Duke in the NBA: Ball Durham’s First Round Mock Draft

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Grayson Allen #23 speaks with reporters during Day One of the NBA Draft Combine at Quest MultiSport Complex on May 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Grayson Allen #23 speaks with reporters during Day One of the NBA Draft Combine at Quest MultiSport Complex on May 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
1 of 7
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 17: A detailed view of the draft combine logo during Day One of the NBA Draft Combine at Quest MultiSport Complex on May 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 17: A detailed view of the draft combine logo during Day One of the NBA Draft Combine at Quest MultiSport Complex on May 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

It’s always an exciting time in late June as the NBA Draft rolls around and the NBA family gets to welcome more young talent into the league, adding more Duke in the NBA players to the already long list.

There is always so much intrigue around the NBA Draft, what players will fall? Will there be any shockers in the Top-10? How will the game of the international players translate to the NBA?

Well, we are going to try and hash things out with our first ever NBA First Round Mock Draft.

More from Ball Durham

The 2018 NBA Draft might be the deepest draft we have seen in a few years with polarizing players up and down the draft board and of course, the big time question marks teams and fans have about certain players.

The draft order is a bit unusual this year because like last year with a Top-3 of the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics, all three franchises have a great history where players would love to join and help win.

This year the Top-3 choices belong to the Pheonix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Atlanta Hawks, none of which are the poster franchises for the NBA.

However, the storylines with the top players in this year’s draft and the connections those players already have with the teams will certainly make things interesting come draft night.

Anyway, we took a stab at trying to come up with a First Round for the NBA Draft that makes sense and just feels right.