The 2018 NBA Draft if it was held today
As mentioned earlier, the 2018 NBA Draft class had multiple big names at the top and middle of the draft. When you have players who have already become not just All-Stars but superstars in a few short years, you know the draft was special.
I don’t think there is much debate about who would be in the top-three, even though Collin Sexton could be as high as third, depending on how you look at the statistics.
1. Luka Doncic
2. Trae Young
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Despite being drafted in the middle of the first round, Gilgeous-Alexander has shown that he is one of the top players in that draft. Four through six would probably go in this order:
4. Collin Sexton
5. Michael Porter Jr.
6. Deandre Ayton
This is where it becomes interesting. You have players like Jaren Jackson Jr., who has played really well when on the court, but has missed all of this year and parts of the first two years of his career. Marvin Bagley has also missed a lot of time for the Sacramento Kings.
You also have players like Robert Williams, who has emerged this year as a good center for the Boston Celtics and looks like a prime Shaquille O’Neal every time he plays against the Houston Rockets. Not to mention players like Mikal Bridges and Gary Trent Jr., but Tate’s overall game ranks better than any of the three players just mentioned.
Tate, however, has looked like anything but a rookie this year for the Rockets. That’s why I think Jaren Jackson Jr. would be the seventh pick, followed by Tate at number eight.
Next: Why Tate belongs in the Top 10