2019 NBA Mock Draft
First-Round Mock Draft By Jack Jennings
New Orleans Pelicans—Zion Williamson
Size: 6’7”, 285 lbs
Age: 18
Position: PF
College: Duke Blue Devils
The Pelicans take the best player available to be a cornerstone. The team could also end up surrounding Williamson with a talented supporting cast following the blockbuster trade of Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Memphis Grizzlies—Ja Morant
Size: 6’3”, 175 lbs
Age: 19
Position: PG
College: Murray State Racers
The Grizzlies haven’t been shy about their plans for this pick. Morant showed off his star potential in during the NCAA Tournament, as a guy that could do just about everything at a high level. There will be plenty of high expectations for Morant and his pairing with 2018 first-round pick Jaren Jackson Jr.
New York Knicks—R.J. Barrett
Size: 6’7”, 202 lbs
Age: 19
Position: SF
College: Duke Blue Devils
Barrett has been very vocal about his intention to be drafted by the Knicks, even going as far as refusing to take part in pre-draft workouts with any other team. It’s a bold move, but Knicks fans should be excited for a prospect who actually wants to play for them. Barrett would be both a safe and smart bet for a team that continues to struggle to find success.
New Orleans Pelicans—Jarrett Culver
Size: 6’7”, 194 lbs
Age: 20
Position: SG
College: Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Pelicans failed to surround Anthony Davis with enough help, but they shouldn’t have the same problem with Zion Williamson (right away) given the bounty of players and picks that they received from the Lakers in exchange for their All-Star big man. Culver is a talented scorer who should be able to step in and make an immediate impact with the team. Culver is likely to start his career coming off the bench, but with his versatility, he could see playing time at either wing spot as well as at the point. Culver is a high-potential prospect who should be able to develop well alongside Williamson for years to come.
Cleveland Cavaliers—De’Andre Hunter
Size: 6’7”, 225 lbs
Age: 21
Position: SF
College: Virginia Cavaliers
New Cavaliers’ head coach John Beilein would probably like to have a better chance at R.J. Barrett, a player he heavily recruited for his Michigan Wolverines last year (before Barrett chose Duke), but Hunter is a solid fit for what Beilein wants in a player, and is more likely than Barrett to be available for the fifth-overall pick. Over the past few seasons, Beilein’s Wolverines emphasized a heavy 3-point attack and a particularly potent defense. Hunter made 43.8% of his 3-pointers at UVA last season, and is regarded as a top defensive prospect in the draft. Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland is an option here as well, but the Cavs already have a young ball-dominant, scoring guard with Collin Sexton.
Phoenix Suns—Coby White
Size: 6’5”, 191 lbs
Age: 19
Position: PG
College: North Carolina Tar Heels
The Suns seem determined to add a talented point guard. White is an athletic finisher at the rim with the potential to be a talented shooter at the next level. The Lakers—Pelicans trade could push the Suns to consider Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland here, but they still appear to be more interested White.
Chicago Bulls—Darius Garland
Size: 6’2”, 175 lbs
Age: 19
Position: PG
College: Vanderbilt Commodores
Garland considers himself to be the best point guard in the draft and the Bulls might be lucky enough to acquire his confidence and talent. Garland could be considered among the top shooters in this class, and certainly displayed his shot creating ability and accuracy in his one year with the Commodores. Unfortunately, Garland’s season consisted of just five games due to a season-ending meniscus surgery. It may have been a small sample size, but it showed enough of Garland’s skill to warrant his selection as a top-ten pick. If the Cavaliers and Suns pass on Garland, this is his most likely landing spot.
Atlanta Hawks—Cam Reddish
Size: 6’8”, 208 lbs
Age: 19
Position: SF
College: Duke Blue Devils
Reddish is one of the biggest question marks in the draft. The third member of Duke’s three 5-star freshman in this class showed flashes of his immense talent throughout the season but never became the dominant shooting force they expected. When Zion Williamson went down with a knee injury in late February, it was expected that the increased touches would be beneficial to Reddish, but he continued to produce up-and-down performances for the rest of the season. The Hawks need to find a replacement for starting small forward Taurean Prince who they sent to the Nets earlier in the off-season. Reddish has all the tools to be a star in the NBA, but he needs to develop more consistency with his shot especially given his dedication to shooting from beyond the arc.
