Vecenie: 2019 NBA Mock Draft, 6.0 — Live updates projecting the field, reacting to trade talk (2024)

From this point forward, this link will be your go-to mock draft link here at The Athletic, as it will be constantly updated, live and continuously, as more intel comes in and teams start moving around the board.

Final Update (Thursday, 6:45 PM ET): Our final update reflects the fallout from the trade reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Athletic that will send Solomon Hill, the No. 4 pick, No. 57 and a future to the Hawks in exchange for the No. 8 pick, No. 17, No. 35 and a 2020 Cleveland protected first rounder going to the Pelicans. For more updates, follow along with our live blog as Sam Vecenie provides instant reaction and analysis for each pick.

Because of the uncertainty in regard to where teams will be selecting, agents are even struggling to inform their clients upon what their range is with any high level of confidence. Many of the picks from 4 through 12 are in discussions. Picks from No. 17 to No. 23 are being discussed. There are teams that want to move up and down the board, and teams with multiple sets of draft pick ammunition to be able to accomplish such a goal. Legitimately, most years are not quite this wild in regard to the behind-the-scenes trade discussions taking place. This is a different situation than what we’ve seen in the past. Over the next 48 hours, the expectation is that a lot of different players and picks will be moved.

Keep this page bookmarked, as it’s the one that will have all the latest analysis and breakdowns prior to Thursday’s draft. When there are significant changes, we will alert you to them and write about what is causing those changes in this mock draft. So without further ado, here’s where we stand as of Tuesday morning.

1. New Orleans Pelicans — Zion Williamson

6-7 forward, freshman, Duke

(Full scouting report)

No changes here. Williamson remains the clear No. 1 prospect, and the Pelicans will be building their roster around him going forward. He’s the best prospect to enter the NBA since Anthony Davis, as I broke down extensively following the lottery. Production-wise, he’s elite. He put up 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting an insane 68 percent from the field. It kind of goes without saying, but no one in the last 25 years of college basketball has achieved those benchmarks. Honestly, no one has really come close to that level of across-the-board production. His 40.8 PER doesn’t just set the record for the highest mark in the last decade; it shatters it. To do all of this during his 18-year-old season makes it all the more remarkable.

From a fit perspective with the Pelicans, their roster around him is shaping up to be arguably the most fun in the entire league. Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday complement each other extremely well, especially in Alvin Gentry’s grab and go style, uptempo offense. Williamson’s ability to also do that will have the team flying up and down the court, while that trio also possesses immense defensive upside due to Holiday’s elite-level on-ball play paired with Williamson and Ball’s terrific instincts off-ball. I do have some concerns about Brandon Ingram next to him, but if he can develop into a better off-ball player by honing his jump shot, there is just so much to like. Additionally, it’s worth finally bringing up that they have the No. 4 pick, which we’ll discuss later, that should add some real value to the situation. Overall, the only thing missing here is consistent floor-spacing around Williamson, something the team will need to acquire in free agency.

Overall, I’d expect the Pelicans to compete pretty quickly, maybe as soon as Year Two of the Williamson era as long as Griffin continues to play his cards right.

2. Memphis Grizzlies — Ja Morant

6-3 lead guard, sophom*ore, Murray State

(Full scouting report)

No changes here with Morant. After Mike Conley was dealt earlier to the Utah Jazz, Morant is going to be picked No. 2 overall with the Grizzlies building their core around he and Jaren Jackson Jr. Executives around the league have Morant as the clear No. 2 guy in this class behind Williamson, an opinion I don’t quite feel as strongly about, but ultimately concur with the ranking. He’s an elite player off of a live dribble, due largely to his tight handle, terrific of change of pace, and ability to change direction without slowing down. It’s my opinion that Morant will enter the NBA immediately as one of the top 10 passers in the league. His vision is sublime, and his ability to pass one-handed directly off of the dribble allows him to make a pass immediately upon identifying it. As a scorer, Morant’s skinny frame gives some evaluators pause as a finisher. His jump shot also needs some work, as he’s not the most adept pull-up shooter yet. If a defender goes under a screen and he has time to set his feet, Morant has the ability to knock down a 3. But he’s not as dynamic getting into his shot at full speed yet, which is a critical piece of being a lead guard in today’s NBA.

Morant underwent minor arthroscopic surgery on his right knee two weeks ago to clear out a loose body that could have created some longer term issues if left alone. In that vein, sources around the league classified the procedure as preventative in nature. It will have no effect on his draft positioning, and is not considered to be a serious issue. The timeline on the injury was three-to-four weeks. League sources were unsure at the time of surgery if Morant would play in summer league or not, as a four-week timeline for recovery lines up right around the start of the event. Unquestionably, the Grizzlies will take a cautious approach given the importance of Morant long-term to their organization.

Regardless though, Morant is an elite talent who meshes extremely well with their top-four pick last season, Jackson Jr., and should end up bringing some star power back to Memphis.

3. New York Knicks — R.J. Barrett

6-7 wing, freshman, Duke

The Knicks brought in Darius Garland for a workout today, fueling the fires that they may shock people around the industry and select him at No. 3. I don’t know if that was to try to stoke the flames of a deal or what, but all signs continue to point to the Knicks taking Barrett at No. 3. The calculus in New York has changed in the past week due to Kevin Durant’s long-term injury and the feeling around the league that Kyrie Irving is likely to sign with the Brooklyn Nets. They also lost out on the Anthony Davis sweepstakes, something they ultimately decided not to get as involved as expected, per sources. With that in mind, even if Durant was to join the team, it would seem like another rebuilding year is in order regardless. So in that vein, the Knicks seem ready to just take the best player that falls to them out of Morant and Barrett. Here, that’s Barrett. He had his private workout with the team last week, meeting with everyone involved in the selection.

