With the 2018 NBA Draft a little more than two weeks away, it’s time to take a look at what needs each team has to address with its draft picks. In the Western Conference the goal of 14 teams is to put together a roster capable of unseating the Golden State Warriors, a franchise that appears to be on its way to a third NBA title in the last four seasons. Houston, which took the Warriors to seven games in the Western Conference Finals, has plenty of talent and there are other teams in the West not far off from contending. There also teams that are in the midst of a rebuild, as they look to get into a position where simply making the playoffs is a realistic goal.
Below are thoughts on what areas each Western Conference team needs to address in this year’s draft.
Dallas Mavericks (24-58)
Picks: 5, 34, 54
Need: Front court building block
Franchise staple Dirk Nowitzki will be back for his 21st season, and Dallas needs to account for the fact that eventually he will retire. The Mavericks added a key building block to the mix last summer by drafting point guard Dennis Smith Jr., and this time around the team is in a spot on the draft board where it could land a gifted player who can slot into Nowitzki’s role once the future Hall of Famer calls it a career (and play alongside Nowitzki next season). Adding a forward who can score both inside and out would be the best move for Dallas, when it comes to the franchise’s future beyond 2018-19. While that would be the preferable move, adding a big who doesn’t have range out to the three-point line wouldn’t be a major problem either. Having three picks to address the need for front court depth should help the Mavericks, and they’ll need that lottery pick to be a player the team believes without a doubt it can use as a major player as the rebuild continues.
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Denver Nuggets (46-36)
Picks: 14, 43, 58
Need: Point guard
The Nuggets, who finished a game out of a playoff spot, have some good perimeter pieces to build with in Gary Harris and Jamal Murray. However, there’s a need to improve the team’s depth, especially with Devin Harris and Will Barton both being free agents this summer. Murray can handle some of the point guard responsibilities moving forward and improving the depth at that spot is something Denver will need to do if they’re to build on the positive momentum gained this season. Denver’s first round pick is in a spot where guards and wings are expected to be plentiful, and with two second-round picks the team can address the need for perimeter depth even further. Taking a shot on a developmental big man, especially one who may need to remain overseas next season, could be in play at number 58 but adding players to the perimeter may be the best course of action for Denver.
Golden State Warriors (58-24)
Picks: 28
Need: Front court depth
While the majority of the team’s most important players have been taken care of contract-wise, with Kevin Durant expected to re-sign with the team this summer, the bench does need to be addressed. The Warriors have a host of contracts due to come off the books July 1, and while teams like Golden State can take a measured approach in filling out their roster due to the desire of players to join a title contender, landing a player via the draft who can contribute as a reserve would be a good idea. One step was taken in this direction towards the end of the season as Quinn Cook played well enough to earn a contract that’s guaranteed for the 2018-19 season. However, with Nick Young, Zaza Pachulia, Kevon Looney, JaVale McGee and David West all due to be free agents, the Warriors’ lone pick in this draft becomes of even greater importance. What the team can also do is purchase a pick from another team to get a player they really value, as they did last year when acquiring Jordan Bell from Chicago.
Houston Rockets (65-17)
Picks: 46
Need: Wing depth
The Rockets have just one pick in this year’s draft, and in discussing what the team should address at number 46 it should be noted that free agency will have a far greater impact on the direction of the franchise. Chris Paul will be an unrestricted free agent, as will wings Trevor Ariza, Luc Mbah a Moute, Joe Johnson and Gerald Green. Whether or not the Rockets manage to land an elite wing in free agency, the team is in a spot where getting a young option at a decent price wouldn’t be a bad idea. The emphasis here would be on a “3-and-D” guy, as Paul (should he re-sign with the Rockets) and James Harden will remain the team’s primary ball-handlers. Being comfortable offensively without seeing much of the basketball outside of catch and shoot situations will likely be a key for whichever wings the Rockets either add or re-sign this summer. Nevertheless, Houston could also go the “draft and stash” route with the 46th pick to keep some money clear in preparation for free agency.