Washington Wizards—Sekou Doumbouya
Size: 6’9”, 209 lbs
Age: 18
Position: PF
Country: France
Team: Limoges
The Wizards could be the next team in line for a long rebuild. Point guard John Wall has struggled to stay healthy the past few seasons, shooting guard Bradley Beal’s name continues to be thrown around as a tradable asset, and the signing of former star center Dwight Howard has proven to be more hinderance than help. As the Wizards eye a rebuild, they may find themselves drawn to the youngest player in the draft in Doumbouya. Doumbouya is a raw, athletic forward who has shown the potential to develop a reliable jump shot, a necessity in today’s game. With the Wizards, Doumbouya would have the opportunity to earn some much needed experience early in his career, but wouldn’t necessarily be pressured to produce at a high level immediately.
Atlanta Hawks—Jaxson Hayes
Size: 6’11”, 220 lbs
Age: 19
Position: C
College: Texas Longhorns
With their second pick, the Hawks could look to add a young center to pair and develop with John Collins. Hayes is a very capable finisher around and above the rim, but he lacks the outside shooting of a modern-day center like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. Defensively, he’s an aggressive shot blocker and displays above-average talent as a perimeter defender. His rebounding numbers appear shockingly low, but he has the potential to grow in this area as he gains experience. The Hawks’ current starting center, Alex Len, hasn’t lived up to his status as the fifth-overall pick in the 2013 Draft, and with Len projected to enter the 2020 offseason as an unrestricted free agent, the Hawks may look to pick up his potential replacement in Hayes.
Minnesota Timberwolves— Rui Hachimura
Size: 6’8”, 230 lbs
Age: 21
Position: PF
College: Gonzaga Bulldogs
Hachimura is an all-around talented player who proved to be a reliable high-volume scorer for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in 2019. He also has the versatility to play either forward spot and see time as a small-ball center. Drafting Hachimura would give the Timberwolves an invaluable contributor whether they want him to start immediately or come off the bench.
Charlotte Hornets—Kevin Porter Jr.
Size: 6’6”, 216 lbs
Age: 19
Position: SG
College: Southern California Trojans
The Hornets continue to search for a talented backcourt partner to pair with Kemba Walker (assuming Walker returns), and Porter could be the next player up on that list. Porter is a very talented player with a repertoire of flashy moves. He gave glimpses of the star he could be, but injuries and off-court issues kept Porter from being as good as he could have been at the college level. Porter needs to improve on his free throw shooting after converting only 52.2% of his chances at the line. He’ll also need to answer questions about his maturity after getting suspended indefinitely during the season for “personal conduct issues.” He is a risky prospect with a high ceiling who might just be right for a Hornets team that continues to look for answers.
Miami Heat—Bol Bol
Size: 7’2”, 208 lbs
Age: 19
Position: C
College: Oregon Ducks
The Heat could stand to make improvements to their backcourt personnel; however, Miami is in desperate need to add an offensive star. Bol only appeared in nine games for Oregon last season before suffering a season-ending foot fracture, but in those few games Bol established himself as a scoring threat from anywhere on the court. Bol started at center in college, but the Heat could use him as a tall stretch four like Chicago’s Lauri Markkanen or Dallas’s Kristaps Porzingis, and play him next to center Bam Adebayo. Drafting Bol is a risky move considering his potential for injury, but it’s a move that could pay off and provide the Heat with their best scoring big man since Chris Bosh.
Boston Celtics—Nassir Little
Size: 6’6”, 224 lbs
Age: 19
Position: SF
College: North Carolina Tar Heels
Little failed to live up to expectations in his one season with the Tar Heels, but developed into a solid contributor. Little has the tools to be a good player at the next level, but he’s raw and could use some time to develop his game. The Celtics can offer Little time to grow behind their talent on the wings and, given some time, could come out with a legitimate star in Little.
Detroit Pistons—Romeo Langford
Size: 6’6”, 215 lbs
Age: 19
Position: SG
College: Indiana Hoosiers
As Dwane Casey enters his second season at the helm of the Pistons, he needs to make the most out of his first first-round pick with the team. Langford is a talented, high-volume scorer with a lot of success finishing at the rim. A torn thumb ligament in his right hand limited his ability as a shooter but when he’s healthy, he should be more than reliable from beyond the arc. The Pistons need more contributions out of their backcourt and Langford could be a solid piece going forward. Langford could potentially land with the Hornets or the Heat as well, among other teams.
