2019 Redraft

[durantbird]

With Ja and Zion being tangled in off court issues, how would you redraft the 2019 draft?

Gimme your top 10

Notable names:
Ja Morant
Zion Williamson
Darius Garland
RJ Barrett
De'Andre Hunter
Tyler Herro
Coby White
Luguentz Dort
Naz Reid
Cameron Johnson
PJ Washington
Nickeil Walker Alexander
Nic Claxton
Matisse Thybulle
Brandon Clarke
Grant Williams
Ty Jerome
Keldon Johnson
Max Strus
Caleb Martin
Kevin Porter Jr
Rui Hachimura
Jordan Poole
Terance Mann
Daniel Gafford
Jaxson Hayes
Goga Bitadze
Talen Horton Tucker

[trelos6]

Zion Williamson
Ja Morant
Darius Garland
Tyler Herro
Naz Reid
Luguentz Dort
PJ Washington
Nic Claxton
Cameron Johnson
Daniel Gafford

[durantbird]

My Take:

Darius Garland
Ja Morant
Zion Williamson
De'Andre Hunter
Tyler Herro
Nic Claxton
Lu Dort
Naz Reid
Coby White
RJ Barrett

[Doctor MJ]

So, this is a really awkward time for the 2019 re-draft because so much is in flux.

I tend to say that early on in a draft's lifespan, teams will tend to re-draft the same guy because they're still bought in on building around him. Not true if a guy is just a bust of course, but neither Zion or Ja are busts like that.

But I also wouldn't be shocked if this off-season sees Zion get traded, and frankly while I don't think it likely for Ja this off-season, if next season goes badly, that could change quickly.

The thing is, there's only one other guy in the draft that's risen to the level he'd even be in debate with those two - Darius Garland - and Garland has his own question marks and might get traded this off-season. Do I really think if NO could go back in time they'd look to draft Garland at #1 and make him their franchise player? Not sure about that.

So with this in mind, while I think Garland has accomplished the most from the draft so far, and Ja is second after that, my best guess would be that it would still go Zion 1 and Ja 2.

To go into just a touch further:

1. Pelicans - Zion (picked #1)
2. Grizzlies - Ja (#2)
3. Knicks - Garland (#5), definitely a worthy franchise player over anyone on the roster at that time

4. Lakers - Lu Dort (undrafted), this one's tricky because the Lakers traded their original selection (De'Andre Hunter) to Atlanta. I think Hunter would be a reasonable choice to pick again honestly based on the original thinking, but the undrafted Dort has been the best of these players so far.

5. Cavaliers - Tyler Herro (#13), a major downgrade from Garland, but the best lead guard available, and I'd certainly be looking to keep myself from being chained to Sexton.

6. Suns - PJ Washington (#12), so you're Phoenix and knowing what you know now, you know that Booker-Bridges-Ayton was about to be your best young core since Marion-Amar'e, how do you build around it? Well, if you're going to have a 5 who can't shoot 3's, you need a 4 who can do it. PJ gives you that with an all-arounder's game.

7. Bulls - Coby White (#7), I'd say the Bulls are happy with their pick.

8. Hawks - RJ Barrett (#3), so the Hawks drafted Jaxson Hayes and then traded him in the deal that netted him Hunter. While I think they'd do it again, the team they traded Hayes to quit on him and he's currently on a second contract worth less than the rookie deal. So I'd say it's time to consider another dude. Back in 2019 Barrett was considered BPA after Zion & Ja, and I think he'd still be seen as BPA relative to the guys left at the 8 spot.

9. Wizards - Jordan Poole (#28), so with the Wizards knowing now that nothing they had in 2019 was going to work out, I'll say BPA here too and I'll give the nod to the highest profile NBA career still not named in part because the actual Wizards went all in on him.

10. Hawks - Naz Reid (undrafted), as noted with the Hawks it's tricky, but I do think Naz's 3 & D bigness would be a good fit most places including Atlanta.

Who did I leave out?

#6 Jordan Culver busted and may not get drafted again in a re-draft at all.
#8 Jaxson Hayes has an NBA career and I think probably still gets drafted 1st round, but he slips a bit.
#9 Rui Hachimura has been a bit better than Hayes and maybe could have stayed in the Top 10.
#10 Cam Reddish has been disappointing but is still kicking around (actually on the Lakers with Hayes & Rui).
#11 Cam Johnson has been pretty solid and maybe could have gotten drafted higher.
#17 Nickeil Alexander-Walker is starting to really look like a steal and I had him in my Top 10 until I was reminded of the undrafted Dort & Naz.
#38 Daniel Gafford is clearly a great fit for Luka, so he might end up being in demand as a rim runner for a long time.
Undrafted Max Strus is another guy whose come out of nowhere for a great career, and frankly I'd rather have him than Poole.

[Dr Positivity]

I think you take a chance on Zion turning it around 1st. No need to take Morant over Garland.