2019 NBA Mock Draft: Second Edition

Here is the second edition of my 2019 NBA Mock Draft. The lottery portion of the draft order will be determined on May 14th, 2019.

1. New York Knicks- Zion Williamson, Power Forward/Center, Duke: Wherever Williamson lands will immediately change the outlook of the franchise's future. Perhaps the best draft prospect since LeBron James, he is very athletic and will provide so much energy on the floor. Winning the Zion Sweepstakes will make the Knicks the favorites to sign Kevin Durant this summer if they aren't already.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ja Morant, Point Guard, Murray State: Morant is someone who's stock has absolutely tore up after a fantastic sophomore season. He certainly has his doubters since he played in the Ohio Valley Conference but he has shown capabilities to be a franchise point guard. If the Cavaliers are the team that winds up the runners up in the Zion Sweepstakes, landing Morant wouldn't be the worst thing in the world as they'd pair him with Collin Sexton in that back court.

3. Phoenix Suns- RJ Barrett, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Duke: Barrett is someone that got overshadowed this year at Duke because of the brilliance of Zion. He is a great athlete, but has to get better with his shot selection and becoming a better defender. Barrett could evolve as the second best all around player from this draft if he lives up to potential as the Suns get a young wing player to go with their young core.

4. Chicago Bulls- Jarrett Culver, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: This is where the draft becomes unpredictable. Culver is somebody that had a sensational sophomore season to become a projected top lottery pick. He's somebody that can shoot the ball and rebound well for his position. He and Zach LaVine would make an interesting backcourt pairing.

5. Atlanta Hawks- DeAndre Hunter, Small Forward, Virginia: Hunter is someone who was sensational for Virginia in their Championship run. The Hawks have Trae Young running the point and John Collins up front and adding a piece like Hunter on the wing would give them much needed two-way perimeter play.

6. Washington Wizards- Coby White, Point Guard, North Carolina: The Wizards are a team that's stuck in limbo with the awful John Wall contract and one really good asset in Bradley Beal, in which teams will demand if they lose out on big free agents this summer. White is somebody that had a great year in college which is what rose his stock. He would likely start for the Wiz in his rookie season due to the fact Wall might not even play next season due to his recovery from his injuries.

7. New Orleans Pelicans- Sekou Doumbouya, Small Forward/Shooting Guard, France: The Pelicans are a team under immense pressure at the draft due to Anthony Davis's future with the team and the fact that they need pieces to build around incase Davis leaves. Doumbouya is somebody that showed a good jump shot and qualify defensive play too. The defensive side needs to be more proven once he is in the league full time. He's someone that will probably be a bench player for the Pelicans that could see G-league time if he needs more development time.

8. Memphis Grizzlies- Darius Garland, Point Guard, Vanderbilt: One of the biggest wild cards of this draft is Garland due to the fact he missed most of the season with a knee injury. He probably would come off the bench if he were to be drafted to the Grizzlies, unless they trade away Mike Conley. He's someone that showed he can shoot the three-ball well as well as dish.

9. Atlanta Hawks (from Dallas Mavericks)- Jaxson Hayes, Center, Texas: Hayes is someone who developed later on in his high school days and carried it over to college. He shot from a high percentage this past season and showed an ability to protect the rim. In this scenario, he'd come in and possibly start alongside John Collins (unless they upgrade the center position in free agency).

10. Minnesota Timberwolves- Cam Reddish, Small Forward, Duke: Reddish, like RJ Barrett, is someone that was overshadowed on the Blue Devils squad because of Zion's presence. Reddish did not shoot the ball well at times throughout the season and he needs to develop that consistent shot in the pro's. If he does that, than the Timberwolves got themselves another building block to go with Karl-Anthony Towns.

11. Los Angeles Lakers- Nassir Little, Small Forward, North Carolina: This is a pick that I can see traded as the Lakers go star hunting to pair somebody with LeBron James. Little is somebody who had an uneven season with North Carolina to the point Coby White became the best freshman on the team. He showed flashes of good shooting and always has been a great athlete. If the Lakers were to keep the pick, he'd be someone that will in all likelihood be a bench guy for them.

12. Charlotte Hornets- Bol Bol, Center, Oregon: The Hornets are a team that's under pressure at the draft since they are facing losing Kemba Walker this summer and they need a young asset to build around incase Walker leaves. Bol is somebody who's a low basement/high ceiling player that missed most of his Freshman season due to a foot injury. He can protect the rim and shoot the three ball pretty well too for a seven footer.

13. Miami Heat- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Shooting Guard, Virginia Tech: Alexander-Walker had a great sophomore season for improve his draft stock. What makes him a hot commodity is that he can guard multiple positions and play on and off the ball. The Heat are a team that could use good two-way guard help and Alexander-Walker can provide that.

