2018 NBA Draft ends with few surprises at Barclays Center

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After over four hours of name-reading and deal-announcing, the 2018 NBA Draft ended at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City on Thursday with 60 rookie players selected to join the league in the new 2018-19 season. Three 19-year-old young men, DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and Luka Doncic were chosen with the first, the second and the third picks respectively.

Suns picks DeAndre Ayton as everyone expects

With a height of 2.13 meters and a weight of 118 kilograms, Ayton from University of Arizona was seen as the best rookie of this generation and considered to be the only choice with No.1 pick. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley told the press that Ayton is the best college player he has ever seen in almost two decades and the Suns would be foolish not to select him.

The Phoenix Suns selects DeAndre Ayton from The University of Arizona. /VCG Photo

Ayton himself was confident enough by turning down all workout invitations except the one from the Phoenix Suns. He believed and said that he is the only candidate for the top overall pick. In the end, the Suns mad him the second player from the Bahamas who was selected with the first pick, next to Mychal Thompson (father of the Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson) in 1978.

Ayton felt so proud about this and said that now he shoulders the responsibility to show the world that the Bahamas is not only known for athletics but also great basketball players like him.

ESPN spoke highly of this 19-year-old young man by calling him the combination of talents, balance, height, strength, power, skills and basketball IQ.

The Sacramento Kings selects Marvin Bagley III from Duke University. /VCG Photo

But Ayton still has obvious weaknesses. His defense, especially when switched to small guards, could become a target of the rival. He was not a reliable rim protector either. The Suns, as one of the league’s worst defensive teams for years, will have a lot to work with Ayton before and in the new season.

Luka Doncic joins “multinational force” in Dallas

Hours before the draft began, Shams Charania from Yahoo Sports wrote on Twitter that the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings have already locked with DeAndre Ayton and Marvin Bagley III at the first two picks.The results proved him right. But the story went on, right before NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the choice of the Atlanta Hawks with their third pick, Adrian Wojnarowski, this time working as ESPN’s commentator on TV, said that the Hawks made a deal with the Dallas Mavericks to choose the 19-year-old Luka Doncic and traded him with Trae Young, who the Mavericks will choose with their fifth pick.

The Atlanta Hawks selects Luka Doncic (sent to the Dallas Mavericks) from Real Madrid. /VCG Photo

In the end, the new star from Slovenia joined Dallas to become teammates with Dirk Nowitzki, the best foreign player in NBA history under head coach Rick Carlisle.

As a big guard with height of 2.01 meters and weight of 99 kilograms, Doncic is way more experienced than his peers in professional basketball. He was 2018 EuroLeague MVP, 2018 EuroLeague Best Four MVP, 2018 Spanish League MVP while playing for Real Madrid. Looking at his pass and reading of the game but not his face, you may think that he is an old player who has already been playing in NBA for a decade.

The Memphis Grizzlies selects Jaren Jackson Jr. from Michigan State University. /VCG Photo

ESPN said he is ready for NBA after years of competition in the top European basketball league. He deserves a position in the first squad from the first day and can be one of the biggest candidates for Rookie of the Year in the new season.

After the Mavericks had Doncic, their legendary player Dirk Nowitzki posted “Welcome my man @luka7doncic” on Twitter immediately before the young man replied “Thank you Legend!!”

Though a great organizer he could be, Doncic could make fans worry about his athleticism, finishing ability and defense. He is not fast enough so he will not be able to get away from guarding with first step or stop match-up with speed. Moreover, Doncic is not stable with his field goals either. In today’s league, a guard who cannot score can find it difficult to create opportunities for his teammates.

The Dallas Mavericks selects Trae Young (sent to the Atlanta Hawks) from University of Oklahoma. /VCG Photo

Good news for him is that the Mavericks already had Dennis Smith Jr. who has been known for his scoring ability. Such combination plus Rick Carlisle’s bank of tactics, Doncic will be worth expecting in the new season.

19-year-old Collin Sexton to LeBron: 'Let's Get Back to the Finals'

Generally, the eighth pick seems a little awkward as the best young players seldom falls to this pick. You can only choose either good players with limited talents or talented players but with obvious defects or potential risks. And that was what the Cleveland Cavaliers was facing at the Barclays Center on Thursday.

The Orlando Magic selects Mohamed Bamba from University of Texas. /VCG Photo

Actually, their problem was bigger than that. As LeBron James remained silent about his decision over his future, the Cavaliers could not find a clear goal for pick. If LeBron leaves, they will need a new organizer. If LeBron stays, the team will have to find someone he likes. In the end, Cleveland made probably the most reasonable decision by choosing 19-year-old Collin Sexton from University of Alabama.

With or without LeBron, the Cavaliers is in desperate need for a play-maker guard. 1.87-meter tall Sexton can make aggressive performance with his strong body in the court like Eric Bledsoe, who, by the way, was once known as “mini LeBron” when he joined NBA.

The Chicago Bulls selects Wendell Carter Jr. from Duke University. /VCG Photo

The college game on November 26, 2017 brought up Sexton’s reputation. Thanks to clashes and injuries, Alabama only had three players in the court against five of University of Minnesota when there were still 11 minutes left of the game. In the end, Alabama lost, but only by 84-89. Sexton took 40 points, six rebounds and five assists in this game and led the other two of his teammates launch a 30-22 tide in the last 11 minutes. After such crazy performance, Damian Lillard from NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers said Sexton is the best guard he has ever seen.

In his short interview with ESPN after being selected by Cleveland, Sexton said on TV to LeBron James: “LeBron, let's do it. Let's do it. I see you need a few pieces, that one extra piece this past season. Let's do it. Let's get back to the (NBA) Finals.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers selects Collin Sexton from University of Alabama. /VCG Photo

Following are the first 14 (known as lottery) picks in the NBA Draft:

No.1 The Phoenix Suns selects DeAndre Ayton from The University of Arizona

No.2 The Sacramento Kings selects Marvin Bagley III from Duke University

No.3 The Atlanta Hawks selects Luka Doncic (sent to the Dallas Mavericks) from Real Madrid

No.4 The Memphis Grizzlies selects Jaren Jackson Jr. from Michigan State University

No.5 The Dallas Mavericks selects Trae Young (sent to the Atlanta Hawks) from University of Oklahoma

No.6 The Orlando Magic selects Mohamed Bamba from University of Texas

No.7 The Chicago Bulls selects Wendell Carter Jr. from Duke University

No.8 The Cleveland Cavaliers selects Collin Sexton from University of Alabama

No.9 The New York Knicks selects Kevin Knox from University of Kentucky

No.10 The Philadelphia 76ers selects Mikal Bridges (sent to the Phoenix Suns) Villanova University

No.11 The Charlotte Hornets selects Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (sent to the Los Angeles Clippers) from University of Kentucky

No.12 The Los Angeles Clippers selects Miles Bridges (sent to the Charlotte Hornets) from Michigan State University

No.13 The Los Angeles Clippers selects Jerome Robinson from Boston College

No.14 The Denver Nuggets selects Michael Porter Jr. from University of Missouri