2019 Draft Prospect Watch Thread

[shakendfries]

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wild

[LKIRNets]

College season over.

[13th Man]

LOL. I'll be watching Duke next year it'll be really interesting to see the Big 3 and with Tre Jones feeding them all the ball.

It's ridiculous, Superteams have invaded the NCAA now too, thanks KD

It's just whack that you have prospects #1, 2, and 3 on the same team and they technically all play SF too, however positions don't really matter anymore I'm sure coach K can make them work together.

[MrDollarBills]

College season over.

Not necessarily. 2009-10 Kentucky Wildcats had multiple NBA players on their roster and lost in the east regional.

[Paradise]

Michigan State vs Maryland on CBS right now.

Jaren Jackson Jr is going to be a beast.

[shakendfries]

Jonathan Givony has released a mock draft for 2019, headlined by a trio of Duke commits in R.J. Barrett, Cameron Reddish and Zion Williams. Nassir Little and Romeo Langford round out the top-5.

The 2018 high school senior class is considered to be a week one and there also appears to be a lack of depth at point guard in the 2019 draft class.

1. R.J. Barrett
2. Cameron Reddish
3. Zion Williamson
4. Nassir Little
5. Romeo Langford
6. Luka Samanic
7. Sekou Doumbouya
8. Quentin Grimes
9. Bol Bol
10. Louis King
11. Jontay Porter
12. Rui Hachimura
13. Justin Jackson
14. Marko Simonovic
15. Herb Jones
16. Zhaire Smith
17. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
18. Aric Holman
19. Gary Trent
20. O'Shae Brissett
21. Terence Davis
22. Kris Wilkes
23. D'Marcus Simonds
24. De'Andre Hunter
25. Jarrey Foster
26. Josh Okogie
27. Jerome Robinson
28. Brandon Randolph
29. Kyle Alexander
30. Donte Divincenzo

[MrDollarBills]

Rui Hachimura is a prospect to can keep an eye out for, 6'8 225 SF with a 7 foot two wing span with some serious athleticism. He plays for Gonzaga right now. Solid frame, reminds me a bit of a shorter Giannis. someone mentioned we need some transition athleticism like we had in the early 2000s, that's probably a name to keep in mind.

[Paradise]

Curious to see who stays in school for another season from this draft class.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Micheal Porter Jr stays until 2019.


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[JiggaMan06]

i think Porter goes back unless a lot of Prospects have bad tournaments and he's guaranteed Top 10.

[shakendfries]

Porters not going back to school - we live in the era of 1 & done. He’ll still go top 10 to a team confident in his health & willing to bet on his recovery.

Jay Williams is still hyping Porter Jr as the most talented player in the draft - don’t think he’s seen Doncic yet


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[JiggaMan06]

I haven't checked on Doncic yet. I've been stuck watching J3 since December lol

[Paradise]

I haven't checked on Doncic yet. I've been stuck watching J3 since December lol

Doncic looks like a european CJ McCollum.

[brook]

I haven't checked on Doncic yet. I've been stuck watching J3 since December lol

Doncic looks like a european CJ McCollum.

Doncic is better and a more complete player

[Paradise]

The next Giannis y’all

Watch on YouTube

Since Doumbouya had never been to an NBA arena before, he and the other boys decided to spend the rest of the second half exploring. Their first stop, naturally, was McDonald's. Doumbouya regularly enjoys the golden arches in France, but the portion sizes and flavors are far better in America, he says. After the pit stop, they sneaked down to the lower bowl and slipped into some premium seats. Wolfing down their hamburgers, French fries and McFlurries, the boys watched Ntilikina whip up two assists, two steals and a layup.

On Saturday, the camp's second day, even more NBA scouts assembled in the stands, and a consensus began to form: Sekou Doumbouya was the best player at Basketball Without Borders.

"I don't think there's any question he's a first-rounder," one team executive says.

"He's everything you're looking for in a prospect," one NBA scout says. "You'd have to be blind not to see his pro potential," says another.

[b]Doumbouya is aware that he's dominating. And he's happy with his results from the combine, which show him at 6'9" with a 6'11" wingspan and an 8'11" standing reach.

Growing up, he tried to play like LeBron James, and he now compares himself to Paul George. But his favorite player, by far, is Joel Embiid. He loves the 76ers center, in part because Embiid is fluent in French, and in part because he's another BWB alumnus who discovered hoops at an advanced age, but mostly because of the young star's silly and outspoken attitude.

