2019 NBA Mock Draft: First Edition

Here is the first edition of my 2019 NBA Mock Draft. 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- DeAndre Hunter, Small Forward, Virginia: This is where the draft becomes unpredictable. Hunter is someone who was sensational for Virginia in their Championship run. The Bulls have their frontcourt intact with Lauri Markannen and Wendell Carter Jr and adding a piece like Hunter on the wing would give them much needed two-way perimeter play.

5. Atlanta Hawks- Jarrett Culver, Shooting Guard, Texas Tech: 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 Trae Young would make an interesting backcourt pairing.

6. Washington Wizards- Rui Hachimua, Small Forward, Gonzaga: Hachimura is someone that is super talented and really took his game a notch this past season. 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. Hachimura would just be another asset to potentially begin a rebuild around depending on what they do with Beal.

7. New Orleans Pelicans- 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 Pelicans assuming the team doesn't trade away Jrue Holliday or if they keep Elfrid Payton around. He's someone that showed he can shoot the three-ball well as well as dish.

8. Memphis Grizzlies- 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 Grizzlies got themselves another building block to go with Jaren Jackson Jr.

9. Atlanta Hawks (from Dallas Cowboys)- Bol Bol, Center, Oregon: With their second lottery pick, the Hawks take a low basement/high ceiling player in Bol, who's season was cut short due to a foot injury. He can protect the rim and shoot the three ball pretty well too for a seven footer and would make for an interesting front-court mate with John Collins.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves- 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 Timberwolves. He provides energy and great two way play and he is someone analytic nerds will love with his high PER this past college season.

11. Los Angeles Lakers- Coby White, Point Guard, North Carolina: This pick is the most likely lottery pick to be traded as the Lakers go star hunting to pair someone with LeBron James. If the team keeps the pick, they should take the best player available in White, who was phenomenal in his lone season in college. In theory, he can come off the bench or even start depending on Lonzo Ball's future with the team.

12. Charlotte Hornets- 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 probably come off the bench behind Frank Kaminsky unless the team finally moves on from him.

13. Miami Heat- Sekou Doumbouya, Small Forward/Shooting Guard, France: The Heat are a team that very quietly could be heading for rougher days ahead, so they must nail this pick. 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 Heat that could see G-league time if he needs more development time.

14. Boston Celtics (from Sacramento Kings)- Nassir Little, Small Forward, North Carolina: This is another pick that I can see shopped. 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 Celtics were to keep the pick, he'd be someone that will in all likelihood be a bench guy for them.

15. Detroit Pistons- Romeo Langford, Shooting Guard, Indiana: Langford is someone that could possibly go in the top ten so the Pistons could be getting a steal here. He's someone that played with a torn labrum this past season which probably held him back. If his shooting improves, he could be a real player for the Pistons next season.

16. Orlando Magic- 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 Magic are a team that needs good two-way guard help and Alexander-Walker can provide that.

17. Brooklyn Nets- PJ Washington, Power Forward, Kentucky: The Nets finally own their first round pick after years of paying for the trade they made back in 2013 with the Celtics. Washington is
someone that has the talent of a lottery pick with his ability to stretch the floor. The Nets also have a need at the position and Washington could possibly start for them down the road.

18. Indiana Pacers- 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 Pacers could use another guard off the bench with Victor Oladipo still recovering from his injury and I don't love the Darren Collison/Corey Joseph combo.

19. San Antonio Spurs- Keldon Johnson, Small Forward, Kentucky: The Spurs are a team that is very guard heavy and pretty big man heavy. Where they lack is forward depth and 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, which the Spurs can help him with.

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- Carsen Edwards, Point Guard, Purdue: After a fantastic tournament, Edwards's stock has risen dramatically. He's someone that can score and could shoot it well from three. Edwards is probably more suited for a bench role although the Celtics probably need more point guard depth assuming Kyrie Irving bolts this summer.

23. Utah Jazz- Tyler Herro, Shooting Guard, Kentucky: Herro could be a steal dropping this far. He can shoot it well from three and is someone that can swing a game. He can also put the ball on the floor and has some size which makes him more than just a shooter.

24. Philadelphia 76ers- Admiral Schofield, Shooting Guard, Tennessee: Schofield was great this past season in college with his dedication and hard work. He is someone that can shoot the three ball well and rebounds well for his position. This would be a solid pick for the Sixers and someone that could possibly start for them assuming Jimmy Butler walks.

25. Portland Trail Blazers- 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 Blazers are a team that likes to take chances on overachievers and Horton-Tucker would be someone that would provide solid bench minutes for them.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Houston Rockets)- 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 is worth a late first rounder for a rebuilding team like the Cavs.

27. Brooklyn Nets (from Denver Nuggets)- Luguentz Dort, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Arizona State: Dort is somebody that had a solid freshman season and lived upto his top fifty ranking he was given for his class. He's somebody that is versatile and could guard both guard positions well. He'd fit nicely in the new emerging Nets core.

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- Grant Williams, Power Forward, Tennessee: The two-time SEC Player of the Year falls to the last pick, which could end up a steal for the Bucks. 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.