The 2018 NBA draft is Thursday night, and the main thing everybody seems certain of in the run-up to draft night … is that just about nothing is certain. From the best choice at No. 1 overall, to the proper value of big men in a league going smaller with each passing year, to the tantalizing but flawed boom-or-bust prospects who could throw the lottery for a loop, everything seems to be up for grabs in this year’s draft, with the annual rumor-mongering and smoke-screening fostered by agents and executives only further obscuring our view of how things might shake out come Thursday. As we get ready for the Phoenix Suns to get on the clock, here are five questions and storylines to consider in your pursuit of draft-night clarity: What the hell are the Sacramento Kings going to do? Everything seems to be pointing toward the Suns staying in-state with the first overall selection to snag Arizona big man Deandre Ayton, a Puma pitchman and character enthusiast who also happens to be a massive and mobile 7-footer whose offensive polish makes him an “anomaly” even in an age of unicorns. Ayton’s already getting comfortable putting his John Hancock on Suns-branded gear, but it wouldn’t necessarily be a complete shock to see Phoenix use the No. 1 pick on Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic, an almost unbelievably accomplished 19-year-old point forward who led Real Madrid to Spain’s ACB championship after having won EuroLeague MVP and EuroLeague Final Four MVP honors. (Here’s where we note that the Suns are now led by head coach Igor Kokoskov, who coached Doncic during the Slovenian national team’s run to gold at the 2017 EuroBasket competition.) Whichever path Phoenix takes, the Kings, picking second after rocketing up the draft board thanks to some lottery luck, would seem to be sitting in position to land one of the pool’s top two talents. And yet … well, there seem to be some odd rumblings coming out of California’s capital! ESPN’s Jonathan Givony continues to report that the Kings, led by vice president of basketball operations and general manager Vlade Divac, are “not very high on Luka Doncic and have their sights set firmly on” Marvin Bagley III. The 6-foot-11 forward was incredibly productive during his lone year at Duke, averaging 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game en route to ACC Player of the Year honors and an All-American selection, though opinions on his pro potential vary. Some think he’s the most modern NBA-ready prospect in the draft, while others worry that the defensive shortcomings he displayed at Duke make him a dicey choice so high in the draft (and, perhaps, not even the best prospect among draft-eligible Blue Devils). Story continues And yet, despite Doncic’s bona fides, Bagley has become the mock draft pick du jour for Sacramento at No. 2. Except, of course … Where will Michael Porter Jr. land? … when the Kings are tied to Michael Porter Jr., this draft’s agent of chaos, who could go second, 12th or anywhere in between. Plenty of questions surround Michael Porter Jr., the former top prep prospect whose lone collegiate season was limited by injuries, and who could go just about anywhere in the lottery. (Getty) The 2017 McDonald’s All-American and Mr. Basketball USA winner was considered a potential No. 1 overall draft pick heading into last college season, before back surgery limited him to just 53 underwhelming minutes at Missouri and hip spasms threw a wrench into his pre-draft workouts. Despite the most recent round of injury concerns — which, for the record, Porter claims “got exaggerated a lot” — the Kings are reportedly seriously considering pulling the trigger on Porter at No. 2, perhaps believing that the 6-foot-10 combo forward has the sort of elite scoring upside that could make him a centerpiece for a version of the Kings that consistently contends for postseason berths. After 12 straight sub-.500 seasons, nothing to show for the entire DeMarcus Cousins era and little reason to believe anyone presently on the roster can be that sort of elevate-everybody-else focal point, Sacramento could use a star more than any other franchise in the NBA. The possibility that a healthy Porter is more likely to become one than anyone else on the board could lead Divac, owner Vivek Ranadivé and the rest of the Kings braintrust to believe he’s worth the risk … even if it seems like a pretty big freaking risk, with Doncic and Michigan State center Jaren Jackson Jr. still available. Naturally, Porter doesn’t see it as much of a gamble. After all, he’s a mix of Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tracy McGrady. Don’t