The 2019 NBA Draft is upon us, and BOY has there been intrigue. The LA Lakers traded their entire future for a chance to get Lebron and now Anthony Davis (and the max-level free agent of their choosing) a title in the short term. The Pelicans then flipped the 4th overall pick, which they received in compensation for Anthony Davis, to Atlanta for the 57th overall pick and Solomon Hill. That gives Atlanta selections number 4, 8, and 10 this year. If even 2 of those picks land, they have the potential to build a core of young stars around those 3 top-10 picks and last years’ top 5 pick Trae Young.
Due to time restraints, I have overanalyzed the top 10 selections in this year's draft, and I will update whether these were right or wrong as the draft progresses. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the 2019 Overthought NBA Mock Draft. Welcome back from the 4 month hiatus.
Pick: 1
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Needs: Someone to make Anthony Davis stay in town.
Selection: Forward Zion Williamson (Duke). Williamson has been the de facto #1 overall pick in this draft since pick #60 in 2018. Instead of talking about whether he will transition well from college to the pros, here's a video of every dunk Zion threw down for Duke .
Pick: 2
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Needs: The Grizzlies need a ballhandler with the ability to make plays, pass the ball, and score to galvanize the team.
Selection: Guard Ja Morant (Murray State). Morant averaged 24.5 points and 10 assists for minnows Murray State in 2019, while providing the leadership to drag the Racers to the Second Round of the NCAA tournament. He and RJ Barrett are the two best players in the draft after Zion, but Barrett is the better fit in Memphis.
Pick: 3
Team: New York Knicks
Needs: New York needs a piece that has the potential to both attract max-level free agents and play the lead role if James Dolan’s summer recruitment fails.
Selection: Guard RJ Barrett (Duke)
Pick: 4
Team: Atlanta Hawks (via heist from the Los Angeles Lakers via heist from the New Orleans Pelicans)
Needs: A perimeter scorer who can space the floor for Zion and the package of newly minted Pelicans.
Selection: Guard Deandre Hunter (Virginia). Hunter was a 3-and-D wing and a vocal leader on the National Champion Virginia Cavaliers team. He shot 44% from 3 and played great defense within UVA’s packline squad. Atlanta traded up specifically to nab Hunter, according to sources. He could be the next great two-way combo guard for an Atlanta team that could desperately use one.
Pick: 5
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Needs: The Cavs have been in full rebuild mode ever since Lebron left a little under a year ago. They just need more solid pieces upon which to build respectability.
Selection: Guard Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech). Culver was the Red Raiders’ best player on their way to an overtime loss to UVA in the NCAA Championship. The 6-5 sophomore scored 18.5 points, 6.4 boards, and 3.7 assists a game in the highly competitive Big 12. He projects as a do-it-all scoring guard at the top level and could team up well with Colin Sexton to drag a young Cavs team from the quagmire.
Pick: 6
Team: Phoenix Suns
Needs: A guard to balance out the frontcourt-heavy approach Phoenix has taken to the draft in the past few years
Selection: Guard Darius Garland (Vanderbilt). Garland is essentially Steph Curry Lite. He shot 3’s at a ridiculous 47.8% in college and dished 3 assists a game while scoring 16.2 PPG. Unfortunately, injury limited him to only 5 games in his college career. While drafting him is a risk due to small sample size, Phoenix will not contend for awhile and has time to wait for him to develop.
Pick: #7
Team: Chicago Bulls
Needs: The Bulls future is built around small(ish) guys scoring at the rim and large guys scoring from the perimeter. They need more effective floor spacing and boy could they ever use some defense.
Selection: Guard Coby White (North Carolina). White spent his single season in Chapel Hill running the Tar Heels prolific offense. White is 6-5 and projects as an excellent combo guard in the pros, scoring 16.1 PPG with an effective FG% of 51.6% and 4.1 assists per game, compared to 2.7 turnovers. His ballhandling could provide a lot of opportunities for Chicago’s gifted scorers.
Pick: #8
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Needs: Atlanta’s frontcourt is pretty much a disaster, John Collins excluded. They need someone else to spread the scoring around and give Trae Young an extra outlet if he shoots as putridly as he began his career.
Selection: Forward Cam Reddish (Duke). Reddish often played third-fiddle to Zion and RJ Barrett at Duke, but proved himself a great player when given the chance. He scored 13 PPG in a lineup where he was rarely the primary option, and he is not a shabby defender either. His 33% from downtown could use some work, but he has the potential to be a scoring 6th man early in his career.
Pick: #9
Team: Washington Wizards
Needs: Can you draft John Wall’s health? No? A competent front office? No? A big man who can score? Ok actually maybe.
Selection: Center/Forward Sekou Doumbouya (Limoges CSP). Doumbouya is a raw prospect from the Eurobasket region of the world who has the ability to become the next Pascal Siakam: A big, physical sidekick from overseas. The Wizards have time to develop him into that.
Pick: #10
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Needs: Big man who score basket
Selection: Forward Brandon Clarke (Gonzaga). Clarke showed real promise as a part of the twin pillars of Gonzaga’s Final Four team. He scored 16 points and grabbed 8 boards a game in his junior season and looks to be a player capable of scoring from the block on a pro team.
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