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In the lead up to the 2019 NBA Draft, myself and Trevor Magnotti will be doing mock drafts. Here, we used Tankathon to sim the draft order and, this time around, the Cavs end up at No. 4 overall. Where that to happen, here’s how we think it might play out.
1. Phoenix Suns (up two spots): Zion Williamson
Obviously, I’m not a huge fan of Zion landing on the Suns — I’d like to see him turn around a less chaotic front office, and he’s going to be a huge disappointment if he doesn’t land on a team with a credible point guard. But he’s the obvious No. 1 choice for everyone at No. 1, including the Lakers. – Trevor Magnotti
2. Washington Wizards (up four spots): RJ Barrett
In this scenario, the Wizards are huge winners. Does getting a highly-rated prospect erase the John Wall contract? No, but it gives them a young foundational piece who can either grow alongside Bradley Beal or be moved into a prominent role if Washington decided to trade Beal. Barrett is not a perfect fit with Beal (or Wall, if Wall can get back). But this is not a franchise that should worry about fit. – Chris Manning
3. Atlanta Hawks (up two spots) Jarrett Culver
The Hawks don’t need a point guard, and they’re one of the smart front offices when it comes to draft evaluation, so I’ve unfortunately dealt the Cavs one hell of a conundrum. Culver makes too much sense for the Hawks, as they need a secondary playmaker who can drive and keep the offense flowing, and the marriage of Culver and Taurean Prince on the wing will certainly help cover for Trae Young on defense. This is the nightmare scenario for the Cavs. – Trevor Magnotti
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (down two spots): De’Andre Hunter
In an ideal world, the Cavs would trade down here to a team that wants Ja Morant - i.e. the Bulls, Pelicans or Grizzlies. But if they don’t trade back, they could take Morant and worry about his fit with Collin Sexton later. But were I to keep the pick, I’d go with De’Andre Hunter and bet on getting a three-and-d type wing who fits the modern game and this roster well. It’s not the sexiest pick, but it makes a lot of sense. – Chris Manning
5. New York Knicks (down four spots): Ja Morant
The Knicks drop four spots and take the player they might just take at one. They likely won’t care that Morant and Dennis Smith Jr. have significant overlap in skill set. They are getting a player they likely value as a top-two pick in a spot that actually is probably closer to his actual value. – Trevor Magnotti
6. Chicago Bulls (down two spots): Coby White
The Bulls really need a point guard. This is a team that was led in assists per game by Kris Dunn last year. Dunn is fine, but they need a long-term solution and White could be that. White is also probably a better next to Zach LaVine than Darius Garland would be. – Chris Manning
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Brandon Clarke
I have morbid curiosity about a possible Julius Randle/Clarke pairing, fitting Clarke’s rim protection with Randle’s aggressive bully ball on offense. The Pelicans are going to be in the market for a long-term answer to Anthony Davis. Clarke is at minimum a nice rotation player for their next rebuild and at best the Donovan Mitchell that follows their version of Gordon Hayward. – Trevor Magnotti
8. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Reddish
At this point in the draft, and with the Grizzlies moving into a post-Marc Gasol era, why not roll the dice on Reddish? He was disappointing at Duke, but perhaps he can come to the NBA, learn how to be a pro from Mike Conley (assuming he’s around) and develop his game in ways he didn’t in his one college season. His physical traits are also highly enticing and that likely makes him a top-10 pick. – Chris Manning
9. Atlanta Hawks (via Dallas Mavericks) Bol Bol
With the Hawks drafting Culver and expecting him to play right away, they can use the Mavericks pick on an incredibly intriguing fit for Atlanta’s young core. Atlanta is a pretty ideal landing spot for Bol’s skill set — Collins allows them to play Bol more as a perimeter big, Young’s pick-and-roll passing and threatening shooting creates more space for Bol to explore creation, Prince and Culver save his butt on defense, and the team likely stays bad enough that he has enough time to develop. – Trevor Magnotti
10. Minnesota Timberwolves: Darius Garland
The Wolves are in a weird spot. They have Karl-Anthony Towns, who definitely is a star and Andrew Wiggins, who is definitely not. And with Jeff Teague being just fine and Tyus Jones hitting free agency — and with the team having nabbed two potential rotation wings last June — point guard is a need and maybe Garland can develop into a running mate for KAT. – Chris Manning
11. Los Angeles Lakers: Nassir Little
Magic is no longer in control of the Lakers, but this feels like the most obvious Magic pick. LeBron input probably pushes the athletic wing with a reputation for insane competitive drive over the top even if it looks like him filling Kyle Kuzma’s role feels like the most likely outcome for him. – Trevor Magnotti
12. Charlotte Hornets: Jaxson Hayes
Hayes will fit whatever comes next for Charlotte. If Kemba Walker stays, Hayes can be a pick-and-roll partner and rim runner and offer something different than other centers Walkers has played with. If Walker, um, walks, then he can be a piece of the rebuilding process that would certainly begin in earnest. – Chris Manning
13. Miami Heat P.J. Washington
Between Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, Rodney McGruder and Derrick Jones Jr., and the full unlocking of James Johnson and Wayne Ellington, I’m not questioning Erik Spoelstra’s ability to develop wing talent. That’s why I want to give him Washington, a wing talent disguised as a college big that I really want Spo to get his hands on. – Trevor Magnotti
14. Boston Celtics (via Sacramento Kings): Johntay Porter
If there’s a team that is it a good spot to pick a uber-talented prospect who needs time to work his way back from injuries, but also might fill a positional need moving forward, it’s the Celtics. Porter, at this spot, makes too much sense for them. – Chris Manning