2019 NBA Draft: Full Mock Draft 3.0, Atlanta Hawks Pick #8 & #10 After Lottery

It’s time for another full mock draft for the 2019 NBA Draft, which includes the wild changes that took place after the draft lottery – including the New Orleans Pelicans winning it all and the Atlanta Hawks falling to #8 & #10.

The Zion Williamson sweepstakes are over (at least in terms of the draft lottery) as the Pelicans leaned on General Manager David Griffin’s brilliant helming of various draft teams (multiple Cavs lotteries spring to mind) to shock the world and win the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery – as thousands of Atlanta Hawks fans cried out in agony.

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Spirits were high on draft day for Hawks fans, as multiple major outlets were actively rooting for Zion to end up in Atlanta – which could possibly be the reason why the basketball gods acted so cruelly by providing the Pels a ready-made replacement for Anthony Davis instead of bringing Zion to Atlanta to pair with Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter. C’est la vie.

Now, however, the real fun begins, as Atlanta Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk must ponder two Top 10 picks, which is not a bad haul at all – though Zion would obviously have been preferable.

With a multitude of interesting prospects in this wide-open 2019 NBA Draft class, there is the possibility that some wild home run swings (and possible misses) occur on draft night. For this story, let’s assume that each team actually selects the pick based upon their own needs – and not looking to trade them.

With that in mind and without further ado, it’s time for our mock-up of the Atlanta Hawks 2019 NBA Draft, post-NBA lottery edition.

#1. New Orleans Pelicans — Zion Williamson

Though the chances were low (6 percent per Tankathon), the New Orleans Pelicans lucked into the best draft prospect in recent memory in Zion Williamson. Because of the likely presence of Zion on the team next year (unless something crazy happens), the team has already begun to reap the benefits of that “Zion bump,” per The New York Times’s Marc Stein:

Beyond the monetary windfall that the Pelicans will surely gain next season (can anyone say alternate Zion “mardi gras” jerseys?), the on-court fit of Zion alongside whoever else the Pelicans nab via trade or in free agency should be tremendous.

With David Griffin at the helm as the team’s GM and team owner Gayle Benson stepping back and empowering Griffin to do his job with little meddling from her, the Pels are actually set up quite well going forward.

Jrue Holiday is locked up on a big deal, but he has also expressed interest in a trade – especially if a deal for Anthony Davis is completed. If that’s the case, the Pels could start anew with Zion and a strikingly young core as soon as next season.

Zion is an absolute difference-maker, so whatever happens, the Pels will be in good shape and they will capture the attention of the league at large – far more than Davis (who is a bit more milquetoast). Best of luck, Pels fans, this Atlanta Hawks fan is only slightly salty.

#2. Memphis Grizzlies — Ja Morant

Another team that shocked the world on 2019 NBA Draft Lottery night was the Memphis Grizzlies, who had only a 6.3 percent chance at drafting #2 overall.

Because the Grizz moved up into the Top 8, their obligations to the Boston Celtics get rolled over to next season, when the team’s draft pick will be Top 6 protected. After that, the pick is unprotected, which means it will get conveyed then no matter what.

For this article, though, the Grizz are likely elated that they popped up six spots on the draft board – allowing the team to ponder the inclusion of every single (non-Zion) 2019 NBA Draft prospect. Which way will Memphis go?

With Mike Conley trade rumors in full swing since last offseason, it seems likely that a deal will finally get done for the excellent veteran point guard this offseason or at the trade deadline, meaning that taking a long-term ballhandler is by the far the best choice for the team. As the top point guard on the board and a consensus top-3 pick, Ja Morant should be the Grizzlies’ choice at #2 overall.

A brilliant scorer and passer with some truly electric finishes, Morant would usher in a new era for the Grizzlies – finally putting to bed the engaging, but rather stuffy, “grit and grind” era of the early 2010s. Combined with Jaren Jackson Jr., Morant would lead a retooled a Grizzlies team into the future.

#3. New York Knicks — R.J. Barrett

After all that tanking leading to a putrid 17-65 record, and all the talk of the Knicks having Zion Williamson, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard on the team in 2019, the Knicks dropped two spots in the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery – making them one of the losers of lottery night (along with most of the teams with the best odds, including the Atlanta Hawks).

Still though, staying in the Top 3 means the Knicks will be able to take the remaining player that is regarded as being one of the two in the non-Zion tier in the 2019 NBA Draft class. In this case, that player is R.J. Barrett – though, of course, the draft might actually shake out differently in June.