14. Boston Celtics (from Sacramento Kings)- PJ Washington, Power Forward, Kentucky: This pick I can see being shopped if the Celtics choose to chase a star via trade. Washington is somebody that someone that has the talent of a lottery pick with his ability to stretch the floor. If the Celtics choose to keep the pick, Washington is somebody that could possibly start depending on what happens with their current roster.

15. Detroit Pistons- Tyler Herro, Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Herro is somebody that is a very fast riser of late. He's someone that can flat out shoot the ball and the Pistons are a team that needs outside perimeter shooting badly. If they take Herro, it would not shock me if he ends up being a big contributor immediately.

16. Orlando Magic- Keldon Johnson, Small Forward, Kentucky: The Magic are a team that are facing interesting decisions this offseason regarding their roster. Johnson is somebody that can come in and develop with a team that is notoriously known for developing well. He can shoot the three-ball well, but he needs to develop more defensively.

17. Brooklyn Nets- Romeo Langford, Shooting Guard, Indiana: Langford is someone that could possibly go in the top ten so the Nets could be getting a steal here. He's someone that played with a torn labrum this past season which probably held him back. If the Nets lose D'Angelo Russell this summer, they may have a for a young guard. If his shooting improves, he could be a real player for them next season.

18. Indiana Pacers- KZ Okpala, Small Forward, Stanford: Okpala is somebody who's stock is rising at the moment due to his length and wingspan. The Pacers depth at wing outside of Victor Oladipo is thin, especially if they let go of Bojan Bogdanovic this summer. The Pacers probably would have Okpala come off the bench for them and have a veteran start at the 3.

19. San Antonio Spurs- Rui Hachimua, Small Forward, Gonzaga: Hachimura is someone that is super talented and really took his game a notch this past season. Snagging someone with lottery pick talent at this point would be classic Spurs. He probably would be a bench player for the Spurs as a rookie and maybe could develop into a starter within the next few years.

20. Boston Celtics (from Los Angeles Clippers)- Bruno Fernando, Center, Maryland: Fernando is somebody that has tantalizing upside that averaged a double-double this past season. He has an NBA ready body and could be a contributor for the Celtics off the bench.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder- Kevin Porter Jr, Shooting Guard, USC: Porter is somebody that's a lottery talent that could very well drop this far due to the injuries and suspension he had in college. If Porter lived up to the expectations he was given before college, the Thunder could be getting a steal.

22. Boston Celtics- Ty Jerome, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Virginia: Jerome is somebody that was very good in Virginia's Championship run. He's someone that is versatile and can defend multiple positions very well. The Celtics might lose Kyrie Irving this summer so they can use more depth and versatility at the position.

23. Utah Jazz- Brandon Clarke, Power Forward, Gonzaga: The second Gonzaga player comes off the board with Clarke, who would fill a long term need position for the Jazz. He provides energy and great two way play and he is someone analytic nerds will love with his high PER this past college season.

24. Philadelphia 76ers- Cameron Johnson, Small Forward, North Carolina: Johnson is someone that was a very steady player in college for the Tar Heels. He's someone that can defend pretty well and shoot the 3-ball well. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes higher than this or he goes in the second round. The Sixers could use more forward depth incase they lose Tobias Harris and/or Jimmy Butler this summer.

25. Portland Trail Blazers- Mfiondu Kabengele, Power Forward/Center, Florida State: Kabengele is somebody who's stock has risen of late. The Blazers are team that actually has some depth up front, but will probably lose Enes Kanter in free agency and Kabengele is somebody that provides versatility and defends very well.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Houston Rockets)- Talen Horton-Tucker, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Iowa State: Horton-Tucker is somebody that had a very good year with the Cyclones this past season as a freshman which got him to this position. The Cavs are a team that could afford to take chances on overachievers and Horton-Tucker would be someone that would provide solid minutes for them.

27. Brooklyn Nets (from Denver Nuggets)- Grant Williams, Power Forward, Tennessee: The two-time SEC Player of the Year falls to end of the first round, which could end up a steal for the Nets. He's someone who isn't athlete or has a good perimeter game, but he can score in the post and could adjust to the league better than people think.

28. Golden State Warriors- Louis King, Small Forward, Oregon: King is somebody that has a lot of potential and showed it in his lone college season, especially after he came back from his injury. The Warriors are almost certainly losing Kevin Durant this summer so it makes sense for them to pick somebody that has potential at the position.

29. San Antonio Spurs (from Toronto Raptors)- Dylan Windler, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Belmont: Windler is somebody that is very underrated coming into the draft. He's someone that can flat out score, shoot it from three, and space the floor well.

30. Milwaukee Bucks- Daniel Gafford, Center, Arkansas: Gafford is somebody that could have been drafted last year, but decided to come back to school for his sophomore season. He has tantalizing upside and is somebody that if the Bucks were to take here, would make a possible immediate contribution, especially if Brook Lopez bolts this summer.