NBA Draft 2019: Mystery outside of top three in latest mock draft
By Brian Rauf
The top three picks of the 2019 NBA Draft are set in stone. What will happen after that? Find out in our final mock draft based on the latest intel.
The 2019 NBA Draft is just days away, yet there is still a great deal of unknown when it comes to how it might shake out.
The top three picks are a virtual certainty at this point. Zion Williamson will be taken No. 1 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans, followed by the Memphis Grizzlies picking Ja Morant second and R.J. Barrett landing with the New York Knicks at No. 3.
But, outside of that, the draft could break any number of directions.
Some of that uncertainty has to do with the large number of trades that could happen on draft night. It only seems to be a matter of time until the Pelicans trade Anthony Davis and many teams, namely the Lakers and Celtics, are trying to use their best selections to entice New Orleans to make a deal. Memphis’ Mike Conley could be on the move as well, which would create further chaos.
Those moves could also come after the draft, putting teams in a position to target rookies who could not only help their roster but also serve as valuable trade chips.
Boston and Atlanta are also interested in packaging some of their picks (both have three in the first round) in an effort to move up and take a better player. Philadelphia, who has five total picks, is a candidate to do that as well. If none of them are able to, do they look to draft-and-stash player or simply take the best available?
With all of that intrigue leading up to June 20, how will the draft shake out? Here are our final projections for both rounds.