Predicting the Lottery Picks of the 2019 NBA Draft

Image Credit: Brad Penner (USA Today Sports)

With the Toronto Raptors defeating the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, winning their first title in franchise history, the NBA is beginning transitioning into the off-season.

The first event of the off season is none of then one of my favorite nights of the year, the NBA Draft. The culmination of these young player's career's have led to this moment and now they get to find out which team they'll begin their career with.

The 2019 Draft Class is filled with talent. From potentially transcendent super stars, to solid, all-around ballers, this draft class has it all. In this article, I will be breaking down some of the top prospects in this year's class and predicting where they'll wind up being drafted. New Orleans Pelicans, you are now on the clock!

1. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson (Big, Duke, Freshman)

One of the most exciting draft prospects in recent memory, the 18-year-old from Duke earned his projection as the number one pick in this year’s draft by leading his school to the Elite Eight and picking up the consensus National College Player of the Year and first team All-American honors during his freshman campaign. There’s nothing to be said about his game that hasn’t already been talked about viburnum across all major sports networks and social media platforms. A 6’7”, 285 pound big with gravity defying athleticism and an all-around skill set, Williamson has the potential to become one of the most transcendent talents the game has ever seen. With the Anthony Davis’ era ending in New Orleans after being shipped to Los Angeles, Williamson will be handed the keys to a young, yet promising Pelicans team with him as the franchise cornerstone.

2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant (Point Guard, Murray State, Sophomore)

Originally not fielding a single Division I offer in high school, Morant’s talent was eventually discovered his senior year in a back gym in Spartanburg, South Carolina by a Murray State assistant. Once at Murray State, Morant climbed up the draft boards by leading the nation in assists with 10.0 assists per game, averaging 24.5 points per game and posting memorable performances throughout the course of his sophomore season. The 6’3” point guard boasts clever playmaking abilities, Westbrook-esque athleticism, the ability to create his own shot with a variety as moves and some solid potential as an on-ball defender. While the mechanics of his jump shot need tweaking and the tendency to commit of sloppy turnovers is evident, Morant has the potential to become an All-Star level point guard and will usher in a post “grit and grind” era in Memphis alongside Jaren Jackson Jr.

3. New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett (Forward, Duke, Freshman)

Even though the New York Knicks had the highest odds for the number one pick in this year’s draft, they still lost out on the Zion Williamson sweepstakes, proving that under the new draft odds, teams can’t effectively tank for picks. Not all is lost in the Big Apple however, because the Knicks still have the opportunity to pick Steve Nash’s godson, R.J. Barrett. Once considered to be the projected number one pick, his stock fell due in large part to the emergence of Williamson and Morant, but Barrett is still one of the top prospects in this year’s draft. At 6’7” and possessing a 6’10” wingspan, Barrett uses his physical tools to his advantage to score and get to the rim with relative ease. He’s dangerous in the open floor, a great ball-handler and passer, and is efficient in the mid range area. The question marks for him lie behind the three point line, where he shot 30.8% on 237 attempts his freshman year, but that part of his game should improve over time. The Knicks, who will most likely miss out on this off-season's coveted free agents, should select the low risk, high reward player in Barrett.

4. New Orleans Pelicans (via Lakers): De’Andre Hunter (Forward, Virginia, Sophomore)

One of the assets that the Pelicans acquired from the Lakers through the Anthony Davis trade was the number four pick in this year’s draft. The pick is a valuable trade chip if the Pelicans decide they want to exchange the pick for a veteran player like Bradley Beal, but if they decide to keep the pick, they should look at selecting De’Andre Hunter. The sophomore forward is coming off a successful season where he was a second team All-American, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and led the Virginia Cavaliers to their first national championship win in program history. Hunter is not the most flashy prospect, with his average first step and ball handling limiting him offensively. However, there are numerous parts of his game that will directly translate to the NBA. He has a reliable spot up shot beyond the arc, he is a terrific multi-positional defender on and off the ball, and his shot creation skills have improved each year of his college career. If he lands in New Orleans, he will bring a winning mentality and can fit in a variety of lineups alongside Williamson, Holiday and the newly acquired Lakers.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jarrett Culver (Guard, Texas Tech, Sophomore)

Being so early on in their rebuilding process, the Cavaliers should not draft according to their positional needs, rather, they should draft according to who the front office believes is the best player available. Cleveland will give some looks to Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland, but since they have already drafted a lead guard during the 2018 Draft in Colin “Young Bull” Sexton, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense to choose Garland unless Head Coach John Beilein wants to pair the two together in the backcourt. Instead, they can pair Sexton with the Texas Tech product, Jarrett Culver. Culver led the Red Raiders in points, rebounds and assists on their way to the national title game and picked up Big 12 Player of the Year and second team All-American honors as well. Culver has room to get stronger and needs to tweak some of his shot mechanics to increase his accuracy at the next level, but the main positive about his game his versatility. He can act as a combo guard or a forward. He's a smart player offensively with the skill set to score on and off the ball, he’s an unselfish passer and he can guard all positions comfortably on the opposite end of the floor. Culver has the potential to be a solid foundational piece next to Sexton and Love as the rebuild trudges on in Cleveland.

