'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In the NBA, the new league year officially starts with free agency. However, for some, it is the leadup to that period of insanity that really sets the stage for what is to come. The 2019-20 NBA season kicked off on June 20th, 2019 at the NBA Draft.
Following months of constant speculation, talks, and debate, all the hypotheticals go out the window as the 30 NBA teams have made their decisions as to who will be joining their roster in October. Some made long prognosticated picks, others made surprising trades to move up or down and take guys they thought would impact their roster at a position need.
Overall, with the excitement and the player’s stories, it was a life-changing, team changing, and even free agency power shifting draft.
Here were some of the highlight picks of the 2019 NBA Draft Thursday night at the Barclays Center.
#20 Miami Heat (traded to DEN) – Bol Bol (Oregon)
It may be his cool name. It might be the NBA lineage in his last name. It is not 100% certain what is about Bol Bol, but there was something that got tons of fans at the draft, many younger kids, staying late to wait to hear his name called. Fourteen picks into the second round, they got their wish.
Bol Bol, the 7’3” center from the University of Oregon, is headed via a trade with Miami to the Denver Nuggets. He joins the likes of Nikola Jokic within Denver's ranks.
Thanks to his incredible height, scoring in the paint tends to come at ease. If more movement than a slight jump and dunk is needed, Bol Bol is fluid and agile with his feet, even at his length.
With a 7’7” wingspan and 9’7.5” standing reach, getting shots off without fear of blocks also comes at ease and he can hit it from almost anywhere in the interior and from 3. At Oregon, he protected the ball well and made just over 50% of his 3-point attempts and was 76% from the free throw line.
As one would expect he is an excellent rim protector and shot blocker. With two big defenders, the Nuggets could create fear in Western Conference opponents. However, the one weakness and attack point for the opposition that he has is getting into the teeth of the defender. Too often he plays weak on a post-up and that leads to easy baskets for the other team.
ESPN draft analyst Mike Schmitz calls Bol Bol “the only unicorn in the draft not named Zion” and details all these reasons as well for why he is a unique player. If he works on the intensity of his defensive game, he might just be worth the hype he received at draft night.
#19 Golden State Warriors – Eric Paschall, 41st overall pick (Villanova)
One of the lead men on Jay Wright-led Villanova squad was Eric Paschall who will be heading to the San Franciso bay to play with Golden State Warriors.
Whether it be on the offensive or defensive side, Paschall is extremely reliant on his powerful feet to drive through defenses to the basket or to stick with a defender and make a blocking play. When it comes to finishing in the paint or at the rim, he is one of the best in the class, converting 68.2%.
Paschall likes to play hardnose defense, getting into the face of the defender and making his movements difficult. Many of his defensive clips show him surrounding the defender on a double team and taking a steal to the basket.
At times he can be a streaky shooter which is something he needs to work on in order to be a solid forward in the NBA, but he has already made improvements during his senior season. During the season, he shot 35% from the perimeter while averaging 16.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Most of his scoring comes from mid-range and the free throw line where he converts 74.6%.
To add onto all of this, Paschall also has good teammate skills and is okay with sharing the ball with the open man and being the complementary player when the game demands it. If he works enough on his shooting from deep, Paschall could be another beloved player in Golden State.
#18 Philadelphia 76ers (traded to BOS) – Carsen Edwards (Purdue)
The Boston Celtics got an absolute undercover stud at 33 in Purdue’s Carsen Edwards. Edwards was one of the most thrilling players in March Madness and was probably the biggest factor in getting his Boilermakers to an Elite 8 appearance.
He is an extremely athletic player who can move anywhere on the court with the ball, find the open man, knock down shots from the interior and perimeter, there’s nearly nothing he can’t do for a franchise. Edwards' averages for his junior year at Purdue were 24.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Some say his shooting has similarities to Lou Williams and it showed in the Tournament.
Defense could be a concern, but Edwards proved in the tournament that he has room to improve and can improve past the level of college defense. The Boston Celtics will have risks with Edwards - one being whether he will continue his success in the NBA - but with them comes even more rewards.
#17 San Antonio Spurs – Keldon Johnson, 29th overall pick (Kentucky)
Keldon Johnson will have spent one year at the University of Kentucky before entering the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs.
During his freshmen season with the Wildcats, Johnson averaged 13.5 points per game and 5.9 rebounds, making him an average scorer. He likes to attack the paint in a straight-line drive to get the layups in contact or to draw in the defense and open the perimeter for other shooters. From the perimeter, he is a capable shooter.
On the defense, Johnson is tough and competitive, using his 6’9” wingspan and 8’8” standing reach to protect the rim and grab an abundance of rebounds.