As a player, he’s the first high-major player to average 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists — and he did it as an 18-year-old freshman who re-classified into the 2018 recruiting class. There are some concerns here in regard to sharing the load. At times, Barrett played selfishly this season. It would help him to change his mentality just slightly. The Knicks would want him to still be the confident player he is; they just also want him to make the confident passing reads that he made more of throughout the latter quarter of the season. Additionally, Barrett needs to work slightly on his jump shot, although I believe he’s a better shooter than what the numbers indicate largely due to shot selection. His jumper has taken tremendous strides over the last 18 months. His unflappable mentality and personality would also fit exceedingly well in New York.

While the Knicks plans have changed drastically in the last week, this one won’t. Go with Barrett, and take what could be a centerpiece for them long-term.

4. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP thru LAL) — De’Andre Hunter

6-8 forward, redshirt sophom*ore, Virginia

The final deal has occurred and the Hawks have moved up to swoop their guy. Over the last 48 hours, it’s become clear that the Hawks were attempting to move up to secure Hunter, as he’s about as perfect a fit as you can imagine with the Hawks. They needed a high-level wing defender to pair with Trae Young and Kevin Huerter who can lock up multiple positions that can also shoot. We’ll have more on this pick in the live blog, but according to sources, Hunter is the Hawks’ guy that they’ve moved up for.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers — Darius Garland

6-2 lead guard, freshman, Vanderbilt

Garland represents the best value available, although he is a positional overlap with Collin Sexton at the point guard position. Don’t be surprised to see the Cavs take him, though, as they went to Los Angeles to see him work out during the pre-draft process and aren’t really far along enough in their rebuild to be worried about positional overlap.

Teams around the league generally believe that Garland is the player with the most upside outside of the top-three guys in this class. It’s easy to see why. He’s an elite live dribble creator due to his ability to keep the ball on a string and change pace. His pull-up game is also lethal and makes him a tailor made fit for today’s NBA as a scoring guard if he can finish around the basket.

Also, they could take Garland, and look to move him elsewhere, sources say. This is not a done deal.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves (via PHX) — Coby White

6-5 lead guard, freshman, North Carolina

This pick was acquired for pick No. 11 and Dario Saric. I like the value here, as White should be the kind of floor-spacing point guard that Gersson Rosas wants to build around, and the kind of floor-spacer that works well with Karl-Anthony Towns.

White was terrific this year for the Tar Heels. He’s lightning quick at 6-foot-5, with the ability to play uptempo and get into transition. He’s also a high-level pull-up shooter, which puts pressure on the defense and opens up lanes for his teammates. The reason, though, he’s not quite what Morant is as a prospect at this stage is the natural feel for making plays for his teammates and his skill with a live dribble. He has a ton of potential to develop that, but because of his short wingspan, he doesn’t quite keep the ball as close to the ground as some other lead guards due to his height at 6-foot-5.

7. Chicago Bulls — Jarrett Culver

6-6 wing, sophom*ore, Texas Tech

This is a huge win for Chicago to end up with my fifth-ranked player on my board at No. 7, and one that really fits with what they need on the floor.

He’s a shot-maker and scorer who can get to his pull-up game with ease, but also who makes the right play passing the ball consistently. He’d be the kind of unselfish wing that fits perfectly with this group. And then defensively, Culver has great hands and a knack for making plays, something the Bulls desperately need. Finally, it’s worth noting that he’s an exceptionally hard worker and someone that people around the league really buy into continually getting better.

8. New Orleans Pelicans — Jaxson Hayes

6-11 center, freshman, Texas

The Pelicans move down from No. 4 to No. 8 and collect further assets from Atlanta for it. They also fill their biggest positional need here with Hayes at 8, a rim-running athletic center who could help anchor their already-strong defensive core someday.

9. Washington Wizards — Nassir Little

6-7 wing, freshman, North Carolina

The Wizards are among the tougher teams to figure right now due to the lack of clear front office direction. Interim general manager Tommy Sheppard will run the draft, that much is clear. How much longer he’ll be running the organization beyond the draft remains an open-ended question. But a funny thing has happened throughout that process. Because of the relative instability of not having a full-time general manager in place yet, sources around the league are somewhat unclear on what direction the Wizards will look to take this pick. They have holes all over the court following John Wall’s injury. Positionally, nearly every spot makes sense as a fit. You could name a center, a forward, a wing, even a point guard, and it’d be a reasonable fit.

I’m going with Little here because he fits the biggest positional hole they currently have at the forward spot, and his workout on Monday with Washington is thought to have gone exceedingly well with the entirety of the team’s front office and owner Ted Leonsis looking on. Coby White was also at the workout, but White is almost certain to be off the board by No. 9 and the Wizards would have to move up the board to get their hands on him. The only way that would happen is either by moving future draft capital in addition to the No. 9 pick — something they shouldn’t do with the large potential for a rebuild upcoming — or by moving Bradley Beal. It would be hard for me to believe that the Wizards would move Beal — a favorite of Leonsis — without a full-time, appointed general manager. But weirder things have happened in the NBA.

10. Atlanta Hawks — Cam Reddish

6-8 forward, freshman, Duke

The Hawks have been connected with Reddish throughout the year, and it would be a huge win for them to pick him up at No. 10 after moving up to get the guy they really wanted in Hunter. This is also my favorite landing spot for Reddish. It’s the perfect combination of low stakes in regard to early expectations, a strong developmental staff, and a young core to build with.