believe it? Well, just ask him: Here’s what Michael Porter Jr. told me about how he views himself in the NBA (@MPJr): pic.twitter.com/Qvh39yDsbz — Damon Amendolara (@DAonCBS) June 18, 2018 If Sacramento doesn’t take Porter at No. 2, it’ll be fascinating to see where he winds up. He’s been rumored as a target for the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 4 (though it’s tough to square a risk like that with Memphis’ station as a team whose owner just said he expects them to be back in 50-win territory next season), the Dallas Mavericks at No. 5, the Chicago Bulls at No. 7, the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 8, the New York Knicks at No. 9 … you get the idea. There’s a lot we don’t know about Michael Porter Jr. right now, including who loves him most and believes most fervently that he’s the future. How the answers to those questions unfold could determine an awful lot about the 2018 draft. Will Kawhi shake up the first round? From one massive unknown to another. Now that Kawhi Leonard and his representatives have made it clear that the two-time All-NBA selection and Defensive Player of the Year would prefer not to play for the San Antonio Spurs anymore, and that if he had his druthers he’d be playing in Los Angeles next season … well, what comes next?<doc-sep>The 2018 NBA Draft is right around the corner, and while the Philadelphia 76ers may not be any closer to naming a full-time replacement for general manager and president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo, who resigned early this month amid a scandal involving his wife, anonymous Twitter accounts, and the sharing of privileged team information, the team is preparing to make yet another lottery pick, one of their six five total picks, on Thursday night. After selecting first overall in each of the last two drafts, the Sixers will have to wait until the 10th overall pick this time around. But with two first round picks and four three in the second — h/t Sam Hinkie — it's going to be a busy night for Philly's still-fluid front office, which now has head coach Brett Brown running the show, albeit on an interim basis. Here's everything you need to know to get ready for draft night: HOW TO WATCH THE NBA DRAFT When: Thurs., June 21 at 7 p.m. (first pick around 7:30 p.m.) | Where: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.) | TV: ESPN | Stream: WatchESPN | Radio: ESPN Radio In addition to their main broadcast, which will feature Rece Davis, Chauncey Billups, Jay Bilas, and Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN will also be offering an alternative broadcast on ESPN2, called "The Jump: NBA Draft Special," as well as a third viewing option on Twitter. Here's more: The Jump: NBA Draft Special will document the NBA Draft on ESPN2 with a diverse array of voices, led by Rachel Nichols – host of ESPN’s daily NBA studio show, The Jump. Nichols will join a cast of ESPN NBA commentators, including Brian Windhorst, Amin Elhassan, Zach Lowe, Dave McMenamin, Tim Legler, Fran Fraschilla, Chris Haynes and more to react to the news and information coming out of the NBA Draft. ESPN2’s The Jump: NBA Draft Special will originate from ESPN’s South Street Seaport Studios in New York. Both the ESPN and the ESPN2 telecasts are available to stream via the ESPN App. In another first, ESPN will carry a special show called On The Clock live on Twitter. David Jacoby, Ryen Russillo and Ryan Hollins will provide analysis and react to the first round NBA Draft selections. [ESPN] Finally, for those not interested in actually watching the draft, you'll be able to listen to it live on ESPN Radio and the ESPN app. WHEN DO THE SIXERS PICK? Here's a look at when the Sixers will make each of their six picks in the 2018 NBA Draft: RD PICK ACQUIRED 1 10 From L.A. Lakers (via Phoenix) 1 26 76ers' own pick 2 38 From Brooklyn 2 39 From New York 2 56 76ers' own pick 2 60 From Houston [NOTE: On Wednesday night, the Sixers traded the 39th overall pick to the Lakers for a 2019 second-round pick and cash.] SOME FIRST-ROUND OPTIONS FOR THE SIXERS In the weeks leading up to the 2018 NBA Draft, our own Kyle Neubeck has been breaking down some of the top options for the Sixers. Here's a snippet from each of his draft profiles, but I highly recommend checking out the full stories, because there's much, much more info than what you'll see below. Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky Height: 6'9" | Wingspan: 7'0" | Weight: 213 | College stats: 15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 44.5 FG%, 34.1 3P%, 77.4 FT% The Sixers would not have brought Knox in for a second workout if there wasn't a lot of interest in adding him to their current group. He had some of the most impressive flashes of any prospect this season, and with youth on his side you could argue he has some of the highest upside in the draft. Concerns about his motor or "love for the game" don't track for me as much as they do for others. Knox straight up took over games at points throughout the season, and I think his inconsistency was more a product of his role and some skills still in development that could be fixed over time. With a slightly better handle — Knox is more of a straight-line driver than anything at the moment — there would be a lot less questioning his approach to the game. [MORE] Miles Bridges, G, Michigan State Height: 6'7" | Wingspan: 6'10" | Weight: 220 | College stats: 17 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 45.7 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 77.6 FT% If the burner accounts tied to the Colangelo family are to be believed, Miles Bridges will absolutely be in the mix when the NBA Draft takes place this Thursday. Conceptually it's not the worst idea in the world, as he represents a combination of present-day talent and future upside that is hard to sneeze at. A lot of the problems I can foresee with his offensive game could be mitigated by the increased space he'll have in the NBA. His handle is not a total disaster and he has the physical talent to take small windows of separation and turn them into baskets. Unfortunately, his concerns as a pull-up shooter will likely offset that and give him a steep hill to climb to be an impact player. His size and defensive limitations sort of just are what they are, and barring a wild leap in defensive attentiveness he's probably not going to be able to close the gap. Upside is there, it's just a question of whether it's reasonably likely for him to reach his top percentile outcomes. [MORE] Zhaire Smith, G, Texas Tech Height: 6'4" | Wingspan: 6'10" | Weight: 199 | College stats: 11.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 55.6 FG%, 45.0 3P%, 71.7 FT% There is something to be said for having outlier athleticism and the instincts to match. Smith is a relentless player on both ends of the floor, and he has proven capable of using that to great effect already. His activity is not all dunks and highlight reel plays, either, and manifested itself at the college level in areas like screening.<doc-sep>The Ringer’s 2018 NBA Draft Guide Check out The Ringer’s analysis of the 2018 NBA draft’s best prospects The 2018 NBA draft is upon us, and it’s time to learn everything about the players who are about to be selected. This year’s top prospects made that task easier by almost universally deciding to leave college after one season, giving us roughly 30 games’ worth of highlights to sift through. Each guy’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential applications are detailed extensively in The Ringer’s NBA Draft Guide. For those really in a crunch, though, I’ve gone through the top 11 prospects in our latest mock and identified one play that feels emblematic of each player’s skill set. This cribs from a concept that my colleague Danny Kelly used in the lead-up to the NFL draft. I was going to limit this list to the top 10, but that would have excluded Collin Sexton, which felt blasphemous for a post based on highlights. Deandre Ayton Ayton is the whole package. He’s one of the most impressive physical specimens to enter the draft in years, and more impressively, the 7-foot-1 center features plenty of finesse. He’s skilled around the rim, he displayed 3-point range in college, and he can make useful, nifty passes. He’s worthy of the no. 1 pick despite being a hulking big in an era defined by perimeter players. No clip of the big Bahamian dunking adequately showcases all that he has to offer. But I’ll be damned if I’m not going to pick a video of him dunking. I love that this clip is shot from floor level, offering a close-up view at how much taller, faster, and stronger Ayton is than everyone he went against during his lone season at Arizona. He looks like he could jump over a house and rip it apart with his bare hands. He’s basically the jacked kangaroo. Still, it’s his agility that allows him to slide past these two UNLV defenders to the rim, where he slams the ball home with immense power. Fun fact: The famous Barringer Crater in northern Arizona was created by an Ayton dunk. Marvin Bagley III While Ayton’s athleticism is revealed through his strength, Bagley’s manifests itself through his explosiveness. The 6-foot-11 234-pounder can speed to the