NBA Draft 2019: Plenty of lottery shakeups in latest mock draft
By Brian Rauf
20) San Antonio Spurs – Brandon Clarke, PF/C, Gonzaga
Speaking of players who can’t play forever, Pau Gasol doesn’t have many years left. Even with Gasol, San Antonio could use more athleticism in their frontcourt. Clarke would provide that in spades and serve as a reliable rim protector.
19) Utah Jazz – KZ Okpala, SF/PF, Stanford
Utah doesn’t have a ton of needs so they can gamble on a potential star in Okpala. A lanky 6-9 forward, Okpala can play inside or out and has range out to the three-point line. He’s still raw, but all the physical tools are there.
18) Boston Celtics (via Los Angeles Clippers) – Jontay Porter, C, Missouri
Porter has drawn some comparisons to Al Horford and, though he has missed the entire year due to injury, scouts are still high on him because of his skill. Porter is a below-average athlete but makes up for it with his smarts.
17) Brooklyn Nets – Nickeil Alexander-Walker, PG/SG, Virginia Tech
Alexander-Walker can be inconsistent but, when he’s on, it’s easy to see why some think he might be a top 10 pick. The sophomore is 6-6 and 205 pounds with a consistent three-point stroke and NBA-level athleticism. There’s concern about him not being a true point guard but he’s big enough to play off the ball as well.
16) Miami Heat – P.J. Washington, SF/PF, Kentucky
Washington is one of the more inconsistent players in the country. When he’s on, he’s college basketball’s version of Draymond Green. But when he’s off, he fades out of games for significant stretches. I’d expect Miami to gamble and bet that their culture will get the most out of him.