We Re-Drafted the 2018 NBA Draft, and Guess Who’s No. 1 Now

If the Phoenix Suns could have a do-over with the No. 1 selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, would the team stick with Deandre Ayton?

Luka Doncic Rising Stars 2019
USA Today Sports

Feb 15, 2019; Charlotte, NC, USA; World Team guard Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks during the All-Star Rising Stars game at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Luka Doncic Rising Stars 2019

Despite the incredible amount of time and resources that goes into scouting the college and international games, preparing for the NBA Draft will always be an imperfect process. Scouts have a hard job: They obsess over film and dedicate their lives to psychoanalyzing 19-year-olds. But you can never really know how well a player will translate to the NBA.

Exhibit A: Just 20 months after the 76ers selected Markelle Fultz No. 1 overall in the 2017 draft (he was supposed to be the next James Harden!), Fultz had massive issues with his shooting form and numerous shoulder injuries before Philly traded him. Fultz’s performance in his first season and a half hardly warranted selection in the lottery, let alone the No. 1 pick. The Sixers will (deservedly) get flack from their fans for whiffing on Fultz for years to come since they missed the opportunity to add a franchise-changer like Jayson Tatum or Donovan Mitchell.

When we conducted our first NBA re-draft last year, Fultz fell to No. 11. And Mitchell, who slipped all the way to No. 13 on draft night, claimed our top position, with Tatum right behind him.

So, what about this year? If Phoenix had the chance to re-do its decision at No. 1, would the Suns stick with Deandre Ayton or select differently? Which player would be the biggest riser of all? Who would plummet?

Read on to find out.

For the sake of clarity, we’ll assume all pre-draft pick swaps happened exactly the same way (meaning trades that happened after the picks were made are invalidated). In this hypothetical scenario, as each team goes on the clock, they find out everything we know now.

Start the countdown for Phoenix…here comes Adam Silver...

1. Phoenix Suns — Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic Media Day All Star 2019

2. Sacramento Kings — Deandre Ayton

Deandre Ayton World Rising Stars 2019

3. Atlanta Hawks — Trae Young

Trae Young Hawks Lakers 2019

4. Memphis Grizzlies — Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jaren Jackson Grizzlies Dunk 2019

5. Dallas Mavericks — Marvin Bagley III

Marvin Bagley Dunk All Star 2019

6. Orlando Magic — Kevin Huerter

Kevin Huerter Hawks Wizards 2019

7. Chicago Bulls — Wendell Carter Jr.

Wendell Carter Jr NBA Draft 2019

8. Cleveland Cavaliers — Kevin Knox

Kevin Knox Draft Night 2019

9. New York Knicks — Mikal Bridges

Mikal Bridges Suns Celtics 2019

10. Philadelphia 76ers — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous Alexander Clippers Raptors 2019

11. Charlotte Hornets — Mo Bamba

Mo Bamba Bench Magic Kings 2019

12. Los Angeles Clippers — Collin Sexton

Collin Sexton Cavs Nets 2019

13. Los Angeles Clippers — Allonzo Trier

Allonzo Trier Knicks Pistons 2019

14. Denver Nuggets — Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr Dunk Warmups 2019

15. Washington Wizards — Miles Bridges

Miles Bridges Dunk Contest 2019

16. Phoenix Suns — Landry Shamet

Landry Shamet 76ers Jan 2019

17. Milwaukee Bucks — Josh Okogie

Josh Okogie Wolves Mavericks 2019

18. San Antonio Spurs — Zhaire Smith

Zhaire Smith Summer League 2019

19. Atlanta Hawks — Kenrich Williams

Kenrick Williams Pelicans Wolves 2019

20. Minnesota Timberwolves — Rodions Kurucs

Rondions Kurucs Dunk Nets 76ers 2018

21. Utah Jazz — Mitchell Robinson

Mitchell Robinson Dunk 2018 Knicks Mavs

22. Chicago Bulls — Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson Mavs Warriors 2019

23. Indiana Pacers — Aaron Holiday

Aaron Holiday Pacers 2019

24. Portland Trail Blazers — Omari Spellman

Omari Spellman Trae Young Hawks 2019

25. Los Angeles Lakers — Lonnie Walker

Lonnie Walker Spurs Bench 2019

26. Philadelphia 76ers — Chandler Hutchison

Chandler Hutchinson Clippers Bulls 2019

27. Boston Celtics — Devonte’ Graham

Devonte Graham 2019 College

28. Golden State Warriors — Jerome Robinson

Jerome Robinson Clippers Pacers 2019

29. Brooklyn Nets — Donte DiVincenzo

Donte DiVincenzo Draft Night 2018

30. Atlanta Hawks — Grayson Allen

Grayson Allen Jazz Kings Preseason 2018

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