By The NBA draft is Thursday and a lot could happen that night from shocking picks to stunning trades. So I’m going to try to do my first mock draft of the first round and give some draft sleepers, draft high risks and possible trade scenarios.
2019 NBA Draft
1) New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson forward from Duke (No Brainer here)
2) Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant point guard from Murray State
3) New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett guard/ forward from Duke *Starts their offseason off on a good note*
4) New Orleans Pelicans (Via the LA Lakers): *Trade this pick to the Atlanta Hawks for the #8 and #10 Picks* So the Atlanta Hawks move up to take Jarrett Culver guard from Texas Tech.
5) Cleveland Cavaliers: De’Andre Hunter forward from Virginia
6) Phoenix Suns: Coby White guard from North Carolina
7) Chicago Bulls: Darius Garland point guard from Vanderbilt
8) New Orleans Pelicans (Via Atlanta Hawks): Cam Reddish forward from Duke
9) Washington Wizards: Rui Hachimura forward from Gonzaga
10) New Orleans Pelicans (Via Atlanta Hawks): Jaxson Hayes center from Texas
11) Minnesota Timberwolves: Brandon Clarke forward from Gonzaga
12) Charlotte Hornets: Bol Bol center from Oregon
13) Miami Heat: Nassir Little forward from North Carolina
14) Boston Celtics (Via Sacramento Kings): *This pick along with the #20 & #22 pick to Houston to acquire Chris Paul* So the Houston Rockets will select Nickeil Alexander-Walker guard from Virginia Tech.
15) Detroit Pistons: Tyler Herro guard from Kentucky
16) Orlando Magic: Mfiondu Kabengele center from Florida State
17) Atlanta Hawks: PJ Washington forward from Kentucky
18) Indiana Pacers: Sekou Doumbouya forward from France
19) San Antonio Spurs: Keldon Johnson guard from Kentucky
20) Houston Rockets (Via Boston Celtics): Romeo Langford guard from Indiana
21) Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Porter Jr guard from USC
22) Houston Rockets (Via Boston Celtics): Cameron Johnson forward from North Carolina
23) Memphis Grizzlies (Via Utah Jazz): Nic Claxton forward/center from Georgia
24) Philadelphia 76ers: Dylan Windler from Belmont
25) Portland Trailblazers: Matisse Thybulle guard from Washington
26) Cleveland Cavaliers (Via Houston Rockets): Ty Jerome guard from Virginia
27) Brooklyn Nets (Via Denver Nuggets): Chuma Okeke forward from Auburn
28) Golden State Warriors: Carsen Edwards guard from Purdue
29) San Antonio Spurs (Via Toronto Raptors): Goga Bitzade center from KK Buducnost
30) Milwaukee Bucks: Bruno Fernando center from Maryland
Sleepers: Bol Bol from Oregon, Romeo Langford from Indiana, Chuma Okeke from Auburn, Admiral Schofield from Tennessee and Shamorie Ponds from St. John’s.
High Risks, Not much reward: Kevin Porter Jr from USC, KZ Okpala from Stanford, Goga Bitzade (International), Brandon Clarke from Gonzaga and Talen Horton-Tucker from Iowa State.
This draft may lack star power but is rich in quality, versatile, high character players who will be crucial to their team’s development. Drafts are normally a crap shoot and this year will be no different especially from the 4th pick on but one of the more exciting nights of NBA will be interesting.