Joint Mock Draft with the Seattle’s NBA Meetup Group

On June 14th, 2018, we participated in a live mock draft with Seattle’s NBA Meetup group at Tavern 12.  It was a very fun, entertaining night, as a whole lot of trades went down.  This is the 2nd time that we decided to have a live mock draft with Hondo of Ridin’ the Pine and the Seattle NBA Meetup group.

Using the format from the old Usenet mock drafts, we assigned teams to twelve different people starting on June 10th, and allowed them to make their own trades leading up to our mock draft, as long as they passed through the ESPN trade machine and RealGM trade checker.

Therefore, this mock draft will look quite different from what will actually take place on June 21st, because trades were made often, fast, and furiously, and we estimate that over half of the teams’ original picks in this draft had traded hands to other teams.

2018 NBA Mock Draft

2018 NBA Mock Draft:

If you’re confused by the draft order, it’s because we made a lot of trades with each other from when we started to draft day, so it may look drastically different than from how it’ll likely end up being in real life.  Here is how our mock draft went down, with all of the picks and trades that took place amongst us.

1st Round:

1. Phoenix Suns – Luka Doncic, G-F, Real Madrid (Slovenia)
2. Boston Celtics (from SAC) – DeAndre Ayton, F-C, Arizona
3. Dallas Mavericks (from ATL) – Jaren Jackson Jr., F-C, Michigan State
4. New York Knicks (from MEM) – Trae Young, G, Oklahoma
5. Atlanta Hawks (from DAL) – Marvin Bagley III, F-C, Duke
6. Denver Nuggets (from ORL) – Michael Porter Jr., F, Missouri
7. Chicago Bulls – Collin Sexton, G, Alabama
8. Miami Heat (from BKN via CLE) – Mikal Bridges, G-F, Villanova
9. Memphis Grizzlies (from NYK) – Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas
10. San Antonio Spurs (from LAL via PHI) – Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky
11. Charlotte Hornets – Wendell Carter Jr., F-C, Duke
12. Los Angeles Clippers (from DET) – Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State
13. Los Angeles Clippers – Elie Okobo, G, Pau-Orthez (France)
14. Charlotte Hornets (from DEN) – Zhaire Smith, G-F, Texas Tech
15. Charlotte Hornets (from WAS) – Josh Okogie, G, Georgia Tech
16. Phoenix Suns (from MIA) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Kentucky
17. Milwaukee Bucks – Donte DiVincenzo, G, Villanova
18. Indiana Pacers (from SAS via MIA) – Robert Williams, F-C, Texas A&M
19. Atlanta Hawks (from MIN) – Gary Trent Jr., G, Duke
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from OKC) – Lonnie Walker, G, Miami (FL)
21. Utah Jazz – Keita Bates Diop, F, Ohio State
22. San Antonio Spurs (from NOP via CHI & CHH & WAS) – Moritz Wagner, F-C, Michigan
23. Miami Heat (from IND) – Khyri Thomas, G, Creighton
24. Detroit Pistons (from POR) – Mitchell Robinson, C, None (New Orleans, LA)
25. Miami Heat (from CLE via LAL & IND) – Jalen Brunson, G, Villanova
26. Chicago Bulls (from PHI via CHH) – Anfernee Simons, G, IMG Academy (Altamonte Springs, FL)
27. Detroit Pistons (from BOS) – Dzanan Musa, G-F, Cedevita (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
28. Golden State Warriors – Shake Milton, G-F, SMU
29. Detroit Pistons (from TOR via BKN) – Chandler Hutchison, G-F, Boise State
30. Atlanta Hawks (from HOU) – Melvin Frazier, G, Tulane

2nd Round:

31. Phoenix Suns – Omari Spellman, C, Villanova
32. Washington Wizards (from MEM via CHH) – Troy Brown, G-F, Oregon
33. Indiana Pacers (from DAL via MIA) – Aaron Holiday, G, UCLA
34. Philadelphia 76ers (from ATL) – Kevin Huerter, G-F, Maryland
35. Orlando Magic – Jerome Robinson, G, Boston College
36. New York Knicks (from CHI) – Jacob Evans, G-F, Cincinnati
37. Sacramento Kings – Gary Clark, F, Cincinnati
38. Atlanta Hawks (from BKN via PHI) – De’Anthony Melton, G, USC
39. Atlanta Hawks (from NYK via PHI) – Isaac Bonga, G-F, Fraport Skyliners (Germany)
40. Brooklyn Nets (from LAL) – Grayson Allen, G, Duke
41. Orlando Magic (from CHH) – Kostas Antetokounmpo, F-C, Dayton
42. Boston Celtics (from DET) – Hamidou Diallo, G-F, Kentucky
43. Charlotte Hornets (from LAC via DEN) – Trevon Duval, G, Duke
44. Chicago Bulls (from WAS via CHH) – Rodions Kurucs, F, FC Barcelona II (Latvia)
45. Brooklyn Nets (from MIL) – Jarred Vanderbilt, F, Kentucky
46. Atlanta Hawks (from MIA via HOU) – Alize Johnson, F, Missouri State
47. Los Angeles Lakers (from DEN) – Bruce Brown, G, Miami (FL)
48. Minnesota Timberwolves – LiAngelo Ball, G-F, Vytautas Prienu (Chino Hills, CA)

49, Miami Heat (from SAS) – Malik Newman, G, Kansas

50. Indiana Pacers – Chimezie Metu, F-C, USC
51. New Orleans Pelicans – Jevon Carter, G, West Virginia
52. Utah Jazz – Svi Mykhailiuk, G-F, Kansas
53. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ray Spalding, F-C, Louisville
54. Oklahoma City Thunder (from POR via DAL & ATL) – Rawle Alkins, G, Arizona
55. Charlotte Hornets (from CLE) – Landry Shamet, G, Wichita State
56. Philadelphia 76ers – Devonte’ Graham, G, Kansas
57. Oklahoma City Thunder (from BOS) – Tony Carr, G, Penn State
58. Memphis Grizzlies (from GSW via DEN) – Arnoldas Kulboka, G-F, Capo d’Orlando (Lithuania)

59. Atlanta Hawks (from TOR via PHX) – Trevon Bluiett, G-F, Xavier

60. Golden State Warriors (from HOU via PHI) – Allonzo Trier, G-F, Arizona

Mock Draft Trades:

Last year, the group made 12 trades in its entirety, with 11 being approved, and one made on draft day that ended up not going through.   We implemented basically the same rules as last year, as each trade had to be approved in both the ESPN trade machine, and the RealGM trade checker.*

This year, it was even more frenetic, as the amount of trades made more than doubled, as the flurry of deals that were completed were done all basically in about five days.  Some could say that perhaps, too many trades may have been made.  So we apologize if all of this is hard to follow along, because it started getting a little confusing to us, too.

Trade #1:  The Miami Heat trades Hassan Whiteside to the Dallas Mavericks for Wesley Matthews, J.J. Barea, the 33rd overall pick (Aaron Holiday), and a 2019 1st (lottery-protected; top-10 protected in 2020 if Dallas keeps pick in 2019//top-3 protected in 2021 if Dallas keeps the pick in 2020)

Trade #2: The Detroit Pistons trades Andre Drummond to the Portland Trail Blazers for Evan Turner, Meyers Leonard, and the 24th overall pick (Mitchell Robinson)

Trade #3: The Detroit Pistons trades Reggie Jackson to the Brooklyn Nets for Allen Crabbe and the 29th overall pick (Chandler Hutchison)

Trade #4: The Atlanta Hawks trades the 3rd overall pick (Jaren Jackson Jr.) and DeAndre Bembry to the Dallas Mavericks for the 5th overall pick (Marvin Bagley III), Johnathan Motley, and the 54th overall pick (Rawle Alkins).

Trade #5: The Golden State Warriors trades cash considerations to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 60th overall pick (Allonzo Trier).

Trade #6:  The Detroit Pistons trades Ish Smith and Dwight Buycks to Chicago for Cristiano Felicio and a future 2nd round pick.

Trade #7: The San Antonio Spurs trade Kawhi Leonard, Brandon Paul, and Derrick White to the Philadelphia 76ers for Markelle Fultz, Robert Covington, Justin Anderson, the 10th overall pick (Kevin Knox), and a 2020 1st round pick (top 3 protected)

Trade #8: The Oklahoma City Thunder trades Terrance Ferguson to the Atlanta Hawks for Isaiah Taylor and the 54th overall pick (Rawle Alkins)

Trade #9:  The Boston Celtics trade Gordon Hayward and the 27th overall pick (Dzanan Musa) to the Detroit Pistons for Blake Griffin and the 42nd overall pick (Hamidou Diallo).