Barrett was the most highly regarded high school prospect in this draft class, but he quickly took a backseat to Zion’s all-encompassing magnetism. Now, though, Barrett will be able to spread his wings a bit and showcase his skills as a player with a penchant for stuffing the box score, as his multiple triple-doubles would attest in college:

Perhaps the most scintillating wrinkle with this selection is the idea that the Knicks would put this pick on the table in a potential Anthony Davis trade – meaning that close friends and former Duke teammates Zion and Barrett would reconnect in New Orleans.

While unlikely, that sure is tantalizing.

#4. Los Angeles Lakers — De’Andre Hunter

Once the 2019 NBA Draft cruises past the first three selections (which will almost certainly be those three players above in some order and Zion always first), the real fun begins. The top 3 players are fairly set in that status as the consensus best three in the 2019 NBA Draft class, but beyond that… it’s a complete free-for-all.

Assuming the Los Angeles Lakers don’t trade their 4th overall pick (which they definitely will), it would make sense for them to use their “found money” to draft a high-floor player with a proven NBA-ready skill set in De’Andre Hunter out of Virginia (who the Atlanta Hawks hope will fall to #8 on the actual draft night).

After having the best draft night from a movement standpoint (moving up 7 spots from 11 to 4, which only had a 2.8 percent chance of happening), the Lakers will look to add a brilliant defender and shooter in Hunter to help aid LeBron James as he recovers from one of the worst seasons of his career.

Sure, King James still put up sterling numbers and will likely be named to yet another All-NBA Team, but he seemed extremely checked out down the end of the year and he also suffered the worst injury of his career. Hunter’s solid frame, length and proven defensive skill set should allow LeBron to take it a little easier out there with a smart player like Hunter alongside him.

#5. Cleveland Cavaliers — Cam Reddish

Another player the Atlanta Hawks desperately hope will tumble down draft boards in the 2019 NBA Draft is Duke’s Cam Reddish.

Reddish was the third fiddle to Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett, but his skill set is still extremely tantalizing for NBA franchises, and in this iteration, the Cleveland Cavaliers look to take a chance on Reddish’s upside after falling 3 spots to the #5 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

With a new coach in the fold who will likely look to hone in on player development and young players in Michigan’s John Beilein, this will serve as a new start for Reddish – who had a truly terrible freshman alongside his vaunted teammates.

Reddish shot poorly from deep in his freshman season, and his forays into the paint were even less successful, as he showcased some of the worst finishing in the country in his lone college season.

Still though, the Blue Devils had some of the worst spacing in the entire country in 2018-19 with only maybe one player (Alex O’Connell) being able to shoot from deep.

With a real NBA offense behind him – even one as limited as Cleveland’s – Reddish should be able to flourish in a far more realistic role for him going forward. Again, with Beilein guiding him, Reddish should be able to tap into his latent upside very early on in his career.

#6. Phoenix Suns — Coby White

Though many outlets have Coby White out of North Carolina a bit lower than this, to this writer, this beautifully coiffed guard prospect is the second-best guard in this class, behind only Ja Morant.

Beyond just being generally cool because of his amazing hair and herky-jerky style of play, White fills a position of need for the Suns as they look to continue to build around Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.

With the Igor Kokoskov experiment completed, the Suns can focus on developing its stacked young core, which features the likes of Booker and Ayton as well as less heralded but no less intriguing players such as Mikal Bridges, De’Anthony Melton and Elie Okobo.

Sure, the latter of those two are both guards, but they don’t come in with the pedigree of White – who helped lead the UNC Tar Heels to a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The most intriguing aspect of White’s game is his pull-up shooting ability, which helped boost his stock significantly. According to The Stepien’s shot chart tool, White hit 58 of 160 attempts in college from NBA three-point range – showing the willingness and ability to pull up from long range.

Though that’s only a league-average 36.25 percent clip, that would be fairly solid for an NBA rookie.

#7. Chicago Bulls — Darius Garland

Darius Garland seems to be the more highly valued prospect around the league, and, as such, he has been mocked as high as #4 overall in recent mock drafts.

However, any team willing to take chance on him must take very little collegiate tape into account due to the fact that he suffered a season-ending injury not long after starting his college career at Vanderbilt.

Still though, there is no discounting his excellent shooting ability – which is always a skill that can have a place in the NBA. Garland has remarkable balance and is able to get his jumper off on a variety of different shot styles.

Of course, his pull-up jumper is his claim to fame, as his fluid stroke showcases the natural touch of a born scorer at the guard spot.

Though a rather poor defender, the Bulls will have their interior trio of Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter to do much of the heavy lifting on that end. With a backcourt of Garland and Zach LaVine, the Bulls might have one of the most interesting collections of young talent in the entire NBA after the 2019 NBA Draft.

