A look at a full first round 2019 NBA Draft, including selections for the Atlanta Hawks at number five and number nine.
With the final game of the regular season behind us, the 2018-19 season is officially over for the Atlanta Hawks.
For some teams, this year has been a massive disappointment (Lakers, Timberwolves, Cavs, Bulls, Suns) and for others it has been a surprising and revelatory year (Bucks, Kings, Nuggets).
Sitting somewhere in the middle was the year the Atlanta Hawks had.
While the team started out with a putrid record of 6-23, they actually played quite well to end the season and finished out the year with a 29-53 record, going 23-30 down the stretch and winning five more games than they did in the final year of the Mike Budenholzer era in 2017-18.
John Collins missed 15 games to start the season, playing his first game on November 15. Once JC was inserted back into the starting lineup, the team seemed to stabilize somewhat. Trae Young’s season took off once he had an extremely reliable rim-runner and amazing finisher around the basket, and the Atlanta Hawks as a unit seemed to jell.
With a strong push to end the season, the Atlanta Hawks hopefully set themselves up as an attractive free agent destination, but the real joy will come via June’s 2019 NBA Draft.
Depending on how the draft lottery works out for the Atlanta Hawks, they could be looking at a fairly plum scenario. For this article, let’s assume the team gets the 5th overall and 9th overall pick (via the Mavericks from the Luka Doncic trade).
How will the 2019 NBA Draft shake out for the Atlanta Hawks and for all teams? Read on to take a look at this full first round mock draft!
#30. Milwaukee Bucks – Mfiondu Kabengele
As the best team in the league this season, the Milwaukee Bucks really don’t need much help via the 2019 NBA Draft. The team is expected to roll to the Eastern Conference Finals on the back of the league’s presumptive MVP, Giannis Antekounmpo, and a savvy cast of veterans and hungry younger players looking to prove themselves in the crucible of playoff basketball.
However, with a multitude of interesting low-end first rounders available here for Milwaukee, the team should think about drafting Mfiondu Kabengele to aid its frontcourt depth.
Though Brook Lopez was one of the best signings of last offseason, Kabengele plays with a certain ferocity that cannot be taught, and he was a huge reason why Florida State made two straight Sweet 16s under head coach Leonard Hamilton.
A swift-moving big man with beefy 6-foot-10, 25-pound size, Kabengele is a force around the rim on defense – which makes sense considering that Atlanta Hawks legend Dikembe Mutombo is his uncle.
With the Bucks being pretty set at most of their positions going forward (depending on what kind of contract Khris Middleton gets), the team has a wealth of options here, but Kabengele would be a smart upside play from Milwaukee with the 30th overall pick.
#29. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors) –Talen Horton-Tucker
As one of the, if not the single, youngest player in this draft class, Talen Horton-Tucker of Iowa State comes in with plenty of upside, which is something that the San Antonio Spurs will likely be willing to explore using the draft pick they acquired in the Kawhi Leonard trade.
Though Horton-Tucker must improve his conditioning to stay on an NBA court, his burly 6-foot-4, 233-pound frame (and 7-foot-1 wingspan) is surely tantalizing from an upside perspective.
Coupled with his age and the proven production as a freshman on an Iowa State team that got hot and won the Big 12 Conference tournament, Horton-Tucker has been a surprising riser of late.
With the nascent ability to create off the dribble, make difficulty shots in traffic along with good length and defensive instincts, Horton-Tucker could prove to be a steal for the Spurs near the bottom of the first round in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Though the Spurs just drafted Lonnie Walker last year and have both Dejounte Murray and Derrick White as entrenched options at the guard positions, an 18-year-old with the physical profile and shotmaking ability of Horton-Tucker will likely be too much to pass up if the draft breaks this way for San Antonio.
#28. Golden State Warriors – Keldon Johnson
If Keldon Johnson out of Kentucky is still on the board for the Golden State Warriors, they will likely ponder why he fell to them. For the merits of this article, let’s assume that happened and that the Warriors once again were the beneficiary of decisions outside of their control.
Just look at their draft in 2017, when the Chicago Bulls inexplicably sold the Warriors a draft pick that became Jordan Bell (who was recently listed as one of 12 potential free agency targets for the Atlanta Hawks).
Though Bell has been in the doghouse for much of his Warriors tenure, he has still played legitimate rotation minutes in the NBA Finals, something that most other rookies cannot claim. Depending on the Warriors’ offseason, Johnson might slot into a backup wing/guard role that could be vacated by Shaun Livingston (whose 2019-20 salary is only guaranteed for $2 million).
