2019 NBA Mock Draft 3.0 — The Final Edition

Two mock drafts in one, with my predicted pick and the pick I would make for all 30 first-round selections…

AT LONG LAST, WE’VE REACHED THE EVE OF THE 2019 NBA DRAFT. The Big Boards are all set. The rankings are all finalized. Zion Williamson will go number one. Ja Morant is a lock at two now that Mike Conley has been traded. R.J. Barrett has been penciled in to the Knicks at three. But everything is up in the air from there in what could be a wild 2019 NBA Draft night, where no one knows anything in particular.

With all my rankings set and my scouting profiles completed, it’s time for one last mock draft — or in this case, two. Below are two mock drafts in one. For each team, I make a prediction of what I think may actually happen at each spot based on all the intel I’ve read around the internet and podcast world from sources in the know, and then I also give you the pick I would make for each team. Both mock drafts are separate, so I only picked from the available board on each one independently, then gave a few thoughts below each pick.

Here’s my final Big Board rankings, if you missed them. You’ll read my thoughts on every player there, along with scouting profile, NBA expectations, and best team fits on all the links therein. Let’s mock!

1. New Orleans Pelicans

Predicted pick — Zion Williamson My pick — Zion Williamson

I realized today I’m actually excited for the draft to be done so Zion is interesting again. For months, he’s been so far ahead of his peers he’s barely even worth evaluating. In a couple days, his peers upgrade. I can’t wait.

2. Memphis Grizzlies

Predicted pick — Ja Morant My pick — Ja Morant

The Conley deal makes this pick official, and I think Morant is probably the right pick. Next!

3. New York Knicks

Predicted pick — R.J. Barrett My pick — Jarrett Culver

Still looks like R.J. Barrett will be a Knick, and now that they’re going to have to blow all their free agent money maxing Boogie Cousins and Malcolm Brogdon, I suppose it makes sense to swing for a star. I am all the way out on Barrett and there isn’t superstar upside to gamble on here so I’m just taking Culver as a great building block.

4. New Orleans Pelicans

Predicted pick — Darius Garland (trade?) My pick — Brandon Clarke

This is the swing pick at the top of the draft Thursday night. Do the Pelicans stay? If they do, I think Garland could still be the pick. I’m not excited about him or Coby White in the top-7 but like them more next to Jrue Holiday so I get the appeal. It seems like Garland is solidifying himself as the #4 pick so it may just be a matter of which team makes this pick. In my mock, the Pelicans walk away with the top two guys on my board. I’m not positive if Zion and Clarke can play together, but I’d be excited to find out.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

Predicted pick — Jarrett Culver My pick — De’Andre Hunter

It feels like this will be Jarrett Culver, if he’s still there, and it makes sense. Culver has a chance to be great, and he’s already really good. I would’ve taken Culver for Cleveland with my picks too if he were there, but De’Andre Hunter is a solid consolation prize.

6. Phoenix Suns

Predicted pick — De’Andre Hunter My pick — Cam Reddish

The Suns are an interesting pick because every Phoenix fan on Twitter seems absolutely convinced they need to trade the pick, apparently for veteran help. I don’t get it. This team needs smart wing players that can defend and shoot, and they’re in a great spot to grab one to play next to Mikal Bridges. That’s the best way to maximize the Booker-Ayton partnership.

7. Chicago Bulls

Predicted pick — Coby White My pick — R.J. Barrett

Everyone has had Coby White locked in as the Bulls pick for so long it almost feels like it can’t be true. I do feel like the Bulls could be a wildcard on draft night and maybe surprise people with a Reddish or Sekou pick. In this mock, I hilariously gave my own hometown team a player I don’t believe in to share the handling duties with another guy I’ve never liked. Barrett and LaVine might make me give up on the Bulls for good.

8. Atlanta Hawks

Predicted pick — Cam Reddish My pick — Grant Williams

The Atlanta Hawks control the draft. They own picks 8, 10, 17, 35, 41, and 44, and there’s zero chance they keep all six picks. I’d expect them to move all over the board instead. There’s a lot of rumors of them trying to move up in the top-10, and while I hate trading up for most teams in this draft, Atlanta has the ammo and can add what would be their top non-Zion guy in the draft (Morant, Barrett, or Garland would never fit) so I get it. My personal wish would be for them to stay put in the top 10 and grab one of Culver, Hunter, or Reddish at 8 and then Grant Williams at 10. I have no expectation Williams will go this high but I would LOVE to see him in Atlanta where the team is building Warriors East and Hawks GM Travis Schlenk knows how to put Grant into the Draymond role. I do think that’s a realistic pick possibility at #17.

9. Washington Wizards

Predicted pick — Sekou Doumbouya My pick — Goga Bitadze

The Wizards seem to be a complete wildcard. They don’t have a GM and are basically a one-man team, so the pick can be anything but shooting guard. The chances of them taking an international mystery man they don’t have the team to scout properly are probably pretty low, but your guess is as good as mine in Washington. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them trade out of this pick if they get a decent offer.