11. Phoenix Suns (via MIN) — Sekou Doumbouya

6-9 forward, 18 years old, Limoges (France)

One of the persistent rumors of the pre-draft cycle from those within the industry is that Rui Hachimura has a promise, and that it’s from the Timberwolves. That was very clearly wrong, as debunked here throughout the process. Instead, they moved Dario Saric to the Timberwolves and swapped pick 11 for pick 6.

Simply put, he’s the best non-center available at this point in the draft. With the team having multiple guys at every position other than point guard — and with there being no point guard worth taking at this spot — it makes sense for them to just go with the best player.

12. Charlotte Hornets — Rui Hachimura

6-8 forward, junior, Gonzaga

Nothing new here from the Hornets perspective. Hachimura fits the Hornets’ mold of taking high-profile college players who have experienced exceptional success at that level (you can go back to Kemba Walker, Frank Kaminsky, Miles Bridges, Malik Monk, Cody Zeller, and more). He was a first-team All-American this season, and teams are extremely interested in his tools. He’s 6-8 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan at 240 pounds, but also maintains high-level athleticism. His first step is terrific for a man his size, and it allows him to get to the basket. As a shooter, there’s a hitch at the top of his release to fix, but his touch is pretty good and at least portends some potential — but he needs to get more confidence from beyond the arc. Defensively, Hachimura’s feet and quickness give evaluators pause, as do his instincts. Overall, his feel for the game is still developing.

The Hornets were also reported to have looked into moving up on draft day. I’m skeptical they’d be willing to part with the assets that they’d need to in order to do so, if only because the roster outside of Kemba Walker and Miles Bridges isn’t exactly filled with guys that the league is banging down the door to have (and one of those guys is a high-profile free agent this summer).

I haven’t heard this idea associated with the Hornets yet within league circles, so this is speculation on my part. But if anything, I actually think it might behoove the Hornets to consider trading out of this draft, and attaching No. 12 to a contract like Nicolas Batum’s in order to gain further flexibility long-term. For instance, Cleveland is a team that stands out as one who could take on such a deal, and attach one-year contracts such as John Henson, Jordan Clarkson, or Tristan Thompson to help the Hornets get out of cap hell. I’m typically against such a move, but it’s hard to see how the current iteration of the Hornets gets out of the middle of the pack over the next couple of years without some sort of drastic measure. They’re just too loaded with longer term deals to have any cap liquidity, and they’ll be too good with Kemba Walker to be drafting near the top of the league without lottery help. And if Walker does decide to depart, this immediately turns into one of the most dire situations in the league in terms of asset value. It’s a big forthcoming few weeks for the Hornets.

13. Miami Heat — PJ Washington

6-7 forward/center, sophom*ore, Kentucky

For Miami, they’re about as good as any team in the league at getting guys into optimal shape and putting guys into position for success. Washington is a player that got into terrific shape last season, and experienced a legitimate jump in his game and the way he enforces his athleticism on the game because of it. He could use a team that helps him to stay in such shape. This isn’t exactly what I’d call a sexy, high-upside pick for an organization in desperate need of such swings, but this part of the draft is not really loaded with those type of players and Washington is a player that would fit on their roster and give them some added size, toughness, and perimeter shooting. His length could also help them in the smaller lineups that they enjoy employing.

The other two Kentucky guys, Tyler Herro and Keldon Johnson, are also thought to be in the mix here. It’s possible the team could take a shot on Rui Hachimura, and teams think this might be the earliest possible landing area for Kevin Porter Jr. and Bol Bol.

14. Boston Celtics (from SAC) — Tyler Herro

6-5 off-guard, freshman, Kentucky

Yeah, the Celtics are a tough one this year, too. The assumption around the league is that they won’t make all three first round picks, but no one is willing to actually nail down a team they’re negotiating with. The deals that Danny Ainge tends to make are the ones that are done in relative silence. With 14, 20, and 22, they have the ability to move around the board a bit, or even try to use some picks to pick up veteran talent if they so want to.

Herro has a range of something like No. 13 to No. 20. He’s had strong workouts with Boston and Indiana, and he fits both of their toughness and confidence cultures perfectly. While the Celtics now have a lot of options all over the board following the impending departure of Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, I ultimately think they’re just going to take the best player available in their opinion at each and every pick. In Herro’s case, he fits the Danny Ainge model to a T as a highly confident, swagger-filled player who you never have to press to work hard and play at 100 percent.

Again though, I think there is significant potential for Boston to move around the board as it sees fit. They’re also thought to be fans of Tyler Herro, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and potentially even Nassir Little if he was to fall this far.

15. Detroit Pistons — Goga Bitadze

6-11 center, 19 years old, Budocnost (Montenegro)

The Pistons are one of the five teams to have worked out with Bitadze pre-draft. For my money, he is the best European prospect in this draft class due to his elite ability in the pick-and-roll and his rim protection. He’s not an elite shot creator, but he’s one of the more productive teenagers we’ve seen in Europe in the last decade, having performed at an extremely high level in Euroleague and having won MVP of the Adriatic League. His range is kind of all over the place from No. 10 to 19.

This would be a best available player pick versus a need pick, Other guys to watch for here include Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tyler Herro, and PJ Washington.

16. Orlando Magic — Nickeil Alexander-Walker

6-5 combo guard, sophom*ore, Virginia Tech

Back here to 16 for Alexander-Walker. He’d be a tremendous fit in their backcourt with potentially Markelle Fultz, D.J. Augustin, and Evan Fournier due to his ability to play on or off ball. He’s not quite a lead guard because he just doesn’t have that kind of explosiveness, but his footwork in pick-and-rolls is terrific, and he can score from all three levels and pass it at a good clip. His range is thought to be from No. 12 to No. 20 or so around the league.

