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NBA Draft 2019: Predicting best first round picks 5 years from now

By Trenton Corn

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Rui Hachimura reacts 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)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Rui Hachimura reacts 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) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 20: Basketball player Mfiondu Kabengele attends the 2019 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 20: Basketball player Mfiondu Kabengele attends the 2019 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) /

Mfiondu Kabengele

Ahh the good ole’ surprise pick.

Don’t go back to work if you’re on break, get off the toilet, or whatever you were doing before coming across the article. Listen to what I have to say.

Could I have chosen someone like Deandre Hunter to be involved in this list? Yes I could’ve. I mean I did pencil him in as to having Kawhi Leonard potential in the last slide. The National champion can do everything well on the basketball court. Nothing great, but can do all things well, and has room to grow. He projects to be a good defender with his 6’7 225 pound frame, and shot .438% from three last season. Although I suggested a Kawhi Leonard upside, I don’t think he quite gets there, and I think Kabengele could very well turn into being the better selection.

The 6’10 250 pound Kabengele put up 13.2 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 1.5 blocks per game, as he could very well be the shot blocker his uncle Dikembe Mutombo once was.

His per 40 minute stats of 24.5 ppg, 11 rpg, 1.1 spg, and 2.8 bpg is outstanding. If given a bigger role and more playing time at Florida State he would’ve dominated and shot up draft boards.

The mighty Deandre Hunter’s per 40 stats are 18.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.7 spg, and 0.7 bpg.

Kabengele is perfect for today’s NBA. Kabengele can handle his own inside and won’t get pushed around (1.5 blocks per game & 9 feet 1.5 inch standing reach) and has the ability to guard on the perimeter some as well. On offense he can score inside, face you up and can shoot or drive around you, and can knock down his fare share of threes. The perfect mold for the center in the NBA today. He can play on the perimeter, and can defend well inside. Big players his size who can move as well as he can, and can shoot don’t come around too often.

dark. Next. Grades for all 30 teams in NBA Draft

Kabengele landed in a perfect spot as well with the LA Clippers. The team surprised everyone last season as they made a post season run. Doc Rivers did an amazing job, as he turned Montrezl Harrell and Landry Shamet into really good players, which was needed for them to make the playoff run. Give Rivers Kabengele and watch what he can and will do. Kabengele could very well end up being in the position to be the teams starting power forward and play alongside Harrell down low, and if he can’t start, should see very valuable minutes in the rotation.

Five years from now it would not surprise me if Kabengele was one of the top players in this draft class, and has a few all-star selections when it’s all said and done.

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