#8. Atlanta Hawks — Jarrett Culver

Finally, here it is. If Jarrett Culver out of Texas Tech is still on the board at #8 overall for the Atlanta Hawks, the 2019 NBA Draft will already be a huge success for the team – before even pondering their nearly consecutive pick at #10 overall.

Culver is a dynamic player that would make for a terrific fit on the Atlanta Hawks going forward. Previously, Culver has been mocked to the Hawks on multiple occasions, and with good reason – his blend of on-ball and off-ball skills as well as his defensive brilliance would help paper over multiple deficiencies on this Atlanta Hawks roster.

Though Culver’s jump shot will obviously be his swing skill, there’s no question that he dramatically improved from his freshman season and is able to create that shot at the drop of a hat – an extremely important skill in today’s NBA.

With a strong frame that looks as if it should fill out to perfection, Culver is an exceptional prospect with a relatively high floor combined with a stratospheric ceiling.

A very good passer with terrific all-around offensive feel, Culver was also the single best perimeter defender on a Texas Tech team that was tops in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom.

While unlikely, Culver falling to #8 overall would be an absolute steal for the Atlanta Hawks who would race up to the podium to select him in the 2019 NBA Draft.

#9. Washington Wizards — Sekou Doumbouya

Easily the most intriguing international prospect in the 2019 NBA Draft class, Sekou Doumbouya is currently plying his trade in the French League for Limoges CSP.

The Guinea-born wing possesses terrific physical attributes, such as a sturdy 6-foot-9 frame and excellent length as well as the ability to pack on plenty more muscle once he gets into an NBA weight training regimen.

An unstoppable athlete once he gets a head of steam, Doumbouya’s numbers are fairly middling, but don’t forget that the game is played differently overseas than it is in the U.S.

With this pick, the Washington Wizards will be sort of “kicking the can down the road” on a raw prospect that will likely need a few years to develop, which means Washington will likely be back in the lottery next year – especially considering John Wall likely won’t play until late next season (if at all).

One of the main draws for Doumbouya is his youth, as he will be perhaps the single-youngest player in the 2019 NBA Draft class – not turning 19 until late December. Beyond that, Doumbouya projects to be a switchable defender across a variety of positions due to his size, speed and length – a skill that is becoming more and more important in today’s NBA.

#10. Atlanta Hawks (via Dallas Mavericks) — Jaxson Hayes

Jaxson Hayes out of Texas was commonly linked to the Atlanta Hawks in the late lottery, and while a few selections could be made here, Hayes really makes the most sense as a high-upside gamble who fills a position of need in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Hayes had a massive growth spurt in high school, which saw his football plans shifted to basketball at a very late age. However, as a wide receiver in high school, Hayes is adept at finishing around the rim and his massive hands allow him to clean up plenty of misses and nab loads of lobs around the rim.

On offense, that’s sadly about all Hayes does. Hayes will likely be tasked with setting a lot of screens for the Atlanta Hawks alongside generational passer Trae Young – which as an area in which Hayes needs to surely improve.

However, on defense, Hayes was an impactful rim protector as his exceptional block rate would indicate. Hayes is fairly thin at this juncture in terms of his frame, but with some more meat on his bones, that exceptional block rate and ineffectual screens should both improve considerably.

Though the fit of Hayes alongside John Collins might not be ideal – if Hayes can learn to either ably defend out on the perimeter or hit a three-pointer, that issue will take care of itself.

With two top 10 picks in the 2019 NBA Draft thanks the Luka Doncic trade in the 2018 draft, the Atlanta Hawks can get exploratory in the late lottery. We shall see what they prioritize when the time comes.

#11. Minnesota Timberwolves — Brandon Clarke

So far on the 2019 NBA Draft board, this is the best fit between player and team. Brandon Clarke was a complete revelation in the 2018-19 college season, and it was clear he was the best player on the Gonzaga Bulldogs – despite many of the plaudits being rained upon his teammate Rui Hachimura – despite historic production from Clarke.

Clarke is a defensive menace with astonishing vertical athleticism that allows him to contest and block shots from all over the court. Beyond that, his brilliant finishing ability, soft touch around the basket and vastly improved jumper makes him a scintillating prospect for any team.

Previously on SDS, we have linked the Atlanta Hawks to Clarke, but in this mock, it is the Minnesota Timberwolves who take a chance on Clarke with the 11th overall pick. On paper, this is an astonishingly good fit.

Clarke could clean up the defensive miscues that offensive wunderkind Karl-Anthony Towns produces, and Towns could space out the floor on the offensive end and serve as the team’s offensive hub while Clarke runs hard to the rim to catch teams sleeping in transition.

Though the team would still be severely weighed down by the atrocious Andrew Wiggins contract, the future would be fairly bright in Minnesota with Clarke, Towns and second-year players Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop to build around.