LA Clippers (42-40)
Picks: 12, 13
Needs: Point guard, athletic big
With Chris Paul being traded last summer and Blake Griffin meeting the same fate in January, two-thirds of the Clippers’ “big three” was gone before the All-Star break. That left DeAndre Jordan, who on July 1 will have the ability to opt out of the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent (which is expected to be the case). The possible loss of Jordan means that the Clippers will likely need to use one of their two lottery picks on a big man, preferably one who’s highly athletic and can have an impact defensively. Point guard is another area the team needs to address, and if the Clippers can land a guard who can both initiate offense and occasionally play off the ball (Austin Rivers and Milos Teodosic both have player options this summer), that would be even better. This franchise could have a much different look once free agency concludes, and the draft gives Jerry West and Lawrence Frank an opportunity to begin charting that course into the future.
Los Angeles Lakers (35-47)
Picks: 25, 47
Need: Front court depth, talent
Given the number of contracts coming off of the team’s books July 1, the hope amongst the Lakers faithful is that the franchise can reel in at least one elite free agent this summer. But even if that were to happen, team president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka need to improve the team’s front court depth, especially with Julius Randle set to become a restricted free agent. Brook Lopez and Channing Frye, who combined to count for just over $30 million of the Lakers’ cap space this season, both come off the books, and Ivica Zubac and Thomas Bryant have contracts for next season that are not guaranteed. While front court depth is one concern, adding a quality shooter to the mix wouldn’t be a bad idea either as the Lakers were the second-worst three-point shooting team in the NBA. Whichever direction the Lakers go with their two picks, the team needs to get players who can both supplement a superstar and help with the rebuild should LA strike out in free agency.
Memphis Grizzlies (22-60)
Picks: 4, 32
Needs: Talent/guard depth
A good percentage of Memphis’ cap space is being taken up by three players: Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons and Marc Gasol, with that triumvirate combining to count for more than $78 million against the cap for next season. Given the contracts coming off of the books this summer the Grizzlies will have some room to make additions, but they need to improve the depth of talent on this roster. With the fourth overall pick, a disappointment since Memphis had the second-best odds of landing the top pick heading into the lottery draw, the team is in a spot where it should have its pick of multiple talented front court options. What the team will also need to address is its perimeter depth, as Tyreke Evans and Mario Chalmers will be unrestricted free agents and the contracts of Andrew Harrison and Wayne Selden are not fully guaranteed (Harrison is guaranteed $100,000). While the big men are the headliners at the top of the draft, the late-first and early-second sections could be dominated by perimeter players and that could work well for the Grizzlies at pick number 32.
Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35)
Picks: 20, 48
Need: Perimeter shooting
The Timberwolves were able to get out of the lottery, earning a postseason berth for the first time in 14 seasons. Houston eliminated Minnesota in five games, but Tom Thibodeau’s team certainly has taken steps in the right direction. Nevertheless, despite ranking fourth in the NBA in offensive rating the Timberwolves were last in the league in both three-point attempts and makes (19th in three-point percentage). With wings such as Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins who are adept at beating defenses off the dribble and a talented big in Karl-Anthony Towns, having a shooter who can consistently knock down perimeter looks would help with Minnesota’s offensive spacing. Further, with Jamal Crawford having already decided to opt out of the final year of his deal, there’s an even greater need for Minnesota to address its perimeter shooting in the draft.
New Orleans Pelicans (48-34)
Picks: 51
Need: Point guard depth
The Pelicans have some key questions to answer regarding players currently on the team’s roster, as both DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo will be free agents come July 1. Setting those issues aside, the Pelicans will need to improve their depth at the point guard spot, either with the team’s lone draft pick or in free agency. If Rondo returns it would be he and Jrue Holiday handling the lion’s share of the responsibilities in getting New Orleans into its offense, but without Rondo where would the Pelicans turn when Holiday needs a break? New Orleans also has some contract issues to sort out in the front court beyond Cousins, but as of right now adding another ball-handler to the mix is the more pressing issue heading into the draft.
Oklahoma City Thunder (48-34)
Picks: 53, 57
Need: Bench depth
With Paul George expected to opt out of the final year of his deal and become an unrestricted free agent, and Carmelo Anthony expected to opt into the final year of his deal, the Thunder will have some major issues to address during free agency. Something else the team needs to address is its bench depth, especially with the likes of Corey Brewer, Jerami Grant and Raymond Felton all becoming free agents July 1. If Oklahoma City can use one of its picks on an athletic, versatile forward that would help the team address the possibility of losing Grant this offseason. Lastly, it wouldn’t be a shock if Oklahoma City used one of its two second-round picks on a “draft and stash” prospect they won’t have to bring over immediately.
