The Athletic’s 2019 NBA Mock Draft, Version 3.0 is here. For reference, we’re post-early entry deadline, pre-NBA Draft Lottery, and pre-NBA Draft Combine. This will be the last mock draft before those two events. Consider it something of a table-setter entering the madness of the pre-draft process. NBA teams have general thoughts on players entering the proceedings, but that will assuredly change as they start to meet with players and have them in for workouts. This year particularly, I would expect the pre-draft process to play an outsized role in the proceedings. Why? Well, I’ll start with a story.
Earlier this month, I was in a car with three NBA executives who work for the same team. I mentioned that, on the whole, I didn’t think this draft class stacked up to the recent ones that have infused the NBA with such an interesting, diverse array of NBA talents. The highest ranking executive in the car relayed something to me that he said he learned a long time ago: there’s no such thing as a “bad” draft for people who work on the NBA scouting side. Simply put, they don’t look at this event in the big-picture way people on the outside do. For them, they realistically only need to identify one player who exceeds the value of where their draft slot is. The best front offices have confidence that they can come to some sort of consensus on one guy that they believe in.
Sure, some drafts make that process harder. This would certainly qualify as one of those. The 2019 draft is a lot more clumped together than recent ones. The marginal talent difference just isn’t quite as vast as what we typically see. That’s going to create a situation where the beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.
It’s not that good players won’t emerge from this draft. Just like the aforementioned executive said, they will. Rather, because few high-level upperclassmen ended up truly establishing themselves this season, and two-dozen interesting freshmen declared, we have a situation where some of the most interesting long-term prospects are a bit less developed and productive than normal entering the draft. That means teams are in position where they have to figure out which guys are going to pop, and which ones won’t. That means diving deep into their background, figuring out what drives them, and figuring out all of the nuances and eccentricities of their games. Additionally, it means that development is going to be an even more essential part of this process than it is most years. The teams who put their players in the best positions for success will likely be the ones to come away with value.
But from the point of view of putting together a mock draft two months out from draft night, this thing is still wide open. Teams are still sorting through many of the 233 early entrants who decided to put their name in for the draft — in part to learn more about their professional futures, but also in part due to the lack of clarity surrounding some of the later picks in this class. Still, it’s worthwhile to see where things stand as we head into the process. Remember, this is not necessarily my ranking. Rather, it’s based on conversations I’ve had with NBA executives, agents, and more over the course of the last month at various scouting events.
So without further ado, here’s the mock draft, with some level of detailed breakdown on each pick and why it makes sense.
1. New York Knicks — Zion Williamson
6-7 forward, freshman, Duke
No changes at the top. Williamson will be the No. 1 overall pick regardless of who wins the lottery, barring extremely poor medical evaluations. Simply put, the South Carolina native is the best option not only from a front office standpoint, but also from an ownership standpoint. He put up 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting an insane 68 percent from the field. It kind of goes without saying, but no one in the last 25 years of college basketball has achieved those benchmarks. His 40.8 PER doesn’t just set the record for highest mark of the last decade; it shatters it. Then, throw into the mix that Williamson is improving as a shooter and ended up hitting 34 percent from 3. Oh, and he’s a legitimate potential NBA Defensive Player of the Year threat at some point.
In my opinion, this is the best on-court prospect to enter the NBA since Anthony Davis entered the league from Kentucky in 2012. Off the court, Williamson is the most ready-made marketing tool to enter the league since LeBron James. And yes, that stuff matters for the No. 1 overall pick. Bidding for his shoe deal is expected to be near-record setting for a rookie. Within organizations, Williamson will be among the top-selling jerseys in his first year, and is expected to help attendance figures. He is a home run on all levels for whoever gets the chance to pick him.
2. Phoenix Suns — Ja Morant
6-3 lead guard, sophomore, Murray State
Morant is the perfect consolation prize for the Suns. As mentioned recently, teams around the league believe the Suns are big fans of the Murray State guard. It’s easy to see why. While the midseason acquisition of Tyler Johnson brought some much-needed stability to the point guard position, the Suns desperately need a long-term solution. Morant is a high-level prospect worthy of being taken in the top-five. He’s an elite player off of a live dribble, due largely to his tight handle, terrific of change of pace, and ability to change direction without slowing down. It’s my opinion that Morant will enter the NBA immediately as one of the top 10 passers in the league. His vision is sublime, and his ability to pass one-handed directly off of the dribble allows him to make a pass immediately upon identifying it. As a scorer, Morant’s skinny frame gives some evaluators pause as a finisher. His jump shot also needs some work, as he’s not the most adept pull-up shooter yet. If a defender goes under a screen and he has time to set his feet, Morant has the ability to knock down a 3. But he’s not as dynamic getting into his shot at full speed yet, which is a critical piece of being a lead guard in today’s NBA.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers — R.J. Barrett
6-7 wing, freshman, Duke
The Cavaliers need help all over the floor. The one position that seems to have a long-term answer is point guard with Collin Sexton, although I’m not 100 percent convinced that the Cavs would pass on Morant. A Morant vs. Sexton decision would, at the very least, be a discussion within the front office if the team got the No. 2 overall pick. No matter here, though. Barrett would represent the highest upside player on the board, which is where the Cavs need to look. He’s the first high-major player to average 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists — and he did it as an 18-year-old freshman who re-classified into the 2018 recruiting class. There are some concerns here in regard to sharing the load. At times, Barrett played selfishly this season. It would help him to change his mentality just slightly. The team that picks him still wants him to be the confident player he is; they just also want him to make the confident passing reads that he made more of throughout the latter quarter of the season. Additionally, Barrett needs to work slightly on his jump shot, although I believe he’s a better shooter than what the numbers indicate largely due to shot selection.
4. Chicago Bulls — Darius Garland
6-2 lead guard, freshman, Vanderbilt
The Bulls need an answer at the point guard position. Kris Dunn is definitely a useful piece for an NBA team due to his defensive ability, but it seems unlikely that he can carry the load offensively at the most important position on that end of the floor. Garland has a chance to be that guy. He’s an elite level shooter as a guard, with range out to about 30 feet, putting pressure on the defense essentially as soon as he crosses half-court. He’s also terrific in ball-screens, knowing exactly how to snake around defenders. The critical swing skill for Garland long-term will be his ability to see the floor and make plays for others. Having grown up playing more off-guard than lead, Garland isn’t necessarily the most adept as a facilitator. Defensively, he’s also not particularly useful at this stage. But if he can become just slightly better as a playmaker, there’s legitimate starter upside here. His range is definitely pretty wide for a potential top-five pick, as teams will need to get a look at his knee before investing this kind of capital in him.
