Zion Williamson is a huge talent, but hardly the only intrigue or storyline in Thursday’s NBA draft at Barclays Center.
Will the Knicks hold onto the third pick, and if so, will they take RJ Barrett as expected or Darius Garland? After the Pelicans got the No. 4 pick in the Anthony Davis deal, do they trade it away for a veteran?
The Hawks and Celtics each have three first-rounders, and are looking to make a late deal, like Memphis did in unloading veteran Mike Conley on Wednesday. What moves will they make, and what will the Nets come away with picking at No. 27 and again at No. 31?
1. New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson
Duke, F, 6-7, 272
A generational talent. The most-hyped prospect since Anthony Davis, the star he’ll replace as the face of the Pelicans. This no-brainer pick takes as long as it takes David Griffin to sprint over and hand in the envelope.
2. Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant
Murray State, PG, 6-3, 175
An electrifying talent with legit star potential. Bouncy, with great vision and tons of upside, he allowed the Grizzlies go out and turbo-charge their rebuild by trading Conley to Utah for a king’s ransom.
3. New York Knicks
RJ Barrett
Duke, SG/SF, 6-7, 202
After reports the Knicks turned down Atlanta’s offer of picks No. 8 and 10 for this spot, expect them to stand pat. They hosted Garland in a last-minute workout Wednesday, but expect them to take Barrett, a prototypical wing who seems born for the Garden spotlight, with a dad who played at St. John’s and a mom from Brooklyn.
4. New Orleans Pelicans
De’Andre Hunter
Virginia, SF/PF, 6-7, 225
Griffin has been shopping this pick since he got it, with the Timberwolves, Celtics and Bulls reportedly interested. But if they don’t move it for a veteran, Hunter is a good pick with his versatile defense and 43.8 percent shooting from deep.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland
Vanderbilt, PG, 6-2, 175
He can create, he can shoot off the dribble … but can he coexist with Collin Sexton? That’s the job of John Beilein, who’ll have a host of young players and has to get them in sync with his system.
6. Phoenix Suns
Jarrett Culver
Texas Tech, SG, 6-6, 195
Phoenix is still searching for a veteran point guard, either via trade or free agency. They could deal the pick for one, but if they stand pat Culver could be best-available.
7. Chicago Bulls
Coby White
North Carolina, PG/SG, 6-5, 185
Chicago has a solid frontcourt, and is probably a point guard away from making the playoffs. White could be that player, if he learns to distribute and play under control. Roy Williams gushes over him.
8. Atlanta Hawks
Cam Reddish
Duke, SF, 6-8, 218
The Hawks tried to package this and move up to the Knicks’ No. 3 pick. If they don’t find a trade partner, Reddish looks like a nice wing replacement for Taurean Prince, whom they traded to the Nets.
9. Washington Wizards
Brandon Clarke
Gonzaga, PF, 6-8, 215
Even if the Wizards are intent on holding onto Bradley Beal — ESPN reported they could mull a three-year, $111 million extension — this is a long rebuild after John Wall’s injury. Sekou Doumbouya would be bold, but Clarke is safer and a proven defender for a team that needs that.
10. Atlanta Hawks
Goga Bitadze
Georgia, C, 6-11, 245
Despite John Collins’ presence, Atlanta can use more big men. Bitadze can play both center and also hit from outside, so they should give the Hawks some flexibility if they can’t move up to No. 3 or 4.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
Sekou Doumbouya
France, PF, 6-9, 230
Doumbouya could have top-10 talent. He’s raw — expected for a French prospect who didn’t start playing until he was 12 — but the upside is tantalizing for a Timberwolves team with a brand-new regime.
12. Charlotte Hornets
Jaxson Hayes
Texas, C, 6-11, 220
The Hornets’ offseason is all about whether Michael Jordan can open up the vault enough to keep Kemba Walker. But the Big 12 Freshman of the Year would be a great piece to add, with or without Walker.
13. Miami Heat
Darius Bazley
Princeton HS (Ohio), SF, 6-9, 205
Miami banks on its culture and player development. Kevin Porter Jr. could be tempting here, but the Heat go for Bazley, who skipped college to spend last year training on the advice of agent Rich Paul. He worked out Tuesday for the 76ers, raising questions of a first-round promise.