Johnson came in as a vaunted prospect to the Kentucky Wildcats, though it took him a while to get comfortable in John Calipari’s system. Despite that, Johnson flashed strong all-around defensive chops and opportunistic scoring ability on the other end.
Perhaps the bellwether for Johnson will be if his three-pointer call, which it did in college to the tune of 45 of 118 (38.1%). Steve Kerr has not one been one to trot out rookies that don’t produce, so Johnson will have to learn fast on a dynasty like Golden State’s – with or without Kevin Durant.
#27. Brooklyn Nets (via Denver Nuggets) – Naz Reid
The hulking Naz Reid out of LSU comes in with an NBA-ready frame at 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, but don’t be fooled by those hefty numbers. Reid has quick feet and moves with a fluidity that belies a natural athlete.
Though he didn’t particularly put it all together on the defensive end with those athletic gifts (only 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks per game in over 27 minutes), where Reid really shines is his ability to be a versatile screener that can either roll the basket for easy buckets around the rim or pop out to the three-point line where he can utilize one of the most beautiful outside shots this writer has ever seen on a big man:
Sure, Reid only shot 33 percent for the season, but he improved over the course of the season, with his three-point shooting percentage perking up in conference play, when he attempted two a game and made them at a 38.2 percent clip.
With the Brooklyn Nets’ first pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, they’ll be able to add a long-term offensive center that can serve as a change of pace from the more lumbering (but still delightful) Jarrett Allen.
Furthermore, if Allen is attempting three-pointers this season (at a 13.3 percent shooting clip), just think of what Nets coach Kenny Atkinson can do with a gifted shooter like Reid.
#26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Houston Rockets) – Bruno Fernando
A hulking center, Bruno Fernando out of Maryland was a teammate of Kevin Huerter’s of the Atlanta Hawks when the two played as Terrapins. Sadly, Fernando’s stock is not quite high enough for the team to take a swing on Bruno in the lottery, so the Cavs will be able to take a chance on the titanic big man.
Fernando made a clear leap in his second season, and he upped his points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals and shooting percentage in his second year. His true shooting percentage of 65.3 percent was tops in the Big 10 Conference and his 27.2 player efficiency rating was 3rd in the conference.
Fernando is a bruising presence at the center spot, and his NBA-ready 6-foot-10, 240-pound will already make him a burly option for the Cavs at the five. Though Ante Zizic is the entrenched option, Fernando provides a bit more youth and passing at the five.
The Cavs received this pick as compensation to take on the remaining salary of Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss, so the Cavs can take a risk here on a player that might’ve fallen down draft boards for various reasons. In this mock, that player is Fernando.
#25. Portland Trail Blazers – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
The Virginia Tech Hokies were a terrific team this season and they made it to back-to-back Sweet 16s under the leadership of head coach Buzz Williams, who promptly bolted to his home state of Texas to serve as Texas A&M’s head coach.
VT played hard and tough, and they were among the toughest teams in the ACC all year – giving Duke all they could handle in multiple matchups before finally falling to the Blue Devils in the Sweet 16 (in painful fashion):
One VT player who came into the year high on many pundits’ draft boards was Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the cousin of the LA Clippers’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Walker started the year hot but cooled off considerably in conference play. Still though, NAW showed plenty of flashes of two-way upside with an impressive 3.4 percent steal rate (which ranked top 70 in the country per KenPom) and his length and speed allowed to get to the rim consistently.
Though the Blazers drafted two guards in the 2018 NBA Draft (Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr.), Alexander-Walker projects to have more defensive panache, and he can also switch a bit more than those two can.
Beyond that, obtaining NAW with the 26th pick in the draft would be a huge steal, considering how high his stock has been for much of the college season.
#24. Philadelphia 76ers – Cam Johnson
The Philadelphia 76ers are sitting pretty this year with perhaps the best starting lineup in the NBA. Beyond that, the team put together back-to-back 50-win seasons after producing only 10 wins during the 2015-16 season – at the height of former GM Sam Hinkie’s epochal “Process” era.
However, despite a glut of talent in the starting lineup, the team’s lineup beyond those five is patchwork at best. Littered with centers and forwards such as Boban Marjanovic, Amir Johnson, Jonah Bolden and the recently acquired Greg Monroe, the 76ers lack depth in a big way on the wing and at guard.
When two rookies (Zhaire Smith, Shake Milton) will likely play a huge role in the playoffs and T.J. McConnell is your playoff backup point guard, something’s a bit off.
With this selection, the 76ers would fill a positional need at the three while also adding something they desperately need more of: Shooting.