5. Atlanta Hawks — Jarrett Culver
6-6 wing, sophomore, Texas Tech
One of the breakout stars of the college basketball season, Culver has developed into a high level shot creator who also plays well within a team construct. He’s a terrific ball-handler and playmaker, with the ability to get to his pull-up jumper with ease. He’s also improved dramatically as a jump shooter, going from a left-eye dominant sling shooter to a shooter who brings the ball up from the middle of his body and can knock down shots. He still needs to iron out a few things at the top of the jumper, including a small hitch. Overall though, it’s easy to imagine him as the 2-guard, secondary ball-handler next to Trae Young, given his size at 6-foot-6 and creativity. Defensively, he still has some room to grow, but he has good feel on that end from playing in Texas Tech’s defense-first scheme. Particularly, his hands are disruptive and he gets a lot of steals when offensive players bring the ball low or when he gets out into passing lanes. The fit here is too strong to pass up, but I will note that there continues to be some ambivalence to Culver among NBA executives, who question his athleticism and ability to become a true difference maker. I don’t think he falls out of the top-10 or anything, but his range right now is a bit wider than people would think.
6. Washington Wizards — De’Andre Hunter
6-8 forward, redshirt sophomore, Virginia
The Wizards bizarrely made a decision to trade away Otto Porter at the trade deadline for the opportunity to pay Bobby Portis. Additionally, they dealt away Kelly Oubre for Trevor Ariza, who is a free agent this summer. That means they have a massive hole in their front court of the future. Hunter is a perfect player to draft to make up for those mistakes. He’s a monster defender who can legitimately guard four positions. But the offensive upside is equally as interesting, given his continued strides as a shooter. The downside is that he’s still a bit stiff with the ball, and may end up becoming more of a secondary starter than a primary playmaker. But in this draft, that’s well worth it for the Wizards at No. 6, especially given that he should be something of a plug-and-play guy from Day One. Traditionally, the Wizards have not been fans of looking at a full-scale rebuild, so Hunter could be attractive as a guy who gets on the floor from Day One.
7. New Orleans Pelicans — Cameron Reddish
6-8 forward, freshman, Duke
This season didn’t exactly go to plan for Reddish. Despite being an athletic 6-foot-8 forward who can handle the ball and shoot from distance, he shot 35.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3. Traditionally, sub-40 percent from 2-point range is a major red flag for guards and their long-term success as a scorer inside. I’m honestly not sure that I can remember a player of Reddish’s height struggling this mightily inside. Of course, part of it is contextual. When he drove, teams collapsed in on him because there was little threat otherwise from the surrounding Tre Jones, Barrett, Williamson, and one of Javin DeLaurier, Jack White, or Marques Bolden. In the NBA, he’s going to get better driving lanes, and fewer bodies collapsing in on him. But he also needs to improve, as well. He needs to work on tightening up his handle, which can be ripped a bit too easily at times. His lower body mechanics on his jump shot also could stand to tighten up, as he sometimes loads off-balance into shots.
At the end of the day, though, NBA teams should probably bet on his talent. It’s rare for players to have this type of ball skill at his size. Reddish would represent an upside play for the Pelicans, who need more front court/wing creators around Jrue Holiday as they begin their rebuild. Anywhere from the top-five to No. 11 or so is his range, depending on if he can really impress in the pre-draft process.
8. Memphis Grizzlies — Coby White
6-5 lead guard, freshman, NC
With the Grizzlies moving into a new era after drafting Jaren Jackson last year and trading Marc Gasol at the deadline, it would seem that Mike Conley’s departure from the only organization that he’s known throughout his career is imminent this summer. That means the Grizz will need a new point guard. Delon Wright had a solid finish to the season, but is more of a secondary playmaker than the guy you want running the entire show. White has potential to grow into that player. He’s lightning quick at 6-foot-5, with the ability to play uptempo and get into transition. He’s also a high-level pull-up shooter, which puts pressure on the defense and opens up lanes for his teammates. The reason, though, he’s not quite what Morant is as a prospect at this stage is the natural feel for making plays for his teammates. He’s still working on that aspect of his game in half-court settings. If that comes along as he continues learning how to play with good players around him — something he didn’t really do much of at the high school level — White could be really strong starting point guard. Even if he doesn’t, I’d expect him to get buckets for a long time at this level.
9. Atlanta Hawks (from DAL) — Sekou Doumbouya
6-9 forward, 18 years old, Limoges (France)
Out of the international class, the multi-dimensional 6-foot-9 18-year-old originally from Guinea certainly looks to hold the most long-term value. Doumbouya had a tough start to the season, struggling to adjust to high-level pro basketball in France in the first three months of his season. He posted an extremely poor 0.57 assist to turnover ratio, while hitting just 25 percent in limited attempts from 3. Defensively, he was fouling over six times per 40 minutes. Basically, he looked like a 17-year-old playing professional basketball for the first time. But then, in a trio of games around Christmas, it looked like the French international had turned a corner, scoring 12 points in each and looking much more comfortable. Unfortunately, Doumbouya suffered a thumb injury in a league game against Boulazac and required surgery to repair a ligament and missed just over a month of action. And after a few games of action to get himself back into game shape, Doumbouya has been much better over the last month and a half. In his last eight games, Doumbouya has seen his points per minute increase, his 3-point shooting volume and efficiency has increased, and generally he just looks much more comfortable with the speed of the game.
