Will this year's NBA rookie class provide another Donovan Mitchell or Kyle Kuzma?
Every season, we see prospects outperform expectations. These players drafted outside of the top 10 could fit that mold in 2018-19.
Keep in mind: While there are a handful of prospects who will eventually break out, we have to take into account expected rookie role. A player such as Aaron Holiday should end up being a tremendous value at No. 23 overall, but it will likely take him time to see consistent NBA minutes on Indiana's roster.
2018 first-rounders
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 6-foot-6 | Point guard | LA Clippers
Pick: No. 11 overall
Gilgeous-Alexander is a jumbo playmaker with impressive pace, polish and creativity to go with pro tools. One of the longest PGs in the NBA, he gets whatever he wants on the floor thanks to his stride, handle and ability to play at different speeds. He brings rare poise for a 20-year-old rookie, which should help him make an instant impact. Given his slight frame and somewhat flat-footed release, Gilgeous-Alexander doesn't project as an explosive half-court scorer immediately. However, he's a smooth, experienced ball-screen facilitator who sets up his teammates and takes what the defense gives him by employing short pullups, crafty floaters and advanced at-rim finishes.
At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan, Gilgeous-Alexander has the tools and instincts to defend two or three NBA positions, making him easier to slot in multi-guard lineups. He has also shown the ability to knock down open catch-and-shoot 3s (though on a low volume). Gilgeous-Alexander will have to find creative ways to combat the consistent pick-and-roll under coverages he's destined to face, but he has all the ingredients to become the top point guard from the 2018 draft.
"I feel like I'm the best playmaker, and defender (in the draft) and stuff like that at my size and position," Gilgeous-Alexander told ESPN.
Situation
Gilgeous-Alexander -- who the Clips shut down early in the pre-draft process -- may not be able to match Trae Young or Collin Sexton for sheer volume, given LA's backcourt depth. Head coach Doc Rivers is also known for leaning more heavily on veterans. But the rookie has earned his stripes with a strong training camp, and he's likely the Clippers' best backcourt facilitator (save the 31-year-old, often injury-prone Milos Teodosic).
Lou Williams, Teodosic and Patrick Beverley (on a partially guaranteed contract coming off a knee injury) are all on the wrong side of 30, and it's likely only a matter of time before the talented 20-year-old Kentucky product emerges as the Clippers' best backcourt option. Plus, Gilgeous-Alexander's two-way versatility will allow him to fit next to virtually any of LA's guards, which he's proven in the preseason.
Miles Bridges | 6-foot-6 | Combo forward | Charlotte Hornets
Pick: No. 12
Bridges is a hard-playing forward with NBA strength and athleticism that will allow him to have a role early. Stuck at the 3 with no room to operate at Michigan State last season, Bridges should benefit from NBA spacing as much as any rookie. He's a multipositional defender who can fly around in transition, knock down catch-and-shoot 3s and attack a closeout in space.
His overall skill level and feel for the game need work, and he might not have as much traditional upside as some players drafted after him, but Bridges is ready to have an immediate impact as a rookie and should provide a handful of highlights along the way.
Situation
One year after passing on Donovan Mitchell for Malik Monk, the Hornets need to hit on Bridges -- especially after flipping a prospect such as Gilgeous-Alexander for him in a draft-night trade.
Given Charlotte's roster, Bridges should have plenty of opportunity to show his worth early on, as he's proven with a stellar preseason. His ability to defend both forward spots, along with his infusion of athleticism, will make him an attractive option for new head coach James Borrego, as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist hasn't lived up to his lofty No. 2 draft selection and Marvin Williams just turned 32 years old.
Kevin Huerter | 6-foot-7 | Shooting guard | Atlanta Hawks
Pick: No. 19 overall
While Trae Young is the big-name rookie in Atlanta, Huerter has the positional size, feel and shot-making versatility to make a splash.