10. Atlanta Hawks

Predicted pick — Nassir Little My pick — Matisse Thybulle

The Hawks have been rumored to trade up and down from this #10 pick, which leads you to believe there’s no one here they like. Maybe that’s smoke and mirrors and there’s a guy they love here like Brandon Clarke or Nassir. Trading down makes very little sense since they already have so many picks. My dream for Atlanta would be a wing at 8, then Grant Williams and Matisse Thybulle at 10 and 17 in either order. It’s a totally realistic outcome and would give them some incredible high-IQ defenders to play with the glut of offensive talent already in tow. There’s so much Atlanta can do here, and I’m really excited to see how they want to build around Trae Young on draft night.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves

Predicted pick — Brandon Clarke My pick — P.J. Washington

As any good Minnesota fan, I am extremely pessimistic heading into draft night. The team is rumored to trade up for Darius Garland or Sekou Doumbouya, which I would double hate both for the trade-up and for the target, or to stay put and carry through on a promise to Rui Hachimura the team apparently made at the Combine, before putting together its current management team. Sure. For now, let me dream one last 24 hours of Brandon Clarke pairing with Karl-Anthony Towns in one of the best fits in the entire draft and the solution to all our defensive problems.

12. Charlotte Hornets

Predicted pick — Rui Hachimura My pick — Darius Garland

Look, Charlotte loves to draft upperclassmen from blue blood teams, and if any team really made a promise to Hachimura, the Hornets seem dumb enough to have done so. Speaking of dumb, there’s no way Kemba Walker is staying in Charlotte, right? Hey Kemba, you can stay here as the greatest Hornet of all time and make some extra money languishing on one of the worst, most forgettable teams in the league OR you can live in L.A. for max money and play on a title contender with LeBron and Brow. Tough choice!

13. Miami Heat

Predicted pick — Kevin Porter Jr. My pick — Nickeil Alexander-Walker

It shows how much I believe in Miami’s infrastructure that I’m perfectly fine letting them take KPJ, Nassir Little, or any of the other developmental guys here that I want no part of in the top 10. Miami knows how to patiently develop young players and build their strengths, and I’ll probably feel better about whoever they pick tomorrow than I feel about that guy today.

14. Boston Celtics

Predicted pick — Jaxson Hayes My pick — Jontay Porter

Well, I was hoping Jontay Porter could learn under Al Horford for a year, but it looks like that ship has sailed. My, how the tides have changed in Boston. One year ago we thought they were set up for a decade, with the asset cupboard stocked. Now the team is basically just Smart, Tatum, Brown, and an overpriced Hayward everyone seems to hate, and the only pick of value is the future Memphis one. Looks like it’s time for Boston to restock the cupboard with 14, 20, and 22. This feels like a year to take a deep breath, grow the youth, and step back for a season.

15. Detroit Pistons

Predicted pick — Nickeil Alexander-Walker My pick — Coby White

Most mocks predict a wing here, but I think Luke Kennard is a much bigger part of Detroit’s future than Reggie Jackson. Coby and Luke never played each other in college, but the Tobacco Road rivalry would be fun either way.

HALFTIME BREAK!!

I wrote around 1000 words on each of my top 50 or so prospects in the draft and grouped them into the five traditional positions. Be sure to check out these links below if you want to learn more about any of these players: point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards, and centers.

16. Orlando Magic

Predicted pick — Romeo Langford My pick — Talen Horton-Tucker

I was thisclose to just taking Talen Horton-Tucker with both picks here. I mean, could THT *be* more Orlando Magic? No team loves weird, talented Gumby dudes with no clear position or discernible basketball skills more than the Magic. I actually really like Horton-Tucker, so I hope the Magic don’t take him. Remember how I said I’ll like any player the Heat draft more after the draft than before? The opposite will be true with Orlando.

17. Atlanta Hawks

Predicted pick — Goga Bitadze My pick — Chuma Okeke

This spot is impossible in any mock because the Hawks would have already added two players and may well have made a trade. If Atlanta does keep all three picks, my expectation would be one top wing prospect, one 3+D emphasis on the D guy, and the third pick some sort of big man. I’m fascinated by which type of big man they think fits their team best. Many mocks have them taking Jaxson Hayes. Here I give them Goga Bitadze, and with my personal picks, I opted for Grant Williams earlier. By the way, if we want to get greedy, the Hawks could very plausibly leave round one with Reddish, Jaxson, and Grant, then still pick up Thybulle, Okeke, and let’s say Jontay Porter in round two. #NBATwitter asplode.

18. Indiana Pacers

Predicted pick — P.J. Washington My pick — Nassir Little

The Pacers are another team that will make me feel better about a player after he’s drafted there. I’m especially intrigued by the Nassir Little fit, if he slides. He’s the sort of guy I could see benefiting from a slide that takes the expectations off and gives him a patient team and a smaller role early. Indiana has an uncanny penchant for finding great wing sleepers: Danny Granger, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard, all teens Pacers picks.

19. San Antonio Spurs

Predicted pick — Bol Bol My pick — Kevin Porter Jr.