Overall, I’m encouraged that Doumbouya has figured things out quickly, but still question how ready for the NBA he is simply due to his inexperience at high levels to this stage. There’s a real chance that he might need an extra year of seasoning, or else the team that picks him may be wasting one or two valuable seasons of his entry-level contract. Much like someone like Al-Farouq Aminu, the team that gets the best value out of Doumbouya may not necessarily be the team that selects him unless they can delay his process for coming over. But NBA teams generally are relatively high on Doumbouya and consider him a likely lottery pick. Atlanta, possessing two likely lottery picks and five picks overall, are well-positioned to take a shot on him figuring things out.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves — Brandon Clarke
6-8 forward/center, redshirt jr, Gonzaga
This remains my favorite fit in the entire NBA Draft. In my opinion, Clarke was one of the three best players in college basketball this season, a dominant two-way force who was efficient on offense and a terror defense. Because of that, he complements Karl-Anthony Towns perfectly. He’s a monster coming over from the weak side as a shot-blocker, something Towns has struggled with in his career. His intelligence coming over in help would be of significant value when a team pulls Towns away from the basket. Clarke can legit play away from the basket at the 4 defensively at the NBA level, in addition to potentially the 5 in smaller lineups. On offense, Towns’ elite level shooting ability would complement Clarke’s current development on that side of the floor. Still, there are questions about how his entire skill set on that end of the floor translates. He can create a bit off the dribble, elevate over the top of taller defenders, and finish at the basket. But the jump shot continues to be a source of concern. While he has made tremendous strides as a shooter over the course of the last 18 months, going from a total non-shooter to someone with at least some potential, it’s still not there yet. For the most part, it’s hard to see how his current offensive role would translate to an NBA role outside of rolls to the basket and short-corner dump-offs as a garbage man. Given that he’s only 6-8 or so with what looks to be relatively short arms, it’s a question as to how effective he’ll be in those roles compared to some of the biggest NBA players. For that reason, I think he’s something of a situational player who needs the right fit to succeed. Luckily for him, Minnesota represents that fit. But Clarke could certainly fall out of the lottery.
11. Los Angeles Lakers — Nassir Little
6-7 wing, freshman, North Carolina
The Lakers are in an interesting position. My bet is that they would rather use this pick as part of a trade to acquire more NBA-ready talent. Think Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, guys like that who may or may not be on the trade market this offseason. But if they end up keeping the pick, they’ll have to make a call on whether or not they think any of these players can help their team sooner rather than later. At least athletically, Little has a chance to compete on an NBA floor relatively quickly. The concerns about his feel for the game are real. He struggled and was often out of position at North Carolina this season. Offensively, he produced but didn’t quite shoot it at the level that many (including myself) thought he had potential to. But at the end of the day, Little is a 6-foot-7 wing with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. He’s an elite level athlete. This kind of guy tends to rise throughout the draft process, especially in today’s NBA where his potential skill set could far exceed where he’s selected due to his potential versatility.
12. Charlotte Hornets — Jaxson Hayes
6-11 center, freshman, Texas
A 6-foot-11 center with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, many evaluators around the NBA believe that Hayes has potential to be the type of low-usage, rim-running, shot-blocking center that every NBA team is looking for right now. He also possesses the footwork and lateral mobility to potentially defend a bit out on the perimeter, and some short-roll ball-handling ability. Basically, Hayes is like a combination of a Steven Adams and Clint Capela starter kit, both of whom have morphed into above-average starting NBA centers who can create an impact on both ends. The Hornets have a lot of money currently tied up in centers, but don’t actually have a long-term answer at the position that can be counted on. Cody Zeller deals with injuries too often, Frank Kaminsky seems to be on his way out, and Willy Hernangomez is a backup. Hayes would give them an athletic long-term option at the position to develop. He’d either be a perfect fit with Kemba Walker, or he’d be the kind of long-term asset that could grow around a rebuilding organization if Walker was to leave this summer.
13. Miami Heat — Rui Hachimura
6-8 forward, JR, Gonzaga
I’ll probably be slightly lower than this on Hachimura come draft day, but NBA teams are high on Hachimura’s tools. He’s 6-8 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan at 240 pounds, but also maintains high-level athleticism. His first step is terrific for a man his size, and it allows him to get to the basket. As a shooter, there’s a hitch at the top of his release to fix, but his touch is pretty good and at least portends some potential — but he needs to get more confidence from beyond the arc. Defensively, he possesses potential due to his strength and length, although sometimes his feet get a bit stuck in the mud at times and his feel on that end isn’t particularly strong after his prep years of being the primary offensive option with little defensive accountability until he reached Gonzaga. This year, things started to click a bit more on that end, but it remains an open question as to whether or not Hachimura will defend. For Miami, they’re about as good as any team in the league at getting guys into optimal shape and putting guys into position for success. No question, Hachimura possesses a lot of upside. He’s just not quite as far along as the typical 21-year-old, and needs strong coaching to continue to bring him along in the same way that he got it from Gonzaga.
14. Boston Celtics (from SAC) — PJ Washington
6-7 forward/center, sophomore, Kentucky
The first of three Celtics picks, I’d expect the team to either move around the board a bit, or to stash players. The Anthony Davis rumors are obviously omnipresent with these picks. But here, we’re not projecting trades. With the way the board sets up here, the Celtics are in kind of a weird spot. They could go with more of an upside play, or could try to find role players to put around their stars. Here, they go with the latter. Marcus Morris has become an important piece for the team due to his shot-making and size, but will be a free agent this summer that the team likely won’t want to pay a substantial sum. Washington is more of a Patrick Patterson type who is more of a catch-and-shoot, post-up threat versus Morris who can create his own looks. But the size, length (he has a 7-foot-3 wingspan), and shooting ability could help make up for some of Morris’s production. Washington strikes me as a decade-long role player, and that is worthy of a lottery pick in this draft.
15. Detroit Pistons — Tyler Herro
6-5 off-guard, freshman, Kentucky
Under Dwane Casey, the Pistons took a lot of 3s but didn’t make them at a clip commensurate with that volume. They shot just under 35 percent, which saw them finish 23rd in the league. Additionally, the Pistons need help in the backcourt, both at lead guard and on the wing. Herro certainly is more of an off-guard than a lead. He’s elite at running around screens, and terrific at shooting off of movement. He can also put the ball on the deck and create a little bit. If you’re asking “what’s the difference between Herro and Luke Kennard?” the answer would be defense. Herro works hard defensively. There are still some concerns about his lateral quickness going up against the quickest players at the next level, but he battles and has a legitimate confidence and swagger about the way he plays. Herro might not be quite this high on my board, but he’s certainly in this large tier of players and would make sense for the Pistons.