Orlando Magic—Tyler Herro
Size: 6’6”, 192 lbs
Age: 19
Position: SG
College: Kentucky Wildcats
The Magic made the move for former first overall pick Markelle Fultz last season, but one move may not solve their issues in the backcourt, especially given the sloppy start to Fultz’s career. Herro is a solid shooter and an effective ball-handler, which should allow him to earn time at both guard spots early in his career. If the Magic lose Terrence Ross this offseason, then Herro could be the hero for the Magic going forward. He should be expected to do a lot of good things for Orlando.
Atlanta Hawks—P.J. Washington
Size: 6’8”, 230 lbs
Age: 20
Position: PF
College: Kentucky Wildcats
If the Hawks spend an earlier pick on Reddish, as expected, they could use this pick on some Reddish insurance. Washington was a consistent all-around player for the Wildcats over the past two seasons. His size should also give him the versatility to spend time at both forward spots, and the ability to spell starting power forward John Collins.
Indiana Pacers—Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Size: 6’4”, 204 lbs
Age: 20
Position: SG
College: Virginia Tech Hokies
The Pacers made the playoffs as a fifth-seed last season, but lacked the firepower to make a deep run without star shooting guard Victor Oladipo, who they lost in January to a torn ACL. Indiana took another hit to their backcourt with the news that Tyreke Evans was receiving a two-year ban from the NBA. This leaves the Pacers in desperate need of two-guard help, and they could find that in Alexander-Walker. Alexander-Walker is a bit of a streaky shooter but he’s capable of making shots from any range and he spent time at point guard, which could allow him to see time at that spot in the same way that Oladipo does.
San Antonio Spurs—Goga Bitadze
Size: 6’11”, 245 lbs
Age: 19
Position: C
Country: Serbia
Team: KK Mega Leks
Bitadze lacks the athleticism of a modern NBA center but he can handle the hard work of a traditional center by grabbing rebounds, setting screens and blocking/altering shots on defense. There is an expectation that Bitadze will add a more reliable outside shot as he continues to grow. Bitadze is considered the second-best international prospect in the draft and it isn’t far-fetched to say that the Spurs have had quite a bit of success in developing international players under head coach Gregg Popovich.
Boston Celtics—Brandon Clarke
Size:6’8”, 207 lbs
Age: 22
Position: PF
College: Gonzaga Bulldogs
Clarke is an elite shot blocker who could be long gone by the time this pick comes around. He is a talented finisher under the rim and an aggressive, high-motor player on both sides of the ball. He puts in the effort, but his unreliable outside scoring could be a bit of a concern early in his career. Over time, it wouldn’t be hard to see Clarke carving out a role like Draymond Green, as an elite defender in the post with the ability to score and make plays on offense.
Oklahoma City Thunder—Cameron Johnson
Size: 6’9”, 205 lbs
Age: 23
Position: SF
College: North Carolina Tar Heels
Johnson is considered one of the top shooters in the draft and his five seasons in the college ranks likely make him the most experienced player available as well. The Thunder are likely looking to add more efficient outside scoring and given Johnson’s experience, he should be expected to be an immediate contributor despite the likelihood of being a late first-round pick.
Boston Celtics—Carsen Edwards
Size: 6’0”, 199 lbs
Age: 21
Position: PG
College: Purdue Boilermakers
The Celtics are expected to lose Kyrie Irving (to the Nets) this offseason, and they could lose Terry Rozier too, so the team will likely need to replenish talent at the point. Edwards was an elite scorer for the Boilermakers and put on a show during the tournament with two 42-point games. Edwards wasn’t much of a facilitator in college and his efficiency needs to improve as a shooter, but he has promise to be an elite scorer in the NBA.