#12. Charlotte Hornets — Bol Bol

Perhaps the most tantalizing non-Zion prospect is spindly 7-foot-2 center Bol Bol out of Oregon. No player in this class combines the striking, feathery touch of a knockdown shooter with otherworldly shot-blocking skills like Bol does, and the Charlotte Hornets could benefit from a player like Bol with the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Though Bol has been linked to the Atlanta Hawks of late (even in our most recent mock draft), but in this scenario, the Hawks opt for the more traditional big man with more athleticism – though Bol’s physical traits are likely more enticing.

Bol stands 7-foot-2 with a stunning 7-foot-8 wingspan, as well as the NBA pedigree of being the son of NBA icon Manute Bol (the tallest player in NBA history at 7-foot-7, a number that could be tied after this season with Tacko Fall).

Unlike Fall, Bol has a beautiful jumper and amazing touch around the basket, as well as tremendous shot-blocking instincts that allow him to catch both rim attempts and jumpers with his terrific reach.

Beyond that, Bol is something of a deer in headlights on defense as he can often get lost in space and allow wide open cuts to the rim due to him not being in position. With a likely rebuild on the way if Kemba Walker is traded, the Hornets could pair Bol with Miles Bridges in the frontcourt alongside Malik Monk and Devonte’ Graham in the backcourt in the team’s young core.

#13. Miami Heat — PJ Washington

After an exceptional second season with the Kentucky Wildcats, sophomore PJ Washington will now ply his trade in the NBA – continuing a long line of John Calipari recruits to take the plunge at the next level.

Though Washington isn’t the best of Calipari’s recruits in recent years or the most highly valued in draft circles, Washington has a proven skill set and showcased vast improvement year-over-year after a fairly underwhelming freshman campaign.

Washington certainly looks the part of an NBA player, as his chiseled 6-foot-8, 235-pound frame could be slotted onto most teams in the NBA from day one as a rookie. Combine that with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and utterly inspiring athletic gifts, and you have a fairly sure thing.

He may not be a “sexy” pick (hence why he falls in this 2019 NBA Draft mock-up to the Miami Heat at 13), but Washington’s floor is quite high and his ceiling is similarly impressive as a prospect.

Washington is a good enough defender that he should be able to switch across multiple positions and he has the size, length and athleticism to be capably serve as a stopper on the less glamorous end.

Most notably (especially if the Atlanta Hawks want to take a swing on Washington at #10), PJ showcased a vastly improved jumper in his sophomore season, which saw him make 20 of 44 NBA-range triples per The Stepien’s shot chart tool – an impressive 45.5 percent clip.

#14. Boston Celtics (via Sacramento Kings) — Goga Bitadze

Though the Boston Celtics weren’t able to nab four first round picks in the 2019 NBA Draft due to the Memphis Grizzlies retaining their pick at #2 overall, the Celtics must still be fairly happy about obtaining three first round picks – the first being the 14th overall from the Sacramento Kings.

Of course, the Philadelphia 76ers were holding their breath when the draft lottery took place because if this pick had sauntered up the draft board to #1 overall, it would’ve belonged to Philly – utterly turning the league on its head after the Sixers were just barely beaten by the Toronto Raptors.

Anyway, for all of their first round picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics can take big-time chances due to the fact that their team is already pretty loaded with talent (no matter what Kyrie Irving decides) and has a strong young core (that also might be broken up in favor of Anthony Davis).

With the final lottery pick in the first round, the Celtics will opt for Goga Bitadze – a teenage prodigy from the country of Georgia that’s currently playing in the EuroLeague.

As one of the youngest players in this class, Bitadze has plenty of upside left to explore, but he already has a scintillating combination in his skill set of shot-blocking and sweet three-point shooting.

Who knows if the Celtics will keep any of their picks, but Bitadze would make for an excellent gamble if they do.

#15. Detroit Pistons — Rui Hachimura

A vaunted prospect heading in to the 2018-19 NCAA men’s basketball season, Rui Hachimura out of Gonzaga University had an immensely successful college season that saw him crowned as the West Coast Conference Player of the Year as well as a consensus All-American.

Despite that adulation, Hachimura’s 2019 NBA Draft stock fell a bit throughout the season as draftniks and pundits realized that his new teammate, Brandon Clarke, was the superior prospect – despite his advanced age.

Hachimura is a bona fide bucket, but there are questions about his shot selection (a steady diet of long two-pointers) as well as his defense, which could be described as exploratory at best.

While there’s no question that Rui looks the part of a ready-to-play NBA player, with his 6-foot-8, 240-pound frame and 7-foot-2 wingspan, his basketball IQ and instincts on both ends tend to get him in trouble at times.

