NBA: 2019 Mock Draft 3.0
1. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson (PF/Duke): The Pelicans need someone to bring excitement back to New Orleans and as much hype as Zion has around him will for sure help. Also he has a ton of raw talent and has great upside. He has the potential to become a perennial All-Star for years to come. He averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the Blue Devils as he won Player of the Year. He's definitely going to be the top pick.
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant (PG/Murray State): The Grizzlies needs someone to help Jaren Jackson Jr. at the guard position. With someone who has athleticism and has great vision with ball handling, Morant will be a great fit under Mike Conley Jr. The Grizzlies have looked like a train wreck since Tony Allen and Zach Randolph left but there may finally be some upside if they can add Morant. He averaged 24.5 points and 10.0 assists at Murray State.
3. New York Knicks: R.J Barrett (SF/Duke): New York already has a young forward with Kevin Knox who they took with their first pick last season and this will help the Knicks on it's rebuilding. There isn't a lot of talent in New York after Kristaps Porzingis was traded to Dallas, but Barrett and the possibility of adding someone like Kevin Durant and/or Kyrie Irving should keep hopes high in the Big Apple, even though Knicks fans were praying for Williamson.
4. New Orleans Pelicans (via Lakers): De'Andre Hunter (SF/Virginia): The Pelicans are slowly building a quality team around a ton of young and talented players after trading Anthony Davis to the Lakers in exchange for Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, and two picks. Jrue Holiday is a very underrated guard, while Zion Williamson will join the team after getting picked up first. Here, De'Andre Hunter would continue the process of rebuilding.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland (PG/Vanderbilt): It seemed like the Cavs were ready to draft Morant if they got the No. 2 overall pick, but they fell all the way to fifth. With that said, Garland is a terrific player who averaged 16.2 points on 53.7% shooting from the field in just five games at Vanderbilt. Cleveland could put him at the shooting guard, keeping Sexton at the one, and continuing to try to build through the backcourt.
6. Phoenix Suns: Jarrett Culver (SF/Texas Tech): Culver is great at both ends of the floor and will for sure be a help to the Suns' young core, who struggled last season. Phoenix has a couple of nice pieces in Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton, and Culver would look to help build towards the future. He reminds me a lot of Mikal Bridges, who was selected by the Suns last year. Culver averaged 18.5 points per game last season.
7. Chicago Bulls: Coby White (PG/North Carolina): The Bulls are slowly building a quality team around a ton of young and talented players. Zach LaVine is a very underrated guard, while Lauri Markkanen has been one of the top players from his class through his first two seasons. Wendell Carter Jr. also has some potential. It seems like Chicago is on the right track, and taking Coby White would continue that process. He averaged 16.1 points last year.
8. Atlanta Hawks: Cam Reddish (SG/Duke): With the Hawks taking Trae Young a year ago, they need more of a shooting guard than ball handler and Reddish could be that guy. Even though he was inconsistent at Duke he has great potential and can extend the court with his long range shot. He averaged 13.5 points and 3.7 rebounds on 35.6% shooting from the field. He'd be the third Blue Devil selected in the first eight picks and fit alongside Young.
9. Washington Wizards: Rui Hachimura (SF/Gonzaga): John Wall is going to miss the beginning of the season as he is still out with an injury, and the Wizards will bring whoever they draft along slowly. Hachimura reminds me of Paul Millsap when he first came into the league and he's become a really consistent player. It's likely going to take him a few years to get used to the NBA, but he has some of the best potential after dropping 19.7 points per game.
10. Atlanta Hawks: Jaxson Hayes (C/Texas): We have the Hawks taking Reddish with their earlier pick so it would only make sense for them to go after a big man with their second choice. Despite going just 29-53 last year, Atlanta has some pretty good building blocks with guys like Young and Collins. They could be solid in a few seasons and adding Reddish and Hayes would be smart. Hayes won the Big 12 Freshman of the Year with Texas last season.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves: Brandon Clarke (PF/Gonzaga): Clarke really improved his game in one year at Gonzaga and averaged 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He should become the second Bulldogs forward drafted in the lottery with Hachimura. Minnesota lost Jimmy Butler last season and need a player to go along with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, and Clarke would be a really good building block going forward.
12. Charlotte Hornets: Nassir Little (SF/North Carolina): The Hornets' offseason is revolves solely around re-signing Kemba Walker when free agency opens on July 1. He's been the lone bright spot in the Charlotte organization and he was the main reason they even compete for playoff spots. Nassir Little didn't have an incredible freshman year at North Carolina, but he was productive and he'll try to do that his rookie year too.
13. Miami Heat: Kevin Porter Jr. (SG/USC): Dwayne Wade's career is over and even though he wasn't the same player last year as he had been for the majority of his life, he was still a solid two-guard. Without Wade, the Heat will need to find another double-digit scorer. Porter is a 6'5 shooting guard who can get to the paint and stretch the floor. He put up 9.5 points on 47.1% for the Trojans. Miami will look to make him into a Josh Richardson-type wing.
14. Boston Celtics: Bol Bol (C/Oregon): The Celtics got the news that big man Al Horford is going to opt out of his player option and will become an unrestricted free agent in July. Boston is also likely going to lose Kyrie Irving, who looks like he's destined to play for the Brooklyn Nets. With that said, Danny Ainge will make this offseason about finding a replacement for Horford and re-signing Terry Rozier. Could Bol be the guy to fill in for Horford?
Photo Credit: Clutch Points.