His range is considered somewhere 12 to 20.

17. New Orleans Pelicans (from ATL thru BKN) — Brandon Clarke

6-8 forward/center, redshirt junior, Gonzaga

If Clarke gets out of the lottery, I’m just looking at smart front offices to end the slide. The Pelicans, Pacers, Spurs, and Celtics would all suffice from No. 17 to 20. Clarke’s production this season was off the charts. If not for the presence of Zion Williamson, Clarke would have set the single-season record for PER in college basketball over the last decade at 37.2. His 69.9 true-shooting percentage was absurd given that only about 50 percent of his shots inside the arc were assisted. Not since Anthony Davis has a player finished first in individual offensive and defensive rating. Then, throw in that he’s an elite level defender in help situations who can also switch all over the floor, and there’s just a lot of upside here for Clarke as a potential role player. If he’s the fall out of the lottery, it’s because teams can’t get out of their own way in regard to his length and girth, which comes in at a proportional 6-8 wingspan to his height, and under 210 pounds. But his instincts are superb, his touch is good within 10 feet, and his athleticism is off the charts. I’d bet on him with ease around this area.

18. Indiana Pacers — Keldon Johnson

6-6 wing, freshman, Kentucky

I’ve gone with Johnson here. His range is something around No. 9 to 23, as he’s considered one of the more complete wings in the class in regard to skillset. He’s not necessarily elite at anything, but he’s a good shooter, can drive in a straight line, defend multiple positions, and he makes the right play while also possessing a high-character personality. He might not be the sexiest pick, but Johnson would fill a real hole for the Pacers as a wing who can knock down shots. He’s also a strong character player, and the Pacers have a locker room filled with those types as they’ve prioritized it in recent years.

19. San Antonio Spurs — Luka Samanic

6-10 forward/center, 19 years old, Petrol Olimpia

This is a critical draft for the Spurs as they continue to fill out the younger side of their roster. They have three picks, including two first rounders. With the backcourt of the future looking set with Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Lonnie Walker, the team can look toward the frontcourt to try and find players that fit the Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford mold. Samanic is the kind of high IQ, high skill player that tends to work there, and he worked out in San Antonio a couple weeks ago. I’d say that right around here is the start of his range, but he’ll likely be taken somewhere in the first round. Offensively, he’s a smart pick-and-roll player who can find the soft spot in the defense and make plays both shooting it and passing it. On defense, he’s versatile enough to guard on the perimeter, and has improved his bulk enough to not get completely overpowered inside.

The Spurs are also thought to be fans of Rui Hachimura and Goga Bitadze, and have explored potential deals to trade up despite it not typically being their modus operandi on draft day.

20. Boston Celtics (from LAC) — Mfiondu Kabengele

6-10 center, redshirt sophom*ore, Florida State

Kabengele is a tough player to slot right now just because of the big man conundrum. There are only so many slots for big men in this first round. And when a big guy misses out on one of those slots, the drop can be somewhat precipitous. For instance, look at the late lottery through No. 20. The Hawks have three picks at No. 8, 10 and 17. Presumably, they probably would only take one center. At 11, Minnesota shouldn’t be drafting a center in the lottery due to Towns. At 13, Miami, with Bam Adebayo as its center of the future, should not be taking a center. Orlando and Detroit are loaded in the frontcourt at 15 and 16. Indiana has both Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis at 18. And that doesn’t even account for the fact that Thomas Bryant in Washington (a restricted free agent) and Cody Zeller in Charlotte are completely competent options for their teams at No. 9 and 11. So if one of the potential landing spots decides to fill its hole on the wing versus at center, the effect can be pretty real on where big men are picked. A guy can go from being in the mix at No. 10 legitimately, to falling all the way to No. 19 with ease.

That’s the predicament of every big man right now in the 2019 draft. Kabengele has really impressed in workouts and teams have talked about him being one of the more impressive guys they’ve had in. But he’s a center, which automatically gives him a pretty wide range. I’d say that he legitimately will be in the mix all the way up at No. 14, and could fall all the way to No. 30. The Celtics obviously have a need now with the impending departure of Al Horford, and could use a guy who plays with a high motor, tries to defend at a high level, and can knock down shots.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder — Nic Claxton

6-11 forward/center, sophom*ore, Georgia

This pick is definitely also up for a potential trade as the Thunder try to get closer to the luxury tax line. Having said that though, the impression I’ve gotten is that they’re not necessarily just going to give away the pick along with a long-term deal to get off of money. They’d prefer a player in return that they think could help them next season while also saving money. For instance (and this is just speculation to show how valuable monetarily such a deal could be for Oklahoma City), could the Pelicans be willing to do a deal along the lines of E’Twaun Moore and No. 39 for Andre Roberson and No. 21? It would give the Pelicans some additional draft capital (and player control if they took the right player) for essentially trading a guy with one year left on his contract for another guy with one year left on his contract. For Oklahoma City, it would give the team a shooter, while also saving them something like $10 million in luxury tax plus salary for next season between those two roster slots. Admittedly, such a fake deal was much more attractive before the Pelicans traded Anthony Davis for the package they received and have a distinct need for shooting themselves, but I just use this fake trade as an example to show how the Thunder could save a lot of money and get a better fit for their situation all at once.

If they keep the pick, Claxton fits the Sam Presti modus operandi to a T. He can grab rebounds, grab and go on the break, and defend multiple positions due to his quickness and athleticism. He’s also a high level rim protector from the weakside, And he’s a quick twitch athlete with great length that they can develop.