The Spurs used to be one of those teams that made me feel good about players, but then they went out and drafted Lonnie Walker and Chimezie Metu and traded for DeMar DeRozan last summer. I know San Antonio likes to zig when everyone zags, but zigging back to the 90s and inefficient basketball seems… sub-optimal. San Antonio’s two picks at 19 and 29 feel like complete wildcards, so I’m using them to swing wildly at upside. Meet Gregg Popovich’s newest international big man project.

20. Boston Celtics

Predicted pick — Talen Horton-Tucker My pick — Jaxson Hayes

There are so many raw but talented wings in this class I’d love to see work with Boston’s development team, and it sure seems like one or two of them will end up on the team. I don’t see the Celtics panicking themselves into Ty Jerome or Carsen Edwards here just to get a point guard. Could they trade two or all three of the picks up for Darius Garland? Maybe, but how high do 14, 20, and 22 get you? Kevin Pelton’s pick calculator says it’s enough to jump up to #2 but I don’t buy it, even in this weak draft.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder

Predicted pick — Keldon Johnson My pick — Keldon Johnson

The question of Keldon or Herro seems a lot about team fit. Herro can do more offensively but also requires the offense to be built around what he can do, running around screens for five seconds to get to his spot. I don’t see that fitting as well in OKC, while Johnson is a floor raiser on both ends.

22. Boston Celtics

Predicted pick — Tyler Herro My pick — Sekou Doumbouya

I am out of things to say about the Celtics, though I do think they would be an interesting fit for Sekou Doumbouya if he does have to go in the first. Boston is a quiet winner in the Mike Conley deal, by the way. The Memphis pick is top-6 protected next summer, and the Grizzlies will definitely be bad enough to keep it, and then it’s unprotected in 2021. That pick is JUICY.

23. Memphis Grizzlies

Predicted pick — Darius Bazley My pick — Tyler Herro

Speaking of Conley, Memphis owns this pick now and that deal happened about two picks before I was writing this up but well after I had already made selections for every team. I have genuinely no idea what Memphis goes after here, or if they’ve even scouted guys in this range. Don’t be surprised to see a reach pick here or a trade out for a future first. If they stay put, a swing on upside makes sense. The cupboard is pretty bare outside of Morant and Jaren Jackson, since the Grizzlies waited so long to trade Conley and Gasol that they walked away with… Grayson Allen and this pick. Woof.

24. Philadelphia 76ers

Predicted pick — Cam Johnson My pick — Ty Jerome

Both Sixers picks changed here with the Utah trade. I didn’t have Cam Johnson falling here before, but now I do. In my own picks, Philly loses out on Herro and settles for Jerome instead. Let’s just say this team needs shooting.

25. Portland Trail Blazers

Predicted pick — Grant Williams My pick — Isaiah Roby

Grant Williams to Portland is one of the better fits in the draft, with his ability to set screens for Dame and C.J. and then roll downhill in the Draymond role.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers

Predicted pick — KZ Okpala My pick — Darius Bazley

This is the Cavs taking a home run swing on upside.

27. Brooklyn Nets

Predicted pick — Matisse Thybulle My pick — DaQuan Jeffries

The Nets could be another sneaky Grant Williams fit if he falls, pairing him with Kyrie Irving. Otherwise it feels like this team just needs wings and forwards to slot into a deep rotation, and both of these guys do the trick.

28. Golden State Warriors

Predicted pick — Nic Claxton My pick — Dylan Windler

Claxton reminds me a lot defensively of Kevon Looney, and that’s a compliment if you’ve been paying attention. I loved Windler to the Warriors even before the injuries but love him even more now. It is absolutely imperative that the Warriors get someone that can play big minutes immediately here.

29. San Antonio Spurs

Predicted pick — Carsen Edwards My pick — Nic Claxton

I don’t even feel like these are the Spurs anymore. I used to give San Antonio all the nerdy value picks in mock drafts. Now I give them leftover players like they’re the Pistons or Wizards. Come back to us, Spurs.

30. Milwaukee Bucks

Predicted pick — Mfiondu Kabengele My pick — Bol Bol

I would guess Milwaukee trades out of this pick to get off some salary, and a lot of teams should be taking that deal. This is a super valuable pick with such a low salary locked in for four years. If the Bucks do keep it, both Kabengele and Bol are intriguing as fits in the Brook Lopez role, protecting the rim and shooting threes.

Best remaining on the board after predicted picks:

Jontay Porter Chuma Okeke Isaiah Roby Dylan Windler Ty Jerome DaQuan Jeffries

Best remaining on the board after my own picks:

Rui Hachimura Romeo Langford KZ Okpala John Konchar Iggy Brazdeikis

Not surprisingly, I like the board a lot better after the “predicted picks” since a lot of my favorites don’t look likely to go into the first round. You can think of that list as some of my favorite value plays in the draft: Jontay, Okeke, and Roby, along with Brandon Clarke and Grant Williams in particular.

Okay, enough mock drafting for one season! Let’s do the real thing in 24 hours. Come back tomorrow for one final big picture draft preview! Until then, here’s a bunch of links to my other draft stuff for anything you’ve missed so far… ■

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