Also, his jump shot is a serious question mark from outside – though he was nearly automatic as a midrange pull-up shooter. For the Pistons, Hachimura represents a high-upside swing at a sore position of need at the three.

Widely regarded as a lottery-level talent, the Pistons should jump at the chance to take Hachimura just outside of the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery.

#16. Orlando Magic — Romeo Langford

The Orlando Magic have long searched for their ballhandler of the future. Though D.J. Augustin produced a spectacular start to the team’s first playoff run since the Dwight Howard era, the Magic got clobbered in the remaining four games of the team’s series against the Raptors – leaving Orlando to lick its wounds and look to the offseason to improve the team.

Though Markelle Fultz is now on the roster as a key building block, the team will also need to add plenty more talent at various positions, which is why Romeo Langford out of Indiana makes sense for the Magic.

As one of the best Indiana high school players of all time (which is saying a lot in that hoops-crazed state), Langford came into the 2018-19 NCAA men’s basketball season with a ton of hype.

Langford showed plenty of flashes in his freshman season, but the Hoosiers underwhelmed and were left out of the NCAA Tournament field to Langford’s dismay.

In terms of the 2019 NBA Draft, Langford has a bevy of skills that project to the next level – such as his solid defense across multiple positions as well as the ability to finish around the rim through traffic, powering past weaker defenders with his strong lower body.

At 6-foot-6, 215 pounds with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Langford has the requisite size and length to make a difference on the defensive end, and he can also serve as a team’s tertiary ballhandler – something that the Magic will likely covet (the Atlanta Hawks should also be interested in Langford for a multitude of reasons).

#17. Brooklyn Nets — Grant Williams

This represents a bit of a fall from grace for a player that this writer has long been high (even being so bold as to claim that the Atlanta Hawks should keep an eye on him in the lottery of the 2019 NBA Draft). However, according to various recent mock drafts, the league at large is a bit lower on Williams due to his big man status – despite a lack of typical size for a true NBA-level big.

If that is the issue with Williams, then some lucky team is going to find Williams to be the steal of the 2019 NBA Draft. In this scenario, that team is the Brooklyn Nets at 17th overall.

Sure, big men are usually not 6-foot-6, but Williams possesses outstanding feel and the strength of a bull, leveraging his bruising play style with nimble footwork and incredible lower body strength.

Williams has great touch around the rim and is one of the best interior passers in this entire draft class, all the while producing a sky-high 62.7 free throw attempt rate per College Basketball Reference.

Depending on what the franchise decides to do with D’Angelo Russell, the Nets might have a very different-looking team come next season. A versatile young core of Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Rodions Kurucs and Allen sounds fairly tantalizing – and that doesn’t even include the team’s next pick in the 2019 NBA Draft (27) and their first round pick from last year (Dzanan Musa).

#18. Indiana Pacers — Nassir Little

Nassir Little out of the University of North Carolina is another player that underwhelmed after coming in with titanic hype after shredding through his high school competition.

Little’s amazing physical traits were recently outlined here by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony:

Those certainly look the part of an NBA player, and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic recently reported that Little is already in better shape this offseason than he was while playing with the Tar Heels.

Little has a tremendous motor, and his physical gifts could often be seen during his tenure in college. Though there are surely questions about his jump shot and ballhandling skills, Little should be able to immediately come in and impact the game on the defensive end – which is likely all that the Indiana Pacers will ask of him.

The Pacers had the 4th-best offense in the NBA last season, per Cleaning the Glass, and Little will likely be able to make an impact on that end immediately – solely with his physical attributes and intensity.

Beyond that, scooping up a high-upside player this low in the draft means that the Pacers’ young core is extremely interesting what with Little, Aaron Holiday and one or both of Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.

#19. San Antonio Spurs — Nickeil Alexander-Walker

The San Antonio Spurs are always trying to bridge the gap between basketball smarts, underrated athleticism and ability to run a pro-level system under legendary coach Gregg Popovich (who was recently signed to an extension with the team).

With all those needs in mind, the Spurs would do well to select Nickeil Alexander-Walker out of Virginia Tech. NAW is the cousin of Clippers wunderkind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the two play similarly with a variety of skills, good length and size at the guard positions.

Alexander-Walker, in particular, helmed a fearsome Virginia Tech team that almost knocked off the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA Tournament, but fell one putback short of making history. Alexander-Walker was among the team’s best players, and his statistics across the board showcase an impactful all-around player.

16.2 points per game on 58.6 percent true shooting is a rock-solid clip, and Alexander-Walker’s assist number went up drastically once VT’s point guard, Justin Robinson, went down with an injury.

