the opposition.
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets via Los Angeles Clippers)- De'Anthony Melton, Shooting Guard, USC: Melton was held out the entire season by USC following the program’s role in the FBI investigation. What the Trojans missed was a bulldog defender and a skilled passer who found ways to impact the game even without a dependable jump shot. He has a Swiss Army Knife-type of skill set that would fit well on any bench.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: After slotting Luka Doncic here last mock draft, I switched back to Ayton, who is perhaps the drafts best prospect due to his size, soft touch at the rim, and his promising jump shot. He's drawn comparisons to Joel Embiid and Patrick Ewing and the Suns, who don't really have a long term true center, won't want to pass on him.
2. Sacramento Kings- Marvin Bagley, Power Forward/Center, Duke: Bagley could very well end up the best player from this draft class. He has great athleticism and can shoot it from three and it would be interesting to see what the Kings would do with Willie Cauley-Stein if they were to pick Bagley or Jaren Jackson Jr over Luka Doncic.
3. Atlanta Hawks- Jaren Jackson Jr, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: Jackson is a bit of a wild card in this lottery portion of the draft considering he exceeded expectations as a freshman in college and played his way to this position. Although he struggled in the Big Dance, his rim protecting as well as his perimeter game were excellent.
4. Memphis Grizzlies- Luka Doncic, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Real Madrid: Doncic will be the most proven player in the draft due to his success overseas. He is an ideal fit for the perimeter-oriented league and should have a long, productive NBA career. There are reports out there that Doncic does not want to play in Sacramento, so don't be shocked if Doncic drops this far.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Mohamed Bomba, Center, Texas: Bomba doesn't have much of an offensive game, but his defensive presence with his height and shot blocking should appeal to any team. Bomba would learn from Dirk Nowitzki for at least one if not seasons and Rick Carlisle would love someone like Bomba.
6. Orlando Magic- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Although Porter
Pbarely played college basketball, he's still worth picking here at 6. Porter has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Magic can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and have a need for versatile forwards.
7. Chicago Bulls- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Young's stock is trending up and the Bulls may not think Kris Dunn is a starting point guard in this league so they go with Young. Young is very polarizing because of how his season went and how defenses started figuring him out in conference play. That said, he has a Steph Curry type of ceiling and the Bulls may not pass on it.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn Nets via Boston Celtics)- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Cavs can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor. Carter could possibly replace Kevin Love if they decide to move on from him.
9. New York Knicks- Mikal Bridges, Small Forward, Villanova: Bridges took a massive leap this year for the Wildcats. Due to his three-and-D capability, Birdges is one of the drafts safest bets. The Knicks pretty much have needs everywhere on their roster and Bridges would be a nice fit with Kristaps Porzingis once he comes back from his ACL surgery.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix Suns)- Lonnie Walker, Shooting Guard, Miami: Walker didn't have the greatest freshman season due to coming off his meniscus tear, which provided an interesting case for him to return to Miami for his sophomore season. That said, Walker is worth taking in this spot due to his pure talent and potential.
11. Charlotte Hornets- Miles Bridges, Small Forward, Michigan State: Although, Bridges might end up becoming a small ball power forward in the future due to his average ball handling, he is a great shooter on the wing and provides great athleticism. Bridges would be a nice fit on this rebuilding Hornet team as they can view him as a building block.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Collin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: Sexton at this spot would be a steal for the Clippers. He is super-fast, super-quick and forever aggressive -- all of which are great qualities for anybody entering the NBA. He puts pressure on the defense basically every possession.
13. Los Angeles Clippers- Kevin Knox, Small Forward, Kentucky: Knox hasn't been as consistent as a shooter as the Wildcats hoped, but he still projects as a solid defender and can rebound very well. If he develops a shot, he could end up as a rotation piece for the Clippers.
14. Denver Nuggets- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended up after he had a great season for the Wildcats. He has great size and finishing craft, defensive versatility, and maybe even quickness. Gilgeous-Alexander would be a nice piece for the Nuggers, who need more depth at the guard positions, especially if they lose Will Barton in free agency.
15. Washington Wizards- Robert Williams, Power Forward/Center, Texas A&M: Williams could have been a lottery pick last year, but decided to come back to school for one more season. Williams isn't known for his offense, but he's great at rebounding and defending the rim. He could be a poor mans D'Andre Jordan.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week to go until the draft. He went from a three-star recruit to a likely first-round pick thanks to elite athleticism and ultra aggressive two-way play at Texas Tech. His freshman season was full of highlight reel plays, with tip-dunks and chasedown blocks becoming nightly occurrences.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday's stock is trending upward with a week to go until the draft. He's one of my sleepers and is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Troy Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oregon: Brown is an interesting prospect considering that he had a solid season at Oregon, but has a reputation of disappearing in games. Brown's size and ball-handling ability is what makes him worth a selection at this spot and I like this spot for Brown.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter is a fast riser on peoples mock boards, although he just got hand surgery that could hurt his draft stock. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Donte DiVincenzo, Shooting Guard, Villanova: DiVincenzo broke out in a major way at the combine and fortified the strong impression he left in March and over the course of Villanova’s season. It’s clear he’s not a flash in the pan, as his consistent level of focus, instincts for forcing turnovers and grabbing rebounds and ability to hit open jumpers build in a degree of safety.
21. Utah Jazz- Khyri Thomas, Shooting Guard, Creighton: Thomas is interesting because he doesn't have much upside. What Thomas does have though, is a two-way presence with is great shooting and perimeter defending. This pick would be a solid one for the Spurs and he would probably come off the bench for them.
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Chandler Hutchinson, Small Forward, Boise State: Hutchinson is one of my sleepers in this draft class. Hutchinson isn't a great shooter, but has a nice all-around game with his ability to attack the rim, rebounding, and he's a solid off the ball defender.