Huerter's initial value will come as a floor-spacer. He has excellent balance and rise on his catch-and-shoot jumper for his size, as he scored 1.42 points per possession on no-dribble jumpers out of spot-up situations last season, per Synergy. Huerter is also a dynamic on-the-move shooter coming off screens or quick-action pullups. He's a savvy ball-screen facilitator, instinctual passer and plays the type of read-and-react basketball that is perfectly suited for today's NBA. He's also a smart cutter who doesn't need much volume to have an impact.
Huerter has shown a willingness to blend in at times, and he has questions to answer on the defensive end of the floor, but his skill level and feel are undoubtedly NBA-ready.
Situation
Although Atlanta has a number of veterans that might start the season ahead of Huerter on the depth chart, the Hawks are in full rebuild mode. They have the luxury of allowing their young prospects to grow by playing through mistakes, and Huerter should see considerable time as the season goes on.
Atlanta could also use more ball handlers and playmakers in the backcourt; 30-year-old Jeremy Lin has played in only 37 games the past two seasons, and Young will likely have a lot of offensive responsibility to shoulder despite his passing gifts.
Grayson Allen | 6-foot-5 | Shooting guard | Utah Jazz
Pick: No. 21 overall
Allen is a readymade NBA shooter with 141 games of NCAA experience under his belt. He has deep range off the catch, sprints off screens and feels comfortable stepping into pullups with time and space. Allen also made great strides as a playmaker during his time at Duke (2.18 assist-to-turnover ratio as a senior) and should greatly benefit from NBA spacing with less shot creation responsibility.
Much maligned for his defense later in his college career, Allen should embrace being the tough, energetic defender we saw during his freshman season on Duke's national championship team.
Situation
With Dante Exum finally healthy and Alec Burks in a contract year, the opportunities could be slim for Allen early on. Still, he offers a skill set the Jazz backcourt sorely needs and should play his way into the regular rotation.
Allen made 291 career 3s in 1,996 career NCAA minutes. Exum and Burks can't tout the same range. Neither can starter Ricky Rubio, and even Donovan Mitchell is on the streaky side. Mitchell's defensive versatility and ability to play on or off the ball should allow the Jazz to tinker with three-guard lineups that include Allen's floor spacing.
Upside picks
These prospects might not hit their stride until well into the season -- or potentially even Year 2 -- but there's simply too much to like about their fit and talent.
Lonnie Walker IV | 6-foot-5 | Shooting guard | San Antonio Spurs
Pick: No. 18 overall
Update (Oct. 6): Walker has a right medial meniscus tear, the Spurs announced. He will undergo surgery in San Antonio on Monday. Walker is likely to miss six to eight weeks, a source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Walker is an explosive shot-maker with the length (6-foot-11 wingspan) and defensive potential to outplay his draft slot considerably. He's a head-at-the-rim athlete with excellent rise on his jumper and on-ball upside in pick-and-roll as his handle and feel continue to evolve.
Although inconsistent in terms of effort and on-court awareness, Walker has the tools to defend either guard spot at the NBA level. It might take him some time to get comfortable, but Walker has close to as much upside as any guard selected ahead of him.
Situation
While Walker landed in an ideal situation for his long-term development, playing for the Spurs likely means a considerable amount of G League time as a rookie. With the addition of a high-volume scorer such as DeMar DeRozan and the internal development of Dejounte Murray and Derrick White, the Spurs can afford to be patient with their rookie, who has had his fair share of nagging injuries.
That said, Walker provides a level of youthful explosiveness that San Antonio's other young guards lack, and the fact that he doesn't need much volume to score could allow him to work his way into the rotation in time. It could take Walker until the All-Star break to have a consistent impact, but his top-10-caliber talent should shine through eventually.
Robert Williams | 6-foot-10 | Center | Boston Celtics
Pick: No. 27 overall
Medical red flags and questions about his approach to the game caused Williams to fall in the draft, but there's no denying his physical ability as a Clint Capela-style center. Although still raw, Williams has the tools to switch nearly every position, protect the rim off the ball and space the floor as a lob-catcher, given his explosive athleticism and 7-foot-6 wingspan.