Trade #10: The Charlotte Hornets trades Kemba Walker to the Denver Nuggts for Kenneth Faried, the 14th overall pick (Zhaire Smith), and the 43rd overall pick (Trevon Duval).

Trade #11: Three-team deal with the Lakers, Portland, and Indiana.  The Indiana Pacers receive Luol Deng, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, and the 25th overall pick (Jalen Brunson).  The Los Angeles Lakers receive Myles Turner, Bojan Bogdanovic, and C.J. McCollum.  The Portland Trail Blazers receive Brandon Ingram, Darren Collison, and a 2020 1st round pick from the Lakers (top 5 protected)

Trade #12: The Charlotte Hornets trade Malik Monk to the Philadelphia 76ers for Furkan Korkmaz, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, the 26th overall pick, and a 2022 conditional pick swap (if Charlotte’s 2022 2nd round pick is between 31-50, then it can be swapped for Philadelphia’s 2022 1st round pick (top 20 protected), otherwise it becomes a 2nd round pick in 2023 and a 2nd round pick in 2024).

Trade #13:  The Charlotte Hornets trade Cody Zeller, Frank Kaminsky, and Dwayne Bacon to the Washington Wizards for Ian Mahinmi, the 44th overall pick, and a conditional pick swap (if Charlotte’s 2nd rounder is between 31-50, it can be swapped for Washington’s 2019 1st round pick (lottery protected), otherwise it becomes 2 2nd round picks in 2022 and 2023)

Trade #14: The Charlotte Hornets trade Jeremy Lamb, Willy Hernangomez, and the 26th overall pick (Anfernee Simons), and the 44th overall pick (Rodions Kurucs) to the Chicago Bulls for Omer Asik, the 22nd overall pick (Moritz Wagner), and a 2021 2nd round pick.

Trade #15: The Charlotte Hornets trade Dwight Howard to the Memphis Grizzlies for Chandler Parsons, Ben McLemore, and the 32nd overall pick (Troy Brown).

Trade #16: The New York Knicks trade Frank Ntilikina and the 9th overall pick (Mohamed Bamba) to the Memphis Grizzlies for the 4th overall pick (Trae Young), Andrew Harrison, and Deyonta Davis

Trade #17: The Denver Nuggets trade the 58th overall pick (Arnoldas Kulboka) to the Memphis Grizzles for cash considerations.

Trade #18: The Boston Celtics trade Jayson Tatum to the Sacramento Kings for the 2nd overall pick (DeAndre Ayton) and Justin Jackson.

Trade #19:  The Denver Nuggets picks up the option on Nikola Jokic.* (Action necessary for trade completion.)

The Denver Nuggets trades Nikola Jokic, Paul Millsap, and a 2020 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2020, top-10 protected in 2021, unprotected in 2022) and the right to swap 1st round picks in 2019 to the Orlando Magic for Jonathan Isaac, Bismack Biyombo, Terrence Ross, and the 6th overall pick (Michael Porter Jr.).

Trade #20: The Washington Wizards trades the 15th overall pick (Josh Okogie) to the Charlotte Hornets for the 22nd overall pick (Moritz Wagner) and the 32nd overall pick (Troy Brown).

Trade #21: The Miami Heat trades Goran Dragic, Justise Winslow, and Rodney McGruder to the San Antonio Spurs for Patty Mills, Pau Gasol, the 18th overall pick (Robert Williams), and the 49th overall pick (Malik Newman).

Trade #22: The Miami Heat trades the 18th (Robert Williams) and 33rd overall picks (Aaron Holiday) to the Indiana Pacers for the 23rd (Khyri Thomas) and 25th overall picks (Jalen Brunson).

Trade #23: The Houston Rockets trades Ryan Anderson, the 46th overall pick (Alize Johnson), and a 2019 1st round pick (top 3 protected) to the Atlanta Hawks for a 2019 2nd round pick (top 50 protected)

Trade #24*: Three-team trade with Miami, Denver, and Cleveland.  The Denver Nuggets receive Kevin Love.  The Miami Heat receives J.R. Smith and the 8th overall pick (Mikal Bridges).  The Cleveland Cavaliers receive Jamal Murray, Mason Plumlee, Trey Lyles, Josh Richardson, Dion Waiters, the 2019 2nd round pick from Washington, and the 2019 1st round pick from Dallas (lottery protected; top-10 protected in 2020, top-3 protected in 2021).