14. Boston Celtics
Nassir Little
North Carolina, SF, 6-6, 220
The Celtics pick No. 14, 20 and 22, and don’t want to make them all. But if they stand pat a good choice could be Bol Bol or Little, who was inconsistent at UNC but was the MVP of both the McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand games.
15. Detroit Pistons
Rui Hachimura
Gonzaga, SF/PF, 6-8, 230
He’s got the production, the experience and the wingspan at 7-foot-2 to slot in as part of an imposing frontcourt.
16. Orlando Magic
Tyler Herro
Kentucky, SG, 6-5, 195
He can shoot off the dribble and hit over 40 percent from deep. If Markelle Fultz can get right, they can give the Magic much-needed perimeter help, especially if they lose Terrence Ross.
17. Atlanta Hawks
PJ Washington
Kentucky, PF, 6-8, 228
It seems unlikely the Hawks make all three of their first-round picks. But if they keep this one — received from the Nets — Washington is a solid as a stretch four.
18. Indiana Pacers
Keldon Johnson
Kentucky, SG, 6-6, 211
The Pacers could use a point guard, but with Victor Oladipo out for much of next season, an off-guard of Johnson’s ability could provide some valuable minutes.
19. San Antonio Spurs
Kevin Porter Jr.
USC, SG, 6-6, 218
If there’s a team that can rely on its culture to help Porter, it’s San Antonio. Despite a questionable approach and off-court issues, that lottery-worthy talent is worth a flier at this point in the draft.
20. Boston Celtics
Romeo Langford
Indiana, SG, 6-6, 215
The latest Indiana schoolboy legend shot poorly last season, but he played through a torn thumb ligament. Toughness, a 7-foot wingspan and plus rebounding ability could make him attractive.
21. Oklahoma City Thunder
Cam Johnson
North Carolina, SF, 6-9, 210
A savvy offensive player who might be the best shooter in the whole draft, at over 45 percent from deep.
22. Boston Celtics
Bol Bol
Oregon, C, 7-2, 208
If the Celtics make this pick, Bol is too good to pass up, with a 7-2 wingspan and hitting 52 percent from deep. If he can pack on some pounds, he’s a top-10 talent.
23. Memphis Grizzlies
KZ Okpala
Stanford, SG, 6-9, 215
Oozes upside. Could make a nice running mate for Morant in an athletic young backcourt.
24. Philadelphia 76ers
Matisse Thybulle
Washington, SG, 6-5, 200
The Sixers already needed shooting and guard depth, and Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick are free agents. Thybulle brings defense, athleticism and some insurance at off-guard.
25. Portland Trail Blazers
Mfiondu Kabengele
Florida State, F/C, 6-10, 250
Portland center Jusuf Nurkic sustained compound fractures to his left tibia and fibula against the Nets on March 25, and there’s no telling when he’ll be 100 percent. Any early minutes Kabengele gets will help accelerate his growth into a viable backup.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Virginia Tech, SG, 6-6, 205
With a second first-round pick, the Cavs could go for a wing like Louis King or a rim protector like Tacko Fall. But Alexander-Walker is the best available. Think of him as a young Spencer Dinwiddie type.
27. Brooklyn Nets
Luka Samanic
Croatia, PF, 6-10, 215
The Nets’ last three draft picks have been Europeans 6-9 or taller. Expect them to stay on brand, especially considering their need at stretch-four. The Croatian is skilled, versatile, coming off a great game at the NBA combine and — like Dzanan Musa last year — wants no part of being a stash and plans to come over next year.
28. Golden State Warriors
Luguentz Dort
Arizona State, SG, 6-4, 215
Let’s be fair: Right now Warriors fans are thinking about keeping Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. But with both injured, even if they re-sign the Warriors can use perimeter help like Dort.
29. San Antonio Spurs
Louis King
Oregon, SF, 6-9, 205
San Antonio could use another wing, and King is the best on the board.
30. Milwaukee Bucks
Ty Jerome
Virginia, PG/SG, 6-5, 195
The Bucks are all about length and athleticism, but Jerome is a smart winner who gets buckets.
https://nypost.com/2019/06/20/nba-mock-draft-3-0-who-will-knicks-take-when-will-intrigue-really-begin/
2019-06-20 10:29:00Z
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