If they keep the pick, it’s also worth noting that in the past they’ve gone off board a bit, essentially looking at the pick like an underslot baseball draftee, in an effort to save a bit of money — think back to Roberson taking 80 percent of his rookie scale back in 2013, or the team agreeing to stash Josh Huestis in the G League for a year in order to take him in the first round. I think there’s probably enough trade value in the pick to not go through that again, but the Thunder are creative. I don’t think Claxton would be that guy, but it’s not an impossible scenario.

22. Boston Celtics — Kevin Porter Jr.

6-6 wing, freshman, USC

The Celtics can afford to take a shot on Porter, who was not one of the 20 players invited to the NBA Draft Combine when invites went out over the weekend, showing yet another sign that there is some real potential for a fall on draft night. There have been some questions that have come up about Porter’s work ethic and coachability. I think there’s something to the idea that teams are trying to leak information about him so that he falls to their slot, but it is certainly a “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” situation. Porter was suspended midseason at USC. The coaching staff did have occasional issues in the first half of the season before Porter’s suspension. Following the suspension, he was considered to be a model citizen from those close to the program. But the first half of the year does exist. At this point, I think that there is something to the idea that teams in the teens might pass on him.

Personally, I think that would be a mistake. I have him at No. 14 on my big board, and don’t have the same concerns that NBA teams do if they can foster Porter in the right way. Having done some background work on him myself, the issues strike me as immaturity versus him being a bad person. The best suggestions I’ve heard around the basketball industry about how to help him through that involve hiring someone from the Seattle area who can be a respected figure of authority and make him Porter’s player developmental coach. Also, drafting him into a situation with veterans would help, as they could help teach Porter how exactly to be a professional. Because at the end of the day, Porter’s talent is immense. His shiftiness is elite, and his ability to create plays in space is something few players can bring to the table. If his talent is fostered properly, he is a legitimate top-10 talent in this draft. My bet is that, on draft night, his range is somewhere between No. 13 to No. 26. As noted above, the Cavs are thought to be fans, and could look to move up from No. 26. I’d be a fan of the Celtics taking this shot. They’re one of the organizations that I trust who would be willing to implement a plan to get Porter in the best possible position for success.

I’d also note that this pick has been particularly discussed in potential trade down scenarios. That would make sense, as the Celtics now have interesting amounts of cap space with Al Horford and Kyrie Irving likely moving on. Second round picks do not have cap holds like first round picks do, which could give the Celtics a bit more flexibility. Given the relatively flat talent curve from the 20s through the 40s, this could be an interesting way for Boston to help itself even if it theoretically just pushes its draft capital down in this draft, or out into a different one.

23. Memphis Grizzlies (from UTA — Romeo Langford

6-6 wing, freshman, Indiana

This one is a bit of a shot in the dark. The Grizzlies haven’t worked out many guys in this range, having just acquired the pick today in the Mike Conley deal. The Athletic’s David Aldridge has also noted that this pick is on the market again for Memphis and could be dealt a second time in as many days.

Langford would be a high-upside, value play for the Grizzlies on the wing. He’s one of the most complicated evaluations in the draft due to the questions about his wrist injury and shooting ability. But if the Grizzlies believe in him knocking down shots, it’s easy to see them taking him.

24. Philadelphia 76ers — Matisse Thybulle

6-5 wing, senior, Washington

Sources around the industry have speculated since the NBA Draft Combine that Thybulle has a promise. He skipped that event, and hasn’t done anything in the way of public team workouts so far. Around the industry, sources have tried to figure out who it is just by process of elimination. The thought is Philadelphia makes the most sense. With picks 33 and 34, it’s easy for Philadelphia to mask the promise by bringing in players who could be in the mix at No. 24, as those same players could potentially be in the mix at No. 33. But they also haven’t brought in a ton of players with potential to be picked ahead of No. 24. I wouldn’t call this a certainty by any stretch. I’m not reporting that this is a promise. But teams are in the same boat as everyone else around the industry, trying to narrow down potential outcomes for their opposition.

He also fits extremely well with Philadelphia as long as you believe in him becoming a good shooter. I question that a little bit, as he shoots something of a hard ball despite his percentages being solid. This would be a bit of a reach for me, but I get why Philadelphia would go for it as they try to fill out their roster around the star power.

25. Portland Trail Blazers — KZ Okpala

6-9 forward, sophom*ore, Stanford

Trail Blazers’ general manager Neil Olshey is not a big believer that you can get immediate help late in the first round that can provide a boost to a contending team. I don’t necessarily agree with such a thought process — over the last few years, we’ve seen plenty of rookies make an impact as a role player in the playoffs — but it’s certainly the way he thinks about things. Okpala is the kind of high-upside player the Blazers tend to value, though. Best of all, he fits a position of need as a combo forward who can create off the dribble, knock down shots, and potentially even become useful defensively one day. The Stanford product started out the season as a potential lottery pick, dominating in the first two months of the season and knocking down 45 percent of his 3s. The shooting was always a bit unsustainable, but it ended up being that his overall offensive game ended up tanking a bit later in the season, too. From February 7 onward, Okpala averaged just 14 points a night while shooting under 40 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3. While that didn’t leave a great taste in evaluators’ mouths, I still think Okpala did enough to show that he’s a project worth taking on.

His range is pretty wide right now. It’s not impossible he goes in the late teens, and it’s not impossible he falls out of the first round. Why? He’s a polarizing player for executives. Some are believers in the upside, whereas others see something of a low feel player who also struggles on defense.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from HOU) — Ty Jerome

6-5 combo guard, junior, Virginia

The Cavaliers are thought to be interested in moving up on draft day from No. 26 to try and take an upside swing on someone. As mentioned above, Kevin Porter Jr. has been connected there recently.

