Redrafting the 2018 NBA Draft: Michael Porter Jr. rises in historically good class while Deandre Ayton falls

The 2018 NBA Draft will go down as one of the best of the last 20 years.

It’s headlined by obvious No. 1 pick Luka Doncic, who was passed over by both the Suns and Kings and traded by the Hawks. That mistake is much easier to see in hindsight, along with a ton of other moves that general managers would probably take back if they could. 

Michael Porter Jr. is one such example. He fell to 14th in this draft after being red-flagged for medical reasons. How high would he go today?

Two of our writers — Stephen Noh and Scott Rafferty — put on their GM hats and took turns redrafting the 2018 lottery to see what it would look like in the year 2023. 

MORE: Nikola Jokic rises from No. 41 to No. 1 in 2014 redraft

Redrafting the 2018 NBA Draft

1. Luka Doncic, Suns

• Original pick: Deandre Ayton
• Doncic’s original draft position: 3rd (Hawks, traded to Mavericks)

This remains a no-brainer. Doncic is an offensive genius who is without question one of the 10 best players in the NBA today. Disappointing as the 2022-23 season was for the Mavericks, they’re only a season removed from Doncic leading them to the Conference Finals. It’s still easy to see multiple MVPs and perhaps multiple championships in Doncic’s future. — Rafferty

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kings

• Original pick: Marvin Bagley III
• Gilgeous-Alexander’s original draft position: 11th (Hornets, traded to Thunder)

Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t put up crazy numbers in his sole year at Kentucky, which made him a steal when this draft initially occurred. The secret is now out on how good Gilgeous-Alexander is, and he’s not falling any more. He was named to the All-NBA First Team in 2023.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the most fearless drivers in the game. He’s fantastic at drawing contact, finishing at the rim and setting up teammates. He’s also been incredibly clutch, and a solid defender to top it off. — Noh

MORE: Why Joel Embiid won SN’s Player of the Year in 2023

3. Trae Young, Hawks

• Original pick: Luka Doncic
• Young’s original draft position: 5th (Mavs)

Young’s stock has fallen a bit over the last two seasons, but he’s still one of the most dominant offensive players in the NBA — a big-time scorer who is also an elite passer. Here’s to hoping Hawks head coach Quin Snyder can help Young reach another level by eliminating some of his bad habits. — Rafferty

4. Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies

• Original pick: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Jackson Jr. was scouted as a good 3-point shooter that the Grizzlies hoped might someday win the Defensive Player of the Year award. He’s lived up exactly to those expectations, which should make it no surprise that he goes in the same draft slot that he was originally taken in.

Jackson Jr. is one of the best rim protectors in the league and has the mobility on the perimeter to switch if necessary. He’s a foundational piece for the Grizzlies. — Noh

5. Mikal Bridges, Mavericks

• Original pick: Trae Young
• Bridges’ original draft position: 10th (76ers, traded to Suns)

I was torn between Bridges and Jalen Brunson here. You can’t go wrong with either, but I give the slight edge to Bridges in a redraft. His 3-point shooting and defensive versatility make him someone every team in the league would want on their roster. If the leap he made offensively with the Nets is real, it’s not hard to imagine him being in the All-Star conversation in the years to come. — Rafferty

6. Jalen Brunson, Magic

• Original pick: Mo Bamba
• Brunson’s original draft position: 33rd (Mavs)

Brunson has turned into a player that is good enough to win a playoff series by himself, as he proved in 2023. He has one of the best bags in the league, using a dizzying array of moves to get into the paint or to his fadeaway.

He’s a tough-as-nails guard that has become a good 3-point shooter and a terrific player. 

MORE: Redrafting 2016 with Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray and more

7. Deandre Ayton, Bulls

• Original pick: Wendell Carter Jr.
• Ayton’s original draft position: 1st (Suns)

Ayton might not be at the same level as Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Young, and yet he’s still a quality player. Would it be nice if played with more force? Absolutely, but he’s still a nightly double-double threat who has a soft touch around the basket and has anchored some elite defenses in Phoenix. I still have faith that we’ve yet to see the best of Ayton. — Rafferty

8. Michael Porter Jr., Cavaliers

• Original pick: Collin Sexton
• Porter Jr.’s original draft position: 14th (Nuggets)

That Porter is going eighth in this redraft is a testament to how strong this class is. He’s a walking bucket, hitting 41.7 percent of his 3s for his career. At 6-foot-10, Porter has great size to work inside too, and he’s improved as a team defender from where he started his career. 

Porter’s overall health is still somewhat of a concern — he missed almost two full seasons with back issues already. But when he’s been on the floor, he’s been one of the best scorers in this class. — Noh

9. Robert Williams III, Knicks

• Original pick: Kevin Knox
• Williams’ original draft position: 27th (Celtics)

This is based more on what Williams did in 2021-22 when he made the All-Defensive Second Team on the strength of his shot-blocking. When healthy, he’s one of the best anchors in the NBA. He’s also an incredibly efficient scorer who knows his limitations. — Rafferty

10. Kevin Huerter, 76ers

• Original pick: Mikal Bridges
• Huerter’s original draft position: 19th (Hawks)

Shooting is at a premium in the NBA, and Huerter certainly provides that. He’s a great movement shooter that has hit 38.5 percent of his 3s for his career. He also has some more playmaking chops than he’s given credit for. He’s able to make all of the passes in the book. — Noh

11. Bruce Brown, Hornets

• Original pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Brown’s original draft position: 42nd (Pistons)

This might be a bit of a reach, but I love what Brown brings to the table as a role player. The Nets basically used him as a big man, having him set screens and roll to the basket. He’s been able to flex his guard muscle more in Denver, and it’s resulted in the best season yet of his career. He’s another player who fits on pretty much every team in the league. — Rafferty

12. Anfernee Simons, Clippers

• Original pick: Miles Bridges
• Simons’ original draft position: 24th (Blazers)

Simons is a big-time scorer, already averaging 21.1 points per game in only his fifth season in the league. He was one of the youngest prospects in his draft class, and he’s shown after gaining some experience that he is an extremely talented shooter and driver. — Noh

13. Wendell Carter Jr., Clippers

• Original pick: Jerome Robinson
• Carter’s original draft position: 7th (Bulls)

Steph did a nice job of summarizing what Carter Jr. does well during the 2021-22 season. Carter Jr. went on to average a career-high 15.2 points per game in 2022-23 while making 1.4 3-pointers per game at a 35.6 percent clip, both of which were also career-bests. He’s developing into a versatile big on both ends of the court.

14. Mitchell Robinson, Nuggets

• Original pick: Michael Porter Jr.
• Robinson’s original draft position: 36th (Knicks)

The things that Robinson does well, he does extremely well. He’s not going to be shooting 3s or hitting free throws at a high rate, but he is a shot-blocking force. And if you get the ball anywhere near the rim for him, he can catch it and throw it down for a lob dunk. He’s one of the better centers in the league. — Noh

Best players still available: Miles Bridges, Caris LeVert, Gary Payton II, Malik Beasley, Georges Niang, Taurean Prince