Valley of the Suns 2018 Mock Draft 2.0

Now that the playoffs have begun, it’s time for the official Valley of the Suns’ pre-lottery mock draft 2.0!

The Hawks need find a new point guard soon.  You can’t continue to depend on a point guard who can’t shoot unless his name is Ricky Rubio.  It’d be unlikely that they find the long-term solution by picking at 30, but they should try.  Atlanta could take Jalen Brunson who is ready to play right away, but they should take someone like Melton who is more of a risk, but has a higher ceiling.  Melton’s got a ways to go with his 3-point shot and he makes too many boneheaded plays.  All the same problems belonging to young Dennis Schroder.  So, Melton would hurt if he’s a bust, but they need to take a flier on a talented young point with one of their three picks this draft.  Given the fits earlier in the draft, I think 30 is the right place to gamble on a point and Melton is the best of what’s left.

I loved what the Nets did last year in taking a risk on Jarrett Allen who is raw but has tremendous upside.  I think they should repeat the concept here by taking Zhaire Smith.  It’s totally possible that someone else will end up overvaluing Smith and taking him earlier in the draft, but near the end of the first makes more sense.  He and Russell have the potential to develop into a dynamic combo over the next decade.

Not having Curry healthy hasn’t really slowed the Warriors down much, but it has revealed that they’re a little thin in the back court.  Trent is a raw product who I really think would have benefited from another year at Duke, but he’s got the potential to develop into a nice scorer off the bench.  The Warriors have done a beautiful job picking up role players late in the draft over the last few years and I can see Gary being the latest addition in that mold.

When it comes to positions of need, the Celtics don’t really have many.  They could use a better answer at center and then they are paper thin at small forward behind Jaylen Brown.  So, having Brown back up Brown solves one of the two weak spots they have.  Bruce doesn’t have near the upside of Jaylen, but he’s a rock solid defender who is more skilled than he’s given credit for.  He can do a little bit of everything and has the kind of basketball IQ that the best coach in the NBA should appreciate.

If there’s such a thing as too much talent, the 76ers qualify.  They have too many talented young players and so I expect them to move this pick along with some other assets for a more talented veteran.  If they can’t get that done, I can see someone like Kurucs making a lot of sense.  They can leave him in Spain if he’s not ready to compete at a high level.  If he is, he’s just yet another stupidly talented tall man.  he has been consistent for the last few years in knocking down jumpers and distributing the ball.  He doesn’t appear to have a particular elite skill, but frankly all he needs to do on this team is knock down wide open shots and pass when covered.  They’re not asking a lot, but Kurcus might be able to provide a lot this late in the draft.