The one thing the Spurs will need to work with him on is his streaky shooting and the speed of his release. Johnson himself will need to keep defenders in front of him each time down the floor as well because he can be beaten at times by smaller players with professional instincts.
#16 Portland Trail Blazers – Nassir Little, 25th overall pick (North Carolina)
Before the draft, Nassir Little was projected to go in the top 15, however, in possibly the biggest drop in the draft he was drafted at 25 by the Portland Trail Blazers. As the 2019-20 season begins in October, we shall see how Little responds to all the sleeping teams.
Nassir Little was the second-ranked small forward in the draft rankings, boasting a 6’6” 224-pound frame and a 7’1” wingspan. He has great movement with his feet and speed, allowing him to hustle to the board for rebounds and offensive finishes.
Little’s potential will come out more through his defense than his offense, however. He averaged 9.8 points per game but his shooting in those games was not always fluid. He does not hit a lot of 3-pointers either, but he has a knack for converting his free throws (77% from the line).
Portland saw the value in Nassir Little when 24 other teams didn’t, and he is willing to come in and prove them all wrong. He may have to fill the shoes of Mo Harkless or Al-Farouq Aminu if the Blazers can’t sign them to a new contract.
#15 Philadelphia 76ers (traded to PHX) – Ty Jerome, 24th overall pick (Virginia)
Probably one of the most talked about players in the NCAA Tournament and a key player for the Virginia Cavaliers in their championship run, Ty Jerome is now heading for the Phoenix Suns.
What he lacks in length, height, and athletic metrics, he makes up in his defense and offensive ball handling and movement. In the interior, Jerome is a competitive defender who likes to poke the ball away and push down the court, logging 1.8 steals per 40 minutes.
He is also one of the best pick-and-roll passers in the draft rankings. Any space of the court where a teammate is roaming Jerome can make a pass, even in the tightest of openings.
Don’t be caught off guard thinking he doesn’t shoot the ball either. Jerome is a career 39.2% from 3-point range and is ranked 6th in Division I in catch and shoot efficiency (1.45 points per possession) according to ESPN.
Ty Jerome could be another Devin Booker kind of player for the Suns.
#14 Boston Celtics – Grant Williams, 22nd overall pick (Tennessee)
With the 22nd pick in the NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics selected Grant Williams from the University of Tennessee. Williams is coming off his junior season with the Volunteers which featured an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Like Romeo Langford at 14, Williams can be an all-round player who knows his role and helps his teammates know theirs. When he has the ball in his hands and doesn’t shoot it to average his 18.8 points per game, he reads the defense and reacts accordingly with the passing game.
He is also a fearless defender who will come out to the arc to guard the three or will body up the opposition in the interior making the post-up game difficult. Finally, when he does take the shots, he enjoys the perimeter, knocking down 32.6% from the three-point line.
His few deficiencies are his length and height for a modern big man and his heavy reliance at times to get to the free throw line which might not work as well with NBA officiating. However, in the end, if Al Horford is going to walk away from Boston, Williams may have some shoes to fill.
#13 Brooklyn Nets (traded to NOLA) – Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 17th overall pick (Virginia Tech)
How should one start with Nickeil Alexander-Walker? Well, he has got NBA experience in his family with his relative Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.
As a sophomore at Virginia Tech, he averaged 16.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. In addition, per every 40 minutes of play, or one game, he used his strong defensive instincts to rack up 2.2 steals and 0.6 blocks.
Alexander-Walker is best at ball handling and making plays off the pick and roll, making passes with the left hand and shooting shoots with the right. There are times however when his passing goes askew leading to his 1.39 assist to turnover ratio, so he will need to keep all his passes under control.
One thing he will need to learn in the NBA is how to beat defenders with speed and direction to get around them to the rim when handling the ball. Usually, he will have to bounce the ball out to a teammate if he can’t get that look at the basket.
#12 Boston Celtics – Romeo Langford, 14th overall pick (Indiana)
The Boston Celtics began their draft night by selecting Romeo Langford out of Indiana. As the 3rd best player in his position’s rankings, many are praising Langford for his ideal size and athleticism which can thrive in the NBA.
He is an excellent player with the ball in his hands, operating transition offense and pick-and-rolls and uses his court vision to push the ball out to open teammates.
Overall, Langford isn’t the best player in the world in any category of the game - in other words offense, defense, passing, etc. - but he has something to offer in each making him a good candidate as an all-round player for the Celtics.
#11 Charlotte Hornets – PJ Washington, 12th overall pick (Kentucky)
Though expected to go a little earlier in the draft, PJ Washington of Kentucky was selected 12th by the Charlotte Hornets. According to ESPN rankings, Washington was 5th in his position grouping and 16th in the overall ranking.