After posing for a group picture, Doumbouya spotted a 7-footer in a bright gold jacket: It was Joel Embiid. Ntilikina flagged him down and offered to take a picture of the boys with him. Even though Embiid only talked to them for a few moments, and he spent most of that time teasing Doumbouya for his old Nikes and his BWB sweats, Doumbouya didn't care. He was happy just to be here, in America and among stars.

[/b

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[Prokorov]

College season over.

Not necessarily. 2009-10 Kentucky Wildcats had multiple NBA players on their roster and lost in the east regional.

durant, Augustin and AJ Abrams didnt even make the sweet 16

[shakendfries]

2019 Draft Rankings, Tiers 1-3

Tier 3
12. Darius Bazely

11. Tre Jones

10. Darius Garland

9. Anfernee Simons

8. Quentin Grimes

7. Louis King

6. Nassir Little

Tier 2
5. Romeo Langford

4. Zion Williamson

Tier 1
3. Bol Bol
With tremendous measurables at 7’3” with a 7’8” wingspan, it wouldn’t surprise me if Bol Bol ends up being the best player of this class. The future Oregon Duck can really affect the game on the defensive end thanks to his length. Once he establishes post position and catches the ball near the rim on the offensive end, it’s over for most high school defenders.

The concern with Bol is how is he going to hold up with the intensity of the college and the NBA game. Bol is coordinated and runs fluidly for his size, but he can be late when defending in transition at the high school level. I worry he could be run off the floor by smaller, quicker centers in this “small” era of the NBA.

The development of his perimeter game will be something to keep an eye on throughout the season. Bol went 22-for-45 at the AAU ranks in 2017, but it’s shot mechanics could still be tweaked, and while he has shown flashes of putting the ball on the floor, he is prone to turnovers at this stage. If Bol can be a consistent threat from the perimeter in his freshman year, his “unicorn” potential could earn him serious consideration as the top pick in this draft.

2. Cam Reddish
Probably the most complete player in this class in terms of offensive skill set, Cam Reddish has shown not only the ability to create shots for himself on the perimeter, thanks to his great offensive footwork and ball-handling ability, but he also has shown he can create for others.

Standing at 6’8” with a 7’1” wingspan, Reddish has good size and length for defending both forward positions at the NBA level but his path to being a franchise cornerstone at the next level will be how much he can improve or overcome his limitations in terms of explosiveness. Reddish is smooth with the ball in his hands, but he still lacks a degree of burst to get by his man on the perimeter or explode to the rim in traffic.

When Reddish can’t get by his man, he settles for pull-up jumpers and while he connects at a good rate thanks to his ability to create separation, pull-up threes aren’t exactly the most efficient shot in an era of basketball when the search for efficiency is continuous.

1. RJ Barrett
The reasons RJ Barrett is the top prospect on this class were put on display during his unreal performance against USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup back in July. A lot has been said about his 38 point, 13 rebound and 5 assist output against the USA team. Yes, that team was poorly-coached and seemed uninterested and/or unable to execute basketball concepts such as “playing defense” or “passing the ball”, but in terms of individual talent on the floor, it was a game that Canada had no business in winning.

Canada’s victory over USA was just one game, but it was also the perfect example of the best parts of RJ’s game. On offense the Duke commit has a rare degree of aggressiveness, putting pressure constantly on defenders. An athletic wing that has great speed with the ball in his hands, Barrett just plays at a different speed than everyone else and becomes nearly unstoppable when he switches gears. Barrett is also skilled as a one-on-one scorer, and has the ability to stop on a dime for pull-up jumpers.

On defense, Barrett showed exactly the same relentless motor that he had on offense. On the perimeter Barrett is a willing defender with good lateral quickness that gets in the passing lanes and contests shots with his length. On the interior, Barrett goes for blocks with good timing and fights for rebounds, boxing out his opponent immediately and competing against taller players thanks to his standing reach and leaping ability.

Barrett isn’t in a tier of his own, however, as you were able to see on my previous two picks on the board, and the reasons why, again, were put on display during the FIBA U19 World Cup. In Canada’s next game, the final against Italy, Barrett went 2-for-13 from the field and 0-for-2 from beyond the arc.

The future Blue Devil is far from a perfect prospect and it showed in that game. He can play too sped up and his vision sometimes is not up to par with his own physical speed, being prone to tunnel vision, missing open teammates and turning the ball over at an alarming rate.

When slashing or getting to the line doesn’t work, Barrett has a hard time creating his own offense. While athletic, he doesn’t have a super explosive first step, his handles are not the most creative and his shot mechanics are still inconsistent, being more comfortable pulling up from midrange than from three.

Barrett is still the top prospect on my board because of his motor on both ends of the floor, production and athleticism. But he could drop in draft boards behind players with more complete offensive skill sets (Reddish) or with unique combinations of size and shooting ability (Bol) if he doesn’t show signs of developing other areas of his game in his freshman year.

