Final 2018 NBA Mock Draft: Chicago Bulls Focus

The 2018 NBA Draft is hours away. With that, we take a final look at the draft and predict one last time. Who will the Chicago Bulls draft with their two picks?

With the NBA draft happening tonight, we are taking in every rumor, and every bit of news we can bear. Using all the latest news, I’ve put together my final mock draft of 2018. I’ll focus my analysis on the Bulls, but will predict every pick. Without further ado, here it is.

1. Phoenix Suns: DeAndre Ayton, C, Arizona

The Suns pick potentially the guy who has most potential and gifts and can wreck offensively.

2. Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, PF, Duke

Bagley gives Sacramento stretch ability at a position very lacking of a starter for a long time.

3. Atlanta Hawks: Luke Doncic, G/F, Slovenia

Doncic is a point forward who does everything well, and Atlanta needs a new ball handler

4. Memphis Grizzlies: Michael Porter Jr., F, Missouri

Memphis has been linked with Porter, who’d fit at the 3, and the big men don’t want to be drafted by Memphis.

5. Dallas Mavericks: Jaren Jackson Jr., F/C, Michigan State

It’s between Bamba and Jackson here, but I feel it’ll be Jackson because he has some flexibility the Mavs may want.

6. Orlando Magic: Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma

The Magic need their floor general, and they’d definitely feel Young is too good to pass up.

7. Chicago Bulls: Mohamed Bamba, C, Texas

With the 7th pick, the Bulls can pick either Bamba, Sexton, Mikal Bridges, or Carter. Of all those, Bamba has the most potential by a decent margin and is the 2nd most proven. Bamba can become the next Kevin Garnett if you will. He flashed potential to shoot 3’s, making 14 during the season. He’d be a force on rim protection, as he averaged a whopping 3.7 blocks per game. He also averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds.

He has a Dwight Howard in prime + shooting in his game. Picking Bamba, he’d go perfectly with Lauri Markkanen, as one would occupy the paint, and the other the perimeter. Bamba would also make Robin Lopez expendable, so we could trade him for another draft pick. Bamba is the man to keep the Bulls in the right direction in their rebuild.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama

A playmaker in Cleveland is needed at guard, whether or not LeBron stays, and Sexton fits that.

9. New York Knicks: Mikal Bridges, G/F, Villanova

Knicks should just pick the BPA here in Miles Bridges, as they potentially have a PG in Ntilikina and have 2 good/great big men.

10. Philadelphia 76ers: Wendell Carter Jr., F/C, Duke

Philly goes BPA with no obvious need.

11. Charlotte Hornets: Kevin Knox, F, Kentucky

Charlotte should go with Knox, as he can provide a good option offensively besides Kemba Walker.

12. Los Angeles Clippers: Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State

13. Clippers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky

The Clippers should go with a need and BPA here. Miles Bridges is the BPA, and Gilgeous-Alexander provides them a point guard for the future.

14. Denver Nuggets: Lonnie Walker IV, G/F, Miami

The Nuggets could lose Will Barton this offseason so they need some wing depth/shooting.

15. Washington Wizards: Robert Williams, PF, Texas A&M

Washington has an awful bench, but their big men overall are trash. Williams is a solid big for both scoring and rebounding.

16. Suns: Zhaire Smith, SG, Texas Tech

Smith has shown a lot in workouts and could become a very good scorer in the future.

17. Milwaukee Bucks: Troy Brown Jr., G/F, Oregon

Brown is a great shooter, and Milwaukee needs shooters around Giannis.

18. San Antonio Spurs: Keita Bates-Diop, SF, Ohio State

Bates-Diop just seems like one of those Spurs guys who does it all.

19. Hawks: Jerome Robinson, G/F, Boston College

The Hawks get some depth/scoring for their wings.

20. Minnesota TimberWolves: Melvin Frazier, G/F, Tulane

The Timberwolves need more 3 and D type of wings, and that’s exactly what Frazier is.

21. Utah Jazz: Aaron Holiday, PG, UCLA

Behind Ricky Rubio, the Jazz have some lackluster backups. Holiday can handle the ball when Donovan Mitchell is on or off the court.