6. Phoenix Suns: Darius Garland (Point Guard, Vanderbilt, Freshman)

It is a strong possibility that the Vanderbilt Commodore could be selected earlier in the draft by the Pelicans or the Cavaliers, but with the Pelican's recent acquisition of Lonzo Ball and Colin Sexton being on the Cavaliers, Darius Garland fell to number six in my predictions. Phoenix will likely look to add a point guard to join their promising young duo in Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton. If that is the case, Garland would seem to be the right pick if he does in fact fall to six. Due to a torn meniscus that ended his freshman campaign five games into the season, there isn’t a ton of game footage go off of in terms of scouting the young point guard, but those five games flashed a ton of potential. Garland possess NBA-caliber range and one of the smoothest jump shots in the draft that can be accessed off off ball movement, off the dribble, as well as on the catch. The 19-year-old is also quite skilled in the pick and roll and is a crafty passer in all offensive scenarios. However, there are some minuses to his game. He’s thin, undersized and not all that athletic, plus, his previous injury history could be a concern down the road. Despite this, the Suns are in desperate need of a solid floor general, they should take a flyer on Garland to see if he can help the organization end the longest playoff drought in the league.

7. Chicago Bulls: Coby White (Point Guard, North Carolina, Freshman)

With the front court in Chicago looking promising with young bigs Wendall Carter Jr. and Lauri Markkanan, the Bulls should shift their focus to finding a true backcourt partner for Zach Lavine. While Kris Dunn has taken strides the last couple of years after his disastrous rookie campaign, he doesn’t look to be the point guard of the future in Chicago. Because of this, the Bulls should select Coby White out of North Carolina. Possibly the fastest guard in the draft, White has an elite first step that allows him to burn defenses in transition as well as in the half court. Other pluses in his game include an efficient three point release that should translate well to the NBA, his competitive defensive nature and his solid facilitating, averaging 5.7 assists per 40 minutes last season for the Tar Heels. Even though he tends to force shots and struggles to shoot off the dribble, White should benefit from the extra spacing in the NBA and could flourish into a decent player in the Windy City.

8. Atlanta Hawks: Cameron Reddish (Forward, Duke, Freshman)

Perhaps the most polarizing prospect in this year’s draft class, Cam Reddish struggled to find consistency playing alongside Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett during his lone season at Duke. This inconsistency caused his draft stock to slide from a top three pick to one who will now be picked within the five to ten range. There is a lot to love about Reddish’s game, he has a frame that is similar to one of superstar Paul George, he has a wide array of ball handling moves to help him create his own shot, he’s a long defender who has quick hands and can switch every position, and he has one of the smoothest shots in his class. However, he struggles to maximize his physical gifts, often shying away from contact. He’s not a great above the rim finisher and he can lack discipline at times on the defensive end of the floor. The Atlanta Hawks would like to select a wing player to add to their promising core of Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter. Reddish looks to be exactly what they are looking for at number eight and he can potentially improve to All-Star levels under Head Coach Lloyd Pierce.

9. Washington Wizards: Sekou Doumbouya (Forward, France)

Between being tied up in John Wall’s super max extension and Bradley Beal’s probable departure from Washington within the next year or so, the future is looking bleak in D.C. Because of this, the Wizards should try to select anyone the front office believes can begin to push them in any sort of positive direction, regardless of position or need. Sekou Doumbouya would be a decent choice at number nine. He’s an intriguing physical specimen at 6’9”, 230 pounds, he possesses scoring potential and he is already a productive rebounder for his age, but he has an untamed jump shot and a reported inconsistent effort level during his time in France. Doumbouya is a project player who has high potential, but will need time and attention to reach that level. Washington, more than likely, will not be competitive any time soon. Therefore, Doumbouya should have more than enough time to learn and develop over the next couple of seasons.

10. Atlanta Hawks (via Dallas): Jaxson Hayes (Center, Texas, Freshman)

After adding adding a wing player to play alongside Trae Young and Kevin Huerter, the Hawks will look next to pick up a big man to help fill out their young lineup. Look no further than Jaxson Hayes. In his lone season at Texas, Hayes averaged 10.0 points per game, 5.0 rebounds a game and 2.2 blocks per game. He’s a classic rim running big similar to Javale McGee and DeAndre Jordan. He runs the floor hard in transition and has the necessary coordination to be a terrific above the rim finisher. On the other side of the court, at 6’1” with a 7’3” wingspan, he has the potential to become an elite rim protector, filling passing lanes and deterring shots away from the rim. He is inexperienced, he will need to improve his defensive awareness and get tougher on the boards going forward, but Hayes is a good fit in the Atlanta front court next to John Collins and has the potential to be an efficient offensive player down the line, especially if Trae Young is the one feeding him the ball.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves: Brandon Clarke (Big, Gonzaga, Junior)