Cameron Johnson of UNC shot a sky-high 45.7 percent on nearly 6 attempts per game from long range in his senior campaign, which was tops in the ACC. Johnson, who is already 23, would be able to run similar plays to what J.J. Redick does with the Sixers, just at a supersized level (6-foot-9, 210 pounds).
#23. Utah Jazz – Goga Bitadze
Goga Bitadze has played extremely well at age 19 in the EuroLeague, putting him in recent company with Luka Doncic, though of course Luka famously garnered MVP honors in his age 19 EuroLeague campaign – while also leading Real Madrid to a championship.
Bitadze isn’t putting forth quite that same level of proven production, but his improvements across the board on offense have raised some eyebrows among NBA draftniks. Though Sekou Doumbouya (more on him later) is likely the best foreign-born prospect in this draft class, Bitadze’s great size and shooting touch will likely garner some late-lottery looks from teams like the Celtics that will be in a rather exploratory mold due to them having amassed four draft picks in the 2019 NBA Draft.
At 6-foot-11 and 245 pounds with a sweet shooting stroke, Bitadze is certainly an intriguing prospect, and he might serve as a more offensively minded backup to Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors – while also possessing similar roll gravity.
The 19-year-old center finished EuroLeague with averages of 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 24.2 minutes while also knocking down a combined 21 of 55 three-pointers in EuroLeage and the Adriatic League. That’s a fairly engaging skill set for a 19-year-old big man.
#22. Boston Celtics – Jontay Porter
The fourth and final pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft for the Boston Celtics is a player who could potentially turn into the steal of the draft. With a shocking four selections on the docket, the Celtics should be willing to take a swing on a high-floor player with amazing feel, which is exactly what Jontay Porter is.
Though there are serious concerns about this health, as he suffered back-to-back ACL tears (one during his rehabilitation) and his brother Michael Porter has not played a single minute of what would’ve been his rookie year with the Nuggets, Porter is a brilliant player that was unable to show his skills at all in his sophomore season.
A limited athlete, Porter has good size as a true seven-footer and he showed an ability to pilot an offense almost single-handedly during his freshman season at Missouri. A savant-level offensive player that can step out and knock down triples, Porter is deserving of a late lottery selection on his pedigree and skill set alone, but due to those health concerns, he will likely fall to the middle or back end of the 2019 NBA Draft.
If he stays healthy in his career, this Celtics selection will be seen as an utter steal.
#21. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ty Jerome
Over the years, OKC Thunder General Manager Sam Presti has fetishized rangy, athletic, wingspan-laden hybrid guards and forwards. One need only look at the selections of Terrance Ferguson and Hamidou Diallo in back-to-back drafts to see that Presti likes a little explosiveness out of his draft picks.
So why is Ty Jerome, one of the least explosive players in this entire draft class, slated to be a member of the Thunder, when we know Presti’s track record does not include players such as Ty Ball Game?
For one thing, because former Atlanta Hawks point guard Dennis Schröder had a fairly uninspiring season as Russell Westbrook’s backup and spot starter at the two. Though he seemed to pick up his defense a bit with the Thunder, (compared to his final year with the Atlanta Hawks) and he can certainly score in bunches when the ball is in his hands a lot, the fit was never quite the best for DS17 – despite Schröder checking the boxes of “athletic” and “long” that Presti loves.
Instead, in this draft, Presti and the Thunder should opt for a player with a high floor that has a savant-level feel and basketball IQ in Jerome. Just ponder the simple but high-pressure read in the NCAA title game Jerome made to assist De’Andre Hunter on the game-tying bucket that sent the game to overtime, where UVA eventually won:
Though he might seem like a slowpoke as a point guard, Jerome is an excellent late first round prospect, and the Thunder should scoop him up if he’s available.
#20. Boston Celtics (via LA Clippers) – Tyler Herro
With their third pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft (must be nice), the Boston Celtics will able to employ the Los Angeles Clippers first-round pick to select Tyler Herro out of Kentucky.
Herro rose up draft boards all season, finally culminating in a clutch Sweet 16 game-winner against Houston:
Herro produced some strong numbers in his freshman campaign, such as 14 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game and 1.1 steals per contest. Though he only shot 35 percent from deep, his shooting form is nearly flawless, and he did produce a 58 percent true shooting percentage thanks to a nearly automatic 93.5 percent clip at the free throw line.
The Celtics will be able to pretty much do whatever they want with their glut of first round picks in this draft, and, who knows, many of these picks might be going elsewhere in a potential deal for a superstar.
Either way, the selection of Herro will guarantee that the Celtics are selecting a player that is nothing if not “a bucket.”