If they stay at 26, though, or even only move up a few places, I’d bet on Jerome being the pick. Jerome’s history with Cavaliers’ general manager Koby Altman goes back for a long time now, from when Altman was an assistant at Columbia in the early 2010s and Jerome was a rising prospect at Iona Prep in New Rochelle. He’d be a strong fit next to Collin Sexton as an additional ball-handler who can also knock down shots at an exceedingly high level both on or off the ball.

27. Brooklyn Nets (from DEN) — Bol Bol

7-2 center, freshman, Oregon

This is the biggest question mark on draft day. Bol did indeed end up receiving an invite to the NBA Draft Green Room, this season given out to 23 players.

That means a drop to 27 is something of a fall for Bol. The flags here for NBA teams are obvious. Let’s start with the foot. Bol had surgery on his navicular bone in his left foot, an injury that doesn’t exactly have the best track record in regard to seven footers getting the injury, with multiple needing more than one procedure to fix the issue. In general, teams have questions about how his high hips, long limbs, and skinny frame would hold up over the length of an 82 game season. Second, Bol has long been questioned about his love for basketball and how much work he’s willing to put in to be great. His showing at the combine raised eyebrows in that regard, as he came in about 30 pounds lighter than what he was listed at Oregon. Maybe the injury has completely sidelined him for five months now in regard to working out, but again, that doesn’t necessarily inspire much confidence.

Even on the court there were concerns this season. Bol was a mess in pick-and-roll defensive coverages this season, and got blown by any time Oregon allowed him to guard on the perimeter. His high center of gravity allows him to get pushed around with ease, even before accounting for the lack of weight. The fact that he has all of these concerns and NBA teams still say that he’s likely to go in the first round say a lot about his upside, though. Bol is legitimately unlike any player we’ve seen in the NBA before, with a 9-foot-7 standing reach, the ability to take and make above the break 3s at a high-percentage clip, and even some ability to grab and go on the break. If things go right for Bol, he’s a legitimate NBA starter with fascinating tools for the modern game.

To be honest though, if I’m the team that misses on him, I’m comfortable with my decision. Sure, scared money don’t make no money. But I think there are better calculated risks to take. His range remains as wide as any player’s. He’s being considered by teams in the late lottery due to the perceived upside of his skillset. But people around the league legitimately think there is a chance he falls out of the first round. I’m slotting him in the first round given that he’s been invited to the Green Room. But this one is wide open.

28. Golden State Warriors — Dylan Windler

6-7 wing, senior, Belmont

The Warriors pushed the Raptors to six games in the playoffs despite a deluge of injuries that would have knocked anyone else out in a heartbeat. Beyond the stars that ended up suffering injuries, there was one skill the Warriors badly needed: shooting. The Raptors just didn’t respect Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, or whoever the Warriors had at center from distance. Enter Windler, who would give the Warriors a high level shooter with size on the wing who could really help them space the floor. And with Klay Thompson likely to miss most of next season, getting another shooter has become all the more important.

29. San Antonio Spurs (from TOR) — Darius Bazley

6-9 wing/forward, sit-out, New Balance

Bazley has real momentum toward hearing his name called in the first round. He’s had strong workouts with teams, and they believe in his combination of athleticism and shooting ability. I think I’m at the point where I would be surprised if he didn’t go in Round One. The question is: where? The Spurs are thought to be fans, but Bazley could end up rising beyond this and potentially even hear his name called in the late teens to early 20s.

30. Detroit Pistons (via MIL) — Eric Paschall
6-7 forward, senior, Villanova

I have Paschall rated as a first-round pick, and think this would be a steal for Detroit. He’s a tough, physical, strong guy who is a high-level culture player. It’s easy to envision him playing some bench minutes early for them. He’s also a good above-the-break 3-point shooter with the ability to attack a closeout, something Detroit desperately needs from a spacing perspective.

The Pistons are connected with PJ Washington at No. 15 if he is to get there, so clearly they’re not only going with positional fits. Paschall’s range is thought to be somewhere 20 to 35, but he’s had a really strong pre-draft process, as expected.

Second Round

31. Brooklyn Nets (from NYK) — Grant Williams

6-6 forward, junior, Tennessee

Williams is a tough prospect to peg right now. Some really smart teams don’t have him rated as a first round pick, seriously doubting his ability to shoot it from distance and defend away from the basket due to his mobility. I’m not one of those people. I have Williams at No. 15 on my board because I believe in his work ethic, physical strength, and basketball IQ translating at a high level. Williams has been productive at every stop despite not possessing the body that people expect from a good basketball player. He’s a box-score filler across the board, posting 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He and David West are the only two players in the last 25 years to average those numbers while also doing so on a national average true-shooting percentage. He’s also working to extend his range out beyond the NBA 3-point arc, with solid results thus far that can make you buy into him becoming a solid shooter from the corners.

32. Indiana Pacers (from PHX) — Carsen Edwards

6-0 combo guard, junior, Purdue

The Pacers just acquired this pick via trade with the Suns. Edwards fits here too as an elite level shooter that the Pacers will be very familiar with from his time at Purdue.

33. Philadelphia 76ers (from CLE) — Cameron Johnson

6-8 wing/forward, redshirt senior, North Carolina

This would be a pretty big win for the 76ers, as Johnson fills the biggest hole on the team: perimeter shooting. His ability to space the floor for guys like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons would be a boon for Philadelphia, potentially even as soon as next season.