16. Orlando Magic — Romeo Langford
6-6 wing, freshman, Indiana
This is a bit of a drop for Langford, but NBA teams have have spoken with The Athletic continue to note that Langford is far from a surefire lottery pick after his season at Indiana. Largely, the questions about his explosiveness athletically and his jump shot continue to cause concern around the league. Some teams do buy the excuse that his thumb injury could have been part of the cause of his disastrous 27.2 mark from distance this season, but mostly teams believe his mechanics will need a full overhaul to get him anywhere near a high-level jump shooter. Throw in on top of it that Langford’s ability to gain separation has also come into question, and teams look at him as a potential role player who can’t shoot right now — something of a non-starter around the league. Still, there is potential that Langford can learn to shoot. He has good touch, and he might be the best wing in this class at finishing around the basket. But after he recovers from thumb surgery, he’s going to need to work really hard to prove himself. In this spot, the Magic make sense. They tend to buy into players with elite physical traits — Langford has a near-7-foot wingspan that helps him finish inside and defend at a solid level — and like guys with strong character. They also need scoring help on the wing, where Langford represents a potentially useful tool.
17. Brooklyn Nets — Goga Bitadze
6-11 center, 19 years old, Budocnost (Montenegro)
The Nets need more help at the center spot, even though they seem to have their guy for the future in Jarrett Allen. In their playoff series, the 76ers bullied them around a bit. And with a bevy of interesting, young backcourt options in D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris and Caris LeVert, the team looks to have a solid backcourt going forward. Here, the team selects Bitadze, a 6-foot-11 center of Georgia (the country, not the state) who has developed into one of the more productive big men in all of Europe as just a teenager. He’s averaging 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in Euroleague competition, placing him in the top-20 in scoring and top-five in rebounding. That pales in comparison to his shot-blocking numbers, though, where Bitadze leads the competition with 2.3 blocks per game. That’s nearly double the amount of third-place Jeremy Evans at 1.2. Throw in that he can also occasionally step out and make a 3-pointer, and he’s a remarkably interesting prospect.
I’ll have more on Bitadze’s ascent soon, but he’s considered around the league now to be a likely top-20 pick even despite playing the most talent-heavy position in the league.
18. Indiana Pacers — Kevin Porter Jr.
6-6 wing, freshman, USC
Porter is one of the toughest prospects to peg around the NBA right now. Ask NBA teams to peg his draft range, and they’ll give you an answer anywhere from late lottery all the way down to the early second round. Basically, teams need to meet with Porter, and start to wrap their head around some of the bizarre situations that surrounded him at USC this season — including an upper leg injury that held him out for nearly two months, and a suspension during an Oregon road trip. There are things that Porter and, to an extent, his agency (Roc Nation) will need to have a positive answer for. At the end of the day, though, I’m going to bet on someone taking a shot on his talents in the first round. Porter’s creativity is off the charts good when he has ball in hand. He can keep a live dribble, get a defender on skates, and get to his step-back pull-up at will. Then, when he does get a defender off-balance and drive to the hoop in a straight line, he can finish above the rim. The Pacers have a lot of uncertainty with free agency this summer, but one thing is clear: the team needs more scoring options, even once Victor Oladipo returns at the start of next season. Taking a shot on Porter, given their terrific team chemistry, seems like the kind of move that could really pay off down the road.
19. San Antonio Spurs — Nickeil Alexander-Walker
6-5 combo guard, sophomore, Virginia Tech
The Spurs are in the process of rebuilding their backcourt. Derrick White has shown himself to be a terrific option as a starter. Dejounte Murray’s defensive ability is already well established, having made the NBA’s All-Defense team last year prior to missing this season. Lonnie Walker spent the healthy portion of his season developing with the Austin Spurs, and largely availed himself well. That trio is a terrific building block to work from. But if there’s one question there, it’s consistency shooting the basketball. White hit just 34 percent from 3, and Murray is largely a non-shooter. Alexander-Walker has the type of high-IQ mindset that the Spurs look for in players, and pairs it with terrific shooting acumen. He’s creative off the bounce and in ball-screen situations, and hit 38.3 percent from 3 in his two years at Virginia Tech. He’ll likely go somewhere in the first round, with his range currently looking to be somewhere in the 15 to 25 vicinity.
20. Boston Celtics (from LAC) — Keldon Johnson
6-6 wing, freshman, Kentucky
Johnson is another player who drops a bit on this mock draft in comparison to last time. NBA evaluators wonder about the skill/athleticism combination right now. He’s not an elite athlete. His full-season 38 percent mark from 3 was good, but it dropped substantially down to 32.7 in tougher SEC play this season. His handle is strong, but largely resigned to only a straight line. Defensively, he has a great mindset, but can occasionally struggle to stay in front of guys that are quicker. Despite being a good passer at youth levels, that part of his game didn’t really show up within Kentucky’s offense. Still, Johnson is a young, attack-oriented wing with potential to play on both ends of the floor if he can keep working on his footwork. And at the next level, if the shooting translates at the full season number, there should be more space for him to attack in a straight line off of heavy closeouts. Plus, he has a great frame at 211 pounds already, and would be able to put up with the physicality of the NBA. I’m still relatively a fan of Johnson, but he’s definitely more of a role player prospect than a potential star right now. Why Boston? Well, they tend to buy into guys that are tough and have strong-willed outlooks. That propensity for working hard sometimes leads to better improvement down the road. Johnson certainly has the tools to make that leap.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder — Bol Bol
7-2 center, freshman, Oregon
The Thunder are in a weird place. With Russell Westbrook and Paul George, the team has a window to try and compete now. But it’s clear that they’re still a way’s off of being able to do that. They are in desperate need of shooting and the ability to space the basket for Westbrook drives, something that eventually went on to crater their offense this season. If there is one thing they need to fix this season, it’s getting more shooters. For that reason, Bol makes a lot of sense. Despite being 7-foot-2 with a 7-7 wingspan, he’s also one of the best shooters in this entire class from distance. They also need a second option at center behind Steven Adams, and Bol’s upside could eventually allow the team to move on from Adams and potentially open up some roster flexibility to improve. Sam Presti is never above taking risks. Bol would be a substantial one, but one that is worth it for them. Unsurprisingly, he has the widest potential draft ranges out of anyone. Anywhere from the end of the lottery to the second round, depending on how pre-draft interviews and medical checks go.
