NBA All-Star Starters Mock Draft: When Will Trae Young Go?

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CHARLOTTE, NC – FEBRUARY 16: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #23 of Team LeBron shake hands in the locker room before the 2019 NBA All-Star Practice and Media Availability on February 16, 2019 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Round One:

Team LeBron: Anthony Davis, PF, Lakers

There’s just no way this doesn’t happen.

In the game following the starters announcement, LeBron joked with TNT that Anthony Davis doesn’t have to be his first pick.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1220552261723738112

Technically, Bron is correct in noting he picked him first last year, but AD came off the bench in last year’s game, and he took him with his first reserve selection. This year, that’ll change.

The Lakers have been one of the league’s best teams all season thanks to the duo of James and Davis, and there’s no reason that pairing should take the weekend off in Davis’ home town of Chicago.

Even without the teammate connection, there’s a strong case that he’s the best player on the board. Davis also has a history of showing up in the All-Star game. In 2017, his first time starting the contest, he scored 52 en route to the MVP award. It’s a no-brainer for Bron.

Team Giannis: Luka Doncic, G, Mavericks

Anthony Davis is such a lock for the 1st pick that it really feels that Giannis is on the clock right now. He can’t go wrong with any of the seven left, but Luka is probably the pick.

Giannis leaned into his international status in last year’s draft, taking Nikola Jokic, Ben Simmons (who was subsequently traded), Joel Embiid, and Nikola Vučević. Embiid is still there, as is first year All-Star Pascal Siakam, but teaming with the younger Luka could be the move for Giannis.

Doncic has improved on his rookie of the year season by becmong a true MVP candidate as a sophomore. He’s averaging 29.0 points and 8.9 assists per game, in the top-5 in both of those categories.

His skill set isn’t exactly made for the All-Star game that usually features deep threes, lobs, and a lack of defense, but still has potential to go off and win the MVP.

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