The 2018 NBA college draw is already history with the Bahamian center Deandre Ayton, power forward Marvin Bagley III and Slovenian base Luka Doncic as the first three selected, respectively, by the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings , and Atlanta Hawks, who would give up their rights to the Dallas Mavericks.
Ayton was number one as expected to stay in Arizona, where he was formed, his only transfer will be from Tucson, where he played as a university student, and now he will leave Phoenix, where he arrives with the question that he is not a good defender, which is a copy of the Cameroonian Joel Embiid, of the Sixers.
Just after his selection was announced by the commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver, from the stage of the Barclays Center, where the raffle was held, Ayton, 19, rejected the comparisons and said that he was a true number one, that he was Surely he was going to stay with the Suns and that now the real rebuilding of the team would begin.
The Suns get a player who has physical elite traits, a set of inner skills and one of the most athletic centers in the league. If there is a weakness, it is your defense, although you have all the tools to be a quality protector.
“Definitely,” Ayton declared. “I have not had exposure at the university to really protect big men, but those who score have not really touched the ball or done what they should, but I’m ready to work like in the old school.”
The Kings also got the player they wanted, Bagley III, 19, trained at Duke University, another light expression player, who proclaimed himself the best in the college draw and who should have been number one.
Apart from publicizing his cause, during the works prior to the university draw he convinced everyone to be a great player, of great physical power who can score and defend, elements that the Kings need.
That’s why they let pass Doncic, 19, who was selected by the Hawks with number three, but his destiny was already marked to go to Dallas with the Mavericks, who feel that they have got the ideal player to return again to the elite of the NBA.
Everyone from the owner of the Mavericks, Mark Cuban, as basketball operations president Donnie Nelson, and coach Rick Carlisle have praised the Real Madrid player, who have followed closely all their evolution.
As did the German power forward Dirk Nowitzki, the legend of the Mavericks, who already welcomed Doncic to whom he wants to become his privileged disciple.
The fourth selection was that of another tall man, power forward Jaren Jackson Jr., 18, trained at Michigan State University, which was chosen by the Memphis Grizzlies to have fellow baseman Mike Conley and the Spanish power forward Marc Gasol.
The Mavericks got the number five to the base Trae Young, 19, formed at the University of Oklahoma, and was sent to the Hawks, who was the player they wanted to get with the exchange of rights of Doncic.
Young, born in Lubbock (Texas), is considered one of the most talented players who entered the draw and is projected as the undisputed holder of the Hawks in the new reconstruction of the team.
The Magic of Orlando did not surprise with the selection of center Mohamed Bamba with the number six they want to become the new Dwight Howard, but with which they must have patience.
Bamba, 20, born in Harlem, New York, was educated at the University of Texas, and is considered one of the most dominant tall men who came to the college draw, but needs to develop.
The Chicago Bulls with the number seven also went by a tall man, as is the power forward Wendell Carter Jr., 19, trained at Duke University.
Carter Jr. was considered by Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski as one of the players who will have the most growth in the NBA because of the talent he has and the attitude of permanent work.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, although they do not know what the future of star forward LeBron James will be, decided with the number eight for the base Collin Sexton, 19, who has already asked the “King” to stay to fight both for a league title.
As usual, the first negative surprise of the draw was staged by the New York Knicks after electing guard-forward Kevin Knox, 18, with the number nine and receiving his election with a big boo from the supporters of the team that were in the Barclays Center.
The Sixers, via the Los Angeles Lakers, closed the Top 10 election, with the election of the other escort-forward Mikal Bridges, 21, of the Villanova University, a team that helped achieve the national titles in 2016 and 2018
The big surprise was the selection of power forward Michael Porter Jr., aged 19, trained at the University of Missouri, which for talented fans was considered one of the three best players in the draw for his class, but due to the medical problems he has suffered in the end he was selected with number 14 by the Denver Nuggets.
Another of the surprises that occurred in the draw is that in the end there was no transfer of potential players who can become free agents with restrictions or those who have already announced that they do not want to stay with their current team.
The Sixers, via the Los Angeles Lakers, closed the Top 10 election, with the election of the other escort-forward Mikal Bridges, 21, of the Villanova University, a team that helped achieve the national titles in 2016 and 2018
The big surprise was the selection of power forward Michael Porter Jr., aged 19, trained at the University of Missouri, which for talented fans was considered one of the three best players in the draw for his class, but due to the medical problems he has suffered in the end he was selected with number 14 by the Denver Nuggets.
Another of the surprises that occurred in the draw is that in the end there was no transfer of potential players who can become free agents with restrictions or those who have already announced that they do not want to stay with their current team.
The spotlight was placed on the San Antonio Spurs, who already know that star forward Kawhi Leonar does not want to continue with them when the 2018-19 season ends.