basket in the open court or off a pick-and-roll. This clip from the second half of an all-important North Carolina–Duke rivalry game shows just how springy he can be: Yes, Bagley misses a contested layup, but that prompts him to display his legendary second jump, as he rises to grab his own miss and then dunks while the players around him stand and watch. The whole sequence is so smooth and unguardable that it looks like Bagley’s first miss was planned. Bagley isn’t the highest jumper in the draft — at his height, that would be unfair — but he might be the quickest, allowing him to beat opponents to rebounds and lob passes, and swat shots that initially seem open. Luka Doncic I’m going to try to write this without getting too excited about Luka — my increasingly large Slavic son Luka — whom I firmly believe is already a top-five-caliber passer in the NBA. He’s murder in the pick-and-roll, capable of hitting the roll man effortlessly — or, as in this clip, skipping the roll man and whipping a perfect pass to a shooter in the corner. Most point guards wouldn’t even think about making this cross-court pass; Luka completes it as a matter of routine. Luke Doncic is a stud. Few NBA vets can make this cross-court pass with pinpoint accuracy, yet he's only 18 and does it routinely. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/Z1ozELFLBm — Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) September 4, 2017 Doncic also shoots well enough to demand defenders’ attention and, by the way, he’s 6-foot-8. However, it’s his brilliant passing ability that is already professional level. Maybe that’s because he’s already been a professional, who was named MVP of EuroBasket and the Spanish league with Real Madrid this year. I believe that Luka is the best player in this draft — then again, I also believed that Anthony Randolph would be an NBA star, and he’s recently played with Doncic on Real Madrid and for the Slovenian national team instead of sticking in the NBA. Michael Porter Jr. Porter’s appeal is obvious: He’s 6-foot-11 with decent athleticism and a silky 3-point touch. But he, uh, didn’t play much basketball in the past year, as he suffered an injury in the opening minutes of Missouri’s season that kept him out until the SEC and NCAA tournaments, in which he was ineffective. So we’re going to settle for this video of Porter drilling 3s in practice: Michael Porter Jr. hasn't skipped a beat - he drilled 15 straight 3's in practice. pic.twitter.com/G0kFGuBJl4 — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 8, 2018 His shot looks so effortless. If any NBA team decides to defend Porter with a pile of logs, a few carefully arranged chairs, or a promotional cutout of its best player, he’d be sure to go off. It would be really cool if somebody this tall could shoot this effectively in a high-level game, but for now Porter’s best highlight is him hitting a bunch of uncontested shots in practice. Jaren Jackson Jr. Jackson stands 6-foot-11 — is everybody in this draft 6-foot-11? — and perhaps his most impressive trait is his perimeter defending ability. Here, a 6-foot-4 Illinois player thinks he can beat Jackson in isolation, only to learn just how long Jackson’s arms are: Jaren Jackson Jr. blocks his 100th shot of the season, becoming the second freshman in NCAAB history to block at least 100 shots and make at least 35 threes. pic.twitter.com/Xz1LnRKaeh — Matt Spendley (@mattspendley) February 21, 2018 Look at how the guard tries to shake Jackson — first by driving from the wing to the hoop, then by heading toward the top of the key, then by flipping into reverse and going back to the hoop. He covers about 40 feet, but Jackson’s mobility allows him to hang. And then Jackson’s timing and 7-foot-5 wingspan allows him to block the shot.<doc-sep>One day before the official NBA draft, it feels like the top 10 can still fall any number of ways. The biggest domino is Michael Porter Jr., the talented combo-forward whose questionable back will have massive implications on the final order. Would the Sacramento Kings potentially risk their future on someone coming off back surgery? Would any other team in the top five do the same? The other name to watch is Luka Doncic of Real Madrid. Highly accomplished for his age, there's the ever-present question of how well his skills will translate to the NBA. Some see him as a basketball savant, others see him as a productive distributor but a below-average defender. USA TODAY Sports canvassed league executives ahead of its final mock draft before Thursday night. Phoenix Suns – 1. Deandre Ayton Arizona • Center • Freshman Height: 7-1 • Weight: 