General notes on the 2019 class
Here’s an anti-climatic bit of data to all of you who made it through this two-part, 5.6k word mammoth: The top of the 2019 class doesn’t look nearly as strong as the past two classes. In fact, if I went back to what we knew in September and October of 2017 when the first pre-season mocks were being , I would rank DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, Luka Doncic and Michael Porter Jr. all higher on my board than the top prospect from this class RJ Barrett.

With that being said, it feels like less of a knock on 2019 prospects and more of a statement on how loaded the 2017 and 2018 classes were. And, therefore, how spoiled we, draft followers, have become during the past two draft cycles.

The international class, too, looks depleted. Sekou Doumbouya is a high risk/high reward prospect: it wouldn’t surprise me if he goes top ten and it wouldn’t surprise me if he barely makes it as a first round pick. The other prospect on my board playing overseas, Aleksander Balcerowski, is more of a player to watch than someone who will 100% get drafted.

In this landscape, I could see players that aren’t on anyone’s boards rising after strong performances at this years’ FIBA tournaments, and it wouldn’t surprise me if older prospects that have been considered for the draft for years such as Kostja Mushidi or Rodions Kurucs come back for 2019 and finally get drafted.

Two high school players that missed the cut that I want to touch down on briefly:
I’m higher on Shareef O’Neal than a lot of people on “draft twitter”. I don’t think he’s a surefire NBA player, but his shot does look better on film than on the stat sheet. If he could become a reliable shooter, I think the prospects of a 6’9″ energy player who can shoot the three would be more interesting for an NBA team.

When this draft cycle is done I’ll probably look back on this and regret not having Courtney Ramey on my list. A 6’4″ all-around PG, Ramey decommitted from Louisville at the end of last year. His commitment will be interesting, because if he goes to the right school and he shows he can carry a team to a decent campaign, he has the potential to be one of the biggest risers of this class.

One final note: Between the FBI and the rumored reforms to the NBA draft, we could be in for a truly chaotic (and exciting) draft cycle. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

[Aussienet3]

College season over.

Not necessarily. 2009-10 Kentucky Wildcats had multiple NBA players on their roster and lost in the east regional.

durant, Augustin and AJ Abrams didnt even make the sweet 16

Only because he couldn't transfer to davidson without red shirting!

[GYK]

Tank for RJ.
Tank for Wiseman in 2020.
Dynamic Duo for the future.

[Paradise]

Finally....we’re about to be free.

What will the 2019 NBA draft look like in the first year under new lottery odds? And who are the potential stars?

Here's our early look at the top 30 prospects in the class.

Note: ESPN's Future Power Rankings were used to determine draft order.

[1] Chicago Bulls

R.J. Barrett | Montverde Academy (HS Sr.) | SG | Age: 17

Barrett established himself as arguably the top prospect in high school basketball with a phenomenal showing at the U19 World Championship in Cairo this summer. He's a highly versatile wing player with tremendous scoring instincts.

New odds to win No. 1 pick (with worst record): 14.0 percent

[2] Boston Celtics (via Kings)

Zion Williamson | Spartanburg Day (HS Sr.) | PF | Age: 17

Williamson is more than just a social media phenomenon, although his freakish explosiveness is a big part of what makes him special. He plays with a reckless abandon that scouts love to see and has a good feel for the game along with a willingness to defend. The big question mark is whether he can develop any type of jump shot, since he's not very tall at around 6-foot-7.

No. 1 pick odds: 14.0 percent

The Celtics will receive the better pick between Sacramento and Philadelphia (protected for No. 1) only if they do not receive the Lakers' pick in 2018 (protected for No. 1 and Nos. 6-30).

[3] Atlanta Hawks

Sekou Doumbouya | Poitiers (France, international '99) | PF | Age: 16

Doumbouya wowed NBA scouts at the U18 European Championship last December, despite having turned 16 years old just days prior. He has been producing well in France at the pro level, too. He's an impressive athlete with a budding skill level offensively, but his jump shot and defensive intensity are a work in progress.

No. 1 pick odds: 14.0 percent

[4] Brooklyn Nets

Cameron Reddish | Westtown School (HS Sr.) | SF | Age: 18

Reddish's production doesn't always match his potential, but he has enviable physical tools and impressive versatility on both ends of the floor. He can play (and guard) anywhere from 1-4, and has shown improvement with his jump shot. He willingly admits he needs to play with a higher intensity level, as he has a tendency to blend in at times relative to his talent level.

