So long, NFL prospects, and hello 2019 NBA Draft.
Now that the NFL’s pickfest is through, thoughts turn to what might be ahead for NBA teams. While we have one surefire star on the board, the rest of the draft figures to be turbulent. NBA personnel types don’t like to say any draft in particular is weak, but we can at least say this one is pocked with question marks.
OFFSEASON PREVIEWS:
Lakers | Knicks | Bulls | Pelicans | Nets
Mavericks | Pacers | Pistons | Thunder
But talking to scouts and GMs, we still have thoughts on how things might come out.
1. Knicks — Zion Williamson, F, Duke
Knicks fans, rejoice — if they hang onto this pick, that is. Williamson could well be the only All-Star to come out of this draft, but he is entering the league with considerable hype. Whomever lands him will have an instant, under-the-microscope superstar on their hands.
2. Cavaliers — RJ Barrett, SG, Duke
The Cavs could be forced to make a difficult choice if they keep the No. 2 spot in the lottery — pass on point guard Ja Morant, the consensus second-best player in the draft, or hold the line with Collin Sexton and look for a complementary scorer. Chances are they’d deal the pick if they could get multiple assets in return, but Barrett would make sense next to Sexton.
3. Suns — Ja Morant, PG, Murray State
The Suns are desperate for a point guard, and Morant is an exciting, dazzling playmaker whose athleticism sets him apart. He is an excellent finisher at the rim and has shown the kind of court vision the Suns have sorely lacked at the position.
4. Bulls — Jarrett Culver, SG, Texas Tech
The Bulls would like to get a point guard out of this draft, but if Morant is gone, they’ll have to go with the best prospect available. That would be Culver, whose two-way talent would be big for a Bulls team looking to beef up the defense.
5. Hawks — Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas
The Hawks need a big guy to pair with John Collins, and Hayes might be ideal. Hayes averaged 2.2 blocks in 23.3 minutes with the Longhorns, making him the kind of defensive presence who can make up for some of Collins’ flaws. But Hayes also has good footwork and the ability to handle the ball despite being just 18 years old.
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6. Wizards — De'Andre Hunter, SF, Virginia
The Wizards could be in for a summer overhaul, and in their situation, expect a best-available approach. Hunter is a reliable defender who shot 41.9 percent from the 3-point line in his college career. He’d be worthy of a role from Day One.
7. Pelicans — Cam Reddish, SF, Duke
The Pelicans, too, are in for a major makeover this offseason and figure to have a much-altered lineup, perhaps even before the draft. Reddish is an upside pick, a guy who never got into a rhythm with his shot this year at Duke but still has too much talent to slip too far in the draft.
8. Grizzlies — Coby White, PG/SG, North Carolina
The Grizzlies are expected to dump Mike Conley this summer and could have some viable options at point guard with this pick (assuming they hold it — their selection will go to Boston if one of the teams below No. 8 jumps ahead and pushes this pick to No. 9). Injured Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland is a possibility, but scouts were impressed with the way that the high-scoring White developed as a playmaker this season in Chapel Hill.
9. Hawks (via Mavericks) — Romeo Langford, SG, Indiana
Langford was a disappointment as a shooter this year — just 27.2 percent from the 3-point line — but he has an ideal build for a big guard and is versatile enough to guard at least three positions. Expect him to impress in workouts and land in the top 10.
10. Timberwolves — Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
Garland played only five games this season before suffering a meniscus injury in his knee. He is an exciting prospect who has the potential to be a productive scoring point guard, but teams will still want to be certain of his medicals before he lands too high.
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11. Lakers — PJ Washington, PF, Kentucky
Washington closed the season strong for the Wildcats and wound up shooting 42.3 percent from the 3-point line. That kind of stretch-4 ability goes nicely with LeBron James — though there is a chance the Lakers won’t hold this pick.
12. Hornets — Bol Bol, C, Oregon
The Hornets might like to get hold of a point guard as an insurance policy for Kemba Waker, and they’ll consider a shooting guard here. But the team could never settle on a center this season, and though injury makes Bol a risk, the Hornets need to do something bold.
13. Heat — Rui Hachimura, PF, Gonzaga
Like the Hornets, the Heat would like to add a point guard, but those are in short supply in this draft. Hachimura is a late-blooming stretch-4 who scored 19.7 points per game this season and has some upside.
