NBA Draft 2019: Best and worst fits for all potential lottery picks

13. Romeo Langford, 6-6 G/F, Indiana

BEST: Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics

The Timberwolves already boast a quartet of long-limbed athletes on the wing (6-8 Andrew Wiggins, 6-4 Josh Okogie, 6-9 Robert Covington, 6-9 Keita Bates-Diop), so why not grab another with the tenth pick of the draft? Coach Ryan Saunders helped guid ether young T-wolves to a vastly-improved defense following the January firing of former head coach Tom Thibodeau, and Langford‘s sturdiness and +5 wingspan (6-6 height, 6-11 wingspan) is attractive when attempting to construct a defensive unit around an offensive-minded center such as Karl-Anthony Towns.

Langford’s feel for the game on offense is rather rudimentary at this junction and his shooting must improve, but latent playmaking upside (specifically as a pick-and-roll ball-handler) and impressive touch around the basket make his offensive potential undeniably intriguing for a team like Minnesota. The Timberwolves would likely prefer a lead/combo guard or power forward at this spot — say, Coby White or Brandon Clarke — but if they choose to select a wing instead, Langford poses as a fine option.

If Romeo Langford is available at pick No. 14, the Boston Celtics could be interested in adding yet another hard-nosed wing to their young roster, too. Team president Danny Ainge has long been stocking his roster with defensively versatile players with the size, length and athleticism to defend up and down the lineup, and Langford would fit that model to a ‘T’. Adding a capable driver (64.1 FG% at the rim, largely on unassisted looks), cutter (1.667 PPP on a limited sample, per Synergy), and pick-and-roll threat (80th percentile on pick-and-rolls including passes) would help the bench units offensively, as the team is currently far too reliant on jump shooting. Getting a guy who’s unafraid of driving into contact could be valuable, although Langford would need to craft a respectable jumper to make the threat of him as a pick-and-roll ball-handler and fierce driver all the more real.

WORST: Los Angeles Lakers

Following the signing of LeBron James during the 2018 offseason, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka saw the entire history of James’ playing career and the teams he found success with — rosters that surrounded James with shooting at positions ‘1’ through ‘5’ — and decided that they knew what was better for him, and subsequently signed a cast of total non-shooters. The rest, of course, is history. LA ranked 29th in three-point shooting (33.3%) and 20th in three-pointers made (10.3 per game), dreadful marks for a franchise that hoped to reinstate a magical offensive system.

This offseason, the Lakers brass should learn from their mistakes and turn to shooting on the wing, and the draft is a spot where they could find a player with the potential to contribute in that area. Indiana star Romeo Langford, however, doesn’t look the part of a perimeter shooter, not after hoisting up a poor 27.2 three-point percentage on high volume (3.9 attempts per game) as a freshman. He’s no different from Okpala and Johnson when it comes to fit; although Langford is undoubtedly more attractive as a prospect compared to the other two wings, and has the potential to rise into the lottery, he’s still not a great fit in LA.