#19. San Antonio Spurs – Matisse Thybulle
There might be no better fit between potential 2019 NBA Draft pick and team than Matisse Thybulle out of Washington and the San Antonio Spurs. A brilliant defensive player, Thybulle won the Naismith Defensive Player of the year in his senior season for the Washington Huskies.
A steals machine, Thybulle set the record for most steals in Pac 12 Conference history this season with 125, and he is also the all-time career steals leader in the conference with 330. Beyond those gaudy totals, Thybulle’s steal rate this season of 6.6 percent was tops in the country. Combine that with the 4th-highest block rate in the Pac 12 (8.1%), and you have the makings of a terrifying defensive player.
In our recent Atlanta Hawks Big Board, Thybulle was listed above players that will likely be drafted before him, and Thybulle would be a terrific fit on the defensive end for an Atlanta Hawks team that needs all the help it can get papering over the defensive deficiencies of its primary ballhandler, Trae Young.
For the Spurs, Thybulle gets to spend at least one season (hopefully) with one of the greatest defensive coaches in NBA history in Gregg Popovich, and he will also join a stacked defensive core of Dejounte Murray and Derrick White.
Though Thybulle did not crack 10 points per game in scoring, he will likely only be tasked with spot-up shooting – as he will be a defensive specialist at the NBA level.
#18. Indiana Pacers – Nassir Little
Nassir Little out of North Carolina was widely expected to be a Top-5 pick in this year’s draft due to his stunning athleticism and sterling high school exploits. He came in as UNC’s prized recruit after whiffing on Zion, but by the end of the year, it was clear that Coby White was the team’s best draft prospect and even Cam Johnson might have a higher floor than Little, who just couldn’t quite get comfortable during his brief tenure with the Tar Heels.
Despite a star-crossed season, Little still showed plenty of flashes in his freshman campaign, enough that he will still likely get lottery looks from multiple teams due to his ferocious style, nose for the basketball and elite athleticism.
The problem was never about motor or physical prowess, but rather feel and basketball IQ. North Carolina head coach Roy Williams plays a certain way, but it seems that Little just couldn’t quite make it work with his amazing physical profile and nose for the basketball.
Though he often provided a spark when he entered the game, he wasn’t the go-to guy for UNC this season.
If drafted by the Pacers, Little will be able to come along slowly as this team is set up to make it to the playoffs for a few years coming due to the brilliance of Victor Oladipo and the coaching of Nate McMillan. If a rebuild does occur in the coming years, for some reason, Aaron Holiday and Little would certainly make for an interesting young core in Indiana for years to come.
#17. Brooklyn Nets – Grant Williams
The Brooklyn Nets were one of the best stories of the NBA this season, as they rode the brilliant coaching of Kenny Atkinson as well as a breakout campaign from erstwhile Laker D’Angelo Russell to the team’s first playoff berth since the 2014-15 season, where they faced off against the 60-win Atlanta Hawks team. How quickly the NBA changes.
With a plethora of young talent on its roster including Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Rodions Kurucs, Dzanan Musa and Russell as well as a cadre of cagey veterans such as Spencer Dinwiddie, DeMarre Carroll and Jared Dudley, this Nets team was fun to watch and they present an intriguing playoff matchup for the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.
In the 2019 NBA Draft, the Nets will be likely be looking to add some defensive talent or the best player available. By selecting Grant Williams out of Tennessee, they will accomplish both goals.
Williams is a brilliant team defender, and he also represents a solid scorer through various facets of the game. As the SEC Player of the Year, Williams led the Tennessee to its best season in school history, though they were bested by the surging Purdue Boilermakers before they could leave their mark on the NCAA Tournament.
In terms of basketball IQ, Williams has savant-level feel and has a knack for drawing fouls. Despite being a junior, Williams will only be 20 years old on draft day, and his chiseled frame certainly looks NBA-ready.
#16. Orlando Magic – Kevin Porter
For a while, the Orlando Magic were teetering on the precipice of missing the playoffs for yet another season. However, thanks to the exploits of newly minted All-Star Nikola Vucevic (who the Atlanta Hawks might target in free agency), Orlando were able to right the ship and will face off against the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Though the team has outperformed expectations for much of the season, there is one area where the team sorely needs to upgrade: In the backcourt.
D.J. Augustin has had an excellent season this year, even going so far as to completely fake out Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks with this smooth move:
However, Augustin is more of a game manager and backup PG-type than a go-to, “every-down” kind of point guard. With the 16th pick, the Magic should prioritize an on-ball scorer in the backcourt. With Kevin Porter still on the board out of USC, Orlando would be in good shape at the two guard spot.
