2018 NBA Re-Draft: New landing spots for Blazers’ Ayton, Simons, Williams III

The 2018 NBA Draft class is turning out to be one of the best in recent memory. So far, five All-Stars have emerged from the class: Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Brunson. It is only a matter of time before Mikal Bridges makes it as well.

However, many NBA fans' most memorable takeaway from this draft is the Phoenix Suns selecting Deandre Ayton over Doncic. They finally get a chance to right the ship. But the question is, how far does the former No. 1 overall pick Ayton fall?

Re-drafting the 2018 NBA class

No. 1: Phoenix Suns - Luka Doncic

Original pick: Deandre Ayton

No. 2: Sacramento Kings - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Original pick: Marvin Bagley III

No. 3: Atlanta Hawks - Jalen Brunson

Original pick: Luka Doncic (traded to Dallas Mavericks)

No. 4: Memphis Grizzlies - Jaren Jackson Jr.

Original pick: Jaren Jackson Jr.

No. 5: Dallas Mavericks - Mikal Bridges

Original pick: Trae Young (traded to Atlanta Hawks)

No. 6: Orlando Magic - Trae Young

Original pick: Mo Bamba

No. 7: Chicago Bulls - Michael Porter Jr.

Original pick: Wendell Carter Jr.

No. 8: Cleveland Cavaliers - Anfernee Simons

Original pick: Collin Sexton

No. 9: New York Knicks - Donte DiVincenzo

Original pick: Kevin Knox

No. 10: Philadelphia 76ers - Collin Sexton

Original pick: Mikal Bridges (traded to Phoenix Suns)

No. 11: Charlotte Hornets - Deandre Ayton

Original pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (traded to Los Angeles Clippers)

No. 12: Los Angeles Clippers - Miles Bridges

Original pick: Miles Bridges (traded to Charlotte Hornets)

No. 13: Los Angeles Clippers - Wendell Carter Jr.

Original pick: Jerome Robinson

No. 14: Denver Nuggets - Robert Williams III 

Original pick: Michael Porter Jr.

Trail Blazers picked inside re-draft lottery

All three Portland Trail Blazers players fall inside the lottery in the re-draft, with Simons making one of the biggest jumps from originally being the No. 24 pick to now being selected No. 8 overall by the Cavaliers. Cleveland didn't pick point guard Darius Garland until the 2019 NBA Draft, so that would have played a significant role in who they decided to choose the following year. Jarrett Culver went No. 6 overall in 2019 after Garland and could have been in play.

Williams III makes a giant leap as well, going from No. 27 overall to landing with the Nuggets at No. 14. He'd be an excellent fit for Denver, who recently selected DaRon Holmes II in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft in need of another big man to spell Nikola Jokic.

Ayton's productivity in the league is often underappreciated because he is constantly associated with being a "draft bust" and given a negative label since the Suns passed up on an all-time great in Doncic. But he remains a starting center in the league and goes No. 11 overall in the re-draft.