After one of the wildest draft lotteries in NBA history, the New Orleans Pelicans emerged as winners of the Zion Williamson sweepstakes while potentially finding a solution to the Anthony Davis fiasco. While the first three picks are all but set in stone, it gets a bit murky after that. For the sake of simplicity, there will be no trades in this mock.
1. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, PF, Duke
Williamson is a near lock at this pick, and with Julius Randle and Anthony Davis in tow, a move to the 3 slot could do the 6’7 phenom a world of good if New Orleans decides to do so. And not only have the Pels landed a once-in-a-generation talent not seen since the likes of a certain LeBron James, they may have also found a solution to the Anthony Davis saga.
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, PG, Murray State
Amidst rumors of a potential Mike Conley trade, Morant just looks like an even better pick for Memphis. An excellent scorer and facilitator, he and Jaren Jackson Jr. could become one of the league’s best young duos.
3. New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett, SG, Duke
Williamson’s partner in crime at Durham, Barrett is a star in his own right, averaging over 22 points and 7 rebounds per contest at Duke. He has the potential to fill the massive shoes left by Carmelo Anthony at the Garden, and change the fortunes of a long-suffering franchise longing for a title.
4. Los Angeles Lakers:Jarrett Culver, SG, Texas Tech
A great scorer and dependable defender to pair alongside LeBron James, Culver can also act as trade bait if LA decides to flip him for a superstar.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: DeAndre Hunter, PF, Virginia
Arguably the best defender in the draft, Hunter would join the league-worst defensive team in Cleveland, hoping to pair with guard Collin Sexton in perhaps a lesser version of Morant and JJJ.
6. Phoenix Suns: Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
With Morant off the board, Phoenix takes the second best point guard in the draft in Garland, which helps to relieve some of the ball handling burden off of young scoring phenom Devin Booker.
7. Chicago Bulls: Cam Reddish, SF, Duke
Reddish has all the tools to be a superstar, but due to lack of touches his season at Duke was a disappointment at best. He falls to the 8th pick, where Chicago takes a risk on him.
8. Atlanta Hawks: Rui Hachimura, PF, Gonzaga
Hachimura turned in a monster season for the Zags, and has the size and skill set to be a perennial All-Star.
9. Washington Wizards: Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas
Washington is in obvious need of big men, so they pick up one of the best in the draft with Hayes at the 9th pick.
10. Atlanta Hawks: Coby White, SG, North Carolina
White raised his stock tenfold with a terrific showing late in the season and in the tournament. While he may conflict with Trae Young for points, the duo running the backcourt together would be a welcome sight in Atlanta for years to come.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves: Romeo Langford, SF, Indiana
Langford has everything to prove to the world after a disappointing failure by his Hoosiers to reach the NCAA tournament, and will bring his scoring prowess to Minnesota in hopes of redemption.
12. Charlotte Hornets: Sekou Doumbouya, PF, Guinea
The Hornets, like the Wizards, desperately need a big, so they take the versatile Doumbouya at the 12th pick.
13. Miami Heat: Gogo Bitadze, C, Georgia
Continuing the trend of teams in the Southeast division taking bigs, Miami snags the Georgian center with pick No.13.
14. Boston Celtics: Tyler Herro, SG, Kentucky
Where does Boston go from here? For all the draft picks they’ve had, they have yet to reach the NBA Finals and are coming off a disappointing loss to Milwaukee in the second round. They have a crucial offseason ahead of them with the looming departure of Kyrie Irving. For now, they take an excellent shooter in Herro, a possible scoring threat off the bench.