Phoenix Suns (21-61)
Picks: 1, 16, 31, 59
Needs: Talent, big, point guard
The Suns have the top overall pick in an NBA draft for the first time in franchise history, and it couldn’t come at a better time for a franchise that’s struggled for a few years now. There are many needs for the Suns front office to address, with one being the fact that the team needs to add a big man it can truly build with moving forward. Neither Dragan Bender nor Marquese Chriss has shown enough to be that kind of player at this stage in their respective careers, and Tyson Chandler is in the latter stages of his run as an NBA player. In a draft that’s top-heavy when it comes to high-level big men, having the first pick gives Phoenix some flexibility even with the expectation being that they’re going with Arizona’s Deandre Ayton. Another area of need is point guard, with Tyler Ulis being the team’s most dependable option as Brandon Knight’s struggled with injuries and Elfrid Payton due to be a restricted free agent come July 1. This is a good draft for the Suns to have four picks, as they desperately need to add to the roster talented players who can help Devin Booker with this rebuild. The key now is for GM Ryan McDonough to make picks that pan out.
Portland Trail Blazers (49-33)
Picks: 24
Needs: 3-and-D wing, big man
Given some of the contracts Portland has handed out in recent years, the team doesn’t have much in the way of flexibility when it comes to improving the team via free agency. There are two areas of need for the Blazers heading into the draft: a “3-and-D” wing that doesn’t need the ball in his hands all that often, and an athletic big that can help with the team’s interior depth. Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and Evan Turner are the players Terry Stotts leans on when it comes to the play-making responsibilities and adding a wing who can consistently make shots playing off of those options would help the Northwest Division champions moving forward. With regards to the front court, Ed Davis will be a free agent this summer, Jusuf Nurkic will be a restricted free agent and Al-Farouq Aminu has just one year left on his deal. At pick number 24 going with a wing may be the more prudent choice, although there’s always the ability to acquire a second-round pick in exchange for cash if Portland wanted to take that approach as well.
Sacramento Kings (27-55)
Picks: 2, 36
Need: Versatile forward
Having entered the draft lottery with the seventh-best chance of landing the top overall pick, Sacramento wound up with the second pick behind Phoenix. Having added the likes of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Justin Jackson and Frank Mason to the perimeter and Willie Cauley-Stein and Skal Labissiere in recent years, there’s no shortage of young options on this roster. What’s missing is a forward who can fill multiple roles, be it a wing that can both make plays for himself and set up teammates or a combo forward that’s comfortable both inside and on the perimeter. Draft prospects such as Luka Doncic and Marvin Bagley III fit the bill, and it will be interesting to see what approach Sacramento takes with that second overall pick. Beyond becoming more versatile at the forward spots, the Kings simply need to add more talent to this rebuilding roster.
San Antonio Spurs (47-35)
Picks: 18, 49
Need: Shooting guard/wing
While the Kawhi Leonard situation has dominated the Spurs-related headlines, there are other questions marks the Spurs will need to address this offseason. The general feeling is that Danny Green will opt into the final year of his deal (worth $10 million), and Rudy Gay has a player option as well. Add in Kyle Anderson and Bryn Forbes being restricted free agents, Manu Ginobili in the twilight of what will ultimately be a Hall of Fame career, and the wing positions stick out as areas San Antonio will need to address. The mid- to late portions of the first round of this draft appear to set up well for teams looking for help in that area, as there should be no shortage of off-guards/wings. Adding a “3-and-D”-type player to the mix would help the Spurs from a depth standpoint as the team looks to return to being a title contender after getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this season.
Utah Jazz (48-34)
Picks: 21, 52
Need: Wing scoring
Utah hit the jackpot in last year’s draft, picking up a player in guard Donovan Mitchell who emerged as a key building block in the post-Gordon Hayward era. Both he and center Rudy Gobert are key figures for Utah moving forward as the team looks to continue to improve its standing within the Western Conference. Adding depth on the wing should be one of the focuses for Utah, as this is a team that while having averaged four points per game more than the 2016-17 campaign remains in the middle of the pack with regards to offensive rating. Adding another player who can consistently create offense would help the Jazz take that next step after losing in the second round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons. While Jae Crowder is under contract for two more seasons, the Jazz still have decisions to make regarding Thabo Sefolosha and Royce O’Neale. Sefolosha’s contract for next season becomes guaranteed if he isn’t waived by July 1, and O’Neale’s contract for next season is not guaranteed.