22. Chicago Bulls: Chandler Hutchinson, SF, Boise State

Now, this has only a little to do with the so-called, “promise” given to Hutchinson to be drafted at 22 by the Bulls. I believe the Bulls said they really liked him and would strongly consider him. In the end, it seems like that’ll lead to him being the pick. It just makes sense all around. One could say small forward is the biggest need for the Bulls (it probably is). Valentine is not good, Zipser is definitely gone, and Nwaba isn’t a full-time starter.

Hutchinson is a jack of all trades, master of none, where he does everything well but not one thing specifically amazing. He’d be an upgrade over whatever else we have. He’s a senior, so he has experience like GarPax like. He also seems to be a good fit for Fred Hoiberg’s Pace and Space. Over the last 2 years, he shot 36.8% from 3, averaged 18.7 PPG, shooting over 52%, and averaging 7.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.5 SPG. He definitely does something for our biggest need. Whether he was promised or not, he’ll likely be the pick at 22, provided nobody drops.

23. Indiana Pacers: Jalen Brunson, PG, Villanova 

The Pacers need a point guard beside Collison, and Brunson is likely the safest pick here.

24. Portland Trail Blazers: Kevin Heurter, G/F, Maryland

The Blazers need wings, as it’s the weakest point on their team overall.

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Donte Devincenzo, G, Villanova 

Devincenzo seems like the slam-dunk pick Magic Johnson wants to make, as he’d provide a punch off the bench.

26. 76ers: Josh Okogie, G, Georgia Tech

The 76ers may lose Marco Bellineli or JJ Redick, so here’s another shooter.

27. Boston Celtics: Moritz Wagner, C, Michigan

The Celtics need a serious big man beside Horford, Theis, and Monroe, and Wagner is a near-7 footer with the touch from 3. He can grab boards.

28. Golden State Warriors: Khyri Thomas, G/F, Creighton

The Warriors have a weaker bench then most believe at the wing positions, so adding shooting there is a necessity.

29. Brooklyn Nets: Grayson Allen, G, Duke

The Nets should go for the most proven player, here being Grayson Allen. He can score when he wants to.

30. Hawks: Mitchell Robinson, C, WK

The Hawks should just address depth for every position, as they only have one center.

Here are my predictions for round 2. (NOTE: Many guards are available in this part of the draft, don’t be surprised if the Bulls traded back into the 2nd round and picked a guard.)

31. Suns: Dzanan Musa, SF, KK Cedevita
32. Grizzlies: Omari Spellman, PF, Grizzlies
33. Mavericks: Bruce Brown, G, Miami
34. Hawks: Elie Okobo, PG, France
35. Magic: Gary Trent Jr., F, Duke
36. Knicks: Hamidou Diallo, SG, Kentucky
37. Kings: De’Anthony Melton, G, USC
38. 76ers: Devonte Graham, G, Kansas
39. Lakers: Brandon McCoy, C, UNLV
40. Nets: Anfernee Simmons, G, IMG Academy
41. Magic: Rodions Kurucs, SF, Barcelona
42. Detroit Pistons: Jevon Carter, G, West Virginia
43. Nuggets: Jerrad Vanderbilt, F,  Kentucky

44. Wizards: Jacob Evans, F, Cincinnati
45. Nets: Kenrich Williams, F, TCU
46. Houston Rockets: Rawle Alkins, G/F, Arizona
47. Lakers: Allonzo Trier, G/F, Arizona
48. Timberwolves: Malik Newman, G, Kansas
49. Spurs: Isaac Bonga, G/F, Fraport Skyliners
50. Pacers: Chimezie Metu, C, USC
51. New Orleans Pelicans: Shake Milton, SG, SMU
52. Jazz: Justin Jackson, F, Maryland
53. OKC Thunder: Trevon Duval, PG, Duke
54. Mavericks: Landry Shamet, G, Wichita State
55. Hornets: Tony Carr, PG, Penn State
56. 76ers: Kostas Antetokounmpo, F, Dayton
57. Thunder: Donte Grantham, F, Clemson
58. Nuggets: Issuf, Sanon, G, Union Olimpija
59. Suns: Svi Mhaulik (Kansas dude), F, Kansas
60. 76ers: Tryggvi Hlinason, C, Valencia Basket