23. Indiana Pacers- Josh Okogie, Shooting Guard, Georgia Tech: Okogie's stock is soaring with a week to go until the draft. He's had great workouts and a good showing at the combine and a team like the Pacers can use him and his good three-point shooting off the bench.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Jacob Evans, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Cincinnati: Evans's upside is limited though because he's an erratic shooter and isn't aggressive at the rim. His defense is his strength and he can guard both wing positions very well.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a steal considering that Robinson has the talent of a lottery pick. He had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience beyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- Elie Okobo, Point Guard, France: Okobo has suddenly become one of the draft's most fascinating prospects, particularly after going for 44 points on 17 shots in a Pro A playoff game last week, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Sixers could use a backup guard to come off the bench and he can provide that.
27. Boston Celtics- Dzanan Musa, Small Forward, Cedevita: Musa is an intriguing international prospect that is motivated to play in the NBA. Musa is a great scorer on the wing and his play making skills are improving. The Celtics can afford go the draft-and-stash route if they would like with Musa.
28. Golden State Warriors- Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, Villanova: Brunson has shown first round potential throughout his time in college. The Warriors could use more point guard depth with Shaun Livingston aging although Quinn Cook has shown enough promise.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto Raptors)- Kieta Bates-Diop, Power Forward, Ohio State: Bates-Diop had an outstanding junior collegiate season. What hurts Bates-Diop is his lack of athleticism, but his season cannot be ignored due to his outstanding shooting and providing match-up problems for the opposition.
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets via Los Angeles Clippers)- De'Anthony Melton, Shooting Guard, USC: Melton was held out the entire season by USC following the program’s role in the FBI investigation. What the Trojans missed was a bulldog defender and a skilled passer who found ways to impact the game even without a dependable jump shot. He has a Swiss Army Knife-type of skill set that would fit well on any bench.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
2018 FIFA World Cup: Schedule
Here is the schedule for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
6/14- Group A: Russia vs Saudia Arabia; 11:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/15- Group A: Egypt vs Uruguay; 8:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/15- Group B: Morocco vs Iran; 11:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/15- Group B: Portugal vs Spain; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/16- Group C: France vs Austria; 6:00AM, FS1: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/16- Group D: Argentina vs Iceland; 9:00AM, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/16- Group C: Peru vs Denmark; 12:00, FS1: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/16- Group D: Croatia vs Nigeria; 3:00, FS1: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/17- Group E: Costa Rica vs Serbia; 8:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/17- Group F: Germany vs Mexico; 11:00AM, FS1: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/17- Group E: Brazil vs Switzerland; 2:00, FS1: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/18- Group F: Sweden vs South Korea; 8:00AM, FS1: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/18- Group G: Belgium vs Panama; 11:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/18- Group G: Tunisia vs England; 2:00, FS1: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/19- Group H: Colombia vs Japan; 8:00AM, FS1: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/19- Group H: Poland vs Senegal; 11:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/19- Group A: Russia vs Egypt; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/20- Group B: Portugal vs Morocco; 8:00AM, FS1: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/20- Group A: Uruguay vs Saudia Arabia; 11:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/20- Group B: Iran vs Spain; 2:00, FOX: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/21- Group C: Denmark vs Australia; 8:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/21- Group C: France vs Peru; 11:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/21- Group D: Argentina vs Croatia; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/22- Group E: Brazil vs Costa Rica; 8:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/22- Group D: Nigeria vs Iceland; 11:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/22- Group E: Serbia vs Switzerland; 2:00, FOX: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/23- Group G: Belgium vs Tunisia; 8:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/23- Group F: South Korea vs Mexico; 11:00AM, FOX: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/23- Group F: Germany vs Sweden; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/24- Group G: England vs Panama; 8:00AM, FS1: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/24- Group H: Japan vs Senegal; 11:00AM, FOX: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/24- Group H: Poland vs Colombia; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/25- Group A: Uruguay vs Russia: 10:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/25- Group A: Saudia Arabia vs Egypt; 10:00AM, FS1: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/25- Group B: Iran vs Portugal; 2:00, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/25- Group B: Spain vs Morocco; 2:00, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/26- Group C: Denmark vs France; 10:00AM, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/26- Group C: Austrailia vs Peru; 10:00AM, FS1: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/26- Group D: Nigeria vs Argentina; 2:00, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/26- Group D: Iceland vs Croatia; 2:00, FS1: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/27- Group F: South Korea vs Germany; 10:00AM, FS1: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/27- Group F: Mexico vs Sweden; 10:00AM, FOX: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/27- Group E: Serbia vs Brazil; 2:00, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/27- Group E: Switzerland vs Costa Rica; 2:00, FS1: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/28- Group H: Japan vs Poland; 10:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/28- Group H: Senegal vs Colombia; 10:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/28- Group G: England vs Belgium; 2:00, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/28- Group G: Panama vs Tunisia; 2.00, FS1: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/30- Round of 16: France vs Argentina; 10:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/30- Round of 16: Uruguay vs Portugal; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/1- Round of 16: Spain vs Russia; 10:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
7/1- Round of 16: Croatia vs Denmark; 2:00, FOX: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
7/2- Round of 16: Brazil vs Mexico; 10:00AM, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/2- Round of 16: Belgium vs Jaoan; 2:00, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
7/3- Round of 16: Sweden vs Switzerland; 10:00AM, FS1: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/3- Round of 16: Colombia vs England; 2:00, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
7/6- Quarterfinal: Uruguay vs France; 10:00AM, FS1: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
7/6- Quarterfinal: Brazil vs Belgium; 2:00, FS1: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/7- Quarterfinal: Sweden vs England; 10:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
7/7- Quarterfinal: Russia vs Croatia; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/10- Semifinal: France vs Belgium; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/11- Semifinal: Croatia vs England; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/14- 3rd Place: Belgium vs England; 10:00AM, FOX:
7/15- Final: France vs Croatia; 11:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/14- Group A: Russia vs Saudia Arabia; 11:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/15- Group A: Egypt vs Uruguay; 8:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/15- Group B: Morocco vs Iran; 11:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/15- Group B: Portugal vs Spain; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/16- Group C: France vs Austria; 6:00AM, FS1: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/16- Group D: Argentina vs Iceland; 9:00AM, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/16- Group C: Peru vs Denmark; 12:00, FS1: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/16- Group D: Croatia vs Nigeria; 3:00, FS1: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/17- Group E: Costa Rica vs Serbia; 8:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/17- Group F: Germany vs Mexico; 11:00AM, FS1: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/17- Group E: Brazil vs Switzerland; 2:00, FS1: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/18- Group F: Sweden vs South Korea; 8:00AM, FS1: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/18- Group G: Belgium vs Panama; 11:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/18- Group G: Tunisia vs England; 2:00, FS1: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/19- Group H: Colombia vs Japan; 8:00AM, FS1: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/19- Group H: Poland vs Senegal; 11:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/19- Group A: Russia vs Egypt; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/20- Group B: Portugal vs Morocco; 8:00AM, FS1: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/20- Group A: Uruguay vs Saudia Arabia; 11:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/20- Group B: Iran vs Spain; 2:00, FOX: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/21- Group C: Denmark vs Australia; 8:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/21- Group C: France vs Peru; 11:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/21- Group D: Argentina vs Croatia; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/22- Group E: Brazil vs Costa Rica; 8:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/22- Group D: Nigeria vs Iceland; 11:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/22- Group E: Serbia vs Switzerland; 2:00, FOX: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/23- Group G: Belgium vs Tunisia; 8:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/23- Group F: South Korea vs Mexico; 11:00AM, FOX: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/23- Group F: Germany vs Sweden; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/24- Group G: England vs Panama; 8:00AM, FS1: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/24- Group H: Japan vs Senegal; 11:00AM, FOX: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/24- Group H: Poland vs Colombia; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/25- Group A: Uruguay vs Russia: 10:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/25- Group A: Saudia Arabia vs Egypt; 10:00AM, FS1: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/25- Group B: Iran vs Portugal; 2:00, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/25- Group B: Spain vs Morocco; 2:00, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/26- Group C: Denmark vs France; 10:00AM, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/26- Group C: Austrailia vs Peru; 10:00AM, FS1: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/26- Group D: Nigeria vs Argentina; 2:00, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/26- Group D: Iceland vs Croatia; 2:00, FS1: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/27- Group F: South Korea vs Germany; 10:00AM, FS1: John Strong and Stu Holden
6/27- Group F: Mexico vs Sweden; 10:00AM, FOX: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/27- Group E: Serbia vs Brazil; 2:00, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/27- Group E: Switzerland vs Costa Rica; 2:00, FS1: Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones
6/28- Group H: Japan vs Poland; 10:00AM, FS1: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
6/28- Group H: Senegal vs Colombia; 10:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/28- Group G: England vs Belgium; 2:00, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
6/28- Group G: Panama vs Tunisia; 2.00, FS1: Jorge Pérez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo
6/30- Round of 16: France vs Argentina; 10:00AM, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
6/30- Round of 16: Uruguay vs Portugal; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/1- Round of 16: Spain vs Russia; 10:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
7/1- Round of 16: Croatia vs Denmark; 2:00, FOX: Mark Followill and Warren Barton
7/2- Round of 16: Brazil vs Mexico; 10:00AM, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/2- Round of 16: Belgium vs Jaoan; 2:00, FOX: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
7/3- Round of 16: Sweden vs Switzerland; 10:00AM, FS1: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/3- Round of 16: Colombia vs England; 2:00, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
7/6- Quarterfinal: Uruguay vs France; 10:00AM, FS1: JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola
7/6- Quarterfinal: Brazil vs Belgium; 2:00, FS1: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/7- Quarterfinal: Sweden vs England; 10:00AM, FOX: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner
7/7- Quarterfinal: Russia vs Croatia; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/10- Semifinal: France vs Belgium; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/11- Semifinal: Croatia vs England; 2:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
7/14- 3rd Place: Belgium vs England; 10:00AM, FOX:
7/15- Final: France vs Croatia; 11:00, FOX: John Strong and Stu Holden
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
2018 FIFA World Cup: Predictions
Here are my predictions for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Group A
1. Russia
2. Uruguay
3. Egypt
4. Saudi Arabia
Group B
1. Portugal
2. Spain
3. Morocco
4. Iran
Group C
1. France
2. Peru
3. Denmark
4. Australia
Group D
1. Argentina
2. Croatia
3. Nigeria
4. Iceland
Group E
1. Brazil
2. Serbia
3. Switzerland
4. Costa Rica
Group F
1. Germany
2. Mexico
3. Sweden
4. South Korea
Group G
1. England
2. Belgium
3. Tunisia
4. Panama
Group H
1. Columbia
2. Poland
3. Senegal
4. Japan
Knockout Round
- Round of 16
Spain over Russia
France over Croatia
Brazil over Mexico
England over Poland
Portugal over Uruguay
Argentina over Peru
Germany over Serbia
Belgium over Columbia
- Quarterfinals
France over Spain
Brazil over England
Argentina over Portugal
Germany over Belgium
- Semifinals
France over Brazil
Argentina over Germany
- Final
Argentina over France
Group A
1. Russia
2. Uruguay
3. Egypt
4. Saudi Arabia
Group B
1. Portugal
2. Spain
3. Morocco
4. Iran
Group C
1. France
2. Peru
3. Denmark
4. Australia
Group D
1. Argentina
2. Croatia
3. Nigeria
4. Iceland
Group E
1. Brazil
2. Serbia
3. Switzerland
4. Costa Rica
Group F
1. Germany
2. Mexico
3. Sweden
4. South Korea
Group G
1. England
2. Belgium
3. Tunisia
4. Panama
Group H
1. Columbia
2. Poland
3. Senegal
4. Japan
Knockout Round
- Round of 16
Spain over Russia
France over Croatia
Brazil over Mexico
England over Poland
Portugal over Uruguay
Argentina over Peru
Germany over Serbia
Belgium over Columbia
- Quarterfinals
France over Spain
Brazil over England
Argentina over Portugal
Germany over Belgium
- Semifinals
France over Brazil
Argentina over Germany
- Final
Argentina over France
Monday, June 11, 2018
2018 NBA Mock Draft: Seventh Edition
Here is the seventh edition of my 2018 NBA Mock Draft.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: After slotting Luka Doncic here last mock draft, I switched back to Ayton, who is perhaps the drafts best prospect due to his size, soft touch at the rim, and his promising jump shot. He's drawn comparisons to Joel Embiid and Patrick Ewing and the Suns, who don't really have a long term true center, won't want to pass on him.