With good but not great size, NAW has the necessary length and ability to move laterally on the perimeter that is a requirement of the San Antonio Spurs defensive system. Even if Alexander-Walker takes a while to come along, he will have a stable of good guard defenders (Dejounte Murray, Derrick White) to help him make the most of his skills.

#20. Boston Celtics (via LA Clippers) — Tyler Herro

With the team’s second pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics will likely… send this pick to New Orleans as part of an Anthony Davis deal. However, since we’re assuming in this piece that the teams selecting the picks will actually add them to the team in the future, this is a perfect time for the Celtics to pick up one of the best pure shooters in this draft class.

Tyler Herro out of Kentucky was not expected to be a one-and-done prospect, but it quickly became clear that his flawless shooting form was not to be denied and since then, Herro has rocketed up draft boards into even the mid-to-late teens.

In this mock, the Boston Celtics opt to add Herro’s ability to stop dead in tracks and knock down triples at a high rate. Though he only shot 35.5 percent from three in his lone college season per College Basketball Reference and only 31.9 percent from NBA range per The Stepien‘s shot chart tool, the more important projection for NBA three-point range is actually free throw shooting.

On that front, Herro was actually #1 in the country with a lofty 93.5 percent clip from the charity stripe per KenPom – meaning that his shooting should definitely be portable to the NBA line. A microwave scorer and excellent shooter off movement, Herro would be an excellent pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Note: Though the Atlanta Hawks love shooting, obviously, Herro’s stock is not quite high enough for the team to take him at #8 or #10. Perhaps a trade down would make sense?

#21. Oklahoma City Thunder — Kevin Porter

This is a rather shocking fall for one of the most highly regarded guard prospects in the 2019 NBA Draft class, but this is how the draft board shook out. Though many outlets, including Red Team Scouting (who think KPJ will go in the Top 8), believe that Kevin Porter will go higher than this, the Thunder will be happy to have an offensive creator off the bench.

Though erstwhile Atlanta Hawks point guard Dennis Schröder was supposed to be the team’s go-to scoring option off the bench to spell Russell Westbrook, the Thunder got to see up-close how tantalizingly ineffectual Schröder is on a night-to-night basis.

With this pick, the Thunder will be able to nab a player that fits General Manager Sam Presti’s goal of attaining stunningly athletic players at every position. Though questions abound about Porter’s shot selection, there can be no equivocation about his sterling athletic profile.

A power finisher around the rim with immense strength finishing through contact, Porter has a terrific frame for a two guard: 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, 6-foot-10 wingspan with a rippling physique that should turn the heads of many execs around the league.

Beyond Paul George, the Thunder need an injection of dynamic offense – something that Porter can surely provide.

#22. Boston Celtics — Talen Horton-Tucker

With the team’s third and final selection in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics can once again take a mammoth swing on a player with big-time upside who also happens to be one of the youngest prospects in the draft class.

Talen Horton-Tucker was a late riser in the 2019 NBA Draft process, but his combination of skills and interesting physical traits make him an almost singularly fascinating prospect.

First off, THT is built like a Geodude (pardon the Pokémon reference) in that he is small-ish and stocky yet has impressively long arms. Just so we have the tale of the tape, THT clocks in at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, yet has a whopping 7-foot-1 wingspan. Horton-Tucker also has massive hands, which means that length and size combines to make him an exceptional finisher around the rim.

Of course, all of those measureables mean nothing if he isn’t able to use them, but THT’s functional athleticism means he projects to be an excellent switch defender with the ability to move laterally and mirror his mark beautifully in one-on-one defense.

On offense, like with many prospects, the question is about Horton-Tucker’s three-point shot, but he did show a penchant for making difficult passes in his lone college season at Iowa State, so there is potential there.

If THT loses a little bit of weight, he might be the steal of the 2019 NBA Draft in the late first round.

#23. Utah Jazz — Cam Johnson

The Utah Jazz were swiftly ousted in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs by a hungry Rockets team that came a few missed triples away from pushing the defending Champion Golden State Warriors in the next round.

Just like last year, the Jazz had an extremely difficult time scoring against the disciplined and eminently switchable defense of Houston. With only one consistent shooter on the team (Joe Ingles) and only two consistent creators (Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio – both of whom can’t shoot), the Jazz lacked scoring punch – instead relying on a stifling defense to win games.

Of course, when you have the best defense in the league per Cleaning the Glass as well as the presumptive choice for Defensive Player of the Year in Rudy Gobert, you don’t need to worry about offense that much.

However, with legendary knockdown shooter Kyle Korver aging gracefully yet swiftly, the Jazz should prioritize a knockdown shooter in the 2019 NBA Draft. Enter Cam Johnson out of UNC.

