Now that we know which players are going pro and which team won the lottery, it is time to start predicting where everyone will get drafted. Some websites do their mock drafts based on “best player available”, but we will try to focus on team needs: for example, if a non-playoff team like Minnesota already has Karl-Anthony Towns in the post, then they are probably not selecting a center with the #5 overall pick. So, please see our 1st round predictions below, and then let us know in the comments section what looks good and what might need a re-pick before our next update.
# TEAM: NAME (POSITION, SCHOOL/COUNTRY)
1. Philadelphia: Ben Simmons (SF/PF, LSU)
2. LA Lakers: Brandon Ingram (SF, Duke)
3. Boston: Dragan Bender (PF, Croatia)
4. Phoenix: Jaylen Brown (SG/SF, California)
5. Minnesota: Domantas Sabonis (PF, Gonzaga)
6. New Orleans: Jakob Poeltl (C, Utah)
7. Denver: Buddy Hield (SG, Oklahoma)
8. Sacramento: Jamal Murray (PG/SG, Kentucky)
9. Toronto: Marquese Chriss (PF, Washington)
10. Milwaukee: Kris Dunn (PG, Providence)
11. Orlando: Henry Ellenson (PF/C, Marquette)
12. Utah: Dejounte Murray (PG/SG, Washington)
13. Phoenix: Deyonta Davis (PF/C Michigan State)
14. Chicago: Denzel Valentine (SG/SF, Michigan State)
15. Denver: Furkan Korkmaz (SG, Turkey)
16. Boston: Cheick Diallo (PF/C, Kansas)
17. Memphis: Timothe Luwawu (SG/SF, France)
18. Detroit: Skal Labissiere (PF/C, Kentucky)
19. Denver: DeAndre Bembry (SG/SF, St. Joseph’s)
20. Indiana: Damian Jones (C, Vanderbilt)
21. Atlanta: Taurean Prince (SF, Baylor)
22. Charlotte: Stephen Zimmerman (PF/C, UNLV)
23. Boston: Malik Beasley (SG, Florida State)
24. Philadelphia: Malachi Richardson (SG, Syracuse)
25. LA Clippers: Pascal Siakam (PF, New Mexico State)
26. Philadelphia: Thon Maker (PF/C, Australia)
27. Toronto: Brice Johnson (PF, North Carolina)
28. Phoenix: Ante Zizic (C, Croatia)
29. San Antonio: Patrick McCaw (SG, UNLV)
30. Golden State: Diamond Stone (C, Maryland)