NBA Draft 2019: Projecting both rounds in post-NCAA Tournament mock
By Brian Rauf
21) Oklahoma City Thunder – Cameron Johnson, SF, North Carolina
This one’s pretty simple. Oklahoma City needs shooting – badly. Johnson might be the best shooter in this class. His size (6-9) makes him an asset in other areas, too.
22) Boston Celtics – Talen Horton-Tucker, SF, Iowa State
I will be surprised if Boston keeps all four of their first-round selections. Given who we have them taking to this point, Horton-Tucker’s versatility as an athletic 6-4, 240-pound ball-handling small forward would allow him to fill numerous roles in Boston’s rotation depending on who’s healthy. That kind of Swiss Army knife skill set is valuable at this point in the draft.
23) Utah Jazz – Matisse Thybulle, SF, Washington
Thybulle could end up being the steal (pun intended when it comes to Thybulle) of the draft late in the first round. He will enter the NBA as an elite defender that can force turnovers at a high rate and lock opponents down. If he can become more consistent with his perimeter shot, Thybulle will be extremely hard to take off the court.
24) Philadelphia 76ers – Tyler Herro, SG, Kentucky
Philadelphia is another team that needs shooting and, while Herro can do much more than that with his playmaking and defense, that will be the major asset he’d bring to the 76ers.
25) Cleveland Cavaliers (via Houston Rockets) – Grant Williams, PF, Tennessee
The Cavs are in a full rebuild and will look at players with upside, but they’ll also need sure things. They will find a solid, reliable, culture-setting leader in Williams.