Lottery Pick Projections are courtesy of our official Red Cup College Sports Mock Draft. NBA Comparisons are rarely perfect, but provide a career traction prediction based on things such as size, demeanor, and skill.
1: Luka Doncic – Manu Ginobli’s skills mixed with Klay Thompson’s Shooting/Size
Doncic is one of the most unique prospects ever as he has unbelievable skill and size for a player of his age. He doesn’t yet have the handles Ginobli has, but had the passing ability and creativity that the Argentinian legend has carved out a career with. At 6’8″ with a high-release jumper, it is easy to believe he will be similar to Klay Thompson from beyond the arc at his peak.
2: DeAndre Ayton – David Robinson
Both Physical Marvels at about 7’1″, Ayton has the potential to dominate offensively with his size and freakish athleticism similar to the 10-Time Allstar. Aston is currently far from the defender that Robinson was, and may never be. But Ayton should be a 20-10 threat every night who if capable of developing a respectable jumpshot, will be a perennial Allstar.
3: Jaren Jackson Jr. – Miles Turner with a higher ceiling
The most versatile defender in the draft, Jackson Jr. has the potential to guard 1-5 similar to the way Giannis and Davis do. He is one of the youngest prospects and is very limited offensively but was respectable from beyond the arc similar to Turner. Turner is a rim runner who is one of the best perimeter defenders of any of the true big men in the league. In his first two seasons Jackson Jr. will have a similar affect as Turner does now, and he will improve drastically from there.
4: Marvin Bagley – Amare Stoudemire
Bagley rivals Ayton as the best interior scorer in the Draft class and has an elite motor on the glass. Stoudemire has a very similar build at 6’11” with a 7’1″ Wingspan. Bagley’s offensive ceiling would be Stoudemire with a jumpshot. Similar to Amare, Bagley is not a game-changer on the defensive end and questions arise about whether or not he can anchor an NBA defense.
5: Mo Bamba – Rudy Gobert with the potential for a solid mid-range/corner three
Bamba has longer arms at 7’10” than any other prospect in NBA History. Second Place? Thats Rudy Gobert. If Bamba can one day have the defensive effect on a game that Gobert has for the Jazz, he will have a very successful NBA career. If he can do that well stretching the floor and putting up around 20 a game? He’ll be one of the best players in the league.
6: Trae Young – Taller Isaiah Thomas
Stop with the Curry comparisons. Trae Young plays much more like the Washington alum who prior to getting hurt averaged 28.9 PPG and getting MVP votes so thats not exactly a “bad player” to develop into you Monkey. Young is significantly taller but actually has a similar winspan 6’2″ vs Thomas’s 6’1.75″. In college Young was always the most skilled player on the court and that will likely often be the case throught his career in the NBA. Young also got bullied due to his small frame and stature in college. That will definitely be the case in the NBA. I could easily see Young averaging 20-25 PPG in a few years.
7: Wendell Carter Jr. – Al Horford
6’10”. Check. Long but not freakishly long arms. Check. Great rebounder for their size. Check. Sneaky good passer. Check. Efficient Jumpshot. Check. Wendell Carter Jr plays very similarly to the Celtic’s Playoff hero and will likely have the same role as the modern day center who can do all the little things to help a team win.
8: Michael Porter Jr. – Aaron Gordon 2.0
Both Freak Athlete tweeners at 6’10” and 6’9″ respectively, they are mismatches waiting to happen as they are two big for most wings and too fast for most Big Men. Porter Jr. is a bit more polished offensively that Aaron Gordon was at this point in his career but may not have the motor that Gordon has shown in the NBA.
9: Mikal Bridges – Otto Porter Jr.
Bridges is the prototypical 3 and D Complimentary Wing that the NBA is moving to ant Otto Porter Jr.’s career thus far is a resonable expectation for Bridges. Both 6’7″ with very long arms, Bridges will look for others to create for him. Brunson was to Bridges as Wall is to Otto Porter in Washington. Otto Porter Struggled mightily his first 2 years but as his jumper started falling he has become an above average starter capable of dropping an efficient 20 and guarding the opposing teams best wing. A role Bridges could thrive in.
10: Miles Bridges – Thaddeus Young with a better Jumpshot
Young was one of the first small ball PFs in an era where every team is moving towards. He can shoot while open, run with the guards, and defend the perimeter as well as the paint. Bridges is only 6’6″ and will likely spend the majority of his time at PF, making Young’s comparison come true is crucial for Bridges to have success in the league. Bridges is a better shooter at this point in his career than Young was and is one of the most athletic players in the draft class. He will be a nightly mismatch much like Young was in his prime.
11: Colin Sexton – Eric Bledsoe
Much like Bledsoe, Sexton is an athletic, strong Point Guard who can be a difference maker on both ends of the court. They are angry competitive players who can light up a box score. Sexton has not shown the playmaking abilities needed to be an NBA Point Guard, and Bledsoe had a very similar lack of perceived playmaking skills at Kentucky, but has developed into a quality NBA Point Guard.
12: Kevin Knox – Trevor Ariza
A long armed wing with a respectable high release jumpshot but poor handles and an inability to create their own shot? Sounds like Trevor Ariza. Aside from going 0/29 from 3 in Game 7, Ariza has had a very good NBA career and has been a serviceable starter and lockdown defender in his 13 year career. Knox has the potential to be a versatile player who can have a very long NBA career much like Ariza.
13: Zhaire Smith – More Defense Oriented Zach LaVine
Zach Lavine was a more polished offensive player coming out of college and could score from day 1 in the NBA. Smith will likely make his mark of the defensive end to start but one day he may be the offensive weapon that LaVine is. Both players are among the most athletic people in the sport and have very similar builds at 6’5″ 190 lbs. Smith will rely heavily on fast breaks and timely cuts to score in the NBA, much like LaVine. Oddly enough LaVine was also the 13th pick in 2014. Coincidence?
14: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Rich Man’s Delon Wright
Much like Delon Wright, Shai is a tall lanky Combo Guard who can use his length on the defensive end and while hitting open treys and running an offense with solid vision on the other end of the court. Shai has more potential than Wright at this point in their careers, but his similar playstyle warants the comparison.
For more NBA Player Comparisons check out the Player Pages on our 2018 NBA Mock Draft