With excellent athleticism, beautiful ballhandling skills and a versatile shot, Porter should be able to slot in easily on many rosters – despite an underwhelming college campaign in Southern California.
#15. Detroit Pistons – Rui Hachimura
Rui Hachimura of Gonzaga anchored one of the best teams in the country during this year’s college basketball season, and it still seems shocking that they were upset by the surging Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Elite Eight:
Hachimura and the Zags were the only team to defeat the Duke Blue Devils at full strength (before Michigan State did the same thing in the Elite Eight). For his efforts, Rui was awarded the West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors after averaging 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Bulldogs, all with a lofty 63.9 true shooting percentage.
Though he has good size (6-foot-8, 230 pounds), there seem to be concerns about what Hachimura’s game will look like against the best of the best in the NBA. Many of his finishes came versus watered-down competition in the WCC, and he was simply able to outmuscle lesser opponents.
Certainly, the playoff-bound Detroit Pistons will likely zoom to the podium to select a player that has been widely mocked to go in the lottery of this draft class, but there are other options further up the board that seem to be better fits for their respective draft slots. Time will tell where Rui ends up.
#14. Boston Celtics (via Sacramento Kings) – Romeo Langford
Romeo Langford came into the college season as one of the most celebrated high school players in Indiana basketball history – which is saying considering the legends that have come out of that state.
Hoosiers love their hoops, and Langford came in with a ton of hype this season, which he, for the most part, did not live up to. Playing for his hometown Indiana NCAA team, Langford largely underwhelmed, though he did pile up big numbers for the Hoosiers.
Despite 16.5 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game and 0.8 blocks and steals per game, Langford and Indiana finished 9th in the Big 10 conference with an 8-12 conference record.
With a middling overall record of 19-16, the Hoosiers were left out of the Big Dance and were instead shunted to the NIT, where they lost as a 1-seed to the Wichita State Shockers. Despite that, Langford showcased a lot of potential in his college season with impressive shot creation and the ability to finish around the rim fairly easily.
With the Celtics slated to have 4 first round picks, Langford could be a high-upside play near the end of the lottery who could also be used as trade bait should the need arise.
#13. Miami Heat – PJ Washington
After an uninspiring freshman campaign, PJ Washington out of Kentucky came back renewed and refreshed and delivered a sterling sophomore campaign that saw him in the conversation for SEC Player of the Year. Though the honors went to Grant Williams of Tennessee, Washington might get the better prize of being drafted in the NBA lottery.
If all anyone watched was Washington’s NCAA Tournament run, you’d be forgiven for thinking Washington is a surefire Top 5 pick. PJ completely dominated during the tournament, and he almost single-handedly pushed the Wildcats in the Final Four past the Auburn Tigers with a bonkers 28-point, 13-rebound performance:
In his sophomore season, Washington played 12 more minutes but produced new career-highs in points scored, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks – all the while producing two less turnovers and fouling 14 less times. A stunning turnaround.
Beyond his statistical argument, Washington carries himself with an inimitable swagger and plays with a snarl, something that should translate to the next level regardless of how impactful he is. An excellent with a solid defensive pedigree, Washington should thrive in Erik Spoelstra’s Miami Heat system.
#12. Charlotte Hornets – Jaxson Hayes
Jaxson Hayes out of Texas has been widely mocked to the Atlanta Hawks with whatever pick the team nets from the Dallas Mavericks via the Luka Doncic trade, but for this writer, there are better options in the latter portion of the lottery.
Though Hayes certainly fills a need for the Atlanta Hawks as a young, rim-running center with shot-blocking instincts and pedigree, we know that Atlanta Hawks GM Travis Schlenk loves shooting, which is something that Hayes has not flashed in his portfolio during his college career.
Hayes shot a solid 74 percent from the free throw line, which is, of course, a good indicator of potential three-point shooting in the future, but his stroke from the line is rather hitchy and features a clear elbow flare before the release.
Really, Hayes will be used as a rim-runner and rim-protector, and the Charlotte Hornets will be glad to nab him with the 14th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
With no real center of the future on the roster, as Cody Zeller and Willy Hernangomez are likely not the team’s solution at the five for years to come, the Hornets will be looking to nab the best player available or find a player that could fit with (or without) Kemba Walker, who might bolt in free agency.
#11. Los Angeles Lakers – Bol Bol
With the extreme dysfunction surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers this season, who knows what this pick might turn into. Though Magic Johnson recently provided the Lakers with a comfortable “out” by resigning from the organization, he left them in a rather preposterous pickle by leaving a legacy of failed trades and bad free agent decisions.
However, one thing’s for certain, LeBron James will be a member of this team at least for the next 3 seasons, so L.A. better get their act together – and fast.
