The 2018 NBA Draft is here. It’s now. There’s no turning back. The Charlotte Hornets currently have the 11th, 45th, and 55th overall picks. If any of the rumors are true, that could change before the night is over. Tonight could signal change. The Cavaliers will reportedly push hard to sell the 8th overall pick to other teams. They’ve already reportedly offered it to the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard, and there are suggestions they could offer it for Kemba Walker as well. Should Charlotte agree, it will signal the start of a rebuild. On the other hand, the Hornets could sit tight. Mitch Kupchak has said from the start that they want to remain competitive, and as of two days ago stated they would likely keep the 11th overall pick. All the contradictions suggest a lot of what we’re hearing could be smoke and mirrors. We won’t have to wait long now to know what’s true, however, so sit back, enjoy each other’s company, and get ready for what could be a chaotic night.<doc-sep>Who will the Charlotte Hornets select in the final mock before the 2018 NBA Draft? After months of preparation from all 30 NBA teams and infinite guessing and analyzing from experts and non-experts, draft day has finally arrived. For some, it is just a day where a player is added on to a team, and it isn’t even worth watching. For others, it is one of the most exciting days of the year. We all know that none of us actually know who is going where, so mock drafts are pointless, right? Maybe, but let’s give it a shot anyway and see who the Charlotte Hornets may take: 1. Phoenix Suns- DeAndre Ayton, C (Arizona) This pick isn’t exactly a mystery. Ayton said himself that he would be a Sun, and Phoenix hasn’t given us any reason to believe he was lying. Ayton is one of the most physically dominant players we have seen in a long time. His measurables are reminiscent to Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid. A duo of Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton has the potential to be an all-time great if things work out properly. 2. Sacramento Kings- Marvin Bagley III, PF/C (Duke) Opting to pass on Luka Doncic (which is a terrible idea, by the way), the Kings decide to go with Bagley, an extremely athletic big man who has loads of potential. Bagley is a work in progress on the defensive end and is still developing a reliable outside jump shot. Bagley may start the season playing behind the likes of Zach Randolph or Skal Labissiere, but it’s hard to imagine that he won’t work his way into the starting lineup at some point during his rookie campaign. If Bagley is able to put it all together, look out. 3. Atlanta Hawks- Luka Doncic, SG (Slovenia) Let’s get one thing out of the way; Luka Doncic is not only the best player in this year’s draft, he is the best European prospect of all time. He is not yet 20 years of age, and already has a Euroleague MVP as well as a championship under his belt. The fact that the Hawks are getting him with the third overall pick could be considered a crime in some countries. Doncic is a tremendous shooter with elite court vision and a ridiculously high basketball IQ. Yes, he leaves something to be desired defensively, but he gives effort on defense, which many players in this draft can’t say. 4. Memphis Grizzlies- Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF (Missouri) The Grizzlies are not a bad enough team to be picking 4th overall. They were plagued by injuries last season and figure to be back in the playoff race next season with a healthy squad. With the 4th pick, Memphis selects Michael Porter Jr., a player who many assumed would be in the conversation for the #1 overall pick a year ago. A back injury limited Porter to only 3 games as a freshman, but his pure talent makes him hard for Memphis to pass on. 5. Dallas Mavericks- Jaren Jackson Jr., C (Michigan State) Dallas has been in the market for a center ever since the DeAndre Jordan free agency disaster. Here, they take a player who can run the floor, block shots, and can even step outside and knock down open jump shots. Jackson is an elite athlete and has one of the highest ceilings in the entire draft. Jackson will need to improve his jump shot mechanics because he has a noticeably low release for a big man. If nothing else, Jackson will be an energy guy that can change the game on the defensive end. 6. Orlando Magic- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG (Kentucky) The thought of Gilgeous-Alexander going this high would have seemed laughable only weeks ago. Now, some people believe that he is the best point guard in the draft. New head coach Steve Clifford values defense and length, which is exactly what Gilgeous-Alexander brings. His jump shot is still raw, but that should develop without much trouble. Orlando is desperate for a solid building block and is in dire need for a lead guard. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can fill both of those roles. 7. Chicago Bulls- Mohamed Bamba, C (Texas) Mohamed Bamba is a physical freak. He is over 7 feet tall with an NBA Combine record 7 foot, 10-inch wingspan. Not to mention he ran a faster 3/4 court sprint than Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Dwyane Wade. Wow. Chicago doesn’t have anything to worry about on the defensive end with Bamba. He is raw offensively but has apparent skill. If Bamba develops into a reliable offensive threat, he could very well be the best big man to come out of this draft. 8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Nets)- Trae Young, PG (Oklahoma) There is a very good chance that Cleveland will not be the one making this selection. Cleveland has been trying to acquire Kemba Walker since the trade deadline in February. Assuming that they hold on to the pick, they are going to take Young, who we all know can light up an entire arena in the blink of an eye. Shot making and court vision are Young’s main claims to fame. However, simply put, Trae Young is small and can’t guard anybody. He also averaged over 5 turnovers per game as a freshman. 9. New York Knicks- Kevin Knox, SF (Kentucky) New York could easily go with Collin Sexton or Wendell Carter Jr. with this pick, but instead go with Knox, a skilled forward with solid shooting ability and a very polished transition game. The main concern with Knox is that he doesn’t have a high motor. He doesn’t separate himself on defense, and with a 6’9″ frame, he should be a better rebounder than he is. Offensively, Knox compares to Tobias Harris in many ways (as does somehow every other forward in this draft). Want your voice heard? Join the Swarm And Sting team! Write for us! 10. Philadelphia 76ers (via Lakers)- Mikal Bridges, SF (Villanova) This pick is perfect for Philadelphia fans in so many ways. Bridges is one of the most NBA ready prospects in this draft, not to mention that he’s a hometown kid, winning two championships at Villanova. Personally, I am a huge Mikal Bridges fan. He has Kawhi Leonard-like potential and at the very least will be a Robert Covington–Trevor Ariza–Otto Porter Jr. hybrid. The only concern I have with this pick is that Robert Covington is already on the roster, and they bring mostly the same things to the game. 11. Charlotte Hornets- Collin Sexton, PG (Alabama) The Charlotte Hornets are in desperate need of a direction. Regardless of whether or not they choose to trade Kemba Walker, Collin Sexton would fill a huge need. If Charlotte keeps Walker, Sexton provides much-needed aggressiveness and scoring off the bench. If Walker is traded, Sexton would likely jump straight into the starting role as one of the faces of the rebuild. Sexton needs improvement as a jump shooter and as a playmaker, but his ability to defend, get to the basket, and finish is too intriguing to pass on. 12. Los Angeles Clippers (via Pistons)- Wendell Carter Jr., C (Duke) Getting Wendell Carter this late in the lottery is a massive steal. Carter spent the majority of his lone season at Duke firmly in Marvin Bagley’s shadow. However, multiple executives believe that Carter is a better overall NBA prospect than Bagley. Carter is very skilled for a big man, possessing a smooth jump shot, great court vision, and underrated athleticism. Snagging Carter at 12 counts as a win for Los Angeles. 13. Los Angeles Clippers- Lonnie Walker IV, SG (Miami) What a luxury it is to have two back-to-back picks in the lottery. After taking what is most likely DeAndre Jordan’s replacement, Los Angeles takes an all-around shooting guard that does not have a glaring weakness. Walker is a terrific athlete, to say the least. He is a streaky shooter, but one who can light it up on any given night. Also, he is a very good defender because he has the quickness and speed to stay in front of most guards.<doc-sep>Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press The Charlotte Hornets have traded for Devonte' Graham in the 2018 NBA draft. The selection originally belonged to the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 34 overall pick. Graham evolved into one of college basketball's biggest stars after taking over full time for Frank Mason III at Kansas. He'll be a 23-year-old rookie, but Graham should have a chance to earn a backup role early on thanks to his skill level at the point. Quick hitters Size: 6'1 ½" Weight: 186.4 pounds Wingspan: 6'6 ¼" Reach: 8'0" Pro-player comparison: Shabazz Napier Offensive strengths Graham thrived in the pick-and-roll game, particularly as a passer (92nd percentile), though he also converted 71 field goals off of those ball screens. He registered a solid 31.4 assist percentage, and he shot over 40 percent from three