22. Boston Celtics — Carsen Edwards
6-0 combo guard, jr, Purdue
Again, the Celtics tend to like guys with attack-oriented mindsets. Edwards fits that bill to a ‘T,’ and also could help fill some positional holes that might be created this offseason. With Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier entering free agency, it might be a good idea for the team to bolster its depth at the lead guard spot. While I see Edwards as more of a scoring guard than a pure point, he fits well in Boston’s offense. The team runs a lot of dribble hand-off action, where guards get to sprint toward the ball and try to gain separation from defenders that way. Edwards is one of the better players I’ve seen at shooting off of a dead sprint, as he has an elite ability to stop his momentum, rise, and fire while still maintaining his balance. His lack of vision for making plays for his teammates at 6-foot tall is ultimately what holds him back a bit and likely resigns him to being more of a high-level bench scorer. But he has a real chance to be high-level as such a player in the NBA.
23. Utah Jazz — Cameron Johnson
6-8 wing/forward, redshirt sr, North Carolina
If there is one thing the Jazz’ series against Houston proved, it’s that their offense needs a boost. Particularly, I’d look at two real needs. First, the team could use a lead guard who is a real scoring threat next to Donovan Mitchell. Second, it badly needs more players who are threats to knock down shots and space the floor around Mitchell so that teams can’t just blindly collapse down on his drives. Johnson represents the latter. His shooting stroke is about as perfect as you’ll find, He hit about 46 percent of the six 3s per game that he attempted on his way to averaging nearly 16 points per contest. Those are terrific numbers for any player, let along one who stands 6-foot-8. The reason he’s not higher on boards despite an elite skill that is tailor-made for the modern NBA is that the rest of his game somewhat lacks. Defensively, there are questions as to whether or not he’s strong enough to deal with some of the similarly-sized players he’ll be forced to guard (or quick enough to defend smaller guys). As an athlete, he’s not really a guy you want driving all the way to the basket, although he can use his handle to get to a two-dribble pull-up when attacking closeouts. This one is all about fit, though, and shooting is exactly what the Jazz need.
24. Philadelphia 76ers — Ty Jerome
6-5 combo guard, jr, Virginia
The 76ers are another team that desperately needs to add shooting this offseason. Enter Jerome, who fits in multiple ways in this situation. Jerome hit 39.9 percent of his 3s this season, a ridiculous number given how many of his shots come off the dribble as Virginia’s best late-shot clock option. But Jerome also excels shooting off-the-catch, with terrific understanding of how to come off of screens in order to get separation from his defender. For the 76ers, he represents everything they should want in a prospect. He has experience guarding point guards at 6-foot-5, he can play some lead guard in the half-court next to Ben Simmons, and he can run all day in off-ball action when they decide to push him off-ball to get Simmons on the ball. It’s a perfect marriage of skill and need. Even though Jerome isn’t quite as fast as Landry Shamet at running off of screens, he could be an opportunity for the team to pick up a lot of what it dealt away when it moved the former Wichita State star in the Tobias Harris deal. I’m a big fan of this potential landing spot, even if Jerome is seen more by NBA executives as a late first, early second round type player.
25. Portland Trail Blazers — KZ Okpala
6-9 forward, sophomore, Stanford
Trail Blazers’ general manager Neil Olshey is not a big believer that you can get immediate help in the draft that can provide a boost to a contending team. I don’t necessarily agree with such a thought process — over the last few years, we’ve seen plenty of rookies make an impact as a role player in the playoffs — but it’s certainly the way he thinks about things. Okpala is the kind of high-upside player the Blazers tend to value, though. Best of all, he fits a position of need as a combo forward who can create off the dribble, knock down shots, and potentially even become useful defensively one day. The Stanford product started out the season as a potential lottery pick, dominating in the first two months of the season and knocking down 45 percent of his 3s. The shooting was always a bit unsustainable, but it ended up being that his overall offensive game ended up tanking a bit later in the season, too. From February 7 onward, Okpala averaged just 14 points a night while shooting under 40 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3. While that didn’t leave a great taste in evaluators’ mouths, I still think Okpala did enough to show that he’s a project worth taking on. Any time you can get a 6-9 forward with a 7-2 wingspan, legitimate body control, the ability to knock down shots, and then create plays off the dribble, I think you have to take that guy in the first round. If he can interview well and perform strongly in the pre-draft process, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him unavailable at No. 25. But right now, most evaluators see him as a late first round flyer to take.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from HOU) —Nic Claxton
6-11 forward/center, sophomore, Georgia
Mostly, this is me betting on a player having a huge pre-draft process and playing himself out of testing the waters. Right now, I’d say consensus is more that Claxton is an interesting early second round flier — with executives acknowledging that he has potential to rise as they get a chance to see him up close in workouts. I’m guessing that, at the end of the day, Claxton’s combination of skills is too fascinating from a modern NBA perspective to pass up at the end of the first round. He’s 6-10, but moves like a player much smaller than that in the way that he can guard away from the basket. As an interior rim protector, his 2.5 blocks per game led the SEC. He’s a good rebounder on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he has more skills with ball in hand than you’d think, as first-year Georgia coach Tom Crean occasionally let him bring the ball up the court and initiate sets. Really, the big question here is the jump shot. The South Carolina native has showcased some ability to step away and take shots, but he’s only made them at a 30.2 percent clip over 86 shots in his two years at Georgia. If he goes into workouts and shoots the lights out for a couple of teams, my bet is that he ends up going in Round One. Here, I’ve got him going to Cleveland, who can afford to take a developmental chance on a high-upside player, given that they’re at an early stage in their rebuild.