14. Celtics (via Kings) — Mfiondu Kabengele, C, Florida State
Kabengele impressed scouts over the course of the season with his rim-protecting and scoring ability and showed enough versatility to crack the top 20. Good workouts could send him higher. Heck, he’s even found his way into the lottery here.
15. Pistons — Keldon Johnson, SF, Kentucky
Johnson is an NBA-ready wing who can give the Pistons some much-needed scoring punch.
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16. Magic — Talen Horton-Tucker, G, Iowa State
The Magic are on the board, and a 6-4 guard with a 7-1 wingspan is available? Sign them up. Horton-Tucker had plenty of ups and downs in his game this season, and he was inefficient throughout. But he has raw potential, and the Magic like to swing for home runs in the draft.
17. Nets — Brandon Clarke, PF, Gonzaga
Clarke is a junior and 22 years old, which will ding his draft stock. But he is an excellent defender and playmaker who could contribute to the rising Nets right away.
18. Pacers — Kevin Porter Jr., G, USC
Porter has a load of talent, and playing for Nate McMillan in Indiana might be a good way for him to tap into that talent. He is a wicked creator who needs to harness his game some. He’d be a good guy to bring along for a bench role with the Pacers.
19. Spurs — Sekou Doumbouya, SF, France
Doumbouya is just 18 and will need plenty of grooming before he can be an impact player. He needs to hone his shot and build up some basketball IQut his combination of do-it-all athleticism and length makes him a worthwhile risk.
20. Celtics (via Clippers) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G, Virginia Tech
The Celtics have a loaded roster, but they could take a chance on a guy who can handle combo guard duties, especially with Terry Rozier likely leaving. But, again, the Celtics might ship this pick off.
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21. Thunder — Tyler Herro, SG, Kentucky
Herro had a slow start with his perimeter shot, but finished strong and firmed up his reputation as one of the better shooters in this draft. The Thunder are eager for shot-makers.
22. Celtics — Chuma Okeke, F, Auburn
Okeke had been playing as well as anyone in college basketball late in the season before tearing his ACL against North Carolina in the Sweet 16 — he had 20 points and 11 rebounds in just 25 minutes in that game. In his final 11 games, all Auburn wins, he averaged 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds with 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks, shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from the 3-point line.
He could be a good combo forward in today’s game, and Boston can afford to let him work his way back to health next year.
23. Jazz — Nassir Little, SF, North Carolina
Little is a quality defender who has some scoring ability, though he has not shown the kind of outside shooting ability you’d like from his position. He is a bit of a tweener, even in today’s day and age.
24. 76ers — Goga Bitadze, C, Republic of Georgia
Bitadze has been talked about as a draft-and-stash option, but all indications are he wants to land in the NBA now. He is a 7-footer who has potential as a perimeter shooter and was productive in Europe as a 19-year-old. He could go as high as the lottery, but if he is here for Philly, he’s a good long-term insurance policy on Joel Embiid.
25. Trail Blazers — Cam Johnson, PF, North Carolina
Johnson made 45.7 percent of his 3s this season and could be off the board by this point. But Portland, eager for players who can stretch the floor with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, would be a good fit.
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26. Cavaliers (via Rockets) — Bruno Fernando, C, Maryland
Fernando is an athletic big man whose physical skills are impressive but who can’t shoot. His talent will earn him a first-round spot, but he will need to expand his game.
27. Nets (via Nuggets) — Daniel Gafford, PF/C, Arkansas
Gafford is a potentially elite rim protector who would serve as a quality backup/defensive pairing with Jarrett Allen. The Nets would like to add more size to the roster, and Gafford would bring that.
28. Warriors — Ignas Brazdeikis, G/F, Michigan
Brazdeikis is a talented lefty scorer who needs some defensive work but should be able to contribute to an NBA bench relatively quickly.
29. Spurs (via Raptors) — KZ Okpala, SG, Stanford
Okpala is a slashing, creative scorer who averaged 16.9 points for the Cardinal this season. If he can show a bit more playmaking sense in workouts, he should lock up a first-round spot.
30. Bucks — Jontay Porter, C, Missouri
Porter is sporting a twice-injured ACL that throws his NBA future into doubt, but he has lottery-type talent. If he can somehow get and remain healthy, this will be a steal for Milwaukee.