for the third time in four seasons. Graham also showed he can play off the ball, ranking in the 85th percentile in spot-up situations, mostly due to his catch-and-shoot jumper on those possessions (44.6 percent). Video Play Button Videos you might like Offensive weaknesses While he was proficient in pick-and-rolls, Graham struggled as a one-on-one scorer, making only 10 of 48 shots out of isolation. He shot only 39.2 percent inside the arc, finishing just 42.6 percent of his attempts around the basket. Graham's decision-making and shot selection weren't always shrewd, and he had games where he could never get it going. Defensive outlook Graham averaged at least 1.5 steals per game for the second straight season. He can be a pesky perimeter defender when locked in. However, he'll only guard one position in the pros, and he had plays where his effort and concentration weren't fully there. Graham should hold his own against backup point guards, but he might not be someone his coaches will want guarding starters for long stretches. Rookie-year projection Given his age and experience, Graham could be good for rookie minutes. His shot-making should carry over, although his inconsistency might as well. Graham could be better off playing some of next season in the G League rather than watching from the bench. Projected role: Backup point guard Graham's lack of size and explosiveness for a 23-year-old hint at a low ceiling. Best-case scenario, he emerges as a reliable backup who can get teammates involved and capitalize on his outside shooting opportunities. A Napier-like career trajectory sounds reasonable for Graham, who'll have a chance to be a regular second-unit player by his second or third season. Stats courtesy of Synergy Sports and Sports Reference. Measurements courtesy of NBA.com.<doc-sep>
Devonte' Graham became the first Jayhawk to hear his name called in the 2018 NBA Draft, being selected with the No. 34 overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday Night. Graham's draft rights were reportedly traded to Charlotte by the Atlanta Hawks. Charlotte is the closest NBA team to Graham's hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. Graham follows in the footsteps of former KU point guard Frank Mason III, who was drafted with the exact same pick by the Kings a season ago. Other KU point guards selected in the NBA Draft include Tyshawn Taylor, the No. 41-overall pick in 2012, and Mario Chalmers, the No. 34 pick in 2008. A four-year player at KU, Graham starred as a senior, earning first-team All-American honors and being named Big 12 player of the year. Graham averaged 17.3 points, 7.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game, shooting better than 40 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the line last year. Graham starred in several games, starting in non-conference play when he erupted for back-to-back 35 point outings. The second of those games came in a contest in Miami in which Graham led the Jayhawks to a win in front of Miami Heat general manager Pat Riley. His impressive roll continued into conference play, where Graham often played 40 minutes in contests and routinely erupted with 20-plus point outings. Among Graham’s best performances was a contest at Texas Tech late in February where he scored 26 points, taking over offensively in the second half to carry the Jayhawks to the win. After a 29-point eruption against Penn in the first-round of the tournament, Graham didn’t have the greatest finish to the year, but he had the chance to make up for that in what was a slew of NBA Draft workouts. Throughout the pre-draft process, Graham met with more than 12 teams — including the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards. Graham mentioned wanting to get down into “NBA shape” as part of the pre-draft process. He showed up at the NBA Draft combine with a 4.8 body fat percentage, the sixth best mark of any player measured. Heading into the draft, KU coach Bill Self said he suspected Graham, Svi Mykhailiuk and Malik Newman could all be first round picks — hearing they could each go that early in a best-case scenario from teams he chatted with — but that a second-round landing seemed more likely. The ended up proving true for Graham, who will join a Hornets squad that went 36-46 last season. The Hornets currently have an All-Star point guard in Kemba Walker, but Walker's name has been involved in various trade rumors this offseason, meaning it's possible he'll be moved before the start of next year. Graham's first action, like several rookies, will likely come at the NBA Summer League. While there are smaller circuits in Utah and Sacramento — both ranging from July 2-5 — all 30 teams will be participating in the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League, which spans from July 6-17.