27. Brooklyn Nets (from DEN) — Grant Williams
6-6 forward, jr, Tennessee
Look, I’m personally going to have Williams much higher than this on my board. He’ll be a top-20 guy for me if he stays in the draft — something he’s still unsure he will do. On some level, I think NBA evaluators are overlooking Williams’ skill fit in the NBA because of his role at Tennessee and his unique body type. With the way the NBA is going, getting a guy who is 6-foot-6 with long arms and the ability to play smart help defense as well as avoid defensive mismatches by guarding bigger than his height is super valuable. And offensively, Williams is an improving shooter with good touch from within 15 feet, although one that lacks confidence shooting it from distance. But what intrigues me most is the ability to use Williams as a screen setter, then popping him or short-rolling him into the 17-foot range and allowing him to make plays with his terrific vision when the defense collapses. If the shot comes along, he’s a Swiss-Army knife that plugs a ton of holes and complements star players perfectly. The Nets could use another guy in their front court with this type of versatility. Right now though, NBA teams see Williams as more of a late first, early second round pick because they’re unsure if his athleticism will translate after he was able to overpower defenders at the college level, mostly posting up. I’d urge evaluators to look at the way the skills he showed on the block should translate to other parts of his game, given that his IQ is off the charts.
28. Golden State Warriors — Dylan Windler
6-7 wing, SR, Belmont
There are a lot of players that make sense from this point onward, especially in a situation as well-set for success as the Warriors. So why Windler here? The wing out of Belmont is an elite level shooter for his size, something that the Warriors could actually use more of off the bench. He’s also a smart defender who moves his feet reasonably well for his size, and knows where to be on the defensive end. He rebounds well for his position, and creates odd-man breaks with his instincts for getting into passing lanes. On offense, Windler always makes the right read and pass, something that didn’t always lead to him having massive nights in college (even though he averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds while going 54.0/42.9/84.1), but it does bode well for his transition into becoming an NBA role player. The skill set just works perfectly at this level. As long as he can adjust to the speed of the game, he should be a useful player in the NBA.
29. San Antonio Spurs (from TOR) — Bruno Fernando
6-10 center, sophomore, Maryland
The Spurs are one of the few teams in the NBA that utilizes the center position to a significant extent. But behind LaMarcus Aldridge and Jakob Poeltl, the team doesn’t have a ton of depth. Fernando would be a good fit here. Few players took as big of a leap from Year One to Year Two as Fernando. He has ball skills to be able to run dribble hand-offs and short rolls offensively, can make the right reads as a passer, and has the potential to add a mid-range jumper. Defensively, he’s a big body with length inside, but needs to add more instinctual awareness as a weak-side help defender. Hopefully, there’s still time for him to learn those skills. He’s considered a likely first round pick right now by executives, but my bet is that come closer to draft time he starts to fall as few teams in this area of the draft should be drafting big over wing help.
30. Milwaukee Bucks — Eric Paschall, Villanova
Mostly, the Bucks have a lot of their positions locked up long-term. So they can afford to mostly go with a best player available look here that can help them win games sooner rather than later. For me, that’s Paschall, and he also fits something of a small need that I think they have. In Game 1 against Boston, Sterling Brown and Pat Connaughton tried to play on the wing as bigger, stronger defenders who could hurt teams from distance as a shooter. It didn’t quite work. Paschall is bigger, stronger, and more athletic than those guys are, and has grown up in a Villanova system that has taught him how to switch and defend multiple positions. As either a 3 or a 4 role player next to Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and others, Paschall could add a measure of power and skill to a team that might be able to use some of it off the bench.
31. Brooklyn Nets (from NYK) — Luguentz Dort
6-4 off-guard, freshman, Arizona State
Dort is considered by most executives to be in this range, with the potential to rise up into becoming a solid first rounder with a strong process. Particularly, teams will be looking for growth in his jump shot, as it has a weird spin with slightly differing release points. Still, Dort is an elite level on-ball defender, which is something the Brooklyn backcourt could use.
32. Phoenix Suns — Talen Horton-Tucker
6-4 … “player,” freshman, Iowa State
I’m not entirely sure how to exactly classify Horton-Tucker. He’s creative like a guard, but weighs over 230 pounds and has a 7-foot-1 wingspan which intrigues evaluators about potentially having him guard up the lineup while maintaining ball-handling on the floor. I’m a bit off of the consensus with Horton-Tucker, though. I have him in the 40s on my board, largely because of the fact that he struggled significantly on defense this year, and didn’t really knock down open shots at a high clip. At the same token, though, I acknowledge that NBA teams see him as a late first-, early second-round type. For him to reach that place for me, he’d need to show that he can start knocking down shots.
33. Philadelphia 76ers (from CLE) — Zach Norvell Jr.
6-5 off-guard, redshirt sophomore, Gonzaga
More shooters for the 76ers. In this case, Norvell would add the microwave scoring element currently missing from the 76ers’ bench. He has NBA range already, and will knock down open shots when they’re given to him. He’s also improved a bit on defense to where he’s able to hold up in coverage, as opposed to last year where he struggled there. This smooth lefty could help space the floor for Simmons and Joel Embiid, as well as potentially Jimmy Butler if he sticks around this offseason. Of note: I had Norvell in my 2020 mock draft, but the working assumption among NBA teams — without anything being finalized on his end — seems to be that Norvell ends up in 2019.
34. Philadelphia 76ers (from CHI) — Daniel Gafford
6-11 center, sophomore, Arkansas
With Boban Marjanovic entering free agency this offseason, the 76ers have a significant need for a backup center (sorry, I’m not really a Jonah Bolden believer right now). Gafford would give the 76ers a rim-running, shot-swatting big man at 6-foot-11 who could provide a nice change of pace to Embiid when he enters the game. He’d also be a nice partner in transition for Simmons. There’s a chance he ends up in the first round — and he’ll be a top-30 prospect for me — but we’ve seen too often over the last few years how big men have tended to fall on draft night. There are only so many spots.
35. Atlanta Hawks — Matisse Thybulle
6-5 wing, sr, Washington
Thybulle was one of the best defenders in college basketball this season, posting hitherto unseen combined block/steal rates. For many, that places him within the conversation for the first round. I’m a bit less sold, though. First, during Thybulle’s freshman and sophomore seasons, he was only about an average man-to-man defender. It was once he got put into Mike Hopkins 2-3 zone that he became a monster. He clearly has amazing help defense instincts, but I wonder if his skinny frame will get pushed around a bit more often than NBA teams would like. Beyond that, his offense just hasn’t quite developed in the way you’d hope despite a skill set that would make you believe he should be averaging points per game. Still, Atlanta has use for elite level defenders next to Trae Young.