His motor runs hot and cold, and he lacks a degree of offensive skill, but he's able to impact the game without needing any offensive touches. If he can remain healthy and focused, Williams figures to show glimpses of why he was once considered a top-10 pick.
Situation
Given Boston's title aspirations and experience in the frontcourt, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Williams spend a considerable amount of time with the Maine Red Claws -- following a similar path to that of Capela, who played 38 games in the D-League as a rookie. The Celtics have one of the steadiest centers in the NBA in Al Horford and rock-solid backups in Aron Baynes and Daniel Theis. Williams also needs time to improve his game and work habits.
However, Boston's strong organizational infrastructure could certainly expedite Williams' development, and the Celtics don't quite have a center in Williams' mold who offers his type of rim protection and vertical spacing. Given where he was drafted, any Year 1 impact would mean he surpassed expectations, and his ceiling makes him worth watching even on a contender.
2018 second-rounders
Elie Okobo and De'Anthony Melton | Guards | Phoenix Suns
Picks: No. 31/46 overall
A first-rounder if he were willing to be stashed overseas, Okobo is a skilled ball-screen scorer with deep range, smooth change of pace, finesse floaters and solid measurables at 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. Although he's still developing as a floor general, Okobo should have plenty of opportunity to shine as a rookie with the Suns, given their lack of clarity at the 1. Despite being being just 20, Okobo has logged more than 1,200 France Pro A minutes, including a 44-point playoff performance against defensive stopper Aaron Craft.
Melton, who we tabbed as a sleeper in the pre-draft process, could eventually carve out a role in Kokoskov's rotation as a 3-and-D off guard in the Avery Bradley mold. He's not quite as experienced or polished on the ball as Okobo, so he may see some time in the G League, but he's an excellent defender with outstanding all-around instincts and a greatly improved shooting stroke.
Jevon Carter | 6-foot-2 | Point guard | Memphis Grizzlies
Pick: No. 32 overall
The 2018 draft's best perimeter defender, Carter is perfectly suited for Memphis' grit-and-grind style. He's a 94-foot pest in the Patrick Beverley mold who should have success both backing up Mike Conley and playing alongside him in two-guard lineups.
Carter isn't a major scoring or playmaking threat, but his defensive impact can't be overstated. He has the experience and maturity of a Year 1 contributor.
Mitchell Robinson | 7-foot-1 | Center | New York Knicks
Pick: No. 36 overall
With the injured Kristaps Porzingis' 2018-19 status up in the air, Robinson could carve out a role as the Knicks' backup center, offering a level of athleticism, rim protection and vertical spacing that current starter Enes Kanter lacks. Robinson's strong summer league gave Knicks fans a glimpse of the potential that earned him an RSCI No. 8 ranking coming out of high school.
Robinson was late to basketball and has faced plenty of challenges to get to this point. There's also no shortage of questions about his ability to thrive in a huge market. But his agility and motor at 7-foot-1 could allow him to develop into a second-round steal, especially when coupled with his potential for playing time.
The redshirt rookie
Harry Giles | 6-foot-11 | Center | Sacramento Kings
Pick: No. 20 overall (2017)
All eyes might be on No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III, but a healthy Harry Giles has the potential to emerge as Sacramento's best and most productive big man prospect this season. The Kings have raved about Giles' potential. His energy, quickness, mobility and instincts have stood out for stretches in summer league and the preseason. There's a reason Giles was ranked as the second-best prospect in the 2016 high school class -- ahead of Jayson Tatum, Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball and a host of other budding NBA stars.
If the Kings use Giles as a rim-running, diving, switch-heavy center with shooting around him, he has a chance to turn in an excellent redshirt rookie season. Of course, the Kings do have a glut of big men, so Giles might not be in an ideal situation to succeed. Even so, the simple fact that he's healthy, moving well and comfortable on the floor bodes well for a productive season.
Honorable mention: Bruce Brown, Svi Mykhailiuk, Frank Jackson (redshirt rookie)