Draft information: Prime prospects, staff wants, sleepers and movie
The 2019 NBA draft is Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN), and there is little consensus after the highest three picks. Final weekend’s Anthony Davis commerce between the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers has additionally shaken up the proceedings, with New Orleans now holding two of the highest 4 picks and open to commerce discussions on No. Four.
Which prospects are the lottery groups more likely to choose? Who’re the potential sleepers? What are the staff wants heading into draft night time?
This is the whole lot you must know in regards to the prime gamers accessible and all 30 groups earlier than NBA commissioner Adam Silver proclaims the No. 1 decide.
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How will the draft go down? This prime three is wanting doubtless, however something might occur after that:
You will get the newest mock draft intel from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony proper right here, up to date with the newest motion till the draft formally begins.
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Listed here are the doubtless lottery picks from our prime 100 draft rankings:
Prime 14 NBA draft prospects
Get a deeper dive into all the highest prospects right here:
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Groups do not all the time deal with offseason wants on the draft — and there is a good case that they should not — however this is how Bobby Marks breaks down every staff heading into the offseason.
Picks and staff wants
TEAMPICKSNEEDSATL8, 10, 17, 35, 41Rim-protecting C, depthBOS14, 20, 22, 51G/F/C in case FAs leaveBKN27, 31PG, stretch-Four, backup CCHA12, 36, 52PGCHI7, 38PG, wing depthCLE5, 26Combo guard, Three-and-D wingDAL37PG, shooters, CDENN/AStretch-Four, large wingDET15, 30, 45Versatile wings, depth at SF/CGSW28, 58SG, SF, bench depthHOUN/ABackup PG, bench scoringIND18, 50PG, SF, secondary scorerLAC48, 56SF, depth at PF/CLALN/APG, taking pictures, wing defenseMEM2, 23PG, SG, stretch-4MIA13, 44Improved position playersMILN/ABackup PGMIN11, 43PG, depth at SF/PFNOP1, Four, 39, 57PG, taking pictures, SFNYK3, 55Every thing apart from a beginning COKC21Stretch-Four, shootingORL16, 46Depth at wing spotsPHI24, 33, 34, 42, 54Bench depthPHX6, 32PG, NBA-caliber benchPOR25Bench guards and CSAC40, 47, 60Beginning C, bench wingsSAS19, 28, 49Large wingsTOR59SF, wing depthUTA53Bench shootersWAS9Versatile forwardsNeeds think about gamers beneath contract for 2019-20
What future picks might be mixed in draft trades? We go team-by-team on all of the belongings.
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Loads of longtime NBA gamers slip out of the primary spherical. Our specialists give names to observe:
Second-round standouts
Outliers by draft analytics
These gamers rank notably larger in Kevin Pelton’s stats-only wins above substitute participant (WARP) projections than our top-100 rankings.
Projected WARP standouts
PLAYERTEAMTOP 100WARPRANKBol BolOregon142.09Darius BazleyN/A261.320Matisse ThybulleWashington321.713Chuma OkekeAuburn332.62Talen Horton-TuckerIowa State341.811Shamorie PondsSt. John’s462.65Dedric LawsonKansas612.64Alen SmailagicSanta Crus642.zero10John KoncharIPFW652.63Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
Full strengths and weaknesses, scouting experiences, highlights — get all of it right here.
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Now that he is formally headed to the NBA, Zion Williamson will enter the draft because the most-talked-about prospect in latest historical past, however we actually do not know very a lot about him. Mina Kimes explores his South Carolina roots.
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Draft night time will arrange a wild free company interval that would shake up the league. Get the newest updates right here.
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Carter has lived by way of seismic shifts in professional athlete tradition and league developments. The smartphone would not land till midway by way of his profession, and far of the facility claimed by gamers in right this moment’s NBA is comparatively new. Carter has seen can’t-miss skills bust and obscure prospects rise to fame. He has a fairly good sense of why many NBA gamers succeed or fail and agreed to debate a few of these beliefs with ESPN.