Memphis Grizzlies—Ty Jerome
Size: 6’5”, 194 lbs
Age: 21
Position: PG
College: Virginia Cavaliers
The Grizzlies traded star point guard Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz for Jae Crowder, Kyle Corver, Grayson Allen and two first-round picks including this one. Jerome is an instinctual, playmaking guard. His college statistics aren’t incredibly impressive but it’s safe to say that the Virginia Cavaliers wouldn’t be celebrating their tournament victory without his contributions. His ability to lead the offense was paramount to Virginia’s success and he could operate in a similar way for Memphis, which is looking to fill the void left by Conley.
Philadelphia 76ers—Dylan Windler
Size: 6’8” 196 lbs
Age: 22
Position: SG
College: Belmont Bruins
With Ben Simmons as their cornerstone, the 76ers will need to continue to add shooters around him to get the most out of his abilities. As a player out of Belmont, Windler tends to be an overlooked prospect but he’s a talented, consistent shooter who flashed NBA-range from beyond the arc. He is very good in catch-and-shoot situations, while showing the potential to be an above average shot creator on his own. He should be a valuable addition to a team that wants to add a long-range threat to its offense.
Portland Trail Blazers—Admiral Schofield
Size: 6’6”, 241 lbs
Age: 22
Position: SF
College: Tennessee Volunteers
Schofield showed strong progression over his four seasons with the Volunteers. He started as a solid contributor and grew into a star by his senior year. His passion, intelligence, and other intangibles make Schofield a hard prospect to pass up, especially in combination with his athleticism and shooting talent. As the Trail Blazers look to add to talent on the wing, Schofield could be a valuable option at either spot in the lineup.
Cleveland Cavaliers—Bruno Fernando
Size: 6’10”, 237 lbs
Age: 20
Position: C
College: Maryland Terrapins
As Tristan Thompson enters the final year of his current contract, the Cavaliers could look to draft his potential replacement with this pick. Fernando is a raw, athletic, shot-blocking big man who also excelled as a rebounder for the Terrapins. Fernando lacks a consistent outside shot but his talent in the post could make it worth his selection here.
Brooklyn Nets—Mfiondu Kabengele
Size: 6’10”, 256 lbs
Age: 21
Position: PF
College: Florida State Seminoles
Looking at Kabengele’s stat sheet, the number of starts that he made really stands out. Kabengele played in 71 games throughout his two years with the Seminoles and made a grand total of zero starts, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Kabengele was still a major impact player for Florida State thanks to his size, athleticism, and reliable shooting from mid-range as a big man. He is still a raw prospect and needs to improve as both a post scorer and on defense, but the potential is there. Given the Nets rise last season, Kabengele would likely only see playing time in a reserve role as a rookie, but that shouldn’t be a problem for Kabengele, as he had plenty of experience contributing off the bench.
Golden State Warriors—Luguentz Dort
Size: 6’4”, 222 lbs
Age: 20
Position: SG
College: Arizona State Sun Devils
For the first time in long time, the Warriors are entering the offseason with more questions than answers and a future full of uncertainty. The Warriors could lose both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson this offseason, but even if they re-sign, the injuries they suffered during the NBA Finals are expected to keep them sidelined for most, if not all, of the 2019-2020 season. They still have two-time MVP and face of the franchise in Steph Curry, but they’re expected to be without the services of two of their top three scorers for at least one year, not to mention their fourth highest scorer, DeMarcus Cousins, is likely to leave during free agency. At this point in the draft, Dort could be the top available scorer. As a true freshman, Dort led the Sun Devils in scoring and proved to be an offensive threat from anywhere on the floor, but he needs to improve his consistency as a shooter.
San Antonio Spurs—Matisse Thybulle
Size: 6’5”, 200 lbs
Age: 22
Position: SF
College: Washington Huskies
Thybulle is highly regarded for his defensive prowess. He needs to become a more consistent scorer but his ability to generate steals and protect the rim should help him make an early impact in the NBA. The Spurs have always put a high value on defense and Thybulle fits that mold.
Detroit Pistons—Grant Williams
Size: 6’7”, 240 lbs
Age: 20
Position: PF
College: Tennessee Volunteers
Last season, Williams improved in nearly every statistical category en route to SEC Player of the Year honors for the second season in a row. He’s not a great shooter, but he has the bones to develop a consistent outside shot and he’s capable of finding ways to score around the rim and inside the arc at a high level. Williams should be able to play multiple spots from small forward to a small-ball center.
