2019 NBA Draft: 8 Most Intriguing Players for Atlanta Hawks at Draft Combine
By Chris Guest
Jontay Porter
One of the most notable fallers in this draft class has been Jontay Porter out of Missouri. The sad part of Porter’s fall is that it was brought on not by less-than-stellar play on the court, but because he suffered ACL injuries that have kept him out his entire sophomore season – despite being one of the most vaunted prospects that returned after he was eligible in 2018.
Further still, Porter’s fraternal ties to Michael Porter of the Denver Nuggets, who redshirted the 2018-19 season due to recovery from an injury, will also give teams pause ahead of drafting Porter in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Because of these concerns, it will be fascinating to see how Porter looks at the combine, as well as what his measurements are after what amounts to a year off of playing the game.
Will his stock fall even further if teams are scared off by unimpressive body fat measurements or underwhelming speed drills?
Like many good players with less-than-ideal physical measurements, teams should focus more on IQ and feel in this situation, as Porter has a sweet three-point stroke as well as the ability to run an offense as a legit seven-footer.
For the Atlanta Hawks, Porter could be a godsend as a shot-blocking big with terrific offensive instincts – though his health is definitely a concern.