250: Between his physical gifts and offensive tools, no player in the draft has a better chance at becoming a franchise cornerstone than Ayton. Sacramento Kings – 2. Marvin Bagley III Duke • Forward • Freshman Height: 6-11 • Weight: 211 Michael Porter Jr. would likely be the pick if the Kings were drafting lower, but the medical concerns relating to his back appear to have scared them off. Bagley’s ability to contribute immediately makes him less risky, with an outside chance that they go with Luka Doncic. More NBA Atlanta Hawks – 3. Luka Doncic Real Madrid • Guard Height: 6-8 • Weight: 220: The EuroLeague MVP has excellent size, vision and range. At minimum he’s a savvy distributor for years; at maximum he’s an All-Star. Memphis Grizzlies – 4. Michael Porter Jr. Missouri • Forward • Freshman Height: 6-11 • Weight: 211: The heralded prospect was in the mix for the Kings, but due to the risk of drafting a combo-forward coming off back surgery, Porter Jr slipped a bit. For what it’s worth, he’s handled the uncertainty of the pre-draft process with composure. Dallas Mavericks – 5. Mo Bamba Texas • Center • Freshman Height: 7-1 • Weight: 225 Outside of his tremendous on-court attributes – length, agility and timing – teams have been impressed with his approach to learning and studying the game. Orlando Magic – 6. Jaren Jackson Jr. Michigan State • Forward • Freshman Height: 6-11 • Weight: 236: Jackson’s pro potential – length, timing, ability to stretch the floor and defensive versatility – was always evident even if not necessarily showcased at Michigan State. More NBA Chicago Bulls – 7. Wendell Carter Jr. Duke • Forward • Freshman Height: 6-10 • Weight: 251: High basketball IQ, sturdy frame, polished interior moves, it’s tough to see Carter Jr. being anything less than a steady, productive pro. His three-point shooting could be a bonus. Cleveland Cavaliers – 8. Trae Young Oklahoma • Guard • Freshman Height: 6-2 • Weight:177 One of the most polarizing prospects in the draft, it’s fun to project his jitterbug finishes and rainbow 3-pointers at the next level as he benefits from more spacing. It’s also vital to ask how his size could handicap a team defensively. New York Knicks – 9. Collin Sexton Alabama • Guard • Freshman Height: 6-2 • Weight:183 Bullish and aggressive, Sexton plays downhill, and he’ll need a team that wants to run with him. The Knicks could sorely use scoring out of their backcourt. Philadelphia 76ers – 10. Mikal Bridges Villanova • Guard • Junior Height: 6-7 • Weight: 210 Teams are constantly in search of versatile, two-way wing players. Bridges can stretch the floor and switch on defense – essential fixtures in today’s modern NBA. Charlotte Hornets – 11. Kevin Knox Kentucky • Forward • Freshman Height: 6-9 • Weight: 215 As the NBA becomes more positionless, players like Knox become even more coveted. As a stretch-four, Knox could present matchup nightmares from the perimeter and off the bounce. Los Angeles Clippers – 12. Lonnie Walker Miami • Guard • Freshman Height: 6-5 • Weight: 196 Not many freshmen are built like Walker, one of the best athletes in the draft. He’ll never be a lead guard, but his defensive versatility coupled with his potential on offense make him intriguing. Los Angeles Clippers – 13. Robert Williams Texas A&M • Center • Sophomore Height: 6-10 • Weight: 241 Few prospects are as tantalizing as Williams in terms of his athleticism and agility. There’s significant value if he can become more consistent. Denver Nuggets – 14. Miles Bridges Michigan State • Forward • Sophomore Height: 6-7 • Weight: 220 An explosive athlete with three-point range, the biggest question for Bridges is on-court fit. He could be a valuable asset if teams feel comfortable in his ability to defend two through four. Washington Wizards – 15. Zhaire Smith Texas Tech • Guard • Freshman Height: 6-4 • Weight: 198 An exceptional athlete with a good motor, Smith could develop into a steal as a high-flying, transition-oriented guard. Phoenix Suns – 16. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Kentucky • Guard • Freshman Height: 6-6 • Weight: 180 He has excellent length and size for his position, and he’ll become even more dangerous once he develops more of an offensive repertoire further away from the basket. Milwaukee Bucks – 17. Jerome Robinson Boston College • Guard • Junior Height: 6-5 • Weight:188 He flew under the radar, but Robinson is an athletic, efficient scorer who can hit from outside or drive the lane and finish. San Antonio Spurs – 18. Troy Brown Oregon • Forward • Freshman Height: 6-7 • Weight: 208 Wings are always at a premium, and though Brown isn’t known as a scorer, it’s his multitude of other skills – defensive versatility, rebounding – that could offer value in the NBA. Atlanta Hawks – 19. Elie Okobo Pau-Orthez (France) • Guard Height: 6-3 • Weight:180 The lefty isn’t afraid to let it fly. He’s a shifty scorer from numerous levels, equally comfortable among the trees in the lane or out on the perimeter. Minnesota Timberwolves – 20. Donte DiVincenzo Villanova • Guard • Sophomore Height: 6-5 • Weight: 200<doc-sep>