36. Charlotte Hornets (from WAS) — Jalen McDaniels
6-10 forward, sophomore, San Diego State
McDaniels would be an interesting change of pace guy for the Hornets. He plays super hard, has great footwork in the post, and is something of a midrange killer. The key for his efficiency long-term will be stretching his range out to the 3-point line, something he hasn’t quite mastered yet. Defensively, McDaniels has potential as a guy who can switch out onto guards and stick. The Hornets don’t really have anyone like this and could get use out of him.
37. Dallas Mavericks — Luka Samanic
6-10 forward/center, 19 years old, Olimpia Ljubanja (Slovenia)
Samanic is a skilled big man who should likely be stashed for at least one or two years. For the Mavericks, as they try to consolidate cap space, that’s completely fine. In time, Samanic should be able to stretch his shot out to the NBA 3-point line, and make terrific offensive decisions with the ball to keep everyone engaged on offense. I’m not quite this high on him, but some teams believe he will be the first stash option off the board in the second round.
38. Chicago Bulls (from MEM) — Admiral Schofield
6-6 wing/forward, sr, Tennessee
The Bulls need to keep building out a culture of toughness and defense to pair with their skilled offensive players. It’s hard to imagine a better fit for that than Schofield, who would immediately become a Jim Boylen favorite. He’s tough and physical for his size and can guard up the lineup due to a 7-1 wingspan. Offensively, he can step out with NBA 3-point range and hit shots. The big question here is quickness and athleticism. If he can stick with wings, he’ll play in the NBA for a while.
39. New Orleans Pelicans — Shamorie Ponds
6-0 lead guard, jr, St. John’s
Ponds is just pure offense waiting to happen. He’s elite with a live dribble, with counter moves for days depending on how a defender plays him. He’s also improved as a shooter and facilitator over the last year. I think he probably sticks as a backup point guard in the NBA. That’s worth taking in the top-40.
40. Sacramento Kings (from MIN) — Mfiondu Kabengele
6-10 center, redshirt sophomore, Florida State
On a per-minute basis, few players in college basketball were as valuable as Kabengele. He averaged 24.5 points, 11 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per 40 minutes while shooting 50 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3, and 76 percent from the line. Defensively, he fouls a bit too often, but he also has pretty good feet to move on the perimeter. His feel for the game is extremely high, and has the look of a potential small-ball NBA center.
41. Atlanta Hawks (from LAL) — Chuma Okeke
6-8 forward, sophomore, Auburn
NBA teams had Okeke marked down as a potential late first round pick after a terrific season at Auburn where he played high-level defense, knocked down shots, and was the glue for an eventual Final Four team. But his torn ACL in the Sweet 16 threw all of that for a loop. The Hawks here decide to take the plunge, deciding to value the ability to potentially get a long-term two-way forward.
42. Philadelphia 76ers (from SAC) — Deividas Sirvydis
6-8 forward, 18 yrs old, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania)
Hey, this might be something of a broken record, but let’s give Philadelphia another shooter, only this time it’s one that they don’t have to bring over immediately and can stash overseas and allow to develop. He’s playing (and starting most games) in Eurocup and Lithuanian first division competition, and hitting 38 percent of his 177 total 3-point attempts. He should use the next year to bulk up. I like him a bit more than Samanic, who I have being selected ahead of him here.
43. Minnesota Timberwolves (from MIA) — Jontay Porter
6-11 center, 19 yrs old, Missouri
Porter had a tough year. He tore his ACL prior to the season and missed all of Missouri’s games, then re-tore it while training. Teams are going to want to get a great look at his knees, especially given his body type and his brother Michael’s injury issues over the last two years. But when he’s on the floor, Porter is a smart big man who knock down shots at a high level from deep and make plays for others passing the ball. He’s a perfect modern offensive big man. His defensive mobility problems already showed up prior to these injuries, though. Placing him on a board like this is difficult right now, but I’ve given him to the Timberwolves here, who have a history of selecting and valuing bigs in the draft.
44. Atlanta Hawks (from MIN) — Marcos Louzada Silva
6-5 wing, 19 yrs old, Franca (Brazil)
Going by “Didi,” Louzada Silva is an interesting, athletic wing who can knock down shots at a high level. He was one of the better players on a Nike Hoop Summit World Team in front of a throng of over 100 NBA scouts, meaning teams will be familiar with him and have an up-close look. My bet is that a team would stash him if he decided to enter the draft.
45. Detroit Pistons — Louis King
6-9 wing/forward, freshman, Oregon
King had a weird year at Oregon. He was hurt for the first month, then it took him another few weeks to work his way back into game shape. Once he did though, we saw the reasons why he was a five-star talent in high school, as he averaged just about 15 points and five rebounds per game while shooting on a 45/43/80 line. Having said that though, King hasn’t displayed much interest in defense, and doesn’t really affect the game if he’s not scoring. To me, he’s an interesting flyer to take, but not much else. Teams do have a wide range on him at this stage.
46. Orlando Magic (from BKN) — Jaylen Hoard
6-9 forward, freshman, Wake Forest
Hoard is a fascinating athlete, with great quickness and solid leaping ability for a player at his size with a plus wingspan. His skill level is still developing, though, as he’s not an elite shooter yet, and his post footwork could use some work. His 0.6 assist-to-turnover ratio also raises questions about his feel for the game. Still, he’s worth taking a flyer on due to the athleticism alone — especially if you can convince him to be a stash pick. Hoard is originally from France, and could potentially help his stock by agreeing to spend a year overseas developing before starting his rookie scale deal. Something for him and NBA teams to ponder.
47. Sacramento Kings (from ORL) — Darius Bazley
6-9 wing/forward, sit-out, New Balance
Bazley accepted an internship with New Balance this year instead of playing at Syracuse. Evaluators wanted to get their eyes on him, as he’s an intriguing athlete with size and legit ball skills. Still, Bazley is certainly a lottery ticket, and he’ll need to prove himself in workouts. He wasn’t a surefire one-and-done prospect before making this decision. Now, teams will want to see if the year was put to good use while training and working on his skills.