Johnson’s scoring in college was excellent, and his penchant for knocking down triples would greatly benefit Utah. Per The Stepien’s shot chart, Johnson shot 46.3 percent from NBA three-point range.

KenPom’s profile of Johnson also paints a rosy offensive picture: Johnson was 35th in the country in true shooting percentage (64.8%), 31st in three-point percentage (45.7%) and a lofty 15th in offensive rating with a robust 129.0.

#24. Philadelphia 76ers — Ty Jerome

According to Jackson Frank of The Athletic, The Step Back and Liberty Ballers, Sixers Twitter has their collective mind set on Virginia’s Ty Jerome with the 24th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft:

It makes sense, too, as the Sixers were finally defeated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals due to a supreme lack of depth at the guard position. Though they had two promising rookies on the roster, management deemed neither Shake Milton or Zhaire Smith worthy of meaningful playoff minutes.

After his junior year in which he helped lead the Wahoos to a NCAA Championship, it’s doubtful the same could be said for Jerome.

A gutsy shot maker fittingly nicknamed Ty Ball Game by the lovable duo of Mark Titus and Tate Frazier on The Ringer’s One Shining Podcast, Jerome has terrific feel and amazing basketball IQ that truly leaps off the screen – even if his athletic profile does not quite pop in the same way.

All the Sixers need with this pick is a player with more upside and immediate playability than T.J. McConnell (an unorthodox choice for the Atlanta Hawks to prioritize in free agency this offseason).

With good size, tremendous offensive and defensive smarts and a proven willingness to make the right play for a team that’s ready to win now, Jerome to the 76ers seems like one of the best fits at the end of the first round in the 2019 NBA Draft.

#25. Portland Trail Blazers — Carsen Edwards

This might seem like an unusual choice what with the Portland Trail Blazers’ roster makeup being rather guard-dominant – especially in the upper echelon of the team’s talent – but bear with me.

While Evan Turner proved to be critical in the team’s thrilling fourth quarter against the up-and-coming Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals (scoring more points in the 4th than he had in the entirety of the series up to that point), his anchoring contract and less-than-ideal play style for the modern game means that the team will need a solid scoring punch off the bench – especially if Seth Curry is not retained.

Carsen Edwards of Purdue would surely fit that bill. An absolutely brilliant scorer, Edwards produced one of the most stunning performances of the NCAA Tournament as his Boilermakers almost knocked off the eventual champion Virginia Cavaliers:

Edwards is a tremendous shooter off of screens and dribble hand-offs, which is something that the Blazers run a lot of with their bevy of big men (Zach Collins, Jusuf Nurkic, maybe Enes Kanter). He is also a terrific cutter and opportunistic cutter, though he is better with the ball in his hands.

Though he’s small (six foot even), Edwards’ penchant for making difficult shots is his core skill, and he is also a sneakily impressive athlete who can wend his way through traffic for tough finished around the rim.

#26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Houston Rockets) — Matisse Thybulle

This represents a bit of a precipitous fall for Matisse Thybulle out of Washington, who produced patently absurd numbers in his senior season – so much so that he was named the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2018-19 season.

Thybulle is truly a defensive difference-maker – one of the few players that fits that mold in this draft class alongside Zion and Brandon Clarke. Thybulle is so beloved on SDS, in fact, that this writer has previously produced a lengthy list of reasons why the Atlanta Hawks would do well to focus on Thybulle in the draft.

However, consensus is that Thybulle opting to skip the 2019 NBA Draft Combine might’ve hurt his stock, even though his amazing defensive stats should give pause to any NBA team.

In terms of this pick, which the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired from the Houston Rockets in the Brandon Knight deal, Thybulle could immediately slide in as the team’s starting two guard (well, unless J.R. Smith shows up and wants to play in Cleveland again) and would immediately transform the Cavs’ defense from putrid to passable.

Remember, Thybulle produced a staggering 126 steals and 82 blocks in his senior season – totals that have never been produced ever in the history of College Basketball Reference’s database, which goes back to the 1984-85 season.

#27. Brooklyn Nets (via Denver Nuggets) — Chuma Okeke

Chuma Okeke was having the best game of his career against the UNC Tar Heels before he tore his ACL, which ruined what had been a promising season in its latter stages. Still though, the Auburn Tigers continued to march in March – making it all the way to the Final Four before being ousted in dramatic fashion by the eventual champion, University of Virginia.

Okeke would be a terrific get for the Brooklyn Nets as an interesting combo big man with tremendous defensive instincts, a workable three-point shot and an all-around impactful skill bank that conveys tremendous upside as a role player.

With this pick, which the Nets acquired from the Nuggets in the Kenneth Faried deal, they would be adding another enticing piece to a young core that features a slew of interesting players. Okeke plus the earlier-acquired Grant Williams alongside Allen, Levert and Kurucs! That sounds like a super-fun and extremely entertaining team that could make some noise in the playoffs sooner than later.