(Side Note*: Trade #24 was actually an invalid trade that passed because of the large number of volume of trades overwhelmed us.  It turns out that Patrick Keane had self traded with himself as both Miami and Denver, while making a trade with Taylor Jarl, and self trading is not allowed in our mock drafts, but it slipped in under our noses.)

Trade #25: The San Antonio Spurs trade LaMarcus Aldridge to the Washington Wizards for Markieff Morris, Marcin Gortat, and the 22nd overall pick (Moritz Wagner).

Trade #26: The Atlanta Hawks trade the rights to the 34th overall pick (Kevin Huerter) to the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire the 38th overall pick (De’Anthony Melton) and the 39th overall pick (Isaac Bonga).

Trade #27: The Phoenix Suns trade the rights to the 59th overall pick (Trevon Bluiett) to the Atlanta Hawks for a future 2nd round pick.

(Side Note: This pick was actually meant to go to Detroit in trade #27, but due to the confusion and large number of trades made in the mock draft, so it went to Atlanta instead.)

​

Thoughts on Our Mock Draft:

​It was a pretty hectic mock draft, as there was a massive flurry of activity, with more bigger names moving than expected.  As far as the picks go, not many of the picks were a major surprise, but the most surprising selection came from the Minnesota Timberwolves in this mock draft, as they went completely off the board to take a chance in the second round on LiAngelo Ball with their 48th overall pick.  One of the more interesting elements of this mock draft was to see who was dealt and what each GM received in return.

It was found that years later, that there was one trade that turned out to be an invalid trade that went through, as one mock draft GM had self-traded with himself as two different teams (Miami and Denver) in a three-team deal with Cleveland that went unchecked.

This was the infamous mock draft that has prompted numerous rule changes in our mock drafts over the years, with checks and balances to regulate trade activities so that self-trading by managing two or more different teams doesn’t happen again, as well as to make sure that there is enough logic and rationale in the trades that were to be made by different mock draft GMs.  In addition, we have continued to enforce that all trades follow the rules of the current CBA agreement, along with the no self-trading, but in the 2018 mock draft, it seems that people were bending or breaking the rules, and there was too much activity that made it tough for everything to be enforced.

Teams (Mock Draft GM):

Atlanta Hawks (Alan Lu)

Boston Celtics (Nick Peara)

Brooklyn Nets (Arjun Dubashi)

Charlotte Hornets (Richard Lu)

Chicago Bulls (Danny Sear)

Cleveland Cavaliers (Taylor Jarl)

Dallas Mavericks (Ashwin Kamath, “Ghee”)

Denver Nuggets (Patrick Keane)

Detroit Pistons (Alan Lu)

Golden State Warriors (Richard Lu)

Houston Rockets (Ameer Helmi)

Indiana Pacers (Ameer Helmi)

Los Angeles Clippers (Arjun Dubashi)

Los Angeles Lakers (Taylor Jarl)

Memphis Grizzlies (Peter Wong)

Miami Heat (Patrick Keane)

Milwaukee Bucks (Arjun Dubashi)

Minnesota Timberwolves (Ian Barrett)

New Orleans Pelicans (Kyle Henderson, “Hondo”)

New York Knicks (Kyle Henderson, “Hondo”)

Oklahoma City Thunder (Kyle Henderson, “Hondo”)

Orlando Magic (Nick Peara)

Philadelphia 76ers (Ameer Helmi)

Phoenix Suns (Ian Barrett)

Portland Trail Blazers (Ian Barrett)

Sacramento Kings (Patrick Keane)

San Antonio Spurs (Danny Sear)

Toronto Raptors (Ashwin Kamath, “Ghee”)

Utah Jazz (Peter Wong)

Washington Wizards (Alan Lu)

All of this pretty much sums up the entirety of our fun, yet quite complicated 2018 NBA Mock Draft.

We will be hanging out with the Seattle’s NBA Meetup group at Buffalo Wild Wings on June 21st for the live draft party downtown, so if you are in the Seattle area, fee; free to come hang out with us for this event.

Thank you to everyone who participated, and it was a fun season.  Stay tuned for Ridin’ the Pine’s live draft podcast that will take place soon, and thank you for reading.