34. Philadelphia 76ers (from CHI) — Bruno Fernando

6-10 center, sophom*ore, Maryland

Fernando is good, but what teams are starting to wonder if what exact role does he play in the NBA? He’s not much of a shooter right now, and his defensive awareness leaves something to be desired around the basket. He’s not a real switch guy on the perimeter defensively. He can certainly pass, which is great, and his IQ on that end is strong. He also has a nose for the basketball. But role questions are why you see Fernando slide to the second round here, as well as just the simple fact that the NBA has too many bigs. But Philadelphia would be a terrific landing spot as a backup center for Joel Embiid. Fernando’s range is going to start around the late teens or so, and end in the 30s somewhere. Much like any other big in this class, the range is wider than you’d think, depending on who ends up with the picks.

35. New Orleans Pelicans (from ATL) — Chuma Okeke

6-8 forward, sophom*ore, Auburn

Okeke is a player who was getting discussed as a potential first-round pick prior to his injury with Auburn in the Sweet 16. He’s a terrific potential role player due his high basketball IQ and defensive ability. He can also step away and shoot it a little bit from distance. He has a torn ACL right now and will likely miss part of next season, if not the entire thing.

36. Charlotte Hornets (from WAS) — Luguentz Dort

6-4 off-guard, freshman, Arizona State

Dort had a strong freshman season for the Sun Devils, averaging nearly 17 points a night. But his jump shot and lack of point guard skills give evaluators pause when trying to determine a role for him at the next level. The good news is that the jumper is improving and has already made legitimate strides since he left Tempe, and his defensive ability is unquestioned due to his tenacity on ball.

37. Dallas Mavericks — Jalen Lecque

6-4 guard, 19 years old, Brewster Academy

Lecque is still working out for teams, meaning he doesn’t have a promise that he’s comfortable with, at least. Still, he fits everything the Magic look for in prospects as an outlier athlete with great length. He also fits a potential positional question for them. Giving him a shot isn’t the worst idea a team could undertake, although his overall skill level still leaves a lot on the table at this stage of his development.

38. Chicago Bulls (from MEM) — Louis King

6-9 wing/forward, freshman, Oregon

King’s draft range is a bit wide at this stage, with a chance for him to go in the first round, but it’s more likely he goes in the top-half of the second round. He’s big at 6-foot-9, and has legitimate potential to shoot it and handle the ball. He needs to put on weight to play the 4, or be a bit better laterally to play the 3 on defense. But at still just 20 years old, teams think he could be a solid role player.

39. New Orleans Pelicans — Naz Reid

6-10 center, freshman, LSU

Reid is another tough player to gauge in regard to draft stock, largely because of the big man conundrum. There isn’t a major difference between he and Kabengele, but one gets taken in the first round, and the other barely goes top-40 here. Reid is wildly skilled with the ability to shoot it, attack closeouts, and make passes on the move. His athleticism is below average from an explosiveness standpoint, so you’ll need to play him in a drop pick-and-roll coverage scheme that allows him to use his length around the basket. On some level, this is definitely a developmental pick, but he’s a particularly interesting center fit with Zion Williamson due to his floor-spacing ability.

40. Sacramento Kings (from MIN) — Terence Davis

6-5 wing, senior, Mississippi

Arguably no player has helped himself as much as Davis has in the pre-draft process. He went from participating in the senior-only Portsmouth Invitational, to not getting an initial invite to even the G League Elite Camp, to getting a last-second invite, to earning his way into the NBA Draft Combine, to being one of the absolute standouts of that event. Davis has hid from absolutely zero comers this pre-draft process, and he’s gotten the better of the large majority of them in his workouts. He particularly impressed in Sacramento, so I tossed him here. But I’d expect Davis to end up in the top-45, which is a pretty meteoric rise for a player who, again, did not even get an initial G League Elite Camp invite.

41. Golden State Warriors (from ATL via LAL) — Jordan Poole

6-5 guard, sophom*ore, Michigan

Poole is a shot-maker who can score from all three levels, and had a final workout with the Warriors on Tuesday. The Warriors need more shot-makers and shooters, so this kind of move would make sense for them. He’s a skilled offensive player, even if he does need substantial work on the defensive end.

42. Philadelphia 76ers (from SAC) — Talen Horton-Tucker

6-4 … “player,” freshman, Iowa State

Chicago’s general manager Gar Forman has a history with Iowa State, and Horton-Tucker is from Chicago. It’s a match made in heaven. Personally, this is higher than I’d take Horton-Tucker, as I’m not entirely clear what he’s able to do while playing for a team on his initial contract. He has legit ball skills, great length with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, and the idea of positional versatility going for him. But he’s a pretty bad defender right now, and he struggles to shoot it from distance. At only 18 years old, he might be a second-contract candidate.

43. Minnesota Timberwolves (from MIA) — Daniel Gafford

6-11 center, sophom*ore, Arkansas

My guess on how Gersson Rosas is going to operate on draft day in the second round is to simply take the best player available. Gafford, in my opinion, is a strong option there as the rim-running, shot-blocking center would be a nice, athletic backup option behind Karl-Anthony Towns.

44. Miami Heat (from ATL thru MIN) — Admiral Schofield

6-6 wing/forward, senior, Tennessee

Another guy I’d take slightly higher than this, but I think Schofield could legitimately help the the Heat next year. He’s tough and physical, ready to deal with the NBA from Day One.

45. Detroit Pistons — Tremont Waters

5-10 guard, sophom*ore, LSU

Waters is a shifty guard who is a tremendous passer out of pick and roll. He can also knock down pull-up jumpers from distance, although length could be an issue for him at the next level. The Pistons could use a flyer on a point guard, given that their current situation is pretty untenable.