2. Sacramento Kings- Marvin Bagley, Power Forward/Center, Duke: Bagley could very well end up the best player from this draft class. He has great athleticism and can shoot it from three and it would be interesting to see what the Kings would do with Willie Cauley-Stein if they were to pick Bagley or Jaren Jackson Jr over Luka Doncic.
3. Atlanta Hawks- Jaren Jackson Jr, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: Jackson is a bit of a wild card in this lottery portion of the draft considering he exceeded expectations as a freshman in college and played his way to this position. Although he struggled in the Big Dance, his rim protecting as well as his perimeter game were excellent.
4. Memphis Grizzlies- Luka Doncic, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Real Madrid: Doncic will be the most proven player in the draft due to his success overseas. He is an ideal fit for the perimeter-oriented league and should have a long, productive NBA career. There are reports out there that Doncic does not want to play in Sacramento, so don't be shocked if Doncic drops this far.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Mohamed Bomba, Center, Texas: Bomba doesn't have much of an offensive game, but his defensive presence with his height and shot blocking should appeal to any team. Bomba would learn from Dirk Nowitzki for at least one if not seasons and Rick Carlisle would love someone like Bomba.
6. Orlando Magic- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Young's stock is trending up and the Magic have a need at point guard after the trading of Elfrid Payton and they already have a lot of bigs on their roster. Young is very polarizing because of how his season went and how defenses started figuring him out in conference play. That said, he has a Steph Curry type of ceiling and the Magic wouldn't pass on it.
7. Chicago Bulls- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Although Porter barely played college basketball, he's still worth picking here at 7. Porter has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Bulls can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and have a need for versatile forwards.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn Nets via Boston Celtics)- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Cavs can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor. Carter could possibly replace Kevin Love if they decide to move on from him.
9. New York Knicks- Mikal Bridges, Small Forward, Villanova: Bridges took a massive leap this year for the Wildcats. Due to his three-and-D capability, Birdges is one of the drafts safest bets. The Knicks pretty much have needs everywhere on their roster and Bridges would be a nice fit with Kristaps Porzingis once he comes back from his ACL surgery.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix Suns)- Lonnie Walker, Shooting Guard, Miami: Walker didn't have the greatest freshman season due to coming off his meniscus tear, which provided an interesting case for him to return to Miami for his sophomore season. That said, Walker is worth taking in this spot due to his pure talent and potential.
11. Charlotte Hornets- Miles Bridges, Small Forward, Michigan State: Although, Bridges might end up becoming a small ball power forward in the future due to his average ball handling, he is a great shooter on the wing and provides great athleticism. Bridges would be a nice fit on this rebuilding Hornet team as they can view him as a building block.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Collin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: Sexton at this spot would be a steal for the Clippers. He is super-fast, super-quick and forever aggressive -- all of which are great qualities for anybody entering the NBA. He puts pressure on the defense basically every possession.
13. Los Angeles Clippers- Robert Williams, Power Forward/Center, Texas A&M: Williams could have been a lottery pick last year, but decided to come back to school for one more season. Williams isn't known for his offense, but he's great at rebounding and defending the rim. He could be a poor mans D'Andre Jordan.
14. Denver Nuggets- Kevin Knox, Small Forward, Kentucky: Knox hasn't been as consistent as a shooter as the Wildcats hoped, but he still projects as a solid defender and can rebound very well. If he develops a shot, he could end up as a rotation piece for the Nuggets.
15. Washington Wizards- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week and a half to go until the draft. He went from a three-star recruit to a likely first-round pick thanks to elite athleticism and ultra aggressive two-way play at Texas Tech. His freshman season was full of highlight reel plays, with tip-dunks and chasedown blocks becoming nightly occurrences.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended up after he had a great season for the Wildcats. He has great size and finishing craft, defensive versatility, and maybe even quickness. Gilgeous-Alexander would be a nice piece for the Suns, who need more depth at the guard positions.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Donte DiVincenzo, Shooting Guard, Villanova: DiVincenzo broke out in a major way at the combine and fortified the strong impression he left in March and over the course of Villanova’s season. It’s clear he’s not a flash in the pan, as his consistent level of focus, instincts for forcing turnovers and grabbing rebounds and ability to hit open jumpers build in a degree of safety.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Khyri Thomas, Shooting Guard, Creighton: Thomas is interesting because he doesn't have much upside. What Thomas does have though, is a two-way presence with is great shooting and perimeter defending. This pick would be a solid one for the Spurs and he would probably come off the bench for them.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Jermone Robinson, Shooting Gaurd, Boston College: Robinson in the mix for the most slept-on prospect in the country due to Boston College's lack of success. Robinson should be able to bring more attention to his potential during workouts. He is athletic and would be a nice fit in Atlanta.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter is a fast riser on peoples mock boards. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
21. Utah Jazz- Elie Okobo, Point Guard, France: Okobo has suddenly become one of the draft's most fascinating prospects, particularly after going for 44 points on 17 shots in a Pro A playoff game last week, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Jazz could use a backup guard to come off the bench and he can provide that.
