2018 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Cavs take a risk; Trae Young jumps to the top 5

2018 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Cavs take a big risk; Trae Young jumps into the top 5

By Connor Harr | Mar 19, 2018

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 16: Michael Porter Jr. #13 of the Missouri Tigers shoots the ball against the Florida State Seminoles during the game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 10: Nick Rakocevic #31 of the USC Trojans guards Deandre Ayton #13 of the Arizona Wildcats during the championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 75-61. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Dallas Mavericks – Deandre Ayton, C, Arizona

Should the Dallas Mavericks win the 2018 NBA Draft Lottery, this is a no-brainer. With an aging Dirk Nowitzki on the team, the Mavs need to start looking for his successor.

At the same time, they need to find a young star to stick next to Dennis Smith Jr. – and possibly Harrison Barnes, depending on whether plan on re-signing him after next season. Adding a player like Deandre Ayton would be the ideal scenario for the Mavs.

Ayton is long, athletic and is poised to be the NBA’s next “unicorn.” He has proven that he can score with the best of them and while he struggles on the defensive end has all the capabilities to be a really two-way player.