The NBA draft this season is loaded with talent throughout the lottery. Tomorrow night, we’ll find out where the future stars are headed. If you haven’t been paying much attention, today’s article will serve as a viewer’s guide so you know more about the players your team picks and what may happen through trades and even in next year’s draft. Keep an eye out, as I’ll be posting my final mock on Twitter tomorrow @bobbyfantasypro.
The Big Board
Rank | Player | Pos | Team |
1 | Marvin Bagley III | PF | Duke |
2 | Michael Porter Jr. | SF | Missouri |
3 | DeAndre Ayton | C | Arizona |
4 | Luka Doncic | SG | Slovenia |
5 | Jaren Jackson Jr. | PF | Michigan St. |
6 | Trae Young | PG | Magic |
7 | Mohamed Bamba | C | Texas |
8 | Kevin Knox | SF | Kentucky |
9 | Robert Williams | C | Texas A&M |
10 | Collin Sexton | PG | Alabama |
11 | Wendell Carter Jr. | PF | Duke |
12 | Zhaire Smith | SG | Texas Tech |
13 | Mikal Bridges | SF | Villanova |
14 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | PG | Duke |
15 | Khyri Thomas | SG | Creighton |
16 | Miles Bridges | SF | Michigan St. |
17 | Elie Okobo | SG | Creighton |
18 | Lonnie Walker IV | SG | Miami |
19 | Mitchell Robinson | C | Chalmette HS |
20 | De’Anthony Melton | SG | USC |
21 | Aaron Holiday | PG | UCLA |
22 | Troy Brown | SG | Oregon |
23 | Grayson Allen | SG | Duke |
24 | Jalen Brunson | PG | Villanova |
25 | Kevin Huerter | SG | Maryland |
26 | Dante DiVincenzo | PG | Villanova |
27 | Melvin Frazier | SF | Tulane |
28 | Dzanan Musa | SF | Bosnia & Herz. |
29 | Issuf Sanon | SG | Slovenia |
30 | Hamidou Diallo | SG | Kentucky |
31 | Rodions Kurucs | SF | Latvia |
32 | Chandler Hutchison | SG | Boise St. |
33 | Jerome Robinson | PG | Boston College |
34 | Keita Bates-Diop | PF | Ohio St. |
35 | Moritz Wagner | C | Michigan |
36 | Anfernee Simons | SG | IMG Academy HS |
37 | Jacob Evans | SF | Cincinnati |
38 | Bruce Brown | SG | Miami |
39 | Omari Spellman | PF | Villanova |
40 | Gary Trent Jr. | SG | Duke |
41 | Chimezie Metu | C | USC |
42 | Devonte Graham | PG | Kansas |
43 | Shake Milton | SG | SMU |
44 | Landry Shamet | PG | Wichita St. |
45 | Arnoldas Kulboka | SF | Lithuania |
46 | Kenrich Williams | SF | TCU |
47 | Jevon Carter | PG | West Virginia |
48 | Malik Newman | SG | Kansas |
49 | Rawle Alkins | SG | Arizona |
50 | Josh Okogie | SG | Georgia Tech |
Which teams could swing a deal?
- Kings down from #2
- Grizzlies down from #4
- Mavericks down from #5
- Bulls up from #7
- Celtics up into top 8 (Terry Rozier + 1.27)
- Knicks down from #9 (for Kevin Knox)
- Sixers up from #10
- Spurs into top 10 (if Kawhi is traded)
- Hornets out from #11 (to get rid of Chandler Parson’s contract)
- Clippers up from #12 and #13 (for Michael Porter Jr.)
- Nuggets out from #14
- Hawks up into top 14
- Suns up into the lottery again
- Lakers up into top 16
Which non-lottery players have the most upside?
- Mitchell Robinson (C – Chalmette HS)
- Hamidou Diallo (SG – Kentucky)
- Elie Okobo (SG – Creighton)
- Anfernee Simons (SG – IMG Academy HS)
- Khyri Thomas (SG – Creighton)
- Melvin Frazier (SF – Tulane)
Are there any second round players that could make an immediate impact?
- Jalen Brunson (PG – Villanova)
- Bruce Brown (SG – Miami)
- Jacob Evans (SF – Cincinnati)
- Devonte Graham (PG – Kansas)
- Jevon Carter (PG – West Virginia)
- Landry Shamet (PG – Wichita St)
How is the 2019 draft class shaping up?
