NBA Draft 2019: 5 most surprising picks from draft night

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 16: Jordan Poole #2 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on in the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the semifinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 20: Rui Hachimura poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the ninth overall pick by the Washington Wizards during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

The 2019 NBA Draft was filled with a ton of surprising moments. What were the ones that separated from the rest?

The 2019 NBA Draft has surpassed us and it certainly was an eventful night. From Zion Williamson’s emotional interview to the numerous trades, it was a wild couple of hours. In terms of the actual draft, there were some great selections but certainly some strange ones. Let’s take a look at the five most surprising picks.

5. Rui Hachimura – No. 9 Washington Wizards

Prior to the draft there was buzz that Hachimura had received a promise from the Minnesota Timberwolves at pick 11. But hours before the draft the Timberwolves traded up to No. 6 putting Hachimura’s stock in limbo.

But the Wizards would make Hachimura’s stay in the green room a short one as he was taken by the Wizards with the ninth pick. Even though Hachimura’s floor seemed to be No.11,considering who was on the board this pick surprised me. Duke’s Cam Reddish slipped to nine and has one of the highest upsides in this class.

Hachimura is 21 years-old but switched to basketball as his main sport recently so he still has room to grow. But if the Wizards wanted to go with a project at the forward spot, Sekou Doumboya of France was the higher rated prospect and seems like a better long-term option.

Hachimura, who became the first Japanese player ever selected in the NBA Draft, has a good-looking jumper and certainly plays hard but his fit next to Dwight Howard isn’t great. There is room to grow, but he really lacked a natural feel for the game on both ends. He’s somewhat of a ball-stopper on offense and often loses his man on D. By all accounts he is a high character guy who should do well in a diverse city like D.C. but Doumbouya or Reddish would have been a better pick for the Wizards.

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