Luckily, the Cleveland Cavaliers provided the blueprint for how to win with the LeBron of this era – surround with players that can reliably shoot from deep and can defend at an above-average to high level.
Bol Bol, son of NBA legend Manute Bol, had an injury-shortened freshman season in college, but his incredible size (7-foot-2, 235 pounds) and insane length (7-foot-8 wingspan, 9-foot-7 standing reach) make him one of the most tantalizing prospects in this entire draft class.
If the Lakers were to actually keep this 11th overall pick, which, it goes without saying, is far from a guarantee, Bol would make for an interesting fit alongside Bron.
Though Bol only played 9 games in college, he produced 24 total blocks, 2.7 blocks per game and a 12.4 percent block rate while shooting 52 percent from beyond the arc. Now that’s what I call upside!
#10. Minnesota Timberwolves – Darius Garland
With Derrick Rose, Jeff Teague and Tyus Jones not particularly impressive as long-term starting options at the point guard spot for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team should look to take a swing on one of the best point guard prospects in this draft class.
Though he suffered a season-ending injury only 5 games into his college career (potentially one of the reasons why his coach Bryce Drew was canned at Vanderbilt), Garland is definitely a pro-level point guard prospect, and the Wolves desperately a high-upside floor general to pair with Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Okogie, Keita Bates-Diop and, ahem, Andrew Wiggins.
Though Tre Jones’s older brother Tyus just produced one of the best seasons in NBA history in terms of assist-to-turnover ratio, he is more of a steady backup than a starting option at the one.
Garland’s good size (6-foot-3, +2 wingspan) and off-the-dribble shooting ability should be of interest to the Wolves.
Though not a particularly plum draft spot to land in, Garland could easily go higher than this in the draft and Jonathan Wasserman recently mocked him to the Bulls all the way at #4 overall.
That young core I mentioned above of KAT, KBD, Okogie and Garland is certainly tantalizing, and if they were to miraculously find a trading partner for Wiggins, the team’s future might be quite bright indeed.
#9. Atlanta Hawks (via Dallas Mavericks) – Brandon Clarke
For the second Atlanta Hawks pick of the second round, the team should select Brandon Clarke out of Gonzaga.
Now, this might seem like an unusual choice, but if you peep our recent Atlanta Hawks Big Board, you’ll see that selecting Clarke follows the logic of that board as BC is the 4th-ranked player there behind only Zion, Culver and De’Andre Hunter.
Not to spoil anything, but at this point in the 2019 NBA Draft, all of those players will likely be off the board when they Atlanta Hawks select at 9th overall.
Clarke is an insane athlete, though his lack of pure center size might turn off some scouts across the league. However, his floor is absurdly high and he would immediately provide a defensive upgrade to an Atlanta Hawks team that was one of the worst in the league during the 2018-19 season. An incredible shot-blocker, Clarke has impeccable timing on defense:
Before the draft lottery occurs, there’s no talent where the Atlanta Hawks will land. Beforehand, however, Clarke provides a Zion-lite athleticism and feel that is almost unparalleled among this draft class. When one begins to ponder the 2019-20 Atlanta Hawks, led by the galloping rim-runners John Collins and Brandon Clarke and flanked by versatile passers and shooters Trae Young and Kevin Huerter, the sky would seemingly be the limit.
And remember, this is just the first Atlanta Hawks pick in this draft!
(Disclaimer: If Dallas moves up into the Top 5 of the lottery, the Atlanta Hawks will not have this pick. With the Pels, Grizz, and Mavs all tied with a 33-49 record, a tiebreaker took place yesterday to determine the “floor” of this pick. We now know this pick will be between 9 and 13.)
#8. Memphis Grizzlies – Sekou Doumbouya
At this pre-draft lottery juncture, the Memphis Grizzlies have a 42 percent chance to translate this pick to the Boston Celtics at 9th overall, since the pick is protected through picks 1-8. If the pick were to convey, it would be Boston’s first (out of four) first round selection in the 2019 NBA Draft. In a watered-down 2019 NBA Draft, the Grizz hope this pick conveys this year as the protections diminish as the years go on.
Though there’s no telling what trades will take place surrounding the team’s various draft assets (cough cough Anthony Davis cough cough), as we speak, we must assume that the Celtics will indeed use all of this picks (they won’t), and some – if not all of them – will be more exploratory selections because they are already a good team with a playoff pedigree.
With the 8th overall pick, the Grizzlies should be willing to take a chance on 18-year-old Sekou Doumbouya. Since this pick is the closest thing to a toss-up on the board, the Grizzlies should look to add a high-upside, exceedingly young player in the lottery to grow alongside Jaren Jackson Jr.
