The expectations placed upon an NBA Draft prospect are almost exclusively tied to the position they are picked at. No. 1 overall picks are expected to become franchise cornerstones and lead their new franchises to a championship (or championships). The same can largely be said for top-five picks, and expectations gradually get lower the deeper and deeper you go down the NBA Draft order.
However, as we’ve seen so often in recent memory, the team that drafts a player is just as important to that player’s success as their individual talent. DeMarcus Cousins toiled away in Sacramento for years before he was dealt to New Orleans. Jahlil Okafor struggled to find his place in Philadelphia and is already trying to resurrect his career in Brooklyn.
On the flip side, Donovan Mitchell fell to 13th and became Utah’s go-to player in a team friendly system. Kawhi Leonard was drafted 15th overall and was immediately traded to San Antonio, where he developed into a superstar. You can’t be a great player in the NBA without an abundance of talent, but you also can’t be a truly great player without a team around you that’s equally invested in your success.
So, which 2018 NBA Draft prospects are headed to the best situations?
PF Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies – Round 1, Pick 4
Many top prospects (namely Mo Bamba) did not want to go to Memphis due to questions about their front office and the overall direction of the franchise. Jackson also had concerns, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, but ultimately warmed up to the idea of playing for the Grizzlies.
And Jackson would be smart to feel that way.
Mike Conley and Marc Gasol are obviously still the two stars in Memphis, but that actually works out best for Jackson’s development. He’ll be able to step right in as a needed defensive stopper and elite rim protector but won’t be relied on to carry the load on the offensive end.
Many scouts fell in love with Jackson’s upside as a talented prospect who is still 18 years old, and it’s easy to see why. He averaged three blocks per game at Michigan State and flashed outstanding athleticism along with a reliable jump shot, making over one three-pointer per game.
Jackson is far from being the player he’s eventually going to be despite being the No. 4 overall pick. He’s not great with his back to the basket moves, can’t create his own shot – he needs to be open and set -, and has a tendency to get into foul trouble.
The good news for him is that he won’t be asked to do what he can’t do (yet). He’ll be asked to be their rim protector and make his impact defensive while contributing what he can on the offensive end.
Essentially, Jackson won’t face the pressure of some other top picks and will be allowed to grow into his game. That will benefit both him and the Grizzlies long-term.
PF/C Wendell Carter Jr., Chicago Bulls – Round 1, Pick 7
Carter’s production during his lone season at Duke went largely under the radar because he played next to Marvin Bagley, but he was a dominant big man in his own right for the Blue Devils.
The 6-foot-10, 260-pounder is a force down low, recording over nine rebounds and two blocks per game as a freshman. Carter also already has a reliable post game, is comfortable playing with his back to the basket, and is a good passer.
Chicago already had one of their long-term pieces in the frontcourt in Lauri Markkanen, the No. 7 overall pick in last year’s draft, but he prefers to play on the perimeter. Carter represents the perfect pair for Markkanen as that physical big that can handle his work down low.
That extra spacing is something that Carter thinks will allow him to be even more effective in the NBA than he was in college.
“I think even my teammates, all my teammates weren’t able to show all their strengths,’’ Carter said during the pre-draft process when asked about playing next to Bagley. “That’s just the college life. You buy into whatever college you go to, and you do whatever you got to do to help the team win. I think – not even speaking for myself but all my teammates – we’re going to be able to show a lot more that we can do at the next level with spacing on the floor.
“Frankly, it’s the NBA. It’s one-on-one, it’s not no zone like we were playing. There’s a lot more space on the floor.’’
And he’s right. With more room to operate in the areas of the floor where he’s most comfortable, Carter should flourish.
SF Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets – Round 1, Pick 14
There is one giant concern when it comes to Porter with his back injury, which caused him to miss all but three games during his freshman season. Lingering concerns about the injury caused him to fall to the last pick in the lottery but, assuming he can return to 100 percent, the Nuggets got a major steal. Even if he doesn’t return to being the player that was projected to be the No. 1 overall pick coming out of high school, Denver gives him a great chance to be successful.
They have a major need at small forward, which is the most important factor. Denver has been looking for a long-term answer at the position ever since trading Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks and they don’t feel comfortable starting Wilson Chandler at this point in his career.
Porter is a scorer first, and while the Nuggets also need a true go-to guy on the wing, they’re not desperate for scoring.
Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, and Jamal Murray are all capable of scoring 30 points on any given night and can help lighten Porter’s load. Those threats will keep Porter from facing consistent double teams and all three are gifted passers (Jokic especially).
Obviously, Porter’s NBA success – or lack thereof – will largely be determined by the health of his back. But, if he is healthy, Denver has the personnel to maximize his talent.
SG Donte DiVincenzo, Milwaukee Bucks – Round 1, Pick 17
The hero of the national championship game has greatly improved his all-around game since he arrived at Villanova, but at his core, DiVincenzo is still a super offensive threat capable of getting hot and taking over a game at a moment’s notice.
Did we mention his 31-point performance off the bench in the national championship game?
The Bucks already have a solid starting lineup yet need depth if they’re going to challenge with the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Defense is still a concern with DiVincenzo even though his athleticism gives him a good deal of upside on that end of the floor, but Milwaukee doesn’t need defense. They need shooting and more firepower off the bench, both of which DiVincenzo provides in spades.
He will be able to step into a role immediately where he’ll be able to gun it and play with a lot of freedom, which plays to his strengths. Plus, his experience in Jay Wright’s system should allow him to pick up new Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer’s offense fairly easily.
Expect more outstanding and exciting high-production performances from DiVincenzo off the bench next season.
PG Jevon Carter, Memphis Grizzlies – Round 2, Pick 32
There is no better place for a player of Carter’s defensive prowess to end up than in Memphis, whose Grit-N-Grind style is right up Carter’s alley. The West Virginia product was easily the best defensive player in the country last season, averaging three steals per game and routinely locking down the opponent’s most dangerous perimeter player.
His defense will be what Memphis will embrace and is what will earn him a spot relatively high in their rotation, but it’s his improved playmaking (6.6 assists per game) and three-point shooting (39.3 percent) that give him even more upside.
The Grizzlies needed a reliable backup point guard and know they got one in Carter, who has been compared to former Grizzlies great Tony Allen. He will be a contributor for Memphis for many years even if he doesn’t prove to be a consistent offensive threat. However, if Carter continues to improve and develop on that end, he could end up being the steal of the draft.
Next: 5 under-the-radar incoming freshmen
All of these players look to potential value picks based on where they were selected in the draft. Location and fit can mean everything in terms of a player reaching his potential and hopefully everything works out for these individuals.