Deandre Ayton | Arizona | Fr | C Does Ayton have the highest ceiling in this draft? That's not a certainty. Another uncertainty is the value of a freakishly large and athletic big man in today's NBA. I still believe what a whole lot of scouts that I've spoken with believe about Ayton: That while other players may fit better in today's NBA (like the versatile Slovenian wing Luka Doncic), and while other players may have a higher ceiling (like the absurdly long big man Mohamed Bamba), nobody has a higher floor than Ayton. I'm not sold that Ayton is the hands-down best player in this draft like I thought about Ben Simmons in 2016 or Anthony Davis in 2012. And I'm not sold that he will turn his mediocre defense at the collegiate level into elite defense at the NBA level. But I am sold that his explosive offensive skill set – his unicorn-like offensive ceiling – makes him the safest pick in this draft. Marvin Bagley III | Duke | Fr | PF Like Ayton, Bagley is a physical marvel with unicorn potential on the offensive end with some questions on defense. Bagley's and Ayton's collegiate stats were virtually identical: Bagley averaged 21.0 points, 11.1 rebounds and shot 39.7 percent from 3-point range, while Ayton averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and shot 34.3 percent from 3-point range. Scouts look at Bagley's narrow frame and see someone who doesn't have nearly as much physical upside as Ayton. I look at Bagley's elite athleticism and out-of-this-world second jump and see a taller version of Andrew Wiggins – and most importantly, a taller Wiggins with a ridiculous motor. Bagley's coaches at Duke told me they'd never seen a player this talented play this hard, whether it's in preseason practices or during the pressure of March. The fact that Bagley says he's excited about Sacramento makes him even more intriguing of a pick. Q&A: Bagley on his huge Puma deal and challenge to those who doubt him at No. 1 Luka Doncic | Slovenia | SG The 19-year-old Slovenian dominated this season while he played against grown men in the Spanish league. Doncic was 15th in the Spanish ACB league in points, fourth in assists, and 12th in rebounds. He's a remarkable shot creator and shot maker – a smart, shifty, versatile, confident player. Think young Manu Ginobili. In-depth scouting report: Everything you need to know and see about Doncic Jaren Jackson Jr. | Michigan St. | Fr | PF Jackson is the type of player a general manager can look at as a blank canvas: Big, long, athletic and versatile, with an outrageous ceiling on both ends of the floor. He has versatility as a playmaker and as a shooter; he shot 80 percent from the free-throw line, 40 percent from 3-point range. There's some risk here; Jackson's highlight reel is incredible, but he only averaged 21.8 minutes per game at Michigan State – a very small sample size. I often worry about the "blank canvas" type of players who check all the boxes but don't necessarily have the resume. In-depth scouting report: Why Jackson is such a good fit for the modern NBA Mohamed Bamba | Texas | Fr | PF "Potential" is the key word with Bamba; he already is seen as an elite, Rudy Gobert-like rim protector, but the incredibly long 7-footer (he'll have the longest wingspan in the NBA at 7-10) will have to add weight and improve his offensive arsenal. Joel Embiid told me of a conversation he had with Bamba during the collegiate season when Embiid told Bamba that the better spacing in the NBA will prove a boon to Bamba's offensive game – just like it did for Embiid's. Bamba often played on a clogged court at Texas, like Embiid did at Kansas. His shot is more than adequate for a big man, though he certainly has room for improvement; he shot a promising 68.1 percent from the free-throw line and 27.5 percent from 3-point range. Bamba's college coaches raved to me about his basketball IQ, specifically his ability to see plays before they develop and to pass out of double-teams. There's certainly some risk to this pick: Will Bamba's body fill out? Will he show the burning desire to become great? But the reward is that the Mavericks could get the best player in this draft.