48. Los Angeles Clippers — Miye Oni
6-6 wing, jr, Yale
Oni had a terrible NCAA Tournament game against LSU, but don’t let that overshadow what is a remarkably interesting prospect due to his size, length, shooting ability, and defensive potential. With a 6-11 wingspan, Oni has the frame NBA teams look for, and is a smart kid with high feel for the game. A good organization will take him at some point in this draft, and have a good chance at a steal.
49. San Antonio Spurs — Yovel Zoosman
6-7 wing, 20 years old, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
Zoosman won MVP of the U20 European Championships last summer for gold medalists Israel, and has followed it up by carving out a role for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Euroleague competition. He’s not a starter, but he’s a consistent shot-maker from distance that can also defend at a fairly high level because of his 7-1 wingspan. It’s hard for me to see the Spurs taking three rookies into camp next year, so I’d bet on them stashing in the second round here.
50. Indiana Pacers — Ignas Brazdeikis
6-7 forward, freshman, Michigan
Brazdeikis is in a very interesting situation. Even after shooting 39 percent from 3 last season, NBA teams still question his jumper a bit because of his previous rep in high school as an improving shooter, but not a high level one. They also wonder how his athleticism translates on offense, as he’s an advantage scorer who gets by with change of pace. Defensively, he was also a fairly big problem for Michigan. But one some level, Brazdeikis is just a tough dude that no one ever wants to play against. There’s a real chance an NBA organization falls in love with him in the pre-draft process and takes him a bit higher than this. But based on skill level, it’s tough for me to get there right now.
51. Boston Celtics — DaQuan Jeffries
6-5 wing/forward, senior, Tulsa
One of the best kept secrets in college basketball this year, Jeffries was a significant standout at the Portsmouth Invitational. Multiple league executives mentioned to The Athletic that they thought he was the best prospect in attendance. He’s a high-level athlete who defends hard, and can knock down shots from distance at 230 pounds, meaning you can play him up the lineup a bit. I’d bet on him either getting drafted, or being a priority undrafted free agent for someone.
52. Charlotte Hornets (from OKC) — Jaylen Nowell
6-4 combo guard, sophomore, Washington
Nowell still hasn’t made his final decision as to whether or not he’ll go through with the process, but he’s an interesting prospect if only because of his scoring acumen. He won the Pac-12 player of the year award while averaging 16.2 points per game, shooting a ridiculous 50.2/44.4/77.9 line. NBA teams want to see him pull-up into that 3-point ball with more confidence than he showed this season (he’s a bit more comfortable in the mid-range area than he is from deep), but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him selected if he goes through the process.
53. Utah Jazz — Jordan Poole
6-5 combo guard, sophomore, Michigan
Similar to Nowell, but with less of a track record to go off of. Poole is a skilled scorer who can get buckets in a hurry when he’s hot, but he disappears when he’s off and doesn’t make an impact anywhere else on the floor. I think someone takes a chance on his skill set developing in the G-League over the next year or so. Utah could use more shooting and scoring, so it’s a fit.
54. Philadelphia 76ers — Kyle Guy
6-2 off-guard, jr, Virginia
Look, let’s finish this thing out for Philadelphia by giving them more shooting than they could possibly know what to do with. Guy is maybe the best shooter entering this draft, having hit 42.5 percent from 3 in his collegiate career on nearly 600 attempts. He shoots the heck out of it off of movement, particularly coming off of screens. That’s a directly translatable NBA skill. If he can improve as a ball-handler, and find a way to defend absolutely anybody on the floor at this level. Maybe he’s Jaycee Carroll, the star who has made millions over in Europe playing for Real Madrid for the last eight years. But maybe he can stick in today’s shooting-conscious NBA. Teams around the league are certainly more interested in him than I anticipated them being, and want to see him at the combine against high-level athletes.
55. New York Knicks (from HOU) — Dedric Lawson
6-8 forward, redshirt junior, Kansas
Lawson was an All-American this season, one of the most productive players in college basketball. The problem is that I’m just not sure what skill of his translates to the NBA. He was something of a low-post/high-post guy in Bill Self’s offense. He’s not a great athlete who gets a ton of separation, doesn’t shoot it, and doesn’t defend at a super high level. NBA teams are unsure if he’ll get drafted at this stage. We’ll see if that ends up being the case.
56. Los Angeles Clippers (from POR) — Justin Wright-Foreman
6-1 lead guard, senior, Hofstra
Wright-Foreman is an electric scorer. He gets to his spots all over the place due to his terrific handle, and can pull-up from anywhere within 25 feet — and make shots efficiently. There are defensive concerns, as coaches in the CAA seemed to think he wasn’t particularly interested on that side of the floor. He’s also definitely just a pure scorer versus someone you can count on to facilitate right now. But Wright-Foreman is the exception as a scorer in that he has a legit chance to stick.
57. New Orleans Pelicans (from DEN) — Charles Bassey
6-11 center, freshman, West Kentucky
Bassey is a tough prospect to peg right now. He was productive this season, but doesn’t really roll hard toward the basket and finish far above the rim. His mobility away from the basket also gives teams pause as to whether or not he’ll just get pulled away and taken advantage of by NBA guards. But his touch and rim protection make him intriguing for teams, at least.
58. Golden State Warriors — Justin Robinson
6-2 lead guard, senior, Virginia Tech
Robinson was another significant standout of the Portsmouth Invitational, according to NBA executives. His ability to facilitate for others, run an offense, and knock down shots off the dribble particularly makes them believe that he can run a second-unit NBA offense. The Warriors could use another backup lead guard.
59. Toronto Raptors — Quinndary Weatherspoon
6-4 off-guard, senior, Mississippi State
A final Portsmouth standout gets selected here, as Weatherspoon was terrific at the event and throughout his senior season for Mississippi State. He’s established himself as a legit potential draft pick already, due in large part to his shooting ability and length.
60. Sacramento Kings (from MIL) — Adam Mokoka
6-5 combo guard, 20 years old, Mega Bemax (Serbia)
Mokoka is an interesting defensive prospect because his length and athleticism. He has a 6-10 wingspan, and really works hard on that end of the floor. Offensively, things are more up in the air. He’s shooting under 40 percent from the field and about 30 percent from 3 so far. Still, for the Kings, they need to stash someone or move out of this last pick given how many picks they have in the second round. Mokoka works for the former.