As a player picked in the lottery, he does have a few redeeming qualities. Those qualities are big hangs and an over 7-foot wingspan. Combine that with speed and you have a block machine at the 4 (power forward) and even center.
In his sophomore season at Kentucky, Washington averaged 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and held a field goal percentage of 55.
Also high up there is his conditioning levels and athleticism even through injury. This could make him a hardnose player in Charlotte for a team that could use more tenacity and ferocity. PJ Washington will also help to the depth of the forward position which is at times lacking for the Hornets.
#10 Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to PHX) – Cameron Johnson (North Carolina)
After being selected by Minnesota, Cameron Johnson out of UNC will make his home in Phoenix with the Suns. Johnson isn’t as fearsome in his frame as some players like Rui Hachimura, but he still has success at filling defensive holes and forcing the opposition to take more difficult shots.
On the offensive side of things, he averaged 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in his senior year at North Carolina. One thing to watch for is his ability to hit the three and pull up the second the ball hits his hands with his quick release.
Being that he was drafted as a senior from UNC, Johnson’s most favorable quality might be the maturity he displays which will be beneficial when adjusting to the play and fierceness of the NBA. He understands well how to play his position and make the impact play.
#9 Atlanta Hawks – Cam Reddish, 10th overall pick (Duke)
The Dallas Mavericks sent the 10th overall pick to the Atlanta Hawks and with it they selected Duke small forward Cam Reddish, the best available small forward in the draft.
Cam Reddish is listed as a small forward but can play the power forward position as well giving him versatility in his shooting and game. He also has great footwork and can create open space off the dribble or screen.
The Hawks look to combine Hunter and Reddish to form a powerful forward combo to work with the prowess of Trae Young to create good passes and find open shots.
#8 Washington Wizards – Rui Hachimura, 9th overall pick (Gonzaga)
The Gonzaga University Bulldogs have received an increase in media attention and both incoming players and NBA prospects due to their annual dominance in the West Coast Conference and the NCAA Tournament, and now they’ve sent two more prospects to the pros. One of them is Rui Hachimura who will be residing in Washington D.C. next season with the Wizards.
Hachimura is an absolute specimen at 6’9” and 234 pounds and was ranked 7th overall in his position and 20th among draft prospects. As a result of this, his biggest asset is driving through contact and finishing for a 3-point play or getting to the line
From deep he is reluctant to shoot but can make it about 41.7% of the time as his junior stats show. His defense needs a little work, but he certainly will get playing time on a Wizards team bereft of power forwards.
#7 Chicago Bulls – Coby White, 7th overall pick (North Carolina)
The Chicago Bulls were a team lacking a talented point guard and therefore they went and found one in the draft. Ranked at 4th amongst those in his position, Coby White out of North Carolina is a player who likes to have the ball in his hands late in the game where he can thrive. His efficiency isn’t always NBA level, but when he’s hitting shots it’s hard to stop him.
Opposing defenses will need to be keen when guarding White as he can get the ball and shoot it with ease very quickly. He can shoot off the dribble, off a pass and through ball screens.
If he has one weakness, it will be his lack of length which seemed to be a factor in some of his defensive performances. Either way, the Bulls plan on building around White with veterans to up the offensive production and increase the defensive protection.
#6 Phoenix Suns (traded to MIN) – Jarrett Culver, 6th overall pick (Texas Tech)
Early in the draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves did what they needed to do in order to move up and get a top guy that they wanted. After making a trade for the 6th pick with the Phoenix Suns, the Wolves selected Texas Tech shooting guard Jarrett Culver.
Culver, aside from helping lead his team to an NCAA Tournament Championship Game appearance, receives praise for several things. First off, he is a player of NBA size who uses his big frame and powerful legs to drive to the basket and finish at the rim.
Secondly, he is a great two-way player thanks to his ability to play at both the point and the 2 guard, with some potential even for the three. When at the point, he takes pride at generating offense for everybody on the court and looking for passes into the open lanes or spaces. He has great ability to move the ball through pick-and-rolls and over screens.
Not only is he a two-way player because of his offense, but because of his defense as well. In many of his film clippings, Culver can be seen guarding opponents at the 1-3 positions. He is also battling at the rim for rebounds as much as he is on the offensive side.
Scoring wise, Culver loves to make his money in the paint and rack up points with rim-rattling dunks, however, he doesn’t mind taking shots for three. He averaged 18.5 points per game to go along with 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists
For accolades, Culver was named the Big 12 Player of the Year for 2019, a Second Team All-American, and was selected to the First Team All-Big 12 for 2019.
If Jarrett Culver can continue his performance from his standout season in 2018-19, he has potential to be a must watch rookie in the NBA for the 2019-20 season.
