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May 4, 2023.
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Phoenix Suns: Luke Doncic, PG, Slovenia 
Actual Pick: DeAndre Ayton
Ayton has been a huge piece on some fantastic teams, but Luka Doncic is 23 and the No. 1 offensive player in the league. Doncic is also an elite shooter who just averaged 32+ points, 8+ rebounds and eight assists a game. He will have a Hall of Fame career. -
Sacramento King: Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Michigan State 
Actual Pick: Marvin Bagley
Jackson, or JJJ, is an elite defender who just averaged three blocks a game and was just named the NBA’s No. 1 defender. He’s also a fantastic third scorer who is a near-20-point scorer and is a big-time shooter. There are a dozen players who would have been a stronger pick than Bagley. -
Dallas Mavericks: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Kentucky 
Actual Pick: Luka Doncic
Yes, I am aware that Atlanta had the third pick and traded the rights of Doncic to the Mavericks for the rights to Young and a first-round pick. As for Gilgeous-Alexander, he became a superstar this season, averaging more than 30 points a game and leading his incredibly young team to the play-in. Missing Doncic would have made them a lesser team, but Gilgeous-Alexander would be a nice consolation prize -
Memphis Grizzlies: Mikal Bridges, SF, Villanova 
Actual Pick: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis is quite happy with Jackson Jr., but Bridges, who became the franchise player for the Nets after his trade from Phoenix, would have been a nice pick for Memphis. He is a fantastic two-way player who should be an all-star for a long time. -
Atlanta Hawks: DeAndre Ayton, C, Arizona 
Actual Pick: Trae Young
Trae Young to me, is about to ask for a trade, but has been a pretty solid franchise player for the Hawks. Ayton wouldn’t be too shabby of a consolation prize because he’s a skilled scorer and rebounder and is a franchise center. The problem is he shouldn’t be an 18-10 center; he should be a 20-10 center. He has the ability to be more, to be a star, but he just isn’t. -
Orlando Magic: Trae Young, G, Oklahoma 
Actual Pick: Mo Bamba
Young may be a tad lower than he should be, but he just had a season which there were internal issues, his team was nowhere near where it should of been, and he played to a lower standard himself. Young is a heck of a point guard, scorer and shooter, and I think he will request a trade. -
Chicago Bulls: Jalen Brunson, PG, Villanova 
Actual Pick: Wendell Carter Jr.
Brunson has become an excellent NBA player, a should-be all-star, an elite shooter and scorer while also being the franchise player for the Knicks. He’s a solid playmaker as well, but he would be wisely used as a big-time option. Dallas kinda screwed the pooch on that one. As a Bulls fan, I approve. -
Cleveland Cavaliers: Michael Porter Jr., F, Missouri 
Actual Pick: Collin Sexton
This one was hard, as there are two excellent centers on the board and a big-time scorer. Porter Jr. is playing a huge offensive role on an elite team and is a very efficient scorer. If it wasn’t for injuries, he could have been an-star by now. -
New York Knicks: Robert Williams, C, Texas 
Actual Pick: Kevin Knox
I am still somewhat of a Kevin Knox fan, but here, the Knicks could take a superior guy to their current center, who is on the board, which is a risky, but smart, pick. Williams is one of the NBA’s elite rebounders and shot-blockers and a ridiculously efficient scorer. -
Philadelphia 76ers: Anfernee Simons, SG, USA 
Actual Pick: Mikal Bridges
Simons is the Robin to Damian Lillard’s Batman in Portland and just averaged more than 20 points. Simons looks a lot like Tyrese Maxey, meaning he would be a strong fit on the 76ers. -
Charlotte Hornets: Mitchell Robinson, C, Texas
Actual Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Robinson has been and should continue to be the Knicks’ starting center for years, but would have been a fantastic fit for the Hornets; they started Mason Plumlee until recently. Robinson could have become their franchise center. As for Gilgeous-Alexander, he was involved in multiple trades obviously and there’s little reason to examine him in Charlotte. -
Los Angeles Clippers: Gary Trent Jr., G, Duke 
Actual Pick: Miles Bridges
Trent is a playoff team’s fourth option who has been acting as the third in Toronto. Make no mistake, he’s a fantastic scorer, but he lacks the efficiency to carry a huge role. Regardless, he would have been a nice prospect for the Clippers. -
Los Angeles Clippers: Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama
Actual Pick: Jerome Robinson
Yeah, I forgot about Sexton, as he missed most of a season due to injury and spent this season as a reserve in Utah. He at least got paid and should start next season for the Jazz. He would have been a fantastic sixth man for the Clippers, as he was a 24-point scorer recently. -
Denver Nuggets: Bruce Brown, SF, Miami 
Actual Pick: Michael Porter Jr.
Brown is currently on the Nuggets and one of the elite role guys in the NBA. He is a strong scorer and defender, but it’s the energy and hustle that make him special. -
Washington Wizards: Marvin Bagley, C, Duke
Actual Pick: Troy Brown Jr.
Bagley will live on in basketball lore as the guy the Kings picked instead of Luka Doncic, but that wasn’t Bagley’s fault. He produces stats, in fact given starter minutes, he would have averaged about 17-19 points, 9-11 rebounds and 1-2 blocks a game this season.
Go to Mike’s 2018 NBA Mock Re-Draft: Round 1 – Picks 16-30
Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.
By Mike Elworth.
Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.
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