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Chandler Hutchinson, Small Forward, Boise State: Hutchinson is one of my sleepers in this draft class. Hutchinson isn't a great shooter, but has a nice all-around game with his ability to attack the rim, rebounding, and he's a solid off the ball defender.
23. Indiana Pacers- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday is another one of my sleepers. Holiday is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint. Darren Collison isn't the long term answer at the point for the Pacers and Holiday would fit nicely here.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Troy Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oregon: Brown is an interesting prospect considering that he had a solid season at Oregon, but has a reputation of disappearing in games. Brown's size and ball-handling ability is what makes him worth a selection at this spot and I like this spot for Brown.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a steal considering that Robinson has the talent of a lottery pick. He had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience beyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a steal considering that Robinson has the talent of a lottery pick. He had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience beyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
27. Boston Celtics- De'Anthony Melton, Shooting Guard, USC: Melton was held out the entire season by USC following the program’s role in the FBI investigation. What the Trojans missed was a bulldog defender and a skilled passer who found ways to impact the game even without a dependable jump shot. He has a Swiss Army Knife-type of skill set that would fit well on any bench.
28. Golden State Warriors- Dzanan Musa, Small Forward, Cedevita: Musa is an intriguing international prospect that is motivated to play in the NBA. Musa is a great scorer on the wing and his play making skills are improving. The Warriors can afford go the draft-and-stash route if they would like with Musa.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto Raptors)- Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, Villanova: Brunson has shown first round potential throughout his time in college. The Nets need more point guard depth behind Spencer Dinwiddie since Jeremy Lin has been injury prone.
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets via Los Angeles Clippers)- Anfernee Simons, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, IMG Academy: Simons is a bit undersized for a shooting guard, which makes him a bit of a project, but he can attack the basket and has a decent shot, but must develop on the defensive end. The Hawks would be an interesting landing spot, depending on what they do with Dennis Schroeder.
1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, Center, Arizona: After slotting Luka Doncic here last mock draft, I switched back to Ayton, who is perhaps the drafts best prospect due to his size, soft touch at the rim, and his promising jump shot. He's drawn comparisons to Joel Embiid and Patrick Ewing and the Suns, who don't really have a long term true center, won't want to pass on him.
2. Sacramento Kings- Marvin Bagley, Power Forward/Center, Duke: Bagley could very well end up the best player from this draft class. He has great athleticism and can shoot it from three and it would be interesting to see what the Kings would do with Willie Cauley-Stein if they were to pick Bagley or Jaren Jackson Jr over Luka Doncic.
3. Atlanta Hawks- Jaren Jackson Jr, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: Jackson is a bit of a wild card in this lottery portion of the draft considering he exceeded expectations as a freshman in college and played his way to this position. Although he struggled in the Big Dance, his rim protecting as well as his perimeter game were excellent.
4. Memphis Grizzlies- Luka Doncic, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Real Madrid: Doncic will be the most proven player in the draft due to his success overseas. He is an ideal fit for the perimeter-oriented league and should have a long, productive NBA career. There are reports out there that Doncic does not want to play in Sacramento, so don't be shocked if Doncic drops this far.
5. Dallas Mavericks- Mohamed Bomba, Center, Texas: Bomba doesn't have much of an offensive game, but his defensive presence with his height and shot blocking should appeal to any team. Bomba would learn from Dirk Nowitzki for at least one if not seasons and Rick Carlisle would love someone like Bomba.
6. Orlando Magic- Trae Young, Point Guard, Oklahoma: Young's stock is trending up and the Magic have a need at point guard after the trading of Elfrid Payton and they already have a lot of bigs on their roster. Young is very polarizing because of how his season went and how defenses started figuring him out in conference play. That said, he has a Steph Curry type of ceiling and the Magic wouldn't pass on it.
7. Chicago Bulls- Michael Porter Jr, Small Forward/Power Forward, Missouri: Although Porter barely played college basketball, he's still worth picking here at 7. Porter has great offensive-skill sets and a good three-point range, but questions range about his mobility. The Bulls can use someone like Porter, who has versatility and have a need for versatile forwards.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn Nets via Boston Celtics)- Wendel Carter Jr, Power Forward/Center, Duke: The Cavs can go multiple directions with this pick, but lets slate Carter in this spot. Carter is very overshadowed on the Blue Devils due to his teammates, but his defense is excellent and he provides spacing on the floor. Carter could possibly replace Kevin Love if they decide to move on from him.
9. New York Knicks- Mikal Bridges, Small Forward, Villanova: Bridges took a massive leap this year for the Wildcats. Due to his three-and-D capability, Birdges is one of the drafts safest bets. The Knicks pretty much have needs everywhere on their roster and Bridges would be a nice fit with Kristaps Porzingis once he comes back from his ACL surgery.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Los Angeles Lakers via Phoenix Suns)- Lonnie Walker, Shooting Guard, Miami: Walker didn't have the greatest freshman season due to coming off his meniscus tear, which provided an interesting case for him to return to Miami for his sophomore season. That said, Walker is worth taking in this spot due to his pure talent and potential.
11. Charlotte Hornets- Miles Bridges, Small Forward, Michigan State: Although, Bridges might end up becoming a small ball power forward in the future due to his average ball handling, he is a great shooter on the wing and provides great athleticism. Bridges would be a nice fit on this rebuilding Hornet team as they can view him as a building block.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Detroit Pistons)- Collin Sexton, Point Guard, Alabama: Sexton at this spot would be a steal for the Clippers. He is super-fast, super-quick and forever aggressive -- all of which are great qualities for anybody entering the NBA. He puts pressure on the defense basically every possession.