At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds as well as a willingness to let it fly from deep (40 of 101 from NBA three-point range per The Stepien, 39.6%), Okeke projects as a modern power forward – perfectly fitting into the Nets’ roster construct as it stands now.

#28. Golden State Warriors — Naz Reid

The Golden State Warriors have drafted an array of larger players of the years since finding gold throughout earlier drafts. It seems the team might’ve uncovered a diamond in the rough with Kevon Looney – who has been a revelation throughout the 2019 Playoffs.

Looney is playing so well, in fact, that the Warriors might not be able to retain his services past this season, as he will be a free agent. The Atlanta Hawks should definitely make some less-than-subtle overtures towards Looney, even if the team drafts Jaxson Hayes considering that Looney has been cool as a cucumber in extremely high-stress minutes against the Houston Rockets and other teams throughout this 2019 playoff run.

With Looney likely gone and Andrew Bogut potentially retiring (again), the Warriors will almost certainly prioritize a wing here unless they have a hankering for a wing like KZ Okpala or Miye Oni.

Instead, in this 2019 NBA Draft mock-up, the Warriors will select sweet-shooting big man Naz Reid out of LSU. ESPN’s Jonathan Wasserman reports that Reid has not yet covered himself in glory in the NBA Draft Combine due to his body fat ratio:

Still though, Draymond Green was not in stupendous shape when the Warriors drafted him in the second round, yet he was soon one of the most fearsome defensive presences in the NBA. Reid projects to be less of a factor on that end and more of an offensive figurehead.

Ried combines striking ballhandling skills in a mammoth 6-foot-10, 245-pound frame as well as the ability to hit spot-up and pull-up triples. His numbers aren’t spectacular from NBA three-point range per The Stepien (24 of 70, 34.3%), but a big man being able to hit triples would potentially add a dynamic to a Warriors offense that has never lacked for space.

#29. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto Raptors) — Jontay Porter

Jontay Porter, the younger brother of Michael Porter, was widely believed to be a late lottery prospect in last year’s draft due to his young age, terrific feel and impressive upside.

However, Porter opted to return to school, which ended up being a tough choice as he tore his ACL not once, but twice, being unable to play a single minute for Missouri.

Now, Porter returns to the 2019 NBA Draft as a big-time sleeper pick with a lot of injury concerns. The Atlanta Hawks must hope that those concerns force Porter all the way out of the first round so they could take him in the second, but in this mock, the San Antonio Spurs make a typically brilliant draft decision by selecting Porter at 29th overall.

A true seven-footer with savant-level basketball IQ, Porter’s lack of athleticism does not diminish his impact in the slightest. On that front, despite being injured for much of the past year and a half, Porter came into the 2019 NBA Draft Combine in better shape than many expected he would after missing all that time:

With LaMarcus Aldridge likely in the latter stages of his career (though still extremely effective), Porter could serve as the team’s big man of the future, depending on what they think of Jakob Poeltl. Head coach Gregg Popovich is usually a fan of smart players, and Porter might be among the smartest in this draft class.

#30. Milwaukee Bucks — Bruno Fernando

Last in this 2019 NBA Mock Draft but first in terms of regular season record are the resurgent Milwaukee Bucks. At #30 overall, the Bucks don’t have a ton of needs positionally though the team’s new folk hero Brook Lopez (aka Splash Mountain) could potentially leave in free agency.

With the final pick of the first round, the Bucks could opt for big men Bruno Fernando.

Fernando, much like PJ Washington in the upper tier of this mock draft, experienced a huge jump from his freshman to sophomore year. Couple that with a truly comically vast frame (6-foot-10, 240 pounds, railroad-tie arms) and you have the makings of a high-upside player that could potentially get minutes in his rookie year for a Bucks team with high hopes going forward.

The chiseled Fernando showed excellent chops as a passer in dribble hand-offs and in short roll scenarios, and he shot 45.8 percent from the midrange in his sophomore year, per The Stepien’s shot chart tool.

Though multiple mock drafts do not feature Fernando in the first round, it seems likely that Fernando falls out of the first and into the second as teams prioritize wings over the “dime a dozen” stigma of big men in today’s game.

Still though, Fernando has some interesting wrinkles to his game that make him more than just a big man. If the Bucks were to take him, that faith in Fernando’s ability would likely pay dividends down the line.

That’s it and that’s all! What do you think of this mock draft? Should the Atlanta Hawks have drafted different prospects? Let us know in the comments! As always keep it locked to Soaring Down South for plenty more 2019 NBA Draft coverage. Thanks for reading!