NBA Draft 2019: Plenty of lottery shakeups in latest mock draft
By Brian Rauf
5) Atlanta Hawks – Cam Reddish, SF/SG, Duke
There’s no doubt that Reddish has been disappointing this season, but if you told the Hawks they’d have a chance to land Reddish in the draft before the year started, they would’ve jumped at that chance. The 6-8 wing is a better shooter than he has shown and many think he could flourish when not overshadowed by R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson.
4) Chicago Bulls – Nassir Little, SF/PF, North Carolina
Another player who has struggled this season, Little has been UNC’s sixth man because it took him some time to grasp Roy Williams’ defensive system and learn how to play offense outside of a one-on-one set. He has turned the corner in that regard but will be drafted this high because of his upside and freakish athleticism.
3) Cleveland Cavaliers – R.J. Barrett, SF, Duke
Barrett is a volume scorer, but he’s a star in the making and Cleveland needs someone who can fill it up in the post-LeBron era. Scouts want to see him be more efficient and make better decisions, yet Cleveland won’t pass on someone with his star potential.
2) Phoenix Suns – Ja Morant, PG, Murray State
Speaking of star potential, Morant has shown that and would be a perfect fit in Phoenix. They need a point guard, a solid defender, and someone who can run the up-tempo offense they want to play. Morant checks all of those boxes while providing, you know, an elite slasher and playmaker.
Next. Updated bracketology field. dark
1) New York Knicks – Zion Williamson, PF, Duke
At this point, no one else but Zion is going to go No. 1. Yes, he needs to improve his jump shot, but we’ve never seen a player with his combination of strength and athleticism. Williamson has the physical ability to handle the NBA grind from Day 1 to go along with the skill to make an immediate impact. He’s not LeBron, but he’s a surefire franchise cornerstone.