46. Orlando Magic (from BKN) — Isaiah Roby

6-8 forward, junior, Nebraska

Roby is a tough guy to figure in this draft. Some teams do legitimately have him as an end of the first-round, early second-round type. But his lack of physicality and strength really worries me, given his size. If a team feels like they can develop him and put some weight on him, I get the appeal as a home run swing to take on a role player who can switch defensively, grab and go on the break, and potentially shoot it.

47. Sacramento Kings (from ORL) — Deividas Sirvydis

6-8 forward, 18 years old, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania)

Sirvydis will be the most intriguing draft and stash player in the second round. He has size at 6-foot-8 and can shoot it, in addition to strong basketball IQ for a player that’s 18 playing professionally. But he’s still a ways away from contributing at a high level while his frame develops overseas.

48. Los Angeles Clippers — Jaylen Nowell

6-4 combo guard, sophom*ore, Washington

Maybe I’m alone in this, but I’m betting on Nowell figuring things out and becoming an NBA bucket-getter. His footwork is pristine, and he’s a high level shooter who understands what an efficient shot it. He also fits the toughness quotient that the Clippers are trying to build in regard to their culture.

49. San Antonio Spurs — Zach Norvell Jr.

6-5 off-guard, redshirt sophom*ore, Gonzaga

Few players can get as hot as Norvell from distance when he gets it going. Coaches in the WCC thought Norvell was arguably Gonzaga’s most dangerous player because of his ability to produce offensively and knock down shots. He has a pretty wide range of opinion on him, as he’s not a great athlete and teams worry about if he can defend. But I like him quite a bit as a potential bench guard that also has some flair and personality.

50. Indiana Pacers — Terance Mann

6-7 wing, senior, Florida State

The Pacers like tough, multi-skilled players. Mann isn’t a strong shooter yet, but he plays basketball the right way on both ends, is a terrific playmaker for his teammates, and defends multiple positions and player types due to his quickness and high-level feel for the game.

51. Boston Celtics —DaQuan Jeffries

6-5 wing/forward, senior, Tulsa

Jeffries is an athletic, long wing who can knock down shots from distance. His thick chest would fit well with the rest of the barrel-chested, strong Celtics. His 7-foot wingspan should allow him to become a strong defender when paired with his overall quickness. This is a high-level role player’s starter kit, and he features higher than this on my board.

52. Charlotte Hornets (from OKC) — Yovel Zoosman

6-7 wing, 20 years old, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)

This would be a draft and stash for a Hornets team that has three picks and likely won’t bring three rookies to camp. But at 6-7 with a 7-0 wingspan, high level basketball IQ, and the ability to knock down jump shots, Zoosman would represent the Hornets taking a flyer on a 3-and-D wing.

53. Utah Jazz — Dean Wade

6-10 forward, senior, Kansas State

Wade has been healthy in pre-draft workouts, and impressed with his ability to knock down shots as a big man.

54. Philadelphia 76ers — Jontay Porter

6-11 center, 19 years old, Missouri

He’s suffered two straight ACL tears, so obviously the medicals aren’t great here. But when he’s on the floor Porter displays a high level of IQ and terrific potential shot-making ability above the break. Much in the same way as Reid, his smooth shooting stroke has real potential to warp defenses, as does his passing ability. But to get a chance to do that, he has to get a clearance from NBA doctors and get back on the floor.

55. New York Knicks (from HOU) — Shamorie Ponds

6-0 lead guard, junior, St. John’s

Ponds in New York seems like a perfect mix for the player whose game just screams that it was morphed on the New York playgrounds. He can get separation on most players due to his ball-handling. He’s terrific in change of pace and change of direction. His shooting consistency and decision-making leaves something to be desired at times, but I think he has a shot to stick as a backup NBA guard.

56. Los Angeles Clippers (from POR) — Brian Bowen

6-7 wing, 20 years old, Sydney Kings

Bowen spent the year in Sydney, where he had to play against a tough, physical NBL. He’s come back much more confident in his own shoes because of it, and has the look of an interesting scorer who can shoot it well from distance.

57. New Orleans Pelicans (from DEN) — Jalen McDaniels

6-10 forward, sophom*ore, San Diego State

McDaniels is in a weird spot for the modern NBA. He’s not a consistent enough 3-point shooter to be called a stretch guy, but is so skinny that he’d struggle to hold his position and bang inside as a 4. That uncertainty about role has led to him falling down teams’ boards a bit. He plays hard, though, and has good footwork in the mid-post that would portend well to him becoming a high-level switch defender.

58. Golden State Warriors — Alen Smailagic

6-10 forward, 18 years old, Santa Cruz Warriors

At 18-years-old, Smailagic was the youngest player in the G League this season, and showed some upside while adjusting to the pace of the game. The Warriors are big fans after he played in their scheme this season, and are thought to want to continue down this road by getting his rights while they keep developing him at that level. I’d personally rather pick someone else, but this is what sources around the league think the Warriors will do.

59. Toronto Raptors — Justin Wright-Foreman

6-1 guard, senior, Hofstra

After a tough performance at the G League Elite Camp, Wright-Foreman has been a consistently strong performer in pre-draft workouts for teams. He’s a walking bucket at 6-foot-1 with long arms and the ability to shoot it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him be a surprise summer league standout given his live dribble pull-up game’s lethal nature.

60. Sacramento Kings (from MIL) — Marcos Louzada Silva (“Didi”)

If the Kings keep all three picks, look for the final one to be a stash pick. Didi is an interesting wing with some athleticism and shooting ability.