13. Los Angeles Clippers- Robert Williams, Power Forward/Center, Texas A&M: Williams could have been a lottery pick last year, but decided to come back to school for one more season. Williams isn't known for his offense, but he's great at rebounding and defending the rim. He could be a poor mans D'Andre Jordan.
14. Denver Nuggets- Kevin Knox, Small Forward, Kentucky: Knox hasn't been as consistent as a shooter as the Wildcats hoped, but he still projects as a solid defender and can rebound very well. If he develops a shot, he could end up as a rotation piece for the Nuggets.
15. Washington Wizards- Zhaire Smith, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: Smith's stock is trending upwards with a week and a half to go until the draft. He went from a three-star recruit to a likely first-round pick thanks to elite athleticism and ultra aggressive two-way play at Texas Tech. His freshman season was full of highlight reel plays, with tip-dunks and chasedown blocks becoming nightly occurrences.
16. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Gilgeous-Alexander's stock has trended up after he had a great season for the Wildcats. He has great size and finishing craft, defensive versatility, and maybe even quickness. Gilgeous-Alexander would be a nice piece for the Suns, who need more depth at the guard positions.
17. Milwaukee Bucks- Donte DiVincenzo, Shooting Guard, Villanova: DiVincenzo broke out in a major way at the combine and fortified the strong impression he left in March and over the course of Villanova’s season. It’s clear he’s not a flash in the pan, as his consistent level of focus, instincts for forcing turnovers and grabbing rebounds and ability to hit open jumpers build in a degree of safety.
18. San Antonio Spurs- Khyri Thomas, Shooting Guard, Creighton: Thomas is interesting because he doesn't have much upside. What Thomas does have though, is a two-way presence with is great shooting and perimeter defending. This pick would be a solid one for the Spurs and he would probably come off the bench for them.
19. Atlanta Hawks (from Minnesota Timberwolves)- Jermone Robinson, Shooting Gaurd, Boston College: Robinson in the mix for the most slept-on prospect in the country due to Boston College's lack of success. Robinson should be able to bring more attention to his potential during workouts. He is athletic and would be a nice fit in Atlanta.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City Thunder)- Kevin Huerter, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Maryland: Huerter is a fast riser on peoples mock boards. Huerter is one of the draft's top shooters, but he's also a multidimensional wing for his underrated playmaking ability.
21. Utah Jazz- Elie Okobo, Point Guard, France: Okobo has suddenly become one of the draft's most fascinating prospects, particularly after going for 44 points on 17 shots in a Pro A playoff game last week, which has risen his draft stock dramatically. The Jazz could use a backup guard to come off the bench and he can provide that.
22. Chicago Bulls (from New Orleans Pelicans)- Chandler Hutchinson, Small Forward, Boise State: Hutchinson is one of my sleepers in this draft class. Hutchinson isn't a great shooter, but has a nice all-around game with his ability to attack the rim, rebounding, and he's a solid off the ball defender.
23. Indiana Pacers- Aaron Holiday, Point Guard, UCLA: Holiday is another one of my sleepers. Holiday is a great scorer and shooter (especially from distance), can hold his own defensively, but he isn't great at getting in the paint. Darren Collison isn't the long term answer at the point for the Pacers and Holiday would fit nicely here.
24. Portland Trail Blazers- Troy Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Oregon: Brown is an interesting prospect considering that he had a solid season at Oregon, but has a reputation of disappearing in games. Brown's size and ball-handling ability is what makes him worth a selection at this spot and I like this spot for Brown.
25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cleveland Cavaliers)- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a steal considering that Robinson has the talent of a lottery pick. He had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience beyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
26. Philadelphia 76ers- Mitchell Robinson, Center, Chalmette High School (LA): This pick would be considered a steal considering that Robinson has the talent of a lottery pick. He had a year off from competitive basketball and has no experience beyond high school. Robinson provides athleticism and shot-blocking, which will intrigue teams although there are questions about what else he can provide.
27. Boston Celtics- De'Anthony Melton, Shooting Guard, USC: Melton was held out the entire season by USC following the program’s role in the FBI investigation. What the Trojans missed was a bulldog defender and a skilled passer who found ways to impact the game even without a dependable jump shot. He has a Swiss Army Knife-type of skill set that would fit well on any bench.
28. Golden State Warriors- Dzanan Musa, Small Forward, Cedevita: Musa is an intriguing international prospect that is motivated to play in the NBA. Musa is a great scorer on the wing and his play making skills are improving. The Warriors can afford go the draft-and-stash route if they would like with Musa.
29. Brooklyn Nets (from Toronto Raptors)- Jalen Brunson, Point Guard, Villanova: Brunson has shown first round potential throughout his time in college. The Nets need more point guard depth behind Spencer Dinwiddie since Jeremy Lin has been injury prone.
30. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets via Los Angeles Clippers)- Anfernee Simons, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, IMG Academy: Simons is a bit undersized for a shooting guard, which makes him a bit of a project, but he can attack the basket and has a decent shot, but must develop on the defensive end. The Hawks would be an interesting landing spot, depending on what they do with Dennis Schroeder.
Friday, June 8, 2018
2018 NHL Mock Draft: Fifth Edition
Here is my fifth edition of my 2018 NHL Mock draft.
1. Buffalo Sabres- Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): Dahlin is the consensus best player in this draft class and Dahlin gets the chance to go to a young team that needs more transcendent talent other than Jack Eichel. He will pair on the top pair with Rasmus Ristolainen for the foreseeable future.
2. Carolina Hurricanes- Andrei Scechnikov, Wing, Barrie (OHL): The Canes have an up and coming defense, so here they address their biggest need which is scoring. He has elite scoring touch but can also play a power forward game.