#5 Cleveland Cavaliers – Darius Garland, 5th overall pick (Vanderbilt)
With the 5th pick in the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers took Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland. Garland was a prospect for numerous other teams like the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks, but ultimately, he fell to 5 and will join the Cavs.
He brings an extreme amount of wealth offensively. Moving the ball all over the court and through picks, screens, and other tight spaces is his specialty and at times he uses this to find himself quality shot opportunities. When he gets these opportunities, Garland knocks them down at will.
Garland’s speed and competitiveness is another trait that makes him attractive to the Cavs. He uses both to stick to any defender and his frame is a tool for keeping offensive threats away from the rim.
He can go full Steph Curry at times and get trigger happy, but if he can handle NBA defenders and continue to score respectable numbers, he should make Cleveland happy about their decision.
#4 Los Angeles Lakers (traded to ATL) – De'Andre Hunter, 4th overall pick (Virginia)
De’Andre Hunter walked across the stage in a Lakers hat, but as a result of the Anthony Davis trade and New Orleans trading the pick, he is heading to the Atlanta Hawks. Hunter was a member of the Virginia team that won it all in the NCAA Tournament this past March and has had the eyes of draft scouts since.
In his championship season, he averaged 15.2 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 2 assists. Not only does he score prolifically, he also scores efficiently as he hits about 61% of his field goal shots.
Defensively, many scouts consider him the best defender in college basketball, and he has experience guarding some of the best in the NCAA as well. Standing at 222 pounds and having a good frame, Hunter uses both to protect the paint and defend against a post-up.
Some question his long term upside, as he is slightly older than most prospects, and the quality of his jump shot once he enters the NBA, but none of this seemed to bother the Hawks as they told sources he was on their draft list from day one.
#3 New York Knicks – RJ Barrett, 3rd overall pick (Duke)
For the first time in about four years, the New York Knicks fans can finally feel happy about their team’s draft choices the day after and the draftees can fear not being booed as their name is called at MSG in October. After multiple drafts where boos filled the Barclays Center, there were nothing but cheers as the Knicks selected Duke small forward RJ Barrett with the 3rd overall pick.
RJ Barrett has been the subject of Knicks draft discussions since after the lottery when drafting Zion Williamson seemed out of the picture and he was the fans’ pick as well. Along with wanting to play in New York, Barrett’s dad played for the St. John's basketball team years ago.
Aside from being Zion’s teammate at Duke, RJ Barrett has several good qualities which he will bring to Madison Square Garden. He has the speediness to create transitional basketball up and down the court and his ball handling is simply the best at his position.
Averaging 22.6 points per game last season, Barrett uses his size to get open looks close to the arc and in the paint and knocks them down from mid-range. His size also helps him to drive into the paint and take contact for 3-point plays.
Knicks fans are hoping that drafting Barrett is the first step to having a big revamping summer, that he will give players like Kevin Durant a reason to come to the team. What is known for sure is that the Knicks at least have some talented young guys to serve as supplementary players to support a max star.
#2 Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant, 2nd overall pick (Murray State)
As expected at No. 2, the Grizzlies selected Ja Morant from Murray State.
Morant is coming off an excellent season, in which he led his team to the NCAA Tournament and a second-round appearance, and he will need to do even more to bring Memphis back to relevance in the Western Conference.
Some of his greatest strengths are transition offense, which helped him put up 24.5 points per game this past season, passing, and pull up jumpers from inside and out of the arc.
He likes to get into the teeth of the defense and score at the rim, however, when on defense he shows signs of weakness and is prone to getting beat to the rim and when attempting steals. Passing, although a positive, can sometimes be slippery as he likes to be flashy with the ball which can lead to turnovers.
Morant has big shoes to fill in Memphis with the departure of Mike Conley, therefore he will need to be efficient player on both sides of the ball.
#1 New Orleans Pelicans – Zion Williamson, 1st overall pick (Duke)
With the first pick, the Pelicans drafted Duke forward phenom Zion Williamson, an expected decision after they won the first pick in the NBA lottery. Now that their star for the past several years has left for the LA Lakers in Anthony Davis, Williamson comes in with the chance to steal the stardom and make an incredible impact on both ends of the floor for New Orleans Pelicans.
While playing his college ball at Duke, Zion showed everybody his unique athleticism game in and game out. Offensively, he averaged 22.6 points per game with 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Defensively, he is an incredible defender at the glass and can destroy the rebound category every game.
On being drafted No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft, Zion said:
“It doesn’t even seem real.... I’ve been dreaming about this since I was 4.”
In the eyes of both the prognosticators and the fans, Zion Williamson has a great chance to enter the league and become an All-Star caliber player who will turn eyes towards New Orleans. Come October, we shall see.
