2018 NBA Drafts Biggest Winners and Losers

Winners

1. Dallas Mavericks – IMO they selected the best player in this draft and quickly had one of the top young duos in the NBA without owning a top 3 pick in the past two drafts. Luka Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr. help them in the now and in the future, while they can add a BIG time free agent (Boogie, DAJ, or Clint Capela) to play with the core of Doncic, Smith, Harrison Barnes, and Dirk Nowinski. They were the biggest winners in the draft.

2. Atlanta Hawks – Even though they lost the trade, they ended up with three of the best shooters in the draft and another first round pick. They seem to be following the GSW model of building their roster. Trae Young, Kevin Heurter, Tauren Prince, Omari Spellman, and John Collins seem like a nice core of players for the future. 

3. Philadelphia 76ers – Brent Brown got one of the two players that they wanted at pick no. 10 at no. 16, while also getting an unprotected first round pick from the Miami Heat. That picks comes into play in 2021, when the one-and-done rules seem to be done (So two elite classes going to be combine into one). The players they selected help in the present and the future. Zhaire Smith should help right away with his Avery Bradly/Andre Roberson-like defense. But, he’s like a mold of clay on offense. Landry Shamet and Shake Melton offers big time shooting from all over the court.

4. Pheonix Suns – They made the obvious selections in each of their picks, but it was homerun selections. They have their center of the future in Deandre Ayton who will be a 20 points per game scorer, Mikal Bridges who is a great 3-and-D prospect to pair alongside Josh Jackson, and Elie Okobo who could be the best point guard in the draft. They draft three guys that have elite measurements, good athleticism, good shooters, and can put the ball in the basket. Elie Okobo is 6’3" 190 with a just had a 44 point game. Mikal Bridges is 6’7" with a 7’2 wingspan shot over 43% from the three point line and scored 17 ppg on the National Championship team. Deandre Ayton scored over 20 ppg and shot ~35 from the three point line as a center/power forward.

Losers

1. Miami Heat – They could not crack into either round to snag a decent prospect because they do not have anything to offer. Their roster and cap space is horrid. They are the only team that I can label as losers because other teams didn’t make bad moves throughout the draft.