3. Montreal Canadiens- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Canadiens are a team that is in dire need of young talent and Tkachuk would be a nice start. Tkachuk has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
4. Ottawa Senators- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Sens have a ton of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Zadina is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Red Wings have a lot of needs although they do have some promising young players. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Canucks considering they have a need on defense. He is one of the smartest defensemen in the draft and his passing ability allows him to generate offense from all three zones of the ice while staying in great position.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, so they need a ton of youth. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
9. New York Rangers- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers have a need on defense and Boqvist would be a nice fit. He is an elite puck-moving defenseman who will likely be the second one off the board, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- Barrett Hayton, Center, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): People out there think Hayton is the best two way center in this draft. The one thing holding Hayton back is his production. He has all of the tools to be successful and an elite player, but his numbers just didn’t show it.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a need on defense and Smith fits the bill. He is more known for his offensive game rather than his defensive game and is slightly undersized but as the game continues to evolve that is less and less of an issue as long as the talent is there to back it up.
13. Dallas Stars- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Stars have a bigger need on defense, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Flyers take forward here in Farabee. He possesses an elite shot for his age and is also a gifted skater and he knows how to use it to benefit himself.
15. Florida Panthers- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Panthers really don't have any needs, but passing up on a talent like Wilde will be hard. He is a complete defenseman who is talented in both ends of the ice and has a pro level shot and close to pro level skating at the age of 18.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Isac Lundestrom, Center/Wing, Lulea (SHL): Lundestrom won’t blow past anyone with blinding speed, but he is a talented skater. He has versatility and powerful strides that make him hard to knock off of the puck.
17. New Jersey Devils- Grigori Denisenko, Wing, Lokomotiv (MHL): Denisenko projects as a high end scorer, but will need to be less generous with the puck on the attack. He has high and dangle and deception skills, and seems to be able to take games over or at very least, looks to me a cut above everyone else on the ice sheet.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets- Vitali Kravstov, Wing, Traktor (KHL): For Kravstov's age and the level of competition, he plays at he is a good defender. He needs to continue to grow but he has talent and uses his speed to get himself into a good position, cause turnovers and generate offense.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Rasmus Sandin, Defenseman, Woo (WHL): What makes Sandin great is his ability to play in all situations. It does not matter if it is on the powerplay, penalty kill or even strength Sandin thrives in all of them.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
21. San Jose Sharks- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller will be a little bit of a project but a project that will be well worth the wait. A lot of young defensemen struggle with defensive responsibility. Not him, his best attribute is his defensive play. As he continues to develop his game he will only get better.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Sens take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock boards of late. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
24. Minnesota Wild- Akil Thomas, Center, Niagara (OHL): Thomas is a center who can put up points in bunches. One of his best attributes is his work ethic with and without the puck and is responsible in all three zones and never takes a shift off.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Jared McIssac, Defenseman, Halifax (QMJHL): Due to his great skating talent, McIssac is able to carry the puck out of his zone and start the offense. He is also able to quickly recover when necessary and does well to get back into position.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Rangers use their second first rounder to improve their defense prospect pool. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Alexander Alexeyev, Defenseman, Red Deer (WHL): Alexeyev is a big Russian import who has really improved the pace at which he plays in all phases. He's a rangy defender with footwork, who can transport through the neutral zone in a few strides.
28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Ty Dellandrea, Center, Flint (OHL): Dellandrea is versatile and his best attribute is his skating with the puck on his stick. Some players his age have great speed but can struggle to handle the puck he is the opposite and actually gets better with the puck on his stick.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Mattias Samuelsson, Defenseman, USNDT: There are plenty of talented offensive defensemen in this year’s draft, but Samuelsson is not nearly as flashy or talented offensively. His game is taking care of the puck in his own end and shutting down opponents.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
31. Washington Capitals- Serron Noel, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): Noel is one of the elite wingers this year in terms of projected first round prospects. He is really strong offensively featuring good hands, and a great shot and because of his size and good hands, he can score a lot of his goals from in tight.
1. Buffalo Sabres- Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman, Frolunda (SHL): Dahlin is the consensus best player in this draft class and Dahlin gets the chance to go to a young team that needs more transcendent talent other than Jack Eichel. He will pair on the top pair with Rasmus Ristolainen for the foreseeable future.
2. Carolina Hurricanes- Andrei Scechnikov, Wing, Barrie (OHL): The Canes have an up and coming defense, so here they address their biggest need which is scoring. He has elite scoring touch but can also play a power forward game.
3. Montreal Canadiens- Brady Tkachuk, Wing, Boston University (NCAA): The Canadiens are a team that is in dire need of young talent and Tkachuk would be a nice start. Tkachuk has a lot of offensive talent and has greatly improved his skating as the year went on.
4. Ottawa Senators- Filip Zadina, Wing, Halifax (QMJHL): The Sens have a ton of needs regardless of what they do with Eric Karlsson. Zadina is a pure shooter and his talented shot can be used from anywhere in the offensive zone.
5. Arizona Coyotes- Noah Dobson, Defenseman, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): The Coyotes have a need on defense and Dobson would be a nice fit. Dobson had a tremendous second half of the season and climbed up draft boards everywhere.
6. Detroit Red Wings- Quinn Hughes, Defenseman, Michigan (NCAA): The Red Wings have a lot of needs although they do have some promising young players. Hughes is a top puck mover and can skate like the wind.
7. Vancouver Canucks- Evan Bouchard, Defenseman, London (OHL): Bouchard would be a solid choice here for the Canucks considering they have a need on defense. He is one of the smartest defensemen in the draft and his passing ability allows him to generate offense from all three zones of the ice while staying in great position.