There is a terrific top three in the class, but as things tend to go, one of them will likely drop off Harry Giles style, while someone surges from being a borderline lottery pick into the top overall pick discussion. With that being said, here are how things stand today:
- Cam Reddish (Duke – SF)
- RJ Barrett (Duke – SG)
- Nassir Little (North Carolina – SF)
- Sekou Doumbouya (France – PF)
- Zion Williamson (Duke – PF)
- Quentin Grimes (Kansas – PG)
- Romeo Langford (Indiana – SG)
- Bol Bol (Oregon – C)
- Luka Samanic (Croatia – PF)
- Keldon Johnson (Kentucky – SG)
- Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga – SF)
- De’Andre Hunter (Virginia – SF)
- Nazreon Reid (LSU – C)
- Daniel Gifford (Arkansas – C)
- P.J. Washington (Kentucky – PF)
Non-Draft Bonus: Where will LeBron end up?
It is fun to imagine LeBron ending up with your team and carrying all the scrubs to multiple finals appearances like he did with the Cavs. Realistically, however, there are only a handful of teams that make sense. The betting odds tell us that the Lakers are a heavy favorite with Philadelphia, Cleveland, Boston and Houston all in play while San Antonio, the Clippers, Heat and even Warriors are potential longshots.
Apparently, LeBron has ruled out Houston, which makes sense considering they have no cap room and James Harden has to have the ball in his hands. Boston makes little sense with Kyrie Irving already there. The only way they’d feasibly be in play is if Irving was dealt to San Antonio in a move for Kawhi Leonard. Even then, the Celtics would have to move Al Horford and Marcus Smart as part of a sign-and-trade with Cleveland to make the numbers work. Let’s go ahead and cross that one off the list as well.
Neither the Clippers nor Heat are in position to win now and don’t carry the cap space to lure another All-Star onto their roster, so let’s get real with those two. The Warriors could certainly win now. In fact, they would probably still be the favorite to win the title if Steph Curry dropped basketball for soccer tomorrow. That ought to make it clear that LeBron would never go there. If he cares about his legacy, and he clearly does since he is chasing championships, then you’d imagine he wouldn’t join the greatest dynasty since the 60s Celtics.
It is tempting to bring Washington or Portland into the mix, but the cap situations make it impossible and there are just better options. Two that are going overlooked, however, are Atlanta and Chicago, which are entirely realistic. That brings us to six: Lakers, 76ers, Cavs, Spurs, Hawks and Bulls. Here is why each place makes sense:
Lakers: They’ve got nearly 62 million in cap space plus the pieces to bring in Kawhi Leonard, who just so happened to mention wanting to play for the Lakers. Chances are, you’ve already seen this scenario, but if not, imagine the following starting five: Brandon Ingram, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, LeBron James, Julis Randle. The Warriors would shart themselves.
76ers: If you think Pop is going to move Kawhi to the Lakers to tempt LeBron into the Western Conference, you are dreaming. More likely, he ends up in Boston or Philly for Markelle Fultz, Robert Covington and picks. If LeBron wants three more titles, playing with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons may be his best ticket.
Cavs: Apparently, LeBron’s wife wants to stay in Cleveland or go to L.A. If the Lakers can’t secure Kawhi in a Lonzo Ball+ deal, LeBron may just tough it out in Cleveland and hope to find a way to improve his supporting cast. They’ve got the eighth pick in the draft and could use it to add a shooter like Trae Young or potentially a superstar like Michael Porter Jr. Another option is trading it for more immediate help.
Spurs: Settling down in an income tax-free state with the best coach in the world might be too tempting to pass up. LaMarcus Aldridge is a great second fiddle and LeBron could take it easy on his body with games and minutes off in the Spurs’s system. Plus, off-loading Kawhi to the Lakers, who have plenty of room in the budget, would clear up the needed room to make it happen.
Hawks: Nobody is giving this one a shot, but hear me out. I’d bet Pop wouldn’t mind moving Kawhi for the Luca Doncic plus. After that, Atlanta could potentially sign Lebron’s best friend, Chris Paul, then use Kent Bazemore in a sign and trade to complete the puzzle with LeBron. You can bet your bottom dollar LeBron, Kawhi, CP3, Dennis Schroder, Taurean Price and John Collins would win the East.
Bulls: There may be no better way for LeBron to continue his climb toward and past Michael than to take a losing Chicago team and turn it into multiple titles. Chicago knows that and LeBron knows that so don’t be surprised if they find a fit. They’ve got the 7th overall pick and enough money to add Chris Paul or Paul George in addition to a sign and trade for LeBron. It goes without saying that LeBron could do much better with CP3, Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, Bobby Portis, Denzel Valentine and Wendell Carter than he did with the rag-tag bunch in Cleveland.
Final Answer: Ben Simmons, JJ Redick, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron, Joel Embiid and Mikal Bridges three-peat for the Philadelphia 76ers.