Doumbouya will likely be the youngest player in his draft class, and he also has the benefit of playing professionally already in France for pro team Limoges CSP. Born in the African country of Guinea, Doumbouya has great size and speed as a wing.
The Grizzlies, who will likely trade Mike Conley this offseason, will be forced into a rebuild when that happens, so they have the luxury of selecting players that might not be ready for a few years. In that case, a high-upside pick like Doumbouya makes perfect sense for them in the Top 10.
#7. New Orleans Pelicans – De’Andre Hunter
With the New Orleans Pelicans offseason in complete flux with the pending trade of Anthony Davis (and most likely Jrue Holiday as well), the Pels will be looking to accrue as many assets as possible in those trades while also building smartly through the draft.
Not including players they’ll most definitely obtain in trades this offseason, the team is left with… Jahlil Okafor at the five? Frank Jackson at the one? The Pels will likely be a blank slate for new GM David Griffin, but one pick that could help immediately make them better is De’Andre Hunter with the #7 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Hunter played what was likely his best game of the season in the NCAA title game, putting up a career-high 27 points while playing extremely tight defense on a fellow lottery pick, Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver.
Hunter was everything the Virginia Cavaliers could’ve asked for and more, and his corner three from Ty Jerome will likely live forever in college basketball lore.
From an NBA perspective, Hunter has great size (6-foot-8, 225 pounds) with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, and would immediately improve any team’s defense on the perimeter.
Though he might not have the highest upside, Hunter does have an incredibly high floor and should be consistently impactful on a night-to-night basis for the Pels as they begin what will likely be a years-long rebuild.
#6. Washington Wizards – Cam Reddish
Ranked as the third-best prospect coming into the 2018 college basketball season, Cam Reddish largely underwhelmed in his lone college season, as he only shot 33.3 percent from long range on a lofty 61.8 percent three-point attempt rate. His true shooting percentage was also subpar at 49.9 percent.
Though his defensive effort and energy combined with great size (6-foot-8, 218 pounds) and good hands made him a terror on the less glamorous end, Reddish showed very few flashes of skill off the dribble in college – often dribbling into traffic without much of a plan then traveling or committing a dumb offensive foul.
At the next level (and outside of the shadow of his headline-stealing teammates Zion and R.J.), Reddish might be able to get more comfortable as a three-and-D marksman.
The Washington Wizards underperformed their preseason expectations worse than any other team in the league and seemed to just waltz into the 6th-best draft odds. With John Wall likely going to sap the team’s flexibility for years to come, the Wiz must look to nab a high-upside player with a fairly decent floor – a prospect like Reddish would fill both needs.
Though his numbers were down, he was 9th in the ACC in steals per game (1.6) and he never shied away from big shots, as this game-winner versus Florida State entails:
#5. Atlanta Hawks – Jarrett Culver
In the words of college basketball writer Jon Rothstein (quoting the late, great Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight): “And Here. We. Go.”
For the Atlanta Hawks, with Zion Williamson long gone from the board by the time the #5 overall pick rolls around (read on to explore Zion’s sky-high draft stock), the team should not fall prey to recency bias and look at team need as well as a recent Atlanta Hawks big board that was released on Soaring Down South last week.
With all that in mind, the Atlanta Hawks should take Jarrett Culver out of Texas Tech #5 overall.
While the Bulls might be interested in Culver, they have a sore need for a point guard (read on to see who have Chicago taking), and the Atlanta Hawks would love it if Culver was still around at #5.
A brilliant defender with a strong frame, good size and nascent offensive creation. Culver had a breakout season and took his Red Raiders all the way to the NCAA Championship game and were defeated by the “team of destiny” in overtime.
Nothing can be taken away from Culver, however, as he was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, a consensus All-American and also a NCAA Tournament All-Region team member.
The Atlanta Hawks need a defensive upgrade across the entire roster, and Culver is nothing but clamps on that end. He led the entire country with 3.5 defensive win shares this year, and he was also third in the Big 12 in that category last season – when he was only 19.
At age 20 on draft day, Culver would still fit into the Atlanta Hawks timeline while providing excellent scoring ability and a defensive pedigree the team sorely needs.
#4. Chicago Bulls – Coby White
This might be the most controversial choice so far in this mock draft, but things will likely get loopy in the top 2-8 of this draft with no player clearly better than any other, and the only sure thing being the #1 overall choice.
In a recent Bleacher Report mock draft, Jonathan Wasserman pegs the Chicago Bulls as looking to add a point guard to replace the likely out-the-door Kris Dunn. The Dunn experiment did not go well in Chicago, nor did he perform up to expectations during his brief stint in Minnesota.