After making the playoffs two seasons ago, the Timberwolves seem to be back in the same position they were in three seasons ago, not a bad team, but not a playoff team either. Minnesota should look to add a solid forward/big to either pair alongside Karl-Anthony Towns or provide valuable minutes off the bench. Brandon Clarke is coming off a spectacular junior season at Gonzaga where he led the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight and earned third team All-American honors. His main selling point will be his defensive ability, he’s a terrific shot blocker, averaging 3.1 blocks per game, and can guard any position. On offense, he can handle the ball score with great efficiency. The best part of his game, that will earn the respect of him coaches and teammates, is his unmatched motor. The big man gives 100% effort at all times, every single game. At 6’8”, he could be considered undersized for a big and will primarily play at the four position, but he could also act as a small ball five in certain lines ups as he becomes acquainted with the NBA game. While not boasting superstar potential, any organization would be happy to have a player like Clarke on their team.

12. Charlotte Hornets: P.J. Washington (Forward, Kentucky, Sophomore)

Whether they are able to re-sign star point guard Kemba Walker in free agency or not, the Hornets need to pick a player who can potentially help them get out of the current cycle they’ve been stuck in the last couple of seasons. While there are a variety of good prospects still remaining in the draft, a player I enjoyed watching this past season who could fit well on this team is P.J. Washington out of Kentucky. At 6’8” and 230 pounds, Washington has the size and strength to compete at the NBA Level. He steadily improved as a passer and a three pointer shooter during his sophomore campaign and he has an innate ability to finish below the rim with a multitude of moves at his disposal. He has an inconsistent motor at times and lacks a level of explosiveness in traffic, but at the number 12 pick, Washington is the type of player who can contribute right away, but also has the potential to improve and raise his ceiling as his career progresses.

13. Miami Heat: Rui Hachimura (Forward, Gonzaga, Junior)

Narrowly missing the playoffs during Dwayne Wade’s last season, the Heat will look to reload and retool rather than rebuild. Therefore, they are going to want to acquire someone who can immediately contribute. Rui Hachimura, the junior forward from Gonzaga, would be a low risk, high reward pick for Miami at the number 13 spot. Hachimura has improved considerably over the course of the last three seasons, winning the Julius Erving Award and being a consensus first team All-American this past season. Hachimura has outstanding physical tools at 6’8”, 230 pounds with a 7’2” wingspan. On the offensive end, he can score in a myriad of ways. Whether it’s in the post, on the drive, in transition, or spotting up for a shot, Hachimura can do a multitude of things efficiently on that end of the floor. While not the most talented defender, he definitely has the physical tools to improve in that area of the game. While he still has a long way to go until he can live up to his full potential, Hachimura, who has a strong work ethic, will improve working with coaches such Erik Spoelstra in the NBA.

14. Boston Celtics (via Sacramento): Nassir Little (Forward, North Carolina, Freshman)

Once considered to be a projected top five pick in this year’s draft, Little slid down the draft boards due to his underwhelming play at North Carolina. While he did improve over the course of the season, his play showed that it will take time for him to become the player he could potentially become. Little’s main selling point is his ability to defend the basketball. He can switch on to any position, he has a strong base, making him difficult to move, and his quickness aids him in staying in front of his man. However, outside of his natural athleticism and his long term three point upside, Little does not have a good offensive upside at this point in his career. Under Brad Stevens in Boston, Little can learn and improve, eventually becoming a solid “3-and-D” player if he puts in the work.

Predictions for Picks 15-30

15. Detroit Pistons: Romeo Langford (Guard, Indiana, Freshman)

16. Orlando Magic: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Guard, Virginia Tech, Sophomore)

17. Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn): Tyler Herro (Guard, Kentucky, Freshman)

18. Indiana Pacers: Mfiandu Kabengele (Big, Florida State, Sophomore)

19. San Antonio Spurs: Goga Bitzade (Big, Georgia)

20. Boston Celtics (via Clippers): Bol Bol (Big, Oregeon, Freshman)

21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Cameron Johnson (Forward, North Carolina, Senior)

22. Boston Celtics: Keldon Johnson (Guard, Kentucky, Freshman)

23. Memphis Grizzlies: Grant Williams (Big, Tennessee, Junior)

24. Philadelphia 76ers: Ty Jerome (Guard, Virginia, Junior)

25. Portland Trailblazers: Nicholas Claxton (Big, Georgia, Sophomore)

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Houston): Kevin Porter Jr. (Guard, USC, Freshman)

27. Brooklyn Nets (via Denver): Chuma Okeke (Forward, Auburn, Sophomore)

28. Golden State Warriors: Darius Bazley (Forward, USA)

29. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto): Dylan Windler (Forward, Belmont, Senior)

30. Detroit Pistons: Luka Samantic (Forward, Croatia)