8. Chicago Blackhawks- Oliver Wahlstrom, Central/Wing, USNTDP: The Blackhawks are a team that is aging, so they need a ton of youth. Wahlstrom is a talent that they might not want to pass up on and he has off-the-chart levels of creativity mixed with a high end shot and vision.
9. New York Rangers- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center, Assat (FHL): As expected for a 17-year-old Korkaniemi needs to grow and develop. He is a very good skater and offensive player but he needs to grow his defensive positioning.
10. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Boqvist, Defenseman, Brynas IF J20 (SHL): The Oilers have a need on defense and Boqvist would be a nice fit. He is an elite puck-moving defenseman who will likely be the second one off the board, although his stock is trending down.
11. New York Islanders- Barrett Hayton, Center, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): People out there think Hayton is the best two way center in this draft. The one thing holding Hayton back is his production. He has all of the tools to be successful and an elite player, but his numbers just didn’t show it.
12. New York Islanders (from Calgary Flames)- Ty Smith, Defenseman, Spokane (WHL): The Isles have a need on defense and Smith fits the bill. He is more known for his offensive game rather than his defensive game and is slightly undersized but as the game continues to evolve that is less and less of an issue as long as the talent is there to back it up.
13. Dallas Stars- Joe Veleno, Center/Wing, Drummondville (QMJHL): The Stars have a bigger need on defense, but Veleno would be hard to pass up on. He is a smart and versatile center who is just as effective defensively as he is offensively.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis Blues)- Joel Farabee, Wing, USNDT: The Flyers take forward here in Farabee. He possesses an elite shot for his age and is also a gifted skater and he knows how to use it to benefit himself.
15. Florida Panthers- Bode Wilde, Defenseman, USNDT: The Panthers really don't have any needs, but passing up on a talent like Wilde will be hard. He is a complete defenseman who is talented in both ends of the ice and has a pro level shot and close to pro level skating at the age of 18.
16. Colorado Avalanche- Isac Lundestrom, Center/Wing, Lulea (SHL): Lundestrom won’t blow past anyone with blinding speed, but he is a talented skater. He has versatility and powerful strides that make him hard to knock off of the puck.
17. New Jersey Devils- Grigori Denisenko, Wing, Lokomotiv (MHL): Denisenko projects as a high end scorer, but will need to be less generous with the puck on the attack. He has high and dangle and deception skills, and seems to be able to take games over or at very least, looks to me a cut above everyone else on the ice sheet.
18. Columbus Blue Jackets- Vitali Kravstov, Wing, Traktor (KHL): For Kravstov's age and the level of competition, he plays at he is a good defender. He needs to continue to grow but he has talent and uses his speed to get himself into a good position, cause turnovers and generate offense.
19. Philadelphia Flyers- Rasmus Sandin, Defenseman, Woo (WHL): What makes Sandin great is his ability to play in all situations. It does not matter if it is on the powerplay, penalty kill or even strength Sandin thrives in all of them.
20. Los Angeles Kings- Martin Kaut, Wing, HC Dynamo (Czech): Kaut is a pure goal scorer. His powerful skating ability allows him to drive the net. When he gets there, he has the quick hands to finish in tight. He can also pounce on rebounds or tip in shots.
21. San Jose Sharks- K'Andre Miller, Defenseman, USNTD: Miller will be a little bit of a project but a project that will be well worth the wait. A lot of young defensemen struggle with defensive responsibility. Not him, his best attribute is his defensive play. As he continues to develop his game he will only get better.
22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh Penguins)- Dominik Bokk, Wing, Vaxjo (WHL): The Sens take Bokk here, who's been a fast riser on folks mock boards of late. He has shredded international competition and is closer to the NHL than you’d think.
23. Anaheim Ducks- Ryan McLeod, Center, Mississauga (OHL): McLeod can create chances everywhere on the ice with his elite skating ability. He can also stickhandle through anyone on the ice at any time.
24. Minnesota Wild- Akil Thomas, Center, Niagara (OHL): Thomas is a center who can put up points in bunches. One of his best attributes is his work ethic with and without the puck and is responsible in all three zones and never takes a shift off.
25. Toronto Maple Leafs- Jared McIssac, Defenseman, Halifax (QMJHL): Due to his great skating talent, McIssac is able to carry the puck out of his zone and start the offense. He is also able to quickly recover when necessary and does well to get back into position.
26. New York Rangers (from Boston Bruins)- Ryan Merkley, Defenseman, Guelph (OHL): The Rangers use their second first rounder to improve their defense prospect pool. Merkley is a boom-or-bust prospect with the most offensive upside of all defensemen in the draft.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville Predators)- Alexander Alexeyev, Defenseman, Red Deer (WHL): Alexeyev is a big Russian import who has really improved the pace at which he plays in all phases. He's a rangy defender with footwork, who can transport through the neutral zone in a few strides.
28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay Lightning)- Ty Dellandrea, Center, Flint (OHL): Dellandrea is versatile and his best attribute is his skating with the puck on his stick. Some players his age have great speed but can struggle to handle the puck he is the opposite and actually gets better with the puck on his stick.
29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg Jets)- Mattias Samuelsson, Defenseman, USNDT: There are plenty of talented offensive defensemen in this year’s draft, but Samuelsson is not nearly as flashy or talented offensively. His game is taking care of the puck in his own end and shutting down opponents.
30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas Golden Knights)- Jacob Olofsson, Center, Timra IK (SHL): Olofsson is also good at controlling the puck down low and making plays out of the cycle game. He also gets to the front of the net and has the hand-eye coordination to tip in pucks, and the quickness to pounce on rebounds.
31. Washington Capitals- Serron Noel, Wing, Oshawa (OHL): Noel is one of the elite wingers this year in terms of projected first round prospects. He is really strong offensively featuring good hands, and a great shot and because of his size and good hands, he can score a lot of his goals from in tight.
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