No. 1 pick odds: 12.5 percent

[5] Phoenix Suns

Anfernee Simons | Edgewater HS (HS Sr.) | SG | Age: 18

Simons decommitted from Louisville as part of the ongoing FBI/DOJ NCAA investigation. He has recently developed into one of the most gifted scorers in high school basketball and carries significant upside thanks to his combination of physical tools and budding talent. He's the type of player for whom the game comes very easy.

No. 1 pick odds: 10.5 percent

[6] Indiana Pacers

Immanuel Quickley | John Carroll School (HS Sr.) | PG | Age: 18

Quickley has prototypical size and length to go along with strong perimeter shooting prowess and multi-positional defensive versatility. He's a high-IQ guard who does a lot of the things you look for in a point guard his size.

No. 1 pick odds: 9.0 percent

[7] New York Knicks

Nassir Little | Orlando Christian Prep (HS Sr.) | SF | Age: 17

Little's name has been mentioned in the recent FBI/DOJ NCAA investigation, which might complicate his college eligibility. He made a name for himself among NBA scouts with a strong showing at the Adidas EuroCamp in Italy this past June. His length, physicality and energy level on both ends of the floor, as well as his ability to score inside and out, really stood out.

No. 1 pick odds: 7.5 percent

[8] New Orleans Pelicans

Quentin Grimes | Woodlands College Park (HS Sr.) | SG | Age: 17

Grimes is a tough, aggressive guard who does a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. He has very good tools and instincts, but is still figuring out how to put it all together on a consistent basis in terms of polish and decision-making. Grimes improved significantly in the past year and still appears to have plenty of room to continue to grow.

No. 1 pick odds: 6.0 percent

[9] Boston Celtics (via Grizzlies)

Romeo Langford | College Park HS (HS Sr.) | SG | Age: 17

Physical specimen of a wing prospect with excellent size, length, frame and athleticism. Langford is a dangerous open-court player who can also make shots impressively off the bounce. He also has significant potential defensively. His on-court decision-making and polish in the half court is still a work in progress.

No. 1 pick odds: 4.5 percent

The Grizzlies owe the Celtics their 2019 first-round pick, protected Nos. 1-8 in 2019, Nos. 1-6 in 2020 and unprotected in 2021.

[10] Orlando Magic

Darius Garland | Brentwood Academy (HS Sr.) | PG | Age: 17

Arguably the most skilled, creative and polished point guard in his high school class, Garland had a tremendous showing at the Adidas EuroCamp in Italy in front of representatives from all 30 NBA teams. He does not possess great size, length or strength for his position, but his ability to play at different speeds and make shots from all over the floor gives him a chance to be a high draft pick if he continues to improve his physical profile.

No. 1 pick odds: 3.0 percent

[11] Dallas Mavericks

Luka Samanic | Barcelona (Spain, international '99) | SF/PF | Age: 17

A 6-foot-11 combo forward who can shoot 3s, play above the rim and display great instincts defensively, Samanic was named MVP of the U18 European Championship Division B, despite playing up a year at the event. His toughness and intensity level have yet to match his overall talent.

No. 1 pick odds: 2.0 percent

[12] Charlotte Hornets

Kevin Knox | Kentucky (NCAA Fr.) | SF/PF | Age: 18

Knox is one of a half-dozen players on Kentucky's roster who fancy themselves as wings or combo forwards, none of whom has a consistent jump shot in his arsenal at the moment. He's a fluid athlete who can guard multiple positions when motivated, but he'll have to show he can buy into his role as an energy giver and make shots consistently from the perimeter to cement his standing among NBA decision-makers.

No. 1 pick odds: 1.5 percent

[13] Detroit Pistons

Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Virginia Tech (NCAA Fr.) | PG | Age: 19

A combo guard with the size and length to play either backcourt position, the Canadian shows solid creativity and instincts on both ends of the floor. He's in a strong situation to continue to develop the things he needs to work on, namely his strength, toughness and polish, but has good upside thanks to his versatility and budding talent.

No. 1 pick odds: 1.0 percent

[14] Los Angeles Lakers

Emmanuel Akot | Arizona (NCAA Fr.) | SF | Age: 18

Akot has good size, strength and athleticism for a combo forward, as well as strong versatility on both ends of the floor. He is dangerous in the open court, can make an open 3-pointer and plays with significant energy defensively. The Canadian does not have great length, nor is he an overly polished half-court player offensively.

No. 1 pick odds: 0.5 percent

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/737lkv/jonathan_givony_2019_mock_draft_top_2019/

[shakendfries]

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if Massai is going with the draft local talent route, these mfs are gonna try to trade DeRozan for RJ next year