Wasserman has the Bulls taking Darius Garland out of Vanderbilt, but to this writer, the second-best point guard prospect in this draft class is Coby White out of North Carolina.
In his lone college season, White came in as a clear second fiddle in terms of recruiting behind Nassir Little, but he outplayed his fellow 2018 recruit in all facets and ended up starting and playing in all 35 games that UNC played.
White piloted the Tar Heels to a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and his ability to take and make difficulty step-back triples as well as see above the defense with his 6-foot-5 height and make solid reads should make him an excellent choice for the Bulls.
Beyond the team’s need for a point guard, Chicago has three players firmly entrenched at their respective positions: Zach LaVine at shooting guard, Lauri Markkanen at center and Otto Porter at small forward. White would fill a sore need for the Bulls, and would likely buoy their offense from the jump.
#3. Phoenix Suns – Ja Morant
With the 3rd overall pick, the Phoenix Suns will finally get their point guard of the future by selecting Ja Morant out of Murray State. Morant is a spectacular athlete who produced an impressive amount of incendiary dunks during the season:
However, beyond that insane athleticism, Morant is actually a terrific ballhandler with excellent court vision and stellar passing ability, which to led to him leading the NCAA in assists this season with 331 as well as in assists per game at 10.
For Suns fans, think about this delicious starting unit next year: Deandre Ayton at center, T.J. Warren at power forward, Mikal Bridges at small forward, Devin Booker at shooting guard and Morant at the point. Man, that’s a fun team!
Though Warren’s injury status was concerning to end the year, as he didn’t play in a game after late January, the growth of Booker this year was inspiring and the continued development of rookies Ayton and Bridges combined with the selfless passing and terrific IQ of Morant would make the Suns can’t-miss entertainment.
Though the Cavs would likely also be interested in signing a generational point guard like Morant, the team already has its point guard of the future on the roster with Collin Sexton, who has had a strong rookie season. Instead they’ll likely opt for…
#2. Cleveland Cavaliers – R.J. Barrett
With the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns finishing with an identical record of 19-63 (ten games worse than the Atlanta Hawks), both teams end the season with identical chances at the top of the lottery (52.1% for Top 4, 14% for #1 overall). However, the league offices held a meeting on Friday in which the Cavs won its tiebreaker with Phoenix, allowing the Cavs to take the #2 overall pick.
That tiebreaker has big implications, as the team that falls to 3rd in the lottery has a 7.1 percent chance to fall to 7th in the lottery. Though extremely unlikely, that’s still a doomsday scenario that’s in the cards.
Now that we know they won their tiebreaker, the Cavs will be picking second overall and taking Zion Williamson’s college teammate R.J. Barrett #2 overall.
Barrett was widely believed to be the better prospect coming out of high school, as Zion had been labeled as “just a dunker” during his earlier teens.
Though not quite the incandescent talent that Williamson is, Barrett is surely a terrific consolation prize with the second overall pick, and the Cavs need as much help as they can get. With Collin Sexton already on the roster, the Cavs should prioritize a wing player and Barrett seems like a surefire number two option in this top-heavy draft.
#1. New York Knicks – Zion Williamson
By winning only 17 game, the New York Knicks guaranteed themselves the top spot in the draft lottery – which means they’ll have a 14 percent chance at the #1 overall pick and a 52.1 percent chance at a Top 4 pick. They can select no lower than 5th in this 2019 NBA Draft per Tankathon.
With the first pick in what is widely believed to be a one-player draft, the Knicks will almost surely take Zion Williamson out of Duke University #1 overall. Zion was a complete highlight factory in his lone college season, as these clips would attest:
Anyone who’s watched considerable amounts of Duke games this season knows that this extremely talented Duke team relied heavily on Williamson.
A generational athlete with tremendous feel and the ability to score at will, Zion is a no-brainer top pick in this year’s draft, and the NBA would likely love to have one of the biggest college basketball stars of all time in perhaps the marquee franchise in the NBA.
Williamson produced the highest player efficiency rating in NCAA men’s basketball history, per College Basketball Reference, at 40.8. His offensive rating of 133.1 per 100 possessions was 4th in the entire country and his defensive rating of 87.4 per 100 was 8th. Those, just to be clear, are absurd numbers.
Zion is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of prospect, and there’s no question he should go #1 overall this year.
What do you think of this full mock-up of the 2019 NBA Draft? Should the Atlanta Hawks select someone else? Let us know in the comments! As always, stay tuned to Soaring Down South this offseason for plenty more draft coverage.